FR2782889A1 - Machine for distributing bales of straw, has rotating part for extracting the bale - Google Patents

Abstract

The distributing machine comprises a cradle shaped chassis (2). An endless conveyor (3) forming the bottom of the cradle receives the bale and imparts to it a rotational movement to the outlet. A rotating part (4) for extracting the bale orthogonally to its movement direction is located at the conveyor outlet. The machine also has a support (5), for connecting to a vehicle, on which the chassis is rotationally mounted on a vertical axis connection (6).

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for dispensing material

  vegetable (straw, hay, ...) generally in the form of bales

  cylindrical and intended for animal feed.

  It is known that due to the large size and the heavy weight

  so much of a bale of plants, farmers use a ma-

  china associated with a vehicle, such as a tractor, to transport the bal-

  the plants of the storage place where they are stored, where the cattle are, and to cut and gradually distribute the material

  vegetable for dispersing it on the ground or in feeders.

  A machine for distributing bale plant material, of a known type, essentially comprises a chassis coupled to the rear of a tractor or to the front of a front loader and having a form of

  cradle whose bottom is defined by an endless conveyor on which

  transversely places the bale of plant material to give it a rotary movement around its axis. The transporter is equipped with spikes

  in which the ball grips for its setting in motion and which

  then drag it to the exit of the conveyor, where the vegetable matter

  tale is progressively rolled out in feeders or projected at

  far on the ground via a rotating cutting member linked to the chassis

  located and arranged at the outlet of the conveyor, orthogonally to its direction of movement.

  If this machine proves to be efficient with regard to the distribution

  tion of the plant material, it does however have drawbacks as regards the loading of the bale on the conveyor and the only sense of

possible distribution.

  Indeed, taking into account the size and the consequent weight of the bales, their loading on the conveyor of the machine is carried out, in particular, either by the use of a suitable gripping machine for

  pick up the bale to load and place it on the carrier or by the agent

  cementing of an articulated, hydraulic lifting arm, located on the machine. Whatever solutions are adopted, they are costly due to the use of an additional machine or the installation of a lifting arm and of its hydraulic control. Another solution

  to load the bales consists of placing them one after the other

  very on an inclined plane and dropping the first ball of the series on the bottom of the carrier previously brought under it, by clearing a stop. However, this solution proves to be impractical since it requires the arrangement of an inclined plane at a precise location and

  placing bullets on it.

  In addition, this machine offers only one direction of distribution of the plant material. Thus, when its chassis is coupled to the rear of a tractor, the plant material can only be unrolled or projected on the side opposite the tractor, at the exit of the transporter, which requires additional maneuvers to present the exit of the transporter towards

the chosen location.

  The object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks

your.

  To this end, the machine for dispensing a bale of vegetable matter

  tale, of the type intended to be connected to a vehicle and comprising - a chassis roughly in the form of a cradle;

  an endless conveyor forming the bottom of said cradle and receiving the

  said ball to give it a rotational movement and bring it in the direction of its exit; and - a rotary member for tearing off said plant material, linked to said chassis and situated at the outlet of said conveyor, orthogonally to its direction of movement, is remarkable, according to the invention - in that it comprises a support intended to be connected to said vehicle and on which is rotatably mounted, around a connection with a substantially vertical axis, said chassis so as to be able to cause the latter to assume at least one position for dispensing said plant material and one for loading said ball; - in that said chassis is provided with an inclined wall, arranged on the side

  from the entry of said conveyor, transverse to it, to allow

  being the loading of said bale on said conveyor, when said chassis occupies the loading position; and - in that said rotary member is retractable in order to be able to pass from its cutting position to an erasing position when said chassis

  goes from its dispensing position to its loading position.

  Thus, thanks to the invention, the machine is used not only for trans-

  carry and distribute the bale of plant material as the ma-

  China, but also, by the rotary mounting of the chassis on a

  support linked to the vehicle, to load the bale on the material transporter

  china by bringing its chassis into the loading position and choosing the direction of evacuation of the plant material by rotating the chassis

  relative to the support up to the desired dispensing position.

  Note that the loading of the bale is done simply and easily like a bucket, gradually bringing the wall

  inclined under the periphery of the bale until it is received on the transport

  tor. For example, at least three material distribution positions

  plant and a ball loading position are provided and arranged

  cated at 90 relative to each other: a first position for distributing the chassis in the median longitudinal plane of said support for discharging the plant material towards the rear at the outlet from the conveyor,

  on the side opposite to said vehicle, second and third positions remain

  pectively perpendicular to the first position, by rotation of said

  quarter-turn chassis in one direction and in the other to evacuate the

  said vegetable matter perpendicular to said longitudinal plane of the sup-

  port, and a loading position by rotation of said chassis by half

  turn with respect to said first position to bring said wall of the

  side opposite to said vehicle while said conveyor exit is pro-

  che of it. In this example, the range of use covered by the

  rotation of the chassis relative to the fixed support is 270.

  Obviously, said rotary link with vertical axis between said

  chassis and support can be controlled manually or automatically

  cement and it is preferably of the ball bearing type, comprising two disks respectively integral with said chassis and said support and

  between which are arranged rolling members.

  Control means can be provided for the rotation of said chassis relative to said support and comprise, for example, a

  motor fixed to said support and driving in rotation about said green axis

  tical, via a transmission, an integral indexing finger

  said chassis to bring the latter into the selected position.

  In addition, means for marking the chosen position of dispensing

  tion of said chassis can also be provided and comprise at least three notches formed at 90 relative to each other in the periphery of one of the discs and a pivoting latch linked to the other disc and capable of engaging in the notch corresponding to the position

chosen from said chassis.

  Advantageously, said retractable rotary member is mounted, on the one hand, pivoting relative to said chassis to occupy its cutting position or its erasing position and, on the other hand, removable relative to said chassis so that it can be removed from it. this when it is in its erasing position. For this, elastic means are provided between said chassis and said rotary member so that, when said elastic means are under tension, said rotary member occupies its cutting position and that, when they are released, said rotary member retracts to move from its cutting position to its erasing position. Preferably, said

  elastic means are defined by a torsion bar, the ends of which

  tees engage in said frame and said rotary member, respectively.

  Also, releasable locking means are associated with said chassis to immobilize said rotary member in its cutting position, and

  authorize the passage of said member to its erasing position under the ac-

  tion of said elastic means, as a result of the release of said locking means. For example, said releasable locking means comprise a bent lever, rotatably mounted in lugs integral with the

  chassis, so as to elastically immobilize said member in its posi-

  cutting and releasing said member to allow it to pass to its erasing position, when said lever is actuated to move away

of said rotary member.

  Furthermore, a hollow tube is integral with the movable disc of said

  connection, to allow the passage of the supply and discharge pipes

  motors, so as to guide them, and the longitudinal direction

  of said hollow tube occupies a middle position between the extreme positions

  chassis rotation measurements with respect to said support. This avoids excessive bending of said pipes from the power unit of the tractor, when the chassis rotates to one or the other of the extreme positions. To avoid that the bale of vegetable material, during cutting, tends to be too quickly evacuated from the cradle conveyor by going up towards its exit, at least one claw holder for retaining said bale, during cutting, is provided on said chassis and is fixed by one

  from its ends, to said wall inclined to extend at least in part

  tie on said conveyor, while its other end is free and pre-

  feels claws in which grips said ball.

  In a preferred embodiment, said rotary member is mounted at its ends, via bearings, on a U-shaped frame, cooperating with said chassis. In particular, one of the ends of said frame is rotatably mounted around a pivot projecting from said chassis, and the other

  end cooperates with the releasable locking means.

  The figures of the appended drawing will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references

  denote similar elements.

  Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the

  said dispensing machine, according to the invention.

  FIG. 2 is a top view of said machine illustrated on the

figure 1.

  FIG. 3 represents, on an enlarged scale, the means of ver-

  releasable rusting of said rotary member in cutting position.

  FIG. 4 shows, on an enlarged scale, the mounting of said or-

  rotary handle and torsion bar on the frame linked to said machine frame. Figures 5, 6 and 7 are schematic views, from above, of the machine showing the distribution of the plant material respectively backwards in the longitudinal plane of said support, to the left and to the right

in relation to said plan.

  Figure 8 shows the loading position of a bale on the conveyor, after rotation of said frame relative to the support of said machine and automatic erasure of said rotary member.

  FIG. 8A is a view of the machine according to the arrow F of the figure

gure 8.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic view, from above, of said ma-

  china to distribute the plant material in the feeders of a

corn.

  The machine 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 aims, according to

  the invention, to load a round or cylindrical bale B of vegetable material

  tale MV and distribute the plant material MV in a place where the

cattle (meadow, barn, ...).

  Structurally, the machine 1 comprises a chassis 2 constituted

  an appropriate assembly of beams, crosspieces, etc ... and forming an ap-

  approximately a cradle, and an endless conveyor 3 defining the bottom of said cradle and receiving the ball B to impart to it a rotary movement BR around its axis AA parallel to the conveyor, as a result of its movement indicated by the arrows F. Furthermore, the machine 1 is provided with a retractable rotary member 4, which is located at the outlet 3S of the

  conveyor, orthogonally to its direction of movement F for rear

  gradually expensive the vegetable matter of the ball in movement, so as to distribute it away from the chassis 2 as indicated by arrow A.

  To ensure its mobility, the machine 1 is intended to be associated

  in this example, at the rear of a vehicle, such as a tractor or

  similar, via a support 5 on which is advantageous-

  rotatably mounted said chassis 2 around a link 6 with axis 6A sensi-

  clearly vertical in the figures, so as to be able to cause said chassis to take up several positions for distributing the plant material MV and

  a loading position for ball B, as will be seen later-

ment opposite Figures 5 to 8.

  The support 5 also consists of an assembly of sections and its front side 5A, facing the tractor, is connected by a three-point assembly 5B or equivalent, known per se, to the rear of the tractor, which

  is fitted, at this level, with a lifting device not shown particularly

  pant when loading the bale onto the chassis. The rotary link 6 is located on the rear side 5C of the support and, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, its vertical axis 6A is contained in the median longitudinal plane PL of said support 5, which plane PL is coincident with that of the tractor since said support and said tractor are linked by three-point mounting. In the position illustrated in these Figures 1 and 2, the longitudinal plane PL1 of the chassis is also coincident with the plane PL of the support, so that the direction of movement F of the conveyor is parallel to the plane PL of the support, the inlet 3E of the carrier being turned

  towards the support 5, while its outlet 3S is located on the opposite side.

  In particular, the rotary link 6 is constituted by a ball bearing comprising concentric discs, superimposed, one of which 6B

  is integral with a cross-member 2A, located under and connecting two longitudinal beams

  2B of said chassis, and the other 6C of which is integral with a 5D profile

  of said support. Between the two discs are arranged the rolling bodies

  6D ment such as balls. The chassis 2 rotation control by

  with respect to support 5 takes place automatically under the action of a mo-

  tor 7 which is integral with a cross member of the support and whose output shaft 7A, parallel to the vertical axis 6A of the rotary link, drives a link 8, serving as a transmission between said shaft and an indexing finger 9 planned

  on the periphery of the disc 6B secured to the chassis. By the rotation of the mo-

  tor, the chassis carrying the carrier can therefore rotate around the axis 6A of the link 6 and occupy any distribution position or

loading as required.

  If desired, the rotation of the chassis, in particular when empty without the ball, can be carried out manually, by disengaging the motor and then turning the chassis to the desired position. Four notches 6F are also provided at the periphery of the fixed disc, integral with the support, spaced 90 from one another and a pivoting lock 10, linked to the chassis,

  can be actuated to engage in the notch corresponding to the po-

  distribution or loading position chosen and, thus, mark the posi-

  tion and lock said chassis in place relative to the integral support

of the tractor.

  In addition, on the 3E side of the transporter, the chassis is

  fitted with an inclined wall 1 1 transversely connecting the cor-

  of the two parallel beams 2B of said chassis and intended for

  allow the ball to be held on the machine by acting as a dos-

  but also loading the bale on the transporter without

  end 3, as will be seen with reference to FIGS. 8 and 8A. The transverse wall

  dirty 11 can be made from a metal plate and has a

tilt of 45, for example.

  The endless conveyor 3 is made up, in this example of reali-

  sation, of two identical transmission chains 3A on which are mounted, equidistantly, transverse bars 3B provided with points 3C for driving the ball. The two chains, spaced parallel to each other and close to the two respective longitudinal members of said chassis, are wound on 3D toothed wheels provided on two parallel shafts 3G, 3F which are carried by bearings 12. One 3F trees is located on the side of the inclined wall 11, under the longitudinal members 2B,

  while the other 3G shaft is arranged, via bearings 12, on two mon-

  vertical aunts 2C perpendicularly integral with the two beams 2B,

  but located on the side opposite to said wall. Thus, the 3A chains of the trans-

  bearer have a curved shape (Figure 1) rising towards the exit

  3S of the conveyor to bring the ball towards the rotary member 4.

  The shaft 3F is for example driven in rotation by a hydraulic motor 14 printing the movement of the conveyor according to arrow F and the

  seems to consist of the motor 14, the corresponding bearings 12 and the rear

  bre 3F, can be moved longitudinally according to the double arrow f to allow adjustment of the chain tension according to their wear

  and the weight of the ball to be supported.

  In the two vertical uprights 2C of the chassis are housed slides 15 adjustable in position and one of which is provided, in this example, with a cylindrical pivot 16 projecting perpendicularly

  of said upright, towards the rear of the chassis and in the extension thereof

  this. On this pivot is pivotally mounted a first end 17A of a frame 17 which acts as a rotary member holder and which has a U shape. The second end 17B of the frame cooperates with the other slide

  by means of releasable locking means 18 which immobilize

  feels the rotary member 4 in its cutting position and which will be described later

  later. On the first end 17A of the frame is fixed, by a

  plate 17C, a hydraulic motor 20 intended for rotational drive

  tion of the cutting member 4 via a belt transmission 21.

  The rotary member 4 comprises a shaft 4A on which are arranged

  created, in a helical configuration, claws 4B projecting radially from the shaft and intended to penetrate the periphery of the bale B to progressively tear off the plant material MV and eject it at a distance of several meters (5 to 10 meters) of the chassis. The shaft has a conical end 4C capable of engaging in a bearing 4E mounted on a ball joint, and housed in the first end 1 7A of the frame, so as to facilitate the assembly and disassembly operations of the member without resorting to a specific tool, while the other end 4D of the shaft engages in a bearing 4F provided, coaxial with the bearing mounted

  on a ball joint, in the second end 1 7B of the frame.

  Advantageously, the rotary member 4 is retractable so as to be able to pass from its cutting position to an erasing position when said chassis passes from one of its dispensing positions to its loading position. And, when it occupies the erasing position, the rotating member

  4 can be removed by the removable nature of its connection with the frame.

  To make the rotary member retractable, elastic means are used so that, when they are under tension, the rotary member 4

  occupies its cutting position and, when released, the ro-

  tatif automatically rotates around pivot 16 to move to its posi-

erase tion.

  In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the means

  elastic bands are defined by a torsion bar 22 which follows one of the lanyards

  rons 2B of the chassis and one of its ends 22A engages in a notch 11 A provided in the transverse wall 11, while the other end, angled, 22B (FIG. 4) engages in a passage 17D provided

  in the plate 17C of the frame to be held there. So, in the posi-

  tion distribution illustrated, the torsion bar 22 is under stress.

  It is for example made of silicon steel. The means of ver-

  releasable rust 18 keeps the rotary member in the cutting position. For this, as shown in Figure 3, the second end

  1 7B of the frame rests in lugs 1 5A integral with the slide

  respondent 15 and between which is pivotally mounted, about an axis 18C, a bent lever 18A. The latter applies elastically, via a

  spring 1 8B, on the end 1 7B which rests in the lugs 1 5A for ver-

  thus rusting in position said frame carrying the rotary member.

  To optimize the distribution of the plant material MV, it is

  provided on the frame 17, an equipment 23 with parallel blades 23A which

  ends with the ends of the claws 4B, a space E which channels and guides,

  according to arrow A, the ejection of the vegetable material torn off by the grif-

fes, far from the chassis.

  In addition, the three engines 7, 14, 20 respectively commanding-

  the rotation of the chassis 2, the movement of the conveyor 3 and the rotation

  tion of the cutting member 4 are hydraulic and are connected to the hydraulic power unit of the tractor by supply and

  10 discharge 24. Thus, the control of the various motors can be managed

  from the tractor cab via a double-acting distributor. Avan-

  tagged, the pipes coming from the power unit run along the

  support up to the axis of the connection 6 and pass through a hollow tube of guide

  dage 25, integral with the movable disc 6B of the rotary link 6, to be connected to the various hydraulic motors. Given the rotation of

  270 assigned to the machine between its dispensing positions and its posi-

  tion of loading, as will be seen with regard to FIGS. 5 to 8, the longitudinal direction of the hollow tube 25 is at 135 relative to the longitudinal plane PL, that is to say a median, neutral position, so that the pipes, which pass through the tube, undergo a minimum bending or twisting of 135 with respect to this median position according to the two

  extreme positions of use of the chassis.

  In addition, as the vegetable material is cut

  MV, ball B, losing its weight, tends to be dragged directly

  towards the exit of the transporter without having even been unrolled. To avoid this, two claw-holders 26 for retaining the ball are provided on the chassis. These two claw-holders 26, identical and parallel to one another, are fixed, by one of their ends, to the inclined wall

  11 of the chassis and extend along the conveyor, on its upper strand

  laughing, so that the other ends of the claw-holders are close to the outlet 3S of the conveyor 3. Claws or teeth 26A protrude from these at their free end, so that the bale, being cut , remains gripped on the claws and avoids being too quickly evacuated from the transporter. So ball B can be processed

  almost entirely since it is held in place by the claws,

  from the 3S outlet of the transporter, which, by its movement, brings it

  in the direction of the rotary member 4. In addition, these two carriers are arranged

  claws 26 just above the 3A transmission chains, which protects them and prevents the accumulation of plant material

  in the gear wheels of the transporter.

  Three remarkable positions for distributing the plant material are illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 5 to 7 showing the machine

1 top view.

  In these three dispensing positions, the rotary member 4 is im-

  mobilized in the cutting position by the releasable locking means 18

  and the torsion bar 22 is under tension.

  With reference to FIG. 5 similar to FIG. 2, the longitudinal plane PL1 of the chassis coincides with the plane PL of the support 5 secured to the tractor V, and the cutting member 4 of the chassis, whose axis of rotation is

  then perpendicular to the plane PL, is located on the side furthest from the plot

  tor V, while the inclined loading wall 11 faces the latter.

  In the course of distribution, as a result of the advance movement of the transport-

  tor 3, the ball B not shown is brought in the direction of the rotary member 4 whose claws 4B progressively tear off the plant material

  MV and expels it far to the rear of the chassis parallel to the long plane

  gitudinal PL, according to arrows A. In this distribution position, the rotary link 6 between the

  support and the chassis is such that the indexing finger 9 is located

  en 135 at the longitudinal plane PL, that is to say at a median angular position with respect to the range of use of the frame, corresponding to that of the guide tube 25 inside which the hydraulic hoses pass . The position can be marked by the engagement of the lock in one of the notches. With reference to FIG. 6, the chassis 2 has undergone a rotation of 90 in the direction dextrorsum relative to the support 5, so that the plane PL1 of the chassis is perpendicular to the plane PL of the support. The rotary member 4

  can then eject the plant material MV to the left, perpendicular to

  Rement to the plane PL, as indicated by the arrows A. To obtain this rotation of 90, the hydraulic motor 7, integral with the support 5, is controlled and drives in rotation the chassis 2, via the link 8, the disc

  mobile 6B and the indexing finger 9 integral with the chassis, up to the posi-

  illustrated distribution. Concomitantly, the guide tube 25 undergoes this rotation of 90, but due to its arrangement at 1350 with respect to the plane PL (FIG. 5), this results in a displacement of twice 45 respectively on both sides of the PL plan, which avoids

  excessively bending the hydraulic hoses which, from the tractor, follow

  wind substantially longitudinally the plane of said support up to the line

its rotary 6.

  The position of the machine 1 illustrated in FIG. 7 allows the

  tribution of the plant material to the right, perpendicular to the plane PL, as indicated by the arrows A. For this, the hydraulic motor 7 controls the rotation of the chassis by 90 relative to the position of the

  Figure 5 or 180 relative to the position of Figure 6, through

  diary of link 8, link 6 and indexing finger 9. The guide tube

  dage 25 is then arranged at 45 from the longitudinal plane PL, which avoids the

excessive bending of the pipes.

  Obviously, any other intermediate distribution position can be obtained in this range of 180 (90 respectively on either side of the longitudinal plane PL of the support), which makes it possible to adjust,

  appropriately, the distribution of the plant material.

  During the distribution of the plant material MV, the speed of rotation of the cutting member 4 (up to 1500 revolutions per minute)

  and the speed of advance of the conveyor 3 are substantially constant.

  However, when a jam occurs due to the accumulation of straw

  the bale, between the rotary member 4 and the outlet 3S of the conveyor, and provo-

  that as a consequence a decrease in the speed of rotation of the organ

  section 4, a hydraulic servo is provided between the two

* torers 20 and 14 of the rotary member 4 and of the conveyor 3 and makes it possible to

  reduce or even stop the advance speed of the conveyor 3 while the cutting member 4 clears the jam to resume its initial speed. When the latter has disappeared, the transporter resumes its speed

  in advance of processing through the servo.

  Figures 8 and 8A show the loading position of a

  bale B of vegetable matter on the conveyor 3 of the chassis 2.

  For this, the hydraulic motor 7 of the rotary link 6 is controlled to drive the rotation of the chassis, so as to bring the

  inclined transverse wall 11 on the side furthest from the tractor V, that is

  i.e. as a result of a 180 rotation from Figure 5.

  When the chassis 2 comes to its loading position, the

  pivoting 18A releasable locking means 18, which are solid

  daires of the slide, comes into contact with a caster or the like 1 8D which is fixed to the support 5 and which makes the lever 18A pivot around the axis 18C, so that the end 17B of the frame 17 is no longer maintained by the means 18. The rotary member 4, carried by the frame 17, is then released and simultaneously passes from its substantially horizontal cutting position to a raised, substantially vertical position so as not to strike the rear of the tractor V, under the action of the torsion bar 22 which passes as to

  it from its prestressed position to its relaxed position.

  A security element 1 6A consisting of a plate or the like

  gue integral with the pivot 16, makes it possible to cut off the supply of the hydraulic motor 20 to the rotary member and, therefore, its rotation when it passes towards

  its position raised. For this, the safety element 1 6A, when pivoting-

  ment of the rotary member 4 around the pivot 16, acts on the control of the supply valve 20A of the hydraulic motor 20. The conveyor is

  also stopped, power to its hydraulic motor being cut

  sword. When the tractor V recedes, the loading wall 11 which is in contact with the ground, slides under the periphery of the bale B to bring the latter onto the conveyor in the manner of a bucket. The tractor lifting mechanism returns the machine 1 to a horizontal position and its chassis is

  brought to the chosen dispensing position.

  Obviously, the passage of the rotary member from its ac-

  tive in its inactive, raised position, can be done manually by

  directly operating lever 1 8A of the locking means, in part

  particular when it is desired to disassemble the rotary member 4 for operations

  would like to maintain or distribute plant material in

  feeders provided in the stables, as shown in Figure 9.

  In the latter case, given the narrowness of corridor C se-

  by the two parallel feeders M and the structural uprights MS of the barn, it may be necessary to dismantle the rotary cutting member

  to allow free passage of the tractor V and the machine 1. Before-

  carefully, the frame 2 of the jaw is turned 90 relative to the support 5 via the rotary link 6, so as to allow the evacuation of plant material such as hay to the right or to the left, for example, from the

  left side in FIG. 9 with respect to the direction of advance S of the tractor.

  The ball B was previously placed on the conveyor 3 which is then started and whose points 3C make it possible to bring and unroll the plant material MV in the corresponding feeder M. When the

  tractor arrives at the end of the corridor, after filling of said man-

  geoire, a simple rotation of the chassis of 180 around the support 5 and a reverse control of the tractor in the direction Sl allow to distribute the plant material in the other manger M and, this, without having to resort to delicate maneuvers to perform turn it around on the tractor and present the transporter in the correct direction of distribution,

as is currently the case.

  The rotary member 4 is reassembled easily without tools, by engaging its conical end in the corresponding bearing mounted

  on a ball then its opposite end in the other bearing. The cor-

  22B of the torsion bar 22 is introduced into the passage 17D of the organ holder and the latter is pivoted around the pivot 16 to be

  locked by the means 18, while simultaneously placing the tor-

sion 22 energized.

Claims (14)

  1. Machine for dispensing a bale of plant material, of the type intended to be connected to a vehicle and comprising: - a chassis (2) roughly in the form of a cradle - an endless conveyor (3) forming the bottom of said cradle and receiving said ball to give it a rotational movement and bring it towards its exit; and - a rotary member (4) for tearing off said plant material, linked to said chassis and situated at the outlet of said conveyor, orthogonally to its direction of movement, characterized:   - in that it comprises a support (5) intended to be connected to said vehicle   cule and on which is rotatably mounted, around a connection (6) with a sensitive axis   so vertically vertical, said chassis (2) in order to be able to cause the latter to take   deny at least one position for distributing said plant material and one position for loading said bale; - in that said chassis (2) is provided with an inclined wall (11), disposed on the side of the inlet of said conveyor, transverse to it, to allow loading of said bale on said conveyor, when said chassis occupies the loading position; and - in that said rotary member (4) is retractable in order to be able to pass   from its cutting position to an erasing position when said frame   sis goes from its dispensing position to its loading position.   2. Machine according to claim 1,   characterized in that at least three positions of distribution of the ma-   plant material and a ball loading position are provided and arranged at 90 relative to each other: a first position for distributing the frame (2) in the median longitudinal plane (PL) of said support (5) for removing the material rearward at the exit of the transporter, on the side opposite said vehicle, the second and third   positions respectively perpendicular to the first position, by rota-   tion of said chassis by a quarter turn in one direction and in the other for   evacuate said plant material perpendicular to said longitudinal plane;   nal of the support, and a loading position by rotation of said chassis by a half-turn relative to said first position to bring said   wall (11) on the side opposite to said vehicle while said exit from the trans- carrier is close to it.   3. Machine according to one of claims 1 or 2,   characterized in that said rotary link (6) with a vertical axis, between the   so-called chassis and support, can be controlled manually or automatically   tick and it is of the ball bearing type, comprising two discs (6B, 6C) respectively integral with said chassis (2) and said support (5)   and between which are arranged rolling members.   4. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that control means are provided for the   rotation of said chassis relative to said support and comprise a mo-   tor (7) fixed to said support (5) and driving in rotation, about said vertical axis (6A), via a transmission, an indexing finger (9) integral with said chassis (2) to bring the latter in the chosen position.   5. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that means for marking the chosen position for distributing said chassis (2) are provided and include at least three notches (6F) arranged at 90 relative to one another in the periphery of one (6C) of the discs and a pivoting lock (10) linked to the other   disc (6B) and able to engage in the notch corresponding to the posi- chosen tion of said chassis.   6. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that said retractable rotary member (4) is mounted, on the one hand, pivoting relative to said chassis (2) to occupy its position   cutting position or its erasing position and, secondly, removable from   port to said chassis so that it can be removed from it when it is in its erasing position.   7. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that elastic means (22) are provided between said frame (2) and said rotary member (4) so that, when said elastic means are under tension, said rotary member occupies its cutting position and that, when they are released, said rotary member retracts   to move from its cutting position to its erasing position.   8. Machine according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said elastic means are defined by a   torsion bar (22) whose ends (22A, 22B) engage in the-   said chassis (2) and said rotary member (4), respectively.   9. Machine according to one of claims 7 and 8,   characterized in that releasable locking means (18) are associated with said chassis (2) to immobilize said rotary member (4) in its cutting position, and allow passage of said member towards its erasing position under the action of said elastic means (22), as a result of the   release of said locking means.   10. Machine according to claim 9,   characterized in that said releasable locking means comprises   nent a bent lever (18A), rotatably mounted in lugs integral with the chassis, so as to elastically immobilize said member (4) in its cutting position and to release said member to allow it to pass to its erasing position, when said lever (18A) is actuated to move away from said rotary member.   11. Machine according to any one of claims 3 to 10,   characterized in that a hollow tube (25) is integral with the movable disc   (6B) of said connection, to allow the passage of the supply pipes   tion and discharge of the motors, so as to guide them, and in that the longitudinal direction of said hollow tube occupies a median position   be the extreme positions of rotation of the chassis with respect to said support Harbor.   12. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11,   characterized in that at least one retaining claw holder (26) of said ball, during cutting, is provided on said frame (2) and is fixed, by one of its ends, to said inclined wall ( 11) to extend at least in part on said conveyor (3), while its other end is free and has claws (26A) in which said ball grips.   13. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims.   tes, characterized in that said rotary member (4) is mounted at its ends, via bearings, on a U-shaped frame (17), cooperating with said chassis. 14. Machine according to the preceding claim, characterized in that one of the ends of said frame (17) is rotatably mounted around a pivot (16) projecting from said chassis and in that   the other end cooperates with the releasable locking means (18).