GB2231528A - Bale accumulator - Google Patents

Abstract

A bale accumulator has a drivable conveyor 16 positioned to receive and support bales while they are grouped by the accumulator. The conveyor 16 moves the bales through the bale grouping apparatus 22 thereby ensuring adequate momentum or speed to properly actuate the grouping mechanism 22 while also avoiding undue contamination of the hay or straw by dust as occurs if the bales merely rest on the ground. The apparatus can be used in a static mode for handling and grouping bales or any other packages. <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BALES This invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling bales. More particularly, the invention relates to mobile bale handling apparatus, and a corresponding method, in which bales are received, for example from a straw, hay or other crop baler, are formed into groups, and subsequently released from the apparatus in such groups.

The invention may also be used in a static mode and for handling and grouping packages which are not strictly bales.

Previous proposals in relation to agricultural bale handling accumulators provide for the bales to actuate the bale grouping means, during use, by virtue of their speed and/or momentum relative thereto as they pass through the apparatus. While this arrangement is generally satisfactory, it is subject to certain shortcomings. These include the fact that the speed and/or momentum of the bales sometimes becomes insufficient for the bale grouping means to act effectively. These conditions arise, for example, when the apparatus is turning at the end of a field, and the speed obviously drops in such circumstances.

Likewise, a comparable situation arises when the crop being baled is of high volume and/or density (ie a very good crop), which means there is more crop material to bale per unit distance, and therefore the speed of the baling machine ahead of the bale grouping apparatus, or accumulator, correspondingly drops.

A further factor relating to previous proposals concerns contamination of the bales by dust and other matter while they are being caused to slide over the ground during the bale grouping process. In certain climates, and particularly where dusty conditions prevail, this is a very serious factor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus offering improvements in relation to one or more of the matters discussed above, or generally.

According to the invention there is provided mobile bale handling apparatus, and a method of handling bales, as defined in the accompanying claims.

In a preferred embodiment, mobile bale handling apparatus in the form of a bale accumulator is adapted to be drawn by a conventional straw or hay baler producing conventional rectangular twine or otherwise-tied bales. A drawbar has a forward directional wheel associated with it.

Bales are delivered from the baler to a pivoting tray. The tray having grip means to control the movement of bales thereover. A driven conveyor belt is positioned to receive the bales and its upper run moves towards the rear of the apparatus. A transfer gate directs the first two bales received, to one side of the apparatus, and the next two bales to the other side. A spring returns the gate to its initial position after release of the bales. The transfer gate is operated by a transfer gate switch lever positioned for actuation by the second bale received. Pivotable right hand and left hand turning arms arrange for proper positioning of the first and second, and then the third and fourth bales. A holding gate initially maintains the first three bales in line and is then released by engagement of the fourth bale with a release member. The bales then enter a holding chamber.Throughout their passage from the pivoting tray, up to this point, the bales are supported on the belt, the upper run of which is travelling rearwards.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 shows a plan view of mobile bale handling apparatus; Fig 2 shows a side elevation view of the apparatus of Fig 1; and Figs 3, 4 and 5, 6 and 7, 8 and 9, 10 show four variations of the apparatus of Figs 1 and 2 and representing four embodiments of the invention.

As shown in the drawings, bale handling apparatus 10 comprises bale receiving means 12 to receive bales from mobile bale delivery means, such as the bale discharge means of a mobile straw or hay baler (not shown).

In this embodiment, bale receiving means 12 comprises a pivoting tray 14 positioned to deliver bales to conveyor means 16, to be more fully described below. Tray 14 has inturned edges 18 at its delivery end in order to grip the sides of bales passing therethrough and inhibit the jerky discharge action which can otherwise be produced by the reciprocatory movement of the bale-forming plunger of the baler (not shown).

Bale releasing means 20 is provided to release bales in groups formed within apparatus 10. Bale grouping means 22 acts on the bales received by bale receiving means 12 and is actuated, in use, to form groups of bales, by movement of the bales through the apparatus between the bale receiving means and the bale releasing means 20.

Drivable conveyor means 16, already mentioned, is mounted on the apparatus 10 and is operative to convey bales during at least a part of their passage through the apparatus, so as to actuate the bale grouping means 22.

A holding chamber 24 is provided at the rear of apparatus 10 to receive groups of four bales from the bale releasing means 20, and to retain this group while a second group of four bales is assembled, and then released into the holding chamber, whereupon all eight bales can be released simultaneously by the driver by means of a trip cord, or a hydraulic or electrical mechanism, automatically.

Turning now to consider the above-identified main parts of the apparatus 10 in turn, it will be seen that the apparatus 10 comprises an open rectangular framework 26 mounted on rear groundwheels 28 and a forward directional wheel 30 and arranged to be trailed from a straw or hay baler (not shown) by means of a drawbar 32 positioned in relation to tray 14 so that the latter receives bales from the discharge end of the baler's bale-former.

Bale grouping means 22 comprises a bale transfer gate 34 pivoted at 36, and movable between the full and dotted line positions indicated to direct incoming bales (either initially) to the right hand side of the apparatus (as viewed from the rear), or to the left.

Right hand or left hand bale turning arms 38, 40, pivoted at 42 and 44 respectively, and movable likewise between the full and dotted line positions, are operative to direct the first bale received at each side of the apparatus laterally outwardly, to an outermost position against the side of frame 26 and against the bale releasing gate 20. The first bale on each side moves the turning arm to its fore/aft dotted line position, whereupon it guides the next bale alongside it. In the case of the second of a group of four bales, this second bale then engages a transfer gate switch lever 46 which moves transfer gate 36 to its dotted line position. In the case of the fourth bale of a group, this bale engages a release 48 for the bale gate 20, whereupon the latter gate (or bale releasing means! is able to pivot about the axis 50 to release the group of four bales into holding chamber 24.

The operation of forming a group of four bales is then repeated, the second four bales are released into holding chamber 24, and the driver can then release the group of all eight by causing a second holding gate 52 to be raised to its dotted line position.

Conveyor means 16 comprises an endless conveyor belt 54 trained around end rollers 56, 58, and disposed in an upper conveying run 60 and a lower return run 62. Upper run 60 is supported on transverse rollers 64. Return run is supported on a single roller 66. Belt 54 extends across substantially the full width of frame 26, and is disposed generally horizontally in use, with its upper surface generally parallel to the ground 68.

Belt 54 is driven from a hydraulic motor 70 and an associated chain and sprocket drive 72. Many alternative drive arrangements could be devised. Motor 70 is driven by the hydraulic system of the tractor pulling the baler.

Whatever the details of the drive arrangement, the arrangement is such that conveyor 16 is driven at a rate such that the movement of the bales through apparatus 10, and in particular their engagement with bale grouping means 22, is such that the latter mechanism is properly actuated.

In short, the drive rate for belt 54 is usually slightly higher than ground speed. Its surface is such as to adequately grip and move the bales. Arrangements can be made, particularly with a hydraulic drive for the belt, for the tractor driver to control the belt speed during use.

In use, bales are received on tray 14, delivered to conveyor 16, grouped by the grouping means 22, and released by gate 20 as soon as a group of four has been produced.

Throughout this operation the bales are supported on conveyor 16, clear of the ground, and thus are released in a relatively clean condition.

Interestingly, the above embodiment provides a bale accumulator which enables efficient bale grouping to be achieved regardless of ground speed and crop conditions, while avoiding contamination of the bales by the ground itself.

Amongst other modifications which could be made in the above embodiment while remaining within the scope of the invention are the use of alternative conveyor means, such as an assembly of drivable rollers, and alternative drive arrangements using a mechanical drive from the tractor, or a ground wheel drive, or any other suitable arrangement.

In the embodiments of Figs 3 to 10, the general arrangements of parts and operation is substantially as described above and therefore further detailed description is not considered necessary. A representative selection of parts corresponding to those in the above embodiment have been identified by the same reference numerals. These embodiments are illustrated simply to show variations in the general arrangement of parts and variations in the capacity of the apparatus.

Thus, in the embodiment of Figs 3 and 4, there is provided apparatus in which eight bales are grouped on the belt before release by the bale releasing gate 20. In this embodiment, no bale holding chamber is provided.

In the embodiment of Figs 5 and 6, there is shown the apparatus of Figs 3 and 4 in combination with a bale grouping chamber 24 whereby eight bales can be accumulated in the bale holding chamber and the corresponding group of eight can likewise by accommodated on the belt, whereby a combined group of 16 can then be released for convenient subsequent handling.

In the embodiment of Figs 7 and 8 there is shown a further increase in capacity of the apparatus to accommodate ten bales on the belt. Naturally, a bale holding chamber could be provided behind this apparatus in the manner of Figs 5 and 6 having a bale releasing gate 100 operated by a cord 101 and running on skids 102 as illustrated in Fig 5.

Finally, Figs 9 and 10 show a further variation for use with medium density bales. In this version, the apparatus accommodates three medium density bales on the belt 54.

The above embodiments may be adapted for, or used in, a static mode. Thus, for example, the above embodiments may be used for re-baling crop material from large bales, such as the so-called round bales. These and other large bales represent an efficient mode of baling crop material.

During winter months such bales can be reprocessed into the conventional small rectangular bales by feeding the crop material from the large bale through a standard baler which produces small rectangular bales. Such a baler can be arranged, in a static mode, to deliver these bales to the above embodiments of the present invention so that they are then grouped in suitable numbers for subsequent mechanical handling in groups.

The above embodiments may also be used in relation to other packages of material which are not strictly speaking bales, and indeed to bales themselves of any suitable kind.

The references in the text of this application, including the claims are to be construed accordingly.

Claims (12)

1 Mobile bale handling apparatus comprising: a) bale receiving means to receive bales from mobile bale delivery means, such as the bale discharge means of a mobile straw or hay baler; b) bale releasing means to release bales in groups formed while passing through the apparatus; and c) bale grouping means to act on bales received by said bale receiving means and actuated, in use, to form groups of bales, by movement of the bales through the apparatus between said bale receiving and bale releasing means; characterised by d) drivable conveyor means mounted on said apparatus and operative to convey bales during at least a part of their passage through the apparatus so as to actuate said bale grouping means.

2 Mobile or static bale or other package handling apparatus comprising bale or other package grouping means characterised by drivable conveyor means mounted on said apparatus and operative to convey bales or other packages during at least part of their passage through the apparatus so as to actuate said bale or other package grouping means.

3 Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised by said conveyor means forming a support surface below said bale grouping means.

4 Apparatus according to claim 3 characterised by said bale handling apparatus comprising a mobile open framework carrying said bale grouping means, and said conveyor means being mounted on said framework and extending generally horizontally, in use.

5 Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterised by said drivable conveyor means comprising a conveyor belt arranged in an upper conveying run and a lower return run, said upper run being arranged to be driven rearwards with respect to the direction of normal forward motion of said apparatus.

6 Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterised by drive means for said conveyor means comprising a hydraulic or mechanical drive from a vehicle drawing the apparatus or from a ground wheel.

7 Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterised by a holding chamber provided behind said bale releasing means to receive bales therefrom and operative to receive groups of bales therefrom and to retain and group same during travel of the apparatus until an operator actuates release gates means at the rear of the holding chamber.

8 Mobile bale handling apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9 A method of handling bales comprising providing mobile bale grouping means to form groups of bales as they move relative to the bale grouping means, characterised by the step of moving the bales'relative to the bale grouping means during at least part of their passage therethrough at a speed or velocity different or higher than that which would be produced by the bales resting on the ground.

10 A method according to claim 8 characterised in that said speed is higher than said speed which would be produced, throughout the time taken to group said bales into an initial group of bales.

11 A method according to claim 9 or claim 10 characterised by providing a holding chamber behind said bale releasing means and receiving bales in said holding chamber from said bale releasing means and retaining and grouping said received bales in the holding chamber during travel of the apparatus until an operator actuates release gate means at the rear of the holding chamber.

12 A method of handling bales substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.