GB2221890A

GB2221890A - Wrapping apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2221890A
Application number: GB8913428A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Irvine Cooke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-06-14
Filing date: 1989-06-12
Publication date: 1990-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2009-06-12
Also published as: GB8913428D0; GB2221890B; GB8814113D0

Abstract

Apparatus for wrapping bales of silage comprises a bale-carrying bed (10) adapted to rotate a bale placed thereon. A roll holder (16) and feeder arrangement (18) for a roll (17) of plastics film (19) is provided to wrap the bale on the bed (10). Means comprising an arm arrangement (22, 24) having a plastics film clamping device (20) at its outer end is provided to extend, prior to location of a bale on said bed (10), the outer end of the film (19) to overlie the bed (10) whereby a bale placed thereon traps and holds said outer end therebeneath thereby causing film (19) to be pulled off said roll as a bale is being rotated thereon. Cutting means is provided to cut the film (19) after a bale is wrapped. <IMAGE>

Description

WRAPPING APPARATUS This invention relates to wrapping apparatus, and particularly to an attachment for use with known apparatus for wrapping, bandage-like, with a broad film of plastic material, round, ie. cylindrically shaped, bales of silage.

Such known wrapping apparatus can be in the form of a trailer or as a stand-alone unit and includes a bed to receive a bale, the bed being adapted to rotate and in some cases to swivel a bale, a roll holder and feeder for a roll of plastics film and means to cut the film after the bale is wrapped.

Such known wrapping apparatus heretofore has a disadvantage in how the end of the film is secured to a bale on the bed at the commencement of wrapping. The present method heretofore is to hand feed the film along one side of the bale to the end remote from the roll holder and tuck the end into the bale of material thereby securing said end and allowing the film to be pulled off said roll as a bale is being rotated and wrapped. This normally requires a second person to be available as the bales are wrapped, ie. one person additional to the operater who controls the wrapping apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage.

Accordingly, the present invention is a wrapping apparatus for wrapping bales comprising a bale-carrying bed, adapted to rotate a bale placed thereon, a roll holder and feeder arrangement for a roll of plastics film, cutting means to cut the film after a bale is wrapped, and means to extend prior to location of a bale on said bed the outer end of the film to overlie the bed whereby a bale placed thereon traps and holds said outer end therebeneath thereby causing film to be pulled of said roll as a bale is being rotated.

Preferably, the means is an arm arrangement having a plastics film clamping device at its outer end, the arm arrangement being articulated between a forward film clamping position, a first rearward film holding position, a second rearward film release position, and return to the forward clamping position.

Preferably also, the arm arrangement comprises, on one lateral side of the bed, a column at or adjacent to the top of which an arm is pivoted outwardly and cantilevered over the bed, the arm being supported by a length-extendible stay pivotally secured between the column and the arm. The clamping device is preferably provided at the outer end of the arm.

Alternatively, the arm arrangement comprises a rotatable post horizontally oriented under the bed and projecting laterally therefrom at one side to support a radially mounted first arm at whose upper end a second arm, in a parallel axis with the post, is cantilevered over the bed, the clamping device being provided at the outer end of said second arm.

The column or post is preferably rotational movement controlled by a length-adjustable actuator connected to. an radially extending lug on the column or post respectively.

Preferably further, the clamping device comprises a scissor type clamp with one leg stationary and the other leg pivoted at its inner end to said one leg and movement controlled by a length-adjustable actuator, the legs having co-operating clamping members for gripping plastic film therebetween.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a plan view of a wrapping apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a wrapping apparatus according to the second embodiment; Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is an end view.

Referring to the drawings, a wrapping apparatus is shown in the form of a trailer, the apparatus being for wrapping bales and generally comprising a balecarrying bed 10 adapted for rotational movement and formed of a framework carrying two laterally-spaced rollers 12 having a series of five endless belts 14 spaced lengthwise thereof. The bed 10 is adapted through suitable prime mover means, for example the power-takeoff of a tractor, to rotate in an upright axis with a bale placed thereon with the rollers 12 and belts 14 also rotating the bale about its own horizontal axis.

An upright roll holder 16 for a roll 17 of plastics film 19 and a feeder arrangement 18 to stretch the plastic film is provided, together with cutting means (not shown) of conventional type to cut the film 19 after a bale is wrapped. The feeder arrangement 18 comprises two stretch rollers which are vertically oriented and between the nip of which the film 19 is fed.

Means are provided to extend, prior to location of a bale on said bed 10, the outer end of the film 19 from the roll to overlie the bed 10 whereby a bale placed thereon traps and holds said outer end therebeneath thereby to cause the film 19 to be pulled off said roll 17 as a bale is being rotated.

The means is an arm arrangement having a plastics film clamping device 20 at its outer end, the arm arrangement being articulated between a forward film clamping position 'A' adjacent to the feeder arrangement 18, a first rearward film holding position 'B', a second rearward film release position 'C', and return to the forward clamping position 'A'.

In a first embodiment of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the arm arrangement comprises, on one lateral side of the bed, a column 22 at the top of which an arm 24 is pivoted outwardly and cantilevered over the bed 10. The arm 24 is supported by a length-extendible stay 26, in the form of a ram and cylinder arrangement, pivotally secured between the column 22 and the arm 24.

The clamping device 20 is provided at the outer end of the arm 24. In this embodiment, the first and second rearward positions 'B' and 'C' are the same with the arm 24 being pivoted upwardly to pass over the bale on the bed 10 as the arm is swung into the return forward clamping position 'A'.

In a second embodiment of the invention as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the arm arrangement comprises a rotatable post 30 horizontally oriented under the bed 10 and projecting laterally therefrom at one side to support a radially mounted first arm 32 at whose upper end a second arm 34, in a parallel axis with the post 30, is cantilevered over the bed 10. The clamping device 20 is provided at the outer end of said second arm 34.

In both embodiments, the column 22 or post 30 respectively is rotational movement controlled by a length-adjustable actuator 28, in the form of a second ram and cylinder arrangement, connected to an radially extending lug 36 on the column 22 or post 30 respectively.

The clamping device 20 comprises a scissor type clamp with one leg 38 stationary and the other leg 40 pivoted at its inner end to said one leg 38 and movement controlled by a length-adjustable actuator 42, in the form of a third ram and cylinder arrangement. The legs 38, 40 have co-operating clamping members for gripping plastic film therebetween.

In use of both embodiments, the arm arrangement is moved to the forward film clamping position 'A', and the clamping legs 38, 40 are opened by actuation of the actuator 42 and the outer end of the plastics film 19 is clamped therebetween when the legs 38, 40 are closed.

The arm arrangement is then moved to the first rearward film holding position 'B' thereby pulling the plastics film 19 across the bed 10. At this stage, a bale is fed onto the bed 10 thereby trapping the film 19 between itself and the belts 14 of the bed 10. The clamping device 20 is then actuated to release the film 19 i.e.

at the second rearward film release position 'C'. In the first embodiment, the arm arrangement is returned to position 'A' (Fig. 2) with the arm 24 raised (as shown in broken line in Fig. 2) to the forward clamping position to move over the top of the bale. In the second embodiment, the arm arrangement is moved to position 'C' to the rear of position 'B' where it remains until the bale is wrapped and discharged at which stage it is returned to the forward clamping position 'A'.

Horizontal rotation of the bale on the bed 10 and vertical rotation of the bed 10 causes the film 19, when trapped, to be pulled off the roll 17 through the feeder arrangement 18 and wrapped without the necessity of the film 19 having first of all to be secured to the bale.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention abovedescribed. 4

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A wrapping apparatus for wrapping bales comprising a bale-carrying bed, adapted to rotate a bale placed thereon, a roll holder and feeder arrangement for a roll of plastics film, cutting means to cut the film after a bale is wrapped, and means to extend prior to location of a bale on said bed the outer end of the film to overlie the bed whereby a bale placed thereon traps and holds said outer end therebeneath thereby causing film to be pulled of said roll as a bale is being rotated.
2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means is an arm arrangement having a plastics film clamping device at its outer end, the arm arrangement being articulated between a forward film clamping position, a first rearward film holding position, a second rearward film release position, and return to the forward clamping position.
3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the arm arrangement comprises, on one lateral side of the bed, a column at or adjacent to the top of which an arm is pivoted outwardly and cantilevered over the bed, the arm being supported by a length-extendible stay pivotally secured between the column and the arm.
4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the clamping device is provided at the outer end of the arm.
5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the arm arrangement comprises a rotatable post horizontally oriented under the bed and projecting laterally therefrom at one side to support a radially mounted first arm at whose upper end a second arm, in a parallel axis with the post, is cantilevered over the bed.
6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the clamping device is provided at the outer end of said second arm.
7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or 5, wherein the column or post respectively is rotational movement controlled by a length-adjustable actuator connected to an radially extending lug on the column or post respectively.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the Claims 2 to 7, wherein the clamping device comprises a scissor type clamp with one leg stationary and the other leg pivoted at its inner end to said one leg and movement controlled by a length-adjustable actuator.
9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the legs have co-operating clamping members for gripping plastic film therebetween.
10. A wrapping apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
11. A wrapping apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.