FR2735947A1 - Harvesting, collecting, storage and preservation of hay bales - Google Patents

Abstract

A harvesting and baling machine compresses the hay into parallelepipedic bundles, wraps them and deposits them on the ground for later collection and transfer to storage. The bales (B) are tied (C), and then a waterproof sheet (12) of a synthetic material is placed over the surface(s) of the bale. The sheet may be placed over the top surface only, over both the top and bottom surfaces, or applied as a tube, enclosing top, bottom and sides. The sheet dimensions ensure full coverage of the bale. The sheets are fixed to the bale and welded together where they join, and the bale deposited on the ground. The machine has an automatic cutter to separate sections of the sheet from a bulk supply roll, and has welding electrodes to weld the sheet as required.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STORAGE,
PICKUP AND CONSERVATION
HARVESTED AND BALE PLANTS
The mechanically harvested plants are compressed and baled, kept in shape by ties, then the bales thus created are put to the ground and left there until picked up and put in storage.

 It often happens that the rain falls while these balls are still on the field, where the machine has placed them.

 The rain penetrates into the bales and the plants, far from drying, are on the contrary wet, so that to avoid this serious inconvenience, it would be necessary to evacuate the bales and store them under cover as soon as they leave the machine, which is impossible in practice, unless you accept the additional cost of having pick-up and transport machines served by additional staff.

 The present invention provides a new solution to this problem and makes it possible to act as usual while protecting the balls, so that the invention even makes it possible to leave the balls longer on the spot before putting them in the shelter. .

To this end, the subject of the invention is a process for the harvesting, storage, collection and conservation of plants, of the type according to which the plants are gathered, they are compressed to form parallelepipedic bales having a large upper face, a large underside, two large side faces and two small front and rear faces, each of these is belted with tight links to keep them in shape, they are placed on the ground on
the very place where the plants were harvested, characterized in that at least one waterproof sheet whose dimensions are at least equal to those of the upper face of the bale is applied to each bale already surrounded by ties, this sheet is fixed with the bale, the whole bale-leaf is put down.

According to other characteristics of this process
- A single waterproof sheet is applied to the upper face of the bale and the ball-sheet assembly is placed on the ground so that the sheet is located on the upper face of said ball;
- two waterproof sheets are applied, one on the upper side and the other against the lower side of the bale, the bale-sheet assembly is placed on the ground so that one of the two sheets is located on the upper face of said ball;
- Apply a waterproof sheet on all sides of the ball (B), in particular by means of a tubular sheath closed on itself transversely, in order to confine the ball;
- one of the two sheets is applied to the upper face of the bale and partly to the two small front and rear faces of said ball, the other of the two sheets is applied to the lower face of the bale and partly to the same two small front and rear sides;
- The two sheets are joined by their neighboring edges situated respectively on the front face and on the rear face;
- the sheets being made of synthetic material, they are joined by welding;
- the bales are moved one behind the other from a baler mounted on board a rolling machine, towards the rear of the latter, between two upper electrodes and a lower counter-electrode, each of the sheets from a storage reel, the sheets are stretched against the large upper and lower faces of a bale, after the bale has passed above the electrodes, the electrodes are brought closer to the counter-electrode to bend the sheets so that they extend vertically against the rear face of the bale, up to halfway up the latter, we feed the electrodes which heat up and weld the sheets to each other transversely, we cut the two sheets leaving two welds remaining on either side of the cut, the ball-welded sheet assembly is placed on the ground;
- Another ball is moved until its front face comes into contact with the sheets already welded and we start again for this other ball the cycle already performed for the deposited ball;
- the successive bales being close to each other, the sheets are welded between two bales, so that the two sheets, after welding and cutting, lie on the one hand against the rear face of a bale and against the front face of the next bale, this being moved at the same time as the sheets are spread over the large upper and lower faces of said next bale;
- The links which surround the bales on the one hand and the sheets on the other hand being made of synthetic material, the sheet or sheets are fixed to said links of each bale by heat sealing and the sheet or sheets are cut near the rear face of said ball.

 - At least one waterproof sheet whose dimensions are at least equal to those of the upper face of the ball is applied to each bale already surrounded by ties, this sheet is fixed to the bale by surrounding both said bale and said sheet by other transverse links, that is to say perpendicular to the links of the ball alone, then the ball-sheet assembly is placed on the ground.

 The invention also relates to a device for harvesting, storing, collecting and conserving plants, of the type comprising a rolling machine equipped, on the one hand, with a mechanism for collecting plants, compression, forming and binding of these plants to form parallelepipedic bales and, on the other hand, a mechanism for pushing the bales towards the rear of the machine from which they fall to the ground, characterized in that it comprises at less a support for a reel of plastic film of width at least equal to that of the day ball, means for guiding the film, means for fixing to a ball of plants a segment of film extracted from the reel and means cutting this segment to determine a sheet of length at least equal to that of the bale.

According to other characteristics of this device
- The fixing means comprise at least one heat sealing electrode connected to an electrical supply circuit;
- The binding mechanism being supplied with links of synthetic material, the electrode comprises heads spaced apart as are links, and the guide means are arranged between the location of the links of a bale and the electrode heads;
- It comprises two supports, each for a film reel, guide means for each film respectively above the level of the upper face of the bales and below the level of the lower face of the bales, at least one upper electrode and a lower counterelectrode, means for bringing said electrode apart and away from said counterelectrode and means for cutting the films; ;
- the two film reels have different widths, the film intended for the lower face of the bales being narrower than that which is intended for the upper face;
- The device comprises at least one tying mechanism arranged laterally relative to the bales.

 The invention will be better understood from the detailed description below made with reference to the accompanying drawing. Of course, the description and the drawing are only given as an indicative and non-limiting example.

 Figures 1 to 3 are schematic side views showing a device according to the invention in three operating phases.

 Figure 4 is a schematic overview of the device of Figures 1 to 3 in operation and on which we see a bale of plants according to the invention being finished and another ball according to the invention already completed and put down.

 Figures 5 and 6 are two schematic views showing two bales of plants produced according to two variants of the method according to the invention.

 FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining the variant embodiment of the ball of FIG. 6.

 Figure 8 is a schematic view showing a ball of plants coated with an impermeable sheet fixed by transverse strapping.

 Figures 9 to 11 are partial schematic side views showing a device according to the invention in three operating phases, according to a particular operating mode.

 FIG. 12 is a schematic front view of a ball of plants produced according to the operating mode of FIGS. 9 to 11.

 FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of the ball of FIG. 12.

 The method according to the invention relates to the harvesting of plants and their protection until they can be sheltered.

 This process is combined with the actual harvest and, for this reason, it is embodied in a device comprising at the same time a machine for collecting, baling, stringing and protection.

 It can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3 that a press 1 mounted on wheels is used and fitted with a hitch 2 for attachment to a tractor 3.

 At its lower front part, the press 1 is equipped with a pick-up mechanism 4 of any known type, which raises the plants A lying on the ground to bring them into a compression chamber 5 in which there is a piston 6, in view of an evacuation tunnel 7 where there is a mechanism for tying up the bales which are made one after the other in the tunnel 7, by successive accumulations of plants brought into the chamber 5.

 At the exit of tunnel 7, there is a device comprising an impermeable film distributor, a guide mechanism and an assembly for fixing the film to a bale of plants.

 More specifically, the dispenser comprises lateral supports 10 for a horizontal roller 11 on which is placed a reel of impermeable film 12 of synthetic material, passing behind a horizontal roller 13 situated a little above the level of the upper face of the bales. plants B leaving press 1 through tunnel 7.

 The fastening assembly comprises lateral arms 14 pivotally mounted on trunnions 15 and supporting a crosspiece 16 on which there are as many heat-sealing heads 17 as there are links C now tight the plants of the bales. The number of links depends on the characteristics of the binding mechanism which equips the press 1. Here, these are twine-like links, made of heat-sealable synthetic material.

The device which has just been described is animated, supplied with energy and controlled by all known means within the reach of those skilled in the art to operate as will be explained now.
When a bullet B leaves tunnel 7, a feeler (not shown) detects its presence, as well as the exact location of its front face, and sends the information to a control assembly which makes the arms 14 pivot downwards , and the crosspiece 16 which they carry, so that the heat-sealing heads 17 are lowered and flatten the free end of the film 12 on the top of the ball B.

 The heads 17 being located directly above the links C, they fix the film 12 to these links. ..

 The ball B continuing to move, it drives the film 12 which unwinds from the reel.

 When the probe detects the rear face of ball B, it sends the information to the control unit which interrupts the electrical supply to the heat-sealing heads 17, which rotates the arms 14 upwards and which triggers the action a cutting member (not shown) such as a heating wire, which cuts the film 12.

 During the time necessary for these operations, the tractor 3 continues to move the press 1, the ball B falling to the ground at the rear of the assembly.

 Thus, the bales B are earthed covered, even before they leave the machine, with an impermeable film 12 which shelters them from the rain and prevents their degradation by penetration of moisture.

 If the film 12 is exactly the width of the bales B and if it is cut flush with the front and rear faces of the bales, the rain can still impregnate them with moisture not only because generally the rain falls obliquely, but also by runoff on the vertical faces of the balls B, from their upper face which has become watertight by the presence of the film 12 which acts as a roof.

 To avoid this drawback, the film 12 is given a width greater than that of the balls B and it is cut so that it exceeds the front and rear faces: at the start of the cycle, it is fixed to the links C while the face front of ball B is still set back from the free end of film 12, which is cut after the rear face of ball B has passed the place where the cutting member acts.

 In FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the film 12 has two front margins 12a and rear 12b which are overhanging the front and rear faces of the ball B.

 In FIGS. 4 to 7, it can be seen that the film 12 has two left lateral margins 12c and right 12d which are overhanging the lateral faces of the ball B.

 FIG. 7 shows that drops D falling from the edge of the margins 12c and 12 d remain distant from the lateral faces of the ball B and fall directly on the ground, even if the margins 12c and 12d deform somewhat and bend downwards, which is avoided by adopting a relatively thick plastic film to be rigid and resistant.

 We have just described the means which make it possible to implement the method according to the invention in its version which consists in applying a single waterproof sheet 12 to the upper face of the balls B, preferably by giving this sheet 12 a more larger than that of this upper face.

 The B balls then rest directly on the ground, as usual.

 In a more elaborate version of the process according to the invention, a second waterproof sheet 20 is placed against the underside of the ball B.

 The means by which this sheet 20 is applied to the ball B are similar to those which have been described in connection with the sheet 12 and will therefore not be described in detail. Similarly, they have not been shown in Figures 1 to 4 so as not to overload the drawing.

It is understood that if the sheet 20 had the same dimensions as the sheet 12, the drops which fall from the edges of the sheet 12 could fall on the sheet 20, from where they would flow between this sheet 20 and the ball
B, which is exactly the opposite of the aim pursued since this runoff water would impregnate the plants instead of preserving them.

 Therefore, sheet 20 must be smaller than sheet 12.

 For this, use is made of a lower film reel of the same width 1 as the bales B, for example 120 centimeters, and a film reel of greater width L, for example of 130 centimeters.

 It is this example which is represented in FIGS. 6 and 7, where it can be seen that the ball B is perfectly insulated from the ground by the sheet 20 and protected from the rain by the overflowing sheet 12.

 Bales B thus placed on the ground at the very site of harvesting the plants can thus remain longer than existing bare bales because they are protected from the weather.

 The user therefore has more time to pick up B balls and store them in the shelter of a shed, for example.

 Referring to Figure 8, there is shown an embodiment of the invention according to which the waterproof sheet 12 instead of being fixed to the ball B by welding to the longitudinal links C, is fixed by transverse strapping.

 In fact, according to the invention, the sheet or sheets impermeable to bullets can be fixed by any means and not only by welding of plastics.

Here, a device 18 of known type is provided for launching links 19 (for example plastic strips) around the object to be strapped which, here, is the ball
B covered with sheet 12, as evoked by arrow F.

 A single link 19 would obviously not be sufficient to keep the sheet 12 properly applied to the bale B, so that it is necessary to provide several link coils 19 arranged laterally, and one or more devices 18 depending on the possibility of setting up a one or more parallel links at a time.

 Note that the links 19 are. arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the bales B at the outlet of the press 1, that is to say transversely to the links C which tighten the plants of the bare bale B.

 According to another embodiment of the invention, two waterproof sheets are applied not only to the upper and lower faces of the bales B, but also to their small front and rear faces.

 FIGS. 9 to 11 show a device adapted to the implementation of this method and to be placed on the press 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

 At the exit of tunnel 7, there is a device comprising two distributors for two waterproof films, two guiding mechanisms and a set for fixing the films to the same bale of plants.

 More specifically, the upper distributor comprises lateral supports 30 for a horizontal roller 31 on which is placed a reel of impermeable film 32 of synthetic material, passing behind a horizontal roller 33 located a little above the level of the upper face of the bales of plants B leaving the press 1 through the tunnel 7, the film 32 also passing in front of a tension roller 34.

 The lower distributor comprises lateral supports 40 for a horizontal roller 41 on which is placed a reel of waterproof film 42 of synthetic material, passing behind a horizontal roller 43 situated a little above the level of the upper face of the bales of plants B leaving the press 1 through the tunnel 7, the film 42 also passing in front of a tension roller 44.

 The fixing assembly comprises upper 50 and lower 51 lateral arms pivotally mounted on pins 52 and 53 respectively and supporting an upper cross member 54 and a lower cross member 55.

 On the upper cross-member 54, there are two parallel heat-sealing electrodes 56 and 57 slightly spaced from one another, while on the lower cross-member 55 there is a counter-electrode 58.

 Between the electrodes 56 and 57, there is a cutting member (not shown) such as a heating wire.

The device which has just been described is animated, supplied with energy and controlled by all known means within the reach of those skilled in the art to operate as will be explained now.
At the start of the cycle, the upper 32 and lower 42 films are welded to each other transversely, at a level situated halfway up a ball B, which creates a transverse rim 60.

 In the space which remains between the films 32 and 42, arrives the ball B leaving the press 1, and its front face meets the part of the films 32 and 42 folded towards one another and welded.

 The movement of the ball creates a thrust on the films 32 and 42 together and they unwind from their respective reel, extending against the upper and lower faces of the ball B.

As in the previous example, a feeler (not shown) detects the arrival of the rear face of the ball
B and sends the information to a control unit which causes the arms 50 and 51 to pivot, and correspondingly the lowering of the upper cross member 54 and the elevation of the lower cross member 55, which by moving one towards the 'other, force the films 32 and 42 to bend until they are pinched against each other between the upper electrodes 56-57 and the lower counter electrode 58.

 The control assembly also triggers the electrical supply of the electrodes 56 and 57 which, by pressing against the counter-electrode 58, weld the films 32 and 42 together. The cutting member is actuated and the films 32 and 42 are cut between electrodes 56 and 57.

 The control assembly then causes the arms 50 and 51 to return to their starting position in FIG. 8.

 This completes the wrapping of the bale B and the wrapping of the next one begins by creating the rim 60.

As explained above, bullet protection
B is better if the width of the upper film (here film 32) is greater than that of bales B.

 With the embodiment which has just been described, it is therefore necessary for the film 32 to be wider than the film 42, as can be seen in FIGS. 12 and 13.

 As the small front and rear faces of the bales are covered by the films 32 and 42 brought together, there is no rim similar to the rims 12a and 12b in FIGS. 2 to 4.

 It is clear that the bullets are even better protected with this embodiment since the small front and rear faces are completely covered with an impermeable film.

The invention also provides for completely enveloping the bales, in particular with a tubular sheath, in which case the wrapping is terminated by a transverse closure of the sheath, as is known per se during operations for packaging articles ( food products in particular).

 The plants are then completely confined, sheltered from the ambient air, which has the effect of causing a fermentation, the effects of which are well known.

 This embodiment is then reserved for wrapping plants suitable for this treatment, in particular hay.

 Straw is a vegetable product of less value than hay and which is not intended for the feeding of the cattle but for the litter, so that the complete envelopment of the bales of straw is not justified.

Claims (18)

 1- Process for harvesting, storing, collecting and preserving plants, of the type according to which plants are gathered, they are compressed to form parallelepipedic bales having a large upper face, a large lower face, two large lateral faces and two small front and rear faces, each of these is belted with tight links to keep them in shape, they are placed on the ground on the very place where the plants were harvested, characterized in that they are applied to each ball (B) already surrounded by links (C) at least one waterproof sheet (12-32-42) whose dimensions are at least equal to those of the upper face of the ball (B), this sheet is fixed (12- 32-42) with the ball (B), the ball-sheet assembly is placed on the ground.  2- A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a single waterproof sheet (12) is applied to the upper face of the bale (B) and the bale-sheet assembly is placed on the ground so that the sheet (12) is located on the upper face of said ball (B).  3- A method according to claim 1, characterized in that two waterproof sheets are applied (32 and 42), one on the upper face and the other against the lower face of the bale (B), ground the bale-sheet assembly so that one (32) of the two sheets (32-42) is located on the upper face of said bale (B).  4- A method according to claim 1, characterized in that an impermeable sheet is applied to all the faces of the ball (B), in particular by means of a tubular sheath closed on itself transversely, in order to confine the ball .  5- Method according to claim 3, characterized in that one applies one (32) of the two sheets (32 and 42) on the upper face of the bale (B) and in part on the two small front faces and rear of said ball (B), the other (42) of the two sheets (32 and 42) is applied against the underside of the ball (B) and partly on the same two small front and rear faces.  6- A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the two sheets are joined together (32 and 42) by their neighboring edges situated respectively on the front face and on the rear face.  7- A method according to claim 6, characterized in that aue the sheets (32 and 42) being of synthetic material, they are joined by welding.  8- A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the balls are moved (B) one behind the other from a baler (1) mounted on board a rolling machine, towards the rear of this one, between two upper electrodes (56 and 57) and a lower counter-electrode (58), each of the sheets (32 and 42) is unwound from a storage reel, the sheets (32 and 42) are extended ) against the large upper and lower faces of a ball (B), after the ball (B) has passed vertically above the electrodes (56 and 57), the electrodes (56 and 57) are brought closer to the counter-electrode (58) to fold the sheets (32 and 42) so that they extend vertically against the rear face of the bale (B), until halfway up the latter, the electrodes (56 and 57) are supplied which heat up and weld the sheets (32 and 42) to each other transversely, we cut the two sheets (32 and 42) leaving two welds to share and on the other side of the cut, the welded bale-sheet assembly is placed on the ground.  9- A method according to claim 8, characterized in that it moves another ball (B) until its front face comes into contact with the sheets (32 and 42) already welded and we start again for this other bale (B) the cycle already performed for the bale (B) deposited.  10- A method according to claim 8, characterized in that stinks the successive balls (B) being close to each other, the welding of the sheets (32 and 42) is carried out between two balls (B), so that the two sheets ( 32 and 42), after welding and cutting, are on the one hand against the rear face of a ball (B) and against the front face of the next ball (B), the latter being moved at the same time as the sheets (32 and 42) are spread over the large upper and lower faces of said next ball (B).  11- Method according to claim 1, characterized in that aue the links (C) which surround the balls (B) on the one hand and the sheets (12-32-42) on the other hand being made of synthetic material, the or the sheets (12-32-42) at said links (C) of each bale (B) by heat sealing and the sheet or sheets (12-32-42) are cut near the rear face of said bale (B) .  12- Method according to claim 1, characterized in that one applies to each ball (B) already surrounded by links (C) at least one waterproof sheet (12-32-42) whose dimensions are at least equal to those from the upper face of the ball (B), this sheet (12-32-42) is fixed to the ball (B) by surrounding both said ball (B) and said sheet (12-32-42) by d 'other transverse links, that is to say perpendicular to the links (C) of the ball (B) alone, then the ball-sheet assembly is placed on the ground.  13- Device for harvesting, storing, collecting and conserving plants, of the type comprising a rolling machine equipped, on the one hand, with a mechanism for collecting plants, compression, forming and binding of these plants to form parallelepiped balls and, on the other hand, a mechanism for pushing the balls towards the rear of the machine from which they fall to the ground, characterized in that it comprises at least one support (10- 11, 30-40) for a film reel (12-32-42) of synthetic material with a width at least equal to that of a bale (B), means (13-33-43) for guiding the film ( 12-32-42), means for fixing (17-56-57) to a ball (B) of plants from a film segment (12-32-42) extracted from the reel and means for cutting this segment to determine a sheet (12-32-42) of length at least equal to that of the ball (B).  14- Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the fixing means comprise at least one heat sealing electrode (17-56-57) connected to an electrical supply circuit.  15- Device according to claim 14, characterized in that aue the binding mechanism being supplied with links (C) of synthetic material, the electrode comprises heads (17) spaced apart as are links (C), and the means of guide (13-33-43) are arranged between the location of the links (C) of a ball (B) and the electrode heads (17-56-57).  16- Device according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises two supports (30 and 40), each for a film reel (32-42), guide means (33 and 43) for each film (32- 42) respectively above the level of the upper face of the balls (B) and below the level of the lower face of the balls (B), at least one upper electrode (56-57) and a lower counter electrode ( 58), means for moving said electrode (56-57) towards and away from said counter-electrode (58) and means for cutting the films (32 and 42).  17- Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the two film reels (32 and 42) have different widths, the film (42) for the underside of the balls (B) being narrower than that (32) which is intended for the upper side.  18- Device according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises at least one tying mechanism arranged laterally relative to the balls (B).