GB2163701A

GB2163701A - Big bale baler for agricultural crop material

Info

Publication number: GB2163701A
Application number: GB08521022A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gustav Ackermann
Original assignee: Claas KGaA mbH
Current assignee: Claas KGaA mbH
Priority date: 1984-08-27
Filing date: 1985-08-22
Publication date: 1986-03-05
Also published as: DE3431428C2; GB8521022D0; FR2571212A1; DE3431428A1; GB2163701B

Abstract

In a round bale baler for agricultural crop material having a device for wrapping a finished bale with wrapping material 10 such as foil or the like, nozzles 26 are associated with the web of wrapping material in the upstream region of the intake into the pressing chamber, so that the web is acted upon on both sides by a position-stabilising air flow in the direction of travel of the web. A water bath with a sponge 29 reduce static on the material 10. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Big bale baler for agricultural crop material The invention relates to a big bale baler whose approximately cylindrical baling chamber is defined at its periphery by driven stationary winding elements such as rotating rollers, belts, chains or the like, having a device for wrapping a finished crop material bale with a web of flexible sheet material such as foil or the like which is introduced into the baling chamber through an introduction gap formed by two adjacent winding elements, wherein the device comprises at least a supply container, a severing means and guide elements for securing the direction of travel for the web.It has been found that such balers suffer from the disadvantage that the very thin wrapping materials used, in particular those which are of a foil or film nature (0.035 to 0.05 mm) are highly sensitive to wind and possibly become statically charged as they go into the baling chamber with the result that, before the foil passes into the baling chamber, it may be displaced or distorted or may even cling to the associated guide elements. This disrupts the operation of wrapping the finished round bale of crop material.

In accordance with the invention, nozzles are associated with the web in an upstream region of the intake into the baling chamber, for acting upon the web on both sides thereof with a position-stabilising air flow in the direction of travel of the web.

Preferred features of the invention are set forth in the subsidiary claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a big bale baler according to the invention, and Figure 2 shows a more detailed sectional view of the top of the baler of Fig. 1.

The baling chamber 2 which is mounted on the carrying axle 1 is formed from two housing portions 3 and 4. In the radial direction the baling chamber is defined by driven stationary winding rollers 5 which are supported by their shafts 6 in spaced side walls of the respective housing portions 3 and 4. The housing portion 4 is pivotably connected by means of brackets 7 to the housing portion 3 which is fixed with respect to the frame structure, and can be pivoted upwardly by the piston-cylinder unit 8 for the purposes of unloading a finished bale. In the region of the upper boundary of the baler, a container 9 for storing the wrapping material 10, which comprises for example a plastics foil, extends between the side walls of the baler.Two co-operating forward feed rollers 11 and 12 between which the wrapping material 10 is held and guided, extend adjacent to the container 9 and in parallel relationship therewith, also between the side walls.

The wrapping material 10 is fed forward for the purposes of passing it into the baling chamber 2, by driving the roller 11. In order that the wrapping material 10 engages around the periphery of the roller 1 1 over the maximum possible angular distance, disposed upstream of the pair of rollers 11 and 12, as considered in the direction of travel of the wrapping material 10, is a guide roller 18 which is disposed at a lower position. Reference numeral 19 denotes the severing mechanism for the wrapping material 10, which comes into operation after the wrapping material has been passed completely around the finished bale 15.In the space between the feed rollers 11 and 12 and the two winding rollers 5a and 5b, which forms an intake for the wrapping material 10, the wrapping material 10 passes through a guide shaft which also extends between the side walls of the machine and which comprises sheet metal wall members 24 and 25 which are brought together in a funnel-like configuration at their upper ends as shown in the drawings.

Disposed in the free space between the feed rollers 11 and 12 and the sheet metal guide members 24 and 25 are air nozzles 26 which are disposed parallel to and at a spacing from each other, extending over the width of the baling chamber 2. The wrapping material 10 passes through the space between the nozzles 26, in such a way that an air flow can act on the wrapping material 10 at both sides thereof. In that manner, an additional position-stabilising conveyor effect is exerted on the wrapping material 10, and the wrapping material is prevented from clinging to the guide members 24 and 25. The nozzles 26 are formed by slotted or perforated pipes or tubes to the ends of which blowing air is supplied by a pressurised air generating means 27.An intake filter 28 is associated with the pressure generating means 27 and the tubes may be rotatable to adjust the angle of incidence of air on the wrapping material.

A contact means 29 which comprises for example a water bath with sponge, may additionally be provided for reducing any static charge that may be present on the wrapping material 10.

1. A big bale baler for agricultural crop material, whose approximately cylindrical baling chamber is defined at its periphery by driven stationary winding elements such as rotating rollers, belts, chains or the like, having a device for wrapping a finished crop material bale with a web of flexible sheet material such as foil or the like which is introduced into the baling chamber through an introduction gap formed by two adjacent winding elements, wherein the device comprises at least a supply container, a severing means and guide ele

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Big bale baler for agricultural crop material The invention relates to a big bale baler whose approximately cylindrical baling chamber is defined at its periphery by driven stationary winding elements such as rotating rollers, belts, chains or the like, having a device for wrapping a finished crop material bale with a web of flexible sheet material such as foil or the like which is introduced into the baling chamber through an introduction gap formed by two adjacent winding elements, wherein the device comprises at least a supply container, a severing means and guide elements for securing the direction of travel for the web.It has been found that such balers suffer from the disadvantage that the very thin wrapping materials used, in particular those which are of a foil or film nature (0.035 to 0.05 mm) are highly sensitive to wind and possibly become statically charged as they go into the baling chamber with the result that, before the foil passes into the baling chamber, it may be displaced or distorted or may even cling to the associated guide elements. This disrupts the operation of wrapping the finished round bale of crop material. In accordance with the invention, nozzles are associated with the web in an upstream region of the intake into the baling chamber, for acting upon the web on both sides thereof with a position-stabilising air flow in the direction of travel of the web. Preferred features of the invention are set forth in the subsidiary claims. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a big bale baler according to the invention, and Figure 2 shows a more detailed sectional view of the top of the baler of Fig. 1. The baling chamber 2 which is mounted on the carrying axle 1 is formed from two housing portions 3 and 4. In the radial direction the baling chamber is defined by driven stationary winding rollers 5 which are supported by their shafts 6 in spaced side walls of the respective housing portions 3 and 4. The housing portion 4 is pivotably connected by means of brackets 7 to the housing portion 3 which is fixed with respect to the frame structure, and can be pivoted upwardly by the piston-cylinder unit 8 for the purposes of unloading a finished bale. In the region of the upper boundary of the baler, a container 9 for storing the wrapping material 10, which comprises for example a plastics foil, extends between the side walls of the baler.Two co-operating forward feed rollers 11 and 12 between which the wrapping material 10 is held and guided, extend adjacent to the container 9 and in parallel relationship therewith, also between the side walls. The wrapping material 10 is fed forward for the purposes of passing it into the baling chamber 2, by driving the roller 11. In order that the wrapping material 10 engages around the periphery of the roller 1 1 over the maximum possible angular distance, disposed upstream of the pair of rollers 11 and 12, as considered in the direction of travel of the wrapping material 10, is a guide roller 18 which is disposed at a lower position. Reference numeral 19 denotes the severing mechanism for the wrapping material 10, which comes into operation after the wrapping material has been passed completely around the finished bale 15.In the space between the feed rollers 11 and 12 and the two winding rollers 5a and 5b, which forms an intake for the wrapping material 10, the wrapping material 10 passes through a guide shaft which also extends between the side walls of the machine and which comprises sheet metal wall members 24 and 25 which are brought together in a funnel-like configuration at their upper ends as shown in the drawings. Disposed in the free space between the feed rollers 11 and 12 and the sheet metal guide members 24 and 25 are air nozzles 26 which are disposed parallel to and at a spacing from each other, extending over the width of the baling chamber 2. The wrapping material 10 passes through the space between the nozzles 26, in such a way that an air flow can act on the wrapping material 10 at both sides thereof. In that manner, an additional position-stabilising conveyor effect is exerted on the wrapping material 10, and the wrapping material is prevented from clinging to the guide members 24 and 25. The nozzles 26 are formed by slotted or perforated pipes or tubes to the ends of which blowing air is supplied by a pressurised air generating means 27.An intake filter 28 is associated with the pressure generating means 27 and the tubes may be rotatable to adjust the angle of incidence of air on the wrapping material. A contact means 29 which comprises for example a water bath with sponge, may additionally be provided for reducing any static charge that may be present on the wrapping material 10. CLAIMS

1. A big bale baler for agricultural crop material, whose approximately cylindrical baling chamber is defined at its periphery by driven stationary winding elements such as rotating rollers, belts, chains or the like, having a device for wrapping a finished crop material bale with a web of flexible sheet material such as foil or the like which is introduced into the baling chamber through an introduction gap formed by two adjacent winding elements, wherein the device comprises at least a supply container, a severing means and guide ele ments for securing the direction of travel for the web, and wherein nozzles are associated with the web in an upstream region of the intake into the baling chamber, for acting upon the web on both sides thereof with a position-stabilising air flow in the direction of tra vel of the web.

2. A baler according to claim 1 wherein the nozzles are in the form of slotted or perforated tubes which extend over substantially the entire width of the baling chamber and a compressed air generating means is arranged to supply air to their ends.

3. A baler according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the angular position of the air flow relative to the web of material is adjustable by rotating or changing the position of the nozzles.

4. A baler according to claims 1 to 3 wherein an intake filter is provided for the compressed air generating means.

5. A baler according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein a contact means is associated with the web upstream of its point of entry into the air flow, for reducing any static charge that may be present.

6. A big bale baler for agricultural crop material substantially as described with reference to the drawings.