Classifications

• • 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
  • A01F2015/0735—Combined machines that include a press bale and a wrapping device in a further step, e.g. turning table, not in the same closed pressing chamber
• • 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
  • A01F2015/074—Mechanisms for discharging a bale from the wrapping machine

Definitions

• This invention relates to a bale wrapper apparatus which is primarily intended for use in applying plastics film wrapping around a cylindrical or “round” bale of grass or straw in substantially airtight manner, so as to enable the wrapped bale to be stored for future use of the contents of the wrapped bale when required.
• Bale wrapper apparatus are used to wrap a round bale of straw, in order to shield the straw from exposure to the weather, so that dry straw material can be fed to animals, or used as bedding when required. Bales of straw can also be treated with ammonia, prior to wrapping, so that fermentation of the straw can take place during storage, and which enhances the nutritional content of the straw when fed to animals subsequently.
• Bale wrappers are also used to wrap newly formed bales of grass, and by virtue of the substantially airtight wrapping of the bales which is possible, the grass matures into silage over a period of time, and this also is a very valuable source of food for animals.
• bale wrappers to form silage from bales of grass is growing rapidly, since it avoids the need for silage towers and silage "clamps" to be used. Substantial capital outlay is required to install silage towers, and there is also a considerable problem, both with silage towers and silage clamps, concerning the inevitable generation of silage effluent. This has to be carefully collected, and then disposed of in an approved manner, and there are substantial financial penalties applied when unauthorised disposal of silage effluent is allowed to take place.
• bale wrappers are now being used to a rapidly increasing extent to wrap round bales of grass, which can then be stored through the summer, autumn and winter months, during which time densely packed grass ferments to form silage, and which is readily available for feeding to animals when required.
• bale wrapper apparatus which is being sold widely throughout England and Europe, and elsewhere, is known as a Silawrap Machinre which is manufactured by Underhaug AG and which forms the subject of GB patent 2159489B and foreign equivalents.
• bale wrapper apparatus which can be used to apply a plastics film of stretchable material around a bale.
• the bale is rotated simultaneously about a horizontal and a vertical axis, and this takes place by virtue of the placement of the round-bale on a turntable, (with the axis of the bale extending substantially horizontally), and rollers provided on the turntable are driven so as to rotate the bale about its horizontal axis.
• the entire turntable is rotated about a vertical axis, and by virtue of this simultaneous rotation of the bale about horizontal and vertical axes, a sheet of stretchable film withdrawn from a dispenser reel and initially attached to the bale can form a substantially airtight wrapping around the bale.
• the present invention is concerned with a bale wrapper apparatus of either of the above described types.
• bale wrappers There are two main kinds of bale wrapper in use at the present, namely mobile bale wrappers which can be trailed behind a tractor to be used in a field, and bale wrappers which will normally be used at a fixed location, eg in a stackyard.
• the present invention is primarily concerned with a mobile bale wrapper apparatus which can be moved through a field by a suitable propelling vehicle and can be loaded with bales, on which it carries out bale wrapping operations, prior to discharge of the wrapped bales from the apparatus.
• bale wrapper apparatus It is the present practice with mobile bale wrapper apparatus to pick up the bales deposited on the ground by the baler, and often this will take place after the baler has completed the collection of grass or straw lying on the ground throughout the field, and the formation of this material into round bales which are deposited in rows in the field.
• the bale wrapper apparatus is then usually towed behind a tractor in order to pick up the bales lying on the ground, and to carry out bale wrapping operations, and clearly this involves a subsequent operation which involves considerable additional labour cost. If a period of bad weather should intervene in the period between formation of the bales and wrapping of the bales, this can result in future deterioration of the baled product, especially if it has been subjected to heavy rainfall prior to wrapping.
• bale wrapper apparatus which carries out bale wrapping operations on each bale shortly after the latter has been deposited on the ground by the baler.
• This has the advantage of enabling the bales to be wrapped and made weather proof fairly quickly after formation of the bales, but nevertheless requires a team of operators to carry out the two separate operations, and the timing of the overall operation will of course be dependent upon the speed of the slower one of the two separate operations, so that the time of one of the operatives may not be fully utilised to the greatest efficiency.
• the invention therefore seeks to provide a novel construction of bale wrapper apparatus which can follow directly behind a baler for forming round bales, so that a single operative can control both the baling and the bale wrapping operations. This therefore reduces the labour content of the overall operation, and also enables the bales to be wrapped immediately after their formation.
• a bale wrapper apparatus which can be towed behind a baler of the kind which is operative to pick up grass or straw material lying on the ground and to form this material into a cylindrical bale, the bale wrapper apparatus being operative to receive a bale discharged from the rear of the baler and to apply a stretchable plastics film wrapping around the bale prior to dicharge of the wrapped bale from the apparatus, and in which the apparatus comprises: a main frame; means for coupling the main frame to the rear of the baler: a bale-receiving table mounted on the main frame and comprising a pair of laterally spaced rollers arranged to receive a bale with its axis extending substantially horizontally, and operable to rotate the bale about its axis: means for mounting a film dispenser reel of stretchable plastics film: means for causing relative rotation about a substantially vertical axis between the film dispenser reel and a bale on the table whereby, upon rotation of the bale about its axis, the film can
• a pick-up mechanism mounted at the front of the apparatus and operative to receive a bale discharged from the baler, when the apparatus is coupled with the baler, and to raise the bale and transfer the bale rearwardly onto the table so that bale wrapping can take place.
• a single propelling vehicle controlled by a single operator, can trail behind it a combination of a baler for forming "round" bales, and bale wrapper apparatus according to the invention towed behind the baler, and any cut crop lying on the ground, such as cut grass or straw material, can be engaged by the usual pick-up mechanism of the baler and converted into form of a round bale, and then discharged onto the pick-up mechanism of the bale wrapper apparatus, which transfers the round bale to the table so that bale wrapping can take place. Therefore, both baling and bale wrapping operations can be carried out under the control of a single operative, and while the entire train of machines is moving through a field.
• a guide may be mounted on the main frame and arranged to receive a bale discharged from the baler, and to guide the movement of the bale to the pick-up mechanism.
• the guide may extend rearwardly away from coupling means provided at the forward end of the main frame, and slopes gently downwardly therefrom so that discharged bales can roll under gravity towards the pick-up mechanism.
• the pick-up mechanism preferably comprises a cradle structure having a pair of forwardly projecting gripper arms which can engage inwardly against the adjacent end faces of a round bale, in order to grip the bale, and the cradle can then be caused to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis in order to raise the bale and then discharge the bale rearwardly onto the table.
• the arms of the cradle are preferably pivotally mounted, one at each end of the base of the cradle, and at least one of the arms can be pivoted inwardly under suitable power operated mechanism, such as a ram. to cause the end faces of the bale to gripped between the two gripper arms.
• the cradle-type pick-up mechanism is not the sole means by which a round bale can be transferred from the guide onto the table, and many other suitable types of lifting and transfer devices may be provided.
• the guide is not required, and the pick-up mechanism may be arranged to receive a bale directly after discharge from the baler.
• the pick-up mechanism of this further embodiment may comprise a load platform which is arranged directly in the discharge path of the bale from the baler, and which can receive and hold the bale, prior to and during transfer of the bale to the rollers of the table.
• the rollers may engage directly with the outer periphery of the bale, or else indirectly via one or more slack belts taken around the rollers.
• the load platform may be formed by a lifting table, or by a pair of forwardly extending lifting arms which define a trough into which the bale can be received.
• the load platform may have a transversely extending roller at its forward end, which facilitates the transfer of the bale from the baler to the pick-up mechanism. There may afso be a further transversely extending roller at the opposite end of the load platform, which can facilitate transfer of the bale to the rollers of the table.
• the table is preferably pivotally mounted on the main frame for tilting movement about a transverse horizontal axis in order that a wrapped bale can be tipped rearwardly of the apparatus to fall onto the ground for subsequent collection, or to be received directly by a collecting device for transfer e.g. to a trailer.
• the table comprising a turntable which is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, in which case the film dispenser reel is mounted at a fixed location on the main frame.
• a mounting for a film dispenser reel is carried at one end of an arm which is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis which passes through the space defined between the rollers of a non-rotatable table, so that the film dispenser reel can orbit or move like a satellite around the bale while the latter is only rotated about its axis by the rollers of the table.
• This arrangement has the advantage of a smaller mass rotating about the vertical axis, and therefore the apparatus does not need to be constructed as robustly as will be necessary for a rotating turntable type of apparatus, and in addition of course a drive mechanism does not have to be provided to rotate the turntable.
• the satellite type of film dispenser arrangement has the advantage that, when a bale is being transferred from the baler to the apparatus (or when the wrapped bale is being discharged from the apparatus) , the satellite can be positioned at some suitable position in its orbital path which will be out of the way of the path of travel of the bale. This enables the bale to be readily transferred from the baler to the pick-up mechanism, and then to the table without interference by the satellite.
• the coupling means may comprise a simple trailer type of hitch which can be coupled with a rear towing hitch provided on the baler.
• a simple trailer type of hitch which can be coupled with a rear towing hitch provided on the baler.
• forwardly projecting stabiliser arms are arranged at the front of the bale wrapper apparatus and the front ends of which each has predetermined clearance with a rear axle of the baler. This will therefore permit limited pivoting of the bale wrapper appartus relative to the baler (during forward and reversing movement), but will prevent jack-knifing during reverse movement.
• the main frame is preferably a wheel supported frame which may be supported by a single, or a tandem axle arrangement as required.
• a towing hitch will be located forwardly of the axle, and the table will be located rearwardly of the axle.
• the operating components of the apparatus are arranged to be triggered automatically into a cycle of operations upon initial engagement being made between the round bale and the pick-up mechanism.
• the entire cycle of events, ie bale transfer to the pick-up mechanism, onwards onto the table, bale wrapping and subsequent discharge from the apparatus may be carried out automatically, by use of suitable trip devices and the like, so that the driver of the propelling vehicle, usually a tractor, does not need to oversee the bale wrapping operation.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of bale wrapper appparatus according to the invention coupled as a towed vehicle behind a baler, which in turn is coupled to the rear of a propelling vehicle:
• Figure 2 is a side view of the combination of propelling vehicle, baler and bale wrapper apparatus shown in Figure ' 1 ;
• Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 1. showing some stages in the formation of a round bale and its subsequent transfer from the baler onto the bale wrapper apparatus:
• Figure 4 is a side view corresponding to Figure 2. and showing further stages in the handling and wrapping of a round bale:
• FIG. 5 is a side view, similar to Figures 2 and 4, showing the initial transfer of a bale from the baler onto a forwardly extending guide of the bale wrapper apparatus:
• Figure 6 is a view, similar to Figure 5. showing the transfer of a bale from the guide onto a rotating turntable of the bale wrapper apparatus:
• FIG. 7 is a schematic side illustration of a second embodiment of bale wrapper apparatus according to the invention, but with a bale pick-up mechanism omitted for ease of illustration;
• Figure 8 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 7;
• Figure 9 is a plan view, similar to Figure 8, and showing the pick-up mechanism for transferring a discharged bale onto a non-rotatable bale table: and.
• Figure 10 is a schematic side view showing the paths of travel of the co-operating components of the baler and the wrapper apparatus.
• bale wrapper apparatus 10 is designated generally by reference 10 and is attached to the rear of a baler 11 which is of the well known kind operative to pick up a cut crop, such as grass or straw material lying on the ground, and to form this material into a round or cylindrical bale.
• the apparatus 10 is therefore coupled behind the baler 11 as a towed vehicle, and in turn the baler 11 is towed via a suitable coupling at the rear of a propelling vehicle, which in the illustrated embodiment is an agricultural tractor 12.
• the bale wrapper apparatus 10 is arranged to receive round bales formed in the baler 11, and to apply a plastics film wrapping around each bale in turn, prior to discharge of the wrapped bale from the apparatus.
• the apparatus 10 comprises a main frame 13 supported at its rear end by a set of rear wheels 14, and which is provided with a coupling means (not shown) at its forward end 15 by means of which the apparatus 10 can be coupled behind the baler 11.
• a turntable 16 is mounted on the main frame 13 and is adapted to receive a round bale 17 thereon, with the axis 18 of the bale 17 extending substantially horizontal.
• the turntable 16 has rollers 19 and an arrangement of slack belts 20 which can rotate the bale 17 about its axis 18, in known manner, eg as is carried out on the Silawrap machine made by Underhaug AG. or as disclosed in more details in GB patent 2156489B.
• the turntable 16 can be driven to rotate about a substantially verticle axis 21. simultaneously with the rotation of the bale 17 about its axis 18.
• Means (not shown) is provided for mounting a film dispenser reel on the main frame 13. and in service film is withdrawn from the reel and attached to the bale 17 so that, upon rotation of the bale 17 about axis 18 and rotation of turntable 16 about axis 21, the film can be automatically applied around the bale to form wrapping thereon.
• a device an automatic film applicator
• a guide 22 is provided on the main frame 13 and runs from the forward end 15 gently downwardly towards a lifting and/or pick-up mechanism designated generally by reference ' 23.
• a round bale discharged by the baler 11 can fall under gravity onto the guide 22, and then roll gently towards the mechanism 23 to be engaged thereby.
• the mechanism 23 can then operate to grip the bale, raise the bale and then transfer the bale rearwardly to fall under gravity onto the turntable 16. This cycle of operations may be arranged to be tripped into operation automatically.
• the guide 22 is shown in plan view in Figure 1. and comprises a triangular framework which can be rigidly coupled at its forward end 24 with a suitable part of the chassis of the baler 11.
• the illustrated embodiment of mechanism 23 comprises a cradle having a base 25 and a pair of pivotted gripper asms 26 mounted via vertical pivots 27 at each end of the base 25.
• a ram (not shown) or other power operated device may be coupled with at least one of the arms 26 to cause the latter to pivot inwardly so that the opposed end faces of a bale can be gripped therebetween.
• the cradle is mounted on the main frame 13 (by means not shown in detail) for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis 28 in order that a gripped bale can be raised upwardly through an arcuate path of movement, so that the bale can then be transferred rearwardly to fall under gravity onto the turntable 16.
• the illustrated embodiment of ' mechinism 23, shown schematically, comprises a cradle mechanism which can engage and then upwardly and rearwardly transfer a gripped bale onto the turntable.
• a mechanism such as a lifting platform or lifting table, (with end plates between which the round bale can be located), may be used, which can receive a round bale rolling under gravity from the guide 22. and then automatically raise the bale to a level sufficient to allow the bale to roll under gravity onto the turntable.
• FIGs 1 and 2 show the component parts of the apparatus 10 in detail, and also show baler 11 and tractor 12 schematically.
• Figures 3 to 6 illustrate successive stages in the formation, handling, bale wrapping and subsequent discharge of the wrapped bale.
• the successive stages applied to the bale 17 are shown by references letters A. B. C. D, E and F.
• FIG 3. there is bale A in partly formed shape, and once the fully round bale shape has been achieved, and retained by suitable twine, bale B is discharged from the baler 11 by upward hinging of a rear part 11a of baler 11. as shown in Figure 5, to fall onto the guide 22.
• the bale B then rolls gently under gravity to be embraced between the gripper arms 26 of mechanism 23.
• bale B may be transferred to the position shown by bale C in Figures 3 and 4.
• Bale C is then raised through an upward arcuate path of movement, to a position as shown by bale D in Figure 6. and the bale can then be transferred rearwardly to fall onto the turntable 16, as shown by bale E in Figures 3 and 4.
• the wrapped bale can then be discharged from the apparatus by upward pivoting of the turntable 16 (by means not shown), and about pivot 29. to take up the position shown by wrapped bale F.
• a bale-receiving table which comprises a pair of laterally 'spaced rollers which are arranged to receive a round bale with its axis extending substantially horizontally, and operable to rotate the bale about its axis.
• Means is provided to mount a film dispenser reel of stretchable plastics film, and further means is provided to cause relative rotation about a substantially vertical axis between the film dispenser reel and a bale on the table whereby, upon rotation of the bale about its axis, the film can be automatically withdrawn from the reel and applied around the bale to form wrapping thereon.
• the mounting for the film dispenser reel is at a fixed location e.g.
• the table comprises a turntable which is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis.
• the film dispenser reel is carried by an arm which is rotatable about a vertical axis so that the film reel can orbit around the bale in a horizontal plane which is substantially mid-height of the bale i.e. contains the axis of the bale.
• FIGS 7 and 8 show a bale wrapper apparatus which is designated generally by reference 100. and which can be towed behind a baler 111 which is capable of picking-up material lying on the ground to form this into a round bale which can be discharged " to the rear of the baler.
• This baler may be a variable chamber type baler, or a fixed chamber type baler.
• the bale wrapper apparatus 100 can receive the discharged bale and can apply a stretchable plastics film wrapping around the bale prior to rearward discharge of the wrapped bale from the apparatus.
• the apparatus 100 comprises a main frame 113 which is supported by a single wheel axle set 114, and coupling means 115 is provided at the forward end of the main frame to couple the apparatus 100 to the rear of the baler 111.
• a bale-recei ing table 116 is mounted on the main frame 113 and comprises a pair of laterally spaced rollers 117 which 'are arranged to receive a round bale with its axis extending substantially horizontally, and operative to rotate the bale about its axis, when the table is in a horizontal position.
• Means is provided to mount a film dispenser reel so that it can carry out orbital movement about a substantially vertical axis and around the bale, and takes the form of an arm 118 which carries a satellite arrangement of film dispenser reel and associated pre- stretcher arrangement 119 at its free end. and with the arm
• FIGs 7 and 8 show the rear coupling assembly of apparatus 100 to baler 111. but with the pick-up mechanism omitted for ease of illustration.
• the pick-up mechanism is shown in more detail in Figures 9 and 10, and comprises a mechanism mounted at the front of the apparatus and operative to receive a bale discharged from the baler 111. and to raise the bale and transfer " the bale rearwardly onto the table 116 so that bale wrapping can take place.
• coupling means 115 comprises a simple type of hitch arrangement which can be coupled with a pivoting type of hitch 122 provided centrally at the rear of the baler 111.
• stabiliser arms 123 project forwardly of the main frame 113 and each has predetermined clearance at its forward ends with the rear axle 124 of the baler 111. This allows limited pivoting of the apparatus 100 relative to the baler 111. but prevents jack-knifing during reversing movement.
• FIGs 9 and 10 shows the pick-up mechanism for the second embodiment of apparatus 100, and parts corresponding with those already described are given the same reference numerals, and will not be described in detail again.
• a guide 15 is not necessary, although of course a guide may be provided if required, to transfer a discharged bale to the pick-up mechanism when the latter is spaced too far away to receive the discharged bale directly.
• the pick-up mechanism is arranged to receive a bale directly after discharge from the baler.
• the pick-up mechanism is designated generally by reference 125, and comprises a load platform which is arranged directly in the discharge path of the bale from the baler. This can receive and hold the baler, prior to and during transfer of the bale to the rollers 117 of the table 116.
• the rollers 117 can engage directly with the outer periphery of the bale, or else indirectly via one or more slack belts taken around the rollers.
• the load platform 125 can be formed by a lifting table (not shown), or as illustrated by a pair of forwardly extending lifting arms 126 which define a trough into which the bale can be received.
• the platform has a transversely extending roller 127 at its forward end. which facilitates the transfer of the bale from the baler 111 to the pick-up mechanism.
• the table 116 is pivotally mounted on the main frame 113 to tilt about a transverse horizontal axis in order that a wrapped bale can be tipped rearwardly of the apparatus to fall onto the ground for subsequent collection, or to be received directly by a collecting device for transfer e.g. to a trailer.
• the main frame 113 is supported by a single wheel axle, and the towing hitch is located forwardly of this axle, and the table 116 is located rearwardly thereof.
• Figure 9 is a plan view of the apparatus 100
• Figure 10 is a schematic side view showing the paths of movement of the co-operative components of the baler 111 and the apparatus 100.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Storage Of Harvested Produce (AREA)

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• 1989
  • 1989-06-03 GB GB898912832A patent/GB8912832D0/en active Pending
• 1990
  • 1990-06-04 EP EP19900908577 patent/EP0474719A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1990-06-04 WO PCT/GB1990/000863 patent/WO1990014756A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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