GB2478419A

GB2478419A - Bale wrapper

Info

Publication number: GB2478419A
Application number: GB1103592A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Enda O'connor; Barry O'connor; Carmel O'connor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-03-04
Filing date: 2011-03-03
Publication date: 2011-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-03
Also published as: IE20110102A1; IE86376B1; GB2478419B; GB201103592D0

Abstract

A bale wrapper1comprises a controller, a frame, a turntable4on the frame and film dispensing means comprising at least a front dispenser10and a rear dispenser15, mounted on opposed sides of the turntable. The rear dispenser is adapted to move laterally from a dispensing position to an inoperative position to allow delivery of a wrapped bale from the turntable. The front dispenser10may be vertically mounted and fixed in position, and the rear dispenser15may comprise an L-shaped frame16having a lower horizontal arm which may be pivotally mounted and acted upon by a ram17for lateral movement. The movement of the rear dispenser may be about a vertical axis. The wrapper may further comprise a rear cutter40located adjacent to the rear dispenser.

Description

"A Bale Wrapper"

INTRODUCTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to bale wrappers.

Prior Art Discussion

As is known in the art, a bale wrapper comprises a turntable with rollers, and a plastics film dispenser. A bale deposited onto the turntable is rotated in three dimensions due to rotation of the turntable about a vertical axis and rotation of the rollers about their horizontal axes in the general plane of the turntable.

The invention is directed towards achieving faster, and/or more reliable, and/or more comprehensive bale wrapping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided bale wrapper comprising: a controller, a frame, a turntable on the frame, and a film dispensing means, wherein the dispensing means comprises at least a front dispenser and a rear dispenser on opposed sides of the turntable, wherein the rear dispenser is adapted to move laterally from a dispensing position to an inoperative position allowing delivery of a wrapped bale from the turntable.

In one embodiment, the rear dispenser is located at a rear corner of the frame.

In one embodiment, said rear dispenser is adapted to move by rotation of a dispenser support frame between said positions.

In one embodiment, said rotation is about a vertical axis.

In one embodiment, the rear dispenser comprises a frame with a substantially horizontal arm pivotally connected to the wrapper frame, and an actuator for causing pivoting of said dispenser frame.

In one embodiment, the controller is adapted to retain the rear dispenser at its operative position except when directing delivery of a wrapped bale from the turntable.

In one embodiment, the wrapper comprises a rear film cutter located adjacent to the rear dispenser.

Preferably, the controller is adapted to operate the rear cutter in synchronism with the rear dispenser.

In one embodiment, the rear cutter is controlled to cut film stretched between the rear dispenser and a bale when the rear dispenser is moving to the lateral inoperative position.

In one embodiment, the rear cutter comprises a piston carrying a clamp, and a spring-loaded stop arranged to engage with the clamp upon retraction of the piston.

In one embodiment, the clamp slides on a plurality of bars.

In one embodiment, the rear cutter is mounted on a side of the turntable.

In one embodiment, the wrapper comprises an actuator for moving the cutter from an inoperative position below a plane of the upper surface of the turntable, and an operative position projecting upwardly of said plane.

In one embodiment, the wrapper comprises a front cutter mounted on the turntable.

In one embodiment, the front cutter extends substantially in the frame of the turntable.

DETAILED DESCRJPTION OF THE NVENTION

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bale wrapper of the invention; Figs. 2 to 9 are views showing the bale wrapper in operation as it wraps a bale and discharges it; Figs. 10 and 11 are front perspective views showing construction and operation of a front cutter of the bale wrapper; and Figs. 12 and 13 are views showing a rear cutter in more detail, and Figs. 14 to 16 show how it is mounted on the turntable and moves into an operative position.

Description of the Embodiments

Referring to the drawings a bale wrapper 1 of the invention comprises a frame 2 with a draw bar 3, and a turntable 4 with rollers mounted on the frame 2 for rotation about a vertical axis. A loading frame 5 is pivoted to deliver a bale onto the turntable 4, so that it rests on rollers 6. There are two plastics film dispensers, a front dispenser 10 and a rear dispenser 15, mounted on diametrically opposed sides of the platform. The front dispenser 10 is vertically mounted and fixed in position, and it has a guide arm 11 for guiding film as it is cut. The rear dispenser 15 comprises an L-shaped frame paving a lower horizontal arm which is pivotally mounted and acted upon by a ram 17 for rotation of the dispenser 15 about a vertical axis.

The turntable 4 supports front and rear cutters 30 and 40 respectively. The front cutter 30 is arranged horizontally on the turntable 4, and the rear cutter 40 is pivotable on the frame of the turntable from a substantially horizontal position to an upper operative position.

As shown in Figs. 10 and lithe front cutter 30 comprises a piston 31, a spring-loaded stop 32, and a blade 33. As illustrated, it operates by the piston 31 pressing the film (20) again the stop 32, so that the film is cut against the blade 33 and the end is retained by pinching by continued pressing of the piston 31 against the stop 32.

As shown in Figs. 12 and 13 the rear cutter 40 has guide bars 41 along which a clamp member 42 is pulled by a piston 45 to pinch film 20 against a spring-loaded stop 43. A blade 44 is located near the stop 43 so that the film is cut as it is pinched, and it is retained until the next bale is to be wrapped. The cutter 40 rotates between a lower inoperative position and an upper operation position, as illustrated in Figs. 14 to 16.

When ready for operation, the rear dispenser 15 is directed rearwardly as illustrated in Fig. 1, the arm 16 extending approximately in the longitudinal direction. This allows a clear path for the bale B onto the turntable 4 from the side (Figs. 2 and 3). This position of the rear dispenser 15 is retained during operation. This is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, from which it will be seen that the film 20 is drawn simultaneously from both dispensers 10 and 15. Accordingly, the wrapping time is very short, of the order of half of conventional. Also there is more comprehensive film coverage.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, when wrapping is finished the cutter 40 rises to a cutting position.

There is simultaneous cutting by both the horizontal front cutter 30 and the rear cutter 40. The cutting actions are assisted by rotation of the film guide bar ii down on the front dispenser 10, and similar rotation by the guide bar 18 on the rear dispenser 15. It is very advantageous that the rear cutter 40 is pivoted upwardly (Fig. 14) by a ram within the platform 4 on the inside of the platform's frame. During wrapping, the cutter 40 is out of the path of the bale as it is loaded and out of the path of the film 20 as it is being dispersed by the rear dispenser 15.

After cutting, the rear dispenser 15 rotates as shown by the arrow in Fig. 8 so that it moves laterally. This provides a clear path for delivery of the wrapped bale out the rear of the wrapper 1 as shown in Fig. 8. The rear dispenser 15 is then rotated back so that it is ready for use, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 9.

It will be appreciated that the invention achieves a considerable improvement in efficiency of bale wrapping without adding much equipment or complexity. There is a high level of automation, more comprehensive film coverage, and a much reduced wrapping time.

The dispensers may be located at different corners of the wrapper. Also, the rear dispenser may be arranged to move with translational movement instead of or in addition to rotation.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described but may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims

Claims 1. A bale wrapper comprising: a controller, a frame, a turntable on the frame, and a film dispensing means, wherein the dispensing means comprises at least a front dispenser and a rear dispenser on opposed sides of the turntable, wherein the rear dispenser is adapted to move laterally from a dispensing position to an inoperative position allowing delivery of a wrapped bale from the turntable.
2. A bale wrapper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear dispenser is located at a rear corner of the frame.
3. A bale wrapper as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said rear dispenser is adapted to move by rotation of a dispenser support frame between said positions.
4. A bale wrapper as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rotation is about a vertical axis.
5. A bale wrapper as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rear dispenser comprises a frame with a substantially horizontal arm pivotally connected to the wrapper frame, and an actuator for causing pivoting of said dispenser frame.
6. A bale wrapper as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the controller is adapted to retain the rear dispenser at its operative position except when directing delivery of a wrapped bale from the turntable.
7. A bale wrapper as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the wrapper comprises a rear film cutter located adjacent to the rear dispenser.
8. A bale wrapper as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controller is adapted to operate the rear cutter in synchronism with the rear dispenser.
9. A bale wrapper as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rear cutter is controlled to cut film stretched between the rear dispenser and a bale when the rear dispenser is moving to the lateral inoperative position.
10. A bale wrapper as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rear cutter comprises a piston carrying a clamp, and a spring-loaded stop arranged to engage with the clamp upon retraction of the piston.
11. A bale iTapper as claimed in claim 10, wherein the clamp slides on a plurality of bars.
12. A bale wrapper as claimed in any on claims 7 to 11, wherein the rear cutter is mounted on a side of the turntable.
13. A bale wrapper as claimed in claim 12, wherein the wrapper comprises an actuator for moving the cutter from an inoperative position below a plane of the upper surface of the turntable, and an operative position projecting upwardly of said plane.
14. A bale wrapper as claimed in any of claims 7 to 13, wherein the wrapper comprises a front cutter mounted on the turntable.
15. A bale wrapper as claimed in claim 14, wherein the front cutter extends substantially in the frame of the turntable.