AU647837B2 - Improvements in apparatus for weighing of cut bales or a feed crop - Google Patents

Description

6478 37 00/o01 ReguLation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: PETER LAWFORD Attual Inventor(s): PETER LAWFORD Address for Service: CALLINAN LAWRIE, 278 High Street, Kew, 3101, Victoria, Australia Ilaention Title: "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING OF CUT BALES OR A FEED CROP" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: I~ T BE----COM

PLICANT----

Nam of Aplcat PEE AFR The present invention relates, in general terms, to improvements in equipment for use in the baling of hay, lucerne and the like material. The invention relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to an apparatus which itself allows for improved accuracy in the weighing of cut bales of hay, lucerne and the like material.

Throughout the ensuing description reference will be made to an especially preferred embodiment of an arrangement or apparatus in accordance with the present invention, being equipment or apparatus for the weighing of substantially square, rectangular, parallelepipedal or even circular (in cross-section) shaped bales. It should be realised, however, that the equipment or apparatus in accordance with the present invention would be equally suitable for the weighing 9 of any form of bale, regardless of its shape, size, etc.

Insofar as lucerne and other similar crops are concerned, taking into X account that such crops when baled may be sold for usage at a price according to T weight, then insofar as both the grower and the buyer are concerned it becomes important that an means for the accurate weighing of such bales is available. This matter of the actual weight of a bale can assume even more significance when one takes into account that, in some situations, contractor, concerned with the actual cutting and baling would prefer to be paid on the basis of the weight of crop cut and baled.

In the past, with one known arrangement the procedure for weighing has generally, if not invariably, involved the operator of the baling machine regularly stopping the machine, getting off the machine and perhaps weighing cut bales at random, using any known means. Such a procedure, in a practical sense, gave rise to significant delays in the final baling operation and accordingly was both time and cost expensive. In a more practical vein, such random weighing procedures did not lend themselves to any acceptable degree of accuracy or consistency, especially with the passage of time.

In accordance with prior art practices, bales of cut crop have been relatively small in size, weighing perhaps no more than 20 to 40 kgs. Bales of that weight and bulk or overall size were of course readily able to be handled and -2weighed, even by a single operator without other assistance. Prior art baling machines traditionally do not have any accurate weighing means associated therewith, and the only practical means of weighing the bales produced thereby entailed actually physically taking the cut bales to a remote relative to the actual baling machine weighing station. Whilst perhaps not being the most efficient procedure, such can be relatively easily managed when the bales are of such a size as to allow manual handling thereof.

Nowadays, however, there has been a swing to, if not a demand for, bales of a much larger size, having a gross weight of the order of from 300 to 1000 Kgs and physical dimensions of the order of 1.2m x 1.2m x 2.4m. With such heavier, larger and accordingly bulkier bales it is of course in practical terms not expedient, and more often than not impossible, to physically remove them from a point or position where the bales are deposited by the baling machine for subsequent weighing at a remote weighing station. It has therefore become of _lbkt paramount importance to have cut bales weighed at, or in the vicinity of, their point or place of formation, without there being any need to transport such bales elsewhere for purposes of weighing.

The present invention therefore seeks to overcome the S. aforementioned problems and disadvantages associated with the known art by providing an apparatus which allows for accurate weighing of a bale of any cut S. crop, at any given time and without it being necessary to in fact stop or interrupt in any way the operation of an associated baling machine.

-Th accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is provided S.j an apparatus for provi ng an indication as to the weight of a bale of a feed crop, such as hay, lucerne or the e, said apparatus being adapted to be associated with a baling machine, said appara including: platform means for receiving and retaining, for a finite period, a bale exifi from said baling machine, said bale being adapted to travel progressively along the th of said platform means, the plane of said platform means being spaced downwa from the plane of said baling machine by a finite distance; and means for weighing baid bale deposited aakpform-eansr-heeensa aid-PlatfQ m m---t 'r o)9' w 3 In accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is provided an apparatus for providing an indication as to the weight of a bale of a feed crop, such as hay, lucerne or the like, said apparatus being adapted to be associated with a baling machine, said apparatus including: platform means disposed substantially rearwardly of said baling machine for receiving and retaining, for a finite period whereby to allow for weighing thereof, a bale exiting from said baling machine, said bale being adapted to travel progressively along the length of said platform means, the plane of said platform means being spaced downwardly from the plane of said baling machine by a finite distance whereby to assist in movement of said bale therealong; and means for weighing of said bale deposited on said platform means, wherein individual bales once weighed are removed from said platform means by interaction with a succeeding bale exiting said baling machine, the arrangement allowing for separate and accurate weighing of each individual bale whilst in no way affecting the continuing operation of said baling machine.

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3a r- i- i iji 7 i rl. .1 rea.rvardly nf -air aling machinp, and wherin individrual balIes-oc ighed-ar-eremoved from atform means by interaction with a succeeding bale exiting said baling machine, whereby to a or separate weighting of each individual ha1p whilst in nn way affning the r-ntining operatn of aid baling mah-.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect there shall now be described in more detail preferred embodiments of a weighing apparatus in accordance with the invention, designed for use in conjunction with a baling machine. The ensuing description is given by way of non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of a bale o weighing apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; n an Fig. 3 is an exploded view of an alternative weighing arrangement on an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and w e, Figs. 4 to 8 illustrate successive steps or stages in the process of weighing a cut bale of crop as exiting from a baling machine, more particularly using an especially preferred embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the S present invention, from the time of first exiting the baling machine for location on 0 the weighing platform to the time of commencement of egress from the weighing platform.

The apparatus in accordance with the present invention is preferably designed or intended to be attached, in any known manner and by any suitable i means, to a baling machine of any known type, the arrangement being such that S 25 o the apparatus in accordance with the present invention is adapted to receive thereon bales of cut feed crop as produced by such a baling machine. With any baling apparatus bales are produced, of course, on a continuous basis and it is most practical and preferred to have the means for actually weighing cut bales sited directly behiid the point where the bales are in fact formed, this more especially when one takes into account the weight and sheer bulk of the bales (300 to 1000 Kgs). Practically speaking, with bales of such size it is extremely desirable -4to minimise, as much as possible, the need for handling and/or movement thereof.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 a bale weighing apparatus in accordance with the present invention, adapted to be connected to a baling machine or the like of any known type (not shown), includes a platform member 1 adapted, in use, to receive a bale 2 exiting the baling machine. Successive deposition onto the platform member 1 of subsequent bales in turn forces such cut bales 2, 2a, etc. along the platform member 1 from right to left (as viewed in Fig.

A bale 2 issuing from the baling machine travels along the platform member 1 until such time as it engages a so-called actuating or trip-lever 3 located at or in the vicinity of the remote end of the platform member 1. It should be realised, however, that more than one trip lever 3 may be employed, and that the actual location on this platform 1 of such trip lever(s) may be varied. In the especially Spreferred embodiment of Figs. 4 to 8, however, a single trip lever is located at or in the vicinity of that end of the platform nearest the baling machine. When the I trip member 3 of this preferred embodiment is contacted by the bale 2 it indicates that the bale 2 has exited completely from the baling machine, with all of the weight thereof then being or acting on the platform member or weighing table 1.

It then remains to actually weigh the bale 2 as thus disposed. Taking into account Sthe large size and bulk of the cut bales exiting the baling machine, to assist in movement thereof along the platform member 1, in the especially preferred embodiment as shown in Fig. 9 the platform member 1 will be disposed at an Sangle, such that the very weight of each bale 2 assists in movement thereof along the platform member 1. Again in the preferred embodiment of Fig. 1 the platform member 1, whether angularly disposed or not, preferably may have associated 2 therewith a plurality of roller means 4, which function to facilitate movement of a cut bale 2 along the platform member 1. In still another embodiment the angle of inclination of the platform member 1 may be adjustable.

In an especially preferred embodiment the weighing means involved is what might be termed a proportionate weighing means, utilising a pressure cylinder arrangement including a scale calibrated such that, dependent upon the pressure in the cylinder as caused by the downward force acting on the platform I member 1, as a result of the weight resident thereon, there is provided a direct indication of the weight of the bale 2 actually resting on that platform member 1.

Preferably, the weighing means will be supported on a parallelogram-type arrangement, as illustrated in Fig. which will sense the weight correctly regardless of where the bale 2 is sited on the platform member 1, in other words regardless of the position of the centre of gravity of the bale 2 (being weighed) relative to the platform member 1. After weighing of any bale 2 disposed on the platform member 1, that bale 2 will be displaced from the platform member 1 pushed off the apparatus to be deposited on the ground for subsequent collection or use by the following bale 2a.

In the embodiment illustrated in, for example, Fig. 1, there is shown the final section 11 of a baling chamber of a baling machine, adapted to feed cut t it t* I bales 2 onto the platform member 1. Associated therewith is a weighing means, generally designated 12, of the aforementioned proportionate type, including in general terms a hydraulic cylinder 13 mounted substantially vertically and a plurality of parallel linkages 14, said linkages 14 preferably being of substantially the same length. Preferably the linkages 14 are disposed substantially horizontally and will have their pivot points 15 vertically aligned as shown in Fig. 1. It should be realised, however, that the pivot points 15 need not be vertically aligned. The weighing means 12 is adapted to be connected, in any known way, to a support frame 20 which carries the platform 1 at the lowermost end thereof. With such an arrangement, the overall weighing apparatus should provide for ready monitoring of the weight of a cut bale 2, even despite the fact that such bale 2 is disposed on an angularly-inclined and extending platform member 1.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 the weighing means 12, with its parallel, horizontally disposed and vertically aligned linkages 14, is disposed at the uppFer end of the support frame 20 and baling chamber section 11. It should be realised, however, that other arrangements will be equally practical and usable. By way of example only, in an alternative embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, one linkage 14 can be mounted at or on the top of the frame 20 and baling chamber 11, with a second linkage 14a then being mounted at the bottom of the platform 1, pivoted -6i as at 15a, and beneath the chamber 11.

The principle of operation of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be explained in more detail, witi particular reference to Figs. 4 to 8 and an especially preferred embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

In a first stage of the overall process a bale 2 will leave the chamber 11 of the baling machine and travel outwardly therefrom in a right to left direction as viewed, for example, in Fig. 4. By virtue of the fact that the platform 1 is in effect disposed below the lower most point of the baling chamber 11, then initially at least the actuating or trip lever 3, preferably disposed at or in the vicinity of a forward end of the platform 1, will not be engaged by such a bale 2, by virtue of the extent of vertical separation which exists between the end of the baling .0 1 chamber 11 and that forward end of the weighing table 1. In a next stage of the S procedure, as the relevant bale 2 is further displaced from the baling chamber, or 1 in other words as a greater length of such a bale 2 is disposed outwardly of that baling chamber, a certain degree of sagging of the bale 2 may result, as shown in Fig. 5, dependent upon the density thereof. In actual fact a leading edge or end portion of the bale 2 will contact the platform 1 itself. However, the extent of vertical separation between the baling chamber and the platform 1 will still mean that the trip lever 3 has not yet been activated or actuated.

Once the bale 2 is completely clear of the baling chamber and settles onto the platform 1, as shown in Fig. 6, then the trip lever 3 will be activated.

Under such a circumstance the bale 2 will be in its most correct position for accurately monitoring the weight thereof, and weighing can be effected.

225 The next bale 2a exiting from the baling machine will then come into engagement with that bale 2 previously deposited on the platform 1 and cause such previously deposited bale 2 to be moved along such platform 1 in a right to left direction. In accordance with the present applicant's arrangement, however, that succeeding bale 2a will not yet be in engagement with the platform 1 itself, see Fig. 7, and hence such platform 1 will provide an accurate measurement only of the bale 2 fully deposited thereon and the relevant reading will be in no way -7- 7-

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affected by any succeeding bale 2a only partially exited from the baling chamber I itself.

i' In a final step in an overall weighing procedure, see Fig. 8, the succeeding bale 2a will cause the earlier deposited bale 2 to tip off the end of the platform 1. Such tipping off of a previously deposited bale 2 will be further assisted by the maiion of the overall apparatus (baling machine and platform or weighing table) in a left to right direction as viewed in Fig. 1. Finally, once the first mentioned bale 2 is totally displaced from the platform 1, then the weighing procedure will be in effect repeated for the or each succeeding bale 2a, 2b, etc.

once such succeeding bale is fully disposed on the platform 1.

It should be realised that the arrangements depicted in the drawings represent merely preferred embodiments of apparatus in accordance with the Sf- t Iinvention, each involving a so-called proportionate weighing means. It should also be realised, however, that othe7. means are equally feasible and usable for tI achieving such a result, as for example electronic weighing means, computerprogrammed weighij:g means or the like.

In accordance with the present applicant's apparatus each bale 2, 2a, 2b issuing from the baling machine is effectively immediately weighed, before being deposited on the ground or on an appropriate carriage or cartage means.

As such, the bales will be weighed directly behind the baling chamber, with there not being any need for intermediate handling or movement of the bale. Since the bales being weighed are of a significant size of the order of 1000 Kgs in weight then there should be no problem with interference between succeeding or successive bales, since bales of such a size are produced at a much slower rate 425 than, for example, the smaller bales previously in vogue (of the order of say 20 to Kgs in weight). In a practical sense, some additional means of forcing a weighed bale off the platform member 1 could be provided. Practically speaking, however, a bale once weighed should be capable of being pushed off the platform member 1 by the next bale exiting from the baling machine.

In accordance with another example of the prior art accurate weighing was achieved on what are termed bale accumulating machines, -8-

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themselves attached to the overall baling machine. Such accumulating machines deposit on the ground, in substantially the same position, a plurality 3 or more) of bales exiting from the baling machine. The present applicant's arrangement, which makes possible accurate weighing of cut bales in an extremely simple, and accordingly inexpensive manner, can therefore be seen to represent a pronounced advance or improvement over the somewhat sophisticated, and hence expensive, prior art arrangements.

The arrangement in accordance with the invention, as previously described, relies for its effectiveness on retaining a single bale totally on the platform 1 for a sufficient period of time to allow for a better, more accurate, measurement of the weight thereof. In accordance with the present applicant's o arrangement there exists a finite period during which time only a single bale is S disposed in a weight measuring condition or position on the overall platform or weighing table 1. Since only a single bale is being weighed at any given time, then the degree of accuracy of weighing can be expected to be accordingly increased.

Preferably the vertical and horizontal spacing between the baling chamber and the weighing table should be kept as small as possible, whereby to reduce the degree of overhang of a bale exiting from the baling chamber and accordingly reduce any stresses associated therewith and/or included thereby, yet at the same time allow for identification of the correct bale position for the most accurate weighing thereof.

Finally it should be realised that the aforegoing description refers merely to preferred embodiments of the invention and that variations and modifications will be possible thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the ambit of which is to be determined from the following claims.

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Claims (12)

1. An apparatus for providing an indication as to the weight of a bale of a feed crop, such as hay, lucerne or the like, said apparatus being adapted to be associated with a baling machine, said apparatus including: platform means disposed substantially rearwardly of said baling machine for receiving and retaining, for a finite period whereby to allow for weighing thereof, a bale exiting from said baling machine, said bale being adapted to travel progressively along the length of said platform means, the plane of said platform means being spaced downwardly from the plane of said baling machine by a finite distance whereby to assist in movement of said bale therealong; and means for weighing of said bale deposited on said platform means, wherein individual bales once weighed are removed from said platform means by interaction with a succeeding bale exiting said baling machine, the arrangement allowing for separate and accurate weighing of each individual bale whilst in no way affecting the continuing operation of said baling machine.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said platform means is of the free-floating type, with the spatial location thereof giving an indication as to the weight of a bale thereon.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, including actuating means adapted to operate said means for weighing, said actuating means being in the form of at least one trip or position lever disposed on said platform means for S engagement by a bale to be weighed.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including at least one trip lever locate on said platform means at the end thereof closest to said baling machine, the S arrangement being such that said trip lever is actuated only when a bale to be weighed has fully exited the baling machine, whereby to allow for accurate weighing of a bale resident on said platform means.

The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said weighing means is in the form of a proportionate weighing means, including a pressure-actuated cylinder-piston arrangement or the like, with the pressure in said cylinder giving an indication as to the weight of a bale disposed on said platform means.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said proportionate weighing means includes said cylinder, mounted substantially vertically relative to said apparatus, and a plurality of parallel linkages associated therewith, said proportionate weighing means being operatively connected to said platform means, the arrangement being such that the extent of downward movement of said platform caused by a bale disposed thereon, as represented by the pressure in said cylinder, provides an accurate indication of the weight of said bale.

7. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said platform means includes electronic or electrical or computer-operated means associated therewith operable to provide an indication as to the weight of a bale disposed thereon.

8. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said platform means is angularly disposed relative to said baling machine and the ground, whereby to facilitate movement of a cut bale therealong.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said angular disposition of said platform means is adjustable.

The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said platform means includes a plurality of rollers disposed at intervals along the length thereof, whereby to facilitate movement of a bale therealong.

11. An apparatus for providing an indication as to the weight of a bale of a S: feed crop, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying 4 drawings.

12. A baling machine, including an apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. DATED this 24th day of November 1993. PETER LAWFORD By their Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE 11 r ABSTRACT An apparatus which is, in use, intended to be attached at the rear of a baling machine of any known type includes a platform means preferably inclined to the ground, to be sited rearwardly of a baling machine that platform means including at least one lever which, upon being engaged or activated by a bale of cut crop emanating form the baling machine allows i for weighing of that bale by a proportionate weighing means (12) disposed between the platform means and the baling machine (11). t I j:d 12-