Method and Apparatus for Recycling Metal Banding

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for refurbishing used metal banding of the type used to strap together bundles of items such as lumber. The method includes passing the used metal banding through a roller mill designed to guide and straighten the banding and to remove kinks formed where the banding previously was wrapped around corners or other protrusions of the bundle, recovering the straightened banding, and reusing the banding to strap other bundles of items. The apparatus includes a base containing an electric motor and a housing that encloses at least three rollers of the roller mill and special components that direct the banding in and out of the roller mill and expel it to be collected for reuse. The broad concept of the invention is the recovery, refurbishing, and reuse of used metal banding to band bundles of items for shipping.

1 . A method comprising the steps of:
 (a) receiving a bundle of items strapped together with metal banding;   (b) cutting the metal banding from the bundle to free the items;   (c) straightening the metal banding cut from the bundle and removing kinks from the metal banding; and   (d) making the straightened and un-kinked metal banding available for re-use.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  and wherein step (c) comprises moving the metal banding between rollers of a roller mill. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  and wherein step (c) further comprises moving the metal banding between a first pair of rollers and subsequently moving the metal banding between a second pair of rollers. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  and wherein at least one of the first pair of rollers is also one of the second pair of rollers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  and wherein the step of moving the metal banding comprises presenting the metal banding to an intersection between the first pair of rollers and rotating at least one of the first pair of rollers to draw the metal banding between the rollers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  and further comprising the step of engaging the metal banding with a guide block to deflect the banding toward the second pair of rollers after having passed between the first pair of rollers. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  and wherein the step of engaging the metal banding further comprises locating the guide block between the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  and wherein one of the first pair of rollers is also one of the second pair of rollers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  and further comprising the step of engaging the metal banding as it moves beyond the second pair of rollers to direct the straightened and un-kinked banding in a desired direction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  and wherein step (d) comprises re-using the straightened banding. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  and wherein step (d) comprises providing the straightened banding to another for reuse. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  and wherein the step of providing the straightened banding comprises selling the straightened banding to another. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for straightening and removing kinks from metal banding, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a first roller disposed and mounted for rotation in the housing;   a second roller disposed and mounted for rotation in the housing;   a third roller disposed and mounted for rotation in the housing;   the first roller and the second roller extending substantially parallel to each other to define a first pair of rollers;   the first roller and the third roller extending substantially parallel to each other to define a second pair of rollers;   a guide block between the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers positioned to direct metal banding between the second pair of rollers after the metal banding moves between the first pair of rollers;   an inlet chute on the housing for receiving metal banding and directing it between the first pair of rollers; and   an outlet shroud on the housing for receiving metal banding from between the second pair of rollers and directing it away from the housing.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  and wherein the first and second rollers are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  and wherein the first and second rollers are spaced apart a distance less than a thickness of metal banding to be directed between the first pair of rollers. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13  and wherein the first and third rollers are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  and wherein the first and third rollers are spaced apart a distance less than a thickness of metal banding to be directed between the second pair of rollers. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13  and wherein the axes of the first, second, and third rollers substantially define a triangle. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  and wherein the guide block is disposed between the second and third rollers. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  and wherein the guide block is substantially trapezoidal in shape. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  and wherein the guide block has a surface positioned to engage metal banding as it moves beyond the first pair of rollers, the surface being shaped and oriented to direct the metal banding toward the second pair of rollers. 
     
     
         22 . A method of doing business comprising the steps of;
 (a) receiving bundles of material banded together with metal banding;   (b) removing the metal banding from the received bundles;   (c) refurbishing the metal banding; and   (d) making the refurbished metal banding available for re-use to band bundles of material together.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  and wherein step (c) comprises removing kinks from the metal banding. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  and wherein step (c) comprises straightening the metal banding. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  and wherein step (d) comprises re-using the metal banding. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  and wherein step (d) comprises selling the metal banding for re-use by others.