GB2263433A

GB2263433A - Bale accumulator

Info

Publication number: GB2263433A
Application number: GB9201595A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Frederick Field
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-01-24
Filing date: 1992-01-24
Publication date: 1993-07-28
Also published as: GB9201595D0

Abstract

A bale accumulator comprises a platform 16 which on one side receives bales delivered from the exit 16 of a baling machine 12. A first pushing means 36 pushes across the platform one or more bales so received, and a second pushing means 50 pushes an accumulated group of bales rearwardly off the platform when the platform is full. A control system and sensors determine when the pushing means operate and is adapted to limit operation of the first pushing means 36 until two or more bales are received in line with the baling machine exit, and the second pushing means 50 only operates after three or more lines of bales extend across the width of the platform. The platform carries across its width bridges of pivotally mounted flaps 51, which press down on top of the accumulated bales and ensure that the bales cannot ride up one over another when the second pushing means 50 is operative. <IMAGE>

Description

Title Bale Accumulator Field of the invention This invention relates to an attachment for a hay baling machine and is referred to herein as a bale accumulator.

Background to the invention A conventional baling machine, adapted to be towed by a tractor across a field of cut hay, gathers in the hay at its front end and delivers bales, one at a time, from the back. The bales are therefore delivered singly on to the field at intervals dependent on the time taken to gather in the hay which makes up each bale. The problem thus arises that the final distribution of single bales all over the- field makes the collection offre-ha es-tIme-- consuming and expensive. Typically the bales are manhandled into groups to enable a complete group to be picked up by a mechanical grab.

It is an object of this invention to provide a bale accumulator which at least partly overcomes the abovedescribed problem.

The invention According to the invention, there is provided a bale accumulator adapted for attachment to the back of a baling machine, comprising a platform which on one side receives bales delivered from the exit of the baling machine, a first pushing means adapted to push across the platform one or more bales so received, and a second pushing means adapted to push an accumulated group of bales rearwardly off the platform when the platform is full.

A preferred accumulator has a platform which receives two or more bales in line with the baling machine exit before the first pushing means is operative, and accommodates three or more lines of bales across its width before the second pushing means is operative.

The first pushing means is preferably actuated by a switch triggered when the leading bale of the line at said one side of the machine reaches the rear end of the platform, whilst the second pushing means is prepared for operation by a switch triggered when a line of.bales reaches the.

other side of the platform, but said second pushing means is not then actuated until the first mentioned switch (the line switch) has again been actuated following delivery on to the platform of the last line of bales which completes filling of the platform.

The first pushing means may be an elongate first upstand driven by an hydraulic ram located beneath the platform, whilst the second pushing means may be constituted by an elongate second upstand carried by one or more conveyor bands extending from front to rear of the platform and which is or are driven by an hydraulic motor. Said ram and said motor can then be powered by tapping into the hydraulic supply of the tractor or baling machine.

The hydraulic ram driving the first upstand which constitutes the first pushing means may be coupled to said upstand by means of pegs movable along slots extending laterally across the platform for the distance necessary to advance a first line of bales by the width of the line.

This line of bales is subsequently advanced due to pushing by the next line of bales when the first pushing means is next operative.

Preferably, the said hydraulic ram is single acting, returning to its starting position by spring action, and has a dump line connected to it for fast discharge of hydraulic fluid from its cylinder, thereby to ensure a fast return stroke. The upstand will thus be back in its starting position before the first bale of the next line exits from the baling machine.

Preferably, the platform carries across its width bridges of pivotally mounted flaps, preferably spring loaded, which-press down on top-of the accumulated bales. These flaps ensure that the bales cannot ride up one over another when the second pushing means is operative. The second upstand which -constitutes the second pushing means may be retracted by the one or more conveyor bands beneath the platform when the second pushing means is inoperative.

Preferably, however, the drive by the hydraulic motor is unidirectional, the one or more conveyor bands being endless so that, at the beginning of operation of the second pushing means, the second upstand is driven upwardly around the front edge of the platform and, having completed discharge of the accumulated bales, is driven downwardly around the rear edge of the platform and forwardly to a rest position adjacent and beneath the front edge.

The line and platform full switches which control actuation of the first and second pushing means are preferably depressable members, one projecting upwardly out of the platform floor in line with the first line of bales and one projecting laterally out of a side ledge which defines the other side of the platform towards which the lines of bales are progressively pushed.

A preferred hydraulic circuit for operation of the ram and the motor, under control of the line and platform full switches, comprises a pump whch supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure to the ram via a switch controlled first electrohydraulic valve, such as a one way solenoid spool valve, which pump also supplies fluid under pressure to the motor via a switch controlled second electro-hydraulic valve, again a one way solenoid spool valve for example, and also via a switch-controlled flow control motor valve.

The operation of the line and platform full switches between first and second positions, dependent on whether or not either one or both said switches is depressed under the pressure of a bale, controls the supply of hydraulic fluid at the above-described valves -so: so: that--operation of the firt and second pushing means is appropriately sequenced.

Description of embodiment A practical example of bale accumulator in accordance with the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a bale accumulator being towed behind a baling machine; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan view; Figure 3 is an oblique pictorial view of the bale accumulator; Figure 4 is a diagram to explain the manner of operation of the bale accumulator; Figures 5 and 5A show a first pushing means on the bale accumulator; Figures 6 and 6A illustrate the mode of operation of a second pushing means; Figures 7 and 7A show an electrical switching circuit for supervising operation of the bale accumulator; and Figure 7B shows an hydraulic control circuit operation of which is supervised by the switching circuit of Figure 7A.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a tractor 10 towing a conventional baling machine 12 in turn towing a bale accumulator 14. From the plan view of Figure 2 it will be clear that bales of hay exit from the back of the baling machine on one side thereof, where a fixed chute 16 feeds the bales on to one side of the bed of the bale accumulator. This chute 16 is more clearly shown in Figure 3. It acts to guide bales into the correct position on the accumulator bed.

The equipment is intended to handle the commonly produced elongate rectangular hay bales produced by many baling machines, and the accumulator has a platform 18 which is long enough to accommodate two bales in lengthwise end-to end relationship and wide enough to accommodate five bales in side-by-side relationship.

Figure 4 shows the principle of operation of the accumulator, but for simplicity on a platform which is only three bales wide. The diagrams progress in sequence from the top right-hand diagram to the left and similarly on the line of diagrams below to the bottom left-hand diagram. First, a single bale 20 arrives on the platform.

This is then followed by a second bale 22 which pushes the first bale 20 to the rear of the platform, causing actuation of a switch 24 which brings into operation a later-described first pushing means which pushes the line of bales sideways into a central position on the platform, thus enabling a third bale 26, held on the chute 16 while the bales 2Q, 22 are being pushed sideways across the platform, to-be--delivered. In----turn, a second line of bales 26, 28 is pushed across, causing the first line to reach the far side of the platform, whereupon a switch 30 is actuated to prepare a later-described second pushing means for operation.Further fifth and sixth bales 32, 34 are then delivered on to the platform, and the resulting further actuation of the first switch 24 causes operation of the second pushing means, which pushes the group of six accumulated bales rearwardly off the platform. The bales may be delivered on to the field, ready for handling by a mechanical grab, or possibly on to a low tray which can be handled by a fork lift.

The practical accumulator of Figures 1 to 3 operates in the above-described manner, but a group of bales five lines wide is accumulated before the second pushing means is operative.

The first pushing means is visible in Figure 3, and is constituted by an elongate upstand 36. Referring to Figures 5 and 5A, the upstand 36 is driven by a single acting ram 38 having associated return springs 40, positioned beneath the platform 18. The ram drives a roller supported trolley 42 which is coupled to the upstand by upstanding pegs 44 which pass through slots 46 in the platform floor. These slots 46 are also visible in Figure 3.

The trolley 42 has horizontal side thrust rollers 37 and vertical rollers 39 running in channel members 41 fixed to the chassis 35 of the accumulation. The return springs 40 have tension adjusters 45. Reference 47 denotes the hydraulic connections to the ram 38.

Referring to Figures 6 and 6A, the second pushing mens is constituted by a second elongate upstand 48 fixed to two endless conveyor bands 50 (see also Figure 3) which are driven by ah hydraulic~~moto~r.~ The upstand 48 8 normally lies in a rest position beneath the front end edge of the platform, as indicated by the dotted line in Figure 6A, but when the conveyor bands are driven is brought up around said front edge then to push the bales rearwardly off the platform. The second upstand 48 then passes downwardly around the rear end edge of the platform to return to its rest position.

In Figure 3, and also Figure 6, can be seen spring-loaded pivotally mounted flaps 51 which bridge the platform.

These flaps bear down relatively lightly on the tops of the accumulating and accumulated bales to eliminate the small risk that the bales may ride up one over another when being pushed by the pushing means.

Figures 7, 7A and 7B show the electric supervisory and hydraulic control circuits for the ram which drives the first pushing means and the motor which drives the second pushing means.

Referring first to Figure 7B, the hydraulic ram 38 is supplied with hydraulic fluid from a pump (not shown) through a one-way solenoid spool valve (ram valve) 52.

The ram has a fast fluid discharge via an unloader valve 54, instead of discharging back through the valve 52 and pump. This ensures a quick return stroke of the first pushing means.

The valve 52 also controls the supply of fluid to a second one-way solenoid spool valve (motor valves 56, which via a flow control valve 58 controls supply of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor 60 which drives the second pushing means.

Figures 7 and 7A show the electric switching circuit which supervises operation of the above-described hydraulic valves.

Three two-way switches 62, 64 and 66 are shown in Figures 7 and 7A, and two of these, 64 and 66, can also be seen in Figure 3. These latter two switches are operated by the applied pressure of the bales, as previously described in connection with the bale accumulating sequence of Figure 4. Both are constituted by depressable members, one, the line switch, projecting from the platform floor and one, a platform full switch, projecting from a ledge at the far side of the platform from the bale-arrival side. The primary switch 62 is controlled by a flap pivotally mounted to the underside of the platform of the accumulator and which is raised and covered by a bar carried by the conveyor bands 50. Except when the conveyor 50 is operative, the bar lifts the flap to actuate the switch 62, so that current is fed to the switch 64.

Switch 64 is triggered on and off as lines of bales are completed, and via one terminal directly and the other terminal via switch 66 supervises operation of the ram valve 52 and the unloader valve 54. Switch 66, triggered on when a line of bales reaches the far side of the platform, prepares the circuit for operation of the motor valve 56, but motor operation is not initiated until switch 64 is once more operated due to completion of the last line of bales which fills the platform. Primary switch 62 is operated when the second pushing means becomes operative, thereby to maintain motor operation.

The ram 38 cannot-operate while the- hydaU1'm6t'or is operative. The motor driving the conveyor bands 50 continues to operate until the flap-operated bar controlling the switch 62 is retuned to the rest position in which said switch restores the line connection to the switch 64.

Various modifications of the above-described and illustrated arrangement are possible within the scope of the invention hereinbefore defined.

Claims

1. A bale accumulator adapted for attachment to the back of a baling machine, comprising a platform which on one side receives bales delivered from the exit of the baling machine, a first pushing means adapted to push across the platform one or more bales so received, and a second pushing means adapted to push an accumulated group of bales rearwardly off the platform when the platform is full.

2. An accumulator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the platform receives two or more bales in line with the baling machine exit before the first pushing means is operative, and accommodates three or more lines of bales across its width before the second pushing means is operative.

3. An accumulator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first pushing means is actuated by a switch triggered when the leading bale of the line at said one side of the machine reaches the rear end of the platform, the second pushing means is prepared for operation by a switch triggered when a line of bales reaches the other side of the platform, and said second pushing means is not then actuated until the first mentioned switch (the line switch) has again been actuated following delivery on to the platform of the last line of bales which completes the filling of the platform.

4. An accumulator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first pushing means comprises an elongate first upstand driven by an hydraulic ram located beneath the platform and the second pushing means is constituted by an elongate second upstand carried by at least one conveyor band extending from front to rear of the platform and which is driven by an hydraulic motor.

5. An accumulator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ram and the motor are powered by tapping into the hydraulic supply of the tractor or baling machine.

6. An accumulator as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the hydraulic ram driving the first upstand which constitutes the first pushing means is coupled to said upstand by means of pegs movable along slots extending laterally across the platform for the distance necessary to advance a first line of bales by the width of the line, which line of bales is subsequently advanced due to pushing by the next line of bales when the first pushing means is next operative.

7. An accumulator as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the said hydraulic ram is single acting, returning to its starting position by spring action, and has a dump line connected to it for fast discharge of hydraulic fluid from its cylinder, thereby to ensure a fast return stroke, so as to ensure that the upstand will be back in its starting position before the first bale of the next line exits from the baling machine.

8. An accumulator as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the platform carries across its width bridges of pivotally mounted flaps, which press down on top of the accumulated bales and ensure that the bales cannot ride up one over another when the second pushing means is operative.

9. An accumulator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the flaps are spring loaded into engagement with the bales.

10. An accumulator as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the second upstand which constitutes the second pushing means is retracted by the one or more conveyor bands beneath the platform when the second pushing means is inoperative.

11. An accumulator as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the drive by the hydraulic motor is unidirectional, the one or more conveyor bands are endless so that, at the beginning of operation of the second pushing means, the second upstand is driven upwardly around the front edge of the platform and, having completed discharge of the accumulated bales, is driven downwardly around the rear edge of the platform and forwardly to a rest position adjacent and beneath the front edge.

12. An accumulator as claimed in any of claims 3 to 11, wherein the line-, and platform-full switches which control actuation of the first and second pushing means comprise depressable members, one projecting upwardly out of the platform floor in line with the first line of bales and one projecting laterally out of a side ledge which defines the other side of the platform towards which the lines of bales are progressively pushed.

13. An accumulator as claimed in any of claims 4 to 12, wherein a hydraulic circuit for operation of the ram and the motor, under control of the line and platform full switches, comprises a pump whch supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure to the ram via a switch controlled first electrohydraulic valve, which pump also supplies fluid under pressure to the motor via a switch controlled second electro-hydraulic valve, and also via a switch-controlled flow control motor valve.

14. An accumulator as claimed in claim 13, wherein the electro-hydraulic valves are one way solenoid spool valves, and also via a switch-controlled second electrohydraulic.

15. An accumulator as claimed in claim 14, wherein the operation of the line and platform full switches between first and second positions, dependent on whether or not either one or both said switches is depressed under the pressure of a bale, controls the supply of hydraulic fluid at the above-described valves so that operation of the firt and second pushing means is appropriately sequenced.

16. A bale accumulator arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.