GB2191984A

GB2191984A - Bale wrapping apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2191984A
Application number: GB08626496A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Fitzell; Donald James Phillips
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-06-28
Filing date: 1986-11-06
Publication date: 1987-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2006-11-06
Also published as: GB8615880D0; GB2191984B; GB8626496D0

Abstract

A bale 22 is lifted onto four spaced bands 18 which are mounted around spaced rollers 14 and 16. The rollers are supported on a platform 10 which are rotatably mounted on a base 12. The platform 10 is drivingly rotated by an hydraulic motor about a vertical axis to cause a sheet 24 of clingfilm to be wrapped around the bale. As the platform rotates a drive sprocket 28 on the corner of the platform engages with drive pins 32 of a block fixed to a frame 33 to cause the sprocket to be rotated. That rotation of the drive sprocket is transmitted via rod 34, a universal joint 36, a rod 38, and a chain 42 to roller 14 (Figure 2). An additional pair of rollers may be provided one on either side of the bale to prevent the bale from rocking or rolling off the bands. The degree of wrap overlap may be varied by the removal or addition of pins 32, which are detachable from the block. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Drive mechanisms and bale wrapping apparatus The present invention relates to a drive mechanism and bale wrapping apparatus and in particular, although notexclusivelyto a drive mechanism used in a bale wrapping apparatus. The present invention also relates to a method and means for preventing a rotating bale from leaving a support.

In a known arrangementforwrapping bales, a cylindrical bale is supported on its curved surface by an endless band which passes around a pair of spaced rollers. The rollers are mounted on a turntable which can rotate about a vertical axis and one ofthe rollers is able to be driven about its axial axis to cause movement of the band and consequently rotation of the bale about its own axis. Separate hydraulic motors are provided to cause rotation about the two axes. As the bale is being rotated about the two axes it is wrapped in cling film taken off a statically mounted roll.

The provision of two hydraulic motors is expensive and renders the satisfactory wrapping of the bale difficultto achieve as a variation of a common hydraulic pressure being supplied to the motors may cause the relative rates of rotation induced bythose motorsto vary in a non linear relationship. Aconse- quence of this involuntary variation in the rates of rotation isthatthe degree of overlap, or the number of layers offllm wrapping a bale varies. Thus it is necessarytoensurethatmostofthe bales be overwrapped, with the consequential increase in the cost of the film to wrap each bale if none of the bales are to have insufficient overlap due to a variation in the relative rates ofwrapping.

According to one aspect ofthe present invention, bale wrapping apparatus adapted to support a generally cylindrical bale on its curved surface is arranged to cause a rotation of a bale so supported aboutafirstgenerally upwardly extending axis and rotation of a bale so supported about a second axis, generally axial with the cylindrical bale, rotation of a bale about one axis being arranged to cause rotation aboutthe other axis. With such a bale wrapping apparatus, only a single hydraulic motor need be provided to cause rotation about both the first and second axis. The relative rates of rotation about the first and second axes may be predetermined whereby a variation in the hydraulic load supplied to a motor, although varying the speed of rotation, will not vary the amount of overlap provided by the cling film.The relative rates of rotation about the first and second axes may be adjustable, this feature being of particular use where wrapped bales are to be stacked, and it is required to provide a greater degree of overlap offllm on those bales on the outside ofthe stack.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a drive mechanism includes a first member capable of being rotated about a first axis, the first member supporting a second member capable of rotating about a second axis, and means for causing rotation ofthefirst member whereby the cooperation of drive means, one part of which is mounted to rotate with the first member and another part ofwhich does not so rotate causes rotation of the second member. The relative rate of rotation of the second member and first member may be adjustable. One part of the drive means may comprise portions with which the rotatable member is arran gedtoengage,which portions may be detachably mounted whereby removal or addition of such portions varies the relative rates of rotation about the first and second axes.

The present invention also includes a drive mechanism incorporated in a bale wrapping apparatus.

According to a further aspect ofthe present invention, means for preventing a cylindrical bale rotating about its longitudinal axis from leaving a support comprises an abutment member arranged to be adjacent to the bale. The abutment member may be arranged to be spaced from a bale when a bale is at rest on the support. The abutment member may comprise a rotatable member arranged to rotate with a rotating bale when engaged by that bale. The abutment member may extend the complete width of, or beyond either side of a bale located on the support. Two abutment members may be provided on either side of a bale located on the support.

The present invention also includes a method of preventing a cylindrical bale rotating about its longitudinal axis from leaving a support comprising arranging for the bale to engage with an abutment member located adjacent to the bale.

The present invention includes any combination of the herein described features.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a trailer unit incorporating a bale wrapper, and Figure 2 is an exploded view showing the compon- ents in Figure 1 which serveto cause rotation of components.

As shown in Figure 1,the balewrapper includes a platform 10 rotatably mounted on a base 12. The upwardly facing surface of the platform 10 has mounted thereon a pairofspaced elongate rollers 14 and 16 rotatably mounted about parallel axes and including four spaced bands 18 extending around each roller. The upwardly facing surface of the bands support a portion ofthe arcuate surface 20 of a bale 22.

In use, the bale 22 is lifted onto the bands and the free end of a sheet 24 of cling film coming from a roll 26 is secured to the bale. The platform is then rotated about a generally vertical axis to cause the sheet 24 to be wrapped around the bale.

If no movement of the bale about its longitudinal axis were to occurthen the bale wound merely be wrapped with a single band having the thickness of the width of the sheet 24. Accordingly the roller 14 is arranged to pivot or rotate about its longitudinal axis upon each rotation of the platform to causethe bands 18to move slightly thus causing the baleto roll about its arcuate surface. This rolling ofthe bale allows a new area of baleto be wrapped bythefilm on each rotation thus eventually achieving a complete covering ofthe bale with some degree of overlap offilm.

The mechanism for causing rotation of the roller 14 is shown in greater detail in Figure 2 and comprisesa drive sprocket 28 attached to a corner30 ofthe platform which is arranged to engage with a series of drive pins 32 connected to a frame 33 supporting the base 12. The drive sprocket and drive pins form a rack and pinion assembly. In the illustrated embodimentfive such drive pins are shown to cause five teeth of the sprocket to be engaged and moved on each rotation of the platform. Rotation ofthe drive sprocket causes rotation of a a rod 34 and, via a universai joint 36, of a rod 38. One end of the rod 38 includes a sprocket and ratchet assembly 38 which, via a chain 42, drives a sprocket 40 secured to a shaft on which the roller 14is mounted.

The drive pins 32 are mounted on a radiused plate 44 connected to the base orframe 33 by rubber mountings46in orderto cushion the impact of the drive sprocket 28 with the drive pins.

In order to adjustthe amount of rotation ofthe bale about its longitudinal axis for each rotation ofthe platform, and therefore the amount of overlap ofthe film, more pins 32 may be added to sockets 48 in the radiused plate 44, or some pins 32 may be removed.

This adjustment feature allows those bales which are to be located on the outside of a stack of bales to be provided with a greater degree of overlap, and those bales to be stored within a stack to be provided with a lesser degree, possibly by half as much, of overlap.

The rotation of the platform is effected by a motor 50 mounted on the underside of the base connected via a chain 52 to a drive sprocket 54 located beneath the base. The drive sprocket 54 is connected to a shaft 55 connected to the platform and extending through, and being rotatably mounted on the base.

A pair of pipes 56 (only one of which is shown) extend upwardly from the platform on either side ofthe bale in orderto prevent the bale from coming off the bands.

The roll 26 is mounted on a support 58 secured to an arm 60 of the frame which is adapted to be secured to the three-point linkage of a tractor.

The base is pivotally connected to the frame 33 of the bailer about an axis above and parallel with the axis of rotation of the wheels 64 supporting the frame. The front of the base can be moved upwardly and rearwardly about the pivot to allow a wrapped bale to roll off the rear ofthe bale wrapper. The movement is caused buy a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) connected between the frame and the underside of the base. Both the hydraulic cylinder and the motor 50 are powered by hyraulic pressure produced by a tractor.

In a modification to the arrangement shown in the drawings, a pair of freely rotatable rollers are mounted on the platform, each roller having a rotational axis extending in the same direction as that ofthe rollers 1 4and 16. The additional rollers are located adjacentto rollers 14 and 16, but just above those rollers and being slightlyfurther apartthan the rollers l4and 16. The bale will not be inconstant contact with the additional rollers, but as the bale maytend to rock or roll on the platform it will abut one or other of the additional rollers to prevent or decrease the chances of the bale leaving the support ofthe bands 18. The additional rollers extend across and slightly beyond the full width of a bale and as they are rotatably mounted, abutment ofthe rotating bale with the rollers will cause rotation ofthose rollers thus minimising any damage to the cling film with which the bale is being wrapped as a result of snagging or friction between the wrapped bale and the additional rollers.

In a further modification the drive pins 32 and the drive sprocket 28 are located underneath the platform to minimise the dangerto operating personnel.

Claims

1. Bale wrapping apparatus adapted to support a generally cylindrical bale on its curved surface, the apparatus being arranged to cause rotation of a bale so supported about a first generally upwardly extending axis, and rotation of the bale so supported about a second axis, generally about the longitudinal axis ofthe cylindrical bale, rotation of a bale so supported about one axis being arranged to cause rotation about the other axis.

2. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the relative rates of rotation aboutthefirst and second axes are predetermined.

3. Balewrapping apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the relative rates of rotation about the first and second axes are adjustable.

4. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which a single hydraulic motor is provided for causing rotation aboutthefirstand second axes.

5. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including a drive mechanism having a first member capable of being rotated about the first axes arranged to co-operate with another part of the drive mechanism which does not rotate about the first axes whereby, when the first member rotates about the first axis the co-operation ofthe parts ofthe drive mechanism is arranged to cause rotation of a second member supported by the first member aboutthe second axis.

6. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 in which one part ofthe drive mechanism comprises portions with which the first member is arranged to engage, when rotating.

7. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 in which the portions are detachably mounted whereby removal or addition of such portions is arranged to vary the relative rates of rotation about the first and second axes.

8. Balewrapping apparatus asclaimed in any preceding claim including an abutment member which, when a bale is supported on its curved surface and is rotating about the second axis, is arranged to be adjacent to the bale, and to prevent the bale from leaving the support provided by the appparatus by abutment of the bale with the abutment member.

9. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 in which the abutment member is arranged to be spaced from a bale when a bale is at rest and suppor ted by the apparatus.

10. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 or 9 in which the abutment member comprises a rotatable memberwhich,when a bale is supported by the apparatus and is being rotated about the second axis, and the bale engages the rotatable member, the rotatable member is arranged to rotate with the rotating bale.

11. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 in which the abutment member is arranged to extend the complete width of a bale supported by the apparatus.

12. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 8to 11 in which the abutment member is arranged to extend beyond either side of a bale supported by the apparatus.

13. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 8to 12 in which two abutment members are provided arranged to be located on either side of a bale which is supported bythe apparatus.

14. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including a rotatable roll of wrapping film, the position of which is fixed relative to the first and second axes of rotation during rotation about those axes.

15. Balewrapping apparatus including asupport arranged to support the arcuate surface of a cylindrical bale rotating about its longitudinal axis, the apparatus including an abutment member arranged to be adjacent to a bale located on the support.

16. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in Claim 15 in which the abutment member is spaced from a bale when a bale is at rest on the support.

17. Balewrapping apparatus ascaimed in Claim 15 or 16 in which the abutment member comprises a rotatable member which, when it is engaged by a bale rotating on the support rotates with the rotating bale.

18. Balewrapping apparatus as claimed in anyof Claims 15to 17 in which the abutment member extends the complete width of a bale which is located on the support.

19. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 15to 18 in which the abutment member extends beyond either side of a bale located on the support.

20. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 15 to 19 in which two abutment members are provided arranged to be located on either side of a bale located on the support.

21. Bale wrapping apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of preventing a cylindrical bale which is rotating about its longitudinal axis from leaving a supportforthat bale comprising arranging forthe bale to engage with an abutment member located adjacent to the bale.

23. A method as claimed in Claim 22 including bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1to21.

24. A drive mechanism including a first member capable of being rotated about a first axis, the first member supporting a second member capable of rotating about a second axis, and means for causing rotation ofthe first member whereby the cooperation of one part which is mounted to rotate with the first member and another part which does not so rotate causes rotation of the second member.

25. A drive mechanism as claimed in Claim 24 in which the relative rate of rotation ofthe second member and the first member is adjustable.

26. A drive mechanism as claimed in Claim 24 or 25 in which one part ofthe drive mechanism comprises portions with which the rotatable members arranged to engage.

27. Adrive mechanism asclaimed in Claim 26 in which the portions with which the rotatable member is arranged to engage are detachably mounted.

28. A drive mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.