Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2167664
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BALE SEPARATOR
This invention relates to an apparatus for
separating bales of crop materials.
Crop materials, such as hay and silage are commonly
stored in bales of various forms held together by twine. The
most common forms are termed circular bales and square bales.
When the bale materials are required, the bale must
be separated. Bale separation has been done by cutting the
twine and manually breaking apart the bale. Machines, such as
tractors, have been used to move the bale around to break it
apart once the twine is cut. It would be desirable to have a
machine for automatically separating bale materials. It would
further be desirable if such a machine could be used to
separate and spread such materials in one operation. Such a
machine would facilitate spreading bedding materials and
filling feed bins.
Bale processors are known which disintegrate bales
of crop material. However, such processors are primarily
intended for use with circular bales. Further, bale
processors act to chop the crop material while breaking apart
the bale. The resultant chopped materials are not useful for
all applications.
Examples of known arrangements in the bale
processing art include U.S. Patent No. 4,227,654, issued to
Seefeld et al., October 14, 1980; U.S. Patent No. 4,573,846,
issued March 4, 1986 to Willbanks et al. and U.S. Patent No.
4,846,411, issued to Herron et al., July 11, 1989.
It would be desirable to have a bale separator which
is capable of separating the bale material without chopping
the material.
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'One object of the present invention is to provide an
improved bale separator.
Another aspect of the present invention is to
provide an apparatus for separating a bale of crop materials,
the apparatus comprising: a support surface at least one bale;
an elongate rotatable member having a central shaft
substantially parallel to the support surface at an end of the
support surface; finger means pivotally mounted on the
rotatable member for separating the bale; wherein the bale is
confined between the support surface and the rotatable member
for acting on said bale and for discharging separated
material; and means for continuously advancing a bale
slidingly on the support surface to the rotatable member to
engage the fingers of the rotatable member against the bale
during downward rotational movement.
A further aspect of the present invention is to
provide a portable apparatus for separating a bale of crop
materials, the apparatus comprising: a movable support member;
a bale loading means,for loading a bale into the apparatus; a
bale separating mechanism including: a support surface for
supporting at least one bale; an elongate rotatable,member
having a central shaft substantially parallel to the support
surface at an end of the support surface; finger méans
pivotally mounted on the rotatable member for,separating the
bale; wherein the bale is confined between the support surface
and the rotatable member for acting on the bale and for
discharging separated material; and movable barrier means for
continuously advancing a bale slidingly on the support surface
to the rotatable member to engage the fingers of the rotatable
member against the bale during'downward rotational movement.
The inventive separator is particularly suitable for
separating bales having square configuration. The separator
acts substantially without chopping the crop material. The
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separator can be used to separate and spread the crop
materials in one operation.
The separating action of the apparatus is effected
by a rotatable member having a central elongate shaft and
plurality of spaced apart fingers extending therefrom. The
rotatable member is preferably of a length to correspond to or
exceed the width of a bale to be separated. The fingers
extend from the shaft and engage the bale to be separated
during rotation of the rotatable member. The rotatable member
is positioned relative to the support means such that the
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rotatable member does not act to shear the separated bale
materials against the support means or any other object. The
rotatable member can be driven to rotate by any suitable
means.
The central shaft of the rotatable member can be
formed of any suitable material. In one embodiment, the shaft
is formed having a tubular member onto which the fingers are
mounted and a stub rod, having a reduced diameter from that of
the tubular member, extending from each end of the tubular
member in concentric relation thereto and in drivable
engagement therewith.
The fingers are made from any suitable material,
such as, for example, durable polymers or steel. The fingers
are formed and mounted on the shaft such that they do not
effect a cutting action when coming into contact with the bale
material. Preferably, the fingers are elongate in cross
section and mounted on the rotatable member parallel to the
long axis of the rotatable member such that a flat surface is
first brought into contact with the bale materials.
To facilitate the use of the rotatable member on
bales which are not easily separated, for example, those
comprised of fragile crop materials or those having high
moisture content, pivotal connections can be provided between
the fingers and the shaft. Such connection provides that the
fingers are free to pivot about the shaft to extend out from
the shaft during rotation thereof and to flex when
encountering a force opposite to the rotational force.
Pivotal connection of the fingers further allows the separator
to operate at lower power consumption and substantially avoids
stalling of the separator. The pivotally connected fingers
are further preferably concave along the long axis to perform
a scooping action when coming into engagement with the bale.
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The fingers are spaced apart along the shaft of the
rotatable member in any suitable way. In one embodiment, the
fingers are spaced along the entire surface of the shaft. In
another embodiment, the fingers are arranged in a single
spiral arrangement running from one end of the shaft to the
other. Such an arrangement decreases the power requirements
for the separator. To facilitate the separation of bale
materials which are not easily separable, such as a frozen
bale, the fingers are arranged in a single spiral arrangement
and are spaced apart such that the active surface area of the
fingers overlap.
The bale separator comprises means for supporting
the bale to be separated. The means for supporting the bale
can be, for example, a frame or deck. Preferably the support
means is a deck mounted onto a trailer type undercarriage for
towing behind a tractor or the like such that the separator
can be used while in tow and can be moved from location to
location.
To bring the bale into contact with the fingers a
means is provided for relative movement between the bale to be
separated and the rotatable member. Such means can be, for
example, a conveyor system or a barrier movable to push the
bale towards the rotatable member. Alternatively, the bale
can remain stationary and the rotatable member can be advanced
into engagement with the bale. The means for relative
movement is preferably a push frame which acts as a barrier
and advances the bale toward the rotatable member, while the
rotatable member is fixed in its position.
To separate a bale of crop materials, the bale is
placed on the support means. The rotatable member is rotated
while the means for providing relative movement between the
bale and the rotatable member is actuated to engage the
fingers of the rotatable member against the bale. The
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rotatable member is preferably rotated such that the fingers
engage the bale during downward rotation such that the bale is
drawn against the support means and into the rotatable member.
The operation of the separator in this way causes the
separated bale materials to be forced in a generally downward
and horizontal direction. Where no shield is provided against
such movement, the force imparted by the fingers will act to
spread the separated materials in this direction.
Where desired, a bale loading mech~n;sm can be
mounted in relation to the support means to facilitate the
loading of bales to the support means. In one embodiment, a
hydraulically actuated pivotally connected lift is provided
which is movable between a position in which it is lowered to
accept a bale and a position in which it is raised. In the
raised position, the lift is positioned such that the bale
will descend onto the support means by gravity. In another
embodiment, the lift is maint~;n~hle in a partially raised
position such that a bale can be stored on the lift prior to
placement on the support means.
Shields can be provided which cover moving parts if
desired. The bale separator may be used in various ways for
use in separating bales. The separator can be used in a
stationary manner or, alternatively, can be mounted on a
trailer for use in separating and spreading a bale while in
tow or for transport from location to location for use at a
fixed point. Such operational examples are for illustration
only and are not intended to limit the invention in any way.
A further, detailed, description of the invention,
briefly described above, will follow by reference to the
following drawings of specific embodiments of the invention,
which depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are
therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope.
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Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a bale
separator according to one embodiment of the present invention
with shields partially cut away;
Figure 2 is an end view of a bale separator
according to the present invention with shields partially cut
away;
Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of a bale
separator according to the present invention; and
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of
a rotatable member useful in the present invention.
Similar numerals in the Figures denote similar
elements.
Referring to Figure 1, an embodiment of a bale
separator 10 is shown. The separator 10 includes a trailer
undercarriage 12 supported on a pair of wheels 14 (only one
shown). Undercarriage 12 includes a tongue 16 and hitch 18
for attachment to a vehicle such as a tractor, shown in
phantom to provide for a portable apparatus.
A drive shaft 20 extends for connection to a source
of rotary power such as a power take-off of a vehicle. A
housing 22 contains coupling elements for translating the
operative power from drive shaft 20 to a system of gear
pulleys 24a, 24b and a belt 25 which drive a rotatable member
26.
Hydraulic hoses 30 supply operating fluid power from
a hydraulic source, such as a vehicle, for operating a
mech~n;sm 32 for advancing bales and a mech~nism 34 for
loading bales.
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A deck 36 is mounted above undercarriage 12 and is
constructed to support at least one bale 38 of crop materials.
The number of bales which can be supported by the deck is
determined by the size of the bales to be separated and the
area of the deck. The deck should have an area to accommodate
at least one large square bale which is approximately 8 feet
in length.
Mech~n;sm 34 drives a pair of forks 46 between a
lowered position, as indicated in phantom, for accepting a
bale and a raised position from which the bale drops by
gravity onto deck 36. To facilitate loading of a bale, forks
46 are chamfered at their ends 46a. Forks 46 are together
pivotally connected to undercarriage 12 at 52 and to a
hydraulic cylinder 54 of mech~n;sm 34 at 56.
As best seen in Figure 2, cross members 58, 60
extend between forks 46. Cross member Ç0 is formed to extend
out from the forks and acts as a guide for the bale. Member
60 guides the bale into alignment with rotatable member 26
when the bale is dropped onto deck 36. Member 60 further
guides and stabilizes the bale during operation of the
separator. M~ch~n;sm 34 can maintain forks 46 in a partially
raised position to permit the storage of an extra bale which
can be descended onto the deck when desired.
Mech~n; ~r 32 is mounted beneath deck 36 to drive
barrier 44. An opening 39 is provided in deck 36 to allow a
portion of barrier 44 to extend beneath the deck for
connection to mer-h~n;~m 32. Opening 39 is elongate and formed
to guide barrier 44 between a bale accepting position, as
shown in Figure 2 and a position (not shown) adjacent
rotatable member 26 as it is driven by mechanism 32. In the
preferred embodiment, mech~n;~m 32 includes a hydraulic motor
40 in communication with sprockets 41a and 41b which translate
rotational energy to a sprocket 41c. Sprocket 41c drives a
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chain 42 about a sprocket 41d. Chain 42 is rigidly connected
to barrier 44 to move barrier 44 along opening 39 as chain 42
is driven by sprocket 41c.
Rotatable member 26 is securely mounted above and at
a side of deck 36 by means of support walls 62. Rotatable
member is formed as a central shaft having a pair of stub rods
66, formed of cold rolled steel, engaged at each end of a
hollow tubular member 68, formed of steel. Rods 66 are
engaged in bearings. A plurality of clevises 70 are secured,
as by welding, to tubular member 68 for attachment of fingers
72 by pins 74. Fingers 72 are mounted on member 68 through
clevises 70 such that the planes defined by the sides of the
fingers 72 are parallel to the central axis of rotatable
member 26 which is generally defined by rods 66. Fingers 72
are preferably made of spring steel and may be formed to each
define a hook at each free end.
Shields, such as rotatable member shield 76 and
rotatable member drive shield 78 are placed to cover moving
parts. Skirts 80 extend downwardly from deck 26 to shield
mechanism 32. A deflection shield 82 is pivotally connected
at a lower edge of rotatable member shield 76 to cause ejected
bale materials to be deflected downwardly.
In operation, drive shaft 20 and hoses 30 are
connected to a source of power such as a tractor; if desired,
hitch may be connected to a vehicle. Barrier 44 is moved into
position for accepting a bale. Forks 46 are lowered to accept
a bale of crop materials and mech~n;sm 34 is then actuated to
raise forks 46 until the bale drops by gravity onto deck 36.
If desired, forks 46 are again lowered to accept a further
bale. Forks 46 are then raised partially by mechanism 34 such
that the bale is retained on the forks.
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Referring to Figures 2 and 3, rotatable member 26 is
actuatable to rotate at a high speed, for example 800
revolutions per minute (RPM) or greater and more desirably
1,000 RPM in the direction indicated by arrow A, such that
fingers 72 are forced to pivot about pins 74 to extend out,
substantially at right angles from tubular member 68.
Mech~n;~m 32 is actuated to drive barrier 44 towards rotatable
member 26, as indicated by arrow B, and thereby move the bale
into engagement with fingers 72.
The speed at which the bale is introduced into
contact with rotatable member 26 will vary with the type of
material of which the bale is made. Once in engagement with
the bale, fingers 72 scoop materials from the bale. Such
separated materials are carried by fingers 72 to be ejected in
the direction E away form rotatable member 26. Deflection
shield 82 acts to deflect separated materials in a downward
direction. The force imparted to the separated materials
causes these materials to travel a distance from the separator
when deflection shield 82 is not in position. Thus,
deflection shield 82 can be removed to permit the spreading of
the separated materials.
Referring to Figure 4, a portion of a rotatable
member 126 useful in the present invention is shown. Member
126 includes a shaft 190 having a plurality of fingers 172
ext~n~;ng out therefrom. Fingers 172 are arranged about shaft
190 in a spiral configuration such that the flat faces 192 of
the fingers overlap. Such a rotatable member is useful for
separating bales which are not easily separable, such as
frozen bales.
The fingers may comprise of paddles or any other
suitable form which does not chop the material of which the
bale is made, but rather merely separates it without chopping.
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It will be apparent that many other changes may be
made to the illustrative embodiments, while falling within the
scope of the invention and it is intended that all such
changes be covered by the claims appended hereto.
