Hand-operated press for baling newspapers

Abstract

A manually-operated press is provided in which old newspapers in a folded condition may be stacked, pressed into a compact bundle, and then bound into a bale, by appropriate metal binding straps, or the like, and then sold to waste paper collectors. The press comprises a compression box having a fixed bottom and a movable top, and it also has an open front through which newspapers may be stacked in the compression box. A lever-like handle is coupled to the moveable top of the compression box through a linkage system. The mechanical advantage of the linkage system is a function of the handle angle, and is non-linear. At the beginning of the downward stroke of the handle, the mechanical advantage of the linkage is a minimum and is just sufficient to cause the air to be squeezed out of the stack of newspapers placed in the compression box as the handle is lowered. As the handle is further lowered, the mechanical advantage of the linkage system increases as the linkage arms of the system turn and approach the vertical position. A stop is provided just past dead center of the linkage system, at which position the top of the compression box locks the bale of newspapers in the compression box under pressure. Slots are provided in the top and bottom of the compression box to facilitate strapping of the bale. After strapping, the handle is lifted and the bale is removed. A small latch pin holds the press open for loading purposes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.