WO2024257074A9 - Presse à balles à rouleaux et procédé de production d'une balle ronde de matériau dans une presse à balles à rouleaux - Google Patents

Presse à balles à rouleaux et procédé de production d'une balle ronde de matériau dans une presse à balles à rouleaux Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024257074A9
WO2024257074A9 PCT/IE2024/000007 IE2024000007W WO2024257074A9 WO 2024257074 A9 WO2024257074 A9 WO 2024257074A9 IE 2024000007 W IE2024000007 W IE 2024000007W WO 2024257074 A9 WO2024257074 A9 WO 2024257074A9
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
state
bale
camming
bridging element
bridging
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/IE2024/000007
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English (en)
Other versions
WO2024257074A1 (fr
Inventor
Padraic Christopher Mchale
Martin William Mchale
Paul Gerard Mchale
John Patrick Biggins
John Alexander Warren
Conor Paul SHANAHAN
Terence Patrick Killeen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mchale Engineering Unlimited Co
Original Assignee
Mchale Engineering Unlimited Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mchale Engineering Unlimited Co filed Critical Mchale Engineering Unlimited Co
Priority to EP24743511.8A priority Critical patent/EP4727336A1/fr
Publication of WO2024257074A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024257074A1/fr
Publication of WO2024257074A9 publication Critical patent/WO2024257074A9/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • A01F15/08—Details
    • A01F15/0825—Regulating or controlling density or shape of the bale
    • A01F15/0833—Regulating or controlling density or shape of the bale for round balers
    • 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
    • A01F2015/0795—Pressing chamber with variable volume

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a roller baler, and the invention also relates to a method for producing a round bale of material in a roller baler, and in particular, though not limited to a method for producing a round bale of selectable diameters from a roller baler.
  • Roller balers are well known for producing cylindrical bales of crop material, which typically, are referred to as round bales.
  • round bales are of diameter in the range of 500mm to 2,000mm, and of axial length ranging from 1,000mm to 1,300mm, and more typically, are of diameter in the range of 1,100mm to 1,400mm and of axial length in the range of 1,100mm to 1,300mm.
  • the crop material which may be any type of crop material, such as grass silage, hay, straw and other such stalky crop materials, is rotated, pressed and formed into a round bale in a bale chamber of the baler.
  • some of the bale rotating rollers are carried on a discharge segment, which is pivotal between a bale forming state defining with the fixed segment and the closure segment the bale chamber, and a discharge state for discharging a formed bale from the bale chamber.
  • a pair of hydraulic rams are provided on respective opposite sides of the baler for operating the closure segment between the bale forming state and the open state, and also for urging the closure segment into the bale forming state with a substantially constant pressure for producing a bale of bale density, which depends on the pressure with which the closure segment is urged into the bale forming state.
  • the camming means is configured to constrain the bridging element to move synchronously with the second part.
  • the camming means is configured to constrain the bridging element to move synchronously with the second part as the second part moves between the first and second states thereof.
  • the camming means retains the bridging element and the one of the first part and the second part to which the bridging element is coupled by the camming means captive relative to each other as the second part moves between the first state thereof and the second state thereof.
  • the camming means is configured to release the bridging element from the one of the first part and the second part to which the bridging element is coupled by the camming means in response to the second part being in the second state thereof.
  • a retaining means is provided for retaining the bridging element in an aligned state on release of the bridging element by the camming means from the one of the first part and the second part to which the bridging element is coupled by the camming means, so that the bridging element is re-engageable with the one of the first part and the second part through the camming means in response to return of the second part to the second state thereof.
  • the camming element is rigidly mounted on the one of the bridging element and the one of the first part and the second part on which the camming element is mounted
  • the cam follower is rigidly mounted on the one of the bridging element and the one of the first part and the second part on which the cam follower is mounted.
  • the camming track comprises an elongated camming track extending from a first end to a second end.
  • the cam follower is urgeable along the camming track from the first end thereof to the second end thereof as the second part is urged from the first state to the second state thereof.
  • the entry means communicates with the camming track adjacent the second end thereof.
  • the camming track comprises an elongated camming slot formed in the camming element.
  • the entry means comprises an entry slot formed in the camming element communicating with the camming slot thereof.
  • the retaining means for retaining the bridging element in the aligned state is configured for retaining the one of the camming element or the cam follower which is mounted on the bridging element in an aligned state with the entry means or the cam follower aligned with the other one of the entry means and the cam follower in response to the second part being in the second state.
  • the retaining means comprises one of a stop member or an abutment member associated with the bridging element, and the other one of the stop member and the abutment member being associated with the other one of the first part and the second part to which the bridging element is coupled through the camming means, the one of the stop member and the abutment member associated with the bridging element being engageable with the other one of the stop member and the abutment member when the bridging element is in the aligned state.
  • the resilient element acts between the bridging element and the one of the first part and the second part to which the bridging element is coupled by the first connecting means.
  • the camming element is mounted on the bridging element.
  • the cam follower is mounted on the one of the first part and the second part to which the bridging element is coupled through the camming means.
  • the bridging element is of length substantially equal to the length of one of the bale rotating rollers defining the circumferential gap with the other one of the bale rotating rollers.
  • the bridging element comprises a bridging roller extending substantially parallel to the bale rotating rollers.
  • the bridging roller is freely rotatably mounted.
  • the bridging element is carried on a pair of the carrier brackets spaced apart from each other with the bridging element extending between and carried on the carrier brackets.
  • the bridging roller is freely rotatably mounted on and extends between the bridging element carrier brackets.
  • the bridging element pivot axis extends parallel to the bale rotating rollers.
  • the bridging element pivot axis coincides with a rotational axis of one of the bale rotating rollers of the one of the first and second parts to which the bridging element is coupled by the first connecting means.
  • the bridging element pivot axis coincides with the rotational axis of the bale rotating roller carried on the one of the first and second parts to which the bridging element is coupled by the first connecting means and which defines the circumferential gap with the adjacent one of the bale rotating rollers in the other one of the first and second parts.
  • the second part is pivotally coupled to the first part about a main pivot axis extending parallel to the bale rotating rollers, and is pivotal from the first state through the second state thereof to an open state for accommodating a bale from the bale chamber.
  • the urging means is adapted to urge the second part from the open state through the second state to the first state thereof.
  • the urging means is adapted to urge the second part from the second state to the first state thereof with the urging force of a substantially constant value.
  • the value of the urging force with which the urging means urges the second part from the second state to the first state thereof is selectable for producing bales of selectable bale densities.
  • the urging means comprises at least one hydraulic ram operably connected between the first part and the second part for urging the second part relative to the first part from the second state to the first state.
  • the first value of the circumferential length of the circumferential gap between the adjacent bale rotating rollers of the respective first and second parts is substantially similar to the spacing between an adjacent pair of the bale rotating rollers of the first part or the second part.
  • a discharge means is provided for discharging a bale from the bale chamber when the one of the first and second parts is in the open state.
  • the second part is moveable from the bale forming state to the open state.
  • the first part comprises the discharge means.
  • the second part is pivotally coupled to the first part, and is pivotal about a main pivot axis between the first state and the second state.
  • the main pivot axis extends parallel to the bale rotating rollers.
  • the second part is pivotal about the main pivot axis between the bale forming state and the open state.
  • the roller baler is mounted on a chassis, and preferably, the chassis is carried on a pair of ground engaging wheels, and advantageously, the roller baler is adapted for towing by a prime mover.
  • the invention provides a combined baler/bale wrapper, the combined baler/bale wrapper comprising a chassis, a roller baler according to the invention mounted on the chassis, and a bale wrapper mounted on the chassis and configured relative to the roller baler for receiving a bale from the roller baler.
  • the bale wrapper comprises a two axis bale wrapper for end-to-end wrapping of the bale.
  • the chassis is supported on a pair of ground engaging wheels, and preferably, the combined baler/bale wrapper is adapted for towing by a prime mover.
  • the invention also provides a method for producing a bale in a roller baler wherein the roller baler comprises a first part, and a second part moveable relative to the first part, the first and second parts carrying respective pluralities of bale rotating rollers, the second part cooperating with the first part in a bale forming state with the bale rotating rollers defining a circumferential periphery of a bale chamber in which material to be baled is rotated, pressed and formed into the round bale by the bale rotating rollers, the method comprising configuring the second part to be progressively moveable relative to the first part from a first state to a second state with the diameter of the bale chamber progressively increasing from a first diameter to a second diameter and a circumferential gap defined between adjacent rollers of the respective first and second parts progressively increasing in circumferential length from a first value to a second value, applying an urging force to the second part for urging the second part from the second state to the first state thereof, moveably coupling a bridging element to
  • the bridging element is constrained by the camming means to move synchronously with the second part.
  • the camming means releases the bridging element from the one of the first part and the second part to which the bridging element is coupled by the camming means in response to the second part being in the second state thereof.
  • the urging force with which the second part is urged by the urging means comprises a substantially constant urging force.
  • the urging force with which the second part is urgeable into the bale forming state is selectable to produce the bale to a selectable bale density.
  • the urging force applied to the second part to urge the second part into the first state is maintained at a substantially constant value in order to produce the bale of a predefined bale density.
  • the substantially constant value of the urging force is selectable to produce bales of selectable bale densities.
  • the completion diameter of the bale chamber is selectable to produce bales of selectable bale diameters.
  • the bale is circumferentially secured by circumferentially wrapping the bale with net wrapping material, and in an alternative embodiment of the invention the bale is circumferentially secured by circumferentially wrapping the bale with a film wrapping material.
  • one of the first and second parts is urged relative to the other one of the first and second parts to an open state for discharging a bale from the bale chamber.
  • the bale is discharged from the bale chamber by a discharge means when the one of the first and second parts is urged relative to the other one of the first and second parts to the open state.
  • the method for producing the bale is carried out on the roller baler according to the invention.
  • the second part is urgeable by at least one ram into the first state
  • the at least one ram comprises a hydraulic ram.
  • the hydraulic pressure of hydraulic fluid applied to the at least one ram for operating the at least one ram to urge the second part into the first state with the urging force of the substantially constant value is selectable, for in turn selecting the substantially constant value of the urging force produced by the at least one ram for urging the second part into the first state.
  • the signal processor is configured to operate the at least one hydraulic ram and to control the pressure of the hydraulic fluid applied to the at least one hydraulic ram for forming the bale to the selected bale diameter and the selected bale density.
  • the ratio of the diameter of the central core of the bales produced by the baler according to the invention, which is less dense than the more dense outer peripheral portion of the bale, to the radial depth of the more dense outer peripheral portion, is smaller than the corresponding ratio of the diameter of the less dense central core to the radial depth of the more dense outer peripheral portion of bales produced by a conventional roller baler known heretofore.
  • the bales produced by the roller baler according to the invention are produced with a radially deeper outer peripheral portion more dense than the less dense central portion resulting in the bales retaining their cylindrical shape and being more suitable for storage, stacking and transportation.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combined baler/bale wrapper according to the invention comprising a roller baler also according to the invention and a bale wrapper,
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevational view of a portion of the combined baler/bale wrapper of Fig. 1 in one state thereof,
  • Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3 of the portion of Fig. 3 of the combined baler/bale wrapper of Fig. 1 illustrating parts of the combined baler/bale wrapper in different states to those of Fig. 3,
  • Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3 of the portion of Fig. 3 of the combined baler/bale wrapper of Fig. 1 illustrating parts of the combined baler/bale wrapper in further different states to those of Figs. 3 to 5,
  • Fig. 8 is another perspective view of the roller baler of Fig. 7 illustrating a portion of the roller baler of Fig. 7 in a different state to that of Fig. 7,
  • Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the roller baler of Fig. 7 illustrating a portion of the roller baler of Fig. 7 in a different state to those of Figs. 7 and 8,
  • Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the roller baler of Fig. 7 illustrating a portion of the roller baler in the state of Fig. 8
  • Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of the roller baler of Fig. 7 in a different state to those of Figs. 7 to 10,
  • Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the roller baler of Fig. 7 with the roller baler in the state of Fig. 7,
  • Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional side elevational view similar to that of Fig. 12 of the roller baler of Fig. 7 with a portion of the roller baler in a state substantially similar to that of Fig. 9,
  • the bale wrapper 5 is mounted on the chassis 7 for receiving formed bales from the roller baler 3 sequentially for wrapping thereof.
  • the combined baler/bale wrapper 1 is substantially similar to a combined baler/bale wrapper disclosed in PCT Published Specification No. WO 02/076183, and only the parts of the combined baler/bale wrapper which are of relevance to the invention will be described in detail. The remaining parts will be described only briefly.
  • the baler 3 comprises a first part 12 which is partly fixed to the chassis 7, and a second part 14 which is pivotally coupled to the first part 12 about a main pivot axis 15.
  • the first and second parts 12 and 14 carry respective pluralities of parallel bale rotating rollers 17 of similar diameter extending parallel to the main pivot axis 15.
  • the second part 14 is cooperable with the first part 12 in a bale forming state, as will be described in more detail below, with the bale rotating rollers 17 configured in a substantially circular configuration to define a circumferential periphery 19 of a bale chamber 20 within which crop material is rotated, pressed and formed into the bales 2.
  • the first part 12 comprises a fixed segment 22 and a discharge segment 24, which acts as a discharge means for discharging each one of the formed bales 2 from the bale chamber 20 onto the bale wrapper 5 as will be described below.
  • the fixed segment 22 comprises a pair of spaced apart side walls 25 which are fixedly secured to the chassis 7, and carry three of the bale rotating rollers 17 extending between and rotatably mounted in the side walls 25.
  • the discharge segment 24 comprises a pair of spaced apart side walls 27 carrying five of the bale rotating rollers 17 extending between the side walls 27 and rotatably carried in the side walls 27.
  • the discharge segment 24 is pivotally coupled to the chassis 7 about a discharge pivot axis 29, and is pivotal about the discharge pivot axis 29 from a bale forming state illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 cooperating with the fixed segment 22 and the second part 14 to define the bale chamber 20, to a discharge state illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 for discharging each bale 2 from the bale chamber 20 to the bale wrapper 5.
  • the discharge pivot axis 29 coincides with the rotational axis of the bale rotating roller 17a of the discharge segment 24 and is parallel to the main pivot axis 15.
  • the second part 14 comprises a closure segment 30 comprising a pair of spaced apart side walls 31 which carry nine of the bale rotating rollers 17 with the bale rotating rollers 17 extending between and rotatably carried in the side walls 31.
  • Pivot brackets 32 extend from the respective side walls 31 of the closure segment 30 and are pivotally engageable with a shaft 33 of the bale rotating roller 17b of the fixed segment 22 which defines the main pivot axis 15.
  • the closure segment 30 is pivotal relative to the fixed segment 22 about the main pivot axis 15 from a bale forming state illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 cooperating with the fixed segment 22 and the discharge segment 24 with the bale rotating rollers 17 defining the bale chamber 20, to an open state illustrated in Figs.
  • An urging means comprising a pair of double-acting main hydraulic rams 34 acting between the chassis 7 and the closure segment 30 operate the closure segment 30 from the bale forming state to the open state.
  • Each main ram 34 comprises a cylinder 35 pivotally coupled to the chassis 7 by a corresponding pivot mounting 36.
  • a piston rod 37 extending from the cylinder 35 of each main ram 34 is pivotally coupled to the closure segment 30 by a corresponding pivot mounting 38.
  • the main rams 34 pivoting the closure segment 30 between the bale forming state and the open state, the main rams 34 also apply a selectable substantially constant urging force to the closure segment 30 for urging the closure segment 30 into the bale forming state during formation of a bale in the bale chamber 20 to produce the bale 2 of a selectable bale density as will be described in more detail below.
  • a carrier ring 53 carries a pair of spaced apart wrapping material dispensers 54, which are carried on respective carrier brackets 55 mounted on the carrier ring 53.
  • the carrier brackets 55, and in turn the wrapping material dispensers 54 are disposed at approximately 180° around the carrier ring 53.
  • the carrier ring 53 is carried on a pair of lower driven rollers 56 which rotate the carrier ring 53 about a substantially horizontal axis defined by the carrier ring 53 and extending perpendicular to the central axis 4 of the bale 2 and substantially intersecting the central axis 4 of the bale 2 for revolving the wrapping material dispensers 54 around the bale 2 as the bale is being rotated on the bale support rollers 50 and 51 for end-to-end wrapping of a bale.
  • the bale support roller 50 is carried on a U-shaped roller carrier 57 which is pivotally connected to the chassis 7 by pivot mountings 58.
  • a hydraulic actuator ram (not shown) acting between the chassis 7 and the roller carrier 57 pivots the roller carrier 57 downwardly about the pivot mountings 58 from a bale wrapping state illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to a discharge state (not shown) for discharging the wrapped bale from the bale wrapper 5 to the ground.
  • a bale wrapper as the bale wrapper 5 is disclosed in PCT Specification No. WO 02/076183, and further description of the bale wrapper 5 should not be required.
  • An intermediate roller 59 rotatably carried on the chassis 7 extends parallel to the bale rotating rollers 17 and is located between the baler 3 and the bale wrapper 5 for assisting in the transfer of a bale 2 from the baler 3 to the bale wrapper 5.
  • the closure segment 30 is moveable, in this case, is pivotal about the main pivot axis 15, between a first state illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 12 with the bale chamber 20 defined by the bale rotating rollers 17 of a first diameter D1, and a second state illustrated in Figs. 8, 10 and 14 with the bale rotating rollers 17 defining the bale chamber 20 of a second diameter D2, which is greater than the first diameter D1 , in order to allow bales of different selectable diameters, selectable bale densities and improved densities to be produced by the baler 3.
  • a gap 60 of progressively increasing circumferential length / opens between an adjacent pair of bale rotating rollers 17 of the discharge segment 24 and the closure segment 30, respectively, namely, between the bale rotating roller 17a of the discharge segment 24 and the bale rotating roller 17g of the closure segment 30.
  • a bridging element in this embodiment of the invention a bridging roller 63 is provided for bridging the circumferential gap 60 as the closure segment 30 progressively pivots about the main pivot axis 15 from the first state to the second state.
  • the bridging roller 63 extends between and is carried on a pair of first connecting means comprising a pair of spaced apart carrier brackets 65 which are pivotally coupled to the closure segment about a bridging element pivot axis 64.
  • the bridging roller 63 with the carrier brackets 65 are pivotal about the bridging element pivot axis 64 from a first state, namely, an inoperative first state, illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 12, through a plurality of intermediate bridging states, to a second state, namely a bridging second state, illustrated in Figs. 8, 10 and 14.
  • the carrier brackets 65 are rigidly connected together by a strut 66 extending between and rigidly secured to the carrier brackets 65.
  • the carrier brackets 65 pivotally engage a pivot shaft 67 of the bale rotating roller 17g of the closure segment 30, which defines the bridging element pivot axis 64, about which the carrier brackets 65 and the bridging roller 63 are pivotally coupled to the closure segment 30.
  • One of the carrier brackets 65 is coupled to the discharge segment 24 through a camming means comprising a camming element, namely, a camming plate 70 and a cam follower 75 for controlling the pivotal movement of the bridging roller 63 about the bridging roller pivot axis 64 from the inoperative first state to the bridging second state in response to pivoting of the closure segment 30 from the first state to the second state thereof.
  • the camming plate 70 is rigidly secured to the carrier bracket 65a by a plate bracket 72 which is welded to the carrier bracket 65a and to the camming plate 70.
  • the cam follower 75 is rigidly secured to and extends sidewardly outwardly from a corresponding one of side walls 27 of the discharge segment 24.
  • the cam follower 75 defines a central axis which coincides with the pivot axis 29 of the discharge segment 24.
  • the camming plate 70 comprises a camming track formed in this case by a camming slot 74 of arcuate shape extending in the camming plate 70 from a first end 71 to a second end 73, within which the cam follower 75 is slideably engageable.
  • the camming slot 74 defines a centre of radius coinciding with the bridging element pivot axis 64, so that as the cam follower 75 traverses through the camming slot 74, the camming plate 70 along with the carrier brackets 65, and in turn the bridging roller 63 are pivoted about the bridging element pivot axis 64.
  • An entry means in this embodiment of the invention an entry slot 77 extends from the camming slot 74 adjacent the second end 73 for accommodating the cam follower 75 into and out of the camming slot 74, as will be described in more detail below.
  • the cam follower 75 is configured to cooperate with the camming slot 74 to progressively urge the bridging roller 63 in the direction of the arrow C from the inoperative first state, illustrated in Fig. 7, to the bridging second state, illustrated in Figs.
  • the cam follower 75 is progressively urged along the camming slot 74 from the first end 71 thereof to the second end 73 thereof, and is retained captive in the camming slot 74 between the first and second ends 71 and 73 thereof, so that the bridging roller 63 is urged progressively about the bridging element pivot axis 64 from the inoperative first state to the bridging second state through the plurality of the bridging states bridging the circumferential gap 60, in synchronisation with the pivotal movement of the closure segment 30 about the main pivot axis 15 from the first state to the second state thereof.
  • the cam follower 75 rotatably carries a bearing 76 for reliably engaging the camming slot 74 as the cam follower 75 traverses along the camming slot 74 between the first end 71 thereof and the second end 73.
  • the aligned state of the camming plate and in turn the carrier brackets 65 and the bridging roller 63 corresponds to the second states thereof. In the aligned state the entry slot 77 of the camming plate 70 is aligned with the cam follower 75 as the closure segment 30 is approaching the second state from the open state.
  • the entry slot 77 is aligned with the cam follower 75, and enters the camming slot 74 adjacent the second end 73 thereof through the entry slot 77 with the bridging roller 63 in the bridging second state.
  • Further pivoting of the closure segment 30 from the second state to the first state thereof results in the cam follower 75 being urged along the camming slot 74 from the second end 73 to the first end 71, which in turn results in the camming plate 70 and in turn the bridging roller 63 being pivoted about the bridging roller pivot axis 64 in the direction of the arrow D from the bridging second state through the intermediate bridging states to the inoperative first state. Since the central axis of the cam follower 75 coincides with the pivot axis 29 of the discharge segment 24, the cam follower 75 remains in a fixed position relative to the chassis 7, and in turn relative to the main pivot axis 15.
  • One end of the retaining spring 80 is hooked onto a bracket 78 extending from the corresponding one of the side walls 31 of the closure segment 30, and the other end of the tension spring 80 is secured to a link member 83, which in turn is pivotally coupled to the camming plate 70.
  • An interface means namely, an electronic interface is provided for inputting data to the microcontroller 90, as well as the selected diameter to which the bales 2 are to be formed and the selected bale density to which the bales 2 are to be formed.
  • the electronic interface may comprise any suitable interface, for example, a keypad, a touch screen or the like.
  • the electronic interface comprises a touch screen 91 , which may be located on the baler 3, or in the cab of the tractor 11 towing the combined baler/bale wrapper 1.
  • the touch screen 91 When located in the cab of the tractor 11 , the touch screen 91 typically is hardwired to the microcontroller 90, and is configured to display status messages regarding the formation of the bale in the bale chamber 20, and to provide alert signals alerting the tractor driver to actions to be taken, for example, advising the tractor driver that the formation of the bale in the bale chamber is complete, and that the combined baler/bale wrapper 1 should be brought to a halt in order to allow circumferential wrapping of the bale in the bale chamber 20.
  • the electronic interface, as well as comprising the touch screen 91 comprises a sounder 92 for producing audible alert signals to the tractor driver.
  • the hydraulic circuit 85 is supplied with pressurised hydraulic fluid from a pressurised hydraulic fluid source, which in this case, is provided from a pressurised hydraulic fluid source 94 of the hydraulic system 95 of the tractor 11.
  • a pair of hydraulic couplers 96 and 97 couple the hydraulic control circuit 85 to the high pressure side 98 of the pressurised hydraulic fluid source 94 and to the low pressure side of the pressurised hydraulic fluid source 94, namely, a low pressure tank 100.
  • the hydraulic coupler 96 couples the hydraulic control circuit 85 to the high pressure side 98 of the pressurised hydraulic fluid source 94, and the hydraulic coupler 97 couples the hydraulic control circuit 85 to the low pressure tank 100.
  • the pressurised hydraulic fluid is supplied to the hydraulic control circuit 85 at the pressure of the hydraulic system 95 of the tractor 11 , which may be as high as 240 bar.
  • the selectable hydraulic pressure is commonly referred to as the hydraulic density pressure, and is the pressure at which the hydraulic fluid is to be applied to the main rams 34, so that the main rams 34 apply a substantially constant urging force to the closure segment 30 to urge the closure segment 30 into the bale forming state during formation of the bale in the bale chamber in order to produce the bale of the selected bale density.
  • a hydraulic accumulator 107 accumulates pressurised hydraulic fluid from the main rams 34 during formation of each bale in the bale chamber 20 as the formation of the bale is nearing completion, as will be described below.
  • a monitoring means for monitoring the displacement of the closure segment 30 from the first state thereof comprises a pair of proximity sensors 108 mounted on the cylinders 35 of the respective main rams 34 adjacent distal ends 109 of the cylinders 35.
  • the proximity sensors 108 monitor the spacing between the distal ends 109 of the cylinders 35 from the corresponding pivot mountings 38 which pivotally mount the piston rods 37 of the main ram 34 to the corresponding side wall 31 of the closure segment 30.
  • Each proximity sensor 108 produces an electronic signal indicative of the spacing between the distal end 109 of the cylinder 35 of the corresponding main ram 34 from the pivot mounting 38 of the corresponding piston rod 37.
  • the spacing between the distal ends 109 of the main rams 34 from the pivot mountings 38 of the corresponding piston rods 37 is proportional to the angular displacement of the closure segment 30 from the fixed segment 22 about the main pivot axis 15.
  • the spacing between the distal ends 109 of the main rams 34 from the pivot mountings 38 of the corresponding piston rods 37 is proportional to the angular displacement of the closure segment 30 from the first state thereof about the main pivot axis 15.
  • the bale density may be selected as one of a range of bale densities, generally, presented in a range of one to ten on the touch screen 91, one being the lowest bale density and ten being the highest bale density.
  • the bale density to which the bales are to' be formed may be entered by selecting the pressure of the hydraulic fluid, namely, the hydraulic density pressure to be applied to the main rams 34 during the formation of the bales, so that the urging force applied by the main rams 34 to the closure segment 30 to urge the closure segment 30 into the first state of the bale forming state is of the appropriate substantially constant value.
  • the higher the hydraulic density pressure the greater will be the bale density of the formed bales.
  • the microcontroller 90 operates the secondary pressure regulator 104 to apply the hydraulic fluid at the appropriate or selected hydraulic density pressure, so that the urging force applied to the closure segment 30 by the main rams 34 during the formation of each bale 2 in the bale chamber 20 is of the appropriate substantially constant value.
  • the combined baler/bale wrapper 1 is then towed by the tractor 11 along an elongated windrow of crop material, and the crop material is picked-up from the windrow by the pick-up mechanism 45, and delivered into the bale chamber 20.
  • the crop material is rotated in the bale chamber 20 in the direction of the arrow B by the bale rotating rollers
  • the cam follower 75 is progressively urged along the camming slot 74 from the first end 71 towards the second end 73, thereby progressively urging the bridging roller 63 from the inoperative first state through a plurality of bridging states to continuously bridge the progressively increasing circumferential gap 60 between the bale rotating rollers 17a and 17g.
  • the microcontroller 90 reads the signals from the proximity sensors 108 as the closure segment 30 is being progressively displaced angularly about the main pivot axis 15 from the first state thereof by the radial outward pressure of the bale 2 on the bale rotating rollers 17, and determines the diameter of the bale chamber 20 from the signals read from the proximity sensors 108.
  • the microcontroller 90 On the diameter of the bale chamber 20 reaching the completion diameter, namely, the diameter to produce the bale of the selected bale diameter, the microcontroller 90 outputs a signal to the touch screen 91 and to the sounder 92 alerting the driver of the tractor 11 to the completion of the formation of the bale in the bale chamber 20, and that the combined baler/bale wrapper 1 should be brought to a halt, in order to allow circumferential wrapping of the bale in the bale chamber 20 to commence.
  • the cam follower 75 is urged along the remaining portion of the camming slot 74 to the second end 73 thereof, with the camming plate 70 and the bridging roller 63 in the second states thereof, which is also the aligned state of the camming plate 70. Further urging of the closure segment 30 towards the open state results in the cam follower 75 disengaging the camming slot 74 through the entry slot 77.
  • the retaining spring 80 retains the camming plate 70 in the aligned state with the end edge 81 of the plate bracket 72 engaging the abutment edge 82 of the corresponding side wall 31 of the closure segment 30, so that on return of the closure segment 30 from the open state to the second state of the bale forming state, the entry slot 77 to the camming slot 74 is aligned with the cam follower 75 for reengaging of the cam follower 75 with the entry slot 77, and in turn with the camming slot 74.
  • the microcontroller 90 On the closure segment 30 being in the first state thereof, the microcontroller 90 outputs a signal to the touch screen 91 and to the sounder 92 alerting the tractor driver that the baler 3 is ready to commence forming of the next bale. The tractor driver then commences to tow the combined baler/bale wrapper 1 along the windrow of crop material, thereby commencing the forming of the next bale in the bale chamber 2.
  • a look-up table is stored in memory of the microcontroller 90 with the appropriate completion diameters of the bale chamber 20 for bales cross-referenced with corresponding selectable bale diameters for different crop materials and for bales of different selectable bale densities.
  • the microcontroller 90 selects the appropriate completion diameter of the bale chamber 20 from the look-up table to produce the bale of the selected diameter.
  • the microcontroller 90 monitors the signals from the proximity sensors 108, and on the signals from the proximity sensors 108 being indicative of the diameter of the bale chamber 20 having reached the completion diameter corresponding to the selected bale diameter, the microcontroller 90 determines that the formation of the bale 2 is complete, and feeding of crop material into the bale chamber 20 is terminated and the bale is circumferentially wrapped in the bale chamber.
  • the first diameter D1 of the bale chamber 20 defined by the bale rotating rollers 17 is approximately 1120mm
  • the second diameter of the bale chamber 20 defined by the bale rotating rollers 17 and the bridging roller 63 is approximately 1250mm.
  • the first diameter D1 of the bale chamber 20 may be of any suitable diameter, and typically, will be determined by the number of bale rotating rollers 17 forming the bale chamber 20, and the diameter of the bale rotating rollers 17.
  • the first diameter D1 of a bale chamber 20 of a roller baler according to the invention may range from 1050mm to 1200mm.
  • a particularly important advantage of the roller baler 3 is that bales of selectable diameters in the range substantially between and including the first and second diameters D1 and D2 of the bale chamber 20 and slightly less than the first diameter D1 and slightly greater than the second diameter D2 may be produced.
  • a particularly important advantage of the roller baler 3 according to the invention is that the ratio of the diameter of a central core of the bales produced by the roller baler according to the invention, which is of density less than the density of an outer peripheral portion of the bales, to the radial depth of that more dense outer peripheral portion, is less than the corresponding ratio of bales produced by a conventional roller baler.
  • This further increases the radial depth of the more dense outer peripheral portion of the bale, thereby further reducing the ratio of the diameter of the less dense central core to the radial depth of the more dense outer peripheral portion of the bale.
  • This advantage is particularly gained in bales of larger diameter, and in particular, bales of diameter the completion of the formation of which requires the completion diameter of the bale chamber 20 to be greater than the first diameter D1 thereof.
  • the larger the diameter to which the bale is to be formed the greater is the benefit gained from this advantage.
  • the bales produced by the roller baler according to the invention have a much greater ability to retaining their cylindrical shape, and are therefore more suitable to transportation, storage and stacking than bales produced by conventional roller baler known heretofore.
  • the roller baler may comprise only two segments, namely, the closure segment and a fixed segment.
  • the fixed segment would include the bale rotating rollers of both the fixed segment and the discharge segment, and the fixed and the discharge segments would be formed as a single integral fixed segment.
  • the closure segment would be pivotal to the fixed segment about an upper horizontal main pivot axis, and would depend downwardly from the upper horizontal main pivot axis, and would be pivotal substantially rearwardly and upwardly about the upper main pivot axis from the bale forming state to the open state for permitting a formed and wrapped bale to drop under gravity from the bale chamber onto the ground.
  • any appropriate numbers of bale rotating rollers of any suitable diameter and length may be provided on the fixed segment, the discharge segment and the closure segment other than the numbers and diameters of bale rotating rollers described.
  • the bridging element has been described as being moveably coupled to the second part of the roller baler by a first connecting means and has been described as being moveably coupled to the first part of the roller baler by a camming means, it is envisaged that in some embodiments of the invention the bridging element may be moveably coupled to the first part by the first connecting means, and may be moveably coupled to the second part of the roller baler by the camming means.
  • cam follower has been described as being located on the transfer segment and the camming plate has been described as being secured to the bridging element
  • the cam follower may be provided on the bridging element
  • the camming plate may be located on the transfer segment and fixed relative to the fixed segment, or the camming plate may be mounted fixed relative to the chassis.
  • the roller baler is provided with only a fixed segment and a closure segment, and the bale rotating rollers carried by the fixed segment define approximately 180° of the periphery of the bale chamber, it is envisaged that if the camming plate is located on the fixed segment, the camming plate would be rigidly secured to the fixed segment.
  • cam follower has been described as comprising a bearing rollably engageable with the camming slot, while this is advantageous, the cam follower may be provided without the bearing.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Preliminary Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une presse à balles à rouleaux (3) comprenant une chambre à balles (20) définie par un segment fixe (22), un segment de décharge (24) et un segment de fermeture (30) accouplé de façon pivotante au segment fixe (22) autour d'un axe de pivotement principal (15) d'un état de formation de balle à un état ouvert comprenant une pluralité de rouleaux d'enroulement en balle (17) supportés de manière rotative sur le segment fixe (22), le segment de décharge (24) et le segment de fermeture (30). Un rouleau de voutâge (63) supporté de manière rotative sur des montures de support (65) accouplés de façon pivotante au segment de fermeture (30) autour d'un axe de pivotement d'élément de voutâge (64) est accouplé au segment de décharge (24) par l'intermédiaire d'un montant de came (70) et d'un galet de came (75) pour commander le mouvement de pivotement du rouleau de voutâge (63) d'un premier état inactif à un second état de voutâge situé entre des rouleaux (17a et 17g) sur le segment de décharge (24) et le segment de fermeture (30). Le montant de came (70) solidarisé à l'une des montures de support (65) comprend une fente de came (74) le long de laquelle le galet de came (75) peut coulisser entre une première extrémité (71) de celle-ci et une seconde extrémité (73) de celle-ci poussant le rouleau de voutâge (63) progressivement à partir du premier état inactif lorsque le segment de fermeture (30) dans l'état de formation de balle pivote progressivement autour de l'axe de pivotement principal (15) d'un premier état à un second état pour former des balles de diamètre sélectionnable et de densité améliorée. FIG. 7 et 14 accompagnent l'abrégé.
PCT/IE2024/000007 2023-06-14 2024-06-11 Presse à balles à rouleaux et procédé de production d'une balle ronde de matériau dans une presse à balles à rouleaux Ceased WO2024257074A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP24743511.8A EP4727336A1 (fr) 2023-06-14 2024-06-11 Presse à balles à rouleaux et procédé de production d'une balle ronde de matériau dans une presse à balles à rouleaux

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IES2023/0211 2023-06-14
IES20230211 2023-06-14

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WO2024257074A1 WO2024257074A1 (fr) 2024-12-19
WO2024257074A9 true WO2024257074A9 (fr) 2025-04-17

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PCT/IE2024/000007 Ceased WO2024257074A1 (fr) 2023-06-14 2024-06-11 Presse à balles à rouleaux et procédé de production d'une balle ronde de matériau dans une presse à balles à rouleaux

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Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0264493B1 (fr) * 1986-10-21 1989-12-20 Ford New Holland N.V. Presse à balles rondes
DE29808383U1 (de) * 1998-05-08 1998-08-06 Multinorm B.V., Nieuw-Vennep Rundballenpresse
PT2292084E (pt) 2001-03-22 2012-09-28 Welmount Ltd Enfardadeira/ atadeira de fardos combinada
EP2570022A1 (fr) * 2011-09-16 2013-03-20 McHale, Padraic Christopher Presse à fourrage et combiné presse à fourrage/enrubanneuse
NL2012073C2 (en) * 2014-01-10 2015-07-13 Forage Innovations Bv Baling device to form bales of loose material having a hybrid baling chamber construction.

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EP4727336A1 (fr) 2026-04-22

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