GB2143171A - Round baler - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus is presented for slicing a large round bale into two parts prior to discharge from a baler 10. Slicing is accomplished by inserting a knife blade 60 into the bale forming chamber during or subsequent to the tying-off event while the bale rotates. The knife 60 is inserted between the belts (32, Fig. 2) which encircle the periphery of the baling chamber. The butt end of a more than two foot long knife blade 60 is secured to the center of a T-shaped crossbar 62. The knife can be moved to a neutral position by activation of the hydraulic cylinder 68 (see Fig. 2). Also disclosed is a baler in which a blade or cutting edge 80 extends laterally across the chamber to form a cylindrical or conical cut (Figs. 4, 5). The cuts provide for ventilation of the bale and/or insertion of an additive, preferably via the blade 80. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Round baler This invention relates to generally a round bale forming machine and, more particularly, to apparatus for slicing the bale into two or more parts.

Many bale forming machines exist which form fibrous agricultural crops into bales that are either twine or wire tied. For example, the U.S. Patent 4,319,446 to Arnold, et al discloses a method for forming large round bales in a machine comprising a cage-like frame having a horizontal axis and a generally cylindrical shaped baling zone. Upwardly extending machine sidewalls form the confining end surfaces of the baling zone. A plurality of serially arranged conveying elements enclose and generally define the circumferential periphery of the baling zone. Thus, the size of the baling chamber remains constant during the bale forming process. To accomplish discharge of a completed bale, the baling chamber is divided into two portions approximately along a vertically extending axis cutting plane.

The rear portion of the housing is then configured to swing upward from a hinge point at the top, thereby allowing the bale to be discharged rearward.

G.B. 2102335A discloses bale forming means wherein the hinge point of the discharge gate differs somewhat from the above described Arnold, et al patent. A key element in the implementation is the placement of the hinge point of the discharge gate. It is at the most forward edge of the baling chamber, putting it generally at the same height above ground as the central axis of the chamber.

The movable upper section comprises a subframe covered by protective panels including a pair of spaced apart sidewalls mounted at right angles to the central axis of the baling chamber. Also situated in the movable upper section are all of the conveying elements with the exception of the bottom conveyor. This includes those conveying elements which are serially disposed around the rear, top and front of the generally cylindrical periphery of the baling zone. This means that only the bottom conveyor is not enclosed in that portion of the baler which swings upward like a ciam shell to provide a tailgate through which a completed bale can be discharged.

Each conveyor element in the upper section comprises a plurality of side-by-side belts which are entrained on first and second spaced apart rollers having horizontal axes, the ends of each roller being journalled in the sidewalls of the movable upper section. The rollers at the downstream end of each conveying element are synchronously driven from the PTO of the tractor. There is a space between the last of the serially arranged conveying elements and the uppermost surface of the bottom conveyor. This space provides an inlet to the baling chamber which extends the full width of the baler. The outwardly extending axial shaft of the last downstream roller additionally serves as the hinge point around which the upper section pivots.A hydraulically actuated piston appropriately mounted between the upper section subframe and a location on the main frame just forward of the hinge point serves as a motive force to open and close the tailgate.

This invention improves on the baler of Arnold et al in that a capability is provided for slicing the bale into two equal parts. The prior art Arnold et al baler generates large round bales which are five feet long. As such they do not always fit through the doors which provide access to the feed alleyway in front of the cattle stanchions. Providing the hay baler with the option to produce two or more bales makes it possible for the livestock owner to reach his feeding alleyway when it is accessible through only a narrow doorway.

One object of this invention is to provide a simple to operate means of forming a cut in a large round bale, particularly slicing a large round bale of fibrous agricultural crop material into two parts of generally equal length.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a round baler having a baling chamber and means for forming therein a round bale,said means comprising means for rotating an at least partially completed bale within the chamber, wherein there is provided means for forming a cut in a bale as it is rotated within the chamber.

A particular embodiment of the invention forms generally cylindrical bales in a chamber of fixed size. During the bale forming process, the partially completed bale rotates on a horizontal axis while crop material picked up from a windrow is continuously added to the periphery of the bale. As the baling chamber fills, pressure is exerted on the peripheral elements of the enclosure. The enclosure is hinged along the front edge to allow the upper section to open like a clam shell for rearward discharge of a completed bale. A latch mechanism holds the opposing faces of the enclosure together until the bale is complete.

A key element in the implementation of the present invention is the fact that the bale rotates within the machine as it forms. Further, a fully formed bale presses firmly outward against the confining belts ensuring that the almost completed bale cannot readily be stopped from turning. Thus, a stationary knife driven into the heart of the slowly turning bale will sever it in much the same way as a chisel cuts into the wood held in a lathe.

The knife for slicing the bale can be inserted between the belts which encircle the periphery of the baling chamber. This may be done by using a long knife blade mounted at its butt end to the center of a T-shaped crossbar. One end of the crossbar is hinge mounted to the top rear midpoint of the baler.

The second end of the crossbar is pivotably mounted to the piston shaft of a hydraulic cylinder. The second end of the hydraulic cylinder is pivotally mounted to the top front midpoint of the baler. In the unactivated state of the cylinder wherein the shaft is in its extended position, the top edge of the knife blade clears the top front roller of the bale chamber. Activation of the cylinder to draw the shaft inward serves to rotate the sharp edge of the blade against the rotating bale.

When the shaft is fully drawn into the cylinder, the tip of the blade will preferably reach the center of the bale. Care has to be taken in dimensioning the T-shaped crossbar and the throw of the hydraulic cylinder so that the knife blade will clear both the front and back rollers of the baler and at the same time be able to reach the center of the bale. The knife blade may be sharpened in a conventional manner, however, it is foreseen that a serrated edge type knife would better cut some agricultural products.

Using the improved baler the operator does not have to sever all bales made in the machine. Some bales can be produced which are the full five feet long. Others can be divided into two bales each 2 1/2 feet long.

The mix of long and short bales is completely under the control of the operator. A type of tie mechanism usable when producing bales from this machine is already known in the art and consists of independently tying each of the two-halves of the bale on a simultaneous basis..

Fig. 1 is an isometric rear view of the baler.

Fig. 2 is a cutaway view of the baler taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing a knife in the neutral position.

Fig. 3 is a cutaway view similar to Fig.2, showing the knife in the activated position.

Fig. 4 is an isometric rear view of a baler forming a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is a cutaway view of the baler taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 4 and showing a knife in the neutral position; Fig. 6 is a cutaway view similar to Fig. 5 showing the knife in the activated position; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional representation of one form of a ring and cylinder formed by one form of the embodiment of Fig. 4; and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional representation of the conical core and conforming ring member constructed by another form of the embodiment of Fig. 4.

Fig. 1 shows a rear view of a baler 10 which is capable of gathering crop material from a windrow and forming it into round bales generally cylindrical in shape. Baler 10 is supported by a pair of wheels 1 2. The baler is intended to be drawn behind a tractor and to be powered therefrom by means of a power-take off and hydraulic oil lines. The manner in which the baler operates is better seen by reference to Fig. 2. Baler 10 having wheels 1 2 supported from frame 14 is drawn behind a tractor by tongue 1 6 and a hitch (not shown). When appropriately drawn behind a tractor, astride a windrow of crop material, the baler gathers up the crop by means of pickup reel 18.

Pickup reel 1 8 delivers the crop material to a conveyor which forms the bottom of the baling zone. The conveyor comprises a plurality of side-by-side belts 20 which are carried over transversely extending rollers 22, 24, 26 and 28. In the unit reduced to practice five belts 20 were used to span a baling chamber five feet long. Rollers 24, 26 and 28 are generally on the periphery of the cylindrical shaped baling zone. Roller 22 is mounted lower than roller 24. This is done so that a line drawn tangent from the top of pickup reel 1 8 to the top of roller 24 passes tangentially over roller 22.

Above the bottom conveyor is a series of independent conveyor assemblies which generally surround the cylindrical zone. Three such conveyor assemblies are shown. As implemented, they are of identical configuration.

The rearmost of the serially arranged conveyor assemblies consists of upstream roller 29, downstream roller 31 and a multiplicity of side-by-side conveyor belts 30. Similarly, the topside conveyor assembly consists of downstream roller 35, upstream roller 33 and conveyor belts 32. The front conveyor assembly is made up of belts 34, downstream roller 36 and upstream roller 37. Rollers 29, 31, 33, 35 and 37 are journalled for rotation in the sidewalls of subframe 40. Subframe 40 is hinged at the front by the bearings (not shown) which secure the extended shaft of roller 36 to mainframe 15. Pivoting of subframe 40 about roller 36 allows its rear edge to swing upward to provide a tailgate through which a completed bale can be discharged.

A latching mechanism to maintain the tailgate in a closed position is shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 1, the latch assembly comprises a transversely extending torque tube 46 rotatably mounted in bearing plates 48 and 49. On the left end of torque tube 46 is a first member in the form of latch plate 50. On the right end is a second like latch plate 52.

There is a spring 54 having one end attached to latch plate 50 and its second end anchored to a bracket 55 that is secured to subframe 40. Spring 54 holds latch plate 50 against a pin 56 which is anchored to the baler frame.

A slot formed in latch plate 50 allows the latch plate to lock the tailgate in the closed position. Latch plate 52 also has a similar slot which operates in conjunction with another pin extending from the far side of the baler frame. There is also a second spring 54 on the right side of the baler.

A crankarm 58 extends rearward from torque tube 46. A clevis arrangement secures one end of cable 43 to the outer end of crankarm 58. The second end of cable 43 is secured by means of a second clevis to pivot arm 42. Idler pulley 45 allows cable 43 to change directions and make connection with the end of pivot arm 42. An upward pull on cable 43 rotates the torque tube so that latch plates 50 and 52 are released from left side pin 56 and the pin to which latch 52 attaches. Release of the pull on cable 43 allows springs 54 to relatch the plates 50 and 52 to pins 56.

As the bale is formed it rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. Rotation is brought about by contact with belts 20, 30, 32 and 34 which move in the direction shown by the arrows shown in rollers 22, 29, 35 and 36. As the baling chamber fills, the outward pressure of the compressed crop strands stretches the belts taut so that they assume the configuration shown in Fig. 3. As the baling chamber becomes full, compressive forces exerted on the bale tend to force the tailgate open. An appropriate calibrated sensor can be incorporated into the latch assembly to signal that the bale is ready for discharge.

When the "chamber full" status is sensed, the operator stops the forward motion of the tractor, terminating pickup from the wind row, thereby allowing the crop material at the pickup reel 1 8 to be carried on into the baling chamber. This done, the bale tying sequence is begun either manually or automatically using spools of twine carried in storage box 73 (see Fig. 1). On completion of the bale tying event hydraulic cylinder 44 is actuated to move subframe 40 upward about pivot point 36 to enable discharge of the completed bale.

Prior to raising the tailgate for discharge of the completed bale, the slicing event is initiated. Slicing is accomplished by knife 60 as shown in Figs. 1-3. Figs. 1 and 2 show knife 60 in its retracted state and Fig. 3 shows knife 60 cutting the bale of agricultural forage. As may be seen in Fig. 1, the knife assembly is mounted on the top of baler subframe 40. An opening is made in the top covering of the baler at a central location wherein knife 60 can be inserted between adjacent circumferential belt elements. The tailgate latch assembly comprising lever 58, cable 43 and pulley 45 are offset to one side.

At the clevis at the top end of the baler an offset is introduced into pivot arm 42 so that hydraulic cylinder 44 can remain in the center.

The butt end of knife 60 is attached to the central region of crossbar 62. As may be seen in Fig. 1 crossbar 62 comprises two adjacent plates. One end of crossbar 62 is pivotally attached to a box frame member 66 which spans the width of the baler and is secured at its ends to the frame members of subframe 40. The second end of crossbar 62 is pivotally attached by pin 64 to the shaft of hydraulic cylinder 68. The base end of hydraulic cylinder 68 is pivotally secured to the front of subframe 40 by means of pivot pin 70.

When the shaft of hydraulic cylinder 68 is extended to its maximum throw value the condition shown in Fig. 2 pertains. When the shaft of hydraulic cylinder 68 is drawn into its minimum value, the situation shown in Fig. 3 pertains. The length of crossarm 62, the throw value of hydraulic cylinder 68 and the placement of knife 60 with respect to crossarm 62 determines whether the front and rear edge of knife 60 clears both rollers 35 and 33 during retraction and actuation. The goal is to have knife 60 of sufficient length so that in its actuated state the tip of the blade will reach the center of the bale. Since the direction of rotation of the bale is clockwise as shown in Fig. 3, the lower or bottom edge of knife 60 is sharpened. The cutting edge of knife 60 is ground to a smooth edge.However, it is considered that some implementations would function better if the cutting edge of blade 60 were sharpened in a serrated mnner.

While the embodiment uses a baler having a fixed size cavity, it is considered that the invention is equally applicable for implementation in balers having variable sized cavities, for example those enclosed by spring loaded belts.

Once the bale has been formed, tied off with wire or twine and divided into two generally equal portions, it is ready for discharge.

Discharge is accomplished by release of tailgate latches, the raising of tailgate about pivot point 36 and ejection of the twin bales through the opening thus formed. Subsequent to discharge of the bales, the tailgate can be closed and collection of crop material from the windrow commenced.

The completed bale does not have to be sliced all the way to the center. The knife can be stopped short, for example so as to leave a six inch core of hay or straw joining the two halves. This keeps the two halves of the bale next to each other after discharge and allows regular bale handling equipment to be used in retrieving the still joined together halves from the field. Once taken intact to the feeding area it is relatively easy to break the strands in the six inch diameter core by racking one half of the bale back and forth relative to its mate.

Alternately, a manually operated hay knife could be used to sever the remaining core.

Whether to slice the bale all the way in two or to leave a connecting core of a certain diameter is selectable by the operator. By incorporating a gauge into the system, the operator can see how far the hydraulic cylinder shaft is retracted. By shutting off oil flow through the cylinder, the operator can stop the knife anywhere he wants. Conversely, limit switches can be incorporated into the system to automatically stop the swing of the knife.

While Fig. 1 shows the slicing mechanism mounted so as to penetrate at mid-length point of the bale forming chamber, it will be understood that the bale can be sliced at other places. This same equipment can be mounted either singly or multiply along the top of the baler at locations which allow the knife blade to slip between adjacent pairs of baling chamber encircling belts. For example, if there were four sets of side by side belts along the top of the baler, three bale slicing mechanisms could be mounted thereon, making it possible to slice each large bale into two, three or four parts.

It will be understood that slicing of the bale could equally be accomplished using other cutting instruments, for example a rotary tip which penetrates to the center of the bale, severing crop stems as it moves. A small sharp edged wheel spinning on the end of a piston actuated shaft exemplifies the concept.

The cutting tip could be moved into the bale along a radial direction. Also the knife 60 could be inserted, tip first, into the bale, preferably along a radial or near radial direction.

Referring to the embodiment of Figs.4 to 8, the baler functions in the same way as the baler of Figs. 1 to 3, like parts being given like reference numerals.

As before, prior to raising the taiigate for discharge of the completed bale, the slicing event is initiated. Slicing can be accomplished by knife 60 as shown in Figs. 4 to 6. Figs. 4 and 5 show knife 60 in its retracted state, and Fig. 6 shows knife 60 cutting the bale of agricultural forage.

The particularly preferred feature illustrated by Figures 4 to 8 is a knife means for cutting into the side of a bale to produce ring-shaped bodies 83 surrounded by a central cylindrical core 84 as shown in Fig. 4 or conical-shaped core 85 surrounded by a ring-shaped body 86 having an internal surface 87 conforming to the exterior surface 88 of the conical-shaped core 85 as shown in Fig. 5. These features may be provided alone on a baler or in conjunction with the knife 60.

The ring-shaped members are made preferably by inserting a cutter bar 80 through the bale chamber before the crop is gathered. The cutter bar 80 passes through a pair of opposite-spaced slots 82 in the sidewalls 39 of the baler. As the bale is formed and continues to rotate, the cutter bar 80 will cut a circular groove in the bale as shown in Fig. 3 if the cutter bar 80 is aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the baler. If the cutter bar 80 is aligned so that it is angularly inclined relative to the axis of rotation, the conical members as shown in Fig. 5 will be generated as the baler rotates within the bale chamber. To eject the finished segmented bale, the cutter bar 80 is removed and the bale ejected in the usual way.

In the event one intends to cut shallow grooves into the sides of a finished bale, a hydraulic actuated knife similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 4 can be mounted on either or both of the sidewalls 39 and reciprocated into and out of the bale after it is formed and before it is ejected.

A plurality of cutter bars or knives may be placed at different radial distances to produce a plurality of circular grooves for ventilating, for example.

Auxilary devices such as a sprayer may be built into a knife for the purpose of spraying a liquid or gas such as a preservative, nutrient, etc. into the interior of the bale.

Claims (42)

1. A round baler having a baling chamber and means for forming therein a round bale, said means comprising means for rotating an at least partially completed bale within the chamber, wherein there is provided means for forming a cut in a bale as it is rotated within the chamber.

2. A baler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cut forming means comprises a cutting edge and means for moving said cutting edge into the baling chamber when said chamber has an at least partially completed bale therein.

3. A baler as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cutting edge is a knife blade.

4. A baler as claimed in claim 3, wherein said knife blade has a serrated cutting edge.

5. A baler as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cutting edge is provided on a roller.

6. A baler as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein said cutting edge is moved into said bale in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the bale.

7. A baler as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the cutting edge is moved into said bale along a path extending radially from the bale axis.

8. A baler as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said cutting edge is movable into said bale from a side wall thereof.

9. A baler as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the means for forming a cut comprises or further comprises a cutting edge extending laterally across said baling chamber.

10. A baler as claimed in claim 9, wherein the said cutting edge is positioned across said baling chamber before a bale forming operation begins.

11. A baler as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the said cutting edge extends across said chamber substantially parallel to the bale axis.

1 2. A baler as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the said cutting edge extends across said chamber at an angle to the bale axis to form a conical cut therein.

1 3. A baler as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein there is provided means associated with the cut forming means for placing a material in the interior of the bale.

1 4. A baler as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein means is provided to limit the extent of a cut into the bale.

1 5. A baler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cut forming means comprises a longitudinally extending knife blade pivotally mounted on a circumferential wall of the baling chamber and means for moving said blade about said pivot from a position where it does not extend into said baling chamber by a substantial amount, to a position where it extends into said baling chamber to form a cut in a bale.

1 6. A baler as claimed in claim 15, wherein said means for moving said blade comprises a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder.

1 7. A baler as claimed in claim 15 or 16 wherein means for rotating a bale within said chamber comprises a plurality of laterally adjacent belts extending circumferentially of the chamber and said blade moves between adjacent pair of belts.

18. A baler as claimed in any one of claims 1 5 to 17, wherein said blade is moved into said chamber after a bale has been substantially completely formed in the chamber.

1 9. A baler as claimed in any one of claims 1 5 to 1 8 wherein said blade is moved to within no more than three inches of the axis of rotation of a bale within the chamber.

20. A round baler having a baling chamber for forming and rotating a round bale, means for rotating a bale positioned in the baling chamber about an axis, and slicing means comprising knife means attached to the baler and adapted to be moved into and out of the baling chamber so that the knife will slice into a rotating bale positioned within the baling chamber and rotating about said axis.

21. A baler as defined in claim 20, wherein the knife is moved perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

22. A baler as defined in claim 20, wherein the knife is moved radially to the axis of rotation.

23. A round baler having a generally cylindrically-shaped baling chamber defined by a peripheral member joining spaced-apart sidewalls and, knife means mounted on the peripheral member forming the baling chamber and adapted to move into the baling chamber for cuttin' g into a rotating bale within the baling chamber.

24. A baler as defined in claim 23 where the knife is movable into the baling chamber perpendicular to the axis of rotation for cutting a bale into two or more generally cylindrical pieces.

25. A baler as defined in claim 23 or 24, wherein each knife means includes a long knife blade mounted at its butt end to the center of a T-shaped crossbar, one end of the crossbar being hinge mounted to the top rear portion of the baler, the second end of the crossbar being hinge mounted to the piston shaft of a hydraulic cylinder whose base end is pivotally mounted to a point on the top front of the baler which is axially in line with the hinge point at the rear of the baler.

26. A baler as defined in claim 25, wherein the knife means is positioned to slice the bale within the baling chamber into two generally equal parts.

27. A round baler having generally a cylindrically-shaped baling chamber defined by peripheral elements positioned within a frame having spaced-apart sidewalls and slicing means comprising knife means mounted on the baler frame and movable into the baling chamber between peripheral elements for cutting into a rotating bale.

28. A baler as defined in claim 27, wherein the knife is pivotally mounted to the frame members for rotating said knife along an arc into and out of the baling chamber.

29. A baler as defined in claim 28, wherein a plurality of knife means are provided, the knife means being independently operable for dividing a bale into three or more parts.

30. A baler as defined in claim 29, wherein the knives are movable parallel to one another.

31. A baler as defined in claim 28 wherein the knife is movable perpendicular to the axis of rotation but penetration of the knife into the baling chamber is limited so as to leave a connecting core of crop material joining the partially separated portion of the bale.

32. A baler as defined in claim 31, wherein no portion of the knife can penetrate to within any value smaller than three inches from the center of the baling chamber.

33. A round baler having generally a cylindrically-shaped baling chamber defined by a peripheral member joining spaced-apart sidewalls, and knife means mounted on a sidewall and movable laterally into the baling chamber for cutting into a rotating bale.

34. A baler as defined in claim 33, wherein the knife is moved parallel to the axis of rotation.

35. A baler as defined in claim 33, wherein the knife is moved along a line angularly inclined relative to the axis of rotation to produce a conical surface of rotation.

36. A round baler having generally a cylindrically-shaped baling chamber defined by a peripheral member joining spaced-apart sidewalls, and cutting means mounted on a sidewall and projecting into the baling chamber for cutting into a rotating bale.

37. A baler as defined in claim 36, wherein the knife is parallel to the axis of rotation.

38. A baler as defined in claim 36, wherein the knife is angularly inclined relative to the axis or rotation to produce a conical surface of rotation.

39. A baler as defined in any one of claims 36 to 38, which includes, in addition, a means associated with the cutting means to place a material in the interior of the bale.

40. A round baler substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

41. Apparatus for cutting a bale in a round baler, comprising a cutting edge projecting within the baling chamber.

42. Means for cutting a bale in a round baler, comprising a cutting edge and means for mounting the cutting edge within a said round baler.