Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02248~23 1998-09-30
Bale Wrapping Machine
This invention relates to a bale wrapping machine
for wrapping bales of silage, hay or the like, in
plastic, and more particularly, to a bale wrapping
machine which can wrap bales individually or wrap bales
end to end in a row.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to wrap bales of freshly cut grass with
plastic strip. Bales may be wrapped individually, as is
discussed, for example, in United States Patent 4,641,484
issued on February 10, 1987 to Popelka.
It is also known to wrap bales end to end in a
continuous row, as is discussed in, such as Canadian
Patent 1,285,862 issued on July 9, 1991 to Anderson and
United States Patent No. 4,793,124 issued on December 27,
1988 to Anderson.
Wrapping bales end to end is generally a superior
method of wrapping bales, as less plastic is used and the
wrapping process is quicker. However, it is
advantageous, in certain circumstances, to wrap at least
some bales individually; for example, it may be desired
to transport a wrapped bale to another location after
wrapping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a
bale wrapping machine which is capable of wrapping bales
individually or wrapping bales end to end in a row.
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To this end, the present invention uses a bale
rotator in a bale wrapping machine which wraps multiple
bales end to end in a row. When the bale wrapping
machine is used to wrap bales individually, the bale
rotator is used to rotate a bale so that the bale is
wrapped with plastic strip in at least two different
angles. Thus, the entire surface of the bale may be
wrapped.
In accordance with an aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a bale wrapping machine for
wrapping bales with plastic strip. The bale wrapping
machine comprises a machine mover for enabling the
machine to move along a ground surface during the
wrapping operation of bales; a bale receiving support for
receiving bales; a bale wrapping device adjacent the bale
receiving support for carrying plastic strip around a
bale; an inclined support adjacent the bale wrapping
device for transporting wrapped bales to a ground
surface; a first bale mover for moving bales from the
bale receiving support towards the bale wrapping device
so as to move bales in a first plane in the bale wrapping
device; and a bale rotator adjacent the bale wrapping
device for rotating a bale in a second plane at an angle
to the first plane.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
ivnention, there is provided a bale rotating device for
rotating a bale in a bale wrapping machine for wrapping
bales with plastic strip. The bale wrapping machine has
a machine mover for enabling the machine to move along a
ground surface during the wrapping operation of bales; a
bale receiving support for receiving bales; a bale
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wrapping device adjacent the bale receiving support for
carrying plastic strip around a bale; an inclined support
adjacent the bale wrapping device for transporting
wrapped bales to a ground surface; and a first bale mover
for moving bales from the bale receiving support towards
the bale wrapping device so as to move bales in a first
plane in the bale wrapping device. The bale rotating
device comprises a bale rotator for rotating a bale in a
second plane at an angle to the first plane; and a bale
rotator connector for connecting the bale rotator to the
bale wrapping machine.
An advantage of the present invention is that a
single machine may be used to wrap bales individually or
to wrap bales end to end in a continuous row.
Other advantages, objects and features of the
present invention will be readily apparent to those
skilled in the art from a review of the following
detailed description of preferred embodiments in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be further understood from the
following description with reference to the drawings in
which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a first
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation view of a second
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3 iS a side elevation view of the second
embodiment of the invention;
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Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the second
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the second
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a linkage of the
second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 7 is a top plan view of a linkage of the
second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a linkage of the
second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of a plastic
strip cutter used in the first embodiment of the
invention; and
Figure 10 is a side view of a bale wrapping machine
of the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figures 1-10, preferred embodiments of
a bale wrapping machine in accordance with the present
invention are described. A single/multi bale wrapping
machine 110 shown in Figure 1 uses a bale rotator
comprising powered rollers. Single/multi bale wrapping
machines 200, 300 shown in Figures 2 and 10 use a bale
rotator comprising a rotating support and a support
actuator.
The common features among the bale wrapping machines
110, 200 and 300 are described in reference with Figure
10. The bale wrapping machine 300 has a frame 111. The
bale wrapping machine 300 also has a machine mover 112
which enables the machine 300 to move along a ground
surface during the wrapping operation of bales. The bale
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wrapping machine 300 also has a bale receiving support
120, a bale wrapping device 140, an inclined support 115
and a bale mover 125. Bales are received by the bale
receiving support 120 and translated into the bale
wrapping device 115 along the bale receiving support 120
by the bale mover 125. The bale wrapping device 140
carries plastic strip 145 in the bale wrapping plane
around the bale. Bales wrapped by the bale wrapping
device 140 are transported down the inclined support 115
to a ground surface.
When the bale rotator 310 is not actuated, bales are
wrapped end to end in a row, resulting in a row of
wrapped bales lying on the ground along the track of the
machine 300 due to the movement of the machine 300
enabled by the machine mover 112.
The bale wrapping machine 300 shown in Figure 10
has, as the machine mover 112, three wheels in each side.
The machine mover 112 may be also skis, sleds or any one
or more mechanisms which allow movement of the machine
300 along the ground surface during the bale wrapping
operation.
The bale receiving support 120 and the inclined
support 115 may have rollers to facilitate the movement
of bales along each support, as shown in Figure 10. The
tail end 116 of the inclined support 115 may be folded up
or folded over the rest of the inclined support 115 when
the machine 300 is not in use or carried to other
locations.
In the bale wrapping device 140 shown in Figure 10,
a rotating hoop 141 carries plastic strip 145 around a
bale. The rotating hoop 141 is rotatably supported by a
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fixed hoop 142 provided on the frame 111 of the machine
300. The rotating hoop 141 and the fixed hoop 142 may
have different shapes, and may be located in different
arrangements. Also, the rotating hoop 141 may be
supported by one ore more fixed supports provided on the
frame 111.
During the wrapping process of multiple bales end to
end in a row, bales 105 are received by the receiving
support 120 so that a flat end 105a faces to the bale
wrapping device 140. The bales are moved through the
rotating hoop 141 by the bale mover 125. The bale
wrapping device 140 is located at a gap 135 between the
bale receiving support 120 and the inclined support 115.
Bales may be supported over the gap 135 by the pressure
between the preceding bales and the bale mover 125.
There may be one or more additional supports provided in
the gap 135 between the bale receiving support 120 and
the inclined support 115. The rotating hoop 141 is
rotated about its axis by a rotating driver (not shown).
It is preferable to synchronize the rotation of the hoop
and the movement of the bale mover 125 in such a way that
the rotating hoop 141 is rotated as a bale is moved
through the rotating hoop 141. Rotation of the rotation
hoop 141 is stopped when the bale is completely or
partially wrapped. The rotational speed of the hoop may
be varied to adjust the amount of overlap of plastic
strip 145 on wrapped bales.
Any form of plastic strip may be used as long as it
is suitable for wrapping bales. A reel of plastic strip
may be conveniently used. It is preferable to use a
stretchable plastic strip and to provide a tension to the
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strip by tension rolls during the wrapping operation, so
that bales are tightly wrapped.
The bale mover 125 may use any moving mechanism and
power source as long as it can move bales along the
receiving support 120 to the bale wrapping device 140.
It is preferable that the bale mover 125 comprises a
ram cross member 126 and a pair of hydraulic rams or ram
cylinders 127 extending along the sides of the bale
receiving support 120. The ram cross member 126 is
supported across the pair of rams 127, and moved by the
rams 127 between a bale receiving position 126a for
receiving a bale and a bale pushing position 126b for
pushing the bale towards the bale wrapping device 140.
In this embodiment, the rams 127 are provided in such a
way that the ram cross member 126 is positioned at a bale
receiving position 126a when the rams are extended, and
the ram cross member 126 is positioned at a bale pushing
position 126b when the rams are retracted.
According to the present invention, the bale
wrapping machine is provided with a bale rotator. The
bale rotator rotates a bale in a plane at an angle
relative to a bale wrapping plane in which the bale
wrapping device 140 carries plastic strip 145 around the
bale.
Referring back to Figure 1, the bale wrapping
machine 110 is provided with a pair of powered rollers
130a, 130b. One powered roller 130a is located at an end
12Oa of the bale receiving support 120 adjacent to the
bale wrapping device 140. The other powered roller 130b
is located at an end 115a of the inclined support 115
adjacent to the bale wrapping device 140. The powered
., .
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rollers 130a, 130b may be provided on the frame 111 of
the bale wrapping machine 110 adjacent the end 120a of
the bale receiving support 120 and the end 115a of the
inclined support 115, respectively.
The powered rollers 130a, 130b are provided
substantially parallel to the bale wrapping plane, i.e.
the plane in which the bale wrapping device 140 carries
the plastic strip 145 around the bale 105. Thus, the
power rollers 130a, 130b can rotate the bale 105 in a
plane perpendicularly to the bale wrapping plane in the
bale wrapping device during the wrapping operation of the
bale 105.
In operation of wrapping the bale 105 individually
by the single/multi wrapper 110, the bale 105 is loaded
onto the receiving support 120 transversely, i.e. rotated
9o~, relative to the orientation of bales when the bales
are wrapped end to end in a row. In other words, the
flat end 105a of the bale 105 is positioned parallel to
the plane of the inclined support 115 and the receiving
support 120. The bale mover 125 is then operated to move
the bale 105 towards the bale wrapping device 140. This
causes the bale 105 to rest on the two powered rollers
130a, 130b, one each side of the gap 135 between the bale
receiving support 120 and the inclined support 115.
To wrap the bale 105, the powered rollers 130a, 130b
rotate the bale 105 during the wrapping operation. This
applies plastic strip 145 in layers over the entire
surface of the bale 105.
The powered rollers 130a, 130b may rotate the bale
105 while the bale wrapping device 140 is carrying the
plastic strip 145 around the bale 105. The bale wrapping
CA 02248~23 l998-09-30
device 140 may be stopped when the powered rollers 130a,
130b are actuated to rotate the bale 105.
It is preferable that the powered rollers 130a, 130b
rotate the bale 105 by a preset amount each time the
plastic strip 145 iS carried around a complete circle of
the bale 105. The amount by which the rollers 130a, 130b
rotates the bale 105 gives the number of layers of
plastic strip 145 applied.
Such rotation control may be done mechanically by
levers (not shown) mounted on the bale wrapping device
140 triggering a valve or a switch (not shown) which
rotates at least one of the powered rollers 130a, 130b by
a preset amount. It is preferable to rotates both
powered rollers 130a, 130b together.
It is preferable that the bale 105 iS rotated when
the plastic strip 145 is moving or stopped over the top
of the bale 105, as opposed to when the plastic strip 145
is moving or stopped between the powered rollers 130a,
130b under the bale 105. Thus, the problem of the
plastic strip 145 coming into contact with the powered
rollers 130a, 130b may be avoided.
When the bale 105 iS completely wrapped or covered
with the plastic strip 145, the bale mover 125 iS used to
move the bale 105 off the powered rollers 130. The bale
105 iS further moved down the inclined support 115 to the
ground. An additional bale moving mechanism may be used
to push the bale 105 through the bale wrapping device
140, as described later in reference with Figure 6.
While a pair of powered rollers 130a, 130b is used
in this embodiment, a single powered roller or more than
two powered rollers may be also used. When a single
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powered roller is used, it is preferable to provide a
smooth surface or a non-powered roller where the bale
contacts so as to ease rotation of the bale.
Also, the location and the angle of each powered
roller may be changed as long as the bale 105 iS rotated
in the bale wrapping device 140 in a plane at angle
relative to the bale wrapping plane in which the plastic
strip 145 iS carried around the bale.
Referring to Figures 2 to 5, the rotation of a bale
20 may be also carried out using a bale rotator 5
comprising a rotating support or hinged portion 10 and a
support actuator 15.
The rotating support 10 supports the bale 20. The
support actuator 15 actuates rotation of the rotating
support 10 in a plane at angle relative to the bale
wrapping plane. That is, the support actuator 15 iS
connected to the rotating support 10. The rotating
support 10 is pivotably supported by the frame 111 or the
inclined support 115. The support actuator 15 pivots the
rotating support 10, and flips the bale 20 into the bale
wrapping device 140.
The support actuator 15 may be any kind of actuator
as long as it is strong enough to rotate the rotating
support. A linear actuator may be preferably used.
The rotating support 10 may be a table, frame or the
like.
In the wrapping operation of individual bales, one
bale 20 iS received by the bale receiving support 120 in
the regular horizontal position so that an flat end 31 of
the bale 20 faces the bale wrapping device 140. The bale
20 iS pushed towards a bale chamber 25 of the bale
CA 02248~23 l998-09-30
wrapping device 140 by the bale mover 125. In the bale
chamber 25 of the bale wrapping device 14 0, the bale 20
is wrapped vertically with plastic strip 145. Thus, a
layer of wrap 35 iS formed on the bale 20. As shown in
Figure 2, the bale 20 iS moved through the bale chamber
25 until front part 30 of the bale 20 comes into the bale
support 10 of the bale rotator 5. The bale 20 may be
pushed through the bale wrapping device using an
additional bale moving mechanism, as described later.
As shown in Figure 3, the support actuator 15 pivots
the bale support 10 to rotate or flip bale 20 back into
the bale chamber 25 of the bale wrapping device 140.
Thus, the bale 20 sits vertical with the front part 30
down, as shown in Figure 4. The layer of wrap 35 becomes
a horizontal layer. The support actuator 15 iS
retracted.
The bale 20 iS, in this vertical orientation, moved
through the bale chamber 25 towards the bale receiving
support 120, then again moved through the bale chamber 25
towards the inclined support 115, as shown in Figure 5.
The bale 20 iS wrapped vertically while it is moved
through the bale chamber 25 again towards the inclined
support 115. Thus, a layer of wrap 35 horizontally and a
layers of wrap 36 vertically are formed on the bale 20,
as shown in Figure 5.
The bale 20 may be wrapped vertically when it is
moved towards the bale receiving support 120. The bale
20 may be also wrapped vertically when it is moved both
towards the receiving support 120 and towards the
inclined support 115. In this case, two layers of
vertical wrap can be formed.
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The plastic strip 145 may be wrapped overlapping.
Thus, a layer of wrap 35, 36 may have partially
overlapping portions or sub-layers therein.
In Figures 2-5, the bale rotator 5 iS provided
adjacent the inclined support 15. However, a bale
rotator 5' may be provided adjacent the bale receiving
support 10, as shown in Figure 10.
An additional support (not shown) may be provided
for supporting the bale 20 in an inclined position as
being tilted by the bale rotator 5. The bale may be
supported in an inclined position after it is flipped by
the bale rotator 5. Thus, the second layer of wrap 36 iS
formed at an angle other than 90~ relative to the first
layer of wrap 35.
In the above embodiments, the bale is rotated in a
plane which is perpendicular to the bale wrapping plane.
However, the bale may be rotated in a plane at any angle
relative to the bale wrapping plane. For example, the
bale may be rotated in the plane of the inclined support.
In order to wrap bales individually, each bale needs
to be pushed through the bale wrapping device 140 of the
bale wrapping machine 110, 200, 300. An elongated push
member or push pole (not shown) may be used for this
purpose. The push pole may be attached to the bale mover
125 when it is in use.
However, it is preferable to provide the bale
wrapping machine 110, 200, 300 with an additional bale
mover which is retractable from a path of bales. Thus,
the additional bale mover does not need to be removed
from the bale wrapping machine when it is not in use.
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Referring to Figures 6 to 8, an example of the
additional bale mover is described. The additional bale
mover comprises a powered push device 40. The powered
push device 40 includes a pair of powered linkages 45 and
a push member 42 provided at distal ends 45b of the
powered linkages 45. The proximal ends 45a of the
powered linkages 45 are pivotably mounted to the ram
cross member 126 of the bale mover 125. The powered
linkages 45 are actuated by two linear actuators 55
lo provided adjacent the proximal ends 45a of the powered
linkages 45.
Figure 6 shows the powered push device 40 when the
powered linkages 45 are retracted. In this figure, the
powered linkages 45 are shown by lines for simplicity of
the drawing. Figures 7 and 8 show the powered push
device 40 when the powered linkages 45 are extended. The
linkages 45 go over centre in the extended position.
This relieves tension on the actuators 55.
When the ram cross member 126 is positioned at the
bale posh position 126b as shown in Figure 5, the push
device 40 is actuated. The powered linkages 45 are
extended by the linear actuators 55. The push member 42
pushes the bale 20 through the bale wrapping device 140.
The powered push device 40 may be also used to move
back the bale 20 towards the bale receiving support 120
through the bale wrapping device 140 while the powered
linkages 45 are being retracted. In this case, the two
linkages 45 may be spaced apart from each other, so that
the bale is received between the linkages 45 and pushed
back by the push member 42. The push member 42 may be
projecting upwardly over the linkages 45, so that the
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projecting potion of the push member 42 can push back the
bale 20.
Instead of the push member 42, a bale carrying
member may be used to carry the bale thereon.
Also, instead of being mounted on the ram cross
member 126, the powered push device 40 may be provided
adjacent the inclined support 115. It may be mounted on
the frame 111 or on the inclined support 115. In this
case, the bale is moved towards the bale receiving
support 120 when the powered linkages are being extended,
towards the inclined support 115 when the powered
linkages are being retracted.
The number of the linkages 45 and the number of the
linear actuators 55 may be changed as long as the push
member 42 or a bale carrying member can moves the bale.
It is preferable that the bale wrapping machine 110,
200, 300 is provided with a cutting mechanism for cutting
the plastic strip 145 once the bale wrapping process has
been completed. The cutting mechanism also retains hold
of the end of the cut plastic strip 145. Thus, the next
wrapping operation can be started without manually
applying the end of the plastic strip 145 to the next
bale.
Figure 9 shows an example of a cutting mechanism
400, using the embodiment shown in Figure 1. The cutting
mechanism 400 comprises a grab mechanism 410 having a
clamp 414 and an extending bar 412 supporting the clamp
414 at its distal end 412a. The extending bar 412 is
retractable in a bar support 416.
When the wrapping of the bale 105 is completed,
plastic strip 145 is extended between the bale 105 and a
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stretcher 146 stretching the plastic strip 145. The
extending bar 412 extends along the width of the plastic
strip 145 between the stretcher 146 and the bale 105.
The clamp 414 clamps the plastic strip 145 before the
bale 105 is pushed off the bale wrapping device 140.
This grab mechanism 410 tears the plastic strip at the
bale side of the clamp 414. The clamp 414 retains hold
of the plastic strip 145 until another bale has been
loaded onto the bale wrapping device 140. The clamp 414
preferably retains hold of the plastic strip 145 until
another bale is wrapped at least one circle with the
plastic strip 145. Then, the cramp 414 releases the
plastic strip 145 and the grab mechanism 410 is
withdrawn.
The cutting mechanism 400 may also have a cutter 420
built into the grab mechanism 410 to assist the tearing
of the plastic strip 145. As shown in Figure 9, the
cutter 420 may be provided on the clamp 414.
It is preferable to stop the bale wrapping device
140 so as to stop the plastic strip 145 at the same
position every time the wrapping process is completed.
In this way, the clamp 414 may be provided on the frame
111 of the bale wrapping machine, and extend into the
bale wrapping device 140 from the side of the bale
wrapping machine.
In the above embodiments, the bale wrapping machines
110, 200 and 300 are ~quipped with the bale rotators 130,
5 and 5', respectively. However, a bale rotator device
may be a separate device from a bale wrapping machine.
In that case, the bale rotator is provided with a bale
rotator connector to connect the bale rotator to a bale
CA 02248~23 1998-09-30
wrapping machine at a suitable position as described
above.
The present invention may be used to wrap round
bales or square bales.
While particular embodiments of the present
invention have been shown and described, changes and
modifications may be made to such embodiments without
departing from the true scope of the invention. For
example, the rams may be provided in the other direction,
or a single ram or more than two rams may be used. The
number of hoops used and the design of the bale wrapping
device may be also modified.
