GB2269795A - Apparatus for wrapping bales - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for wrapping bales, in particular rectangular bales of harvested material, comprises a bale support table (4) mounted on a base frame (1) to be rotatable about a vertical axis, a vertically movable carrier (10) for wrapping foil, and two bale clamps (8, 8') which are disposed on a common axis and seated on adjustable clamping devices (7, 7'). The axis of the bale clamps extends horizontally and intersects the axis of the table (4). A bale (6) is initially wrapped by winding of a foil web from the holder around the vertical faces of the bale, under rotation of the table. The bale is then lifted off the table by the clamps, turned through 90 DEG around the axis of the clamps and lowered back onto the table. The last two faces of the bale are now wrapped by winding the web around the bale under further rotation of the table. <IMAGE>

Description

2269795 APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING BALES The present invention relates to

apparatus for wrapping bales, especially for the wrapping of rectangular bales of agricultural harvest material by means of stretch foil.

The wrapping of formed bales by means of stretch foil is becoming 5 widespread in agriculture as an alternative to the silage of green crop material and crop material starting to wilt. The known methods and appaatus mostly concern the wrapping of round bales. 7 bus, for example, a wrapping table apparatus is described in WO 91/13540. In this form of apparatus, a round bale is rotationally moved about two axes and thereby wrapped in stretch foil drawn from a stationary foil carrier. The table is turned about a vertical axis and horizontally rotating rollers or belts are arranged on the table so that the bale is turned about its centre line. By this method, not only round bales, but also rectangular bales of almost square cross-section can be wrapped. If, however, the rectangular bales are very flat in cross- section, the wrapping process is subject to disruption, as the foil web slips off over the bale edges. Moreover, during rotation of rectangular bales, in particular during tipping over the edges, the bales are awkwardly positioned in relation to the rolls or belts and to the foil web, which can lead to faulty wrapping and even to the loss of bales.

Also known are wrapping arm apparatus with one or more wrapping arms, which rotate about a vertical axis and receive the foil carrier (cf, for example, EP 0234 763A1). These forms of apparatus possess several horizontally rotating rollers or belts arranged at a frame and operable to rotate a round bale along its circumference. In this apparatus, too, only rectangular bales of almost square cross-section can be wrapped in relatively trouble-free manner, subject to installation of additional rollers. In the case of small bale crosssections, the same problems arise as in the case of the wrapping n table apparatus.

Thirdly, there is known an endless hose method for the wrapping of a group of round or rectangular bales ("Wrap-Liner" (Trade Mark) of the Danish Firm of EB0). The bales are placed one against the other on an approximately horizontally running conveyor and, during the conveying operation, are encircled by a wheel-like foil carrier so that the bale sequence is wrapped in helical form. Special shaped pieces are needed for the ends of the hose at the start and the finish. This method is therefore very expensive for the wrapping of individual bales. A further disadvantage is that the thus wrapped groups of bales cannot be transported and have to remain at the location of wrapping.

Moreover, there is known from DE-OS 40 37 533 an apparatus in which two wrapping stations are arranged one behind the other. This apparatus is designed for rectangular bales, the bales being wrapped at a first one of the stations in a first plane and at the second station in a plane displaced relative to the first plane by 901. The 3 - d c ru L pp -ed r. between thie two stations for tight packaging of the bales the edges of the surfaces left free are travelled over with stretch foil in each station, so that the foil wraps around these. This apparatus certainly enables reliable wrapping of rectangular bales of all cross-sections, but its use in practice presents problems. The apparatus has a very large constructional size, which leads to a high weight and thus disadvantages for use as, for example, mobile agricultural equipment. In addition, due to the double arrangement of all functional elements the production cost is extremely high.

There is thus a need for apparatus for wrapping bales which may possess a relatively compact and simple construction and permit reliable, troublefree and simple wrapping of bales, particularly rectangular bales of nonsquare cross-section.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for wrapping rectangular bales of harvested material in stretch foil, comprising a support table rotatable about a substantially vertical axis on a base frame, a foil carrier of adjustable height arranged at a spacing from the table, the length and width of the table being less than a given length and width of the shortest longitudinal side of the bale, and two bale clamping devices arranged on the base frame at opposite sides in front of and behind the table and comprising bale clamps which are pivotable through substantially 900 about a comion longitudinal axis, Cidjustable in height. relative to the table and displaceable in the direction of the bale, the longitudinal axis of the clamping devices intersecting the axis of the table at substantially 900.

The rectangular bale can thus be placed centrally on the table and, through rotation of the table, the vertical faces of the bale can be wrapped. The bale clamps in that case are in a retracted setting. At the conclusion of this wrapping process the bale clamps can be pressed against the bale, preferably at half the bale height, and then raised. In the raised setting the clamps, together with the bale, are pivoted through 90. Thereafter the clamps are lowered until the bale rests on the table, the clamps then being opened. There then takes place a second wrapping surface analogous to the in which the formerly horizontal but now vertica lcaces ol' the bale are wrapped. Finally, the web of wrapping material is severed and held at the table. The wrapped bale is removed from the table, for example by tiltingthe table.

Apparatus embodying the invention may-be relatively small and 15 compact and thus possess a simple and economically produced construction. This is achieved because, compared with the state of the art apparatus for wrapping rectangular bales, only one wrapping station is needed. Due to its small size and weight, apparatus embodying the invention is particularly suitable for use as mobile agricultural equipment. It is also capable of being combined with agricultural balers. Moreover, it is possible to wrap shapes of bales other than just rectangular, for example round bales. Accordingly, the apparatus has universal use for bale wrapping in agriculture and other applications.

The apparatus can, for example, be constructed as an attachment to or as a trailer for a vehicle, such as a tractor, and is thus suitable for mobile use. For picking up bales deposited on a field, a bale loading device can be mounted at one longitudinal side of the apparatus and, for example, be pivotable substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the apparatus.

Preferably, the table is arranged at the base frame to be tiltable towards the side of the apparatus opposite to the loading device.

To simplify the wrap-p-onc,. process, it is expedient if the. 'Dale clamping devices are arranged approximately in the longitudinal centre line of the apparatus. Thus, in the case of mobile apparatus, a bale to be wrapped can be picked up at one side of the apparatus by moving against the bale, and the bale can then be deposited in orderly manner on the table. After the bale is fully wrapped, it can be tipped off on the other side of the apparatus.

If the apparatus is constructed as an attachment to, for example, a tractor, then the tractor with the apparatus attached is pos itioned at a suitable place in a field. A second vehicle with appropriate loading equipment picks up the bales from the field, transports them to the apparatus and places them on the table. After wrapping, the bales are picked up by the second vehicle and taken away. As already indicated, the apparatus can also be constructed for direct coupling to a bale press or other form of baler.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation of wrapping apparatus embodying the invention and constructed as a trailer; Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus; and Fig. 3 is a partly sectioned schematic back view of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown wrapping apparatus for wrapping, in particular, rectangular bales 6 of harvested material, such as hay, straw and silage. The apparatus comprises a wrapping table 4, which is rotatable about a vertical axis and which is mounted by way of rockers 5. approxiralt-.e"ty cc-ntrally on a chassis or base frame 1 with wheel units 2 and a tow bar 3. The length and width of the table 4 are less than the corresponding dimensions of the size of bale intended to be wrapped, so that the bale will project beyond the table at all sides. In addition, the table projects upwardly from the frame 1 by a certain amount.

Two bale-clamping devices 7 and 7' are mounted in front of and behind, respectively, the table 4 at the frame 1 and centrally of the shorter sides of the table. The devices 7 and 7' respectively comprise bale clamps 8 and 8', which are guided to be displaceable in the height direction of the clamping devices and also displaceable in the direction of the bale, thus towards and away from each other. as well as pivotable through 900 about a common longitudinal axis. In the retracted state, the spacing of the bale clamps 8 and 8' from each other is greater than the greatest possible side diagonal of the bale 6. Apart from the bale-clamping device 7 at the tow bar end, a stand 9, in which a foil holder 10 with a foil roll 11 is mounted to be displaceable vertically, is fastened to the frame 1 at one longitudinal side thereof.

A bale-loading device 13 is articulated at the same side of the frame 1 by way of equal-length couplers 12. Finally, a deposit chute 14, which covers an adjacent one of the wheel units 2, is mounted to extend obliquely downwards at the side of the frame at which the 5 rockers 5 of the table 4 are articulated.

For greater clarity, illustration of control means and drive means for the individual subassemblies has been dispensed with. Suitable control means and drive means, for example hydraulic pistoncylinder units, setting motors, gears and so forth, as well as associated electronic signal processing subassemblies, are well known to the expert. Such electronic subassemblies can be accommodated in a housing unit 15.

The apparatus, constructed as a trailer, can be drawn by and driven from a tractor (not illustrated). The baleloading device 13, which during transport is folded across the table 4, is lowered onto the field and pushed below a rectangular bale 6. The bale 6 is in that ca se aligned parallel to the apparatus. The loading device 13 is then so raised and turned by way of the couplers 12 that the bale 6 is deposited exactly in the centre of the table 4 alongside, in which case the end faces 16 and 16', that is to say the smallest faces of the bale, are disposed to respectively face the two bale clamps 8 and V. When the loading device 13 is pivoted back, a first wrapping process starts. A foil web 17 is drawn off the roll 11 and laid against the bale 6, the table 4 is set into rotation and the holder 10 is moved in the stand 9, so that on the one hand the individual wrapping layers of the foil web 17 overlap and on the other hand the wound web projects beyond the top and bottom faces 18 and 18' of the bale, the projecting portions of the web pressing over the edges of the bale.

When the first wrapping process has been concluded, the table 4 is stopped with the end faces 16 and 16' again disposed in front of the cl amps 8 and 8'. The clamps are pressed against the end faces 16 and 161 and then moved upwardly in the devices 7 and 11' so that sufficient free space for the rotation of the bale through 90 is present between the bale and the table 4. After such a rotation has been effected, the bale 6 is put back down on the table 4 and the clamps 8 and 8' are moved back. Thereafter, a second wrapping process analogous to the first wrapping process is carried out so L5at the remaining sides of the bale are wrapped. the foil web 17 is severed. The table 4 is tilted by way of the rockers 5, so that the fully wrapped bale 6 slides gently by way of the deposit chute 14 onto the field.

The chute 14 can be pivoted across the table 4 similarly to the 15 baleloading device 13 during travel.

9

Claims (12)

1. Apparatus for wrapping bales, comprising a bale support table mounted on support means to be rotatable about a substantial!.,, vertical axis and having length and width dimensions smaller than given minimum length and width dimensions respectively of bales to be wrapped by the apparatus, dispensing means arranged at a spacing from the table to dispense wrapping material for wrapping bales supported on the table, and clamping means comprising two bale clamps which are arran.geu' o!. the support means at two mutually oppussite s2:,,1e-: of thetable and which are displaceable towards and away from each other for clamping and release of bales, pivotable about a common axis for rotational movement of clamped bales, and displacable in height for movement of bales onto and off from the table.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said axes intersect substantially at right angles.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, the dispensing means being arranged to be adjustable in height.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the support means comprising a base frame.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the apparatus being in the form of a trailed vehicle.

6. Appa ratus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, the apparatus being in the form of an attachment to a vehicle.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising loading means for loading bales onto the table, the 5 loading means being arranged at one side of the apparatus.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, the loading means being pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the apparatu,:.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the table is arranged to be tiltable towards a side of the apparatus opposite to said one side thereof.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said common axis is disposed in a substantially vertical plane containing a longitudinal axis of the apparatus.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the apparatus being agricultural equipment for wrappng bales of harvested material.

12. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.