FR2701451A3 - Bale wrapper device - Google Patents

Abstract

A bale wrapper apparatus (10) comprising: a frame (13); a tow bar (14) attached to and protruding forward from the frame (13), so as to allow towing of the apparatus behind a motor vehicle (11); a hoop-shaped structure (15), forming part of said frame (13) and facing the desired direction of travel, said structure being of sufficient size to allow a ball (12) lying flat on the ground to pass under the arch, when the device is moving forward; a bale lifting device (16) mounted on the frame (13) and adapted to lift a bale lying flat on the ground in a bale wrapping position; means (19) for rotating a bale about a substantially horizontal axis (24) extending substantially parallel to the direction of travel, when the bale has been raised to the bale wrapping position; rotatable means (21) adapted to carry a stretchable plastic film feed spool (20, 29) mounted on the frame, to rotate about a substantially vertical axis (22) and thereby cause the spool to follow an orbit circular around the ball, while the latter is placed in rotation around the substantially horizontal axis (24) and thus apply overlapping turns of film around the outer surface of the ball; and, means (16, 17, 19) provided to enable the wrapped bale to be unloaded from the rear of the apparatus.

Description

The present invention relates to a bale wrapper apparatus

  and particularly, but not exclusively, an apparatus for applying a plastic stretch wrap around an agricultural fodder ball and having a

rectangular cross section.

  The use of bale wrappers is now widespread in agriculture, to apply stretch film around fodder balls such as straw, hay, grass and any long-stemmed product, and to contain forage in a substantially watertight manner, to prevent oxygen from the atmosphere and water from entering

contact with forage.

  The wrapping of fresh or recently mowed grass bales, that is grass still loaded with a substantial proportion of water, becomes a particularly popular way of forming silage, since grass in a tight manner, can in a relatively short time (about two to three weeks) ripen or ferment to form silage, inside the wrapped bale, and without creating silage effluent, which

  constitute a serious disadvantage of silage silage formation.

  Two main categories of bale wrappers are currently used, namely the turntable bale wrapper and the bale wrapper of the type

"satellite in orbit".

  A turntable type bale wrapper includes a turntable rotating about a substantially vertical axis, a pair of laterally spaced rollers mounted on the turntable and operable to rotate a loaded bale on the turntables. rollers, along a substantially horizontal axis, and a device provided on the frame of the apparatus, on which can be mounted a plastic film feed reel, from which film is unwound to be wound on the bale, windings successive film overlapping being applied around the outer periphery of the ball, until the latter is completely covered, at least two windings, while the ball rotates about a substantially horizontal axis, under the action of rollers, and that the turntable simultaneously rotates on a substantially vertical axis Bale wrappers are usually used to apply helical windings of film stretched around cylindrical or "round" bales, the ball being supported in this case on the rollers and placed in rotation

  along a substantially horizontal axis which corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the bale.

  The other type of bale wrapper apparatus used to wrap cylindrical bales is the orbiting satellite bale wrapper, in which a pair of rollers laterally spaced from each other are mounted on a table and rotate the ball along its longitudinal axis in a manner similar to that described above, for the type of rotary table machine But on this machine, the table does not rotate along a vertical axis, and a relative rotation along a substantially vertical axis takes place between the supply reel and the bale due to the mounting of the supply reel at one end of a support arm, capable of rotation at its inner end, along a substantially vertical axis , and which carries the supply reel at its outer end which thus turns "in orbit" around the ball, mounted on the table rollers The orbiting satellite-type bale wrapper presents the that the table does not rotate, and that the rotational inertia force of the ball along its vertical axis does not require the components of the apparatus to overcome this force, and that the components which rotate along the vertical axis , ie the supply reel, are of reduced mass, and as well as the generated inertial forces are lower However, the supply reel is located at the end of the rotating arm which carries it, and to which it is suspended, and thus a substantial torque is applied to the holding device of the supply reel on the arm, when the supply reel follows its orbital displacement path

  around a circle of substantial radius.

  The two ball-type wrappers, of the turntable type and of the satellite type in orbit, have been mainly designed for use in the wrapping of cylindrical bales, ie bales of circular cross-section, in the sense that two horizontally spaced support rollers which rotate the bale along its axis (usually a substantially horizontal axis) are particularly adapted to rotate a cylindrical bale at a steady rotational speed,

  the axis of the ball remaining at a substantially constant height above the rollers.

  These two factors contribute to the regular application of successive helical turns of overlapping film, which allows an economical use of the film and allow sealing

  necessary for any air / liquid in the envelope.

  Thus, the bale wrappers for wrapping cylindrical bales have been a great success, most farmers now using one of two different types of apparatus forming circular bullets However, the operating principle of both types of bale wrappers Bales impose limits on the possible density of cylindrical bullets, which explains why there is a growing interest in the possibility of using rectangular bale wrappers again (normal bale profile before the appearance of cylindrical devices), since bales with a rectangular cross section can be compacted with a higher forage density than the density possible with

cylindrical bullets.

  More compactly compacted bales have two advantages The first advantage is that transport and storage are made more efficient, ie the weight per unit volume is higher than cylindrical bales and that we can achieve a more efficient use of the stacking space with bales of rectangular section, laid flat next to each other, with cylindrical bales, standing upright ones next to the others, considering the inevitable gaps between them The second advantage lies in the fact that due to the grass wrapped more densely, the proportion of air trapped inside the ball is less , and it is believed that one can thus improve the quality

  silage inside a rectangular bale, with respect to a cylindrical bale.

  However, although it is generally accepted that rectangular bales have this advantage and that the need exists to design bale wrappers capable of performing an effective and substantially sealed wrapping of rectangular bales, and thus an economical use of plastic film , no design

  commercially acceptable has been developed.

  The basic problems to be solved are: 1 how to achieve a substantially regular rate of rotation of the bale along its longitudinal axis; and 2 how to maintain this axis at a substantially constant height above

rollers supporting the ball.

  Necessarily, a ball of rectangular or square section, when supported and driven by a pair of horizontally spaced rollers, performs a "tumbling" motion, due in part to rotation at a variable angular velocity and also in part to the oscillations from bottom to top of the center of gravity of the ball These two factors lead to the difficulty of obtaining a regular application of helical turns overlapping in a substantially equal importance, and entail risks of inclusions of air forming between adjacent edges of successive rounds, quite undesirable, both in the wraps of fodder to be kept dry, for example hay, as in the filling of forage to ferment, for example grass planned to mature or

  ferment to form silage.

  Various attempts have been made to try to maintain a substantially constant angular rotation speed, and to reduce the vertical oscillations of the center of gravity of a rectangular bale, using additional guides, rollers and similar means, to control rotation of the ball, but these attempts are relatively simplistic and do not offer cycles of operation

  predictable and reproducible It has therefore not been accepted in a general way.

  Another problem with most existing bale wrapper concepts (when used to wrap balls that have been laid in rows in a field) is that the bale wrapper must be maneuvered along the length of the bale wrapper. each of the bales and then, generally, a loading arm or other loading device mounted on the bale wrapper is used to: cooperate with the bale; 2 lift it off the ground; 3 to transfer it to a bale wrapper receiving platform, for example a pair of laterally spaced rollers mounted on a table; and then return to its initial position, after which

  ball occurs, followed by the unloading of the ball wrapped on the ground.

  Most of the existing bale wrapper concepts are only capable of performing the wrapping operation, the apparatus being stationary, and the forward movement of the towed tractor and bale wrapper assembly to the

  next ball, in a row only takes place once the wrapped ball has been unloaded.

  Therefore, the present invention seeks to provide a bale wrapper apparatus capable of performing an improved bale wrapping, e.g. of rectangular or square cross section, and also of circular cross section, and to provide improved bale handling. (of rectangular section or other, for example cylindrical), in order to improve the following points: 1 to grasp a ball placed on the ground, 2 to lift the ball so that the wrapping of said bullet can take place, 3 to unload the ball wrapped so that: if necessary, several or all of these steps can take place while

  the bale wrapper moves.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a mobile bale wrapper apparatus is provided, capable of recovering a ball lying flat on the ground, in the movement path X of the apparatus, and which is intended to (1) seize the bale, (2) wrapping said bale with a stretchable plastic wrapping film and (3) unloading the wrapped bale of the apparatus, and which comprises: a frame; a ball-lift cradle mounted on the frame, and provided for raising a ball lying flat on the ground to a ball-wrapping position, said cradle comprising a pair of elongate lifting assemblies laterally spaced apart from one of the other in relation to the X travel path and capable of grasping opposite sides of the bale, to lift the bale into the ball-wrapping position; means for rotating the bale along a substantially horizontal axis, extending substantially parallel to the path of travel X when the bale has been lifted to bring it into the ball-wrapping position; means for holding a stretchable plastic film supply reel for wrapping the ball; means causing a relative angular movement between the supply reel and the bale along at least one substantially vertical axis, the bale being rotated along said substantially horizontal axis, the film being able to be pulled from the reel to apply successive turns to overlapping on the ball to wrap it; and means for discharging the wrapped ball from the apparatus: wherein the cradle and the frame are so designed that: (1) a ball lying flat on the ground can be received by the cradle and then raised in the ball wrapping position, (2) then can be rotated along said substantially horizontal axis extending parallel to the X displacement path, and (3) finally can be unloaded from the rear of the apparatus, a once the wrapping of the ball is completed; all this can be done while the camera moves on the

  along the path of travel X, and without obstruction due to the frame.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a moving bale wrapper apparatus is provided which comprises: a frame; coupling means attached to the frame and adapted to couple the apparatus to a motor vehicle in a laterally offset manner, the motor vehicle being movable along a line of bales laid flat on the ground, while the apparatus moves along its laterally displaced displacement path in which (1) it can seize each bale in turn, (2) wrap the bale with a plastic stretch wrap and (3) discharge from the apparatus the wrapped bullet; a bale-lifting cradle mounted on the frame and adapted to raise a ball lying flat on the ground in a ball-wrapping position, said cradle comprising a pair of elongated lifting devices laterally spaced apart from one another; other in relation to the path of travel X and capable of engaging opposite sides of the bale to lift the bale into a ball-wrapping position; means for rotating the bale along a substantially horizontal axis, extending substantially parallel to the path of travel X, when the bale has been raised in the wrapping position; means for holding a stretchable plastic film supply reel for wrapping the ball; means causing a relative angular movement between the feed reel and the bale, along at least one substantially vertical axis, while the bale is rotated along said substantially horizontal axis, the film being able to be pulled from the reel to apply successive turns overlapping on the ball to envelop it; and,

  means for discharging the wrapped bullet from the apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a bale wrapper apparatus is provided for applying a stretchable plastic wrap around a bale of rectangular cross-section, so as to wrap the bale, wherein the apparatus comprises: a frame; a tow bar attached to and protruding forwardly from the frame so as to allow the towing of the apparatus behind a motor vehicle; a hoop-like structure, forming part of said frame and facing the desired direction of movement, said structure being of sufficient size to allow a ball laid flat on the ground to pass under the hoop, when the apparatus moves forward; a bale lifter mounted on the frame and provided for lifting a ball lying flat on the ground in a bale-wrapping position; means for rotating a bale along a substantially horizontal axis extending substantially parallel to the direction of travel, when the bale has been raised in the bale wrapping position; an arm capable of rotation adapted to carry a stretchable plastic film supply reel mounted on the frame, to rotate about a substantially vertical axis and thus cause the reel to follow a circular orbit around the ball, while the latter is rotated about the substantially horizontal axis and thereby applying turns of film overlapping around the outer surface of the ball; wherein the bale lifting cradle comprises: a pair of lifting assemblies mounted on the frame at laterally spaced positions to receive the ball of rectangular cross-section therebetween, two opposite sides of the bale; extending substantially vertically; a pair of rollers rotatably mounted in each assembly and extending in a direction parallel to the direction of travel X and defining a free entry passage for the bale to be accommodated between the rolls of the two sets; pivoting devices, supporting each assembly and allowing each assembly to occupy a gripping position in which the rollers of each set are located one above the other and are capable of engaging the adjacent side of the ball and, when the rollers are rotated, causing the ball to be lifted from the ground, taking into account frictional contact with the sides of the ball, and adopting a ball-wrapping position said assemblies also being capable of adopting a support and bale driving position, wherein the rollers of each set are located side by side and support the underside of the bale and are implemented when all the rollers are driven , so as to place the bale in rotation along said substantially horizontal axis extending parallel to the direction of movement, thus forming the means of rotation of the bale; and, means for laterally separating the sets from the ball when the wrapping is completed, the wrapped ball can then fall by gravity on the ground and then be discharged from the rear of the apparatus, when the apparatus is moved forward

by the motor vehicle.

  The apparatus according to the present invention can thus be used to carry out the steps of catching, lifting, wrapping and discharging the ball from behind, while the apparatus is moved forward towards a next ball, to be wrapped, which makes the ball-wrapping process less time consuming, compared to existing bale wrappers, which usually perform

  the wrapping of balls being stationary.

  The bale wrapper apparatus is thus able to function as a continuous handling and wrapping apparatus, for a ball lying flat on the ground, and to move continuously or intermittently forward, along the a row of

  bullets to be wrapped while these operations are performed.

  Various preferred aspects of the bale wrapper apparatus according to the first, the

  second or third aspects of the present invention are described below.

  A towing bar may be designed to be coupled to the rear of the motor vehicle, eg a tractor, in such a way that the apparatus is laterally offset from the tractor (for ball handling operations ), so that it is possible to drive the tractor along a row of bales deposited in a field and that the apparatus can be easily aligned with the bales and

  may execute "in motion" at least some of the above steps.

  This is particularly suitable for handling bales of rectangular cross-section, which are usually unloaded from behind the apparatus forming the

  balls, a longitudinal axis of the bullet extending parallel to the direction of advance.

  A ring-shaped frame structure may be designed at the front of the apparatus, each ball on the ground first passing through the arch structure before the setting steps, lifting and wrapping of the ball does not operate, or it can be placed at the rear of the aircraft, the unloading from the rear of the wrapped bullets taking place through the arch-shaped structure D other locations of the arch structure may be provided, if desired, between

  the front and back of the device.

  Preferably, in the apparatus according to the present invention, a relative angular rotation between the supply reel and the bale is effected by mounting the supply reel on an arm which is rotatably mounted on the frame to rotate according to at least a substantially vertical axis, the feed reel being able to cover a

  loop or follow a closed path around the ball.

  It is possible to mount on the apparatus according to the present invention, more than one supply coil, for example two arms capable of rotation along the same axis, or a single arm, long, capable of rotation about its midpoint , and adapted to wear

  a feed reel at each end.

  In the apparatus according to the present invention, the lifting device, or cradle, may comprise a pair of lifting devices laterally spaced from each other, to allow a ball to be received between them, each being provided for grasping at least one adjacent side and / or bottom of the ball and raising the ball into the wrapping position. In its simplest form, each lifting device may comprise a single roller, or other suitable, elongated lifting device, to be located on each side of the bale, the rollers being movable relative to one another. other, to seize the respective sides of the ball, then lift the ball, because of the movement of the rollers upwards, which can then be implemented so as to print a rotational movement of "tumbles" to the ball to place this last in rotation

  along a generally horizontal axis, while wrapping by the film takes place.

  However, in a preferred embodiment, each lifting device may comprise a set of two rollers, which extends substantially parallel to the direction of travel and which can be driven to lift the ball under

  the effect of frictional contact between the rollers and the sides of the bale.

  Each set of rolls is preferably capable of adopting a catching position with the bale in which the rollers are arranged one above the other (which is particularly suitable for lifting a cross-sectional bale rectangular), so that the rollers engage the adjacent sides and

  substantially vertical of the ball and raise the ball in the wrapping position.

  Preferably, each set of rollers is pivotable from the ball engaging position to a ball driving position, i.e. rotating, in which the rollers are positioned at approximately the same level, position in the ball position.

  which they support the underside of the ball.

  The rollers of the two lifting assemblies can then be driven in the same direction, so as to place the bale in rotation about a substantially horizontal axis. The rollers can be designed so that a substantially regular rotational speed can be applied. to the ball and also to that the axis according to

  which it rotates generally remains at the same height, above the rollers.

  The axis of rotation can move slightly upwards as well as downwards, and also laterally, not forgetting that a rectangular ball has four sides that meet at right angles, but it has been established that the roller assembly can be designed so that the vertical and lateral oscillations of the center of gravity of the bale can be maintained within reasonable limits, and at a substantially regular rotation speed along this axis, the foreseeable overlap of the towers successive films, which are applied to the outer surface of the bale to provide a satisfactory and substantially sealed wrapping of the contents of the bale and allowing economical use of the film, which can be

got.

  In a preferred embodiment of the roll sets of the cradle, a hoist is provided, which is also a means for rotating a ball

  along the substantially horizontal axis.

  The lifting cradle is particularly suitable for handling bales of rectangular cross section, but can also be used for

  handling bales of other profiles, such as cylindrical bales.

  In order to provide a lateral adaptation of the free space between the two lifting sets of the cradle, to adapt to the different transverse dimensions of the bales to be received between them, for example bales of different widths or diameters, prefer that at least one of the assemblies is carried by a support arm pivotally mounted on the frame, for example on the shaped structure

  and can be adjusted by a slide or the like.

  To automate pinching and automatic cutting of the length of film extending between the feed reel and the bale once the wrapping is completed, and before unloading from the rear the wrapped bale, a retightening device and cutting can be provided, which can be implemented automatically or manually under the control of the driver in order to: 1 tighten the length of film extending between the supply reel and the wrapped bale to form a film bead: 2 pinch the tight film; Cut the film between the pinched end and the wrapped ball; and 4 keep the cut end ready for another cycle of operations, a

  once the wrapped ball has been unloaded.

  Preferred embodiments of the bale wrapper are hereinafter described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a top view of a first mode embodiment of the bale wrapper apparatus according to the present invention, showing said apparatus occupying an offset position, towed behind a tractor; Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a top view, similar to Figure 1, showing a second embodiment of the apparatus; Figure 5 is a side view of apparatus shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a rear view of a bale lifter in an inoperative position, before grasping a ball lying flat on the ground; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing an initial step in a ball lifting operation; Figure 8 is a top view of a third embodiment of the bale wrapper apparatus shown in the transport position directly behind a tractor; Fig. 9 is a plan view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the apparatus of Fig. 8 laterally offset to adopt a handling and wrapping position; Fig. 10 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figs. 8 and 9; Fig. 11 is a rear view of apparatus shown in Figs. 8 to 10; Fig. 12 is a rear view of another embodiment, the bale lifter being in a rest position; Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, showing the ball lifting device acting on the raised ball and ready to execute a driving rotation of the ball during the wrapping; Fig. 14 is a plan view of this further embodiment showing a final position adopted by a feed reel upon completion of the bale wrapping operation; and Fig. 15 is a detailed side view of a pinching and cutting mechanism to be used to pinch and then cut the length of film extending between the feed spool and the wrapped bale, before unloading by the spool. back of

  the device from the back of the device.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, a first embodiment is shown of a bale wrapper apparatus according to the present invention, generally carrying the reference numeral 10 and being towed in the direction of the boom. X of Figure 1, behind a motor vehicle, in the form of a tractor 11, in a laterally offset position, so that the tractor 11 can move along a row of bales deposited in a field, one of the balls is shown in dotted lines 12 It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the apparatus 10 is easily aligned with the balls 12, and is capable of receiving the ball, lifting it, affixing a film of plastic wrap around it, and then unload the wrapped bale from behind, during the forward movement of the tractor 11 and the

  the apparatus 10 to the next bale of the row.

  The apparatus 10 comprises a frame generally bearing the reference 13, coupling means such as a tow bar 14, attached to and projecting from the frame 13, to allow towing the apparatus 10 behind the tractor 11, and a hoop-shaped structure 15, which is an integral part of the frame 13 and which faces the desired direction of movement and which is of sufficient size to allow the ball 12 laid flat on the ground to pass through the hoop 15 when the apparatus 10 is

moved forward.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the hoop 15 is located at the rear end of the frame 13 of the apparatus, and thus the bale will be unloaded under the hoop 15, once the wrapping operation has been completed. is a rear view of the apparatus and shows how different bale profiles 12 can be easily received by the apparatus in a continuous mode, the bales 12 being shown with cross-sections of

  various profiles, and also a cylindrical profile.

X 2701451

  A two-part bale lifting cradle generally bearing reference numeral 160 (see Fig. 3) is mounted on the frame and is provided for lifting the bale 12 once it has been received by the apparatus in order to adopt a bale wrapping position The lifting cradle 160 comprises a pair of roller lifting assemblies 16 (see Fig. 1), laterally spaced from each other, as shown in Fig. 3, to allow the ball 12 to be received between them, and each assembly 16 operates to engage at least one adjacent side and / or the

  below the ball 12 and raise the ball into a ball-wrapping position.

  In the case of a ball of rectangular cross section, each lifting set

  16 engages with the opposite, adjacent and substantially vertical side of the ball.

  Each lift assembly 16 includes pivotally mounted mounting plates 17 at the end of a support arm 18, which are pivotable inwardly and outwardly through the arm 18 between positions spacings different from each other, sets 16, to allow the handling of different widths of bales Each pair of plates 17 carries two rollers 19 which extend generally parallel to the direction of movement, and which occupy a ball lifting position, as shown in FIG. 3, in which one roller 19 is located above the other and, while the rollers are rotated, the ball may

  be lifted by frictional contact between the rollers and the sides of the ball.

  Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the roller assemblies and associated components, and Fig. 7 is a similar view showing an initial phase of the lifting operation. As will be described in more detail, with reference to the following figures of the drawings, the bale lifting assemblies 16 are also capable of constituting means for rotating the bale along a substantially horizontal axis which generally extends in parallel. to the direction of movement, once the bale has been raised in the bale-wrapping position, and this rotation of the bale, associated with the implementation of means for effecting a relative rotation between a feed reel of film and the ball along a substantially vertical axis, allows to unwind the film of the coil to apply on the ball successive turns, in order to wrap it in the embodiment shown, the support unit of the coil 20, is mounted at the end of a rotatable support arm 21, capable of rotation, along a substantially vertical axis 22, through the intermediary of re a rotating device 23 at its inner end, the unit 20 can be made to follow a circular orbital path around the ball 12, while the latter is rotated about a substantially horizontal axis 24. However, it is not essential for the feed reel stand unit to move in a circular path, and situations may arise in which it is preferable for the unit to move following a closed or loop-shaped trajectory, non-circular, for example ellipsoidal, the unit 20 being able in this case to be designed to execute an angular displacement on more than one vertical axis. The frame 13 of the apparatus is supported by a set of rear wheels, and can be pushed forward into the offset position shown in Fig. 1, to effect handling, wrapping and unloading of the bale 12 but the apparatus 10 can be rotated to a transport position directly behind the tractor 11 Only one single unit for supporting a film feed reel is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and this unit The support unit 20 may comprise any prior stretching mechanism, for example of the type described in document EP 0291483. However, if it is used, it may be of any type currently used in satellite-type film distribution devices. desired, a double arm can be provided, having a support unit 20 at each end, so that a double wrapping film can operate simultaneously As an alternative, another arm of suppo rt and a respective supply coil support unit can be provided. FIG. 6 shows the two roller 16 lifting assemblies of the cradle 160 pivotally provided in their extreme lateral spacing position, but these can move towards one another under the action of a slide 26, until the rollers 19 engage the substantially vertical opposite sides 27 of the bale 12, to be ready to perform a lifting operation of the bale The rollers 19 of the left set 17 are both rotated anti-clockwise, while the rollers 19 of the right set are rotated clockwise to lift the ball Once the rollers 19 have raised the ball 12 into the wrapping position ball, the assemblies 16 can be pivoted on their pivots 28, at the lower end of the arms 18, until they adopt a position shown in Figure 13, to be ready to print to the ball 12 a rotary motion, according to n axis 24 essentially horizontal When they have reached this position, all the rollers 19 are driven in the same direction, namely in the direction

  time, to rotate the ball clockwise.

  The driving of the rollers 19 and their direction of rotation can be programmed in an automatic control system which controls the

  operation of the bale wrapper.

  Figs. 8 to 11 show a second embodiment of the bale wrapper apparatus according to the present invention and one of the main differences is that a hoop structure 5a is provided for front or entrance of the apparatus, so that the ball 12 must first pass through the arch structure i 5a before being seized, lifted, wrapped, and then unloaded from the back of the Apparatus Access to the ball 12 in continuous displacement is also possible in this embodiment, since once the wrapping is completed, the ball may be

  easily be unloaded also from the back of the device.

  A pinching / cutting means of a wire, which can be provided to tighten the film into a "bead", of the tightened film, and then cut it so that the wrapped bale can be unloaded, is described in the following lines This operation of tightening, pinching and cutting the film takes place along the length of the film extending between the supply reel and the wrapped ball, and to enable this operation to be carried out, it is usually preferably that the satellite support shaft 21 is brought into a position as shown in Fig. 14, in which it extends in the transverse direction relative to the forward direction of travel, and approximately at right angles The mechanism that operates on the film length can be designed so that operation is initiated manually or operated automatically, as required by an automatic wrapping program. The mechanism, irrespective of the manner in which it is initiated or operated, for example controlled automatically or manually, operates to tighten the length of film shown by the dashed line in FIG. 14 between the spool. supply 29 and the wrapped bale 12a, then clamp the tightened film, cut the film, thereby allowing the bale 12a to be unloaded from the rear, releasing the rollers 19 from any support function of said bale, and maintaining the end of the cut film, ready for a new cycle of operations, once

  that the wrapped bullet has been unloaded from behind.

  Once a new bullet has been received and prepared to perform a wrapping operation, the satellite arm 21 is rotated orbitally along the axis 22, taking into account the simultaneous rotation of the bullet along the axis 24. and the feed spool 29 can be brought into orbit over at least one revolution, for example a revolution and a half. During this time, sufficient film adhesion around the outer periphery of the bale exists, such as the rotation of the bale. reel 29, continued, allows to stretch the film of said coil, under tension, and to apply additional turns around the ball until the wrapping

be completed.

  The mechanism which is implemented to tighten the film, to pinch and cut it generally bears the reference 31 (see FIGS. 12 and 13), and comprises a shaft 32 extendable in the longitudinal direction, is capable of all firstly to pivot upwards from a horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 15, so that once extended, the arm 32 can bear downward on the upper horizontal edge 33,

the film length 30.

  FIG. 10 shows an arm device 32 similar to that shown in the figure, while the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 shows an alternative device, in which the arm 32 has extends to the end of a device 34 pivoting on the frame but

  which for the rest works in a similar way.

  FIG. 15 shows the arm 32 in the fully extended position, and in which it is brought under the action of a slide 35 and it can be held in this position by a spring 36 exerting a pressure in a groove 37 holding a retaining head 38 is disposed at the end of the arm 32, and its path of movement is shown by the curved path 39, and during the downward movement of the arm 32, the underside of the arm engages on the upper edge 33 of film length 30 and press to form a "bead" Although not shown, an anvil or other counter-support member may be fixedly disposed on the apparatus, aligned with the direction of the length of film 30 and against which the length of film can be compressed into a narrowed shape The retaining head 38 is then quickly removed to pinch the tightened film, against another nip plate 40, then a blade or a The cutting element (not shown in detail) cuts the film between the film nip and the wrapped bale, so that the wrapped bale can be discharged from the back of the initiating or forward moving apparatus. of film now extending between the supply reel to the locking elements 38, 40 is then maintained, and when the supply reel 29 has completed at least one revolution, during the wrapping operation in a new cycle for another ball, the pinching elements may be released and

  the wrapping operation can continue as described above.

  The unloading of the wrapped ball can take place by moving the rollers 19 away from the ball, allowing the ball to fall by gravity onto the ground, and to move

  towards the rear because of the relative displacement in front of the apparatus.

  If it is desired to achieve controlled descent of the wrapped ball, the roller assemblies 16 of the cradle 160 may return to the position in which the rollers of each set are located one above the other, and may be pressed against the sides (27) of the wrapped bale The rollers 19 can then act as braking (idle) rollers driven by the downward movement of the bale by gravity. Alternatively, the rollers 19 could be driven to an

  slow speed, so as to lower the wrapped ball on the ground.

  Alternatively, not shown, however, the assemblies in which the rollers 19 are mounted could further be pivotably mounted so that the rollers 19 can tilt down and back, thereby allowing ball

  wrapped to slide in the axial direction of the rollers, and towards the back.

  In the figures, the bale-wrapping apparatus has been shown towed behind a tractor, and in a laterally offset position so as to raise, wrap, and then unload the bales. Although not shown, the apparatus could be mounted to the machine. front of a motor vehicle, in a laterally offset manner, by means of a suitable coupling device In addition, the apparatus could be directly implemented after another piece of equipment, for example a device forming balls, in which case it will not be shifted, so as to perform the lifting operation,

  wrapping and unloading the ball received in the apparatus forming the balls.

  The drawings show preferred embodiments of moving bale wrapper apparatus capable of engaging a ball placed on the ground in the movement path of the apparatus and provided for (1) raising the bale, (2) wrapping the plastic wrap ball and (3) discharging the wrapped wrap from the apparatus, and comprising: a frame 13 and a bale lifting cradle 160, mounted on the frame and provided for raising the ball in a bale wrapping position, wherein the cradle comprises a pair of elongated lifts 16, spaced apart from each other with respect to the path of travel X, and extending in the direction of the path of travel , these two devices 16 engageable with opposite sides of the ball, so as to raise the ball in the position

wrapping balls.

  To allow free movement of the bale, on the ground, in engagement with the lifting devices 16, the embodiment of the cradle 160 and the frame 13 is provided so that the ball placed on the ground can be taken by the hoist, while the apparatus moves forward along its path of movement and without any obstruction of the frame can be achieved by providing a hoop-shaped structure 15, which is mounted at the front, or in an intermediate position on the length

from the cradle.

  In addition, as shown in the drawings, the arch structure 15 can be disposed at the rear end of the cradle 160 and in this case it has a profile and dimensions for unloading the wrapped cradle ball, by

  the back, passing freely through the arch.

  Although not shown, the arch structure (15) may form part of a tunnel-type blanket covering the cradle, which allows entry into the cradle of the ball located on the cradle. the ground, and perform the sequence of operations of lifting, wrapping, and then unloading the ball from behind,

  all this without obstruction by any of the components of the frame structure.

  Referring to the cradle roller lifting assemblies (16, 17, 18, 19), providing the two rollers 19 in each set is a preferred embodiment, which is particularly suitable for handling profile bales. difficult, ie bales of rectangular or square cross section These rollers are also particularly suitable for handling sectional bales

transverse cylindrical.

  However, although not shown, each roller hoist assembly may be provided with a single roller, which will be fully capable of grasping the underside of a circular section ball, lifting the ball into a position. wrapping the ball, then placing the ball in rotation along a substantially horizontal axis, coinciding generally with the longitudinal axis of the ball of

circular cross section.

  Single roller assemblies may be designed to be movable laterally relative to each other, that is, one or both of the assemblies move laterally, and as they move laterally to each other, they can engage the ball and lift it off the ground to bring it into the ball-wrapping position. At least one of the rollers can then be

  driven to animate the ball in rotation along its longitudinal axis.

  As a variant, the single rollers of the two lifting assemblies can be raised and lowered together, for example by hydraulic means,

  working in the manner of a lifting fork to raise and lower the ball.

  Similarly, although not shown, the apparatus can be used to grasp, wrap and then unload two balls simultaneously, which can be rectangular or circular cross-section balls. Two balls can be housed one behind the other on the cradle, so as to be wrapped together, then to be unloaded forming a single wrapped assembly Alternatively, two balls may be stacked on top of each other and then housed in the cradle to be wrapped

  together, then be unloaded forming a single wrapped package.

  The type of double roll cradle that engages each side of the bale (as described herein, and shown in the drawings as references 16, and 19) is particularly suitable for: (1) grasping a ball placed on the ground and bring the ball into a wrapping position, the rollers in each cradle being arranged one above the other, then (2) rotate each cradle so as to align the rollers horizontally and below the bottom surface of the bale; (3) imparting a rotational tumbling motion to the bale to rotate it about a substantially horizontal axis, while wrapping is effected. The double roll device of each cradle is particularly effective in each of the three phases whose operation is described above, and particularly in the third phase, in which the corner edges of the bale (the corner edges extending in the longitudinal direction in the case of a ball of rectangular cross-section) may fall into the free space left between each pair of rollers, since these rollers are driven in a rotational tumbling motion (One edge of the ball tends to form an instantaneous center of rotation of the entire ball when this edge is temporarily between each pair of

rolls of each cradle).

  For certain profiles and / or types of balls, it may be desirable to increase the contact area that can be obtained with the side faces of the ball, by providing an endless band device (not shown) which is placed around each pair of rollers in each cradle, said tapes being driven by at least one of the rollers Preferably the tapes are "loose" tapes, which can define a shape of trough between each pair of rollers, trough in which the

  The edges of the ball can take place in such a way as to help the rotation of the ball.

Claims (22)

  A mobile bale wrapper apparatus (10) capable of engaging a ball (12) lying flat on the ground on the movement path X of the apparatus and provided for (1) grasping the bale, (2) ) wrap the plastic stretch wrap film and (3) unload the wrap ball from the apparatus, and which includes: a frame (13); a bale lifting cradle (160) mounted on the frame (13), and provided for raising a bale (12) lying flat on the ground to a bale wrapping position, said cradle (160) comprising a pair of elongated lifting devices (16) laterally spaced apart on both sides of the X-travel path and capable of gripping opposite sides of the bale to lift the bale into a ball-wrapping position ; means (19) for rotating the bale (12) about a substantially horizontal axis (24) extending substantially parallel to the path of travel X when the bale has been raised into the bale wrapping position; means (20) for holding a supply reel (29) of plastic wrap to enclose the bale; means (21) causing relative angular movement between the feed reel (29) and the bale along at least one substantially vertical axis (22), the bale (12) being rotated about said substantially horizontal axis (24) the film being able to be pulled from the reel (29) to apply overlapping successive turns on the bale to envelop it; and means (16, 17, 19) for discharging the wrapped ball of the apparatus: wherein the cradle (160) and the frame (13) are so designed that: (1) a ball laid flat on the floor can be received by the cradle, then raised to the ball-wrapping position, (2) and then rotated about said substantially horizontal axis (24) extending parallel to the movement path X, and 3) finally can be unloaded from the back of the device, once the wrapping of the bullet is complete; all this being able to be executed while the apparatus (10) is moving along the path of movement X, and without obstruction due to the frame (13).   A moving bale wrapper apparatus comprising: a frame (13); coupling means (14) attached to the frame (13) and provided for coupling the apparatus to a motor vehicle (11) in a laterally offset manner, the motor vehicle being movable along a line of bales ( 12) lying flat on the ground, while the apparatus (10) moves along its laterally displaced travel path, wherein (1) it can grip each bale successively, (2) wrap the bale with a stretch wrap plastic film and (3) unload the wrapped ball from the apparatus; a bale lifting cradle (160) mounted on the frame (13) and provided for raising a ball (12) lying flat on the ground in a ball-wrapping position, said cradle (160) comprising a pair of elongate lifting devices (16) laterally spaced from each other with respect to the X-path of travel and capable of engaging opposite sides of the bale (12) to lift the bale (12) to bring it into a ball-wrapping position; means (19) for rotating the bale (12) about a substantially horizontal axis (24) extending substantially parallel to the path of travel X when the bale has been raised into the wrapping position; means (20) for holding a stretchable plastic film supply spool (29) for wrapping the ball; means (21) causing relative angular movement between the supply spool (29) and the bale (12) in at least one substantially vertical axis (22), while the ball is rotated along said axis (24); ) substantially horizontal, the film can be pulled from the reel (29) to apply successive turns overlapping the ball, to envelop it; and means (16, 17, 19) for discharging the wrapped bullet from the apparatus.   Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2, including a   arch structure (15), which forms an integral part of said frame (13) and which faces in the direction of the desired path of travel X, said arch-shaped structure (15) having dimensions and a profile enabling a ball (12) lying flat on the ground to pass freely through the arch structure (15) and to be received in the cradle (160).   Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the arch structure (15)   is placed at the front end of the cradle (160).   An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the arch structure (15) is   placed between the front and rear ends of the cradle (160).   Apparatus according to any of claims 1 or 2, including an arch   (15) which is an integral part of the frame (13) and which faces in the direction of the trajectory X said arch (15) being of dimensions and a profile allowing a ball   wrapped, discharged from the device, to pass freely through the arch (15).   Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein   the arch (15) forms an integral part of a tunnel-type cover, which covers the cradle (160).   Bale wrapper apparatus according to one of claims 1,   to 7, including a tow bar (14) attached to and protruding forwardly from the frame (13) to allow towing the apparatus behind a motor vehicle (11).   An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the tow bar (14) is designed to be coupled to the rear of the motor vehicle (11) and can be adjusted so that the apparatus (10) is movable between a laterally shifted position relative to the motor vehicle (11) for wrapping bales, and a   transport position directly behind the motor vehicle.   Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a   support unit (20) for mounting the supply spool (29) is carried at one end of an arm (21) rotatably mounted (23) on the frame (13) so as to rotate about an axis (22). ) substantially vertical, the supply coil (29) being capable of   follow a circular orbit around the ball.   Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein two support units (20) are provided each adapted to carry a supply coil (29)   respective, and each being mounted on a respective rotatable arm (21).   Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the   lifting cradle (160) includes a pair of laterally spaced lifting devices for receiving a ball (12) therebetween, and each is adapted to engage at least one side (27) adjacent and / or with the   under the ball, to raise the ball in the wrapping position.   An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each roller lifting assembly (16) comprises two rollers (19) which extend substantially parallel to the direction of travel and which can be driven to elevate the bale (12) in the position of wrapping balls, by frictional contact   between the rollers (19) and the sides (27) of the bale.   An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each roller lifting assembly (16) is capable of adopting a catch position with the ball, wherein the rollers (19) are placed one above the other , so that the rollers (19) can engage the substantially vertical sides (27) of a bale (12)   rectangular, to raise the latter in the wrapping position.   Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 or 13, wherein   each roller lifting assembly (16) is pivotable from the catch position with the bale into a ball driving position, i.e. rotating, in which the rollers (19) are positioned approximately at same level (Figure 13),   to support the underside of the ball.   Apparatus according to claim 15, including means for driving the rollers (19) in the same direction so as to place the rotating ball (12) in   the axis (24) substantially horizontal.   Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 16, including   means (18, 26) for adjusting the lateral spacing between two roller lifting assemblies (16) for adaptation to different bale dimensions (12) to be received between them.   Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17, including   device (31) for retightening, pinching and cutting the film, operating (automatically or manually with a drive control) in order to: tighten the length of film (30) extending between the supply reel (29) and the ball wrapped to form a tight film bead; pinching the tightened film by means of clamps (38, 40); cutting the film between the clamps (38, 40) and the wrapped bale (12 a) (Figure 14); and keep the end cut off, ready for a new   cycle of operations, once the wrapped bullet (12a) has been unloaded.   Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the mechanism (31) includes an extensible adjusting arm (32) capable of pivoting upwardly in a pivoting device (34) so that it can overhang the upper edge ( 33) of the length of film (30) extending between the wrapped bale (12a) and the feed spool (29) and can therefore compress the film to form a narrowed film bead, prior to pinching and to cut the film.   Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the rotatable arm (21) carrying the film reel holder (20) is adapted to reach a final position (see Fig. 14) extending transversely to the direction moving once   the wrapping completed, and before the implementation of the mechanism (31).   Apparatus according to claim 12 and adapted for use in wrapping a substantially circular cross-section bale, wherein each roller lifting assembly (16) includes a respective single roll, which extends substantially parallel to the The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the rollers of the two roller hoisting assemblies (16) are laterally movable towards each other to engage with and engage with each other. raise in the wrapping position, a ball placed flat on the ground.   Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the rollers of the two roller lifting assemblies (16) are movable upwardly together after cooperation with the underside of a ball lying flat on the ground so as to raise the   ball in a wrapping position.   Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein   less one of the rollers of the two sets of lifting (16) roller can be driven   so as to rotate the ball of circular cross section.   A bale wrapper apparatus (10) for applying a plastic wrapping film around a bale (12) of rectangular cross-section to enclose the bale, wherein the apparatus comprises: a frame (13); a tow bar (14) attached to and protruding forwardly from the frame (13) so as to allow the towing of the apparatus behind a motor vehicle (11);   a hoop-shaped structure (15) forming part of said frame (13) and facing the desired direction of movement, said structure being of sufficient size to allow a ball (12) laid flat on the ground to pass under the arch, when the apparatus moves forward; a bale lifter (160), mounted on the frame (13) and adapted to lift a ball lying flat on the ground in a bale-wrapping position; means (19) for rotating a bale along a substantially horizontal axis (24) extending substantially parallel to the direction of travel when the bale has been raised in the bale-wrapping position; an arm (21) capable of rotation adapted to carry a stretchable plastic film supply coil (20, 29) mounted on the frame, to rotate about a substantially vertical axis (22) and thereby cause the coil to follow an orbit circularly around the bale, while the bale is rotated about the substantially horizontal axis (24) and thereby apply turns of film overlapping around the outer surface of the bale; wherein the bale lifting cradle (160) comprises: a pair of lifting assemblies (16) mounted to the frame (13) at laterally spaced positions for receiving the bale (12) of rectangular cross-section between these two opposite sides (27) of the ball extending substantially vertically; a pair of rollers (19) rotatably mounted in each assembly (16) and extending in a direction parallel to the direction of travel X and defining a free entrance passage for the ball to be accommodated between the rollers (19) two sets (16); pivoting devices (28, 18) supporting each assembly (16) and allowing each cradle to occupy a gripping position, wherein the rollers (19) of each set are located one above the other and are capable of engaging the adjacent side (27) of the bale and, when the rollers (19) are rotated, causing the bale (12) to be lifted from the ground, taking into account a frictional contact with the sides (27) of the bale, and adopting a ball-wrapping position, said assemblies (16) also being capable of adopting a support and bale-driving position (Fig. 13) wherein the rollers (19) of each set (16) are located side by side and support the underside of the bale and are implemented when all the rollers (19) are driven, so as to place the bale (12). in rotation along said substantially horizontal axis (24) extending parallel to the direction displacement, thus forming the means of rotation of the ball; and means (18, 26) for laterally separating the assemblies (16) from the bale (12) when the wrapping is complete, the wrapped bale (12a) then being able to fall by gravity onto the ground and then be unloaded by the the back of the apparatus (10), when   last is moved forward by the motor vehicle.   Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 17 or 25, including   endless belts placed around the rollers (19) of each lifting assembly (16).