US2685827A - Sheet material pelletizing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

V. V. MASON Aug. 10', 1954 SHEET MATERIAL PELLETIZING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Feb. 5, 1951 a H llmfl INVENTOR. VEY/VE. V MA 301v,

BY $444M ATTORNEY- Patented Aug. 10, 1954 OFFICE SHEET MATERIAL PELLETIZING APPA- RATUS AND METHOD Veyne V. Mason, Los AngelesyCalif.

Application February 5, 1951, Serial No. 209,481

The present invention relates to the manufacture of pellets or balls of crumpled sheet material, and has been developed particularly for the manufacture of pellets of crumpled paper for use in the filtering of oil. 7

In my copending application Serial Number 160,414 on Engine Oil Filter, filed May 6, 1950, nowPatent No. 2,549,698, April 17, 1951, I have disclosed a new and highly eilective oil filtering device in which the filter medium is formed of sheet paper crumpled into pellet form. ,Also disclosed, but not claimed, are a method and apparatus for forming such paper pellets. The pres ent application includes a more complete showing of my pellet forming method and apparatus, and constitutes a continuation-in-part of the former. application as to its methodand apparatus disclosures. I Briefly, the invention contemplates forming a pellet from a sheet of paper or other material by first deforming and progressively constricting the sheet toward an axis to form 2. preferably elongated folded mass, and then compacting that mass longitudinally of the axis into a pellet of crumpled sheet material. .,-During the first or constricting step of theprocess, the sheet may be deformed circularly about a central portion to produce folds extending outwardly in all directions from that portion, and then progressively constricted to the desired elongated shape in a manner much like the folding of an umbrella. As will appear, such circular deformation and folding may be easily but very effectively produced by merely forcing the sheet through an opening in a forming unit of a transverse dimension smaller than the sheet. To assure proper folding and avoid tearing of the sheet by too abrupt constriction at the opening, the forming unit may comprise a funnel-lik member gradually converging from a relatively wide entrance end to a constricted exit end.

For most effective pellet formation, I prefer to carry out the comp-action step within a compaction chamber, by which the material is positively confined againstlateral expansion. A force is first exerted against a sheet at the outside of the chamber for displacing the sheet into the chamber, and the compaction force 'iszthen exerted against the materialwithin the chamber. The chamber may be in the form of an elongated barrel or cylinder, into which the sheet is inserted by an insertion plunger, and within which it is then compacted into pellet form by a compaction plunger. The funnel-like forming unit may converge toward the entranceend of the Claims. '(01. 93-4) 2 chamber for progressively constricting the sheet into an elongated umbrella-like folded mass as it is displaced toward the chamber.

The compaction plunger carries out its compaction operation by relative movement toward an inner transverse wall of the chamber. 7 As will appear, I prefer to provide the compaction plunger and this inner chamber wall with opposed correspondingly cavitated surfaces adapted to form the pellets into a desired ball shape during the compaction process. Also, this inn-er wall and the rest of the chamber are desirably mounted for relative movement in a manner to effect removal of a compacted pellet from the chamber after its formation.

In the preferred form of the invention, the apparatus includes a pair of relatively removable body sections, one of which carries a portion of the compaction chamber, and the other of which carries the insertion and compaction plungers. In a first relative position of the sections, the insertion plunger is movable into the chamber to displace a sheet thereinto, while in a second relative position the compaction plunger is movable into the chamber to compact the material.

The above and other features and objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing; in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a device for forming balls of crumpled paper or other sheet material;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of'the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the funnel-like forming member as the paper is being forced through it;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the forming member and compaction chamber and showing th paper as it is being displaced downwardly into the compaction chamber; and r Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the lower portion of the compaction chamber and showing the compaction plunger at the end of its downward stroke.

The illustrated ball forming device includes a horizontal base It, to the upper side of which is mounted a frame member H, havin a pair of spaced upstanding side portions 12 and an upper horizontal portion IS. The upstandin portions 12 of this frame member may be secured to the base in any suitable manner, as by bolts .14. To the rear of frame member H; base H1 carries an upwardly projecting bearing post. It, by which forwardly projecting arm I6 is mounted for swinging or rotational movement between its full line paper insertion position and its broken line compaction position. The swinging movement of arm |6 is limited at these two positions by a pair of stops I1 and I8 mounted to the base, as by bolts l9. The forwardmost portion of arm I6 is formed into a handle by which the arm is manually movable between its two positions.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the compaction chamber comprises two separately formed sections, including an upper vertically elongated cylinder 28 carried by arm 16, and a bottom wall section 2| mounted in the base. When arm I6 is in its broken line position, the lower end of cylinder 2E3 is closed by bottom wall section 2| to form a closed-end compaction chamber, within which the paper is compacted to its ultimate pellet form. Cylinder 2|] is guided for vertical movement within a bushing I40, which is received in a bore 22 in arm l6 and positioned in the bore by set screw 23. At its upper end, cylinder 20 has an annular flange 24 by which its downward movement is limited at the illustrated position. Spaced beneath arm l6, cylinder 20 rigidly carries an external ring 25 against which coil sprin 26 acts to yieldingly urge the cylinder downwardly. Ring 25 carries a forwardly projecting trigger element 21 by which cylinder 20 is manually movable upwardly against the tendency of spring 26, to permit removal of the compacted ball from the chamber.

The lower section or bottom wall 2| of the compaction chamber is received within a recess 28 in base It) beneath the broken line compaction position of cylinder 20. Opposite the lower end of cylinder 20, the upper surface of section 2| con,

tains a hemispherical cavity 29 of a, diameter corresponding substantially to the internal diameter of cylinder 20. This cavity serves to shape the lower half of a paper ball compacted in the chamber.

At a location above the full line insertion position of cylinder 2|], the frame member carries, as through a bracket 30, a downwardly converging funnel-like forming member 3|. The lower restricted end 32 of this member is directed toward the open upper end of cylinder 20.

Above forming member 3|, the upper horizontal portion l3 of frame member carries a bearing 33, within which an insertion plunger 34 is guided for vertical movement. Plunger 34 is downwardly movable through formin unit 3| and into cylinder 20 of the compaction chamber by the exertion of a downward force against knob 35 at the upper end of the plunger. Coil spring 36, surrounding the plunger, normally urges it upwardly to its Fig. l retracted position. As seen best in Fig. 4, insertion plunger 34 is of a diameter sufficiently smaller than the internal diameter of cylinder 2!) to permit reception of the folded paper radially between the plunger and cylinder during the plunger dow nstroke. The lower end 31 of insertionplunger 34 is smoothly rounded, as shown, to avoid puncturing the paper during the plunger down-stroke.

A compaction plunger 38 is mounted by a frame carried bearin 39 for downward movement into cylinder 20 when the cylinder and arm are in their broken line compaction positions. This plunger is actuable downwardly by an upper knob 49, and is normally urged to its upper retracted position by coil spring 4|. The diameter of compaction plunger 38 corresponds substantially to the internal diameter of cylinder 20, so that downcylinder '20.

ward movement of the plunger within the cyli'rlder serves to compact the previously inserted paper into the Fig. 5 pellet form. The lower end of plunger 38 is hemispherically cavitated at 42 in correspondence with cavity 29 in the chamber bottom Wall 2|, to shape the compacted pellet of paper into a substantially spherical ball.

In preparing for a ball forming operation, arm I6 is swung to its full line insertion position, and a sheet of paper or other sheet material 43 is placed across the upper end of forming member 3| (see Fig. 1). When the pellets being formed are to be used in the filtering of oil, the sheet 43 may typically comprise a square sheet of newsprint paper of about five inches on each side. With the paper thus disposed across member 3|, downward movement of plunger 34 forces the paper downwardly through member 3| and into During its movement through funnel-like member 3|, the paper is progressively constricted in a manner forming increasingly deepening folds 44 in the paper extendin longitudinally along the plunger (see Fig. 3). The paper is ultimately reduced to an elongated folded mass, as seen in Fig. 4, and is displaced into cylinder 2|! in that elongated condition. Plunger 34 is then released for upward movement to its retracted position under the influence of spring 36.

With the elongated folded mass of paper contained within cylinder 20, arm I6 and the cylinder are swung to their broken line compaction positions above bottom wall 2|. The compaction plunger 38 is then displaced downwardly within the cylinder to longitudinally compact the paper into the Fig. 5 ball shaped form. After plunger 38 has been permitted to return upwardly, trigger 21 may be actuated to elevate cylinder 23 away from chamber bottom wall 2|, toexpose the paper ball for removal from cavity 29 in the bottom wall. Should the paper ball stick within cylinder 20 as it is moved upwardly, plunger 38 may again be actuated downwardly through the cylinder to forcibly eject the ball.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming pellets of crumpled sheet material comprising a compaction chamber having an open end, a funnel-like forming unit converging toward said open end of the chamber in one condition of the apparatus, means for forcing a sheet of material through the unit for progressive constriction thereby into an elongated folded mass and then into the chamber in a constricted condition, said chamber, unit and means being constructed to form folds in said material extending longitudinally of said mass uponsaid forcing of the material through said unit and into the chamber, a member then relatively movable in said chamber and acting by said relative movement to longitudinally compact the material while confined by the chamber, and means mounting-said member for said movement.

2. Apparatus for forming pellets of crumpled sheet material comprising a compaction cylinder having an open end, a funnel-like forming unit converging toward said open end of the cylinder in one condition of the apparatus, a first plunger of a transverse dimension smaller than said cylinder and mounted for movement axially through said forming unit and into the cylinder to force a sheet of material through the unit for progressive-con'striction thereby and then into the cylinder, means forming a transversely extending wall substantially closing said cylinder at the end opposite said open end, and a second plunger then movable into the cylinder toward said inner wall thereof and acting by said movement to compact the material into pellet form while confined by the chamber, means mounting said second plunger for said movement, said second plunger and inner wall of the cylinder having opposed hemisphericalcavities for forming the compacted material into an essentially spherical shape. I

3. Apparatus for forming pellets of crumpled sheet material comprising a pair of body sections relatively movable between first and second positions, a compaction chamber having an open end and including a portion carried by a first one of said sections, means for exerting against a sheet of material a force for displacing it through said end and into the chamber in a constricted condition, said means being positioned for so displacingthe sheet when the sections are in said first relative position, and a member carried by the second section and relatively movable in said chamber in a manner compacting the material while confined by the chamber, and means mounting said member for said movement when the sections are in said second relative position.

4. Apparatus for forming pellets of crumpled sheet material comprising a pair of body sections relatively movable between first and second positions, a compaction chamber having an open end and including a portion carried by 'a first one of said sections, a funnel-like forming unit converging toward said open end of the chamber when the sections are in said first relative position, a first plunger carried by said second section for exerting against a sheet of material disposed across said funnel-like unit a force for displacing said sheet through the unit and into the chamber, said plunger being positioned for so displacing the sheet when the sections are in said first relative position, a second plunger carried by the second section and relatively movable in said chamber in a manner compacting the material while confined by the chamber, means mounting said second plunger for said movement when the sections are in said second relative position. 7

5. Apparatus for forming pellets of crumpled sheet materialcomprising a tubular compaction barrel, a member forming a transversely extending wall near one end of said barrel, means for exerting against a sheet of material at the opposite end of the barrel a force for displacing it thereinto in a constricted condition, and a compaction member in addition to said means relatively movable into said opposite end of the barrel and toward said first mentioned member in a manner compacting the material into pellet form while confined by the chamber, said first member and barrel being relatively movable axially of the barrel a distance sufilcient to remove the pellet from the barrel.

6. Apparatus for forming pellets of crumpled sheet material comprising a frame, a member mounted to said frame for rotational movement between first and second positions and containing an elongated tubular compaction barrel, an element forming in said second position of the member a wall extending transversely of the barrel near one end thereof, a funnel-like forming unitcarried by the frame and converging toward the opposite end of the barrel in said first position of the member, a plunger mounted for reciprocation relative to the frame and positioned for movement through the forming unit and intothe chamber when the member is in said first position, said member acting to force a sheet of 6. material initially disposed across the forming unit through said unit for constriction thereby and then into the chamber, and a second reciprocable plunger movable into the chamber toward said transverse wall when the member is in said second position and acting by said movement to compact the sheet into pellet form while con-, fined by the chamber, said second plunger and transverse wall containing opposed substantially hemi-spherical cavities for forming the compacted material into a ball shaped pellet, and said wall element and barrel being relatively movable for removing the pellet from the barrel.

7. The method that comprises progressively deforming and constricting a sheet of material to- Ward an axis and from all sides of said axis, and then compacting said constricted material longitudinally of said axis while retaining the material against lateral expansion.

8. The method that comprises forcing a sheet of material through a converging funnel-like forming unit to progressively constrict the material into an elongated folded mass, and then longitudinally compacting said elongated mass While retaining it against lateral expansion.

9. The method of forming a pellet that comprises progressively and essentially circularly constricting a sheet of material into an elongated folded mass, then longitudinally compacting said mass into a pellet of crumpled sheet materiaLlaterally retaining a portion of said mass against transverse expansion during said compaction, and forming the pellet into an essentially spherical ball during its compaction.

10. The method of forming a pellet that comprises forcing a sheet of material through a converging funnel-like forming unit to progressively constrict the sheet into an elongated folded mass, displacing said elongated mass into an elongated tubular compaction chamber, and then longitudinally compacting said mass while retained by the chamber against lateral expansion.

11. Apparatus for forming pellets of crumpled sheet material including a compaction chamber having an open end, means for displacing a sheet of material through said end and into the chamber, means at said end of the chamber acting to progressively crumple said material into an elongated folded mass having folds extending longitudinally of the mass upon said displacement of the material into said chamber, and means then operable to longitudinally crumple and compact the material While confined by the chamber, said apparatus including means operable to exert against the compacted material a force for ejecting it from the chamber.

12. Apparatus for forming pellets of crumpled sheet material comprising a compaction chamber having a tubular side wall section with an open end, means for displacing a sheet of material into said chamber through said open end thereof, means at said end of the chamber acting to progressively crumple said material into an elongated folded mass having folds extending longitudinally of the mass upon said displacement of the material into said chamber, and a member then movable into the chamber and acting by said movement to longitudinally crumple said mass, said apparatus including a member having a portion movable through said tubular section of the chamber to eject the compacted material therefrom.

13. Apparatus including a forming unit containing a throat of progressively decreasing transverse dimension, and means operable to ad- Vance a sheet of material through said throat to progressively transversely crumple the material into an elongated folded mass, said forming unit and means being constructed to form folds in said material extending longitudinally of said mass upon said advancement of the material through said throat, said apparatus including means engaging said elongated folded mass at spaced locations therealong. and exerting longitudinal crumpling force thereagainst.

14. Apparatus including a forming unit containing a throat of progressively decreasing transverse dimension, and a plunger movable into said throat to advance a sheet of material therethrough and thereby progressively transversely crumple the material into an elongated folded mass, said forming unit and plunger being constructed to form folds in said material extending longitudinally of said mass upon said advancement of the material through said throat,

said apparatus including means engaging said elongated folded mass at spaced locations therealong and exerting longitudinal crumpling force thereagainst.

15. Apparatus including a forming unit containing a throat of progressively decreasing transverse dimension, and means operable to advance a sheet of material through said throat to progressively transversely crumple the material into an elongated folded mass, said forming unit and means being constructed to form folds in said material extending longitudinally of said mass upon said advancement of the material through said throat, said apparatus including a pair of compaction members then relatively movable toward each other and against opposite ends of said mass of material and acting by said movement to longitudinally crumple the material.

16. Apparatus comprising a compaction chamber having an open end, a forming unit containing a throat of progressively decreasing transverse dimension directed toward said end of the chamber, a first plunger movable axially through said throat and into the chamber and acting by said movement to advance a sheet of material through the unit for progressive transverse constriction thereby into an elongated foldedlmass and then into the chamber, said forming unit and plunger being constructed to form folds in said material extending longitudinally of said mass upon said advancement of the material through said throat, and a second plunger then movable into the chamber and acting by said movement to longitudinally compact said mass of material, and means mounting said plungers for said movements.

17. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, including a member having a portion movable through said chamber and acting by said movement to eject the compacted material therefrom, and means mounting said member for said movement.

18. The method comprising engaging a sheet of material essentially circularly about an axis and progressively and essentially circularly crumpling and constricting said material toward the axis, and then crumpling said material longitudinally of said axis while retaining the material against lateral expansion.

19. The method that-comprises forcing a sheet of material through an opening whose maximum transverse dimension is smaller than the smallest dimension of the sheet in the plane thereof to progressively constri'ct the material into an elongated folded mass, and then longitudinally crumpling and compacting :said elongated mass while retaining .it against lateral expansion.

20. The method as recited in claim 7., including laterally retaining said constricted material along its entire length against transverse expansion during said longitudinal compaction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,057,243 May Oct. 13, 1936 2,105A12 Edwards Jan. 11, 1938 2,106,864 Balton Feb. 1, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,680/34 Australia July 18, 1935 663,612 Germany Aug. 10, 1938

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