Rubber balers

Abstract

A bailing apparatus may include a multi-component bolster assemblies that may ease installation and removal, reduce wear and tear and maintenance, and/or improve baling efficiency by reducing material waste, imperfections, and/or contamination. The bolster assemblies may include a plurality of coupling portions that engage a hydraulic rod and may enable the bolster assembly to self-center within a press chamber during normal baling operations. The bolster assemblies also may include an island portion that may be attached to the coupling portions and to a bolster cap, and the latter may be attached using retainer bolts having substantially planar heads that may define lips that run about frustums. The bolts may substantially planar head may reduce irregularities in the bale and the lips may prevent material seepage into the bolster assemblies.

We claim: 
     
       1. A baling apparatus for compressing a compressible material, the baling apparatus comprising:
 a hydraulic rod; 
 a bolster assembly including
 a first coupling portion attached to a second coupling portion, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion cooperatively defining a cavity for receiving a portion of the hydraulic rod; 
 an island portion attached to the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion by a plurality of island bolts that run through either the first coupling portion, the second coupling portion, or both and into the island portion; and 
 a bolster cap removably attached to the island portion by a plurality of retainer bolts, the retainer bolts each including a rounded rectangular head attached to a frustoconical portion, the head having a planar surface, a lip provided by an underside of the head and configured to run about a perimeter of a base of the frustoconical portion, the frustoconical portion attached to a threaded shaft distal the head, the bolster cap including a plurality of countersunk bores that receive the retainer bolts, the countersunk bores having complementary shapes to those of the retainer bolts; and 
 
 a press chamber for receiving the bolster assembly and the compressible material, wherein compression force is provided by movement of the bolster inside the press chamber. 
 
     
     
       2. The baling apparatus of  claim 1 , where the island portion includes a reduced section and the bolster cap includes a recessed section that engages the reduced section of the island portion. 
     
     
       3. The baling apparatus of  claim 1 , where a diameter of a base of the frustoconical portion is smaller than a length of a side of the head. 
     
     
       4. The baling apparatus of  claim 1 , where the island portion and the bolster cap have a combined weight less than 255 lbs. 
     
     
       5. The baling apparatus of  claim 1 , where the compressible material is a rubber bale. 
     
     
       6. The baling apparatus of  claim 1 , where the first coupling portion defines a first arc and the second coupling portion defines a second arc. 
     
     
       7. The baling apparatus of  claim 1 , where the first coupling portion includes a first upper portion and a first lower portion, the second coupling portion includes a second upper portion and a second lower portion, the first upper portion and the second upper portion cooperatively define a first portion of the cavity, and the first lower portion and the second lower portion cooperatively define a second portion of the cavity. 
     
     
       8. The baling apparatus of  claim 7 , where the first portion of the cavity is different from the second portion of the cavity. 
     
     
       9. The baling apparatus of  claim 1 , where the first coupling portion is removably attached to the second coupling portion. 
     
     
       10. The baling apparatus of  claim 1 , where the cavity is between 0.030 inches and 0.035 inches larger, in a horizontal direction than the received portion of the hydraulic rod. 
     
     
       11. A bailing apparatus for compressing a compressible material, the baling apparatus comprising:
 a hydraulic rod; 
 a bolster assembly including
 a first coupling portion attached to a second coupling portion, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion cooperatively defining a cavity for receiving a portion of the hydraulic rod; 
 an island portion attached to the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion by a plurality of island bolts that run through either the first coupling portion, the second coupling portion, or both and into the island portion; and 
 a bolster cap removably attached to the island portion by a plurality of retainer bolts, the retainer bolts each including a head having a plurality of sides each having a length, the head attached to a frustoconical portion and having a planar surface, a lip provided by an underside of the head and configured to run about a perimeter of a base of the frustoconical portion, the frustoconical portion attached to a threaded shaft distal the head, the base of the frustoconical portion having a base with a diameter that is smaller than the length of each side of the head, the bolster cap including a plurality of countersunk bores that receive the retainer bolts, the countersunk bores having complementary shapes to those of the retainer bolts; and 
 
 a press chamber for receiving the bolster assembly and the compressible material, wherein compression force is provided by movement of the bolster inside the press chamber. 
 
     
     
       12. The baling apparatus of  claim 11 , where the island portion includes a reduced section and the bolster cap includes a recessed section that engages the reduced section of the island portion. 
     
     
       13. The baling apparatus of  claim 11 , where the head has a non-circular shape. 
     
     
       14. The baling apparatus of  claim 11 , where the island portion and the bolster cap have a combined weight less than 255 lbs. 
     
     
       15. The baling apparatus of  claim 11 , where the compressible material is a rubber bale. 
     
     
       16. The baling apparatus of  claim 11 , where the first coupling portion defines a first arc and the second coupling portion defines a second arc. 
     
     
       17. The baling apparatus of  claim 11 , where the first coupling portion includes a first upper portion and a first lower portion, the second coupling portion includes a second upper portion and a second lower portion, the first upper portion and the second upper portion cooperatively define a first portion of the cavity, and the first lower portion and the second lower portion cooperatively define a second portion of the cavity. 
     
     
       18. The baling apparatus of  claim 17 , where the first portion of the cavity is different from the second portion of the cavity. 
     
     
       19. The baling apparatus of  claim 11 , where the cavity is between 0.030 inches and 0.035 inches larger, in a horizontal direction than the received portion of the hydraulic rod. 
     
     
       20. A baling apparatus for compressing a compressible material, the baling apparatus comprising:
 a hydraulic rod; 
 a bolster assembly including
 a first coupling portion removably attached to a second coupling portion, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion cooperatively defining an arc shaped cavity for receiving a portion of the hydraulic rod; 
 an island portion attached to the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion by a plurality of island bolts that run through either the first coupling portion, the second coupling portion, or both and into the island portion; and 
 a bolster cap removably attached to the island portion by a plurality of retainer bolts, the retainer bolts each including a rounded rectangular head attached to a frustoconical portion, the head having a planar surface, a lip provided by an underside of the head and configured to run about a perimeter of a base of the frustoconical portion, the frustoconical portion attached to a threaded shaft distal the head, the bolster cap including a plurality of countersunk bores that receive the retainer bolts, the countersunk bores having complementary shapes to those of the retainer bolts; and 
 
 a press chamber for receiving the bolster assembly and the compressible material, wherein compression force is provided by movement of the bolster inside the press chamber. 
 
     
     
       21. A baling apparatus for compressing a compressible material, the baling apparatus comprising:
 an island portion;   a bolster cap removably attached to said island portion via one or more retainer bolts, wherein each retainer bolt comprising:
 a non-circular head, said head having a substantially planar top surface and rounded corners; 
 a frustoconical portion extending from said non-circular head; 
 a lip provided by an underside of the head and configured to run about a perimeter of a base of the frustoconical portion; and 
 a threaded shaft extending from said frustoconical portion.  
   
     
     
       22. The baling apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said bolster cap includes one or more countersunk bores configured to receive said one or more retainer bolts.  
     
     
       23. The baling apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein each countersunk bore having a complementary shape to said non-circular head of said one or more retainer bolts.  
     
     
       24. The baling apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said island portion including one or more bolster bores corresponding to the countersunk bores of said bolster cap, said one or more bolster bores configured to receive said one or more retainer bolts.  
     
     
       25. The baling apparatus of  claim 21 , where one or more of said retainer bolts further includes a threaded center bore.  
     
     
       26. The baling apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said threaded center bore is configured to receive an insert to form said substantially planar top surface.  
     
     
       27. The baling apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said threaded center bore is configured to receive a tool to facilitate lifting said bolster cap and island portion.