IES20090710A2 - A baler - Google Patents

Abstract

A baler (1) for forming a cylindrical bale of fodder material comprises a forward portion (14) and a rearward portion (15) which forms a tailgate (17). An endless compression belt (18) is carried on a series of support rollers (20) within the forward and reaward portions (14,15) and is driven in the direction of the arrow C. As fodder material is fed into the baler through a primary inlet (35) against the compression belt (18), the compression belt (18) commences to form a bale forming chamber of progressively increasing diameter within which the cylindrical bale of fodder material is rotated by the compression belt (18) to form a bale. A deflecting roller (42) is rotatably carried on a pair of spaced apart carrier plates (43), which in turn are rigidly mounted on a pivot shaft (44). The pivot shaft is pivotally mounted for pivoting the carrier plates (43) and in turn the deflecting roller (42) from an idle position with the roller (42) spaced apart from a secondary inlet (37) to the bale forming chamber, and a deflecting position illustrated in Fig. 2 with the deflecting rolled (42) adjacent the secondary inlet (37) for deflecting netting material from a netting material dispenser (38) into the secondary inlet (37), and in turn into the bale forming chamber for circumferentially wrappinga formed bale. the deflecting roller (42) is rotated in the direction of the arrow G for urging the netting material into the secondary inlet (37). <Figure 2>

Description

A baler” The present invention relates to a baler, and in particular, though not limited to a belt baler of the type for forming a cylindrical bale of fodder material, for example, hay, straw, silage and the like. Such cylindrical bales are commonly referred to as round bales.

Belt balers are known, and some belt balers comprise a single endless compression belt or a plurality of compression belts disposed side by side relative to each other. io The single compression belt or the plurality of side by side compression belts are configured to define a bale forming chamber of progressively increasing diameter as a bale is being formed therein. The compression belt or belts extend around a substantial portion of the bale as the bale is being formed for compressing and rotating the material as the material is being formed into the bale. Another type of belt baler comprises two or more compression belts which are disposed opposite to each other with portions of major surfaces of the respective belts facing each other, so that the compression belts are configured to define adjacent segmental 180° halves of the bale forming chamber of progressively increasing diameter as the bale is being formed.

Single belt balers are arranged so that the one or more compression belts define a lower edge of a lower forwardly facing fodder inlet through which the fodder material to be baled is picked up from the field and delivered into the bale forming chamber. On the bale being formed and prior to the bale being discharged from the bale forming chamber, a netting or other suitable membrane or binding material is fed into A OIF i5~|oo IE 090 7 10 the bale forming chamber for circumferentially wrapping the bale formed therein to secure and retain the bale in one piece when the bale is discharged from the bale forming chamber.

Typically, in a single compression belt baler the netting or other suitable binding material is fed into the bale forming chamber through a net feed inlet defined between a bale forming roller above the fodder inlet and the compression belt as the compression belt passes around a support roller as it exits the bale forming chamber. The netting or other binding material is fed from a dispenser downwardly to fall onto a deflecting roller which deflects the netting material or other binding material into the bale forming chamber through the net feed inlet between the bale forming roller and the compression belt However, a problem with such belt balers is that as the fodder is being rotated, compressed and wound into a bale within the bale forming chamber by the compression belt or belts, fibrous material is discharged from the bale forming chamber through the net feed inlet by the compression belt as it exits the bale forming chamber around one of the support rollers. The deflecting roller, in general, is located relatively closely to the net feed inlet, and is also located relatively closely to the bale forming roller which defines the net feed inlet in order to deflect the netting or other binding material into the net feed inlet. Because of this, the fibrous material discharged through the net feed inlet collects on and between the deflecting roller and the bale forming roller adjacent the net feed inlet. The collection of fibrous material between the deflecting roller and the bale forming roller eventually builds up to block the net feed inlet, thereby preventing feeding of the netting or other binding IE 090 7 10 material through the net feed inlet. This results in downtime of the baler, which is required in order to remove the offending fibrous material. This is undesirable. Additionally, fibrous material, particulate material and dust generated during formation of a bale in the bale forming chamber also tends to collect on and between the deflecting roller and the bale forming roller adjacent the net feed inlet. The collection of such fibrous material, particulate material and dust further aggravates the problem of feeding the netting or binding material through the net feed inlet.

There is therefore a need for a baler which addresses this problem of known balers. 10 The present invention is directed towards providing such a baler.

According to the invention there is provided a baler comprising at least one endless compression belt operably carried on at least one drive roller and at least one idler 15 roller, the compression belt being configured to define a bale forming chamber of progressively increasing diameter for accommodating and forming a bale therein, the bale forming chamber defining a primary inlet for accommodating material to be baled into the bale forming chamber and a secondary inlet for accommodating a membrane or other building material for circumferentially wrapping and securing a 20 formed bale prior to discharge from the bale forming chamber, a deflecting means for directing the membrane or binding material into the secondary inlet, the deflecting means being moveable from a deflecting position adjacent the secondary inlet for deflecting the membrane or binding material into the secondary inlet for feeding into the bale forming chamber, and an idle position spaced apart from the secondary inlet 25 to allow fibrous material to fall downwardly between the deflecting means and the t IE 0 9 0 7 1 0 4 secondary inlet.

Preferably, the deflecting means is moveable from the idle position to the deflecting position in response to one of completion of formation of a bale in the bale forming chamber and commencement of feeding of the membrane or binding material to circumferentially wrap and secure the bale. In one embodiment of the invention the deflecting means is moveable from the idle position to the deflecting position in response to activation of a dispenser for dispensing the membrane or binding material to circumferentially wrap and secure the bale.

Advantageously, the deflecting means is moveable from the deflection position to the idle position at any time after the membrane or binding material has been initially deflected into the secondary inlet, and preferably, the deflecting means is moveable from the deflecting position to the idle position on completion of circumferential wrapping of the bale with the netting or binding material. Advantageously, the deflecting means is moveable from the deflecting position to the idle position on the baler being configured to produce a bale. in another embodiment of the invention the deflecting means is carried on a carrier, which preferably, is pivotal for urging the deflecting means between the deflecting position and the idle position.

In another embodiment of the invention the carrier is operably associated with a latch for latching a tailgate to the baler in a closed state for closing the baler after discharge of a formed bale therefrom for urging the deflecting means from the IE f 90 7 10 deflecting position to the idle position.

Advantageously, the carrier is operably associated with the dispenser for facilitating urging of the deflecting means from the idle position to the deflecting position in response to activation of the dispenser.

In one embodiment of the invention the deflecting means comprises a deflecting roller, and preferably, a rotatably mounted deflecting roller, and advantageously, the deflecting roller is rotatably mounted on the carrier for deflecting the membrane or binding material into the secondary inlet.

The invention also provides a baler defining a bale forming chamber and having a primary inlet for accommodating material to be baled into the bale forming chamber, and a secondary inlet for accommodating a membrane or binding material for 15 circumferentially securing a formed bale prior to discharge from the bale forming chamber, and a deflecting means for directing the membrane or binding material into the secondary inlet, the deflecting means being moveable between a deflecting position adjacent the secondary inlet for directing the membrane or binding material into the secondary inlet for feeding into the bale forming chamber, and an idle 20 position spaced apart from the secondary inlet to allow fibrous material to fall downwardly between the deflecting means and the secondary inlet.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, with reference to the 25 accompanying drawings, in which: . { e IE 0 9 0 7 10 Fig. 1 is a transverse cross-sectional side elevational view of a belt baler according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional side elevational view of the belt baler of Fig. 1 illustrating a portion of the baler in a different position, and Fig, 3 is a transverse cross-sectional side elevational view of a portion of the belt baler of Fig. 1 illustrating another portion of the baler in a different position to that of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a belt baler according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, for forming a cylindrical bale (not shown) of fodder material, such as, for example, a bale of hay, silage, straw and the like. Although cylindrical, such bales are commonly referred to as large round bales, and typically, are formed to be of diameter in the range of 0.7 metres to 2 metres and of axial length of approximately 1.2 metres also. The belt baler 1 comprises a chassis 2, only two cross-members 3 and 4 of which are illustrated. The chassis 2 is carried on a pair of ground engaging wheels (not shown) which are carried on hubs 5 rotatably mounted on respective stub shafts (not shown) extending from respective opposite ends of the cross-member 4. A forwardly extending portion 7 of the chassis 2 terminates in a hitch (not shown) for hitching the belt baler 1 to a suitable towing prime mover (not shown), for example, a tractor or the like.

The belt baler 1 comprises a pair of spaced apart side walls 10 which are joined ΙΕθ9Ο71< together by a plurality of cross-members 11 and are secured together by the crossmembers 11. Only one side wall 10 is illustrated in the drawings. Each side wall 10 comprises a forward portion 14 and a rearward portion 15. The forward portions 14 of the side walls 10 are secured to the chassis 2. The rearward portions 15 of the side walls 10 form a tailgate 17, and are pivotally coupled to the forward portions 14 of the side walls 10 about a pivot shaft 16, so that the tailgate 17 formed by the rearward portions 15 is pivotal in the directions of the arrows A and B between a closed state illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 during formation of a bale in the baler 1, and an open state illustrated in Fig. 3 for facilitating discharge of a formed bale from the baler 1. The cross-members 3 and 4 of the chassis 2 and the pivot shaft 16 as well as one of the cross-members 11 secure the forward portions 14 of the side walls 10 together, while the remaining cross-members 11 secure the rearward portions 15 of the side walls 10 together to form the tailgate 17.

A pair of latches 19 pivotally carried on the corresponding forward portions 14 of the side walls 10 engage corresponding receivers (not shown) on the rearward portions 15 of the side walls 10 for latching the tailgate 17 in the closed state to the forward portions 14 of the side walls 10 during formation of a bale in the baler 1.

The belt baler 1 in this embodiment of the invention comprises a single endless compression belt 18 which extends around a plurality of support rollers 20 which extend between and are rotatably carried in bearings (not shown) in the respective forward and rearward portions 14 and 15 of the side walls 10. Some of the support rollers 20 are idler rollers, and one or more of the support rollers 20 are driven rollers for driving the compression belt 18 in the direction of the arrows C for defining a bale IE 0 9 0 7 10 forming chamber 22 within which a bale of the material to be baled is formed. In Fig. 1 a portion of the compression belt 18 is illustrated in broken lines defining the bale forming chamber 22.

Tensioning arms 24 which are pivotally carried on the pivot shaft 16 adjacent the respective side walls 10 carry tensioning rollers 25 which pay out the compression belt 18 as the bale forming chamber 22 defined by the compression belt 18 progressively increases in size as the bale is being formed therein. A biasing means provided by torsion springs (not shown) on the pivot shaft 16 act between the forward portions 14 of the side walls 10 and the tensioning arms 24 to bias the tensioning arms 24 in the direction of the arrow D around the pivot shaft 16. The biasing action of the torsion springs on the tensioning arms 24 act to take up the compression belt 18 on discharge of a bale from the bale forming chamber 22, and to apply tension to the compression belt 18 as a bale is being formed in the bale forming chamber 22, for in turn to compress the material being baled in the bale forming chamber 22.

The compression belt 18 extends around a first one of the support rollers 20, namely, the first support roller 27 as it extends inwardly to form the bale forming chamber 22. A second one of the support rollers 20, namely, a second support roller 28 supports the compression belt 18 as it extends around the second support roller 18 from the bale forming chamber 22. Three bale forming rollers, namely, a first bale forming roller 30, a second bale forming roller 31 and a third bale forming roller 32 are located between the first and second support rollers 27 and 28 and are rotatable in the direction of the arrow E for assisting in rotating the bale being formed II 0 90 7 10 in the bale forming chamber 22.

The first bale forming roller 30 together with the compression belt 18 as it passes around the first support roller 27 defines with a guide plate 33 spaced apart from the first bale forming roller 30 a primary inlet 35 to the bale forming chamber 22 for accommodating material to be baled into the bale forming chamber 22. A pick-up mechanism 36 for picking up material to be baled from a sward of the material lying on the ground is located forwardly of the primary inlet 35 for delivering the material to be baled through the primary inlet 35 into the bale forming chamber 22.

A secondary inlet 37 is defined between the third bale forming roller 32 and the compression belt 18 as it passes around the second support roller 28 for accommodating a membrane or other binding material into the bale forming chamber 22 for circumferentially wrapping a formed bale within the bale forming chamber 22 prior to discharging of the bale from the bale forming chamber 22, in order to secure the bale to remain in one piece. In this embodiment of the invention the membrane or binding material is a netting material.

A netting material dispenser 38 is carried on a pair of mounting plates 40 extending forwardly from the forward portions 14 of the respective side walls 10 for dispensing the netting material to circumferentially wrap the formed bale in the bale forming chamber 22. The dispenser 38 extends substantially the width of the baler 1 between the mounting plates 40, and the netting material dispensed by the dispenser 38 is approximately the width of the bale. The dispenser 38 is carried on the mounting plates 40 at a level above the secondary inlet 37, and netting material < IE 0 90 7 10 is dispensed downwardly from the dispenser 38 onto a deflecting means, namely, a deflecting roller 42 for deflecting and feeding the netting material into the secondary inlet 37, The deflecting roller 42 extends between and is rotatably carried on a pair of carrier plates 43 which are in turn mounted fast on a pivot shaft 44 extending between and pivotally mounted in the forward portions 14 of the side walls 10. A drive transmission (not shown) drives the deflecting roller 42 in the direction of the arrow G for deflecting the netting material onto the third bale forming roller 32, and in turn through the secondary inlet 37 into the bale forming chamber 22.

The pivot shaft 44 with the carrier plates 43 is pivotal for urging the deflecting roller 42 between a deflecting position illustrated in.Figs. 2 and 3 and an idle position illustrated in Fig. 1. In the deflecting position of Figs. 2 and 3 the deflecting roller 42 is located adjacent the secondary inlet 37 and adjacent the third bale forming roller 32, so that as the deflecting roller 42 rotates in the direction of the arrow G, the netting material, which is dispensed downwardly from the dispenser 38, on engaging the deflecting roller 42 is deflected onto the third bale forming roller 32, and in turn through the secondary inlet 37 and into the bale forming chamber 22. In the idle position in Fig. 1 the deflecting roller 42 is spaced apart from the secondary inlet 37 and from the third bale forming roller 32 a sufficient distance to define a relatively wide gap 48 to accommodate fibrous material therethrough which is carried through the secondary inlet 37 by the compression belt 18 during formation of a bale in the bale forming chamber 22. Thus, by urging the deflecting roller 42 into the idle position during formation of the bale, fibrous material which is carried through the .< IE 0 90 7 10 secondary inlet 37 by the compression belt 18 as well as other fibrous and particulate material and dust merely falls downwardly through the gap 48 and is collected by the pick-up mechanism 36 and returned to the bale forming chamber 22.

A pair of first linkages (not shown) couple the carrier plates 43 of the deflecting roller 42 to the corresponding latches 19, so that as the tailgate 17 is being latched to the forward portions 14 of the side walls 10, the carrier plates 43 are urged in a generally forwardly direction, for in turn urging the deflecting roller 42 into the idle position from the deflecting position.

A pair of second linkages (not shown) couple the carrier plates 43 to the dispenser 38, so that when the bale has been formed in the bale forming chamber 22 and on or before the dispenser 38 is activated to dispense netting material for circumferentially wrapping the bale, the carrier plates 43 are urged rearwardly for urging the deflecting roller 42 into the deflecting position from the idle position. With the deflecting roller 42 in the deflecting position and rotating in the direction of the arrow G, the netting material from the netting material dispenser 38, on coming into contact with the rotating deflecting roller 42, is urged by the deflecting roller 42 onto the third bale forming roller 32, and in turn through the secondary inlet 37 into the bale forming chamber 22 where it is circumferentially wrapped around the formed bale in the bale forming chamber 22 by the action of the first, second and third bale forming rollers 30,31 and 32 and the compression belt 18.

A plurality of fingers 45 of a flexible material are mounted on a shaft 46 extending IE 0 90 7 10 between the forward portions 14 of the side walls 10 for deflecting the netting material onto the third bale forming roller 32 from the compression belt 18 to prevent the netting material being carried outwardly through the secondary inlet 37 by the compression belt 18 as it exits the bale forming chamber 22 around the second support roller 28.

In use, after the previous bale to have been formed and wrapped with the netting material has been discharged from the baler 1, the tailgate 17 is pivoted about the pivot shaft 16 in the direction of the arrow B from the open state to the closed state to engage the forward portions 14, and is latched to the forward portions 14 by the latches 19. The action of latching the tailgate 17 in the closed state urges the carrier plates 43 in a generally forwardly direction, thus urging the deflecting roller 42 into the idle position. As the baler 1 is drawn forward, material to be baled is picked up from a sward thereof lying on the field by the pick-up mechanism 36 and fed through the primary inlet 35.

With the compression belt 18 being driven in the direction of the arrow C, the action of the material being delivered through the primary inlet 35 commences to urge the compression belt 18 inwardly to commence forming the bale forming chamber 22. As more and more material is urged through the primary inlet 35, the bale forming chamber 22 defined by the compression belt 18 progressively increases, and as the bale forming chamber 22 progressively increases, the tensioning arms 24 are pivoted in the direction of the arrow H to thereby pay out the compression belt 18 to accommodate the progressively increasing the size of the bale forming chamber 22.

IE 0 90 7 10 On completion of the formation of the bale in the bale forming chamber 22, the compression belt 18 continues to be driven in the direction of the arrow C, as do the first, second and third bale forming rollers 30, 31 and 32 continue to rotate in the direction of the arrows E. The dispenser 38 is then activated to dispense the netting 5 material. On activation of the dispenser 38, the second linkages (not shown) urge the carrier plates 43 in a general rearwardly direction, thus urging the deflecting roller 42 from the idle position to the deflecting position. On the netting material engaging the rotating deflecting roller 42, the netting material is deflected by the deflecting roller 42 onto the third bale forming roller 32 and in turn through the 10 secondary inlet 37 where it is wrapped circumferentially around the bale formed in the bale forming chamber 22 in the direction of the arrow K, see Fig. 1.

On completion of circumferential wrapping of the bale in the bale forming chamber 22, the netting material which is circumferentially wrapped around the bale in the bale forming chamber 22 is severed from the netting material in the dispenser 38 by a suitable cutting mechanism (not shown), and the severed tail of the netting material is also circumferentially wrapped around the bale in the baie forming chamber 22.

The tailgate 17 is then pivoted in the direction of the arrow A into the open state, and the formed bale is discharged from the bale forming chamber 22 onto the ground.

The advantages of the invention are many. A particularly important advantage of the invention is achieved by the provision of the deflecting roller 42 being operable between an idle position and a deflecting position. By virtue of the fact that the IE 0 90 7 1t deflecting roller 42 is operable in the idle position spaced apart from the secondary inlet 37 and in turn spaced apart from the third bale forming roller 32 to define the gap 48 therebetween, fibrous material and dust particles which in general are carried by the compression belt 18 through the secondary inlet 37 during the formation of a bale in the bale forming chamber 22 as well as other fibrous and particulate material and dust, which otherwise would collect between the third bale forming roller 32 and the deflecting roller 42, and would block the secondary inlets, merely drop through the gap 48 onto the pick-up mechanism 36, and are returned to the bale forming chamber 22. However, when the bale is to be circumferentially wrapped with the netting material, the deflecting roller 42 is urged on or before activation of the dispenser 38 into the deflecting position adjacent the secondary inlet 37 and the third bale forming roller 32 to deflect the netting material into the secondary inlet 37.

While the deflecting roller 42 has been described as being mounted on a pair of carrier plates 42 which in turn are carried fast on the pivot shaft 44, while this is desirable, it is not essential. The deflecting roller 42 may be mounted in any other suitable manner for facilitating movement of the deflecting roller between the idle position and the deflecting position.

While the deflecting means for deflecting the netting material into the secondary inlet has been described as comprising a deflecting roller, any other suitable deflecting means for deflecting the netting material from the dispenser into the secondary inlet may be provided, and in certain cases, it is envisaged that the deflecting means may be provided by a short conveying means, for example, a conveying belt or the like, which would deflect the netting material into the secondary inlet. In other cases, it is HE 0 90 7 19 envisaged that the deflecting means may be an inactive deflecting means, for example, the deflecting means may comprise an inclined deflecting plate which would deflect the netting material depending downwardly from the dispenser into the secondary inlet. The inclined deflecting plate would be moveable between the idle position and the deflecting position. Alternatively, the deflecting means may be provided by a plurality of spaced apart inclined bars, which would act in a similar manner as the inclined deflecting plate to deflect the netting material depending downwardly from the dispenser into the secondaty inlet.

It will also be appreciated that other suitable means for urging the deflecting means from the deflecting position to the idle position may be provided besides the provision of a first coupling means operably coupling the deflecting means to latches which latch a tailgate of the baler in the closed state. It will also be appreciated that other suitable means for urging the deflecting means from the idle position to the deflecting position may be provided besides the second coupling means which operably couples the deflecting means to the dispenser, so that on activation of the dispenser the deflecting means is urged from the idle position to the deflecting position. Needless to say, the deflecting means may be responsive to any suitable operation of the baler for urging the deflecting means from the idle position to the deflecting position so that the deflecting means is in the deflecting position ss the netting material is being initially dispensed from the dispenser in order to deflect the netting material into the secondary inlet. Needless to say, the deflecting means may be urged from the deflecting position to the idle position at any suitable time during the operation of the baler, and may be urged from the deflecting position to the idle position only as a result of a build-up of fibrous material in the secondary inlet, and VE 090 7 10 furthermore, the deflecting means may be urged from the deflecting position to the idle position just prior to dispensing of the netting material in order to allow any buildup of fibrous material adjacent the secondary inlet to fall through the gap defined between the deflecting means and the secondary inlet when the deflecting means is in the idle position. In which case, it is envisaged that once the build-up of fibrous material has fallen through the gap between the deflecting means in the idle position and the secondary inlet, the deflecting means would be urged from the idle position to the deflecting position for deflecting the netting material as it is being dispensed from the dispenser into the secondary inlet. It is also envisaged that a cleaning means may be provided for cleaning the deflecting means while the deflecting means is in the idle position.

It is also envisaged that the deflecting means may be moved from the deflecting position to the idle position in response to operating of the latches for unlatching the tailgate of the baler.

It is also envisaged that in certain cases, the deflecting means may be independently powered between the idle position and the deflecting position. In which case, it is envisaged that an independent drive means may be provided for urging the deflecting means between the idle and deflecting positions, and the drive means may comprise an hydraulic drive, a mechanical drive or an electrical drive, such as a servomotor or a linear motor. In which case, the independent drive means would be responsive to a suitable triggering signal for urging the deflecting means between the idle position and the deflecting position. Such a triggering signal for urging the deflecting means from the deflecting position to the idle position may be generated in response to closure of the tailgate 17, or in response to any other activity which would indicate the commencement of the formation of a bale in the bale forming chamber, or which would indicate the formation of a bale in the bale forming chamber. Similarly, it is envisaged that such a triggering signal for operating the deflecting means from the idle position to the deflecting position may be generated in response to any activity which would indicate the commencement of feeding of the netting material from the dispenser 38 for circumferentially wrapping a formed bale in the bale forming chamber or which would indicate completion of the formation of the bale in the bale forming chamber.

While the material for circumferentially wrapping and securing the formed bale has been described as a netting material, any other suitable binding material for circumferentially wrapping and securing the bale may be used. Indeed, in certain cases, it is envisaged that a suitable membrane material may be used, for example, 15 film material, such as plastics film material and the like.

While the baier has been described as being a belt baler of the type comprising a single compression belt, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the belt baler may be provided with more than one compression belt, for example, the 20 single belt may be replaced by a plurality of belts disposed side by side relative to each other. It is also envisaged that the belt baler may be of the type which comprises two compression belts, which would be disposed relative to each other to form respective opposite segmental 180° portions of the bale. Additionally, such pairs of belts may be replaced by a plurality of respective pairs of belts where each 25 belt of a pair would be arranged in side by side relationship with an adjacent belt of IE 0 90 7 1« IE 0 90 7 1ft ΪΕ Ο 9 Ο 710 3/3 The following amended page 18 of the Specification was filed on 16th September 2010 IE 0 90 7 10 an adjacent pair of belts.

Indeed, it is also envisaged that the baler may be of the type comprising a fixed chamber baler whereby the bale forming chamber is defined by a plurality of bale 5 forming rollers.

While the belt baler has been described as forming a cylindrical bale of a specific length and within a specific range of diameters, it will be appreciated that balers according to the invention may be adapted for producing cylindrical bales of any io desired axial length and diameter.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described, which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. A baler comprising at least one endless compression belt operably carried on at least one drive roller and at least one idler roller, the compression belt being configured to define a bale forming chamber of progressively increasing diameter for 5 accommodating and forming a bale therein, the bale forming chamber defining a primary inlet for accommodating material to be baled into the bale forming chamber and a secondary inlet for accommodating a membrane or other binding material for circumferentially wrapping and securing a formed bale prior to discharge from the bale forming chamber, a deflecting means for directing the membrane or binding 10 material into the secondary inlet, the deflecting means being moveable from a deflecting position adjacent the secondary inlet for deflecting the membrane or binding material into the secondary inlet for feeding into the bale forming chamber, and an idle position spaced apart from the secondary inlet to allow fibrous material to fall downwardly between the deflecting means and. the secondary inlet.

2. A baler as claimed in Claim 1 in which the deflecting means is moveable from the idle position to the deflecting position in response to one of completion of formation of a bale in the bale forming chamber and commencement of feeding of the membrane or binding material to circumferentially wrap and secure the bale.

3. A baler as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the deflecting means comprises a deflecting roller rotatably mounted on a carrier, the deflecting roller being engageable with the membrane or binding material for deflecting the membrane or binding material into the secondary inlet, the carrier being pivotally mounted for IE 0 90 7 10 urging the deflecting roller between the deflecting position and the idle position.

4. A baler defining a bale forming chamber and having a primary inlet for accommodating material to be baled into the bale forming chamber, and a 5. Secondary inlet for accommodating a membrane or binding material for circumferentially securing a formed bale prior to discharge from the bale forming chamber, and a deflecting means for directing the membrane or binding material into the secondary inlet, the deflecting means being moveable between a deflecting position adjacent the secondary inlet for directing the membrane or binding material io into the secondary inlet for feeding into the baie forming chamber, and an idle position spaced apart from the secondary inlet to allow fibrous material to fall downwardly between the deflecting means and the secondary inlet.

5. A baler substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated is in the accompanying drawings.