Leaf compactor and baler

Abstract

An apparatus 10 for compacting and baling leaves, grass clippings, sticks, pine straw and other debris on lawns, yards, or fields is provided. The apparatus 10 may have diagonal brushes 26 to gather debris for processing though a crusher 28, a conveyor belt 30 to transport the crushed debris, and a baler 32 to compact and bale the debris. The baler 32 may compact the debris by rotating the debris in a continuous band 52, into which baling material 72 may be inserted to bale the debris. Alternatively, the debris may be gathered and feed into a crusher 28 that deposits the crushed debris directly into the baler 32 for compacting and baling. Further still, the apparatus 10 may gather the debris with brushes 26 and feed it onto a conveyor mechanism 30 that then introduces it into a crusher 28. The crushed debris may then be feed into a baling mechanism 32 that compacts and bales the debris for easy removal and disposal. In its various embodiments, the present invention may be connected to a prime mover 20 or alternatively connected to a portable base with a motor for driving the device 10.

1. A leaf and yard debris collection and baling apparatus, comprising:
 a) at least one brush for gathering said leaves and yard debris, said brush rotatably connected to a frame of said apparatus and rotating so as to direct said leaves and yard debris along the  a centerline of said apparatus;  
 b) a crusher assembly, said crusher assembly comprising 
 at least one pair of crushing rollers rotatably connected to said frame of said apparatus, each of said crushing roller rollers further comprising a plurality of crushing vanes,  
 a scissoring roller rotatable  rotatably connected to said frame of said apparatus, said scissoring roller comprising a plurality of paired scissoring vanes, wherein one of  each paired scissoring vane of said plurality of paired scissoring vanes is  having a stationary and its paired scissoring vane rotates  cutting vane and a rotating cutting vane, said rotating cutting vane is rotated by said scissoring roller and associated with said scissoring roller  stationary cutting vane to generate a scissoring action, and  
 a plurality of paddles rotatably connected to said frame of said apparatus and interleaved between each of said plurality of paired scissoring vanes;  
 
 c) a conveyor assembly, said conveyor assembly comprising a conveyor belt, said conveyor belt including a plurality of finger-like projections to aid in maintaining said crushed leaves and yard debris on said conveyor belt;  
 d) a baling assembly, said baling assembly comprising 
 a fixed baling roller,  
 a moveable baling roller, wherein each of said fixed and moveable baling rollers are rotatably connected to said frame of said apparatus and  
 a continuous baling band located about said fixed and moveable baling rollers, and wherein said fixed and moveable baling rollers serve to admit and maintain said crushed leaves and yard debris within said continuous baling band for additional compaction and baling.  
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises  at least one brush is three brushes: a primary brush and two secondary brushes and wherein said primary brash  brush lies at the  a proximal end of said crushing assembly and such other gathering brushes are set at an angle to said apparatus'  centerline of said apparatus' so as to direct said leaves and yard debris toward the primary brush. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said crushing rollers rotate in the same direction. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said paddles serve to expel said crushed leaves and yard debris onto said conveyor belt for transportation to said baler  baling assembly. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said fixed baling roller is affixed at each end to a pair of main drive gear assemblies and each end of said moveable baling roller passes through an opening in one of said paired main drive gear assemblies, and wherein said baling assembly is opened and closed through the rotational motion of said main drive gear assemblies which either separate or bring together said fixed and moveable baling rollers, respectively. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a spring-biased friction roller holds the continuous baling band tightly against the moveable baling roller and wherein as respective one of said baling roller rollers rotate about their respective axes, said spring-biased friction roller ensures said continuous baling band similarly rotates about said baling rollers. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein upon receipt of said leaves and yard debris, said paired main drive gear are rotated so as to bring said fixed and moveable baling rollers together and close said continuous baling band about said leaves and yard debris and wherein baling material is introduced between said fixed and moveable baling rollers into said leaves and yard debris so as to bale it within said baling material. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said paired main drive gears are capable of rotating the baler assembly such that moving said fixed and moveable baling rollers apart allows  the baled leaves and yard debris to fall out of said baler assembly. 
     
     
       9. A yard waste gathering and baling apparatus, comprising:
 a) a crusher assembly; wherein said crusher assembly comprises  comprising at least one pair of crusher rollers which rotate in the same direction, each of said rollers having a corresponding set of interdigitating crushing vanes which rotate in the same direction , and at least one rotating scissoring roller, wherein  said scissoring roller has  having a plurality of paired scissoring vanes and wherein one of  each paired scissoring vane of said plurality of paired scissoring vanes is  comprising a rotating cutting vane and an associated stationary cutting vane and its corresponding vane rotates  wherein each said rotating cutting vane is rotated with said scissoring roller to engage said associated stationary cutting vane to generate a  scissoring action ;  
 b)  a  baling assembly, wherein said baling assembly further comprises a continuous baling band for receipt of said crushed yard waste and wherein said yard waste is compacted and baled within said band; and  
 c) wherein both of said crusher and baling assemblies are affixed within a frame of said apparatus.  
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a plurality of brushes for gathering said yard waste. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said crusher assembly further comprises at least one scissoring roller with a plurality of paired fixed and rotatable scissoring vanes. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim  11    9 , wherein said baling assembly further comprises a fixed baling roller and a moveable baling roller within said continuous baling band for use in both maintaining open or dosing  closing said band, as well as, translating rotational motion to said band. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said rotational motion is translated to said continuous baling band by said fixed and moveable baling rollers with the aid of a spring-biased friction roller, wherein said continuous baling band is moved between said rotating fixed baling roller and said spring-biased friction roller. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein fixed and moveable baling rollers may be brought together to close said continuous baling band about said crushed yard waste and wherein baling material may be introduced into said closed continuous band so as to bale said yard waste within said rotating continuous baling band. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said baling assembly may rotate to expel the baled yard waste through an opening in the bottom of the assembly. 
     
     
       16. A method of compacting and baling leaves and yard debris, comprising the steps of:
 a) gathering said leaves and yard debris;  
 b) crushing said leaves and yard debris in a crusher assembly, wherein said crusher assembly comprises at least one pair of crushing rollers, each of said rollers having a plurality of paired and corresponding crushing vanes and at least one scissoring roller, said at least one scissoring roller having a plurality of paired scissoring vanes, wherein one of  each pair of said plurality of paired scissoring vanes is stationary and its corresponding vane rotates with  comprising a rotating cutting vane and a corresponding stationary cutting vane, and wherein each said rotating cutting vane is rotated by said the scissoring roller;  
 c) depositing said  crushed leaves and yard debris into a baler assembly;  
 d) compacting said  crushed leaves and yard debris within a rotating continuous baling band; and  
 e) inserting baling material into said rotating band to bale said  crushed leaves and yard debris.  
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing within said rotating continuous baling band both a fixed and a moveable baling roller. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein said baling rollers together with a spring-biased friction roller serve to introduce rotational motion to said rotating continuous band.