IES64277B2 - A bale wrapping machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a loading device which is particularly suitable for loading rectangular bales disposed in pairs (one on top of the other) onto the conveyor floor of a bale wrapping machine. The loading device includes gripping means for engaging and gripping the bales, and lifting means for lifting the bales upwards through an arc of substantially 180° in a substantially vertical plane, and lowering the bales onto the conveyor, the bales being turned through substantially 180° during the lifting step such that they are laid in an upside down position, one on top of the other, on the conveyor. The loading device has a main lifting arm assembly which is pivotally connected to the chassis of the bale wrapping machine, and extends laterally therefrom, and is moveable, in a vertical plane, through an arc of substantially 90°. Bale gripping means are pivotally connected to the main lifting arm assembly and moveable, relative to the main lifting arm assembly through a further arc of substantially 90°.

Description

A BALE WRAPPING MACHINE TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a bale wrapping machine for wrapping bales of silage, hay, straw and the like (hereinafter referred to as fodder) with a plastics film, and to a loading device for loading bales onto the bale wrapping machine.

BACKGROUND ART It has become conventional practice in agriculture to form fodder into cylindrical-shaped bales which are then wrapped in a plastics film.

This is a particularly suitable method of manufacturing silage because the silage is kept air-tight within the wrapped bale which, typically, is wrapped with up to six plies of plastics. The cylindrically shaped bales are commonly called big round bales. Machines for wrapping big round bales with a plastics film are described, for example, in British Patent Specifications Nos. 2191984A, 2228246A and EP 0208034A (GB 2159489B).

Bale wrapping machines of the kind described comprise a wheeled chassis which may be towed by a tractor. The chassis carries a tipping platform which, in turn, supports a turntable. The turntable is rotatable about a vertical axis. The turntable carries a pair of spaced rollers each of which rotates about a horizontal axis. An endless belt is stretched between the rollers and rotates with the rollers. In order to wrap a large round bale of fodder material with plastics film, the round bale is lifted onto the turntable by means of lifting arms. The bale rests on the endless belt. The free end of a roll of plastics film is attached to the bale and the turntable is then rotated about a generally vertical axis to cause the sheet of film to be wrapped around the bale. However, if no movement of the bale about its longitudinal axis were to occur the bale would merely be wrapped 1299S - 2 with a single band having the thickness of the width of the plastics film. However, on each rotation of the turntable the endless belt is caused to move for a predetermined distance which, in turn, causes the bale to roll about its surface, i.e. about a horizontal axis. This rolling of the bale on the belt allows a new area of bale to be wrapped by the film on each rotation of the turntable, thus eventually achieving a complete covering of the bale with a substantial degree of overlap of the plastics film.

It is known to use baler machines which form the fodder into large bales of a substantially rectangular or square shape. Such machines include Ford New Holland D1000, Hesston 4600, Hesston 4700, Welger Delta 4000, Mengele SB 8580, Claas Quadrant, Deutz Fahr G.P. 3.612.

The bales produced by these machines are commonly referred to as big square bales. These bales may, in fact, have a cross-section which is either square or rectangular. A bale wrapping machine particularly suitable for wrapping bales of this kind is described in our International Patent Application Publication No. W0 92/20210.

More recently, baler machines have been designed to bale fodder into smaller rectangular bales which are deposited from the baling machine in pairs, usually one on top of the other. The pair of rectangular bales is wrapped in a single wrapper.

There are known lifting arms for lifting round bales from the ground onto the conveyor floor of bale wrapping machines. The conventional lifting device for round bales comprises outrigger arms which are positioned laterally of the bale wrapping machine and movable from a first position, in which they lie on the ground adjacent the machine to a second upright position. The outrigger arms include a pair of forks which engage beneath a round bale positioned on the ground. The forks are then lifted by means of a hydraulic ram and the bale is caused to roll over rollers and onto the turntable of the bale wrapping machine. One form of such lifting means is described, for example, in European Patent Specification No. 0208034A. The conventional bale loading device as described in the aforesaid European Patent Specification No. 0208034A is not, however, suitable for loading long rectangular bales onto the turntable of a bale wrapping machine. - 3 A loading device for loading large rectangular and square bales onto the conveyor of a bale wrapping machine is described in our International Patent Application Publication No. WO 92/20210. That machine is not particularly suitable for handling bales deposited in pairs on the ground by the baler.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved loading device suitable for loading rectangular and square bales onto the turntable of a bale wrapping machine. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a loading device which is particularly suitable for loading rectangular bales disposed in pairs (one on top of the other) onto the conveyor floor of the bale wrapping machine.

Accordingly, the invention includes a loading device for loading bales onto a conveyor of a bale wrapping machine, the device comprising gripping means for engaging and gripping the bales, and lifting means for lifting the bales upwards through an arc of substantially 180° in a substantially vertical plane, and lowering the bales onto the conveyor, the bales being turned through substantially 180° during the lifting step such that they are laid in an upside down position, one on top of the other, on the conveyor.

The loading device comprises a main lifting arm assembly which is pivotally connected to the chassis of the bale wrapping machine, and extends laterally therefrom, and is moveable, in a vertical plane, through an arc of substantially 90°, and bale gripping means pivotally connected to the main lifting arm assembly and moveable, relative to the main lifting arm assembly through a further arc of substantially 90°.

Preferably, the gripping means comprises an inner gripping arm assembly and an outer gripping arm assembly which are moveable towards each other to grip a bale or bales therebetween, with the inner gripping arm assembly contacting one lateral side wall of the bale or bales and the outer gripping arm assembly contacting the opposite lateral side wall. - 4 Preferably, the inner and outer gripping arm assemblies are comprised of two longitudinal gripping members, spaced vertically apart. In lifting a pair of bales disposed one on top of the other, the upper gripping members clamp the upper bale therebetween, while the lower gripping members clamp the lowermost bale therebetween. Preferably, the longitudinal gripping members have a round cross-section.

Preferably, the main lifting arm assembly is pivotable relative to the chassis of the bale wrapping machine by means of a hydraulic cylinder and ram assembly pivotally connected between the chassis and an arm of the main lifting arm assembly. The gripping means is pivotable relative to the main lifting arm assembly by a second hydraulic cylinder and ram assembly pivotally connected between the gripping means and the main lifting arm assembly.

The outer gripping arm assembly of the gripping means is moveable towards the inner gripping arm assembly by means of a third hydraulic cylinder and ram assembly position therebetween.

Preferably, the outer gripping arm assembly is telescopically connected to the inner gripping arm assembly to permit the assemblies to move towards and away from each other.

The invention also provides a method of loading a pair of bales onto the turntable of a bale wrapping machine, the method comprising engaging the pair of bales on the ground with gripping means, lifting the pairs of bales through an arc of substantially 90° in a first substantially vertical plane, swinging the pair of bales through a further arc of substantially 90°, in said substantially vertical plane to position the pair of bales above the turntable in an upside down position, and releasing the gripping means to deposit the bales onto the turntable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein - 5 Figure 1 is a plan view of a bale loading device of the invention attached to the chassis of a bale wrapping machine; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the main lifting arm of the loading device; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the lifting arm of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of the lifting arm of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a part-sectional view on the lines A-A of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a rear elevation of an inner gripping arm of the gripping means of the invention; Figure 7 is a side elevation of the inner arm shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a plan view of the arm of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a rear elevation of the outer gripping arm of the gripping means; Figure 10 is a side elevation of the outer arm of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a rear elevation of the loading device showing the gripping means gripping a pair of bales deposited on the ground; Figure 12 is an end elevation of the loading device showing the gripping means of bales lifted to approximately 90°; Figure 13 is a rear elevation of the lifting device showing the gripping means and bales having been turned to a further 90° with the bales about to be deposited on the conveyor of the bale wrapping machine.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 11 to 13 show a bale-wrapping machine, generally designated by the letter A. A bale lifting device of the invention extends laterally from one side of the bale wrapping machine and is generally designated by the letter B. The construction and operation of the bale wrapping machine A is described, for example, in our International Patent Application Publication No. WO 92/20210, the contents of which are incorporated herein by way of reference.

The bale wrapping machine (see Fig. 1) comprises a chassis 1 having a pair of wheels 2. The chassis is provided with a hitch 3 for attachment to a tractor. A tipping platform (not shown) is mounted on the chassis 1. The tipping platform is pivotally connected to the rear of the chassis 1 such that the tipping platform may be tipped to unload the wrapped bale.

A turntable 6 (see Fig. 11) is mounted on the platform. The tipping platform is provided centrally with a main bearing which is bolted onto the platform. The main bearing carries a central spindle 9 of the turntable 6. The underside of the turntable 6 is fitted with wheels which are adapted to run upon the upper surface of the tipping platform, as the turntable 6 rotates. The turntable 6 has a superstructure 10 on which is mounted a pair of spaced rollers 11.

The rollers are mounted for rotation about horizontal axes. An endless belt 12 is mounted rotationally about the rollers and forms a conveyor floor. The superstructure 10 is also provided with outwardly inclined arms 13 which define a cradle which is adapted to receive the bales of silage or other fodder for wrapping. The bales are lifted from the ground into the cradle by means of the lifting device B of the invention as described below.

Forwardly of the chassis 1 is mounted an upright (not shown) on which is mounted a film dispensing system. The dispenser system includes a known dispenser and pretensioning unit through which sheeting of plastics film is fed and stretched.

A film handling device of the kind described in our Irish Patent Specification No. 3854/89 and GB 2241916A is adapted to grip the free end of the sheeting and to wrap the sheeting around the bales during - 7 the first two revolutions of the turntable 6. By this stage the film will have frictionally attached itself to the bale. The device then releases the sheeting which continues to wrap around the bales until the bales are fully wrapped. On each rotation of the turntable 6 the endless belt 12 is caused to move forward to tumble the bales about a horizontal axis. This permits a new area of bale to be wrapped by the film on each rotation of the turntable to achieve a complete covering of the pair of bales with the plastics film, with a substantial degree of overlap of the film. At the end of the wrapping step, the device again grips the sheeting, cuts the sheeting and holds the cut end of the sheeting ready for the next pair of bales. This occurs when the tipping platform is tipped upwardly to unload the wrapped bales from the machine.

The loading device B of the invention is comprised essentially of three main parts. Namely, the main lifting arm 20 and inner gripping arm 21 and an outer gripping arm 22. The inner and outer gripping arm 21, 22 form gripping means which engage with and grip the pair of bales 23 to be loaded.

The assembly of the main lifting arm is shown in Figures 2 to 5.

The main lifting arm comprises a pair of longitudinally extending tubular members 23, 24, which are disposed in spaced-apart parallel relationship to each other. Tubular members 23, 24 are connected by means of struts 25. The tubular members 23, 24 are pivotally connected to the chassis 1 of the bale wrapping machine by means of a pair of rearwardly extending arms 26. The arms 26 are welded at their outer ends to the tubular member 23 at each end thereof. The inner ends of the arms 26 are pivotally connected to brackets 27 welded to the chassis 1. A second rearwardly extending arm 28 is welded at one end to the lower tubular member 24, and at the other end has a pivotal connection 29 to the ram of a hydraulic cylinder and ram 30. The hydraulic ram 30 is itself pivotally connected at 31 to the underside of the chassis 1 (see Fig. 11). When the ram of the hydraulic cylinder ram 30 is extended, the main lifting arm assembly 20 is caused to pivot upwardly about the pivot 27. - 8 As shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 4, two pairs of plates are welded, at each end thereof, between the tubular members 23 and 24 to form a clevis 32 and a clevis 33. Each clevis 32, 33 is formed, at the end thereof remote from the tubular member 23, 24 with a pivot hole 34 (see Fig. 2).

A pair of spaced plates 36, 37 are welded to the tubular members 23, intermediate their length. The plates 36, 37 serve to anchor the cylinder of a hydraulic ram and cylinder assembly 38, which is shown in broken lines in Figures 11 and 12. The end of the hydraulic cylinder 38 is pivotally connected at pivot point 39 between the plates 36, 37. The ram of the hydraulic cylinder and ram assembly 38 is pivotally connected to an inner gripping arm assembly of the gripping means as hereinafter described.

The bale gripping means of the loading device of the invention is comprised of an inner gripping arm 21 and an outer gripping arm 22 which are moveable towards and away from each other (see Figure 1).

The inner gripping arm assembly 21 is pivotally connected to the end of the main lifting arm assembly 20. The inner gripping arm assembly 21 is described in more detail in Figures 6 to 8. It comprises two tubular gripping members 40, 41 which are vertically spaced-apart, and extend parallel to each other. The leading ends 42, 43 of the gripping members 40, 41 are curved upwardly and outwardly (see Figs. 1 and 7) to facilitate guiding the bales 23 between the members 21, 22. The members 40, 41 are connected at one end by a vertical strut 44.

The gripping members 40, 41 are also connected together, intermediate their length by a pair of vertical brackets 46, 47. The brackets 46, 47 engage, respectively, between the jaws of the clevis 32, 33 and are pivotally connected thereto by means of pivot pins 48 (see Figs. 1 and 11).

A further pair of plates is welded between the members 40, 41, intermediate their length, to form a bracket 49. The bracket 49 is formed at the apex thereof with a pivot hole 50. The end of the ram of the hydraulic cylinder and ram assembly 38 is connected to the bracket 49 by means of a pivot pin which fits through the pivot holes - 9 50 (see Figs. 12 and 13). Thus, the hydraulic ram assembly 38 is adapted to pivot the gripping arm assembly about the main pivot 48.

It will be noted from Figure 8 that in plan view the inner arm assembly of the gripping means is substantially L-shaped. Thus, two tubular portions 51, 52 are welded, at right angles, to each of the gripping members 40, 41 respectively. The tubular portions 51, 52 are connected by a vertical brace member 53. The tubular portions 51, 52 are hollow and are open at their free ends to receive internally, tubular members of the outer arm assembly which slide within the members 51, 52 in telescopic manner. As shown in Figure 6, the assembly includes an outwardly directed bracket 53 which is connected to the cylinder of a hydraulic cylinder and ram assembly 54 (see Fig. 11).

The outer gripping arm assembly of the gripping means of the invention is shown in Figures 9 and 10. This comprises two longitudinally extending, parallel tubular gripping members 55, 56. The gripping members 55, 56 correspond with the gripping members 40, 41 of the inner gripping arm and are disposed opposite and parallel thereto.

Like the gripping members 40, 41, the gripping members 55, 56 have leading ends 57, 58 which are curved upwardly and outwardly so as to facilitate the guiding of the bales between the gripping arms. The gripping members 55, 56 are connected together by means of vertical struts 59.

As shown in Figure 9, tubular sections 60, 61 are welded at right angles to the rearward ends of the gripping members 55, 56. As is shown in Figures 1 and 11 for example, these sections fit into and slide within the tubular sections 51,52 of the inner gripping arm assembly 21. A pair of brackets 62 are welded to the rear strut 59. The bracket 62 forms a pivotal anchor point for the ram of the hydraulic cylinder and ram assembly 54.

Thus, when the hydraulic ram 54 is extended, the outer arm assembly 22 is moved away from the inner arm assembly 21, with the tubular sections 60, 61 sliding within the outer sections 51, 52 in telescopic manner. - 10 The operation of the loading device of the invention is now described with reference to Figures 1 and 11-13 of the accompanying drawings.

As shown in Figures 1 and 11, a pair of bales 23 of fodder are deposited, one on top of the other on the ground by a baler machine (not shown). It is necessary to lift these bales as a pair onto the conveyor 12 of the bale wrapping machine so that they can be wrapped in plastics film. The loading device is shown in its lowermost position in Figures 1 and 11 with the lowermost lifting members 41, 46 · resting on the ground and the gripping arm assemblies 21, 22 in their fully open position. The machine is driven forward from the position shown in Figure 1, with the lowermost gripping members 41, 46 sliding along the ground in the form of runners, until such time as the gripping arms 21, 22 are positioned to each side of the bales 23. The ram 54 is then closed, and the tubular sections 60, 61 slide in telescopic fashion within the sections 51, 52 to permit the outer gripping arm to move inwardly towards the inner gripping arm. In this way, the pair of bales 23 is squeezed and clamped between the two gripping arm assemblies 21, 22 as shown in Figure 11.

The height of the upper gripping members 40, 55, relative to the lower gripping members 41, 56, is such that the upper bale is squeezed between those members while the lower bale is squeezed between the gripping members 41, 56.

As shown in Figure 12, the hydraulic ram 30 is then opened which causes the lifting arms 26 to pivot about the pivot point 27. This has the effect of raising the complete main lifting arm 20 together with the gripping assembly 21, 22, and the bales, through an arc of approximately 90°, to the position shown in Figure 12.

Then, as shown in Figure 13, the hydraulic ram 38 is opened which has the effect of rotating the gripping arm assembly 21, 22, including the bales, through approximately a further 90° so that the bales 23 are in an upside down position (relative to their initial position on the ground) as shown in Figure 13, above the conveyor belt 12 of the bale wrapping machine. The hydraulic ram 54 is then opened to release the pair of bales 23 from the gripping arm assembly 21, 22 so as to deposit the bales gently onto the conveyor belt 12. - 11 The bales are released and the hydraulic ram and cylinder assembly 38 is closed so as to rotate the gripping arm assembly, now empty, back to the position shown in Figure 12. The hydraulic cylinder and ram assembly 30 is then closed to lower the gripping arm assembly back to ground level as shown in Figure 11.

Although the loading device of the invention has been described for use in lifting a pair of rectangular bales, it may also, of course, be used to lift single rectangular and square bales, and also round bales, in particular round bales having a diameter of 4ft. The gripping arm assembly of the invention may also be used to pick up from ground level single square or rectangular bales and place these one on top of the other to form a pair which is then lifted onto the bale wrapping machine in the manner described above.

Modifications may be made to the loading device without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, instead of the telescopic arrangement described above allowing the outer arm assembly to move forwards and away from the inner arm assembly, it would be possible to pivot the outer arm assembly to the inner arm assembly.

TOMKINS & CO.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. A loading device for loading a bale or bales onto a conveyor of a bale wrapping machine, the device comprising gripping means for engaging and gripping the bales, and lifting means for lifting the bales upwards through an arc of substantially 180° in a substantially vertical plane, and lowering the bales onto the conveyor, the bales being turned through substantially 180° during the lifting step such that they are laid in an upside down position, one on top of the other, on the conveyor.

2. A loading device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a main lifting arm assembly which is pivotally connected to the chassis of the bale wrapping machine, and extends laterally therefrom, and is moveable, in a vertical plane, through an arc of substantially 90°, and bale gripping means pivotally connected to the main lifting arm assembly and moveable, relative to the main lifting arm assembly through a further arc of substantially 90°.

3. A loading device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the gripping means comprises an inner gripping arm assembly and an outer gripping arm assembly which are moveable towards each other to grip a bale or bales therebetween, with the inner gripping arm assembly contacting one lateral side wall of the bale or bales and the outer gripping arm assembly contacting the opposite lateral side wall.

4. A loading device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the inner and outer gripping arm assemblies are comprised of two longitudinal gripping members, spaced vertically apart, the outer gripping arm assembly is telescopically connected to the inner gripping arm assembly to permit the assemblies to move towards and away from each other, and the outer gripping arm assembly of the gripping means is moveable towards the inner gripping arm assembly by means of a hydraulic cylinder and ram assembly position therebetween’.

5. A loading device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.