GB2045155A - Crop roll forming machines with override means for automatic bale ejection drive - Google Patents

Abstract

A crop roll forming machine has rotatable upper and lower bale forming means in the form of rotatable aprons 46, 89, drive means connected to the bale forming means and operable automatically to reverse the direction of movement of the upper apron 46 and stop the movement of the lower apron 89 when the tailgate 20 is elevated beyond a predetermined point, and selectively actuatable control means for overriding said automatic reversing of the upper apron 46 and the stopping of the lower apron 89. The override mechanism is actuated by a pull line 141 when a less than full size bale r is to be ejected from the bale forming region. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Crop roll forming machines with override means for automatic bale ejection drive.

This invention relates to crop roll forming machines e.g. for forming large cylindrical bales of crop material, commonly called round bales, in roll forming regions of the machines. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention is concerned with a machine which permits the completed bales to be discharged from the roll forming region onto the ground by the automatic reversing of a bale forming means or upper apron of the machine.

Hitherto, it has been the custom to harvest forage crops by mowing the particular crop, letting it dry in the field, forming the dried crop material into windrows and passing a hay-baling machine over and along these windrows to form the crop material into rectangular bales. Recent practice has shown that the formation of crop material into large compact rolls, rather than rectangular bales as formerly done, permits the crop material to be deposited in roll form and left in fields for extended periods of time. The ability to leave these rolled bales in fields obviates the additional steps required in the traditional rectangular baling process of gathering the bales and transporting them to a storage area protected from the elements. This new technique of forming large round bales has created a baling system that can be operated by one person.This is in marked contrast to the traditional practice of forming rectangular bales where the labour of several people was required to effect the cutting, drying, windrowing, baling, gathering and storing of the crop material.

Several methods of forming compact cylindrical rolls of crop material have evolved through the years. The most successful of these methods involves the forming of crop rolls by picking up a swath orwindrow of crop material from the field and directing it onto a lower conveyor. This conveyor transports the material to a roll or bale forming region where an upper apron or flight of belts, usually positioned above and adjacent the conveyor, moves in a suitable direction to rotate the crop material with which it is brought into contact. The increasing popularity of these crop roll forming machines has seen their use broaden from rolling wintering forage for livestock to rolling high protein crops, such as alfalfa, for dairy livestock. Therefore, these machines are the focal point of many ideas for developing both labour-saving and time-saving apparatus.

Crop roll forming machines that produce large cylindrical crop rolls utilise some form of a tailgate which is pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine. The tailgate is elevated upon completion of the crop roll or when it is desired to discharge a less than full size bale for any of a variety of reasons from the roll forming region. The tailgate follows a predetermined arc of travel, generally pivoting about a fixed point on the frame.

Prior crop roll forming machines require the operator, who is located in the operator's area of a prime moving vehicle, such as a tractor which draws the machine, to perform a series of manual operations after completing the formation of the large crop roll and prior to recommencing the roll forming process or cycle. Generally these manual steps require the stopping of the roll forming machine and the towing tractor, the initiation of the wrapping of the completed crop roll, stopping the power take-off shaft from the tractor, opening the tailgate, restarting the power take-off shaft to power the components of the roll forming machine to assist in discharging the bale, closing the tailgate and finally restarting the forward motion of the tractor and the roll forming machine.Recently developed crop roll forming machines have reduced the number of manual steps which the machine operator must perform after the completion of the formation of each bale.

The crop roll forming machine disclosed in the Applicants' co-pending British Patent Application No. 8010200 (Serial No. 2045156) of even date discharges the completed crop material roll or package from the roll forming region by pivoting the tailgate rearwardly and upwardly, thereby permitting the upper bale forming means to automatically cease rotation in a first direction and commence rotation in an opposing section direction. This automatic reversal of the upper bale forming means simultaneously occurs with the declutching-of the lower bale forming means or conveyor. A completed crop roll is thus urged rearwardly out of the machine onto the ground with the operator being required only to stop the towing tractor, initiate the wrapping of the roll and opening and then closing the tailgate.

Under certain conditions, such as when the supply of crop material to be baled has been exhausted or when the core of the roll has broken down, it is necessary to eject a partially formed roll of relatively small diameter. Usually the mere reversing of the upper bale forming means will not effect the ejection of the crop roll under these conditions since the partially formed bale or core of crop material presents too little surface area for engagement with the upper bale forming means and occupies too little of the bale forming region. Any rolling motion imparted to the core or partially formed bale will be insufficient to propel the bale out of the bale forming region and onto the ground. It then becomes necessary to impart a more positive ejection force to the core.

The foregoing problems are solved, or substantially mitigated, by a crop roll forming machine as defined in the appended claims. The machine has drive means for discharging the completed crop roll automatically with the raising motion of the tailgate.

The drive means is provided with selectively actuatable control means which preferably permit the roll forming machine operator more easily to override the automatic reversing of the upper bale forming means and prevent the declutching of the lower bale forming means, thereby causing the lower bale forming means to continue to move rearwardly to convey a partially formed crop roll rearwardly out of the bale forming region and onto the ground at the rear of the machine.

A crop roll forming machine according to the invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa side elevation of the crop roll forming machine, adapted to be towed by a tractor and having side shielding broken away to show internal detail, the tailgate being shown in solid lines in its position for ejecting a core or partially formed bale and in broken lines in its fully raised position for ejecting afullyformed bale.

Figure2 is an enlarged side elevation of drive means and control means of the crop roll forming machine, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the drive means and control means, Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, but showing an alternative embodiment of an override mechanism of the drive means, the tailgate being shown in solid lines in its position for ejecting a core or partially formed bale and in broken lines in the fully raised position for ejecting a fully formed bale, Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the drive means and control means for the alternative embodiment of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the drive means and the alternative embodiment of the control means illustrated in Figure 5.

Referring generally to the drawings and in particulay to Figure 1, there is shown a general representation of a crop roll forming machine 10 of the type disclosed in British Patent Specification No.

1,465,644. The crop roll forming machine 10 is illustrated in position to be fastened to a towing vehicle such as a tractor which has a power take-off shaft (not shown) providing the rotary driving force for the mechanically operated components of the crop roll forming machine. The direction of forward travel of the machine 10 is towards the left as viewed in Figure 1. The machine 10 is appropriately fastened by means of a towing hitch 14 mounted on a draft member 15 of the roll forming machine 10 to the hitch member of the tractor (not shown). Tractor hydraulic lines 18 provide the necessary fluid from the tractor hydraulic reservoir (not shown) for the hydraulically operated components of the roll forming machine 10. The drive means for the roll forming machine 10 is indicated generally by the numeral 19.

The roll forming machine 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises an upper frame 20 and a lower frame 21.

The lower frame 21 has mounted on its forward portion a pick-up 22, normally tined, for collecting crop material deposited in preformed windrows on a field and delivering itto the roll forming components of the machine 10. The lower frame 21 includes a horizontal beam member 24to which is suitably fastened a floor 25. The floor 25 may alternatively be in the form of sheet metal with appropriate channels having conveying chains running therealong, as illustrated in the aforementioned British Patent Specification No. 1,465,644, or may consist of one or more conveyor belts rotatably mounted, or any other means suitable for supporting crop material once it is delivered thereto by the pick-up 22. The horizontal beam member 24 is connected at its forward end to a generally vertically beam member 26.A diagonal brace member 28 is appropriately fastened to the top of the vertical beam member 26 and extends downwardly and rearwardly to its lower end where it is fixedly secured with a bracing member at the rearward portion of a side sheet covering member 29. A diagonal bracing member 30 extends upwardly and fowardly from the rear of the side sheet covering member 29 to its upper end where it is fixedly fastened to the vertical member 26. This lower frame 21 is mounted on a pair of ground-engaging wheels 31 (only one of which is shown) via a suitable axle and support beam indicated generally by the numeral 32.

The upper frame 20, shown in solid lines in a partially elevated position in Figure 1, consists of a tailgate pivotable about its mounting point 34 at the top of the vertical member 26. The tailgate or upper frame 20 is formed from a series of interconnected bracing members 35,36,37,38 and 39 and is covered by side sheet members 40 and rear sheet members (not shown). The upper frame 20 is raised and lowered by means of a pair of hydraulic cylinders 41, only one of which is shown. As best seen in Figure 1, the hydraulic cylinders 41 are mounted one on each side of the frame with the cylinder end being fastened at 42 to the vertical beam member 26 of the lower frame 21, and the piston end 44 being fastened to the bracing member 35 of the upper frame 20.Suitable hydraulic lines (not shown) are connected to opposite ends of the cylinders 41 to supply the fluid from the aforementioned tractor hydraulic reservoir for the selective activation of the hydralic cylinders. As best seen in the elevated position of Figure 1,theupperframe20 has an elongated section 45 of the type shown and described in the applicants' published British Application No. 2,007,073.

The upper bale forming means or upper apron 46 travels around the periphery of the roll forming machine 10 on a series of appropriately mounted idler sprockets 48, 49, 50, 51 and a drive sprocket (not shown) mounted about a reversible rotatable shaft 52. The shaft 52 is suitably rotatably mounted on the vertical frame member 26. A take-up mechanism indicated generally by the number 54 in Figure 1 is fastened to bearing brackets 55 which are in turn secured to the upper portion of the vertical member 26. The take-up mechanism 54 includes a pair of pivotable parallel arms 56, one being positioned on each side of the frame. The take-up mechanism pivots about a bearing 58 and thereby allows the upper apron 46 to be paid out around the periphery of the expanding crop roll R. The upper apron 46 passes around sprockets 59 mounted on the end of each of the take-up arms 56. The upper apron 46 preferably comprises a pair of roller link chains (not shown) which are transversely spaced on opposing sides of the machine 10. These chains are interconnected by a series of spaced, parallel crop-engaging members which combine with the roller link chains to form a rotatable curvilinear crop engaging member.

The main features of the roll forming machine are not described in further detail at this point because they are old and well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. It should be noted, however, for the purpose of the embodiment to be described hereinafter, that the upper apron 46 could equally well comprise the aforementioned roller link chains, as well as a series of expandable belts or a series of rollers of cylindrical or hexagonal cross-section arranged to form a movable curvilinear surface.

The drive means 19 is connected to the power take-off shaft of the towing tractor through a series of connecting shafts and gearboxes. A connecting shaft 60 (Figure 1) is connected to the power take-off shaft of the tractor above the draft member 15. The shaft 60 then joins an input shaft 61 at a universal joint 63. The input shaft 61 is rotatably fastened to the draft member 15 via a support bracket 64.

Rearwardly of the bracket 64, the draft member 15 separates into two members, only one of which is shown as 65 in Figure 2, to form an A-frame type of structure. These two members are fixedly fastened to a horizontal support member 68, shown best in Figure 2, which extends transversely across the width of the roll forming machine 10. The input shaft 61 is joined with a right angle gearbox 69 suitably fastened on top of the horizontal support member 68. Rotary power is transferred within the gearbox 69 through a set of bevel gears (not shown) to an output shaft 71. As evident from Figures 2 and 3, the shaft 71 extends through a side member 72 and at its extremity has mounted thereon a multi-grooved drive sheave 74. The sheave 74 and output shaft 71 are continuously driven during the operation of the roll forming machine 10 without disengaging the power take-off shaft of the tractor.As best shown in Figure 3, the rotary power being transferred from the tractor power take-off shaft through the gearbox 69 to the sheave 74 is transferred via a drive belt 75 to a sheave 76 and then to shaft 78 on which the sheave 76 is mounted.

The transfer of rotary power is best seen in Figure 2 where in enlarged scale the drive means 19 is first shown in solid lines with the components in position to drive the upper apron 46 in a first direction during the formation of a bale; and secondly in broken lines with a portion of the components in position to drive the upper apron 46 in an opposing second direction during the discharge of the bale. Inwardly of the sheave 76, the shaft 78 has mounted thereon a sprocket 79 which is connected via a chain 80 to a driven pick-up sprocket 81 which is mounted on a pick-up drive shaft 82. The shaft 82 then drives the tined pick-up 22 which is pivotally mounted on the lower frame 21.

The drive sheave 74 also has passed therearound a second driving belt 84 disposed inwardly of the drive belt 75. The belt 84 is wrapped around a multiply grooved driving sheave 85 which is mounted on the reversibly driven shaft 52 which, in turn, drives the upper apron 46. A bracket 77 has a belt guide pin which extends outwardly over the sheave 85 and which aids in keeping the belt 84 properly seated around its sheaves. Inwardly of the multiply grooved sheave 85 and coaxially mounted on the shaft 52 is a sprocket 86 around which extends a chain 88. The chain 88 drives the lower bale forming means or apron 89, illustrated in broken lines in Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the drive belt 75 and the driving belt 84 are maintained with the proper amount of tension to transmit rotary power from the output shaft 71 via the drive sheave 74 to both the sheave 76 and the multiply grooved sheave 85 by means of a series of movable tensioning idlers. The relationships of these idlers to the belts 75 and 84 during the roll forming cycle and the roll ejection cycle also are shown in Figure 2, the former positioning being shown in solid lines and the latter positioning in broken lines.

The drive belt 75 is tensioned by a pair of rotatable idlers 90 and 91 which are movable separately with respect to each other. The idler 90 is rotatably mounted on an arm 92 which is pivotally mounted on the side sheet member 94 by means of a bushing 95 and pin 96. The idler 90 is spring biased by a spring 101 which is fastened via a suitable clevis 102 mounted on a bracket 104. The bracket 104 is fixedly fastened to the horizontal beam member 24. The spring 101 serves to keep the belt 75 under the proper amount of tension to transmit rotary drive power when the upper frame or tailgate 20 is in the closed position and a crop roll R is being formed within the machine in a region commonly known as the roll or bale forming region. The idler 91 is fastened to an extensible support arm which is mounted at its upper end on the tailgate 20 and which is indicated generally by the numeral 98.A connecting link 93 is pivotally mounted on the side sheet member 94. The connecting link 93 is mounted on the side sheet member 94 by a bushing 97 and a pin 103. At its opposite end, the link 93 rotatably supports the idler 91 by a bushing 87 and a pin 120, best shown in the broken away view of the idler 91 in Figure 3. The link 93 and the support arm 98 are joined via the bushing 87 and the pin 120 for coordinated movement as the tailgate 20 is raised to control the positioning of the idler 91.

The driving belt 84 is tensioned by the movable idler 99 which is rotatably mounted on a second extensible support arm also attached at its upper end to the tailgate 20 and indicated generally by the numeral 100. As best seen in Figure 3, a pivot arm 107 is suitablyjournalled at one end on a roller pin 116 at the base ofthe support arm 100. At its opposite end, the pivot arm 107 is journalled in the side sheet member 94 by a bushing 113 and a pin 117, thus permitting the arm 107 to pivot upwardly with the idler 99 as the support arm 100 is lifted by the raising of the tailgate 20.

A pivotable control arm 137 is movably fastened to the side sheet member 94 by means of a bushing 145 and a pin 146. The control arm 137 is biased by a spring 138 one end of which is suitably fastened to the arm 137 and the opposite end of which is attached to a suitable stub extension 139 projecting outwardly from the side sheet member 94. On the upper end of the control arm 137 there is a pull line or rope 141 suitably fastened at a location 142.

Although not shown the pull line 141 can utilise a pulley system to multiply the rope or pull force exerted on the arm 137. The pull line 141 runs forwardly from the front of the roll forming machine 10 to the operator's area of the tractor (not shown).

The pull line 141 permits the operator to pull forwardly on the control arm 137 when it is desired to override the reversing operation on the upper apron 46 in the manner explained in greater detail hereinafter. The pivot arm 107 has attached to its iowermost end a roller 143, best shown in Figure 2.

The roller 143 serves to provide the engagement surface for the control arm 137 when the arm 137 is pulled forwardly by the pull rope. The pivot arm 107 also has an L-shaped lifting pin 140 fastened thereto and extending downwardly and outwardly from the side sheet member 94. The lifting pin 140 slides beneath the upper run of the belt 84 when the idler 99 is raised by the lifting ofthetailgate 20 to ensure that the tension applied to the belt 84 is sufficiently reduced to stop the transfer of rotary power between the drive sheave 74 and the multiply grooved sheave 85. The idler 99 is aided in its upward movement by a spring 105 as the tailgate 20 is elevated beyond a predetermined point in its arcuate path to the raised or open position. One end of the spring 105 is suitably anchored to a link 144 and the other end is attached to a bracket 77.

Extensible support arms 98 and 100, as shown in Figure 1, are suitably mounted at their upper ends on the bracing member 35 of the upper frame or tailgate 20 by a stub pin 108 and bushing (not shown). The support arm 100 has an upper base member with a spring (both not shown) inserted within its hollow upper portion. The lower end of the arm 100 is formed by a telescoping portion 114 which is received within the hollow upper portion and which has at its lower end a bracket 115 suitably fastened thereto, best shown in Figures 2 and 3. The idler 99 is rotatably mounted about a roller pin 112 and a bushing 116 which passes through spaced legs of the bracket 115. A spring within the upper base member of the support arm 100 serves to keep sufficient tension (via the idler 99) on the belt 84 to permit the transfer of rotary drive power when the tailgate 20 is in the closed position.The support arm 98 is similarly mounted about a pin 108 and its associated bushing at the upper portion of its base member (not shown in detail). Inserted within the hollowed lower end of the base member of the support arm 98 is a telescoping portion 119, best shown in the fragmentary view at the left-hand side of Figure 3. The lower portion of the telescoping member 119 has a roller pin 120 fixed thereto and about which the idler 91 is rotatably mounted. The outermost end of the roller pin 120 has the connecting link 93 affixed thereto. The telescoping portions 119 and 1 14 of the support arms 98 and 100, respectively, are movable within their respective base members to permit some lost motion to occur in the movement of the idlers 91 and 99 as the tailgate is raised.This permits the required amount of tension to be maintained on the belts 75 and 84 until certain predetermined points in the elevational path of the tailgate are reached.

The arcuate movement of the tailgate, in conjunction with the spring 105, causes the idler 99 to be sufficiently raised to reduce the required tension to interrupt the transfer of the rotary drive power transmitted via the belt 84. The belt 75 is continuously maintained under tension as the tailgate 20 is raised by the cooperative pivotal effect of the idlers 90 and 91 and the spring 101 so that rotary driving force is continuously transferred from the sheave 74 to the sheave 76. As the tailgate continues to be raised towards its fully extended position, a second predetermined point is reached where the arm 98 is in a position which causes the idler 91 to pull the drive belt 75 sufficiently upwardly and rearwardly so that it back wraps around the multiply grooved sheave 85.The combined cooperative effect of the idlers 90,91, the spring 101 and the arm 98 creates greater tension on the back wrapped drive belt 75 when the tailgate is in the raised position than when it is in the lowered or closed position. The effect of this back wrapping will be further explained hereinafter.

A stop pin 121 is fastened to and extends outwardly from the side sheet member 94 to engage the pivot arm 107, thereby limiting the amount of upward pivotal movement of the idler 99 when the tailgate is in the raised position. A support shelf (not shown) may be suitably fixed to the side sheet member 94 to support the lower run of the driving belt 84 when the tailgate is raised beyond the predetermined point that removes the tension from the driving belt 84 to interrupt the transfer of rotary power between the drive sheave 74 and the multiply grooved sheave 85.

A one-way clutch (or unidirectional drive mechanism) 124 is mounted within the multiply grooved sheave 85. The clutch 124 is best shown in Figures 2 and 3. The sheave 85 has a hub 126 having a pawl or dog 129 fastened to it by a pin 130. The pawl is spring biased radially outwardly by a compression spring inserted in a suitable slot cast in the hub 126.

A hub 1 26a is rotatably mounted on the shaft 52, is located within the sheave 85 and has ratchet teeth 128 circumferentially cast around its entire interior circumference. The ratchet teeth 128 cooperate with the pawl 129 so that when the sheave 85 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 2), the clutch is disengaged and the pawl 129 rides over the ratchet teeth 128. When the sheave 85 rotates in a clockwise direction, the pawl 129 engages the ratchet teeth 128 and causes a sprocket (not shown) to rotate. This sprocket is attached by bolts or pins to the hub 126a, and the chain 88 of the lower bale forming means or lower apron passes around this sprocket. The rotation of the lower apron sprocket causes the lower apron chain 88 to be driven and accordingly drives the lower apron 89, shown in Figure 1. The end of the shaft 52 is preferably splined and interengages with the splined centre of the sheave 85. The sheave 85 is securely fastened to the end of the shaft 52 by a locking bolt 135 and a washer 136 (Figure 3), or in another suitable fashion.

Alternatively, the interior of the hub 126 could be provided with ratchet teeth 128 circumferentially cast about the entire interior circumference of the sheave 85. The ratchet teeth 128 would then cooperate with the pawl or dog 129 fastened to a hub (like the hub 126a) by the pin 130. In this configuration, when the sheave 85 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the clutch would be disengaged and the pawl 129 would ride over the ratchet teeth 128. A driving relationship would exist between the ratchet teeth 128 and the pawl 129 when the sheave 85 turns in a counterclockwise direction.

The alternative embodiment of the override mechanism, shown in Figures 4 to 6, is similarly mounted on the frame of the roll forming machine 10. The structure of the alternative embodiment shown in these figures is essentially as previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, except for the differences explained immediately hereinafter. A control plate 149 is fixedly fastened to the pivot arm 107 so that it follows the pivotal movement of the arm 107 and the idler 99 when the tailgate 20 is opened. Projecting outwardly from plate 149 and generally intermediate its ends is the previously mentioned lifting pin 140.The pin 140 serves the same function as previously described by sliding beneath the upper run of the belt 84 when the idler 99 is raised by the lifting of the tailgate to ensure that the tension applied to the belt 84 is sufficiently reduced to stop the transfer of rotary power between the drive sheave 74 and the multiply grooved sheave 85. The pull line or rope 141 in this embodiment is suitably fastened to the bottom portion of the control plate 149 at a location 150. The pull line 141 runs forwardly from the front of the roll forming machine 10 to the operator's area of the tractor (not shown).

The control plate 149 has a connecting arm 151 connected thereto between roller pin 116 and lifting pin 148. The connecting arm 151 is slidably and movably joined at its opposing end to an angle arm 152. The angle arm 152 is fixedly fastened to the link 93 and therefore always maintains the perpendicular relationship therewith shown in Figure 5. The slot shown in the bottom portion of the connecting arm 151, in conjunction with the designed limitation in the pivotal motion of link 93 upwardly and rearwardly when the tailgate is raised, limits the amount of rotation upwardly which the pivot arm 107 can achieve during operation. The angle arm 152 has at its uppermost end a suitably sized aperture to fit rotatably about the bushing 97 and the pin 103.The angle arm 152 is cranked (as can be seen in Figure 6) and the inward angling or cranking of the angle arm 152 permits the connecting arm 151 to be movably journalled so that it extends upwardly internally of the movable idler 99. The connecting arm 151 is fastened on the inner side of the control plate 149. A spring 153 is suitably anchored at one end thereof to the control plate 149 and on its opposite end to the aforementioned bracket 77. The spring 153 serves to relieve the tension in the belt 84 by lifting the control plate 149 and the idler 99 as the tailgate 20 is elevated beyond a predetermined point in its arcuate path to the raised or open position.

In operation the roll forming machine 10 is towed across a field that has arranged thereon in preformed windrows a suitable crop material that has been previously cut. The tined pick-up 22 gathers the windrowed crop material, picks it up from the ground and transports it upwardly into the forward portion of the floor 25. The crop material is then transported by the lower apron 89 rearwardly into cqntact with the moving upper apron 46. The upper apron 46 causes the crop material to be rolled at the rear of the floor 25 in what is commonly called the bale forming region and initiates the formation of a core rof crop material. The crop material is continually fed into the bale forming region where it is formed into a core of progressively increasing size.

The upper bale forming means 46 expands around the crop roll R as the roll increases in size by means of the rotation of the take-up means 54 which permits the paying out of more of the upper bale forming means to accommodate the increases bale size. Once the crop roll R has reached the desired size, the operator stops the machine 10 and, if desired, wraps the roll R with a wrapping or binding material. Upon completion of the roll forming and wrapping cycles, the operator elevates the upper frame or tailgate 20 in preparation for discharging the completed crop roll R onto the ground.

Initially, while the upper frame 20 is being raised the support arms 98 and 100 maintain sufficient pressure on the idlers 91 and 99 to cause the belts 75 and 84 to continue to transfer rotary force. However, beyond afirst predetermined point in the elevation of the upper frame 20, the lost motion built into the telescoping portion 119 of the support arm 98 has reached its limit and the idler 91 begins to be raised sufficiently to affect the manner in which the transfer of rotary powerthrough the belt 75 is achieved.

Similarly, at a second predetermined point in the elevation of the upper frame 20, the tension spring within the support arm 100 reaches its limit of expansion and the idler 99 begins to be raised, thereby decreasing the tension of the driving belt 84 until it causes the sheave 85 to cease to be driven.

This in turn stops the rotation of the shaft 52 which is connected to the sprocket which drives the upper bale forming means 46. As the tailgate or upper frame 20 continues to be raised, the idler 91 on the lower end of the support arm 98 is pivoted upwardly and rearwardly about the pivot point of the connecting link 93. This pivotal motion of the idler 91 in turn causes the idler 90 to be pivoted upwardly in a generally clockwise rotation about the pivot pin 96 of the idler arm 92. During this entire time rotary drive continues to be transmitted via the drive belt 75 from the drive sheave 74 to the sheave 76. At the first predetermined point in the elevation of the tailgate or upper frame 20, the idler 91 is pulled sufficiently upwardly and rearwardly to cause the belt 75 to begin to back wrap about the now stationary sheave 85. Once the belt 75 is back wrapped about the sleeve 85 with sufficient tension, the continued movement of the belt 75 imparts a counterclockwise motion to the sheave 85, thereby causing the one-way clutch 124 to slip as the pawl 129 passes over the ratchet teeth 128. Because of the splined connection of the sheave 85 to the shaft 52, the shaft 52 also rotates in a counterclockwise direction transmitting this rotary drive to a sprocket (not shown) about which is mounted one of the chains of the upper bale forming means 46. The counterclockwise rotation of this sprocket causes the upper bale forming means 46 to reverse its normal direction of travel and imparttopspin to the completed crop roll R as it urges the roll Rout of the bale forming region of the roll forming machine.

However, the slippage or disengagement of the one way clutch 124 causes the lower bale forming means or apron 89 to remain in a position of rest during discharge. Upon completion of the ejection of the completed crop roll R the upper frame or tailgate 20 is lowered, thereby causing the idlers 99 and 91 to be driven generally downwardly and forwardly into the position generally shown in solid lines in Figure 2. As the idler 91 is lowered it causes the belt 75 to lose contact with the sheave 85 and, therefore, allows the upper bale forming means 46 to cease turning in its reverse direction.As the idler 99 is lowered with the closing of the tailgate or upper frame 20, it comes into contact again with the belt 84 and supplies sufficient tension to permit the rotary drive force to be transferred from the continuously turning sheave 74 to the sheave 85 via the belt 84 so that the sheave 85 drives the shaft 52 in a clockwise direction. This allows the upper apron or bale forming means 46 to be driven in the direction illustrated in Figure 1.

However, on rare occasions when, for example, the core rofthe crop roll may break down or the supply of crop material is exhausted, it becomes necessary for the machine operator to discharge a substantially less than fully formed crop roll or bale.

The automatic reversing of the upper bale forming means 46 is not effective to discharge the incomplete bale because of the relatively small amount of the roll surface area which the upper bale forming means 46 can frictionally engage. On these occasions, the operator pulls the pull line or rope 141, causing the control arm 137 (in the preferred embodiment) to pivot about the pin 136 generally downwardly and forwardly until it contacts the roller 143 on the pivot arm 107, the control arm 137 applying a downward force through the roller 143 to the pivot arm 107 and the attached idler 99. This prevents the idler 99 from riding upwardly on the arm 100, thereby maintaining the tension in the belt 84.Since the control arm 137 is pivoted in an overcentre fashion, the roll forming machine operator has the benefit of increased mechanical advantage when the override mechanism is activated by pulling the rope 141 to effect the pivotal movement of the arm 137.

This mechanical advantage then makes it relatively easy to maintain the idler 99 in contact with the belt 84. Thus, the disengaging of the lower bale forming means 89 is avoided while the tailgate 20 is raised to the predetermined height generally indicated by the solid line position shown in Figure 1. Since the lower bale forming means 89 continues to be driven rearwardly, the partially formed crop roll r is carried out of the bale forming region and out the rear of the roll forming machine 10. The elevating ofthetailgate 20 raises the upper bale forming means 46 sufficiently so that it does not contact the partially formed crop roll reven though it continues to be driven in its first driven direction, indicated by the arrow X in Figure 1.

Should the operator attempt to activate the override mechanism by pulling on the pull line 141 after the tailgate 20 has been raised above the predetermined point in its arcuate path of travel, the mechanical advantage and design of the control arm 137, pivot arm 107, roller 143, and the drive means 19 prevents the override from being activated. This is effected by the force of the hydraulic cylinders 41 lifting the tailgate 20 and the attached idlers 91 and 99 beyond points in their respective pivotal paths of travel from which the operator can manually exert sufficient force through the pull line 141 to lower them to override the automatic reversing of the upper bale forming means 46.Since the belt 75 is back wrapped about the sheave 85 when the tailgate 20 is elevated above the previously mentioned second predetermined point, any attempts to activate the override mechanism above this second predetermined point in effect would be an attempt to drive the upper bale forming means 46 in two directions at the same time. Thus, the override mechanism is protected from damaging the drive means 19 by its design and the interaction of the tailgate 20 and the drive means 19.

In the alternative embodiment, when it is necessary for the operator to discharge a substantially less than fully formed crop roll r, the operator pulls the pull line or rope 141 as before. This causes the control plate 149 to pivot on the pivot arm 107 about the pin 117 generally downwardly and forwardly.

This, as before, prevents the idler 99 from riding upwardly on the arm 100, thereby maintaining the tension in the belt 84. Thus, the disengaging of the lower bale forming means 89 is avoided while the tailgate 20 is raised to the predetermined height generally indicated by the solid line position shown in Figure 4. Since the lower bale forming means 89 continues to be driven rearwardly, the partially formed crop roll ris carried out of the bale forming region and out of the rear of the roll forming machine 10. The elevating ofthetailgate 20 raises the upper bale forming means 46 sufficiently so that it does not contact the partially formed crop roll r even though it continues to be driven in its first driven direction, indicated by the arrow in Figure 4.

Should the operator attempt to activate the override mechanism by pulling on the pull line 141 after the tailgate 20 has been raised above the predetermined point in its arcuate path of travel, the mechanical advantage and design of the connecting arm 151, angle arm 152, control plate 149, and the drive means 19 prevents the override from being activated. This is effected as previously described.

It should be noted that the present invention is also applicable to a roll forming machine which does not utilize the movement of the upper bale forming means to eject a partially or fully formed crop roll from the machine. The overriding of the disengage mentofthe lower bale forming means will permit the lower bale forming means discharge the crop roll, regardless of any movement of the upper bale forming means.

The decribed machine thus features improved apparatus that will permit the machine operator to discharge the core of an incompletely formed crop roll from the bale forming region. The machine has an override mechanism (for the drive system) which will permit the operator to override the clutch which automatically disengages the lower bale forming means to permit the lower bale forming means to remain engaged so that it is driven rearwardly to eject an incompletely formed crop roll. There is thus imparted to the incompletely formed crop roll sufficient force to eject it from the bale forming region.

The described machine has the advantage that the clutch which automatically disengages the lower bale forming means cannot be overriden beyond a predetermined point in the elevation of the tailgate to preclude damage occurring to the drive system of the bale forming machine. Further, the override mechanism for the drive system in its preferred embodiment is simple and low cost. Also, the override mechanism is easily actuated by the crop roll forming machine operator because of the increased mechanical advantage present in the design.

Claims (30)

1. A crop roll forming machine having a pick-up, atailgate movable in an arcuate path of travel between a first point and a second point, an upper bale forming means movable in a first direction and being reversible to move in an opposing second direction, a lower bale forming means movable in at least a first direction of travel, the upper and lower bale forming means generally defining therebetween a roll forming region, drive means connectable to the bale forming means and operable automatically to reverse the movement of the upper bale forming means when the tailgate is elevated beyond a predetermined point in its arcuate path of travel and to stop the travel of the lower bale forming means, and selectively actuatable control means cooperable with the drive means such that such activated the movement of the upper bale forming means is not reversed and the lower bale forming means continues to travel in the first direction to eject a partially formed crop roll from the roll forming region.

2. A roll forming machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means is actuatable only prior to the tailgate being elevated beyond the predetermined point.

3. A roll forming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means further comprises a plate member pivotally mounted in the machine and connectable to the tailgate, the plate member further having a pulling means fastened thereto for selective manual actuation of the control means.

4. A roll forming machine according to claim 3, wherein the upper bale forming means further comprises a pair of chains interconnected by parallel, spaced generally horizontal members forming a generally curvilinear crop engaging surface.

5. A roll forming machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the upper bale forming means comprises at least one rotatably mounted belt.

6. A roll forming machine according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the upper bale forming means comprises a plurality of adjacent generally cylindrical surfaces rotatably mounted in the machine.

7. A crop roll forming machine for forming cylindrical bales of crop material, comprising: (a) a generally upright mobile frame having opposing sides with an infeed area and an outlet area therebetween, the frame being adapted to travel across a field of crop material; (b) pick-up means mounted on the frame to gather crop material from the field and deliver it to the infeed area; (c) a tailgate mounted on the frame and movable in a predetermined path of travel between a first point and a second point; (d) lifting means mounted on the frame and connected to the tailgate to move the tailgate between the first point and the second point; (e) upper bale forming means supported bythe frame, the upper bale forming means being movable in a first direction and being reversible to move in an opposing second direction;; (f) lower bale forming means supported by the frame generally below the upper bale forming means and movable in at least a first direction of travel; (g) a roll forming region defined generally by the upper bale forming means and the lower bale forming means and positioned between the inlet and outlet areas; (h) drive means rotatably mounted on the frame and connectable to the bale forming means, the drive means being operative automatically tore- verse the movement of the upper bale forming means when the tailgate is elevated beyond a predetermined point in its path of travel, the drive means further being effective to stop the travel of the lower bale forming means beyond the predetermined point; and (i) selectively actuatable control means mounted on the frame and cooperable with the drive means such that when actuated the upper bale forming means continues to move in the first direction and the lower bale forming means continues to travel in its first direction to eject a partially formed crop roll from the roll forming region.

8. A roll forming machine according to claim 7, wherein the control means is actuatable only prior to the tailgate being elevated beyond the predetermined point.

9. A roll forming machine according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the control means further comprises a plate member pivotally mounted in the machine and connectable to the tailgate, the plate member further having a pulling means fastened thereto for selective manual actuation of the control means.

10. A roll forming machine according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the tailgate is pivotally mounted on the frame and movable along a generally arcuate path of travel.

11. A crop roll forming machine for forming cylindrical bales of crop material comprising: (a) a generally upright mobile frame having opposing sides with an infeed area and an outlet area therebetween, the frame being adapted to travel across a field of crop material; (b) pick-up means mounted on the frame to gather crop material from the field and deliver it to the infeed area; (c) a tailgate mounted on the frame and movable in a predetermined path of travel between a first point and a second point; (d) lifting means mounted on the frame and connected to the tailgate to move the tailgate between the first point and the second point; (e) upper bale forming means movably supported by the frame; (f) lower bale forming means supported by the frame generally below the upper bale forming means and movable in at least a first direction of travel;; (g) a roll forming region defined generally by the upper bale forming means and the lower bale forming means and positioned between the inlet and outlet areas; (h) drive means rotatably mounted on the frame and connectable to the bale forming means, the drive means being operable automatically to disengage the lower bale forming means when the tailgate is elevated beyond a predetermined point in its path of travel; and (i) selectively actuatable control means mounted on the frame and cooperable with the drive means such that when actuated the lower bale forming means continues to travel in its first direction to eject a crop roll from the roll forming region.

12. A roll forming machine according to claim 11, wherein the control means is actuatable only prior to the tailgate being elevated beyond the predetermined point.

13. A roll forming machine according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the control means further comprises a plate member pivotally mounted in the machine and connectable to the tailgate, the plate member further having a pulling means fastened thereto for selected manual actuation of the control means.

14. A roll forming machine according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the tailgate is pivotally mounted on the frame and movable along a generally arcuate path of travel.

15. A crop roll forming machine having a pick-up mounted on a mobile frame, a tailgate movable in an arcuate path of travel between a first point and a second point, an upper bale forming means movable in a first direction and being reversible to move in an opposing second direction, a lower bale forming means movable in at least a first direction of travel, a roll forming region defined generally by the upper and lower bale forming means, drive means connectable to the bale forming means and operable automatically to reverse the direction of movement of the upper bale forming means when the tailgate is elevated beyond a predetermined point in its arcuate path of travel and to concurrently stop the travel of the lower bale forming means, the drive means further having a first power transfer means and a second power transfer means, the second power transfer means being movable between at least a first position and a second position, first tensioning means cooperable with the first power transfer means and second tensioning means cooperable with the second power transfer means, and an overcentre pivotal and selectively actuatable control means cooperable with the drive means and connected thereto such that when actuated the control means pivots downwardly and forwardly to contact the first tensioning means to maintain the first tensioning means in engagement with the first power transfer means to continue to drive the upper bale forming means in the first direction and the lower bale forming means in its first direction, the control means further exerting a generally downward force on the second tensioning means to maintain the second power transfer means substantially in its first position.

16. A roll forming machine according to claim 15, wherein the control means is only actuatable prior to the tailgate being elevated beyond the predetermined point.

17. A roll forming machine according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the control means further cmprises a pivotable arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being mounted on the frame and the second end having a pulling means fastened thereto for selective manual actuation of the arm.

18. A roll forming machine according to claim 17, wherein the first tensioning means further includes an idler rotatably mounted on an arm mounted on the tailgate, the idler further being connected to a pivot link having a first end and a second end, the link being pivotally fastened to the machine frame at its first end and having a rotatable surface attached to its second end, the idler being connected to the link intermediate the fastening point and the rotatable surface, the rotatable surface further being engaged by the pivotable arm as the latter pivots downwardly and forwardly.

19. A roll forming machine according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the upper bale forming means further comprises a pair of chains interconnected by parallel, spaced generally horizontal members forming a generally curvilinear crop engaging surface.

20. A roll forming machine according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the upper bale forming means comprises at least one rotatably mounted belt.

21. A roll forming machine according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the upper bale forming means comprises a plurality of adjacent generally cylindrical surfaces rotatably mounted in the machine.

22. Acrop roll forming machineforforming cylindrical bales of crop material, comprising: (a) a generally upright mobile frame having opposing sides with an infeed area and an outlet area therebetween, the frame being adapted to travel across a field of crop material; (b) a pick-up means mounted on the frame to gather crop material from the field and deliver itto the infeed area; (c) a tailgate mounted on the frame and movable in a predetermined path of travel between a first point and a second point; (d) lifting means mounted on the frame and connected to the tailgate to move the tailgate between the first point and the second point; (e) upper bale forming means supported by the frame and movable in a first direction, the upper bale forming means being reversible to move in an opposing second direction;; (f) lower bale forming means supported by the frame generally below the upper bale forming means and movable in at least a first direction of travel; (g) a roll forming region defined by the upper bale forming means and the lower forming means and positioned between the inlet and outlet areas; (h) drive means rotatably mounted on and connectable to the bale forming means and operative to stop the travel of the lower bale forming means when the tailgate is elevated beyond a predetermined point in its path of travel; (i) power transfer means connectable with the bale forming means; (j) tensioning means movably mounted on the frame and cooperable with the power transfer means; and (k) selectively actuatable control means movably connected to the frame and engageable with the tensioning means, the control means further being cooperable with the drive means such that when actuated the lower bale forming means continues to travel in its first direction of travel when the tailgate is elevated beyond the predetermined point.

23. A roll forming machine according to Claim 22, wherein the drive means further comprises a first rotary output drive shaft and a second reversible driven shaft mounted in the frame.

24. A roll forming machine according to claim 23, wherein the drive means further includes one-way clutch means mounted about the second reversible driven shaft and connected to the lower bale forming means, the clutch means being operative to drive the lower bale forming means in its first direction of travel when the upper bale forming means is driven in the first direction and to stop driving the lower bale forming means when the upper bale forming means is driven in the opposing second direction.

25. A roll forming machine according to claim 24, wherein the power transfer means further includes first belt means and second belt means, the first belt means connecting the output drive shaft and the pick-up means and the second belt means connecting the output drive shaft and the second reversible driven shaft.

26. A roll forming machine according to claim 25, wherein the tensioning means further comprises first idler means cooperatively interacting with the first belt means and second idler means cooperative interacting with the second belt means, the first and second idler means further being connected to the tailgate so that once the tailgate is elevated beyond the predetermined point the second idler means decreases the tension on the second belt means sufficiently to cease driving the upper bale forming means in the first direction and the first idler means moves the first belt means into contact with the second driven reversible shaft to drive the upper bale forming means in the opposing second direction and via the clutch means to stop driving the lower bale forming means.

27. A roll forming machine according to claim 26, wherein the control means further comprises an elongate arm pivotally mounted on the first idler means and adapted for manual actuation.

28. A roll forming machine according to claim 27, wherein the second idler means further comprises an elongate support means pivotally mounted on the frame and having a first end and a second end, the second end having a roller means rotatably mounted thereon for engagement with the elongate arm when the control means is actuated, the support means further having a generally circulaiidler rotatably mounted thereto intermediate the first end and the second end, the idler being connected to the tailgate by an elongate rod means so that the rod means, idler and support means cooperatively move in response to the movement of the tailgate.

29. A roll forming machine according to claim 28, wherein the control means further includes biasing means suitably fastened to the elongate arm so that the elongate arm remains in a generally upright position when the control means is not actuated and is sufficiently yieldable when the control means is actuated to permit the elongate arm to be pivoted generally forwardly and downwardly as the elongate arm engages the roller means to maintain sufficient tension on the second belt means to enable the upper bale forcing means to continue to be driven in the first direction and the lower bale forming means to continue to be driven in its first direction of travel.

30. A crop roll forming machine constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, or as modified by Figures 4 to 6, of the accompanying drawings.