AU739425B2

AU739425B2 - A method for sheathing bales of plants and equipment for implementing same

Info

Publication number: AU739425B2
Application number: AU10379/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gerard Lucas
Original assignee: Lucas G SA
Current assignee: Lucas G SA
Priority date: 1997-10-30
Filing date: 1998-10-29
Publication date: 2001-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2018-10-29
Also published as: DE69803695T2; EP1026936A1; EP1026936B1; NO20002180D0; NZ504243A; NO20002180L; ATE212499T1; DE69803695D1; NO313852B1; CA2307756A1; AU1037999A; WO1999022585A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a sheathing method which consists in depositing on the sheathing carrier, upstream of the supports storing the tubular plastic film, a bale carried by a handling equipment, which is itself associated with a tractor (3). Said bale (2) is pushed and slides on the carrier base plate (10), against the preceding bale, by means of a pusher-ejector device (25) which, in response, causes the handling equipment to move simultaneously driving the tractor (3) and, by means of a crosspiece (27) arranged beneath the frame (5) of the pusher-ejector, the carrier (1) by means of a stop (26) integral with the two rails constituting the base plate (10) whereon said bale is set. The travel of the pusher (25) is at least equal to the bale (2) length for moving the carrier (1) by a step corresponding to said length.

Description

A METHOD FOR SHEATHING BALES OF PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT FOR IMPLEMENTING THE SAME This invention concerns a method for sheathing bales of plants, fodder or other, under a plastic film.

This invention also relates to the material used for sheathing bales of plants, fodder or other, under plastic film, round bales as well as parallelepipedic bales.

This material consists on the one hand of a storing and drawing frame for the plastic film in order to form a kind of funnel, as described in the In document CA-111 546 for round bales and, on the other hand, loading means that enable placing the bales one after the other into said funnel.

The drawing frame is mounted on a carrier that is, moreover, suitably arranged upstream of said drawing frame, for accommodating, centring and guiding each bale as it is pushed into the funnel whose inlet is formed and held 15 open with sufficient diameter by said drawing frame.

The carrier can be moved as the bales are inserted, as described in the document GB-2 227 220, by a step corresponding to the length of these bales, directly by the vehicle that handles the bales, i.e. a transport vehicle such as a *.farming tractor fitted for example with a loading arm or similar.

20 Handling these bales on the fields does not enable accurate positioning .of the bales on the carrier or reliable sheathing; the latter operation calls for a *certain skill on the operator's part.

This invention suggests means that enable simplification of this sheathing operation and especially ensure fast execution of said operation.

Besides, the method according to the invention enables improvement of the compacting of the bales with respect to one another inside the sheath.

Preferably, this sheath is made of plastic material; it is preferably stretched to enable insertion of the bales and then, after leaving the drawing frame, it resumes its normal position while compressing the periphery of the bales.

The sheathing method according to the invention using a sheath-carrier that moves as the sheath is being filled, includes: a method for sheathing bales of plants into a tubular plastic film forming 2 a sheath, using a carrier that moves as the sheath is being filled, includes: handling a bale by means of a transport vehicle fitted with a handling tool that is for instance equipped with spindles, laying the bale on the carrier, upstream of the supports of a drawing frame enabling storage of the tubular plastic film, pushing the bale inside the sheath, resting against the previous bale, moving the carrier by a step matching the length of the bale, wherein this operation includes pushing said bale by means of said handling tool equipped with a pusher-ejector device whose movement causes, by reaction and simultaneously, the reverse motion of said vehicle, whereas said tool is arranged to cause simultaneously said carrier to move over a distance corresponding at least to the length of the bale said last on said carrier.

This method enables using relatively simple tool. The sheathing carrier does not need any permanent energy source. It has a passive role throughout the sheathing operation.

*..The invention also relates to a handling tool for use with a transport vehicle such 15 as a farming tractor, for implementing the method according to claim 1, wherein said handling tool includes a frame on which is mounted at least a pair of spindles and a pusher-ejector integrated to the spindle-carrying frame, behind said spindles, which frame includes fastening means to the three-point coupling system of a tractor or on a conventional loading arm arranged at the front of said tractor, and wherein the handling 20 tool includes means for moving the transport vehicle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pusher-ejector device consists of a kind of compasses retracted into the frame of the handling tool and that extend under the effect of a hydraulic actuator, for instance, controlled from the tractor by the operator, which compasses extend over a travel that is at least equal to the length of the bale, in order to eject said bale from the spindles and to move simultaneously by reaction, the tractor and the sheathing carrier by a step corresponding to the travel of the pusher, at least the length of the bale ejected.

Still according to the invention, the compasses consist of a first leg whose length corresponds more or less to the width or the diameter of the bale, which leg is articulated at one of its ends on an axle integral with the spindlecarrying frame and, of a second leg articulated at the other end of the first leg, and that is fitted at its free end, with a pusher centred more or less on the longitudinal axis of the tractor, which first leg is mobile under the effect of an actuator that is mounted on the spindle-carrying frame and this first leg causes, when moving, the second leg to extend so that said pusher remains more or less centred on said longitudinal axis throughout its travel.

Still according to the invention, the second leg extends using a chain or cable that winds around a pulley section that is centred on its axis of articulation, at the end of the first leg of the compasses, which cable is integral i at one of its ends, with said sector of the second leg and at its other end, with the spindle-carrying frame at one point selected to enable displacement of the pusher along the longitudinal axis of the tractor, i.e. along a line more or less on the middle vertical plane of the spindles, or still the middle vertical plane of the bale to be laid on the sheathing carrier and picked up by said spindles.

Under certain operating conditions, the cable of the pusher may become slack and leave its guiding system at the angle of the compasses.

This invention suggests using a roller chain, a double chain for instance, to ensure extension of the compasses, which double roller chain advantageously maintains high stiffness on a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of its rollers, i.e. on the extension plane of the compasses, which plane is for example horizontal.

Still according to the invention, the spindle-carrying frame comprises at its lower section, a crosspiece in the form of a heel or shoe that, on the one hand, serves as a marker to the operator with respect to the ground, to enable accurate spindling of the bales and, on the other hand, serves as a coupling means for pulling the sheathing carrier, by reaction during the ejection of the bale pushed onto the spindles, which member co-operates to that effect with a stop integral with said carrier.

The invention also concerns the sheathing carrier for implementing the method, which carrier co-operates with the handling tool and comprises, upstream of the drawing frame, a kind of base plate consisting of the upstream section of the rails integral with the frame of said carrier, and that extend over a length equal to at least twice the length of a bale, which rails are cantilever at their downstream end, i.e. on the sheathing side, and they comprise a fixed or removable stop system at their upstream end that co-operates with the heel or shoe of said tool in order to move said carrier by reaction, when the bale is ejected by means of the pusher of said handling tool.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the position of the stop on the rails is adjustable to suit the length of the bales and these rails may also comprise a second stop arranged downstream, preferably removable to enable sheathing of the last bale for example; this second removable stop is In situated at a distance from the upstream stop that is at least equal to the length of a bale.

Taking into account the size and the weight of the bales, the invention suggests a stop system that makes handling of the bales easier, and in particular their placement on the carrier.

is To that effect, the carrier comprises an area for laying the bales in the form of a base plate, made preferably of two rails separated by a distance that corresponds more or less to the radius of said bales; these guiding rails are situated as low as possible with respect to the ground and are extended downstream of the base plate in order to form a tilted plane at the inlet of the carrier; the space between the upstream extensions of the rails enable to accommodate a plate that co-operates to guide the bales as they are positioned by the tractor and the tool associated with said tractor. This guiding plate is articulated around a transversal and horizontal axis arranged at the upstream end of the legs of the rails, maintained elastically in a protruding position and capable of being retracted automatically when a bale is inserted.

This plate also serves as a stop system and co-operates with the handling tool.

The latter comprises a crosspiece in the form of a heel or shoe that retracts the plate automatically, and the latter can play a warning role as it resumes its normal stop position as soon as the handling tool has reached its normal bale unloading position. In this position, the stop is interposed between the crosspiece of the frame of the handling tool and the tractor vehicle, which causes during the ejection of the bale, by simple reaction, i.e. when the pusher of said tool rests on the bale, the tractor and the carrier simultaneously to move back, whereas the tractor is pushed directly by the frame of the handling tool whereas the carrier is pulled by said frame thanks to the stop installed upstream of said carrier.

Such arrangement of the inlet of the carrier with a stop in the form of a guiding plate, enables to limit vertical displacement of the bale and of the handling tool to the strict minimum.

The frame of the handling tool comprises, on the side of the tractor vehicle, means that enable to fasten it directly to the three-point coupling i system of said tractor, as well to the rear as to the front of the tractor according to the equipment of said tractor, or to a carrier device mounted at the front of said tractor.

Moreover, this handling tool may fit other bale handling means such as for instance a barrel-type loading device such as described in the document FR-2 530 117; in such a case, there are as many handling tools as bales, for example three tools arranged in a star pattern.

Still according to the invention, the upstream section of the rails carrying the stop, forms a kind of frame that is articulated on said rails or the chassis of the carrier, around a horizontal and transversal axis, which frame is foldable at right angle and lockable in this retracted position by means of tension rods or similar and said chassis and said frame are arranged to enable fastening of said carrier to the conventional three-point coupling system of a tractor in order to move the carrier as required. In such a case, the handling tool can be placed on the carrier, to be transported by the latter.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the carrier comprises at the guiding rails, guides to protect the plastic film during the introduction of the bales, which guides also enable centring of the bales in the funnel formed by the plastic sheath stretched on the drawing frame arranged on the carrier.

Still according to the invention, the chassis of the carrier is arranged in order to place the guiding rails of the bales as close to the ground as possible.

In their upstream section, the rails are situated at a height compatible with the normal lifting capacity of a tractor when the latter is fitted with a handling tool fixed directly to its three-point lifting system. In their downstream section, the rails are situated a few centimetres above the ground, no more than 10 cm, so that generally these rails form a guiding plane that delineates an angle S with respect to the ground of approximately 5 to 70 The equipment according to the invention is also advantageously compact. The length of the guiding rails of the bales, downstream of the stop, is approximately twice and a third of the bales.

The invention will also be detailed using the following description and appended drawings given for exemplification purposes, and on which: figure 1 represents, in a schematic lateral view, the sheathing carrier with the portion of a farming tractor fitted with a bale handling tool; figure 2 shows an assembly variation of the handling tool that is carried by a lifting arm with which a farming tractor is equipped; figure 3 represents, in the form of a functional diagram, the elements making up the handling tool with the compasses in retracted and extended position; figure 4 represents a lateral view, and still in the form of a functional diagram, of certain elements making up the handling tool, with the compasses in extended position; figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the carrier seen from above, with notably the drawing frame, the guiding rails and the stop system; figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the front section of the carrier showing the upstream end of the guiding rails, and the stop in a position retracted by a bale that is carried by the handling tool; figure 7 shows the stop in active position when the bale rests on the carrier, before implementing the pusher; figure 8 shows the system arranged at the front of the carrier to enable fastening it to a three-point coupling of a tractor.

Figure 1 shows schematically the carrier 1 on which lie bales 2 that are fed by a tractor 3.

The tractor 3 comprises, conventionally, a three-point type coupling system 4 on which is mounted the frame 5 of a tool 6 enabling to handle the bales 2. The three-point coupling system co-operates with anchoring points 7 arranged on the vertical face 9 of the frame The three-point coupling system 4 has sufficient clearance to collect the bales 2 on the ground and to raise them to sufficient height before presenting them to the inlet of the carrier 1, on a base plate 10 consisting for example of a pair of rails 11 arranged longitudinally.

The frame 5 of the handling tool comprises spindles 12 that engage into the bale 2 halfway up. An additional spindle 12, arranged at the lower section of the frame 5, can engage into the lower section of the bale, to improve its stability with respect to the handling tool.

0 The length of these spindles is for example approximately half the length of a bale 2.

The three-point coupling system comprises, conventionally, two lower coupling bars 13 and according to the handling requirements, a third telescopic point consisting of an actuator 14.

This actuator 14 enables tilting the frame 5 of the handling tool 6 as required to assist, for instance, the placement of the bales on the carrier, before the drawing frame 16.

The bales 2 are placed one behind another in a sheath 17. This sheath 17 is stored in the form of superimposed layers 19 at the drawing frame 16, 2o which layers are carried by supporting arms 20 arranged for instance in such a fashion as to form a six-sided polygon for sheathing round bales or to form a square for sheathing parallelepipedic bales. These supporting arms 20 pull the layers 19 of the sheath apart, thereby forming a kind of funnel to enable the passage of the different bales 2.

The carrier 1 is capable of moving on the ground. It comprises to that effect wheels 21 arranged at the base plate 10 and, at the rear, it may comprise pads 22 and/or wheels as well. Preferably, the frame of the carrier and its rails 11 are tilted with respect to the ground by an angle S of 5-7* for example and the downstream end of said rails is very close to the ground, a few centimetres, ten or so, to enable smooth formation of the sheath and of the bale 'sausage'.

The handling tool 5 comprises a pusher 25 detailed below in relation to figures 3 and 4, which pusher presses the bale 2 against the bale laid previously and that is situated downstream of the drawing frame 16. When the pusher 25 touches and bears against the face 2' of the bale that it is carrying, it rests on the latter and it is the frame 5 of said pusher 25 that moves by reaction, driving the tractor 3 and the carrier 1 that, as it moves, unwinds the layers 19 automatically in order to pack up the last bales.

The travel C of the pusher 25, figure 3, corresponds at least to the length of a bale 2 and the length of the guiding rails 11 is greater than twice the length of a bale. The rails 11 can also be extended at their downstream section in order to hold the bale longer, once it has left the drawing frame 16.

The displacement of the carrier 1 by reaction is caused by the presence of a stop 26 arranged upstream of the base plate 10 between extensions 11' situated at the front end of the rails 11. This stop 26 co-operates with a crosspiece 27 arranged under the frame 5 of the handling tool. When the bale 2 carried by the tool is fed onto the base plate 10, this crosspiece 27 extends above the upstream end of the rails 11, between the face 2' of the bale 2 in question and the active section of the stop 26 detailed below.

Figure 2 shows an assembly variation of the handling tool 6. Said tool is fixed on a loading arm 30 mounted conventionally at the front of the tractor 3.

This arm 30 comprises at its front end a plate 31 whose movement around the axis 32 is controlled by an actuator 33. The anchoring points 7 of the tool 6 are attached to the plate 31 provided to this end.

The operation of the handling tool 6 is the same, whatever its situation on the tractor, which tractor may besides comprise several tools provided at the front and at the rear.

Figures 3 and 4 represent in the form of functional diagrams, the handling mechanism of the pusher of the tool 6.

The movement of the pusher 25 is obtained for instance by means of a compasses-type device accommodated in the spindle-carrying frame 5. These compasses that are advantageously compact, consist of a first leg 35 whose length is close to the width or the diameter of the bale 2 if the bale is round.

This leg 35 is articulated on an axle 36 integral with the frame 5. This first leg is horizontal and comprises at its free end a second leg 37 articulated around an axis 39 provided at the end of said first leg, which second leg 37 comprises at its other end, the pusher 25 mounted on an axle The first leg 35 is mobile by means of an actuator 41 that is attached to an axle 42 integral with the frame 5. The operator controls this actuator from the tractor. The extension of the first leg 35 around its articulation axle 36 causes the second leg 37 to pivot round the axle 39 that is common with the first leg The purpose of this pivoting is to maintain the pusher 25 and in particular its axle 40 on the longitudinal axis of the tractor, which axis also to corresponds to the middle vertical plane of the carrier when the loader has laid a bale on said carrier.

The pusher 25 is articulated on the axle 40 and held by a low tension spring 43 that tends to bring it back to the leg 37.

The co-ordinated movement of the legs 35 and 37 of the compasses is performed using a cable or a chain 44, that reels around a circular sector 45 in the form of portion of a pulley or of a pinion for instance; this sector 45 is centred on the articulation axle 39, integral with said second leg. The cable or chain is attached at its end 46 on an extension of the sector 45, in an adjustable fashion and at its other end to a fixed point 47 integral with the frame 5, which point 47 is selected in order to obtain quasi-rectilinear displacement of the pusher 25, along the longitudinal axis of the tractor, as mentioned previously.

It can be noted that a large portion of the cable 44 is situated between the first leg 35 and the actuator 41.

The link between the actuator 41 and the leg 35 uses a cap 48 through which runs the chain 44, and the actuator 41 is articulated on this cap by means of an axle 49.

A return spring 50 is interposed between the first and the second leg to maintain the cable 44 in traction and to enable automatic return of said second leg.

The chain 44 consists preferably of a double roller chain as represented separately on figure 3. This roller chain is advantageously rigid on a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of its rollers, which plane corresponds to the spreading plane of the compasses, i.e. a horizontal plane.

Figure 4 also shows the spindles 12 that are integral with the frame locked in orifices 51. The pusher 25 extends between both spindles 12 below the level of the latter for example.

It can be noted on figure 3 that the travel C of the pusher 25 between its inactive position where it is situated on the plane of the assembly face of the spindles 12 and its active position when the dihedron consisting of the leg and the leg 37, is completely extended under the effect of the actuator 41 and io of the chain 44.

This travel C is first of all vastly greater than the length of the spindles 12 to enable ejection of the bale and, as mentioned previously, it is greater than the length of the bales 2, for example approximately one and a quarter.

Figure 4 shows, seen laterally, the disposition of the displacement mechanism of the pusher 25. The first leg 35 is still in extended position and the second leg 37 interposed between the first leg and said pusher 25. Both these legs move on a horizontal plane.

The first leg 35 is articulated on the axle 36 that is integral with the spindle-carrying frame 5. The anchoring point 47 of the chain or of the cable 44 can still be seen, as well as the axle 42 on which is articulated the actuator 41 that serves for controlling the first leg Figure 1 shows that the upstream extensions 11' of the rails are tilted towards the ground, forming a kind of ramp to assist the insertion of the bale 2.

Between these extensions 11', we can see, as represented on figure 5 as well, the stop 26 that is in the form a rectangular plate filling up the space between the extensions 11'. This stop serving as a guide is articulated on a horizontal transversal axle 62, at the front end of the extensions 11'. An elastic return system in the form of a spring 63 enables holding the stop 26 in active position, i.e. in such a position that its downstream end face 64 can grab the crosspiece 27 of the frame 5, as represented on figures 1 and 7.

Tabs 65, visible on figures 6 and 7, limit the travel of the stop 26 when it comes back into active position after the passage of the tool 6 and in particular of its crosspiece 27. Sudden return of the stop 26 to active position is indicated by a characteristic warning clatter, that informs the operator and enables him to initiate the bale ejection and sheathing procedure.

Figure 1 shows the length LR of the rails 11 between the active face 64 of the stop 26 and the downstream end of said rails.

This length LR is approximately twice and a third the length of the bales 2. It comprises the length of the base plate LS, plus the length of a bale Land an additional rest LA for the sheathed bale in order to maintain said bale in an intermediate position between the ground and the carrier.

to The length LS of the base plate 10, between the face 2' of the bale that is situated in the drawing frame 16 and the active face 64 of the lock 26, is substantially greater than the length LM of a bale increased by the distance between the pusher 25 and the active face of the crosspiece 27 of the handling tool. These different alterations enable to obtain a compact and particularly Is efficient equipment.

The transversal middle axis 68 of the drawing frame 16 is situated at a distance LB from the downstream end of the rails 11 that is approximately equal to one third of their length LR.

Figure 8 shows additional means provided at the front of the carrier 1, i.e. in its upstream section, to assist its displacement on the ground, by means of the tractor.

The front end of the frame of the carrier 1 comprises anchoring points that co-operate for example with the lower lifting arms 13 of a conventional coupling system. The third anchoring point is provided at the front end of a transversal bar 76 that connects the upstream ends together of the extensions 11' of the rails 11.

The third point 79 is provided on this crosspiece 76, in its central section.

The extensions 11' form with the crosspiece 76, a kind of frame, figure 1o that is articulated around an axle 80 arranged horizontally and transversally above the level of the hooks 75. The extensions 11' are mounted on the caps 81 articulated on the axle 80 and the rails 11 are cut slantwise.

12 The position of the cuts 82 of the rails 11 and that of the axle 80 are such that they enable the front end of the assembly consisting of the extension 11', of the stop 26 and of the third point 79 to be tilted vertically. In such a position, this assembly is held by means of tension rods 84 interposed between these axles 85 arranged laterally on the rails 11 of the carrier or on the frame of said carrier, and axles 80 arranged for example at the ends of the crosspiece 76.

The sheathing carrier can be handled notably to install it on the site or to start a new sausage-like silo.

Handling can also take place upon completion of an on-site operation and then, the handling tool can be dismantled and laid on the carrier.

Additional bars 87 arranged halfway up the bale can also be provided, on either side of the bale, for improved guiding and insertion into the drawing frame without any possible damage of the plastic film of which the sheath is composed.

Similarly, at the lower section of the base plate 10, as represented on figures 1 and 5, guides 88 can be placed, that enable locking and guiding the bale 2 at the inlet of the drawing frame, always with a view to avoid any attacks on the plastic film 9.

These guides 88 consist of metal plates integral with the rails 11, arranged on either side of said rails, in the lower section of the drawing frame.

Figure 5 also shows between the rails 11 and upstream of the drawing frame 16, a removable stop 26', represented as a thin mixed line. This second stop 26', similar to the upstream stop 26, enables pushing the last bale beyond the drawing frame 16 when the handling tool is installed as represented on figure 2, on a loading arm 30. The stop 26' co-operates with the handling tool as detailed previously for the stop 26.

If the handling tool 6 is installed on the lifting arms of a tractor, as represented on figure 1, the last bale can be cleared while interposing a space whose length corresponds to that of the bales between the pusher 25 and the face 2' of the bale that is inside the drawing frame 16. Then the sheathing /procedure is performed as detailed previously.

Claims

1. A method for sheathing bales of plants into a tubular plastic film forming a sheath, using a carrier that moves as the sheath is being filled, includes: handling a bale by means of a transport vehicle fitted with a handling tool that is for instance equipped with spindles, laying the bale on the carrier, upstream of the supports of a drawing frame enabling storage of the tubular plastic film, pushing the bale inside the sheath, resting against the previous bale, moving the carrier by a step matching the length of the bale, wherein this operation includes pushing said bale by means of said handling tool equipped with a pusher-ejector device whose movement causes, by reaction and simultaneously, the reverse motion of said vehicle, whereas said tool is arranged to cause simultaneously said carrier to move over a distance corresponding at least to the length of the bale said last on said carrier.

2. A handling tool for use with a transport vehicle such as a farming tractor, -for implementing the method according to claim 1, wherein said handling tool S includes a frame on which is mounted at least a pair of spindles and a pusher- *ejector integrated to the spindle-carrying frame, behind said spindles, which frame includes fastening means to the three-point coupling system of a tractor or on a conventional loading arm arranged at the front of said tractor, and wherein the handling tool includes means for moving the transport vehicle.

3. A handling tool according to claim 2, wherein the pusher-ejector device consists of a kind of compasses that extend under the effect of a hydraulic actuator notably, causing a pusher properly speaking, to move over a travel C that is at least equal to the length of the bale, in order to eject said bale from the spindles of the spindle-carrying frame and to move simultaneously the tool- carrying tractor and the sheathing carrier by a step corresponding to at least the length of the bale ejected. 14

4. A handling tool according to claim 3, wherein the compasses consist of a first leg whose length corresponds more or less to the width of the bale, which leg is articulated at one of its ends on an axle integral with the spindle-carrying frame and of a second leg articulated at the other end of said first leg, and that is fitted at its free end, with the pusher centered with respect to the middle vertical plane of both spindles, which first leg is mobile under the effect of the actuator, causing, when pivoting, the second leg to extend so that the pusher remains more or less centered on said longitudinal axis of the tractor throughout its travel.

A handling tool according to claim 4, wherein the second leg extends around its articulation axis situated at the end of the arm by means of a chain or cable that reels around a circular sector of a pulley-pinion which cable is integral with the second leg and in particular at one of its ends, with said circular sector whereas the other end is integral with the frame at a point selected to enable S. displacement of the pusher along a line that corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the tractor. 0:

6. A handling tool according to claim 5, wherein the chain is in the form of a roller chain, preferably a double roller chain.

7. A handling tool according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the spindle- carrying frame includes a crosspiece in the form of a heel or shoe that, on the one oo o0 ~hand, serves as a marker with respect to the ground to enable positioning of said frame during the spindling of a bale, in order to place said bale with respect to said frame always in the same fashion, and, on the other hand, serves as a means for pulling and driving the carrier during the ejection of the bale, in co- operation with a stop provided on said carrier.

8. A carrier for implementing the method according to claim 1, co-operating with the handling tool according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the carrier includes a base plate extending upstream of the drawing frame which base plate consists of the upstream section of the rails that extend on said carrier over a length equal to at least twice the length of a bale, which rails are integral with the frame of the carrier and include between the upstream extensions provided at the end of said rails, a stop in the form of a plate, that is articulated at the front end of said extension around a horizontal and transversal axis, which stop is maintained in a protruding position at the inlet of the base plate, by elastic means in order to be retracted automatically if necessary when presenting and placing a bale onto said base plate, which stop co-operates by its downstream end with said handling tool and in particular the crosspiece arranged under the frame of this tool to enable, by reaction during the ejection of the bale by means of the pusher of said tool, automatic and simultaneous displacement of said carrier and of the tractor that carries said tool.

9. A carrier according to claim 8, wherein it includes between the rails, upstream of the drawing frame, a second removable stop that enables sheathing of the last bale.

10. A carrier according to any one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the upstream section of the base plate of the carrier, by which is situated the stop forms a kind of frame articulated around a transversal horizontal axis, which frame is retractable and lockable in this position using tension rods and includes, as well as the chassis of said carrier, anchoring means co-operating with the three-point coupling system of a tractor.

11. A carrier according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein it includes at the guiding rails of the carrier, upstream of the inlet of the drawing frame, guides provided for centering and guiding the bale during insertion into the drawing frame in order not to damage the sheath stretched between the supports of said drawing frame.

12. A carrier according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein in the chassis of the carrier is configured in order to place the rails used for supporting and guiding the bales, when' said carrier is in active sheathing position, on a tilted plane situated close to the ground, at a height compatible, upstream, with the lifting capacity of the bales of the tractor when the latter is fitted with a handling tool fixed directly on the three-point lifting system, and downstream, at a few centimetres above the ground, without exceeding 10 centimetres.

13. A carrier according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the length LS of the base plate of the carrier extending between the inlet of the drawing frame and the active face of the lock is substantially greater than the length of a bale increased by the distance between the pusher and the active face of the crosspiece situated below the frame of said tool and that co-operates with said S: active face of the lock.

14. A carrier according to claim 13, wherein the length LR of the guiding rails is approximately twice and a third of the length of the bales, which rails extend downstream of the middle axis of the drawing frame, over a length equal to approximately one third of said length LR. g DATED this 1 st day of August, 2001. GIRARD LUCAS WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 2 1 ST FLOOR, "ALLENDALE SQUARE TOWER" 77 ST GEORGE'S TERRACE PERTH WA 6000