Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
  • A01F15/00—Baling presses for straw, hay or the like
  • A01F15/07—Rotobalers, i.e. machines for forming cylindrical bales by winding and pressing
  • A01F15/071—Wrapping devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
  • A01F15/00—Baling presses for straw, hay or the like
  • A01F15/07—Rotobalers, i.e. machines for forming cylindrical bales by winding and pressing
  • A01F15/071—Wrapping devices
  • A01F2015/073—Features related to the horizontal rotating arm of a wrapping device of the satellite type
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
  • A01F15/00—Baling presses for straw, hay or the like
  • A01F15/07—Rotobalers, i.e. machines for forming cylindrical bales by winding and pressing
  • A01F15/071—Wrapping devices
  • A01F2015/0755—Configuration of support surfaces which can move in order to rotate a bale around at least one axis while wrapping

Definitions

• This invention relates to a bale wrapper apparatus, and is particularly, though not exclusively concerned with an apparatus for applying stretchable plastics film wrapping around a bale of agricultural crop material and which is of rectangular cross section.
• bale wrappers is now widespread in agriculture, in order to apply stretchable film wrapping around bales of crops such as straw, hay, grass and other long stem material, and to contain the crop in a substantially sealed manner so as to exclude atmospheric oxygen and water from coming into contact with the crop.
• bale wrappers There are two main types of bale wrappers in use, namely the rotating turntable type and the orbiting "satellite" type of bale wrapper.
• a rotating turntable type of bale wrapper comprises a turntable which is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, a pair of laterally spaced rollers mounted on the turntable and which are operative to rotate a bale loaded onto the rollers about a substantially horizontal axis, and a mounting provided on the frame of the apparatus on which a supply reel of stretchable plastics film can be mounted, and from which film is withdrawn to be attached to the bale whereby, upon rotation of the bale about a horizontal axis under the action of the rollers, and simultaneous rotation of the turntable about a substantially vertical axis, successive overlapping windings of film are applied around the outer periphery of the bale until such time as it has become completely covered, usually at least twice.
• Bale wrappers are usually employed to apply helical windings of stretched film around cylindrical or "round” bales, in which case the bale is supported on the rollers and is rotated about a substantially horizontal axis which comprises the longitudinal axis of the bale.
• the other type of bale wrapper apparatus used to wrap cylindrical bales comprises the orbiting "satellite" type of bale wrapper, in which a pair of laterally spaced rollers are mounted on a table and which rotate the bale about its longitudinal axis similarly to that described above for the rotating turntable type of machine, but in this machine the table does not rotate about a vertical axis, and relative rotation about a substantially vertical axis takes place between the supply reel and the bale by virtue of the mounting of the supply reel on one end of a carrying arm which is rotatable at its inner end about a substantially vertical axis, and which carries the supply reel at its outer end and which thereby "orbits" around the bale mounted on the rollers of the table.
• the orbiting "satellite" type of bale wrapper in which a pair of laterally spaced rollers are mounted on a table and which rotate the bale about its longitudinal axis similarly to that described above for the rotating turntable type of machine, but in this machine the table does not rotate
• the orbiting satellite type of bale wrapper has the advantage that the table does not rotate, and therefore the rotational inertia of the bale about the vertical axis does not have to be withstood by the components of the apparatus, and the component which rotates about the vertical axis i.e. the supply reel, is of small mass, and therefore the inertial forces generated are smaller.
• the supply reel is located at the end of the rotating arm which carries it, and from which it hangs, and therefore a substantial turning moment is applied to the mounting of the supply reel on the arm as the supply reel carries out its orbital path of movement around a circle of substantial radius.
• Both the rotating turntable and the orbiting satellite type of bale wrapper apparatus have been designed primarily for use in the wrapping of cylindrical bales i.e. bales of circular cross section, in that the two horizontal spaced support rollers which rotate the bale about its axis (usually a substantially horizontal axis) are particularly suitable to rotate a cylindrical bale at a uniform rate of rotation and with the axis of the bale remaining at a substantially constant height above the rollers. Both of these factors contribute to uniform application of successive overlapping helical windings of film, which provides economic usage of film and necessary air / liquid type sealing of the crop within the wrapping.
• Bale wrappers therefore have become very popular for use in wrapping cylindrical bales, which most farmers now make using one of two different types of "round" balers.
• the way in which the two types of round balers operate imposes limitations on how densely packed can be the material within the cylindrical bale, and there is therefore growing interest in the possibility of returning to use of balers which make rectangular bales (which was the normal design shape of bales before the introduction of round balers), since bales of rectangular cross section can be packed to a much higher density of packing of the crop than is possible with cylindrical bales.
• More densely packed bales have two advantages, the first of which is that transport and storage is made more efficient i.e. the weight per unit volume is higher than with cylindrical bales, and also more efficient usage of stacking space can be achieved with rectangular section bales lying side by side than cylindrical bales standing side by side with inevitable voids therebetween, and the second advantage is that more densely packed grass has a lower proportion of air trapped within the bale, and therefore it is believed that improved quality of silage can be obtained within a wrapped rectangular bale, than within a wrapped cylindrical bale.
• a rectangular or square section bale when supported and driven by a pair of horizontally spaced rollers, will carry out a "tumbling" type of motion which is part rotation at a variable angular speed, and also part oscillation up and down of the centre of gravity of the bale.
• These two factors mean that it is difficult to obtain uniform application of successive helical windings which overlap by about the same amount, and with risk of air gaps developing between adjacent edges of successive windings, which is clearly undesirable, both in the wrapping of crops which are to be maintained dry e.g. hay, and also in the wrapping of the crops which are required to ferment e.g. grass intended to mature or ferment to form silage.
• bale wrapper when used to wrap bales which have been deposited in rows in a field, has to be manoeuvred alongside each bale and then usually a bale- loading arm or other loading device mounted on the bale wrapper is operated in order to:
• bale-receiving platform of the bale wrapper e.g. a pair of laterally spaced rollers mounted on a table;
• bale wrapper Most existing designs of bale wrapper are only able to carry out the wrapping operation while the apparatus is stationary, and forward movement of the tractor and trailed bale wrapper combination to the next bale in a row only takes place after discharge of the wrapped bale.
• the invention seeks to provide a bale wrapper apparatus which is able to carry out improved wrapping of bales e.g. of rectangular and square cross section, and also circular cross section, and to provide improved handling of bales (of rectangular or other cross section e.g. circular) in the matter of improvements in:
• a mobile bale wrapper apparatus which is capable of engaging a bale lying on the ground in the path of travel X of the apparatus and which is operative (1) to pick-up the bale, (2) to wrap the bale with stretchable plastics film wrapping and (3) to discharge the wrapped bale from the apparatus, and which comprises: a frame; a bale-lifting cradle mounted on the frame and operative to lift a bale lying on the ground to a bale- wrapping position, said cradle comprising a pair of elongate lifting devices laterally spaced apart from each other with respect to the path of travel X and engageable with opposed sides of the bale to lift the bale to the bale-wrapping position; means for rotating the bale about a substantially horizontal axis extending generally parallel to the path of travel X when the bale has been lifted to the bale-wrapping position; means for holding a supply reel of stretchable plastics film for wrapping the bale; means for causing relative angular
• a mobile bale wrapper apparatus which comprises: a frame; coupling means attached to the frame and operative to couple the apparatus in laterally off-set manner to a propelling vehicle whereby the propelling vehicle can run alongside a line of bales lying on the ground while the apparatus moves along its laterally off-set path of travel in which (1) it can pick-up each bale in turn, (2) wrap the bale with stretchable plastics film wrapping and (3) discharge the wrapped bale from the apparatus; a bale-lifting cradle mounted on the frame and operative to lift a bale lying on the ground to a bale- wrapping position, said cradle comprising a pair of elongate lifting devices laterally spaced apart from each other with respect to the path of travel and engageable with opposed sides of the bale to lift the bale to the bale-wrapping position; means for rotating the bale about a substantially horizontal axis extending generally parallel to the path of travel when the bale has been lifted to the bale-w
• a bale wrapper apparatus for applying stretchable plastics film windings around a bale of rectangular cross section in order to wrap the bale
• the apparatus comprises: a frame; a towbar attached to and projecting forwardly of the frame to enable the apparatus to be towed behind a propelling vehicle; an arch structure forming part of said frame and facing in the intended direction of travel, said structure being of sufficient size to allow a bale lying on the ground to pass through the arch when the apparatus is moved forwardly; a bale lifting cradle mounted on the frame and operative to lift a bale lying on the ground to a bale- wrapping position; means for rotating the bale about a substantially horizontal axis extending generally parallel to the direction of travel when the bale has been lifted to the bale wrapping position; a rotatable arm adapted to carry a supply reel of stretchable plastics film and mounted on the frame to rotate about a substantially vertical axis and thereby cause the reel to carry out a circular orbit
• Apparatus according to the invention may be used therefore to carry out the stages of engaging, lifting, wrapping and rearward discharge of the bale while the apparatus is being moved towards a next bale which is to be wrapped, and which makes the operation of wrapping bales deposited in a field take much less time compared with existing bale wrappers which usually carry out bale wrapping while stationary.
• the bale wrapper apparatus is therefore able to function as a through-flow handling and wrapping device for a bale lying on the ground, and can carry out continuous, or intermittent forward motion along a line of bales to be wrapped while these operations are being carried out.
• a towbar may be arranged so that it can be coupled to the rear of the propelling vehicle e.g. a tractor in such a way that the apparatus is laterally off-set relative to the tractor (for bale handling operations) so that the tractor can be driven alongside a row of bales deposited in a field and the apparatus can easily be lined-up with the bales and can carry out at least some of the stages referred to above "on the move".
• This is particularly suitable for handling bales of rectangular cross section, which are usually discharged rearwardly of the baler with a longitudinal axis of the bale extending parallel to the direction of forward travel.
• An arch structure of the frame may be arranged at the front of the apparatus, whereby each bale on the ground first passes through the arch structure before engagement, lifting and wrapping takes place, or it may be arranged at the rear of the apparatus, whereby the rearward discharge of the wrapped bale takes place through the arch structure.
• Other locations of the arch structure may be provided, if desired, intermediate the front and rear of the apparatus.
• relative angular rotation between the supply reel and the bale is achieved by mounting the supply reel on an arm which is rotatably mounted on the frame to rotate about at least one substantially vertical axis whereby the supply reel is able to carry out a closed loop or path around the bale.
• More than one supply reel may be mounted on the apparatus according to the invention e.g. two arms rotatable about the same axis, or a single long arm rotatable about its mid point and adapted to carry a supply reel at each end.
• the lifting device or cradle may comprise a pair of lifting arrangements laterally spaced from each other to allow a bale to be received therebetween, and each operative to engage at least an adjacent side and / or underside of the bale and to lift the bale to the bale-wrapping position.
• each lifting arrangement may have a single roller, or other suitable elongate lifting device, to be located at each side of the bale, and which rollers can be moved relatively towards each other to engage the respective bale sides and then lift the bale upon upward movement of the rollers, and which thereafter can be operated in order to apply a tumbling rotary action to the bale to rotate the latter about a generally horizontal axis while film wrapping takes place.
• each lifting arrangement may comprise an assembly of two rollers, which extend generally parallel to the direction of travel and which can be driven in order to lift the bale by frictional contact between the rollers and the bale sides.
• Each roller assembly is preferably capable of taking-up a bale-engaging position in which the rollers are arranged one above the other (which is particularly suitable for use in lifting a rectangular cross section bale), so that the rollers engage the adjacent substantially vertical bale sides and lift the bale to the wrapping position.
• each roller assembly is pivotable from the bale-engaging position to a bale driving i.e. rotating position, in which the rollers move to a position at approximately the same level, in which they support the lower side of the bale.
• the rollers of the two lifting assemblies can then be driven in the same direction in order to impart rotation to the bale about a substantially horizontal axis.
• the arrangement of the rollers can be made such that a substantially uniform rate of rotation is applied to the bale, and also the axis about which it rotates remains at generally the same height above the rollers.
• the rotational axis may move a certain amount, both up and down, and also laterally, bearing in mind that a rectangular bale has four sides joined together via right angles at each corner, but it has been found that the roller assembly may be arranged such that the vertical and lateral oscillation of the centre of gravity of the bale can be kept within reasonable limits, and with a substantially constant rate of rotation about this axis, whereby predictable overlap of successive windings of film can be achieved which are applied to the outer surface of the bale to provide satisfactory and substantially sealed wrapping of the bale contents, and economical usage of film.
• a lifting device is provided and which also forms means for rotating the bale about the substantially horizontal axis.
• the lifting cradle is particularly suitable for use in handling rectangular section bales, but may also be used to handle bales of other shapes such as cylindrical bales.
• At least one of the assemblies is carried by a support arm pivotally mounted on the frame e.g. on the arch structure and adjustable under action of a ram or the like.
• a clamp / cutting device may be provided, which can be operated automatically, or manually under driver control in order to:
• bale wrapper apparatus Preferred embodiments of bale wrapper apparatus will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
• Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of bale wrapper apparatus according to the invention, showing it occupying an off-set position towed behind a tractor;
• Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 is an end view of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2;
• Figure 4 is a plan view, similar to Figure 1 , showing a second embodiment of apparatus
• Figure 5 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 4.
• Figure 6 is a rear view of the apparatus showing a bale lifting device in an inoperative position prior to engagement with a bale lying on the ground;
• Figure 7 is a view, similar to Figure 6, showing an initial stage in a bale-lifting operation
• Figure 8 is a plan view of a third embodiment of bale wrapper apparatus, illustrated occupying a transport position directly behind a tractor;
• Figure 9 is a plan view, similar to Figure 8, but showing the apparatus of Figure 8 laterally off-set to a bale handling and wrapping position;
• Figure 10 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figures 8 and 9;
• Figure 11 is a rear view of the apparatus shown in Figures 8 to 10;
• Figure 12 is a rear view of a further embodiment with the bale lifting device in an inoperative position
• Figure 13 is a view, similar to Figure 12, showing the bale lifter device acting on the lifted bale and ready to carry out driving rotation of the bale during wrapping;
• Figure 14 is a plan view of this further embodiment showing final position taken-up by a film supply reel at the completion of bale wrapping operation;
• Figure 15 is a detailed side view of an automatically operating clamp and cut mechanism for use in clamping and then cutting the length of film running between the supply reel and the wrapped bale, prior to rearward discharge of the wrapped bale from the apparatus.
• FIG. 1 a first embodiment of bale wrapper apparatus according to the invention which is designated generally by reference 10 and which is being towed in the direction of arrow X in Figure 1 behind a propelling vehicle in the form of tractor 11 in a laterally off-set position so that the tractor 11 can run alongside a line of bales deposited in a field, of which one is shown by dotted outline 12.
• the apparatus 10 is readily lined-up with the bale 12, and is able to receive the bale, lift it, apply stretchable plastics film wrapping around it, and then rearwardly discharge the wrapped bale during forward movement of the tractor 11 and apparatus 10 towards the next bale in the row .
• the apparatus 10 comprises a frame designated generally by reference 13, coupling means in the form of a tow bar 14 attached to and projecting forwardly of the frame 13 to enable the apparatus 10 to be towed behind the tractor 11 , and an arch structure 15 which forms part of the frame 13 and which faces in the intended direction of travel and which is of sufficient size to allow bale 12 lying on the ground to pass through the arch 15 when the apparatus 10 is moved forwardly.
• the arch 15 is located at the rear end of the frame 13 of the apparatus, and therefore it will be the wrapped bale which is discharged through the arch 15 after completion of the wrapping operation.
• Figure 3 is a rear view of the apparatus, and shows how different shapes of bale 12 can be readily received by the apparatus on a through-flow basis, with bale 12 being shown taking up a number of different rectangular cross section shapes, and also a cylindrical shape.
• a 2-part bale lifting cradle designated generally by reference 160 is mounted on the frame 13 and is operative to lift the bale 12, after it has been received by the apparatus, to take-up a raised bale-wrapping position.
• the lifting cradle 160 comprises a pair of lifting roller assemblies 16 (see Figure 1) laterally spaced from each other, as shown in Figure 3, to allow bale 12 to be received between them, and each assembly 16 is operative to engage at least an adjacent side and / or underside of the bale 12 and to lift the bale to the bale-wrapping position.
• each lifting assembly 16 will be engageable with the adjacent substantially vertical opposed side of the bale.
• Each lifting assembly 16 comprises mounting plates 17 pivotally mounted on the end of a support arm 18, and which can be pivoted inwardly and outwardly via the arm 18 between positions of different spacings apart from each other of the assemblies 16 to allow different widths of bale to be handled.
• Each pair of plates 17 carries two rollers 19 which extend generally parallel to the direction of travel, and which occupy a bale-lifting position as shown in Figure 3 in which one roller 19 is above the other, and upon the application of drive to the rollers, the bale can be lifted by frictional contact between the rollers and the sides of the bale.
• Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the roller assemblies and associated components
• Figure 7 is a similar view showing an initial stage in the lifting operation.
• the bale lifting assemblies 16 are also capable of constituting means for rotating the bale about a substantially horizontal axis which extends generally parallel to the direction of travel after the bale has been lifted to the bale-wrapping position, and this rotation of the bale, in conjunction with the provision of means to effect relative rotation between a film supply reel and the bale about a substantially vertical axis enables film to be withdrawn from the reel to apply successive overlapping windings to the bale in order to wrap it.
• the supply reel support unit designated by reference 20, is mounted on the end of a rotary support arm 21 which is rotatable about substantially vertical axis 22 via a rotary mounting 23 at its inboard end, whereby the unit 20 can be caused to carry out a circular orbital path of movement around the bale 12 while the latter is being rotated about generally horizontal axis 24.
• reel support unit 20 it is not essential for the reel support unit 20 to move along a circular path, and there may be situations in which it is more preferable for the unit to move along a closed path or loop which is non-circular e.g. elliptical, in which case the unit 20 may be arranged to carry out angular movement about more than one vertical axis.
• the frame 13 of the apparatus is supported by a set of rear wheels 25, and can be pulled forwardly in the off-set position shown in Figure 1, in order to carry out handling, wrapping and discharge of the bale 12, but apparatus 10 can be pivoted to a transport position directly behind the tractor 11.
• Only a single support unit 20 for a film dispenser reel is shown in Figures 1 to 3, and this support unit may be of any known types currently in use of "satellite" type film dispenser arrangements.
• the support unit 20 may incorporate any suitable pre-stretcher mechanism e.g. of the type disclosed in EP 0291483.
• a double arm may be provided, having support unit 20 at each end, so that double film wrapping can take place simultaneously.
• a further support arm and respective film reel support unit may be provided.
• Figure 6 shows the two lifting roller assemblies 16 of cradle 160 pivoted to the most extreme laterally separated position, but they can be moved towards each other under the action of a ram 26 until the rollers 19 come into engagement with the opposed substantially vertical sides 27 of bale 12, ready to carry out a bale-lifting operation.
• the rollers 19 of the left hand assembly 17 will both be rotated in anti ⁇ clockwise direction, whereas the rollers 19 of the right hand assembly will be rotated in a clockwise direction to lift the bale.
• the assemblies 16 can be caused to pivot about the pivots 28 at the lower end of arms 18 until they take-up a position shown in Figure 13, ready to apply rotary movement to the bale 12 about generally horizontal axis 24. When they have reached this position, all of the rollers 19 will be driven in the same direction which will be clockwise in order to rotate the bale in an anti-clockwise direction.
• the driving of the rollers 19, and their direction of rotation may be programmed into an automatic control system which controls the operation of the bale wrapper.
• FIGs 8 to 11 show a second embodiment of bale wrapper apparatus according to the invention, and of which one of the major differences is that arch structure 15a is provided at the front or entrance end of the apparatus, so that bale 12 must first pass through arch structure 15a before being engaged, lifted, wrapped and then rearwardly discharged from the apparatus. Unimpeded access to through- flow travel of the bale 12 is provided in this embodiment also, in that after wrapping is completed, the bale can easily be discharged rearwardly of the apparatus also.
• a film clamp / cutting means which may be provided, in order to gather the film into a "string”, clamp the gathered film and then cut it, so that the wrapped bale can then be discharged.
• This film gathering, clamping and cutting operation takes place on the length of film running between the supply reel and the wrapped bale, and to enable this to take place, it will usually be preferable for the satellite carrying arm 21 to be moved to a position as shown in Figure 14, in which it extends transversely of the direction of forward motion, and nearly at right angles thereto.
• the mechanism which operates on the length of film may be arranged to be manually triggered into operation, or automatically actuated under an automatic bale wrapping programme as required. The mechanism, regardless of how it is triggered or actuated e.
• the satellite arm 21 is then caused to orbit about axis 22 simultaneously with rotation of the bale about axis 24, and the reel 29 can be caused to orbit through at least one revolution e.g. one and a half revolutions, before the held end of film is released by the mechanism.
• the reel 29 can be caused to orbit through at least one revolution e.g. one and a half revolutions, before the held end of film is released by the mechanism.
• the mechanism which is operated to carry out film gathering, clamping and cutting is designated generally by reference 31 (see Figures 12 and 13), and which comprises a longitudinally extensible arm 32 which can be first pivoted upwardly from a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 15, so that once extended, the arm 32 can bear downwardly on the upper horizontal edge 33 of film length 30.
• Figure 10 shows an arrangement of arm 32 similar to that shown in Figure 15, whereas the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 shows an alternative arrangement in which arm 32a extends forwardly of a pivotable mounting 34 on the frame, but which otherwise operates in generally similar manner.
• Figure 15 shows the arm 32 in the fully extended position, and to which it is moved under the action of a ram 35 and it can be maintained in this position by spring 36 pressing into a detent groove 37.
• a clamp head 38 is arranged on the end of arm 32, and its path of travel is shown by curved path 39, and during downward movement of arm 32 the underside of the arm engages the upper edge 33 of the film length 30 and compresses it into a "string".
• an anvil or other reaction member may be arranged fixedly on the apparatus in line with the direction of the film length 30, and against which the film length can be compressed into the gathered form.
• the clamp head 38 is then withdrawn rapidly to clamp the gathered film against a further clamp plate 40 which clamps the film, and then a blade or other cutter (not shown in detail) cuts the film between the clamping of the film and the wrapped bale, so that the wrapped bale can then be rearwardly discharged from the apparatus upon forward, or further forward movement of the apparatus.
• the film length now running from the supply reel to the clamps 38, 40 is then held, and upon completion of at least one revolution of the supply reel 29 during wrapping operation in a new cycle on a further bale, the clamps can then be released and the wrapping operation continued as described above.
• the discharge of the wrapped bale can take place by removal of engagement of the rollers 19 from the bale, which then allows the bale to fall under gravity onto the ground, and to move rearwardly by relative motion on forward movement of the apparatus.
• the roller assemblies 16 of cradle 160 could be returned to the position in which the rollers 19 of each assembly are located one above the other, and could be pressed against the sides (27) of the wrapped bale.
• the rollers 19 could then act as (idle) braking rollers driven by the downward movement of the wrapped bale under gravity.
• the rollers 19 could be driven at slow speed in order to lower the wrapped bale to the ground.
• the assemblies in which the rollers 19 are mounted could be further pivotably mounted in such a way that the rollers 19 could incline downwardly and rearwardly, thereby to allow the wrapped bale to slide axially of the rollers and in a rearward direction.
• the bale wrapper apparatus has been shown in the drawings towed behind a tractor, and in a laterally off-set position in order to pick-up, wrap and then discharge the bales.
• the apparatus could be front- mounted to a propelling vehicle, in laterally off-set manner via a suitable coupling arrangement.
• the apparatus could be operated directly following another piece of equipment e.g. a rectangular baler, in which case it will not be laterally off-set in order to carry out a lifting, wrapping and discharge operation on a bale received from the baler.
• the drawings show preferred embodiments of mobile bale wrapper apparatus capable of engaging a bale lying on the ground in the path of travel of the apparatus, and operative (1) to pick-up the bale, (2) to wrap the bale with stretchable plastics film wrapping and (3) to discharge the wrapped bale from the apparatus, and comprising: a frame 13, and a bale-lifter cradle 160 mounted on the frame and operative to lift the bale to the bale wrapping position, in which the cradle comprises a pair of elongate lifting devices 16 laterally spaced from each other with respect to the path of travel X, and extending in the direction of the path of travel, these two devices 16 being engageable with opposed sides of the bale to lift the bale to the bale wrapping position.
• the construction of the cradle 160 and of the frame 13 is arranged in such a way that the bale lying on the ground can be received by the lifting device as the apparatus is moved forwardly along its path of travel and without any obstruction by the frame. This may be achieved by providing the arch structure 15, which is mounted at the front, or an intermediate position along the length of the cradle.
• the arch structure (15) may be arranged at the rearward end of the cradle 160, and in this case it is of such a shape and size as to allow rearward discharge of the wrapped bale from the cradle by passing freely through the arch.
• the arch structure (15) may form part of a tunnel-like enclosure overlying the cradle, which allows entry of the bale on the ground into the cradle, and the sequence of operations to lift, wrap and then rearwardly discharge the bale, all without obstruction by any component parts of the frame structure.
• each lifting assembly is a preferred arrangement, which is particularly suitable for handling awkward shapes of bale, namely bales of rectangular or square cross section.
• These rollers are also particularly suitable for handling bales of circular cross section.
• each lifting roller assembly may be provided with a single roller, which will be well able to engage the underside of a circular cross section bale, lift the bale to a bale wrapping position, and then drive the bale to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis generally coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the circular section bale.
• the single roller assemblies may be arranged such that they can move laterally relative to each other i.e. one or both assembly moving laterally, and when they move laterally towards each other, they can engage and then lift a bale off the ground to the bale wrapping position. At least one of the rollers may be driven then in order to rotate the bale about its longitudinal axis.
• the single rollers of the two lifting assemblies may be raised and lowered as a unit e.g. by hydraulic means, operating in the manner of a fork-lift, to raise and lower the bale.
• the apparatus may be used to pick-up, wrap, and then discharge two bales together, which may be rectangular or circular cross-section bales.
• a pair of bales may be received one behind the other on the cradle, to be wrapped together and then discharged as a single wrapped package.
• a pair of bales may be stacked one above the other, and then received by the cradle for joint wrapping and discharge as a single wrapped package.
• the "cradle” type of twin roller arrangement which engages at each side of the bale is particularly suitable for: (1) picking up a bale lying on the ground and raising the bale to a bale-wrapping position with the rollers in each cradle arranged one above the other and followed by; (2) pivoting of each cradle to align the rollers horizontally and below the lower surface of the bale; and (3) applying a tumbling type of rotary action to the bale to rotate it about a generally horizontal axis while wrapping takes place.
• each cradle is particularly effective in all three phases of which operation as referred to above, and especially in the third phase, in which the corner edges of the bale (the longitudinally extending corner edges in the case of a rectangular cross section bale) can fall into the gap between each pair of rollers as it is driven into a "tumbling" type of rotary movement. (An edge of the bale tends to form an instantaneous centre of rotation of the entire bale when the edge becomes temporarily located between each pair of rollers of each cradle).
• the belts are "slack" belts which can define a trough shape between each pair of rollers, and in which trough the bale edges can be received to assist the rotation of the bale.

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Citations (4)

• 1994
  • 1994-01-28 WO PCT/GB1994/000176 patent/WO1994017653A1/en active Application Filing
  • 1994-01-28 AU AU58901/94A patent/AU5890194A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-02-10 DE DE19944404225 patent/DE4404225A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1994-02-10 DE DE9402212U patent/DE9402212U1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1994-02-15 FR FR9401908A patent/FR2701452B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1994-02-15 FR FR9401907A patent/FR2701451B3/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1995
  • 1995-08-09 NO NO953116A patent/NO953116L/no unknown

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