WO2006093374A1

WO2006093374A1 - Round bale wrapper

Info

Publication number: WO2006093374A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/004460
Authority: WO
Inventors: Byung Ki Yu; Kwon Young Oh; Gwang Jae Choi; Hwan Joong Park; Hyoung Deog Seo
Original assignee: Republic Of Korea (Management:Rural Development Adminstration); Livemac Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-03-02
Filing date: 2005-12-22
Publication date: 2006-09-08
Also published as: AU2006200543A1; AU2006200543B2; KR100582102B1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a round bale wrapper which is farm equipment. The round bale wrapper of the present invention includes a base (10), and a roller unit (20) which is mounted to the base (10) to rotate a bale (60) and includes a pair of rollers (25) and (26). The round bale wrapper further includes a vertical frame (30) which is mounted to the base (10), a horizontal frame (40) which is coupled to the vertical frame (30), and a wrapping arm (50) which is rotated by a motor (42) provided on the horizontal frame (40). The round bale wrapper further includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders (12a) and (12b) which are provided in the base (10), so that the pair of rollers (25) and (26) is linearly moved by the hydraulic cylinders (12a) and (12b).

Description

ROUND BALE WRAPPER

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to round bale wrappers which are farm equipment and, more particularly, to a round bale wrapper that is loaded with a bale, which is formed by winding a livestock forage crop in a cylindrical shape, and wraps the bale using a vinyl wrap.

[2]

Background Art

[3] Generally, round bale wrappers are classified into a turntable type and a rotating roller type according to an operating method.

[4] In the conventional turntable type bale wrapper, before a bale is wrapped with a vinyl wrap, the bale is moved from the ground onto a turntable using separate clamps and a table, which are vertically and horizontally movable by a hydraulic cylinder. In other words, after the bale is placed on the table, a roller and a rotary belt, which are provided on the table, rotate the bale and, simultaneously, a vinyl wrap is supplied to the bale. Thus, the bale that is being rotated is wrapped with the vinyl wrap.

[5] However, in the conventional turntable type bale wrapper, because the operation of loading and unloading the bale is complex, a lot of time is required. Due to this, there is a problem in that the speed of the entire wrapping work is slowed down. Furthermore, because a relatively heavy bale must be placed on the table which is provided at a relatively high position, the stability of the wrapping work is reduced.

[6] Meanwhile, in the conventional rotating roller type bale wrapper, a bale is loaded onto a pair of rollers, which are coupled to respective roller shafts that can move in arcing motions. Thereafter, while the bale is rotated by rotation of the rollers, a vinyl wrapping arm rotates around the bale and thus wraps the bale with a vinyl wrap.

[7] In detail, as shown in FIG. 1, the conventional rotating roller type bale wrapper includes a lower frame 111, and a hydraulic cylinder 112 and brackets 124 which are mounted to the lower frame 111 to move roller shafts 123 in arcing motions. The bale wrapper further includes a first roller 125 and a second roller 126 which rotate a bale during a bale wrapping process, a vertical frame 30 which is fastened to the lower frame 111, a horizontal frame 40 which is coupled to the vertical frame 30, and a wrapping arm 50 which is rotated by a motor 42 provided on an end of the horizontal frame 40.

[8] In this bale wrapper, to load the bale onto the rollers 125 and 126, the rollers 125 and 126 are moved by the roller shafts 123 in arcing motions in directions approaching each other. That is, when the bale is loaded, the hydraulic cylinder 122 moves the roller shafts 123 in arcing motions. During the bale wrapping process, motors 121 and 122 rotate the roller shafts 123.

[9] The conventional bale wrapper is mounted to three hitches provided on a rear portion of tractor. In detail, the bale wrapper is mounted to three hitches of the tractor both through a upper coupling hole, which is formed in an upper coupling bracket fastened to a rear surface of a middle frame of the bale wrapper, and through a pair of lower coupling holes (not shown) which are formed at lower and rear positions in respective lower coupling brackets 131. Thereby, when it is desired to move the bale wrapper to another location, or during the wrapping process, the inclination of the bale wrapper can be adjusted.

[10] That is, after the bale has been loaded, the bale wrapper is tilted at approximately

3° with respect to the ground. At this time, a pair of support rollers 127 serves to support the bale. To prevent the rollers 125 and 126 from being brought into contact with the ground during the wrapping work or when in motion, a support roller 128 is provided at a central position under the lower frame 111.

[11] However, in the conventional rotating roller type bale wrapper, in the case that a deformable bale is loaded onto the rollers, the bale may be misshapen by the rollers which are moving in arcing motions, thus making it difficult for the bale to rotate. In particular, wrapping work may be impossible.

[12] Furthermore, because the rollers must move in arcing motions in directions approa ching each other to load the bale, a space for ensuring the arcing motions of the rollers is required. As well, because the center of gravity of the loaded bale is raised, stability thereof is reduced.

[13] Moreover, the motors must be provided to rotate the respective rollers. The roller shafts 123 are supported by the brackets 124 but not directly supported by the lower frame 111. Therefore, when considering that the bale wrapper must be loaded with a relatively heavy bale and be movable, there are disadvantages in that the durability of the bale wrapper is reduced, and it is difficult to miniaturize the bale wrapper.

[14]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[15] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a round bale wrapper in which, when a round bale is loaded on rollers, the rollers are rotated while being horizontally moved in directions approaching each other, so that the round bale can be safely loaded on the round bale wrapper without being deformed. [16] Another object of the present invention is to provide a round bale wrapper in which the round bale can be loaded by horizontal movement of the rollers, that is, by reducing the distance between the rollers, so that a space for ensuring vertical movement of the round bale is not required during the bale loading process, and the center of gravity of the loaded round bale is lowered, thus increasing the stability of the bale wrapping work, and accomplishing miniaturization of the round bale wrapper, and which prevents the round bale from being deformed during the bale loading process, thus ensuring precise and tight wrapping.

[17] A further object of the present invention is to provide a round bale wrapper in which only the drive roller is operated by a motor, and the driven roller is merely rotated by the round bale which is rotated by rotation of the drive roller, thus reducing the number of motor, thereby saving energy.

[18]

Technical Solution

[19] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a round bale wrapper, including: a base having a pair of cylinder support frames; a roller unit mounted to the base to rotate a bale and comprising a pair of rollers; a vertical frame mounted to the base; a horizontal frame coupled to the vertical frame; a wrapping arm rotated by a motor provided on an end of the horizontal frame; and a pair of hydraulic cylinders provided in the base, so that the pair of rollers is linearly moved by the hydraulic cylinders supported by the cylinder support frames.

[20] The round bale wrapper may further include two guide cylinders provided at both sides of each of the hydraulic cylinders in the base.

[21] The pair of rollers may comprise a drive roller rotated by a motor; and a driven roller rotated by the bale which is rotated by the drive roller.

[22] The round bale wrapper may further include a vinyl wrap cutting device provided on the base and operated by a separate hydraulic cylinder. The vinyl wrap cutting device cuts a vinyl wrap which is provided around the wrapping arm and wraps the bale.

[23]

Advantageous Effects

[24] In the present invention, when a round bale is loaded on rollers, the rollers are rotated while being horizontally moved in directions approaching each other, so that the round bale can be safely loaded on the round bale wrapper without being deformed.

[25] Furthermore, in the present invention, the round bale can be loaded by horizontal movement of the rollers, that is, by reducing the distance between the rollers. Therefore, the present invention does not require a space for ensuring vertical movement of the round bale during the loading process. Thereby, the center of gravity of the loaded round bale is lowered, thus increasing the stability of the bale wrapping work. As well, it is possible to miniaturize the round bale wrapper. Furthermore, the round bale is prevented from being deformed when it is loaded, thus ensuring precise and tight wrapping. [26] As well, only the drive roller is operated by a motor, and the driven roller is merely rotated by the round bale which is rotated by rotation of the drive roller. Therefore, the number of motors is reduced, so that there is an advantage of saving energy. [27]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[28] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional round bale wrapper;

[29] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a round bale wrapper, according to an embodiment of the present invention; [30] FIGS. 3 and 4 are plan views showing horizontal movement of a loading roller unit when a round bale is loaded on the round bale wrapper according to the present invention; [31] FIG. 5 is a left side view showing the direction in which a wrapping arm is rotated during a bale wrapping process of the round bale wrapper according to the present invention;

[32] FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged plan view showing the wrapping arm of FIG. 5; and

[33] FIG. 7 is a front view showing the direction in which the loading roller unit is rotated during a bale wrapping process of the round bale wrapper according to the present invention. [34]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [35] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. [36] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a round bale wrapper, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 and 4 are plan views showing horizontal movement of a loading roller unit when a round bale is loaded onto the round bale wrapper. FIG.

5 is a left side view showing the direction in which a wrapping arm 53 is rotated during a bale wrapping process of the round bale wrapper. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged plan view showing the wrapping arm 53 of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a front view showing the direction in which the loading roller unit is rotated while the round bale wrapper performs a bale wrapping process. [37] As shown in the drawings, in the round bale wrapper of the present invention, a pair of hydraulic cylinders 12a and 12b is provided in a base 10. The hydraulic cylinders 12a and 12b horizontally move respective roller frames 24 through associated holes of cylinder support frames 11, such that roller shafts 23, which are rotatably mounted to the respective roller frames 24, are moved to the left and the right.

[38] In this case, each roller frame 24 is moved by each hydraulic cylinder 12a, 12b, and moment is applied to the roller shafts 23, which support a relatively heavy bale. Therefore, it is preferable that two guide cylinders 13 be provided at opposite sides of the each hydraulic cylinder 12a, 12b in the cylinder support frames 11. The two pairs of guide cylinders 13 include guide cylinders 13a and 13c, which support a drive roller 25 through associated holes of the cylinder support frames 11, and guide cylinders 13b and 13d, which support a driven roller 26 through associated holes of the cylinder support frames 11. FlG. 3 shows the two rollers 25 and 26 when in the original positions. FIGS. 4 shows the rollers 25 and 26, which are in a state of being horizontally moved away from each other by the hydraulic cylinders 12a and 12b under the guidance the guide cylinders 13.

[39] Hereinafter, a process of loading a round bale 60 on the rollers 25 and 26 will be described.

[40] First, a tractor having the round bale wrapper is moved to a desired location where the round bale 60 is located. Thereafter, the rollers 25 and 26 are moved in directions away from each other such that a sufficient space is formed between them. Subsequently, the round bale 60 is placed between the rollers 25 and 26 while a shaft of the round bale 60 is parallel to the rollers 25 and 26. The rollers 25 and 26 are thereafter moved to appropriate positions in directions approaching each other. At this time, it is not necessary to deliberately bring the round bale 60 into contact with a center support roller 27, because the round bale 60 is naturally supported by the center support roller 27 during a bale wrapping process.

[41] In the round bale wrapper, an upper coupling hole 35 is formed in an upper coupling bracket 34 mounted to a support beam 33 fastened to vertical frames 30, and a lower coupling hole 32 is formed in a lower coupling bracket 31, which is provided at each of both sides on the base 10. Therefore, the round bale wrapper is coupled to the tractor by a three-point hitch coupling method using the lower and upper coupling brackets 31 and 34 having the coupling holes 32 and 35. After the bale 60 has been loaded, the round bale wrapper is tilted upwards at 3° through the three-point hitched parts, such that the bale 60 is reliably supported by the rollers 25 and 26 and the center support roller 27 without being undesirably removed.

[42] A process of wrapping the round bale 60 which has been loaded will be explained herein below.

[43] A horizontal frame 40 is coupled to the vertical frames 30. A motor 42 is provided on an end of the horizontal frame 40 to rotate a rotating arm 51. A shaft hole, which supports a rotating shaft of the motor 42, is formed in the end of the horizontal frame 40. A wrapping arm 53 is coupled to a lower end of the rotating arm 51. A vinyl roll, around which a vinyl wrap 52 is wound, is mounted to the wrapping arm 53. It is preferable that the wrapping arm 53 have a wrap unwinding device with two rollers such that sufficient tensile force is applied to the vinyl wrap 52 that is being unwound, thus tightly wrapping the round bale 60 with the vinyl wrap 52.

[44] First, an end of the vinyl wrap 52, which is unwound from the vinyl roll mounted to the wrapping arm 53 through the wrap unwinding device, is fastened to a side surface of the round bale 60. Thereafter, the round bale wrapper is tilted upwards at 3°, such that the round bale 60 maintains a state of being brought into close contact with the center support roller 27 while the round bale 60 is rotated. Subsequently, the wrapping arm 53 is rotated by the motor 42 and, simultaneously, a motor 21, which is mounted to the roller frame 24 related to the drive roller 25 and is integrally moved along with the roller frame 24, rotates the roller shaft 23 of the drive roller 25. Then, the round bale 60, having an approximately cylindrical shape, is three-dimensionally rotated. As a result, the round bale 60 is wrapped with the vinyl wrap 52, the end of which is fastened to the round bale 60. Here, the user can set an appropriate wrapping condition in consideration of the condition and size of the round bale 60.

[45] Preferably, the drive roller 25 has an uneven outer surface, and not a smooth outer surface, in order to increase friction when the round bale 60 is rotated. On the other hand, because the driven roller 26 is not rotated by the motor 21, friction must be as little as possible. Therefore, it is preferred that the driven roller 26 have a simple cylindrical shape having a smooth outer surface such that it is merely rotated by rotation of the round bale 60.

[46] As shown in FIG. 5, a support 28 is provided under the cylinder support frames 11 to protect the cylinder support frames 11 and, particularly, to protect the hydraulic cylinders 12 and the rollers 25 and 26. Therefore, even though the supporting ground is uneven, the round bale wrapper can reliably perform the wrapping work.

[47] Next, the operation of a vinyl wrap cutting device 15, which cuts the vinyl wrap 52 after the wrapping is sufficiently performed, will be described herein below.

[48] As shown in FIG. 7, the vinyl wrap cutting device 15 is mounted above the guide cylinder 13c and operated by a hydraulic cylinder 16. When the hydraulic cylinder 16 is retracted, the vinyl wrap cutting device 15 is rotated upwards. When the hydraulic cylinder 16 is advanced, the vinyl wrap cutting device 15 is rotated downwards. After the wrapping is sufficiently performed, the vinyl wrap cutting device 15 is rotated upwards and, thereafter, the wrapping arm 53 is rotated. Then, the vinyl wrap 52 is brought into contact with the vinyl wrap cutting device 15. Subsequently, the vinyl wrap is cut by rotating the vinyl wrap cutting device 15 downwards.

[49] After the wrapping process has been completed, the wrapped round bale 60 is unloaded onto the ground. For this, at a desired location, the roller shafts 23 are horizontally moved in directions opposite to the directions for loading the round bale 60. Then, the wrapped round bale 60 is naturally unloaded from the round bale wrapper.

[50] FIG. 7 is a front view showing the direction in which the loading roller unit is rotated during the bale wrapping process of the round bale wrapper. While the bale wrapping process is performed, the drive roller 25 is rotated by the motor 21 in a clockwise direction when viewing the front view of FIG. 7. The driven roller 26 is also rotated in a clockwise direction by the round bale 60, which is rotated in a counterclockwise direction.

[51] Meanwhile, in the stage in which the round bale 60 is loaded on the rollers 25 and

26, the motor 21 is not operated. When the rollers 25 and 26 are moved by the hydraulic cylinders 12 in directions approaching each other, the rollers 25 and 26 are rolled along a circumferential outer surface of the round bale 60. At this time, the drive roller 25 is rotated in a clockwise direction, while the driven roller 26 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction.

[52] Conversely, when the rollers 25 and 26 are moved in directions away from each other, the drive roller 25 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, and the driven roller 26 is rotated in a clockwise direction.

[53] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

[54]

Industrial Applicability

[55] As described above, the present invention provides a round bale wrapper in which, when a round bale is loaded on rollers, the rollers are rotated while being horizontally moved in directions approaching each other, so that the round bale can be safely loaded on the round bale wrapper without being deformed.

[56] Furthermore, in the present invention, the round bale can be loaded by horizontal movement of the rollers, that is, by reducing the distance between the rollers. Therefore, the present invention does not require a space for ensuring vertical movement of the round bale during the loading process. Thereby, the center of gravity of the loaded round bale is lowered, thus increasing the stability of the bale wrapping work. As well, it is possible to miniaturize the round bale wrapper. Furthermore, the round bale is prevented from being deformed when it is loaded, thus ensuring precise and tight wrapping.

[57] As well, only the drive roller is operated by a motor, and the driven roller is merely rotated by the round bale which is rotated by rotation of the drive roller. Therefore, the number of motors is reduced, so that there is an advantage of saving energy.

Claims

[ 1 ] A round bale wrapper, comprising : a base having a pair of cylinder support frames; a roller unit mounted to the base to rotate a bale and comprising a pair of rollers; a vertical frame mounted to the base; a horizontal frame coupled to the vertical frame; a wrapping arm rotated by a motor provided on an end of the horizontal frame; and a pair of hydraulic cylinders provided in the base, so that the pair of rollers is linearly moved by the hydraulic cylinders supported by the cylinder support frames. [2] The round bale wrapper according to claim 1, further comprising: two guide cylinders provided at both sides of each of the hydraulic cylinders in the base. [3] The round bale wrapper according to claim 1, wherein the pair of rollers comprises: a drive roller rotated by a motor; and a driven roller rotated by the bale which is rotated by the drive roller. [4] The round bale wrapper according to claim 1, further comprising: a vinyl wrap cutting device provided on the base and operated by a separate hydraulic cylinder, the vinyl wrap cutting device cutting a vinyl wrap which is provided around the wrapping arm and wraps the bale.