IE912230A1

IE912230A1 - Bale wrapper apparatus

Info

Publication number: IE912230A1
Application number: IE223091A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Kverneland Underhaug As
Priority date: 1990-06-29
Filing date: 1991-06-26
Publication date: 1992-01-01
Also published as: GB9112582D0; GB2245878B; WO1992000003A1; GB9014595D0; AU8068091A; GB2245878A

Abstract

There is disclosed a bale wrapper apparatus (10) which comprises a main frame (12), a turntable (15) mounted on frame (12) and which can rotate about a vertical axis (16), a pair of laterally spaced rollers (17) mounted on the turntable (15) and arranged to receive a bale (11) and to rotate the bale about a substantially horizontal axis (18), and a pivotal mounting of the turntable (15) on the frame (12) which enables the turntable (15) to be tipped in a rearward direction under the action of cylinder (19). An unloader device (20) is mounted on the main frame (12) to receive the wrapped bale from the turntable (15) after the latter has been tipped, and the unloader device (20) can transfer the bale gently to the ground and without substantial impact with the ground, after pivoting of the device (20) to an unloading position under the action of cylinder (22). The cylinders (19 and 22) are arranged in a common hydraulic circuit (24) to operate on their respective components sequentially under the operation of a single control.

Description

BALE WRAPPER APPARATUS This invention relates to a bale wrapper apparatus for applying wrapping around a bale and which comprises a table having a pair of spaced apart rollers arranged to receive a bale and operable to rotate the bale about its axis of symmetry during wrapping of the bale, means for mounting a film dispenser reel having stretchable plastics film to form the wrapping around the bale, and means for causing relative rotation about a substantially vertical axis between the film dispenser reel mounting and the table and while the bale is being rotated about its axis so that, in use. film can be withdrawn from the reel and can be applied around the bale in successive overlapping turns until such time as the required wrapping is formed.

Bale wrapper apparatus of the above general type are now well known, and are used to form substantially airtight and weather resistant wrapping around bales of hay, straw and grass. In the case of grass bales, the wrapping substantially excludes the baled material from contact with atmospheric oxygen, and therefore in a relatively short period of time (typically about three weeks) the grass ferments to form silage.

One well known and successful bale wrapper apparatus which has been on the market for a number of years is the SILAWRAP range of bale wrappers made by Underhaug A/S.

Bale wrappers generally can be subdivided into two particular types. The first type comprises a rotating turntable type of machine, in which the rollers of the table rotate the bale about its axis ( which is usually generally horizontal), and simultaneously the entire table and bale are rotated about a substantial vertical axis.

The mounting of the film dispenser reel is therefore a fixed mounting, and film can be therefore automatically withdrawn from the reel and applied in successive overlapping turns around the bale. Therefore, in this type of bale wrapper, the means for causing relative rotation about a substantially vertical axis between the film dispenser reel mounting and the table is formed by a fixed mounting for the film dispenser reel, and a driven rotatable mounting for the table to rotate the table about a substantially vertical axis.

In the second type of bale wrapper, the table is nonrotatable, but a mounting for the film dispenser reel is carried at one end of an arm which is rotatable at its other end about a substantially vertical axis, so that the film dispenser can carry out orbital movement around the bale while the bale is rotated about its axis. The reel orbits in the manner of a satellite around the horizontal equator of the bale, and the combined rotations about the vertical and horizontal axes results in the formation of overlapping turns to form the wrapping around the bale in the same way as for the first type of bale wrapper. Therefore, in this second type of bale wrapper, the means for causing relative rotation about a substantially vertical axis between the film dispenser reel mounting and the table is formed by a non rotatable table and an orbiting arrangement of the film dispenser mounting.

In all types of bale wrapper, it is usual for the wrapped bale to be discharged by a tipping movement of the table, which causes the bale to be discharged under gravity and onto the ground. In most bale wrappers, the table is tipped in a rearward direction, so that the wrapped bale is discharged to the rear of the bale wrapper. The bales which are being wrapped are usually so called round bales” or big bales, and which are cylindrical and of substantial mass, typically of the order of 600Kg.

Therefore, when the bale falls to the ground, a substantial impact is applied to the bale which can cause three possible problems. First of all, the bale wrapping is liable to be punctured by the residual stubble of the cut crop or by stones on or in the ground, which is particularly undesirable in the case of wrapped bales of grass which are intended to form silage, since puncture of the wrapping will allow atmospheric oxygen to come into contact with the baled material, and adversely affect the fermentation process to form silage.

Secondly, the impact is liable to deform the cylindrical shape of the bale (especially in the case of a poorly formed and/or very wet bale), so that the surface of the bale is deformed from a true cylindrical shape with resultant risk of the turns of the wrapping opening-up and allowing atmospheric oxygen to penetrate the interior of the wrappi ng .

Thirdly, if any air pockets are formed during wrapping of the bale, and the discharged bale falls onto the ground on such a pocket, the air will be expelled and may cause rupture of the wrapping, again giving the undesired contact of atmospheric oxygen with the baled material.

The formation of holes or punctures in a wrapping is also generally undesirable, as it will allow rain water to penetrate the bale.

With a view to minimise this problem, it has been proposed to provide a so called drop mat which is attached to the rear of the bale wrapper and is trailed behind it, and which is arranged in the discharge path of the tipped bale so as to cushion its impact onto the ground. However, this mat is only thin and while it reduces the risk of immediate penetration of the wrapping following discharge, there is still the disadvantage of a substantial impact being applied to the bale as it falls a substantial distance from the table and onto the mat. Furthermore, the bale usually rolls off the mat and onto the ground with a remaining risk of penetration of the wrapping by stubble or stones.

The invention therefore seeks to provide a bale wrapper apparatus which has an improved means for discharging a wrapped bale from the apparatus and onto the ground .

According to the invention there is provided a bale wrapper apparatus for applying wrapping around a bale and which comprises: a ma i n f rame: a table mounted on the frame: a pair of laterally spaced rollers mounted on the table and arranged to receive a bale therebetween, the rollers being rotatable in order to rotate the bale about its general axis of symmetry: means for mounting a film dispenser reel of stretchable plastics film to form the wrapping around the ba 1 e ; means for causing relative rotation about a substantially vertical axis between the film dispenser reel mounting and the table and while the bale is being rotated about its axis so that, in use, film can be withdrawn from the reel and be applied around the bale in successive overlapping turns until such time as the required wrapping is formed; and means for tipping the table after wrapping of the bale has been completed, in order to discharge the wrapped bale from the apparatus and onto the ground: characterised in that an unloader device is mounted on the main frame and is arranged to receive the wrapped bale from the table after tipping of the latter, said unloader device being operable to transfer the bale gently to the ground and without substantial impact with the ground.

The unloader device therefore enables the wrapped bale to be transferred from the table to the ground in a relative smooth movement, thereby minimising the risk of deformation of the bale and/or penentration or tearing of the wrapping.

Preferably, the table is arranged to tip in a rearward direction (with respect to the forward end of the apparatus which will usually be coupled to the rear of a propelling vehicle), so that rearward discharge of the wrapped bale can take place. However, this is not essential to the invention, and discharge in other desired directions can readily be achieved e.g. lateral discharge to one side or the other, provided that the mounting of the table enables the table to be tipped in the required direction, and also the unloader device is mounted on the main frame in a suitable position to receive the bale from the tipped tab 1e.

The unloader device is preferably mounted pivotally on the main frame for movement between a raised receiving position to receive the bale from the tipped table, and a lowered discharge position.

The unloader device has a bale receiving portion which may be formed e.g. by a platform or cradle, and preferably the arrangement is such that the bale can roll gently under gravity and down the unloader device (when the latter is in its discharge position) and onto the ground.

Usually, the table will be pivotally mounted on the main frame, and at least one actuator cylinder is provided to cause tipping movement of the table between a substantially horizontal bale-wrapping position and an inclined tipping position.

The unloader device also is preferably moveable between its raised and lowered positions under the action of at least one cylinder. Further, an advantageously simplified pressure circuit arrangement may be obtained by arranging the cylinders for the table and for the unloader device to be in circuit with each other. Usually, the circuit will be a hydraulic circuit, and the arrangement is such that the movement of the table and of the unloader device under the action of the hydraulic circuit is a sequential movement of the table and of the unloader device which takes place automatically under the action of a single control .

Thus, assuming that a wrapped bale is on the table ready to be discharged, and the unloader device is in a transport position, operation of the control causes pressure fluid to be delivered to all of the cylinders. However, since the unloader device is unloaded whereas the table bears the load of the bale, initially the unloader device will be raised by its cylinder to the raised balereceiving position since it presents a lower resistance, whereas no tipping movement will be applied to the table by its cy1i nder.

Once the required raised position of the unloader device is reached e.g. against a stop, the resistance of the unloader device cylinder will increase very substantially and therefore the cylinder for the table will now be operated in order to tip the table, whereby the bale can then fall gently under gravity to be received by the unloader device.

The operation of the control is then reversed, and the now loaded unloader device first moves to its lowered position with the gravity assistance of the bale until the device makes contact with the ground, which then increases the load on the cylinder so that pressure fluid now operates on the table cylinder to return the table to the horizontal position.

The control may then be returned to a neutral position, which causes the unloader device to be raised to an intermediate transport position which is generally horizontal, before a further operating cycle is commenced.

In a preferred embodiment, a fixed mounting is provided on the main frame to mount a film dispenser reel, and the table comprises a turntable which is rotatable about a substantia 11y vertical axis.

Also, it is preferred that the bale wrapper apparatus comprises a wheel-supported frame, so that the apparatus can be trailed behind a suitable propelling vehicle e.g. a tractor, and which also supplies hydraulic pressure to operate the various components of the apparatus.

One embodiment of bale wrapper apparatus according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, i n wh i ch: Figure lisa schematic side view of the apparatus, showing a bale unloader device occupying a transport position; Figure 2 is a view, similar to figure 1 showing the unloader device in a bale-receiving position; Figure 3 is a side view to a slightly reduced scale, showing transfer of a wrapped bale from a ba 1e-receiving table of the apparatus to the bale unloading device; and Figure 4 is a view, similar to figure 3, showing the bale unloader device in a lowered discharge position suitable for the gravity discharge of a wrapped bale gently onto the ground.

Referring now to the drawings, a bale wrapper apparatus according to the invention is designated generally by reference 10 and which is intended to apply wrapping around a cylindrical bale 11. The apparatus comprises a main frame 12 which is adapted to be coupled at its forward end 13 with a rear hitch of a suitable propelling vehicle which will usually be an agricultural tractor. The frame 12 is supported by wheels 14 so that the apparatus 10 can be trailed behind a tractor, though if desired the frame 12 may be adapted to be capable of being mounted directly on the usual rear three point hitch of a tractor, in which case the wheels 14 do not need to be provi ded.

A table 15 is pivotally mounted on the main frame 12, and may take the form of a known design of rotatable turntable which can be driven to rotate about a substantially vertical axis 16. The table 15 has a pair of laterally spaced rollers 17 which are mounted on the table 15 and which are arranged to receive the bale 11 therebetween, the rollers 17 being rotatable in order to rotate the bale about its general axis of symmetry, which will usually be substantially horizontal. The axis of the bale is shown by reference 18 in figure 1.

Means is provided to mount a usual film dispenser reel of stretchable plastics film to form the wrapping around the bale, and means is also provided to cause relative rotation about vertical axis 16 between the film dispenser reel mounting (not shown) and the table 15 while the bale is being rotated about its axis 18, so that in use film can be withdrawn from the reel and be applied around the bale in successive overlapping turns until such time as the required wrapping is formed.

In the illustrated embodiment, the two above described means are provided by arranging for the mounting of the film dispenser reel to be a fixed mounting on the main frame 12, and for the table 15 to be a rotating turntable.

Means is also provided to tip the table 15 after wrapping of the bale has been completed in order to discharge the wrapped bale from the apparatus and onto the ground. In the illustrated arrangement, the table 15 can be tipped in a rearwardly direction, by virtue of a pivotal mounting of the table 15 on the main frame 12, and provision of one or more actuating cylinders 19 which can be operated to tip the table 15 between the horizontal bale-wrapping position shown in figures 1 to 3, and the inclined tipped position shown in dashed outline in figure 3.

An unloader device designated generally by reference 20 is mounted on the main frame 12 and is arranged to receive the wrapped bale from the table 15 after tipping of the latter, and with the unloader device being operable to transfer the bale gently to the ground and without substantial impact with the ground. The unloader device 20 therefore can enable the wrapped bale to be transferred from the table 15 to the ground in a relatively smooth movement, thereby minimising the risk of deformation of the bale and/or penetration or tearing of the wrapping by stubble or stones on or in the ground.

In the illustrated arrangement, the table 15 can tip in a rearward direction, so that rearward discharge of the wrapped bale can take place. However, the table may be mounted on the frame 12 in such a way that tipping in another direction can be achieved e.g. lateral discharge, provided that the unloader device 20 also is mounted on the main frame 12 in a suitable position to receive the bale from the tipped table.

The unloader device 20 is mounted pivotally on the main frame 12 via pivot 21 for movement between a raised ba 1e-receiving position shown in figure 2 to receive the bale from the tipped table, and a lowered discharge position shown in figure 4. The device 20 also has a bale receiving portion which may be formed in any convenient manner e.g. by a platform as shown, or by a tubular cradle arrangement. The arrangement is such that the bale 11 can roll gently under gravity and down the unloader device 20, when the latter is in the discharge position shown in figure 4, and onto the ground.

As mentioned above, the table 15 is pivotally mounted on the main frame 12 and moves between its horizontal and its inclined positions under the action of actuator cylinder 19, and the unloader device 20 is provided with its own actuator cylinder 22 which can pivot the device 20 between the lowered unloading position shown in figure 4 and the raised bale-receiving position shown in figure 2. Intermediate these raised and lowered positions, the device 20 can also occupy an intermediate transport position which is shown in figure 1 and which is generally horizontal.

The cylinders 19 and 22 are hydraulically operated cylinders which are included in a common circuit designated by reference 24 in Figure 4, and the arrangement is such that movement of the table 15 and of the unloader device 20 takes place under the action of the hydraulic circuit in such a way that sequential movement of the table and of the unloader device take place automatically under the action of a single control, shown schematically by reference 25 in F i gure 4.

Thus, assuming that a bale 11 has been wrapped on the table 15 after simultaneous rotation of the bale 11 about its axis 18 under the action of one or more slack belts 23 taken around the rollers 17. and simultaneous rotation of table 15 about the vertical axis 16, operation of the single control can cause necessary sequential movement of the unloader device 20 and table 15. Therefore, with the wrapped bale on the table 15 with the latter in its horizontal position and also with the unloader device 20 in the horizontal transport position shown in figure 1, operation of the control can cause pressure fluid to be delivered to all of the cylinders 19 and 22. However, since the device 20 is unloaded, whereas the table 15 bears the load of the bale 11, initially the device 20 will be raised by its cylinder 22 from the transport position shown in figure 1 to the raised bale-receiving position shown in figure 2. However, at this stage, no tipping movement is applied to the table 15. However, once the raised position of device 20 is reached, which may be determined by a suitable arranged stop (shown schematically by reference 26 in Figures 3 and 4), the resistance of cylinder 22 will then increase very substantially, and therefore the cylinder 19 will now operate to tip the table 15 from the horizontal position shown in figure 1 to the tipped position shown in dashed outline in figure 3. This then enables the bale 11 to fall gently under gravity to be received by the device 20.

The operation of the control is then reversed, and the loaded device 20 now is operated under the control of its cylinder 22, plus gravity assistance of the bale, so as to take up the unloading position shown in figure 4. When the device 20 makes contact with the ground, the load on cylinder 22 then increases, so that the pressure fluid now operates on the cylinder 19 in order to return the table 15 to the horizontal position.

The control may now be returned to a neutral position, which causes the device 20 to be raised to the intermediate transport position shown in figure 1. before a further unloading cycle is commenced.

Claims

1. A bale wrapper apparatus (10) for applying wrapping around a bale and which comprises: a ma in f rame ( 12) : a table (15) mounted on the frame (12): a pair of laterally spaced rollers (17) mounted on the table (15) and arranged to receive a bale (11) therebetween, the rollers being rotatable in order to rotate the bale about its general axis of symmetry (18); means for mounting a film dispenser reel of stretchable plastics film to form the wrapping around the bale; means for causing relative rotation about a substantially vertical axis (16) between the film dispenser reel mounting and the table (15) and while the bale is being rotated about its axis (18) so that in use. film can be withdrawn from the reel and be applied around the bale in successive overlapping turns until such time as the required wrapping is formed; and means (19) for tipping the table (15) after wrapping of the bale has been completed in order to discharge the wrapped bale from the apparatus (10) and onto the ground: characterised in that an unloader device (20) is mounted on the main frame (12) and is arranged to receive the wrapped bale (11) from the table (15) after tipping of the latter, said unloader device being operable to transfer the bale gently to the ground and without substantial impact with the ground.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the table (15) is arranged to tip in a rearward direction.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 in which the unloader device (20) is mounted on the main frame (12) via a pivot (21) for movement between a raised ba 1e-receiving position, and a lowered discharge position.

4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the unloader device (20) has a bale-receiving portion formed by a platform or cradle.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which the unloader device (20) is arranged so that the bale (11) can roll gently under gravity and down the device (20) and onto the ground when the device (20) is in its discharge position.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5. in which the table (15) is pivotally mounted on the main frame (12) and is moveable under the action of a cylinder (19).

7. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6. in which the unloader device (20) is moveable between its raised and lowered positions under the action of a cylinder (22) .

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 when appendant to claim 6. in which the table cylinder (19) and the unloader device cylinder (22) are arranged in a common hydraulic circuit (24). such that movement of the table (15) and the unloader device (20) under the action of the hydraulic circuit is sequential movement which takes place automatically under the action of a single control (25).

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, including a stop (26) arranged to limit the upward movement of the unloader device (20) from the transport position to the balereceiving position under the action of the unloader device cylinder (22) whereby, upon initial operation of the common control (25), the unloader device (20) moves first to the bale receiving position, followed automatically by tipping of the table (15) under the action of table cylinder (19) in order to tip a wrapped bale onto the unloader device.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, in which the unloader device (20) is movable under gravity action, upon reversal of the common control (25), downwardly to engage the ground in order to discharge the wrapped bale, whereupon pressure fluid can flow to the table cylinder (19) in order automatically to return the table to the bale receiving position.

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10 in which a fixed mounting is provided on the main frame (12) to mount a film dispenser reel, and the table (15) is a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis (16).

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in which the frame (12) is supported by wheels (14). - 15

13. A bale wrapper apparatus for applying wrapping around a bale, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

14. The features described in the foregoing specification, or any obvious equivalent thereof, in any novel selection.