Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
  • A01F29/00—Cutting apparatus specially adapted for cutting hay, straw or the like
  • A01F29/005—Cutting apparatus specially adapted for cutting hay, straw or the like for disintegrating and cutting up bales of hay, straw or fodder
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B69/00—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
  • B65B69/0025—Removing or cutting binding material, e.g. straps or bands
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B69/00—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
  • B65B69/0033—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for by cutting
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
  • A01D87/00—Loaders for hay or like field crops
  • A01D87/12—Loaders for sheaves, stacks or bales
  • A01D87/127—Apparatus for handling, loading or unrolling round bales
  • A01D2087/128—Devices for unrolling or breaking round bales

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device for processing round bales wrapped in wrapping material, in particular the device the device comprising a frame, at least a first and a second support attached to the frame and arranged for supporting the bale in a first position,
• the device comprising a frame, at least a first and a second support attached to the frame and arranged for supporting the bale in a first position, a cutter moveably attached to the frame and arranged to cut through the wrapping material of a bale resting on the supports, along a cutting line, and wrapping material removing means at least provided on the first support and arranged to remove the cut wrapping material from the bale, wherein at least the first support is moveable relative to the frame and to the second support, between the first position at a first distance to the second support and a second position at a second, larger distance to the second support.
• the two elongated parts are cones having respective longitudinal axes substantially extending in one plane, and in particular extending upwardly towards their respective apex, i.e. the tip of the cone points (slightly) upward.
• an uppermost generatrix of each cone extends substantially horizontally.
• the engaging means on the first and/or second support are provided on one respective side thereof only. This means that there is at least one other side of the support(s) that is substantially free from engaging means. This allows to support and position the bale without yet engaging the wrapping material. If the bale is positioned correctly, then the wrapping material can be engaged and removed by rotating the support(s). Such embodiment avoids the use of retractable engaging means, although that would still be a useful option here.
• the frame comprises wheels or caterpiller tracks. This allows easy displacement of the device, such as by pushing, or towing behind a vehicle.
• the device is eminently suitable for use on an agricultural vehicle such as a tractor.
• the device may comprise a three-point hitch connector or other connection device.
• the device 1 further comprises cutting means 30 moveably attached to the frame 10.
• the cutting means 30 may comprise one or more cutting members 31 , 32.
• the cutting members 31 , 32 are arranged to cut the wrapping material, along a cutting line c which runs at least in between the carrying rods 20.
• the cutting means 31 , 32 may also be operated at the pick-up position, at an intermediate position or while moving from the pick-up position to the release position. As described, the cutting may cause the wrapping material to be caught by the engaging means.
• the cutting means 31 , 32 may be operated in any desired order.
• the carrying rods 20 may be lifted from the lower position to a higher position by means of the sliding members 25 and sliding slots 26 in case this is needed to position the bale above the feed kitchen.
• the positioning members 28 follow this upward movement. This upward movement may also be done before the cutting.
• the carrying rods 20 are operated to move away from each other to the first remote position or even to a third position being even more remote than the first position. This is schematically shown in Fig. 3b. Also shown in Fig. 3b is that the carrying means strip the wrapping material 3 from the bale 2 thereby releasing the crop material and removing the wrapping material 3 from the crop material. In order to allow this spreading movement of the carrying rods 20, the positioning members 28 are moved to the remote position.
• the control device 40 may be arranged to run navigation software to navigate the device 1 through a predetermined and shielded area, comprising the pick-up position, the release position and the disposal position.
• FIG. 5 diagrammatically shows another embodiment of the device according to the invention.
• device 100 may operate autonomously, without an operator.
• the device is arranged as an autonomously movable vehicle, equipped with navigation means and bale recognition means.
• first supports 106-1 and 106-2 are lowered by means of the actuator 1 1 1 into a position below the bale 2, the arms of 104 of the bale pick-up means are lowered a bit further such that the bale comes to rest on the first supports 106-1 and 106-2.
• the first supports 106-1 and 106-2 are moved from the second position, or open into the first position according to the invention, in the first position the bale is supported by first supports 106-1 and 106-2.
• the supports 106 are moved upward by means of the arm 1 10 and the actuator 1 1 1 , optionally winding the wrapping material further by rotating the conical first supports 106 while moving upwards.
• the trajectory of the first supports will roughly be along a circumference of the bale. In any case, the wrapping material is gradually removed from the bale, providing an opening for the crop material to fall down out of the bale 2.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Storage Of Harvested Produce (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=50114504

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (15)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2013
  • 2013-12-19 NL NL2011984A patent/NL2011984C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2014
  • 2014-12-15 WO PCT/EP2014/077796 patent/WO2015091377A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2014-12-15 EP EP14812491.0A patent/EP3082401A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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