IES85960Y1 - Wrapped bale handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a bale cutting apparatus comprising attachment means for coupling the apparatus to a prime mover and a cutting means to cut through a bale containing fodder. The apparatus has cutting means that is operable to retain the bale against a stop member and cut through the bale such that the fodder is discharged from the bale and any bale covering materials are retained by the apparatus. The present invention eliminates the need to separately remove any covering materials in which the fodder is wrapped.

Description

WRAPPED BALE HANDLING APPARATUS The present invention relates to a wrapped bale handling apparatus. Silage fodder is wrapped in large round bales which are covered in layers of plastic material to protect the silage from contact with air. Various types of apparatus are used for handling these bales including bate spikes, bale grabs and other handling apparatus.

A major problem with the handling of round bales is that the plastic outer covering and any inner covering such as plastic meshing must all be removed before the fodder is fed to animals either directly along a feeding passageway in a slatted shed or if fed using a feeding wagon. This is a particular problem because if the plastics material goes into the feeding wagon it may become entangled into the mixing apparatus or get chopped into small pieces and distributed with the animal feed which could lead to catastrophic consequences.

The object of the invention is to provide a wrapped bale handling apparatus which alleviates the above disadvantages.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a wrapped bale handling apparatus comprising means for attaching the apparatus to a pair of lifting arms of a prime mover, gripping means for retaining the wrapped bale on the apparatus, means for splitting the wrapped bale to cut through any plastics wrapping and covering materials around the bale and to divide the formed bale of fodder, and means for retaining the out plastics wrapping and covering materials while allowing the fodder to be dispensed.

Ideally, the apparatus includes a lifting and clamping means for the bale. .

Preferably, the bale splitter comprises a hydraulically operable cutter pivotaily mounted on and movable on the apparatus.

Advantageously, the hydraulically operable cutter comprises a pair of pivotally mounted arms and a transversely disposed knife member.

Conveniently, the knife member includes a plurality of blades for cutting the plastics material and the fodder. ideally, the bale splitter is movable arcuately through the bale to cut the plastics materials and the fodder.

Preferably, the bale splitter commences the cutting operation at the base of the bale and is movable upwardly through the bale, so that at the conclusion of the cutting operation, the bale splitter is at the uppermost point of its travel and assists in retaining the plastics material so that the fodder can be dispensed without the plastics material being dispensed with the fodder.

Advantageously, the plastics retaining means is located on the apparatus remote from the supporting means of the apparatus and is co-operable with the bale splitter when it reaches the end of its cutting cycle.

Conveniently, the plastics retaining means comprises a pair of clamps which are hydraulically operable to engage with the plastic sheeting together with the knife or blade members of the bale splitter.

The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example only, one embodiment of a wrapped bale handling apparatus according to the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the left hand side of the wrapped bale handling apparatus mounted on the front support arms of a prime mover (not shown) with the apparatus shown in open position engaging a wrapped bale; Figure 2 is a perspective view also from the left hand side of the apparatus shown in the open position; Figure 3 is a perspective view from the right hand side of the apparatus in the open position; Figure 4 is a further perspective view from the right hand side of the apparatus similar to Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective View similar to Figure 1 showing the bale splitter commencing the cutting process; Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to Figure 5 with the apparatus orientated in position when the support tines are generally parallel to the ground; Figure 7 is a perspective view from the left hand side showing the bale splitter penetrated into the lower part of the bale; Figure 8 is a perspective view from the left hand side showing the bale splitter penetrated further into the bale; Figure 9 is a perspective view from the right hand side with the bale splitter penetrated into the bale; Figure 10 is a perspective view from the left hand side showing the bale splitter penetrated over half ways through the bale; Figure 11 is a perspective view from the left hand side and from underneath showing the bale splitter penetrated over half ways through the bale; Figure 12 is a perspective view from the left hand side showing the bale splitter completely penetrated through the bale; Figure 13 is a further perspective view from the front of the apparatus with the bale splitter completely penetrated into the bale; Figure 14 is a perspective view from the right hand side of the apparatus with the bale splitter completely penetrated into the bale; Figure 15 is a perspective view from above a portion of the mechanism for gripping the plastic covering of the bale; and Figure 16 is a schematic representation of the hydraulic circuit used to power the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the bale handling apparatus 10 comprises a set of supporting tines 20 mounted at the bottom of a curved frame 30 which extends about a wrapped round bale A, a bale clamp 40, a bale splitter 50 pivotally mounted about the frame 30 and a plastics sheet material retaining mechanism 60. The apparatus 10 has a pair of brackets 70 by which it is attached to the lifting arms B and lifting hydraulic cylinders C of a prime mover such as a tractor or a digger (not shown).

The set of supporting tines 20 comprises eight separate tines 22, the first ends 23 of which are bolted or welded in position to a box section spar 24 at the lower end of the frame 30. The second ends 25 are reduced in diameter to enable the tines 22 to go under the bale A in order to lift it onto the apparatus.

The curved frame 30 has a pair of curved side members 32 which are connected together by three round cross members 33 and two square shaped cross members 34 which give rigidity to the entire structure of the frame 30.

Bale clamp 40, forms part of the bale splitter 50, and comprises two arms 42 and a round cross member 44 which leans against the surface of the bale but does not damage or penetrate the plastics covering material.

Bale splitter 50 comprises a pair of elongate arms 52, the ends 53 of which are pivotally attached to the frame 30 at pivot point 35 allowing the splitter to move arcuately relative to the frame. A transverse knife member 54 connects to the other ends 55 of the arms 52 to complete the structure. Eight blades 56 are mounted on the knife. A pair of hydraulic rams 58 are used to move the bale splitter up and down about the pivot point 35.

The plastics retaining mechanism 60 comprises four mutually facing hook/clamps 62 movable towards and away from one another by a hydraulic ram 64 towards receiver 66 onto which the blades 56 engage at the completion of the cutting cycle of the splitter 50.

By this action, the plastics material of the bale is held by the blades 56 and the receiver 66 The co-ordination of the hooklclamps 62 in relation to the bale splitter 50 is achieved by using the hydraulic unit shown in Figure 16. The two main hydraulic rams 52 are supplied from the prime mover, such as a tractor or a digger. The hook/clamps 64 are operated when cam valve opens 68 which is determined by the blade position of the bale splitter as it is moved towards full penetration of the bale. The valve 68 opens when the bale splitter is as shown in Figure 10, i.e. when the bale splitter 50 is almost half ways through the bale. After cutting the bale and the plastics material at the top of the bale the bale splitter 50 is moved away from engagement with the receiver 66, the hook/clamps 62 are released by hydraulic ram 64 on the down cycle of the bale splitter and the waste plastics material is removed from the bale handling apparatus.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A wrapped bale handling apparatus comprising means for attaching the apparatus to a pair of lifting arms of a prime mover, means for retaining the wrapped bale on the apparatus, means for splitting the wrapped bale to cut through any plastics wrapping and covering materials around the bale and to divide the formed bale of fodder, and means for retaining the cut plastics wrapping and covering materials while allowing the fodder to be dispensed, wherein, the bale splitter commences the cutting operation at the base of the bale and is movable upwardly through the bale, so that at the conclusion of the cutting operation, the bale splitter is at the uppermost point of its travel and assists in retaining the plastics wrapping and covering materials so that the fodder can be dispensed without the plastics wrappingand coveringmaterials being dispensed with the fodder.

2. A wrapped bale handling apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the bale splitter is movable arcuately through the bale to cut the plastics wrapping and covering materials and the fodder.

3. A wrapped bale handling apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the plastics wrapping and covering retaining means is located on the apparatus remote from the base of the apparatus and is co-operable with the bale splitter when it reaches the end of its cutting cycle.

4. A wrapped bale handling apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the plastics wrapping and covering retaining means comprises a pair of clamps which are hydraulically operable to engage with the plastics wrapping and covering materials together with knife or blade members of the bale splitter.

5. A wrapped bale handling apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.