A recycling method includes the steps of compacting recyclable material into a fixed bale, and weighing the recyclable material, using load cells, independently of the compacting forces. Compacting equipment for performing the method includes balers with load cells and anchors, with the load cells weighing the baler and the recyclable material in the baler, and with the anchors anchoring the baler in place without interfering with the weighing.

A recycling method includes the steps of compacting recyclable material into a fixed bale, and weighing the recyclable material, using load cells, independently of the compacting forces. Compacting equipment for performing the method includes balers with load cells and anchors, with the load cells weighing the baler and the recyclable material in the baler, and with the anchors anchoring the baler in place without interfering with the weighing.

A retainer assembly for a waste container opening defining a longitudinal axis passing through a center of the opening includes a framework defining a first framework opening, and a pivotable finger assembly including a retainer portion, the retainer portion pivotably adjacent the first framework opening. The finger assembly includes a biasing element for urging the retainer portion toward the longitudinal axis. The retainer portion is movable against the biasing element away from the longitudinal axis to enable placement of waste materials into the waste container, and movable toward the longitudinal axis after waste materials have been placed into the waste container to impede movement of waste materials through the first framework opening out of the waste container.

A retainer assembly for a waste container opening defining a longitudinal axis passing through a center of the opening includes a framework defining a first framework opening, and a pivotable finger assembly including a retainer portion, the retainer portion pivotably adjacent the first framework opening. The finger assembly includes a biasing element for urging the retainer portion toward the longitudinal axis. The retainer portion is movable against the biasing element away from the longitudinal axis to enable placement of waste materials into the waste container, and movable toward the longitudinal axis after waste materials have been placed into the waste container to impede movement of waste materials through the first framework opening out of the waste container.

A system for pressing one or more stacks of one or more laminae (22), the system comprising: a tool including top (14b) and bottom plates (14a) configured to be disposed on opposing sides of each of one or more stacks (22) of one or more laminae, each of the plates (14a, 14b) having: a center region that overlies or underlies the stack(s) (22) when the stack(s) are disposed between the plates (14a, 14b); and tabs (174) that extend outwardly from edges of the center region and are configured to be coupled to a conveyor or one or more grippers for moving the plate; and a resilient layer (90) configured to be disposed between the top plate and the stack(s) (22) or the bottom plate (14a) and the stack(s) (22); wherein the resilient layer (90) is sized to be disposable between the plates such that, for each of the plates (14a, 14b): the resilient layer (90) overlies or underlies at least 90% of the center region; one or more portions of the resilient layer (90) neither overlie nor underlie the plate; and at least a portion of each of the tabs neither overlies nor underlies the resilient layer ((14a, 14b)). Also claimed is a method for producing laminates by pressing.

An efficient method and apparatus for making a compressed structural fiberboard from agricultural fibrous matter. The method and apparatus provides a conveyor having variable drives for carrying the agricultural fibrous matter; a hopper having variable drives for conditioning and delivering the agricultural fibrous matter to an extruder; the extruder having a cyclic ram with linear actuators and a floating plate to drive the cyclic ram between an extended position, wherein the agricultural fibrous matter is compacted into the compressed structural fiberboard, and a retracted position, wherein the agricultural fibrous matter is delivered to the extruder; synthetic oil heaters for heating the compressed structural fiberboard; a heat sink track cooler for cooling the compressed structural fiberboard; and a water jet cutting system for cutting the compressed structural fiberboard into individual boards.

The die cushion device according to the present invention includes a first hydraulic cylinder and a second hydraulic cylinder that are independently and simultaneously controlled. When a cushion pad is pre-pressurized, pressure control is performed on the first hydraulic cylinder via a first hydraulic circuit so that a pressure in a lower chamber of the first hydraulic cylinder is pre-pressurized to a preset pressure, and position control is simultaneously performed on the second hydraulic cylinder via a second hydraulic circuit so that the cushion pad is held in the die cushion standby position. A force with which the first hydraulic cylinder moves the cushion pad upward is balanced with a force with which the second hydraulic cylinder moves the cushion pad downward (a force for holding the die cushion standby position).

A securement device for a press tool including an angular exterior body having a side wall. A multitude of ratcheting bodies are located around a top edge of the exterior body. The ratchets include a ratchet bar. The ratchet bar has a plurality of ratchet grooves that allow the ratchet bars to be slide inward toward the interior of the exterior body and to be locked into place. An interior body is located within the exterior body such that it can be moved about and provide extra support for the ratchets.

Construction board is made by first hot-pressing particles in a continuous belt press to form a longitudinally extending, continuous and hot composite strand that is conveyed downstream from the press. Before substantial cooling of the boards and while it is at a predetermined temperature above ambient temperature, an edge of the strand is profiled into a nonsquare profiled contour. Then the strand is transversely severed to form a succession of boards.

A press brake includes elevating members each provided to respective one of a pair of support blocks so as to be able to ascend and descend, and extending vertically. A ball screw is provided to a first elevating member so as to be rotatable, and a nut member to be screwed into the ball screw is provided to a first support block. One end side of a stretch in the lateral direction is connected to an upper end portion of the first elevating, and the other end side of the stretch in the lateral direction is connected, so as to be rotationally movable, to an upper end portion of a second elevating member. A support mechanism for supporting the stretch from below is provided to the first elevating member, and an abutting member is provided to the stretch.