GB1600443A

GB1600443A - Device for balling crop

Info

Publication number: GB1600443A
Application number: GB2178278A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Expert NV
Current assignee: Expert NV
Priority date: 1977-09-09
Filing date: 1978-05-24
Publication date: 1981-10-14
Also published as: NL7709962A

Description

(54) DEVICE FOR BALING CROP (71) We, EXPERT NV., of Wiliem- stad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, a Body Corporate organised under the laws of the Netherlands Antilles hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a mobile device for baling crop.

According to the invention, the device comprises a mobile device for baling crop comprising a baling chamber, an mlet port and a ram adapted to reciprocate across said inlet port, and an auxiliary space joining said inlet port outside the baling chamber for temporarily storing the crop to be compressed, at least one member blocking the passage of crop through the auxiliary space being adapted to cause a prelimary densification of the crop, the blocking member being constructed in the form of a conveyor which is movable to feed a quantity of crop through the inlet port into the compression space in preparation for compressing by the ram.

In a preferred embodiment the blocking member is constructed in the form of a flapshaped element which is preferably rotatable through 360 , which provides the advantage that the auxiliary space can be utilised to the optimum, since no space need be economised for a reciprocating flap portion. Owing to said rotary movement the quantity of predensified crop is each time swept from the auxuliary space into the compression space. The blocking member may be operated by a transmission mechanism in the form of a row of cams connected with the ram and a cam wheel which cooperates with the cams and is first with a shaft of the blocking member.

In a preferred embodiment the cam wheel has recesses for receiving a cam and being located at unequal distances from the rotary axis. With a uniform movement of the ram this results in that with appropriate dimensioning the flap portion is turned in an accelerated manner along the first part of its path, where no function has to be fulfilled, whereas along the last part of the path the movement is slowed down whilst a higher pressing force can be exerted on the crop. Thus the conveying effect of the flap portion is improved and, in addition, the pre-densification of the crop before it is baled by the ram is enhanced.

If the device is constructed so that the ram has to perform a number of strokes before the full quantity of crop required for a bale is compressed, a plurality of retaining members introducible into the compression space is arranged in accordance with the invention near the end position of the ram, which members retain the once introduced crop at each return stroke of the ram.

In a preferred embodiment the retaining members are constructed in the form of a row of tines, each of which can be passed through an associated hole in the baling chamber wall, said rows being arranged on an auxiliary frame of the device adapted to turn with respect to the main frame, the swinging movement being derived from the reciprocatory movement of the ram. This construction provides the possibility of adjusting the cycle of the machine so that new crop may be fed and retained by the retaining members while the preceding bale is still present in the compression space.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the drawing which shows an embodiment. In the drawing Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of a baling device in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the component parts of the actuating mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

The baling device shown in the Figures comprises essentially a horizontal baling chamber 1, in which a ram 2 is adapted to reciprocate. Tbe baling chamber 1 is carried by a frame 3 having a ground wheel 4 and a drawbar 5 by which the device can be attached to a tractor or the like. The device is run in the direction of the arrow P1 across the field by the tractor.

The ram 2 is movable along an inlet port 6 up to a delivery port 7, for which purpose the ram 2 is equipped with a driving mechanism arranged on either side and outside the baling chamber 1. The driving mechanism comprises a hydraulic cylinder 8, the free end of the piston rod 9 of which is connected with a pressure body 10 connected with the ram 2. The pressure body 10 comprises two hollow beams extending on either side of the cylinder 8 and being fastened at the ram 2 to ears secured to the latter. The ears of the ram 2 extend through slots in the sidewall of the baling chamber 1.

The end of the cylinder 8 remote from the piston rod 9 is connected through a coupling rod 11 with a pivotal point of the upwardly pivotable rear wall 12 of the baling chamber 1. The rear wall 12 can be locked by means of lock bolts 13 in the closed or pressing state.

The inlet port 6 can be closed by a flap portion 14. The flap portion 14 can turn through 3600 about a shaft 15, which is parallel to the plane going through the inlet port 6.

With the inlet port 6 communicated an auxiliary space 16, which is located in this embodiment on the bottom side of the baling chamber 1. The entry of the auxiliary space 16 is located on the right-hand bottom side in Fig. 1 and is equipped with a pick-up apparatus 17, which picks up the crop from the field and passes it into the auxiliary space 16. Pushing members 18 extending through a grid-shaped top wall 19 of the auxiliary space 16 push the crop further into the auxiliary space 16. The pushing members 18 are rotatably mounted on a rotatable disc 20, which may be driven by any suitable means and the pushing members 18 are controlled by an arm 21 rigidly secured thereto and being adapted to turn about a stub shaft 23 through a rocking arm 22.

Owing to the turn of the disc 20 the pushing member 18 will describe by its free end an elliptic path so that the lower end will move substantially horizontally to the left in Fig. 1, will subsequently retract itself through the grating of the top wall 19 and will again penetrate into the inlet port of the auxiliary space 16 during the return movement.

In the embodiment shown the rotary movement of the flap portion 14, which repeatedly closes the inlet port 6 of the baling chamber 1, is obtained by means of a transmission mech anism 24, which utilizes the reciprocatory movement of the ram 2.

The transmission mechanism 24 comprises a cam rod 25 pivotally mounted on the lowermost hollow beam of the pressure body and being adapted to co-operate with a cam wheel 26 rigidly secured to the shaft 15 (see also Figs. 3 and 4).

The cam rod 25 has the shape of two parallel plates having the cams 27 mounted between them. Each cam 27 co-operates with a recess 28 of the cam wheel 26 receiving said cam. The cam rod is coupled at a distance from its pivotal joint with a shear system 29, which is controlled by a cam wheel 30, which actuates the limbs of the shear 29 by means of a rocker 40 and cooperates with a cam rack 31 rigidly secured to the baling chamber 1. A spring 32 engaging at one end the free end of a rocker arm 33 secured to the shear 29 and at the other end a fixed point of the ram 10 ensures locking of the shear system 29 in one of its extreme positions (see Fig. 4).

The shear system 29 serves to lift the cam rod 25 at the compression stroke of the ram 2 so that the cams 27 of the rod 25 cannot come into contact with the cam wheel 26. Conversely, during the return movement of the ram 2 the cam rod 25 will be lowered so that each cam 27 snaps in its associated recess 28 of the cam wheel 26.

During said return movement the cam wheel 26 will be turned about the shaft 15 so that the flap portion 14 rigidly secured to the shaft 15 can perform a revolution of 360 , that is to say, partly through the compression space 8 behind the ram 2 and subsequently through the top wall grating 19 of the auxiliary space 16, after which the crop is advanced by the flap portion 14 into the compression space 1. The movement of the ram 2 with respect to the flap portion 14 is synchronized so that the crop gets in front of the ram 2 in the compression space 1.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the recesses 28 of the cam wheel 26 are located at different distances from the rotary axis 15 in a progressive order. This results in that initially the rotary movement of the flap portion 14 is particularly rapid, whereas after the top wall grating 19 of the auxiliary space 16 has been traversed the rotary movement of the flap portion 14 takes place more slowly, however, with an increase in pressing moment on the crop.

Therefore, the crop emerging from the auxiliary space 16 is at the same time densified by the flap portion 14.

In the meantime, in the extreme retreat of the ram 2, the shear mechanism 29 has become operative so that the cam rod 25 is lifted out of the cam wheel 26, after which a compression stroke can be performed. At the termination of the compression stroke the cam rod 25 again snaps into the recesses of the cam wheel 26 so that the cycle can be repeated.

In order to prevent the flap portion 14 from falling back into the auxiliary space 16 during the elevation of the cam rack 25, a pawl mechanism 34 is provided.

In order to prevent the crop from rebounding during the return stroke of the ram 2, retaining members 35 can be passed through the top as well as the bottom wall of the baling chamber 1. The retaining members are formed by tines 36 arranged in rows mounted on an auxiliary frame 37, which is pivotable with respect to the baling chamber 1. The auxiliary frame 37 is provided with a supporting wheel 38 rolling along the upper hollow profile of the pressing member of the ram 2, said wheel co-operating with a cam 39 provided on said hollow profile.

The position of the cam 39 with respect to the ram 2 is such that upon approach the retaining forks 36 are lifted before the ram 2 occupies its position indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1.

This construction furthermore permits of feeding crop even when a previously compressed bale is still present in the compression space near the delivery port 7. The drive of the ram 2 is stopped just in front of the retaining members 36 so that the crop is retained between said retaining members and the front side of the ram 2 and separated from the previously compressed bale.

After the compressed bales are removed from the baling chamber, the pressing member is conveyed on from its stop position to its extreme position. Upon the subsequent compression stroke the ram 2 will perform its full stroke so that the partial quantity of crop previously supplied can advance to the terminal wall 12 as soon as the latter has released the previously compressed bales.

The release can take place by disengaging the bolts 13 and by temporarily locking the ram 2 in the above-mentioned position so that the cylinder 8 can turn the end wall 12 of the compression space 1 in upward direction.

It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

The blocking member shown in these Figures as a flap may alternatively be arranged beneath the inlet port of the baling chamber.

A blocking member may be constructed in an embodiment as shown in the retaining members near the outlet port of the baling chamber.

Moreover, the flap portion 14 is shown in the Figures as a grating formed by parallel profiles so that it can transverse the top wall grating 19 of the auxiliary space 16.

Other flap portions may, of course, be designed, in which the rotary shaft 15 may extend in the direction of length of the baling chamber 1. More than one flap portion 14 are possible in accordance with the in vention, each of which may be actuated by any suitable construction.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A mobile device for baling crop com prising a baling chamber, an inlet port and a ram adapted to reciprocate across said inlet port, and an auxiliary space joining said inlet port outside the baling chamber for temporarily storing the crop to be compressed, at least one member blocking the passage of crop through the auxiliary space being adapted to cause a preliminary densification of the crop, the blocking member being constructed in the form of a conveyor which is movable to feed a quantity of crop through the inlet port into the compression space in preparation for compressing by the ram.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 character ised in that the blocking member is constructed in the form of a rotatable flap.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2 character ised in that the blocking member is con structed in the form of a flap capable of turning through 360 .

4. A device as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 characterised in that in the blocking position the flap shuts the inlet port of the baling chamber.

5. A device as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4 characterised in that the rotary movement of the flap is derived from the recipro catory movement of the ram.

6. A device as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 5, characterised by the transmission mechanism for rotating a shaft of the flap.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 6 character ised in that the rotary shaft of the flap is at right angles to the reciprocatory movement of the ram.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 characterised in that the transmission mechanism comprises a cam rod and a cam wheel co-operating with the former.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 8 characterised in that the cam rod is connected with the ram and the cam wheel is connected with the rotary shaft of the flap.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 9 characterised in that during the return stroke of the ram the cam rod is in engagement with the cam wheel, whereas during the pressing stroke of the ram the cam rod is lifted from the cam wheel.

11. A device as claimed any of Claims 8 to 10 characterised in that the recesses in the cam wheel adapted to receive the cams are located at different distances from the rotary shaft.

12. A device as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 11 characterised in that the rotary shaft of the flap is arranged near the hindmost boundary of the auxiliary space and the baling chamber, viewed in the pressing direc

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. In order to prevent the flap portion 14 from falling back into the auxiliary space 16 during the elevation of the cam rack 25, a pawl mechanism 34 is provided. In order to prevent the crop from rebounding during the return stroke of the ram 2, retaining members 35 can be passed through the top as well as the bottom wall of the baling chamber 1. The retaining members are formed by tines 36 arranged in rows mounted on an auxiliary frame 37, which is pivotable with respect to the baling chamber 1. The auxiliary frame 37 is provided with a supporting wheel 38 rolling along the upper hollow profile of the pressing member of the ram 2, said wheel co-operating with a cam 39 provided on said hollow profile. The position of the cam 39 with respect to the ram 2 is such that upon approach the retaining forks 36 are lifted before the ram 2 occupies its position indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1. This construction furthermore permits of feeding crop even when a previously compressed bale is still present in the compression space near the delivery port 7. The drive of the ram 2 is stopped just in front of the retaining members 36 so that the crop is retained between said retaining members and the front side of the ram 2 and separated from the previously compressed bale. After the compressed bales are removed from the baling chamber, the pressing member is conveyed on from its stop position to its extreme position. Upon the subsequent compression stroke the ram 2 will perform its full stroke so that the partial quantity of crop previously supplied can advance to the terminal wall 12 as soon as the latter has released the previously compressed bales. The release can take place by disengaging the bolts 13 and by temporarily locking the ram 2 in the above-mentioned position so that the cylinder 8 can turn the end wall 12 of the compression space 1 in upward direction. It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The blocking member shown in these Figures as a flap may alternatively be arranged beneath the inlet port of the baling chamber. A blocking member may be constructed in an embodiment as shown in the retaining members near the outlet port of the baling chamber. Moreover, the flap portion 14 is shown in the Figures as a grating formed by parallel profiles so that it can transverse the top wall grating 19 of the auxiliary space 16. Other flap portions may, of course, be designed, in which the rotary shaft 15 may extend in the direction of length of the baling chamber 1. More than one flap portion 14 are possible in accordance with the in vention, each of which may be actuated by any suitable construction. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A mobile device for baling crop com prising a baling chamber, an inlet port and a ram adapted to reciprocate across said inlet port, and an auxiliary space joining said inlet port outside the baling chamber for temporarily storing the crop to be compressed, at least one member blocking the passage of crop through the auxiliary space being adapted to cause a preliminary densification of the crop, the blocking member being constructed in the form of a conveyor which is movable to feed a quantity of crop through the inlet port into the compression space in preparation for compressing by the ram.

tion, and in that the flap is constructed in the form of a grating of parallel bars and the hindmost boundary wall of the auxiliary space has the shape of a grating.

13. A device as claimed in Claim 12 characterised in that the top side of the bars of the flap, in the position to block the inlet port, is off-set inwardly with respect to the adjacent wall.

14. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim characterised in that on the side of the blocking member remote from the baling chamber one or more advancing members are provided in the auxiliary space.

15. A device as claimed in Claim 14 characterised in that the advancing members are operative across the grating of the boundary wall of the auxiliary space.

16. A device as claimed in anyone of the preceding Claims characterised in that near the terminal position of the ram one or more retaining members are provided to be passed into the compression space.

17. A device as claimed in Claim 16 characterised in that one or more retaining members are provided near each of at least two opposite side walls of the baling chamber.

18. A device as claimed Claim 16 and 17 characterised in that the retaining members are formed by tines adapted to pass individually through an associated opening in the sidewall of the baling chamber.

19. A device as claimed in Claims 16 to 18 characterised in that each group of tines is fastened in a row to an auxiliary frame adapted to pivot with respect to the baling chamber.

20. A device as claimed in Claims 16 to 19 characterised in that the pivotal movement of the auxiliary frame is derived from the reciprocatory movement of the ram.

21. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that along the path of the reciprocatory movement of the ram it has a stop position in which the front face of the ram is located in front of the retaining members and a terminal position in which the front face of the ram is located beyond the retaining members.

22. A device as claimed in Claim 21 characterised in that the retreating motion of the retaining members takes place when the ram moves from its stop position to its terminal position.

23. A device substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.