Disclosed are embodiments of a system and method for baling recyclable materials and managing the baling of recyclable materials. The apparatus for baling includes a baler for compressing and baling recyclable materials, a scale, label printer, and a processor. Certain embodiments further comprise at least one digital camera, RFID dispenser, and an internet connection that allows the processor to transmit collected data to a remote database for further analysis. The disclosed method for baling recyclable materials comprising the steps of baling materials; weighing the bale automatically using a digital scale operably connected to the processor; recording the weight of the bale automatically; and printing a label which displays the recorded weight of the bale. Additionally, the method may comprise inputting information and/or automatically recording data, and/or automatically transmitting the data associated with a bale to a remote database.

A storage receptacle can include a storage bin and a pedal mounted to the receptacle as well as a hopper. A method of using the storage receptacle can include receiving a force on a hopper handle of a hopper of a storage receptacle, the hopper having a cable connection point connected to a cable, based on the force, rotating the hopper to enable a user to place material in a storage bin of the storage receptacle, wherein the rotating causes the cable to have slack and preventing the cable having the slack from coming out of a groove in a pulley via a shroud positioned over at least a portion of the pulley.

A baling press for baling cotton gin trash and other particulate biomass feedstock. The baling press generally includes an infeed chute assembly, a compression ram assembly, an extrusion chamber assembly, a strapping storage and dispensing assembly, and a strapping insertion assembly. The present invention also relates to methods of producing a bale with the baling press and a bale generated by the baling press and described methods.

An extension for connection to a vehicle can include a first side, a second side, a ceiling, and a bottom, the first side opposing the second side and the ceiling opposing the bottom, each of the first side and second side connected to the ceiling and the bottom; a partition arranged between the first side and the second side; and a baler, wherein the ceiling, the first side, the bottom, and the partition define a storage compartment, wherein the ceiling, the second side, the bottom, and the partition define a baler compartment, and wherein the baler is arranged within the baler compartment, the baler comprising a compression system and a baling system.

The method or process described is directed at conditioning and packaging freshly chopped biomass such that it can be stored for a long period of time without spoilage and such that the packaged chopped biomass is easily transportable and its composition and other properties remain stable.

A compactor (1) for waste material comprises a housing (3) for receipt of a bag (4), the housing comprising sidewalls (11, 12) including at least one openable sidewall (13), and a compacting press comprising an actuator to force material into the bag when it is housed in the housing. At least one of the sidewalls comprises two adjacent panels (14, 15) connected by articulation means (16) allowing the sidewall to fold during a compaction operation. The folding of the sidewall has been found to dissipate the stresses caused by the pressure in the bag/housing due to the changing geometry and the movement of waste material into regions of lower density or voids created by the changed geometry.

A gear assembly is disclosed for driving a ram arranged in a pressing channel of a square baler so as to be movable between end positions. The gear assembly comprises at least one side gear, which may be driven indirectly by a power take-off shaft of an agricultural production machine, and at least one reduction gear which is connected downstream from the at least one side gear and may be connected on the output side to a crankshaft on which the ram is mounted. The gear assembly further includes at least one flywheel that is connected between the at least one side gear and the at least one reduction gear, and at least one shiftable clutch device that is connected between the at least one flywheel and the at least one reduction gear.

A method for pressing bales of material in a baler is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of feeding the material into the baler through an inlet, pre-compressing the material under a number of compressing cycles by a first press, transporting the pre-compressed material by a transport unit into a second press, and compressing the pre-compressed material by the second press into a finished bale of compressed material. The step of transporting the pre-compressed material by a transport unit into a second press is conducted in a space of the baler, such that an undesirable expansion of the pre-compressed material can be prevented. A baler for pressing bales of material is also disclosed.

A rotary drive transmission is provided for a baler including a bale chamber, a plunger that compresses bale material in the bale chamber, a drive mechanism that drives reciprocating movement of the plunger, and a flywheel connected to a rotary input of the drive mechanism. The rotary drive transmission includes a rotary drive part, a rotary driven part that drives rotation of the flywheel, and a torsional drive transfer device that transfers rotary drive between the rotary drive part and the rotary driven part. The torsional drive transfer device includes a resilient element and is configured to allow limited relative rotation in the drive direction between the rotary drive part and the rotary driven part against a reaction force provided by the resilient element.

A recycling apparatus for positioning within a canning facility receives pallets of damaged or otherwise unusable unfilled aluminum cans, and discharges the layers of cans within a depalletizer into a discharge chute which communicates with the hopper of a baler which compresses the cans and forms a compact bale which is then shipped to a recycled metal processor. The apparatus may be operated as a service to the canner charged on a per pound recovered basis.