Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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AGRICULTURAL BALE ACCUMULATOR AND METHOD THEREFOR
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation-in-part of International Application
Number
PCT/LTS97/15574, entitled "Agricultural Bale Accumulator Having A Load Bed
Extension
Module," filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty on September 2, 1997 by
Phillip G. Spaniol,
Stephen J. Spaniol and Kevin D. Kaschke and assigned to Farm Technology,
L.L.C..
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to agricultural machinery and methods
therefor for
harvesting crop material such as hay, straw, grass and the like, and, more
particularly, relates to
an agricultural bale accumulator and method therefor.
2 . Description of the Prior Art
A continuing trend to achieve an efficient farming operation and to decrease
manual labor
provides the need for efficient and capable agricultural machinery. One type
of agricultural
machinery is used to harvest crop material such as hay, straw, grass and the
like.
An agricultural baler ("baler") is a widely used piece of mobile equipment
which collects
and compresses the crop material as it travels over the ground to produce a
compact unit of crop,
commonly referred to as a bale. The baler may comprise a motorized machine
driven by an
operator or, alternatively, may comprise a wheeled frame adapted for traveling
alongside or
behind a tractor. Typically, a baler is a wheeled chassis adapted for hitched
connection to a tractor
to be towed in tandem behind the tractor. After the baler forms a bale, a
cord, such as wire or
twine, is tied around the bale to hold the bale together in its compressed
form. The baler ejects the
tied bales periodically from a bale chamber of a baler as the baler travels
over the ground. Each
ejected bale may be directly discharged either to a bale accumulator or to the
ground for later pick
up by a bale collector in order to make the harvesting of the crop material
more efficient and to
decrease manual labor. Bales provided by either the bale accumulator or the
bale collector may
then be deposited on a vehicle, such as a tractor trailer, for hauling to
another location for storage.
A bale accumulator is a widely used piece of mobile equipment which may
comprise a part
of a baler or, alternatively, may comprise a wheeled chassis adapted for
traveling alongside or
behind a baler. Typically, a bale accumulator is a wheeled chassis adapted for
hitched connection
to a baler to be towed in tandem behind the baler. Examples of conventional
bale accumulators are
disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,272,352, 4,310,275, 4,215,964 and 4,961,679. A
bale
accumulator is normally arranged to receive a plurality of successive bales as
they eject from the
bale chamber of the baler and to accumulate the received bales into a group or
parcel of
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accumulated bales for temporary storage. The group of accumulated bales may
then be discharged
onto the ground in an ordered array permitting mechanical recovery thereof or,
otherwise, be
mechanically removed from the bale accumulator.
A bale collector is a widely used piece of mobile equipment which may comprise
a
motorized machine driven by an operator or, alternatively, may comprise a
wheeled chassis
adapted for traveling alongside or behind a tractor. Typically, a bale
collector is a motorized
machine driven by an operator. The bale collector is normally arranged to pick
up individual bales
from the ground and to accumulate the retrieved bales into a group or parcel
of collected for
temporary storage. The group of collected bales may then be discharged onto
the ground in an
ordered array permitting mechanical recovery thereof or, otherwise, be
mechanically removed
from the bale collector.
Since the phrases "bale accumulator" and "bale collector" are sometimes
referred to
interchangeably in the agricultural industry, the present invention generally
refers to both pieces of
equipment as a bale accumulator in the sense that both pieces of equipment
receive and store bales.
Therefore, it is contemplated that the present invention may be used on a bale
collector as well as
the bale accumulator, as described hereinabove.
Bales vary in size and shape according to the type of baler used to form the
bales. The
types of balers generally include rectangular balers and round balers. Some
rectangular balers
form so-called small-sized bales measuring about 36 cm x 46 cm x 31 cm to 132
cm and weighing
18 kg to 27 kg. Other rectangular balers form so-called medium-sized bales
measuring about 80
cm x 87 cm x up to 249 cm and weighing 300 to 600 kg. An example of a
rectangular baler
forming medium-sized bales is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,525,991. Still
other rectangular
balers form so-called large-sized bales measuring about 118 cm x 127 x up to
274 cm and
weighing up to 1000 kg. Examples of rectangular balers forming large-sized
bales are disclosed
in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,034,543 and 4,307,528. Some round balers form so-called
cylindrical-
sized bales measuring about 1.75 m in diameter x 1.75 m long and weighing 450
kg to 675 kg.
The bale accumulator of the present invention is particularly well-suited for
use in
conjunction with rectangular balers producing the medium-sized bales. However,
it will be
apparent from the description and claims which follow that the principles of
the present invention
are not limited to bale accumulators for rectangular balers producing medium-
sized bales. The
present invention may be utilized with great effectiveness in conjunction with
rectangular balers
producing the large-sized bales, rectangular balers producing the small-sized
bales as well as
round balers producing the cylindrical-sized bales.
U.S. Patent Nos. 4,961,679 and 4,955,774 each disclose an agricultural bale
accumulator
having a bale-transfer and bale-turning mechanism attached to one side of a
chassis and an
extension table pivotally attached to an opposite side of the chassis. The
extension table is
moveable between a horizontal bale accumulating position and a vertical
transport position. The
extension table and a main bale-receiving table, supported by the chassis,
form a load bed for
accumulating thereon up to four medium sized bales. The extension table can
accommodate one
bale when located in the horizontal operative position. When the extension
table is attached to the
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chassis, an additional castor wheel is provided on a main axle supporting the
chassis in order to
accommodate the extra load that can be accumulated on the extension table.
Bales received on one
side of the load bed are turned 90 degrees and transferred across the load
bed. The bales are
discharged using a bale-discharge conveyor which pushes the bales accumulated
on the load bed
off the load bed to the ground.
However, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,961,679 and 4,955,774 do not disclose a support
system
which contacts the extension table at a location beyond a side of a chassis to
which the extension
table is attached. Therefore, the extension table does not have any direct
support for a bale
accumulated thereon from either the chassis or the ground. A lack of direct
support for the
extension table places all the stress due to the weight of a bale on the hinge
which may weaken or
break over time under normally rigorous field conditions. These patents also
do not disclose
attaching the extension table to the main bale-receiving table. These patents
also do not disclose a
bale discharge module for moving the main bale-receiving table between a bale
accumulating
position and bale discharging position, wherein the main bale-receiving table
is in a horizontal
position and an inclined position, respectively, relative to the chassis.
Therefore, these patents do
not teach or suggest a need for supporting an extension table, at a location
beyond a side of the
load bed to which the extension table is attached, when the extension table is
in the unstowed
position and when the load bed is in a bale accumulating position and/or a
bale discharging
position relative to a main frame.
U.S. Patent No. 4,844,675 discloses an agricultural bale accumulator having a
center
table, a right table and a left table. The center table receives large-sized
bales from a bale chamber
of a baler. A push bar pushes a bale on the center table to the right or left
table. The right and left
tables are provided with associated extensions which appear to have a width
dimension
approximately equal to one third a width dimension of each of the right and
left tables. A hinge
connects each extension to its associated table so that it may be moved
between a transport and
storage position on a top surface of its associated table and an unfolded
position coplanar with its
associated table. When an extension is in its transport and storage position,
a sensor is actuated to
give a false indication that a bale in on its associated table. The sensor
provides a control signal to
the push bar to prevent movement of the push bar toward that table thereby
preventing damage to
the push bar that would result if a bale were moved onto a table whose
extension is folded to the
transport and storage position. The right and left tables are pivotally
mounted on their frames
between a bale accumulating position and a bale discharging position so that
when the tables are
unlatched they tilt downwardly at the rear of the tables under the weight of
the bale to permit a bale
carried thereon to slide to the ground as the bale accumulator continues its
forward movement.
When the weight of the bale is removed from a table a spring pulls the table
back to its latched
position.
However, U.S. Patent No. 4,844,675 does not disclose a purpose for the
extensions
when unfolded to a position coplanar with the associated tables. Since the
extensions appear to
have a width dimension approximately equal to one third a width dimension of
each of the right
and left tables, it is clear that each of the extensions cannot accumulate an
additional large bale.
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This patent also does not disclose a support system which contacts the
extension at a location
beyond the side of the table to which the extension is attached. Therefore,
the extension does not
have any direct support for a partial bale which may be accumulated thereon
from either a main
frame or the ground. A lack of direct support for the extension places all the
stress due to the
weight of a partial bale on the hinge which may weaken or break over time
under normally
rigorous field conditions. Further, this patent does not teach or suggest a
need for supporting the
extension, at a location beyond the side of the table to which the extension
is attached, when the
extension is in the unstowed position and when the table is in the bale
accumulating position
and/or the bale discharging position.
Hoelscher, Inc., located at 312 S. Main, P.O Box 195, Bushton, Kansas, U.S.A.,
67427, manufactures a bale accumulator Model 1030 having a load bed pivotally
mounted to a
main frame. The load bed includes a center table and two side tables on
opposite sides of the
center table. The bale accumulator bale has a carrying capacity of three total
bales on each of the
three tables and a bale dumping capacity of two of the three total bales from
the two side tables.
The center table continuously receives bales from a bale chamber of a baler
during while baling
and is not permitted to dump any bales. The two side tables dump the two bales
by pivoting about
a pivot axis between a bale accumulating position and a bale discharging
position, wherein the two
side tables are in a horizontal position and an inclined position,
respectively, relative to the main
frame.
However, Holescher's bale accumulator Model 1030 is limited to a bale
accumulation
capacity of three bales and to a bale discharge capacity of two bales.
Holescher's bale
accumulator does not have an extension table connected to a load bed and
moveable relative to the
load bed between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein the
extension table is
substantially co-planar with the load bed and adjacent to the side of the load
bed when the
extension table is in the unstowed position to permit the extension table to
accumulate thereon an
additional bale. Therefore, Holescher's bale accumulator Model 1030 cannot
accumulate more
than three bales.
Recently, Case IH Corporation, located at 700 State Street, Racine, Wisconsin,
Illinois,
53404, U.S.A., introduced a bale accumulator Model 8576 having a load bed
pivotally mounted
to a main frame. The load bed includes a center table and two side tables on
opposite sides of the
center table. The two side tables each have an extension table pivotally
attached a longitudinal side
thereof and moveable between a stowed, road transport position and an
unstowed, bale
accumulating position The bale accumulator Model 8576 has a bale has a
carrying capacity of five
total bales on each of the three tables and the two extension tables and a
bale dumping capacity of
four of the five total bales from the two side tables and the two extension
tables. The center table
continuously receives bales from a bale chamber of a baler during while baling
and is not
permitted to dump any bales. The two side tables and the two extension tables
dump the two
bales by pivoting, about a pivot axis mounted on the main frame, from a bale
accumulating
position to a bale discharging position, wherein the two side tables are in a
horizontal position and
an inclined position, respectively, relative to the main frame.
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However, Case IH Corporation's bale accumulator Model 8576 does not disclose a
support system which contacts the extension table, at a location beyond the
side of the load bed to
which the extension table is attached, when the extension table is in the
unstowed position and
when the load bed is in the bale accumulating position and/or the bale
discharging position.
Therefore, the extension table does not have any direct support for a bale
which may be
accumulated thereon from either a main frame or the ground. A lack of direct
support for the
extension table places all the stress due to the weight of a bale on a hinge
which may weaken or
break over time under normally rigorous field conditions.
U.S. Patent Nos. 4,961,679, 4,955,774 and 4,844,675 and Case IH Corporation's
bale
accumulator Model 8576 each teach only one extension table pivotally attached
to one side of the
chassis, load bed and load bed, respectively. These references do not teach or
suggest attaching
additional extension tables to the one extension table or supporting the one
extension table in
combination with any additional extension tables. Further, each of these
references only teach a
hinged connection between the extension table and the load bed.
Various bale stacking mechanisms for accumulators are known as provided in the
following disclosures. U.S. Patents 4,363,583 and 4,952,111 disclose a
mechanical arm that
picks up and move over to the accumulator's load bed to form a stack of bales.
This type of
stacking mechanism is disadvantageous because the mechanical arms are large
and complicated.
U.S. Patents 3,446,369, 3,414,139, 3,487,955, 3,918,595, 5,405,229 and
4,203,695 each
disclose a bale stacking mechanism implemented as a separate loading table
pivotally connected to
a side of the accumulator's load bed between a horizontal bale receiving
position for receiving
bales a horizontal plane and a vertical bale delivery position for delivering
the horizontally received
bales in a vertical stacked arrangement on the load bed. This type of stacking
mechanism is
disadvantageous because the separate loading table is offset from the bale
chute of the baler takes
up extra space and cannot accumulate bales for discharging. U.S. Patents Re
25,750, 3,278,049,
and 3,251,485 each disclose a bale stacking mechanism implemented as a
separate loading
platform located in front of the accumulator's load bed where stacks of bales
are formed prior to
being moved onto the accumulator's main load bed which accumulates and
discharges the bales.
This type of stacking mechanism is disadvantageous because the platform
performs a dedicated
stacking task and cannot accumulate bales for discharging. U.S. Patent
4,370,796 discloses a
bale stacking mechanism implemented as a by receiving a row of bales across a
lateral axis of the
accumulator's load bed, then lifting the first row, then receiving a second
row of bales below the
first row, then stacking the first and second rows before pushing the stack
across a longitudinal
axis of the load bed. This type of stacking mechanism is disadvantageous
because the mechanism
receives the bales along the lateral axis of the load bed. Claas of America,
Inc., having an address
at 3030 Norcross Drive, Box 3008, Columbus, Indiana 47202-3008 produces an
accumulator
called the Quadrant 1100 which forms a stack of two bales by dropping a first
bale below a bale
receiving position, then receiving a second bale on top of the first bale and
then discharges the
only two bales to the ground by dropping the bottom out from under the first
bale received. This
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type of stacking mechanism is disadvantageous because accumulator can only
accumulate two
bales in a stack and only two bale for the entire accumulator.
The following two patent disclose a type of control for the accumulator. U.S.
Patent No.
4,312,245 discloses a bale accumulator having a center, a right and a left
table. A push bar
pushes a bale on the center table to the right or left table. Each table has
an associated switch
which senses the position of a bale on that table. By monitoring the switches,
the bale
accumulator automatically forms a load on the tables yet permits the operator
to be the sole judge
of when the accumulated load of bales is to be dumped. However, the
accumulator always forms
the same arranged load on the accumulator. U.S. Patent No. 4,844,675 discloses
a bale
accumulator having a center, a right and a left table. A push bar pushes a
bale on the center table
to the right or left table. A microprocessor-based control circuit determines
a status of the position
of the bales on the tables and displays the status on an operator's panel. The
control circuit
monitors bale switches actuated by the presence of bales on the tables, two
switches indicating the
position of the push bar, and three table switches indicating when individual
one of three of the
bales are latched or released for dumping bales therefrom. An operator's panel
provides a visual
display of the status of the bale accumulator and includes switches which may
be actuated by the
operator. In response to the switches on the accumulator, the control circuit
controls the push bar
to move bales from the center table onto the left or right table at the sides
of the center table, or
inhibits movement of the push bar so that a succeeding bale ejected from the
baler pushes a bale
on the center table onto a trailing fourth table. In response to actuation of
a dump switch, the
control circuit determines which tables should be unlatched to dump a bale
therefrom, and
energizes a motor or motors to unlatch the tables as determined by the control
circuit. Although
this accumulator has some automatic features, the operator is required to
actuate the dump
switches.
The following disclosures are related to the discharge of bales from the
accumulator.
Two mechanisms are generally used to discharge bales from a load bed of a bale
accumulator. One mechanism employs a load bed pivotable relative to a chassis
of the bale
accumulator. When the load bed assumes an inclined position the bales slide
off the end of bale
accumulator to the ground under the force of gravity as the bale accumulator
advances. The load
bed may assume the inclined position either by exerting a force on the load
bed or by permitting
the weight of the bales to pivot the load bed.
Another mechanism is a discharge conveyor arrangement provided on the floor of
a fixed
load bed and operable to push bales in a rearward direction off the end of the
bale accumulator.
However, this causes multiple problems such as a required adjustment of
conveyor discharge
speed with the ground speed of the bale accumulator to permit bales to be
discharged in an ordered
array in side-by-side adjacent relationship for recovery by a mechanized
loader. Thus, the bales
may be scatterd or disoriented upon discharge. Also a complex and costly chain
and drive
mechanism tends to accumulate litter requiring careful maintenance, and
necessitating significant
driving energy is required.
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The accumulation of big bales provides certain problems because of the size
and
considerable weight of the bales. Whereas the accumulation of origninal small
rectangular bales
enabled the bales to be "dropped" from the baler onto a receiving station of
the accumulator, the
size and weight of big bales does not permit such delivery methods.
Another problem with the collating of big bales is that they are delivered
continuously
from the baler. One bale is juxtaposed to the next and careless separation of
a bale which has just
been formed from one that is still being formed in the baler can cause damage,
not only to the bale
but may affect operation of the baler itself.
U.S. Patent 4,312,245 discloses a bale accumulator having a chassis and a bale
receiving
bed comprising a central part and two side parts. A bale is received from the
baler on the central
part and may be moved to either one side part of the other side part. The two
side parts are
moveable to a bale delivering position to deliver the bales stored thereon to
the ground. Although
the bale accumulator is large enough to support three bales, it cannot deliver
an array of three bales
to the ground since the central part has to remain fixed to receive bales from
the baler.
U.S. Patent No. 4,215,964 shows a bale accumulator for use in conjunction with
a so-
called large rectangular baler having a generally centrally disposed bale case
as seen in traverse
direction of the machine. The bale accumulator, in operation, is coupled to
the rear of the baler
with a central bale receiving table generally aligned with the bale case and
with bale holding
platforms at both sides of the bale receiving table. Bale transfer means are
associated with the
receiving table and are operable successively to transfer one bale from the
receiving table to one
bale from the receiving table to one side platform and a next bale from the
receing table to the
opposite side platform. These side platforms are pivotable to dump the pair of
baled collected
thereon onto the ground while that a third bale inches its way onto the
centrally disposed bale
receiving table. However, this arrangement cannot group several bales side-by-
side and dump
such bales as an accumulated unit on the ground in a suitable position for
later to be picked up as
such by a clamp apparatus.
European Patent Specification 0 288 322 B 1 discloses a bale accumulator
having a bale
receiving bed mounted on a chassis. The bales received from the baler may be
moved on different
areas of the bed. The bed has a first entry part and a second moveable part.
The second moveable
part is moveable from a bale receiving position to a bale delivery position.
The first entry part and
the second moveable part are relatively arranged such that the last bale of
the array of bales to be
formed by the accumulator is positioned such that it overlies part of the
second moveable part.
The second moveable part is moved from its bale receiving position to its bale
delivery position in
a direction so as to cause movement of the last bale away from the next bale
to be delivered onto
the bale receiving bed.
Accordingly, there is a need for an agricultural bale accumulator with a large
bale
accumulating capacity and intelligent bale accumulation and bale discharge
operations to permit
efficient, flexible and desirable harvesting of hay and forage without the
disadvantages of the prior
art described hereinabove.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGs. 1 and 2 illustrate, in a top, rear and right side perspective view, an
agricultural bale
accumulator having a first embodiment of a load bed extension module including
a first extension
table and a second extension table each being located in an unstowed position
and a stowed
position, respectively, and a bale accumulating portion of the load bed being
located in a bale
accumulating position.
FIGs. 3 and 4 illustrate, in a top and right side perspective view and a top
and right side
perspective view, respectively, the agricultural bale accumulator of FIG. 1
having the first
embodiment of the load bed extension module including the first extension
table and the second
extension table each being located in the unstowed position and the bale
accumulating portion of
the load bed being located in a bale discharging position.
FIG. 5 illustrates, in a top, front and right side perspective view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator of FIG. I having the first embodiment of the load bed extension
module including the
first extension table and the second extension table each being located in the
unstowed position
and the bale accumulating portion of the load bed being located in the bale
accumulating position.
FIG. 6 illustrates, in a top, front and right side perspective view, a
magnified view of an
area of FIG. 5 primarily showing an extension table support mechanism of the
first embodiment
of the load bed extension module for the first extension table when the first
extension table is
located in the unstowed position and the bale accumulating portion of the load
bed is located in the
bale accumulating position and primarily showing a load bed alignment
mechanism for a right side
of the bale accumulating portion of the load bed when the bale accumulating
portion of the load
bed is located in the bale accumulating position.
FIG. 7 illustrates, in a top, front, and left side perspective view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator of FIG. 2.
FIG. 8 illustrates, in a top, front, and left side perspective view, a
magnified view of an
area of FIG. 7 primarily showing an extension table support mechanism of the
first embodiment
of the load bed extension module for the second extension table near a pivot
point between the
bale accumulating portion of the load bed and a main frame when the second
extension table is
located in the stowed position and the bale accumulating portion of the load
bed is located in the
bale accumulating position.
FIG. 9 illustrates, in a bottom, rear and right side perspective view, a
magnified view of
an area of FIG. 1 primarily showing the extension table support mechanism for
the first extension
table near the pivot point between the bale accumulating portion of the load
bed and the main
frame when the first extension table is located in the unstowed position and
the bale accumulating
portion of the load bed is located in the bale accumulating position.
FIG. 10 illustrates, in a bottom, front and right side perspective view, a
magnified view of
an area of FIGS. 3 and 4 primarily showing the extension table support
mechanism for the first
extension table near the pivot point between the bale accumulating portion of
the load bed and the
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main frame when the first extension table is located in the unstowed position
and the bale
accumulating portion of the load bed is located in the bale discharging
position.
FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate, in a top and rear side perspective view, an
agricultural bale
accumulator having a second embodiment of a load bed extension module
including a first
extension table and a second extension table each being located in an unstowed
position and a
stowed position, respectively, and a bale accumulating portion of the load bed
being located in a
bale accumulating position.
FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate, in a top and right side perspective view and a top
and rear side
perspective view, respectively, the agricultural bale accumulator of FIG. 11
having the second
embodiment of the load bed extension module including the first extension
table and the second
extension table each being located in the unstowed position and the bale
accumulating portion of
the load bed being located in a bale discharging position.
FIG. 1 S illustrates, in a top, front and right side perspective view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator of FIGs. 13 and 14 primarily showing an extension table support
system of the
second embodiment of the load bed extension module for the first extension
table.
FIG. 16 illustrates, in a top, front and right side perspective view, a
magnified view of an
area of FIG. 15 primarily showing a closer view of the extension table support
system of the
second embodiment of the load bed extension module for the first extension
table.
FIG. 17 illustrates, in a top, front and right side perspective view, a
magnified view of an
area of FIG. 16 primarily showing a still closer view of the extension table
support system of the
second embodiment of the load bed extension module for the first extension
table.
FIG. 18 illustrates, in a top, rear and left side perspective view, a
magnified view of an
area of FIGS. 15 and 16 primarily showing a load bed latch mechanism attached
to a main frame
under a right side of the bale accumulating portion of the load bed.
FIG. 19 illustrates, in a top, front and right side perspective view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator of FIG. 12 having the second embodiment of the load bed extension
module
including the first extension table and the second extension table each being
located in the stowed
position and the bale accumulating portion of the load bed being located in
the bale accumulating
position.
FIG. 20 illustrates, in a top, rear and right side perspective view, a
magnified view of an
area of the agricultural bale accumulator of FIGs. 12 and 19 primarily showing
an extension table
support system of the second embodiment of the load bed extension module for
the first extension
table when the first extension table is located in a position between the
stowed position and the
unstowed position and when the bale accumulating portion of the load bed is
located in the bale
accumulating position.
FIG. 21 illustrates, in a top, rear and right side perspective view, a
magnified view of an
area of FIGs. 12. 19 and 20 primarily showing a still closer view of the
extension table support
system of the second embodiment of the load bed extension module for the first
extension table
when the first extension table is located in the stowed position and when the
bale accumulating
portion of the load bed is located in the bale accumulating position.
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FIG. 22 illustrates, in a bottom, front and right side perspective view, a
magnified view of
an area of FIG. 11 showing the extension table support system of the second
embodiment of the
load bed extension module for the first extension table when the first
extension table is located in
the unstowed position and when the bale accumulating portion of the load bed
is located in the
bale accumulating position.
FIG. 23 illustrates, in a bottom, rear and right side perspective view, a
magnified view of
an area of FIGS. 11 and 22 primarily showing the extension table support
system of the second
embodiment of the load bed extension module for the first extension table when
the first extension
table is located in the unstowed position and when the bale accumulating
portion of the load bed is
located in the bale accumulating position.
FIGs. 24 and 25 illustrate, in a rear side elevation view, a right side of an
agricultural bale
accumulator having a third embodiment of a load bed extension module including
a first extension
table and a third extension table each being located in an unstowed position
and a stowed position,
respectively, and a bale accumulating portion of a load bed being located in a
bale accumulating
position.
FIGs. 26 and 27 illustrate, in a rear side elevation view, a right side of an
agricultural bale
accumulator having a fourth embodiment of a load bed extension module
including a first
extension table and a third extension table each being located in an unstowed
position and a
stowed position, respectively, and a bale accumulating portion of a load bed
being located in a
bale accumulating position.
FIGs. 28 and 29 illustrate, in a rear side elevation view, a right side of an
agricultural bale
accumulator having a fifth embodiment of a load bed extension module including
a first extension
table and a third extension table each being located in an unstowed position
and a stowed position,
respectively, and a bale accumulating portion of a load bed being located in a
bale accumulating
position.
FIGs. 30 and 31 illustrate, in a rear side elevation view, a right side of an
agricultural bale
accumulator having a sixth embodiment of a load bed extension module including
a first extension
table and a third extension table each being located in an unstowed position
and a stowed position,
respectively, and a bale accumulating portion of a load bed being located in a
bale accumulating
position.
FIGS. 32 and 33 illustrate, in a rear side elevation view, a right side of an
agricultural bale
accumulator having a seventh embodiment of a load bed extension module
including a first
extension table and a third extension table each being located in an unstowed
position and a
stowed position, respectively, and a bale accumulating portion of a load bed
being located in a
bale accumulating position.
FIGs. 34 and 35 illustrate, in a rear side elevation view, a right side of an
agricultural bale
accumulator having a eighth embodiment of a load bed extension module
including a first
extension table and a third extension table each being located in an unstowed
position and a
stowed position, respectively, and a bale accumulating portion of a load bed
being located in a
bale accumulating position.
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FIGs. 36 and 37 illustrate, in a rear side elevation view, a right side of an
agricultural bale
accumulator having an ninth embodiment of a load bed extension module
including a first
extension table and a third extension table each being located in an unstowed
position and a
stowed position, respectively, and a bale accumulating portion of a load bed
being located in a
bale accumulating position.
FIGs. 38, 39 and 40 illustrate, in a rear side elevation view, a right side of
an agricultural
bale accumulator having a tenth, eleventh and twelfth embodiment,
respectively, of a load bed
extension module including a first extension table and a third extension table
each being located in
an unstowed position and a stowed position and a bale accumulating portion of
a load bed being
located in a bale accumulating position.
FIG. 41 illustrates a schematic diagram of a hydraulic system for use with the
agricultural
bale accumulator of FIGS. 1 - 40.
FIG. 42 illustrates a table having thirty six embodiments of an extension
table support
system for a load bed extension module for use on and/or off a pivot axis,
permitting a bale
accumulating portion of a load bed to pivot relative to a main frame, and for
use with one or more
extension tables.
FIG. 43 illustrates a flowchart describing a first general bale stacking
method for forming
and accumulating stacks of bales on a load bed of an agricultural bale
accumulator and for
discharging the stacks of bales to a ground surface.
FIG. 4~4 illustrates a flowchart describing a first particular bale stacking
method for
performing the first general bale stacking method described in FIG. 43 for
forming and
accumulating the stacks of bales on the load bed, by raising the bales above
the load bed to form a
stack of bales then transferring the stack of bales across the load bed, and
for discharging the
stacks of bales to the ground surface.
FIG. 45 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations responsive to the first
particular bale stacking
method described in FIG. 44 to accumulate the stacks of bales on the load bed.
FIG. 46 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations responsive to an alternate
embodiment of the
first particular bale stacking method described in FIG. 44 to accumulate the
stacks of bales on the
load bed by transferring the bales across the load bed then raising the bales
above the load bed to
form the stack of bales.
FIG. 47 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having a
first embodiment of a bale stacking apparatus for raising the bales above a
load bed responsive to
the first particular bale stacking method described in FIG. 44 and the
sequence of bale handling
operations shown in FIG. 45.
FIG. 48 illustrates, in a top side plan view, the agricultural bale
accumulator having the
first embodiment of the bale stacking apparatus shown in FIG. 47.
FIG. 49 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator having
the first embodiment of the bale stacking apparatus shown in FIGS. 47 and 48.
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FIG. 50 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having a
second embodiment of a bale stacking apparatus for raising bales above the
load bed responsive to
the first particular bale stacking method described in FIGS. 44 and the
sequence of bale handling
operations shown in FIG. 45.
FIG. 51 illustrates, in a top side plan view, the agricultural bale
accumulator having the
second embodiment of the bale stacking apparatus shown in FIG. 52.
FIG. 52 illustrates a flowchart describing a second particular bale stacking
method for
performing the first general bale stacking method described in FIG. 43 for
forming and
accumulating the stacks of bales on the load bed, by lowering the bales below
the load bed to form
a stack of bales then transfernng the stack of bales across the load bed, and
for discharging the
stacks of bales to the ground surface.
FIG. 53 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations responsive to the second
particular bale
stacking method described in FIG. 52 to accumulate the stacks of bales on the
load bed.
FIG. 54 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having a
third embodiment of a bale stacking apparatus for lowering the bales below a
load bed responsive
to the second particular bale stacking method described in FIG. 52 and the
sequence of bale
handling operations shown in FIG. 53, wherein a bale receiving portion of the
load bed is located
in a bale lowering position.
FIG. 55 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator having
the third embodiment of a bale stacking apparatus shown in FIG. 54, wherein
the bale receiving
portion of the load bed is located in a bale receiving position.
FIG. 56 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator having
the third embodiment of a bale stacking apparatus shown in FIGs. 54 and 55,
wherein the bale
receiving portion of the load bed is located in the bale receiving position.
FIG. 57 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator having
the third embodiment of a bale stacking apparatus shown in FIGs. 54 ,55 and
56, wherein the
bale receiving portion of the load bed is located in the bale lowering
position.
FIG. 5~ illustrates, in a top side plan view, the agricultural bale
accumulator having the
third embodiment of a bale stacking apparatus shown in FIGS. 54 ,55, 56 and
57, wherein the
bale receiving portion of the load bed is located in the bale receiving
position.
FIG. 59 illustrates a flowchart describing a third particular bale stacking
method for
performing the first general base stacking method described in FIG. 43 for
forming and
accumulating the stacks of bales on the load bed, by raising and/or lowering
the bales above
and/or below the load bed, respectively, to form the stack of bales then
transfernng the stack of
bales across the load bed, and for discharging the stacks of bales to the
ground surface.
FIG. 60 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations responsive to the third
particular bale stacking
method described in FIG. 59 and using the second embodiment of a bale stacking
apparatus
shown in FIGS. 50 and 51 in combination with the third embodiment of a bale
stacking apparatus
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shown in FIGs. 54-58 to accumulate the stacks of bales on the load bed,
wherein a first received
bale is raised above the load bed and a second received bale is lowered below
the load bed.
FIG. 61 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations responsive to the third
particular bale stacking
method described in FIG. 59 and using the second embodiment of a bale stacking
apparatus
shown in FIGs. 50 and 51 in combination with the third embodiment of a bale
stacking apparatus
shown in FIGs. 54-58 to accumulate the stacks of bales on the load bed,
wherein a first received
bale is lowered below the load bed and a second received bale is raised above
the load bed.
FIG. 62 illustrates a flowchart describing a second general bale stacking
method for
accumulating bales on a plurality of load beds of an agricultural bale
accumulator which are
disposed parallel to and vertically displaced relative to each other along a
common vertical load
bed axis and for discharging the accumulated bales to a ground surface to form
stacks of bales or a
single layer of bales.
FIG. 63 illustrates a flowchart describing a first particular bale stacking
method for
performing the second general bale stacking method described in FIG. 62 for
accumulating the
bales on the plurality of load beds, by accumulating the bales on a first load
bed, moving the first
load bed above a second load bed, then accumulating the bales on the second
load bed, and for
discharging the accumulated bales to a ground surface to form stacks of bales
or a single layer of
bales.
FIG. 64 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations responsive to the first
particular bale stacking
method described in FIG. 63 to accumulate the bales on the plurality of load
beds and for
discharging the accumulated bales to a ground surface to form stacks of bales
or a single layer of
bales.
FIGs. 65 and 66 illustrate, in a rear side elevation view and a top side plan
view,
respectively, an agricultural bale accumulator having a first embodiment of
the bale stacking
apparatus for accumulating bales on the plurality of load beds and for
discharging the accumulated
bales to a ground surface to form stacks of bales or a single layer of bales
responsive to the first
particular bale stacking method described in FIG. 63 and the sequence of bale
handling operations
shown in FIG. 64.
FIGs. 67 and 68 illustrate, in a rear side elevation view and a top side plan
view,
respectively, an agricultural bale accumulator having a second embodiment of
the bale stacking
apparatus for accumulating bales on the plurality of load beds and for
discharging the accumulated
bales to a ground surface to form stacks of bales or a single layer of bales
responsive to the first
particular bale stacking method described in FIG. 63 and the sequence of bale
handling operations
shown in FIG. 64.
FIG. 69 illustrates a flowchart describing a second particular bale stacking
method for
performing the second general bale stacking method described in FIG. 62 for
accumulating the
bales on the plurality of load beds, by accumulating the bales on a first load
bed and a second load
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bed located at a fixed position above the first load bed, and for discharging
the accumulated bales
to a ground surface to form stacks of bales.
FIG. 70 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations responsive to the second
particular bale
stacking method described in FIG. 69 to accumulate the bales on the plurality
of load beds and for
discharging the accumulated bales to a ground surface to form stacks of bales.
FIG. 71 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having
an embodiment of the bale stacking apparatus for accumulating bales on the
plurality of load beds
and for discharging the accumulated bales to a ground surface to form stacks
of bales responsive
to the second particular bale stacking method described in FIG. 69 and the
sequence of bale
handling operations shown in FIG. 70, wherein a bale receiving portion of the
load bed is in a
bale receiving position.
FIG. 72 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator having
the embodiment of the bale stacking apparatus shown in FIG. 71, wherein the
bale receiving
portion of the load bed is in a bale elevating position.
FIG. 73 illustrates, in a top side plan view, the agricultural bale
accumulator having the
embodiment of the bale stacking apparatus shown in FIGs. 71 and 72, wherein a
bale receiving
portion of the load bed is in a bale receiving position.
FIG. 74 illustrates a flowchart describing a bale advancement method for
advancing bales
on a load bed of an agricultural bale accumulator.
FIGs. 75, 76 and 77 illustrate, each in a right side elevation view, an
agricultural bale
accumulator having a first embodiment of a bale advancement apparatus
performing a sequence of
bale advancing operations responsive to the bale advancement method of FIG.
74.
FIGs. 78, 79 and 80 illustrate, each in a right side elevation view, an
agricultural bale
accumulator having a second embodiment of a bale advancement apparatus
performing a sequence
of bale advancing operations responsive to the bale advancement method of FIG.
74.
FIG. 81 illustrates a flowchart describing a bale arrangement control method
for
accumulating bales on a load bed of an agricultural bale accumulator by
varying a bale
accumulation arrangement responsive to an input condition.
FIG. 82 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having a
load bed extension module, including four extension tables, having a bale
stacking apparatus and
having a bale arrangement control module for controlling the bale accumulation
arrangement
responsive to the bale arrangement control method described in FIG. 81.
FIG. 83 illustrates a Table showing a plurality of bale arrangements capable
of being
produced by the bale arrangement control module responsive to the bale
arrangement control
method described in FIG. 81 for to the agricultural bale accumulator shown in
FIG. 82.
FIG. 84 illustrates a flowchart describing a general stabilization method for
stabilizing
bales accumulated on a load bed of an agricultural bale accumulator.
FIG. 85 illustrates a flowchart describing a first particular stabilization
method for
performing the general stabilization method described in FIG. 84 for
stabilizing bales accumulated
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on a load bed, by leveling the load bed along one of a longitudinal axis and a
lateral axis of the
load bed.
FIG. 86 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
traveling over a ground surface which varies relative to a horizontal plane,
wherein a longitudinal
load bed leveling apparatus levels the load bed responsive to the first
particular stabilization
method described in FIG. 85 to compensate load bed for the varying ground
surface to stabilize
the bales on the load bed along the longitudinal axis.
FIG. 87 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator traveling
over a ground surface which varies relative to a horizontal plane, wherein a
lateral load bed
leveling apparatus levels the load bed responsive to the first particular
stabilization method
described in FIG. 85 to compensate load bed for the varying ground surface
thereby stabilizing
the bales on the load bed along the lateral axis.
FIGS. 88 and 89 illustrate, each in a rear side elevation view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator shown in FIG. 86 having a lateral load bed leveling apparatus for
leveling the load
bed along the lateral axis responsive to the first particular stabilization
method described in FIG.
85 to compensate load bed for the varying ground surface thereby stabilizing
the bales on the load
bed.
FIGS. 90 and 91 illustrate, each in a right side elevation view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator shown in FIG. 87 having a longitudinal load bed leveling apparatus
for leveling the
load bed along the longitudinal axis responsive to the first particular
stabilization method described
in FIG. 85 to compensate load bed for the varying ground surface thereby
stabilizing the bales on
the load bed.
FIG. 92 illustrates a flowchart describing a second particular stabilization
method for
performing the general stabilization method described in FIG. 84 for
stabilizing bales accumulated
on a load bed, by adaptively moving the load bed extension tables between a
stowed position and
an unstowed position to stabilize the bales along the lateral axis of the load
bed and to accumulate
the bales on the load bed extension tables, respectively.
FIG. 93 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having a
lateral bale stabilization apparatus for performing a sequence of bale
stabilizing and accumulating
operations responsive to the second particular stabilization method described
in FIG. 92.
FIGs. 94, 95 and 96 illustrate, each in a rear side elevation view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator shown in FIG. 93 having a lateral bale stabilization apparatus for
performing the
sequence of bale stabilizing and accumulating operations shown in FIG. 93
responsive to the
second particular stabilization method described in FIG. 92, wherein the
lateral bale stabilization
apparatus has a moveable support arm.
FIG. 97 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator shown
in FIG. 93 having a lateral bale stabilization apparatus for performing the
sequence of bale
stabilizing and accumulating operations shown in FIG. 93 responsive to the
second particular
stabilization method described in FIG. 92, wherein a bale receiving surface of
each of a right bale
accumulating portion of the load bed extension tables is disposed at
progressively decreasing
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angles, each being somewhat less than 180°, relative to a center bale
receiving portion of the load
bed to progressively bias the bales accumulated thereon towards the center
bale receiving portion
of the load bed in proportion to an increasing distance of the accumulated
bales from the center
bale receiving portion of the load bed.
FIG. 98 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator shown
in FIG. 93 having a lateral bale stabilization apparatus for performing the
sequence of bale
stabilizing and accumulating operations shown in FIG. 93 responsive to the
second particular
stabilization method described in FIG. 92, wherein a bale receiving surface of
each of a right bale
accumulating portion of the load bed extension tables is disposed at a
constant angle somewhat
less than 180° relative to a center bale receiving portion of the load
bed to constantly bias the bales
thereon towards the center bale receiving portion of the load bed over a
distance between the
center bale receiving portion of the load bed and the farthest positioned load
bed extension table.
FIG. 99 illustrates a flowchart describing a general counterweight method for
performing
a part of the second particular stabilization method described in FIG. 92 to
dynamically move a
load bed extension table between a stowed position and an unstowed position
responsive to a
weight of a bale on the load bed adjacent to the load bed extension table.
FIG. 100 illustrates a flowchart describing a particular counterweight method
for
performing for performing the general counterweight method described in FIG.
99.
FIGs. 101 and 102 illustrate, each in a rear side elevation view, the right
side of the
agricultural bale accumulator shown in FIGs. 93-98, but with only one load bed
extension table,
showing the theory underlying the particular and general counterweight methods
described in
FIGs. 99 and 100, respectively.
FIG. 103 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the right side of the
agricultural bale
accumulator shown in FIGS. 93-98, but with only one load bed extension table,
having a
counterweight mechanism for implementing the counterweight theory described in
FIGs. 101 and
102 and for performing the particular and general counterweight methods
described in FIGs. 99
and 100, respectively.
FIG. 104 illustrates a flowchart describing a permissive bale discharge method
for
permitting a bale received on a bale receiving portion of a load bed of an
agricultural bale
accumulator at a first rate of speed along a bale receiving axis in a bale
receiving direction to be
discharged from the bale receiving portion of a load bed to a ground surface
in a bale discharging
direction, essentially the same as the bale receiving direction, without
interfering with a
successively formed bale approaching the bale receiving portion of a load bed
during the bale
discharge operation.
FIGS. 105 and 106 illustrate, in a right side elevation view and a top side
plan view,
respectively an agricultural bale accumulator having a first embodiment of a
permissive bale
discharge apparatus, formed by a hinged bale support member located in a load
bed notch,
operating responsive to the permissive bale discharge method described in FIG.
104.
FIG. 107 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having
a fifth embodiment of a permissive bale discharge apparatus, formed by a
pivoting load bed with a
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load bed notch, operating responsive to the permissive bale discharge method
described in FIG.
104.
FIG. 108 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having
a second embodiment of a permissive bale discharge apparatus, formed by a
sliding bale support
member located in a load bed notch, operating responsive to the permissive
bale discharge
method described in FIG. 104.
FIG. 109 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having
a third embodiment of a permissive bale discharge apparatus, formed by a
rotating bale support
member located in a load bed notch, operating responsive to the permissive
bale discharge method
described in FIG. 104.
FIGs. 110 and 111 illustrate, in a right side elevation view and a top, rear
and right side
perspective view, respectively, an agricultural bale accumulator having a
fourth embodiment of a
permissive bale discharge apparatus, formed by a sloped load bed in a load bed
notch, operating
responsive to the permissive bale discharge method described in FIG. 104.
FIG. 112 illustrates a flowchart describing a selective bale discharge method
for permitting
a bale receiving portion of a load bed of an agricultural bale accumulator to
discharge a bale,
received along a bale receiving axis in a bale receiving direction, from the
bale receiving portion of
a load bed to a ground surface in a bale discharging direction, essentially
the same as the bale
receiving direction, either dependently or independently relative to a bale
accumulating portion of
the load bed discharging accumulated bales to the ground surface.
FIG. 113 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having
a selective bale discharge apparatus operating responsive to selective bale
discharge method
described in FIG. 112, wherein the bale receiving portion of the load bed is
located in a bale
receiving position and the bale accumulating portion of the load bed is
located in a bale
accumulating position.
FIG. 114 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator
shown in FIG. 113, wherein the bale receiving portion of the load bed is
located in the bale
receiving position and the bale accumulating portion of the load bed is
located in a bale
discharging position.
FIG. 115 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator
shown in FIGs. 113 and 114, wherein each of the bale receiving portion of the
load bed and the
bale accumulating portion of the load bed is located in a bale discharging
position.
FIG. 116 illustrates, in a top side planar view, the agricultural bale
accumulator shown in
FIGs. 113 - 115, wherein the bale receiving portion of the load bed is located
in a bale receiving
position and the bale accumulating portion of the load bed is located in a
bale accumulating
position.
FIG. 117 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator shown
in FIGs. 113 - 115, wherein the bale receiving portion of the load bed is
located in the bale
receiving position and the bale accumulating portion of the load bed is
located in a bale
discharging position.
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FIG. 118 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator shown
in FIGs. 113 - 115, wherein each of the bale receiving portion of the load bed
and the bale
accumulating portion of the load bed is located in a bale discharging
position.
FIG. 119 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator shown
in FIGs. 113 - 115, wherein the bale receiving portion of the load bed is
located in the bale
discharging position and the bale accumulating portion of the load bed is
located in a bale
accumulating position.
FIG. 120 illustrates a flowchart describing a bale speed discharge control
method for
controlling a discharge speed of bales accumulated on a load bed of an
agricultural bale
accumulator as the bales are discharged from the load bed to a ground surface
responsive to a
forward traveling direction of the agricultural bale accumulator.
FIG. 121 illustrates, in a top, rear and right side perspective view, an
agricultural bale
accumulator having a bale speed control discharge apparatus operating
responsive to the bale
speed discharge control method described in FIG. 120, wherein the load bed is
located in a bale
receiving and accumulating position.
FIG. 122 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator
shown in FIG. 121, wherein the load bed is located in a bale receiving and
accumulating position
and in a bale discharging position.
FIGs. 123 and 124 illustrate, each in a right side elevation view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator shown in FIGs. 121 and 122, wherein the load bed is located in a
bale receiving and
accumulating position and in a bale discharging position, respectively, and
wherein the bale speed
control discharge apparatus includes an accumulator traveling speed sensing
mechanism.
FIG. 125 illustrates a flowchart describing a general field location control
method for
controlling operations, such as bale accumulation and/or bale discharge
functions, of an
agricultural bale accumulator responsive to a location of the agricultural
bale accumulator in a
field.
FIG. 126 illustrates a flowchart describing a particular field location
control method for the
general field locator control method described in FIG. 125 to adaptively
control bale discharge
functions of an agricultural bale accumulator responsive to the location of
the agricultural bale
accumulator in the field.
FIG. 127 illustrates, in an aerial view, a field showing a path of travel of
an agricultural
bale accumulator across the field while performing the field location control
methods described in
FIGS. 126 and 127 and showing predetermined bale discharge zones in the field.
FIG. 128 illustrates a block diagram of an agricultural bale accumulator
representing the
agricultural bale accumulator and method therefor shown in FIGS. 1-127 and 129-
132, wherein
the agricultural bale accumulator has a controller with memory for storing all
of the methods
disclosed as flowcharts herein to control the agricultural bale accumulator
and to manage external
interfaces as disclosed herein.
FIG. 129 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view. an agricultural bale
accumulator having
a preferred combination of each of the apparatus disclosed herein.
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FIG. 130 illustrates, in a right side elevation view. the agricultural bale
accumulator
shown in FIG. 129, wherein a load bed of the agricultural bale accumulator is
located in a bale
receiving and accumulating position relative to a main frame.
FIG. 131 illustrates, in a top side plan view, the agricultural bale
accumulator shown in
FIGs. 129 and 130.
FIG. 132 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator
shown in FIGS. 129 - 131, wherein the load bed is located in a bale
discharging position relative
to the main frame to permit bales accumulated on the load bed to be discharged
to a ground
surface.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
I . Introduction
A. Summary Of The Figures
Generally referring to all the figures, FIGS. 1-132 illustrate an agricultural
bale
accumulator 100 ("accumulator") and method therefor comprising, individually
or in any
combination, the following modules.
FIGS. 1-42 illustrate a load bed extension module 102 having an extension
table support
system. FIGs. 1-10 illustrate an agricultural bale accumulator 100 having a
first embodiment of a
load bed extension module 102. FIGs. 11-23 illustrate an agricultural bale
accumulator 100
having a second embodiment of the load bed extension module 102. FIGs. 24-40
illustrate an
agricultural bale accumulator 100 having third through twelfth embodiments of
the load bed
extension module 102. FIG. 41 illustrates a schematic diagram of a hydraulic
system for use with
the agricultural bale accumulator 100 of FIGs. 1-132. FIG. 42 illustrates a
table 212 illustrating
thirty six embodiments of an extension table support system for the load bed
extension module
102, including the twelve embodiments of the load bed extension module 102
illustrated in FIGS.
1-40, for use on and/or off a pivot axis for one or more extension tables..
FIGs. 43-73 illustrate a bale stacking module 332. FIGS. 43-61 illustrate a
bale stacking
method and apparatus, using a single load bed, that raises the bales above the
load bed, lowers the
bales below the load bed, or raises and/or lowers bales to form a stack of
bales on the load bed.
FIGs. 62-73 illustrate a bale stacking method and apparatus using multiple
load beds that are
either moveable or fixed relative to each other, wherein the accumulator 100
discharges the bales
from the load bed to a ground surface either simultaneously to form stacks of
bales on the ground
surface or sequentially to form a single layer of bales on the ground surface.
FIGs. 74-80 illustrate a bale advancement module 798, including a method which
is
performed by one of a first apparatus, formed as a spiked cylinder, and a
second apparatus,
formed as a spiked conveyor.
FIGS. 81-83 illustrate a bale arrangement control module 832. FIG. 81
illustrates a
flowchart describing a method to be performed by an embodiment of an apparatus
shown in
FIG. 82 and 128 to determine a dynamic arrangement of bales on the load bed of
the accumulator,
as shown in FIG. 83.
FIGS. 84-103 illustrate a bale stabilization module 899. FIGS. 84-91
illustrate a load bed
leveling module 900. FIGs. 84, 92-103 illustrate a lateral bale stabilization
module 966.
FIGs. 104-111 and 74-80 illustrate a permissive bale discharge module 1052.
FIG. 104
illustrates a flowchart describing a method to be performed by one of five
embodiments of an
apparatus shown in FIGS. 105-111 or to be performed by the embodiment of
method and
apparatus shown in FIGS. 74-80.
FIGS. 112-119 illustrate a selective bale control module 1093. FIG. 112
illustrates a
flowchart describing a method to be performed by an embodiment of an apparatus
shown in
FIGS. 113-119.
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FIGS. 120-124 illustrate a bale speed discharge control module 1106. FIG. 120
illustrates
a flowchart describing a method to be performed by an embodiment of an
apparatus shown in
FIGs. 121-124.
FIGS. 125 and 126 illustrate a field location control module. FIGS. 125 and
126 illustrate
. 5 flowcharts describing a method to be performed by the accumulator 100.
represented in FIG. 128,
when traveling across a field shown in FIG. 127.
FIG. 128 illustrates a block diagram 128 of the accumulator 100 including each
of the
abovementioned modules. FIGs. 129-132 illustrate the accumulator 100 including
each of the
abovementioned modules.
B . Summary Of Operation
The load bed extension module 102 expands and supports a bale accumulating
capacity of
the accumulator 100 along a horizontal axis. The bale stacking module 332
expands a bale
accumulating capacity of the accumulator 100 along a vertical axis. The bale
advancement module
798 advances a fully formed bale onto a load bed 113 ahead of a successive
bale to create a
predetermined space 808 between the bales to permit the fully formed bale to
be handled by the
accumulator 100 in an amount of time before the successive bale travels
through the predetermined
space 808. The bale arrangement control module 830 permits a dynamic
arrangement of bales to
be accumulated on the accumulator 100 within a bale accumulating capacity of
the accumulator
100. The bale stabilization module 899, provided by a load bed leveling module
900 and/or a
lateral bale stabilization module 996, encourages the bales to remain at their
accumulated positions
on the accumulator prior to their discharge from the accumulator 100. The
permissive bale
discharge module 1052, provided by a sliding 1066, a hinged 1056 or a rotating
1068 bale
support member, or a pivoting or a sloped 1074 load bed 113, or a bale
advancement module 798,
permits the accumulator 100 to discharge a bale accumulated on a center
portion 114 of a load bed
113 along a bale receiving axis 201 without the load bed 113 interfering with
a successively
received bale. The selective bale discharge control module 1093 permits the
accumulator 100 to
selectively control a discharge of bales accumulated on a bale receiving
portion 114 of a load bed
113 located along a bale receiving axis 201 and/or a bale accumulating portion
116, 118 of the
load bed 113 located adjacent to the bale receiving portion 114. The bale
speed discharge control
module 1106 controls a discharge speed of bales accumulated on a load bed 113
to a ground
surface 128 responsive to a traveling speed of the accumulator 100. The field
location control
module 1115 controls a bale accumulation operation and/or a bale discharge
operation of the
accumulator 100 responsive to a location of the accumulator in a field 1135.
One or more of these
modules advantageously provides the accumulator 100 with a large bale
accumulating capacity and
intelligent bale accumulation and bale discharge operations to permit
efficient, flexible and
desirable harvesting of hay and forage.
C. Reference Diagram
Generally referring to all the figures showing the accumulator 100 as a
mechanical
apparatus, for the sake of convenience and facilitating a better understanding
the preferred
embodiments, the figures include a reference diagram illustrating three
dimensions and should .not
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limit the scope of the present invention. The reference diagram includes a
first axis 201, a second
axis 202 and a third axis 203. The reference diagram used in conjunction with
the agricultural bale
accumulator 100 and/or components thereof is determined with reference to the
orientation of
agricultural bale accumulator 100. The first axis 201 lies along a
longitudinal axis of the
agricultural bale accumulator 100. The second axis 202 lies along a lateral
axis of the agricultural
bale accumulator 100 and is transverse to the first axis 201. A third axis 203
lies in a vertical
relationship to the agricultural bale accumulator 100 and is transverse to
both the first axis 201 and
the second axis 202.
Arrows on the ends of each of the first axis 201, the second axis 202 and the
third axis
203 are numbered to indicate direction along each of the three axis. On the
first axis 201, arrows
221 and 222 represent a forward direction and a rearward direction.
respectively. On the second
axis 202, arrows 223 and 225 represent a right direction and a left direction,
respectively. On the
third axis 203, arrows 225 and 226 represent an upward direction and a
downward direction,
respectively. For example, the direction of forward operative travel of the
agricultural bale
accumulator is in the forward direction represented by arrow 221 along the
first axis 201.
II. Base Module
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate, in a top, rear and right side perspective view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator 100 having a first embodiment of a load bed extension module 102
including a first
extension table 104 and a second extension table 106 each being located in an
unstowed position
and a stowed position, respectively, and a portion 116 and 118 of the load bed
113 being located
in a bale accumulating position. FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate, in a top 109,
rear 119 and right 124
side perspective view, an agricultural bale accumulator 100 having a second
embodiment of a load
bed extension module 102 including a first extension table 104 and a second
extension table 106
each being located in an unstowed position and a stowed position,
respectively, and a portion 116
and 118 of the load bed 113 being located in a bale accumulating position.
The bale accumulator 100 has a modular construction and generally comprises a
base
module 112, the load bed extension module 102, a bale transfer module 186, and
a bale discharge
module 116, 118, 190. In the preferred embodiments, the base module 112
comprises a main
frame 102 for supporting a load bed 113 and a pair of ground engaging castor
wheels 108 and
109 for supporting the main frame 102 above a ground surface 128.
The accumulator 100 is adapted to be pulled in tandem behind an agricultural
baler 101
("baler") in a direction of travel 221 across a ground surface 128. The load
bed 113 is
substantially planar and receives a plurality of bales, including a first bale
followed by a second
bale, from a bale chamber 103 of the agricultural baler 101 along the first
bale receiving axis 201.
The plurality of bales are ejected from a bale chamber 103 of the baler 101 at
a first rate of speed
along the bale receiving axis 201 in a bale traveling direction 222
essentially opposite to the
direction of travel 221 of the baler 101 and the accumulator 100. The second
bale contacts the
first bale to eject the first bale from the bale chamber 103 of the baler 101
to cause the first bale to
be received on the load bed 113 along the bale receiving axis 201 in the bale
traveling direction
222. The first bale is completely formed and tied when the first bale is
ejected from the bale
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chamber 103 of the baler 101. Alternatively, the plurality of bales may be
retrieved from the
ground surface 128 after having been discharged from the bale chute 103 of the
baler 101.
The load bed includes a center load bed 114, a right load bed 116 and a left
load bed 118.
As will be described with reference to FIGs. 3, 4, 11 and 12, the portion 116
and 118 of the load
. 5 bed 113 moves between a bale accumulating position and a bale discharging
position while the
center load bed 114 remains in a fixed position relative to the main frame
120.
The base module 112 supports the load bed extension module 102 which is
operative to
receive and accumulate additional bales, the bale-transfer module 186 which is
operable to
displace bales transversely on the load bed 113 and bale-discharge module 116,
118, 190 which is
operative to discharge bales to the ground. Each of the load bed extension
module 102, the bale-
transfer module 186 and the bale-discharge module 116, 118, 190 will be
described in detail
hereinbelow.
As shown in FIGs. 1 and 11, each of the first 104 and second 106 extension
tables are
substantially co-planar with the load bed 113 and adjacent to a first side 124
and a second side
126, respectively, of the load bed 113 when each of the first 104 and second
106 extension tables
are in the unstowed position to permit each of the first 104 and second 106
extension tables to
accumulate thereon at least one of the plurality of bales received on the load
bed 113. As shown
in FIG. 2, each of the first 104 and second 106 extension tables are
substantially raised to an
inclined position relative to the load bed 113 when each of the first 104 and
second 106 extension
tables are in the unstowed position to permit the bale accumulator 100 to be
stored or to be
transported on a public roadway.
In the preferred embodiment, the bale accumulator 100 has a lateral width
dimension 161
of approximately 548 cm when each of the first 104 and second 106 extension
tables are in the
unstowed position and a lateral width dimension 160 of approximately 335 cm
when each of the
first 104 and second 106 extension tables are in the stowed position.
Therefore, a lateral width
dimension of the load bed 113 is increased by 213 cm. With these lateral width
dimensions, the
bale accumulator 100 is permitted to accumulate up to five medium sized bales
on the load bed 113
across the lateral axis 202 of the load bed 113 when each of the first 104 and
second 106
extension tables are in the unstowed position.
By contrast, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,961,679 and 4,955,774 teaches the accumulation
of up
to only four bales across a lateral axis of the load bed, U.S. Patent No.
4,844,675 teaches the
accumulation of up to only three bales across a lateral axis of the center,
right and left tables, and
Holescher's bale accumulator Model 1030 teaches the accumulation of up to only
three bales
across a lateral axis of load bed. Therefore, the bale accumulator 100 of the
present invention
increases the bale accumulating capacity along a lateral axis of a bale
accumulator by one or two
additional bales over that provided by the bale accumulators described in
these references to
increase the bale accumulator's bale accumulating efficiency by 25% and 66%,
respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is
located in a
bale accumulating position which is a horizontal position relative to the main
frame 120 to permit
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the load bed 113 and the first 104 and second 106 extension tables to
accumulate thereon the
plurality of bales.
The bale accumulator 100 is hitched or attached to the agricultural baler 101,
which is
partially shown in FIGS. 1-5, 11-15, and 19 of the drawings, by a coupling
device comprising,
on one hand, a ring or eye bolt attached to a main frame 120 of the bale
accumulator 100 and
disposed to enter in to a socket coupled to the main frame 120 and to receive
a coupling pin
therethrough and, on the other hand, a pair of transversely spaced apart tie
rods provided at
opposite ends of the eye bolt. Each tie rod is attached at its opposite ends
to the baler 101 and the
main frame 120 by ball joints. In an alternative arrangement only one such tie
rod is provided.
With this form of hitching or connection, the accumulator 100 cannot move in
yaw relative to the
baler 101 on the one hand while limited movement in the two other main
connections is allowed
on the other hand. Indeed, the bale accumulator 100 and the baler 101 can move
relative to each
other to a limited degree in pitch about the ball joints and the eye bolt and
in addition thereto the
coupling device allows the accumulator and the baler to move relative to each
other about a
longitudinal, fore-and-aft axis of the two components. The inability of the
baler 101 and the bale
accumulator 100 to move relative to each other in yaw requires that the two
ground-engaging-
wheels 108 and 110 of the bale accumulator 100 are castor wheels which are
pivotable about
generally vertical axes. The foregoing arrangement is necessary to guarantee
that, in use, the
bales emerging from a bale chamber 103 of the baler 101 are always received at
precisely the same
location on the bale accumulator 100 by virtue of the accumulator 100 always
having a bale
receiving portion a load bed 114 properly aligned with the bale chamber 103.
However, for
transport purposes, the bale accumulator 100 should be able to assume, when
seen in a horizontal
plane, an angled position relative to the pulling baler 101. To this end, the
tie rods are removed
and the castor wheels are secured in their fixed positions relative to the
main frame 120 whereby
the accumulator 100 becomes a conventional trailed unit.
III. Bale Transfer Module
The bale transfer module distributes a plurality of bales received on the load
bed 113
across the load bed 113 and the first and second extension tables 104 and 106
to accumulate the
plurality of bales on the load bed 113 and the first and second extension
tables 104 and 106 in a
side by side relationship when the first and second extension tables 104 and
106 are each in the
unstowed position and when the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is in
the bale
accumulating position.
In the preferred embodiments, the bale transfer module 186 comprises a push
bar 186
operable to alternately transfer bales transversely across the load bed 113
along the second axis
202 as they are received onto the load bed 113 from the bale chute 103 of the
baler 101. The push
bar 186 and its associated drive mechanism is known in the bale accumulator
art as shown in U.S.
Patent Nos. 4,961,679, 4,955,774 and 4,844,675, herein incorporated by
reference, Holescher's
bale accumulator Model 1030, and Case IH Corporation's bale accumulator Model
8576, for
example, referred to hereinabove in the Background of the Invention section.
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Alternatively, other types of bale transfer modules may be implemented the
bale
accumulator 100 without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Such other bale
transfer modules may include for example, a robotic arm assembly as shown in
U.S. Patents
4,961,679, 4,955,774 or a moveable platform as shown in U.S. Patents 4.710,086
and
4,710,087, each of which is herein incorporated by reference.
IV. Bale Discharge Module
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate, in a top, front and right side perspective view and
a top, rear and
right side perspective view, respectively, the agricultural bale accumulator
100 of FIG. 1 having
the first embodiment of the load bed extension module 102 including the first
extension table 104
and the second extension table 106 each being located in the unstowed position
and a portion 116
and 118 of the load bed I 13 being located in a bale discharging position.
FIGs. 13 and 14
' illustrate, in a top 109, front 117 and right 124 side perspective view and
a top 109, rear 119 and
right 124 side perspective view, respectively, the agricultural bale
accumulator 100 of FIG. 11
having the second embodiment of the load bed extension module 102 including
the first extension
table 104 and the second extension table 106 each being located in the
unstowed position and the
portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 being located in a bale discharging
position.
In the preferred embodiments, the bale discharge module comprises the portion
116 and
118 of the load bed 113 and a hydraulic cylinder 190. The portion 116 and 118
of the load bed
113 is pivotally connected to the main frame 120 about a pivot point 188
disposed on a horizontal
pivot axis 146 and moveable relative to the main frame 120 between the bale
accumulating
position and the bale discharging position. The portion 116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 is in a
horizontal position relative to the main frame 120 when the portion 116 and
118 of the load bed
113 is in the bale accumulating position to permit portion 116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 and the
first extension table 104 to accumulate thereon the plurality of bales. The
portion 116 and 118 of
the load bed 113 is in an inclined position relative to the main frame 120
when the load bed 113 is
in the bale discharging position to permit the portion 116 and 118 of the load
bed 113 and the first
104 and second 106 extension tables to discharge the plurality of bales
accumulated thereon to the
ground surface 128.
Alternatively, other types of bale transfer modules may be implemented the
bale
accumulator 100 without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Such other bale
discharge modules may include for example, conveyor chains having push plates
which push the
accumulated bales off a horizontal load bed to the ground as shown in U.S.
Patents 4,961,679
and 4,955,774, each of which is herein incorporated by reference. An advantage
of this
embodiment for a bale discharge module is that the load bed is rigidly fixed
to the main frame to
provide a stable support for the accumulated bales during the bale
accumulating and bale
discharging operations.
Still an other bale discharge modules may include, for example, a load bed
pivotally
mounted on to a main frame and moveable between a bale accumulating position
and a bale
discharging position so that when the load bed is unlatched the load bed tilts
downwardlv at the
rear of the load bed under the force of gravity action on the weight of the
bales to permit the bales
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carned thereon to slide to the ground as the bale accumulator continues its
forward movement.
When the weight of the bales is removed from the load bed a spring or a
counterweight provided
by a weight of the load bed pulls the load bed to its latched position. An
advantage of this
embodiment for a bale discharge module is that a hydraulic dump cylinder is
not needed to
forcibly raise the load bed and the bales accumulated thereon to its bale
discharging position.
V. Load Bed Extension Module
With continuing reference to the first and second embodiments shown in FIGs. 1-
4 and
11-14, the load bed extension module 102 generally includes a first extension
table 104, a first
extension table attachment mechanism 122 and a first extension table support
system 130. While
the following description of the load bed extension module 102 will be given
with reference to the
first, right side 124 of the load bed 113, the load bed extension module 102
is also intended to
apply to the second, left side 126 of the load bed 113 in a similar manner as
that described for
first, right side 124 of the base module 112. However, while use of the load
bed extension
module 102 on each side of the load bed 113 is preferred, the load bed
extension module 102 is
not required to be used on both sides of the base module at the same time.
A. Extension Table Attachment Mechanism
The first extension table attachment mechanism connects the first extension
table 104 to the
base module 112 to permit the first extension table 104 to be moveable
relative to the base module
112 between the stowed position and the unstowed position. The stowed and
unstowed positions
are described hereinabove.
In the preferred embodiment, the first extension table attachment mechanism is
a hinge 122
located on a first hinge axis 136. Likewise, the second table is connected to
the second side 126
of the base module 112 with a hinge 123 disposed along a second hinge axis
138. Alternatively,
the first extension table attachment mechanism may be a telescoping mechanism
as shown in FIG.
40 and described in further detail herein below.
In the preferred embodiment, the first extension table 104 is connected to the
right load
bed portion 116 of the load bed 113 and permitted to move with the right load
bed portion 116 of
the load bed 113 moves between the bale accumulating position and the bale
discharging position.
This arrangement permits the bale accumulator 100 to discharge any bales
located on the right 116
and left 118 portions of the load bed 113 and the first 104 and second 106
extension tables at the
same time by moving the right 116 and left 118 portions of the load bed 113 to
the bale
discharging position relative to the main frame 120. Alternatively, the load
bed extension module
102 is equally well suited for use with a bale discharge module wherein a load
bed does not tilt
relative to a main frame, such as the chain driven push plates described
hereinabove. In this
alternative case, the first 104 and second 106 extension tables can be
attached directly to the main
frame, as opposed to the load bed, if so desired.
B. Extension Table Support System
The first extension table support system 130 is connected to at least one of
the base
module 112 and the first extension table 104. The first extension table
support system 130
contacts the first extension table 104 at a location beyond the first side 124
of the load bed 113 and
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contacts at least one of the base module 112 and the ground surface 128 to
support the first
extension table 104 from at least one of the base module 112 and the ground
surface 128,
respectively, when the first extension table 104 is in the unstowed position.
Generally, the first extension table support system 130 comprises five
embodiments which
will be described in detail below. The first embodiment of the first extension
table support system
130 utilize a support wheel 164. The second, third, fourth and fifth
embodiments of the first
extension table support system 130 utilize a first 140, second 150, third 154
and fourth 192 frame
extension members, respectively. For the sake of convenience and to facilitate
a better
understanding of the present invention, embodiments of the first 140, second
150, third 154 and
fourth 192 frame extension members comprise a truss member, a collapsible
cylinder, a fixed
frame member and a moveable frame member, respectively, which should not limit
the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
The support wheel 164 will be described in further detail with reference to
the first, third,
fourth, sixth, seventh, eleventh, and twelfth embodiments of the load bed
extension module 102,
as shown in FIGs. 1-10, 24 and 25, 26 and 27, 30 and 31, 32 and 33, 39, and
40, respectively.
The truss member of the first frame extension member 140 will be described in
further detail with
reference to the first, second, fifth, seventh, eight and ninth embodiments of
the load bed
extension module 102, as shown in FIGS. 1-10, 11-23, 28 and 29, 32 and 33, 34
and 35, and 36
and 37, respectively. The collapsible cylinder of the second frame extension
member 150 is
described with reference to the first, second, and ninth embodiments of the
load bed extension
module 102, as shown in FIGs. 1-10, 11-23, and 36 and 37, respectively. The
fixed frame
member of the third frame extension member 154 will be described in further
detail with reference
to the second, fourth, and fifth, embodiments of the load bed extension module
20, as shown in
FIGs. 11-23, 26 and 27, and 28 and 29, respectively. The moveable frame member
of the fourth
frame extension member 192 will be described in further detail with reference
to the fourth, sixth,
seventh, eleventh and twelfth embodiments of the load bed extension module 20,
as shown in
FIGS. 26 and 27, 30 and 31, 32 and 33, 39, and 40, respectively.
The first extension table support system 130 contacts the first extension
table 104 at a
location beyond the first side 124 of the load bed 113. Likewise, a second
extension table support
system contacts the second extension table 106 at a location beyond the second
side 126 of the
load bed 113. For the first extension table 104, the location where the
contact is made is further
described as being beyond the first hinge axis 136 where the first extension
table 104 is attached
to the load bed 133. Preferably, a location of contact on the first extension
table 104 between a
center portion and a distal side of the first extension table 104 is optimal.
By contrast, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,961,679, 4,955,774 and 4,844,675 and Case IH
Corporation's bale accumulator Model 8576 do not disclose a support system
which contacts an
extension table at a location beyond a side of a base module to which the
extension table is
attached. Each of these references merely show an extension table hinged to
the base module
without any support beyond the hinge area.
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When used alone, the support wheel 164 supports the first extension table 104
from the
ground surface 128 when the first extension table 104 is in the unstowed
position. When used
alone, each of the first 140, second 150, third 154 and fourth 192 frame
extension members
support the first extension table 104 from the base module 112 when the first
extension table 104
is in the unstowed position. When used in combination, the support wheel 164
and one of the
first 140, second 150, third 154 and fourth 192 frame extension members
support the first
extension table 104 from the ground surface 128 and the base module 112 when
the first
extension table 104 is in the unstowed position.
In the preferred embodiment, the first extension table support system 130
further supports
the first extension table 104 from at least one of the base module 112 and the
ground surface 128
the when the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is at least one of the
bale accumulating
position and the bale discharging position. It is especially important to note
that when the portion
116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is moved to the bale discharging position
about the pivot axis
146, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 13 and 14, there is a large amount of space
between the portion 116
and 118 of the load bed 113 and the main frame 120. In the bale discharging
position, the
portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is supported from the main frame 120
with the hydraulic
cylinder 190 which is used to forcibly tilt the portion 116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 relative to
the main frame 120. However, according to the present invention, the first 104
and second 106
extension tables attached to the portions 116 and 118 of the load bed 113,
respectively, also need
support when the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is located in at
least one of the bale
accumulating position and the bale discharging position. During the operation
of the bale
accumulator 100 in a field, the bale accumulator 100 is subject to a normally
present, rough and
varying ground surface causing the weight of the bales to bounce or shift on
the first 104 and
second 106 extension tables. Without the extension table support system 130 of
the present
invention, such bouncing and shifting will cause wear and fatigue on the
hinges 122 and 123
connecting the first 104 and second 106 extension tables to the load bed 113.
An abnormal
amount of wear and fatigue on the hinges 122 and 123 will inhibit proper
movement of the first
104 and second 106 extension tables between their stowed and unstowed
positions or cause
permanent damage to the hinges 122 and 123, the load bed 113 and/or the first
104 and second
106 extension tables.
The first extension table support system 130 of the present invention can
support the first
extension table 104 "on" the horizontal pivot axis 146, "off' the horizontal
pivot axis 148, or both
"on" and "off' the horizontal pivot axis 146. The first extension table
support system 130
provides support "on" pivot axis 146 when the first extension table support
system 130 supports
the first extension table 104 about the horizontal pivot axis 146 when the
first extension table 104
is in the unstowed position and when the at least a portion 116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 is
moves between the bale accumulating position and the bale discharging
position. A pivot point
188 at the connection between the load bed 113 and the main frame 120 forms
the horizontal pivot
axis 146. The support "on" the pivot axis is described with reference to each
of the twelve
embodiments of the load bed extension module 20, as shown in FIGS. 1-40,
respectively. Note
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that the third through twelfth embodiments of the load bed extension module
20, as shown in
FIGS. 24-40 may be implemented either "on" the pivot axis 146 or "off' the
pivot axis 148.
The first extension table support system 130 provides support "off' the pivot
axis 148
when the first extension table support system 130 supports the first extension
table 104 at a
location between a front side 117 of the load bed 113 where the plurality of
bales are received on
the load bed 113 and the horizontal pivot axis 146 when the first extension
table 104 is in the
unstowed position and when the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is in
the bale
accumulating position. The support "off ' the pivot axis is described with
reference to each of the
twelve embodiments of the load bed extension module 20, as shown in FIGS. 1-
40, respectively.
The first extension table support system 130 of the present invention can
support more that
one extension table disposed on the same side of the load bed. The extension
table support
system 130 of the present invention becomes even more important in this case
because the
multiple extension tables and any bales accumulated thereon are located at a
position far away
from the main frame 120. Without the extension table support system 130 of the
present
invention, the weight of multiple bales on multiple tables extending away from
the main frame 120
greatly increases the amount of stress on the hinges 122 and 123. If there are
two or more
extension tables disposed on the same side of the load bed, the extension
table support system 130
of the present invention may even be considered essential to meet minimum
standards of durability
and usefulness while the bale accumulator is being used in a field over the
useable life time of the
bale accumulator 100. The application of the extension table support system
130 to multiple
extension tables disposed on the same side of the load bed 113 will be
described in further detail
with reference to FIGs. 24-40.
The need for extension table support system 130 of the present invention is
dependent on
the construction of the base module 112. In each of the first and second
embodiments of the load
bed extension module 102, as shown in FIGS. 1-23, the load bed extension
module 102 is
adapted to a bale accumulator Model 1030, manufactured by Hoelscher, Inc., 312
S. Main, P.O
Box 195, Bushton, Kansas, U.S.A., 67427. The main frame 120 and the load bed
113 of the
base module 112 of Hoelscher's bale accumulator Model 1030 is not built of
construction
materials durable enough to support the weight of a load bed extension table
104 and any bales
accumulated thereon without, the assistance of the extension table support
system 130 of the
present invention. Therefore, the extension table support system 130 of the
present invention
becomes essential to providing a durable bale accumulator 100 having the load
bed extension
module 102 when the load bed extension module 102 is retrofitted to an
existing bale accumulator
which was not manufactured with the expectation that the load bed extension
module 102 would
be attached.
The need for extension table support system 130 of the present invention is
also dependent
on the manufacturing cost of the bale accumulator 100. As shown on Case IH
Corporation's bale
accumulator Model 8576, extension tables are provided without any support
contacting the
extension table beyond the hinge connecting the extension table to the load
bed. On Case IH
Corporation's bale accumulator Model 8576, the only support for the extension
table is where a
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side of the extension table contacts a side of the load bed below the hinge
when the extension table
is folded down to be coplanar with the load bed. The lack of support for the
extension tables is
overcome by constructing the main frame, the load bed and the extension tables
with very heavy
duty materials. However, disadvantages associated with building a heavy duty
bale accumulator
include increasing the cost of the bale accumulator, increasing the amount of
fuel used to pull the
bale accumulator, etc. The extension table support system 130 of the present
invention is
advantageous because it cost less to implement than using heavy duty materials
and it weighs less
than the heavy duty materials while providing a durable design. Further, even
if heavy duty
materials are used, the extension table support system 130 of the present
invention is
advantageous for multiple extension tables disposed on the same side of the
load bed.
1. Support Wheel
The support wheel 164 is described with reference to the first, third, fourth,
sixth,
seventh, eleventh, and twelfth embodiments of the load bed extension module
20, as shown in
FIGs. 1-10, 24 and 25, 26 and 27, 30 and 31, 32 and 33, 39, and 40,
respectively.
In the first and third embodiment of the load bed extension module 102, as
shown in
FIGS. 1-10, 24 and 25, respectively the first extension table support system
130 includes a first
support wheel 164 connected to the first extension table 104 and moveable with
the first extension
table 104 when the first extension table 104 moves between the stowed position
and the unstowed
position. The first support wheel 164 contacts the ground surface 128 to
support the first
extension table 104 from the ground surface 128. The first support wheel 164
advantageously
provides support along the vertical axis 203 in the upward direction 225
relative to the extension
table.
In the fourth, sixth, seventh, eleventh, and twelfth embodiments of the load
bed extension
module 20, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, 30 and 31, 32 and 33, 39, and 40,
respectively, the
support wheel is connected to the moveable frame member of the fourth frame
extension member
192 and will be described in further detail hereinbelow.
In the preferred embodiment, the first wheel 108, the second wheel 110, the
first support
wheel 164, as well as the second support wheel 166 on the second extension
table 106 share a
common axis of rotation 134 to encourage a smooth ride for the bale
accumulator 100 across a
field.
2. First Frame Extension Member (ex: truss)
The truss member of the first frame extension member 140 is described with
reference to
the first, second, fifth, seventh, eight and ninth embodiments of the load bed
extension module
20, as shown in FIGs. 1-10, 11-23, 28 and 29, 32 and 33, 34 and 35, and 36 and
37,
respectively.
The first extension table support system 130 further comprises a first frame
extension
member 140 connected to the first extension table 104 and moveable with the
first extension table
104 when the first extension table 104 moves between the stowed position and
the unstowed
position. An end surface of the first frame extension member 140 contacts an
end surface of the
base module 112 to support the first extension table 104 from the base module
112.
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In the first embodiment of the load bed extension module 20, FIGS. 7-10 are
particularly
well suited for illustrating a truss member of the first frame extension
member 140 providing
support "on" the pivot axis 146. FIG. 7 shows the truss member of the first
frame extension
member 140 attached to a bottom side of the left side extension table 106 near
the left side support
wheel 166. FIGs. 8, 9 and 10 show the truss member of the first frame
extension member 140
attached to the bottom side of the left side extension table 106, the pivot
point 188 of the base
module 112 disposed on the pivot axis 146, and a pivot point spacer 162.
In the first embodiment of the load bed extension module 102 the truss member
of the first
frame extension member 140 contacts the base module 112 at the pivot point 162
to support for
the second extension table 106 when the second extension table 106 is located
in the unstowed
position and when the portion 116 of the load bed 113 is located in the bale
accumulating position.
The pivot point spacer 162 is used to fill a gap between the pivot point 188
on Holescher's bale
accumulator Model 1030 and an end of the truss member of the first frame
extension member 140.
Such a spacer would not be required on a new design for a bale accumulator.
In the first embodiment of the load bed extension module 102 the truss member
of the first
frame extension member 140 contacts the base module 112 at the pivot point 162
to support for
the second extension table 106 when the second extension table 106 is located
in the unstowed
position and when the portion 116 of the load bed 113 is located in the bale
discharging position.
It is critical to note in this view that the truss member of the first frame
extension member 140 is
the only support for the first extension table 104 beyond the first hinge 122.
Supporting the first
extension table from the pivot point 162 on the pivot axis 146 is important to
reduce wear and
fatigue on the hinge 122 when the first extension table is moved to the bale
discharging position.
Therefore, supporting the extension table from the pivot point using the truss
member of the first
frame extension member 140 provides a significant advantage over that
presently available in the
prior art.
In the first embodiment of the load bed extension module 20, FIGs. 5-7 are
particularly
well suited for illustrating a truss member of the first frame extension
member 140 providing
support "off' the pivot axis 148.
In FIG. 5 the general area of interest showing the truss member of the first
frame
extension member 140 is at the front, right corner of the bale accumulator
100.
FIG. 6 shows the truss member of the first frame extension member 140
contacting the
main frame 120 from "off ' the pivot axis 148. Preferably, the "off ' axis is
located near the front
117 of the bale accumulator 100 to provide even support in combination with
the truss member of
the first frame extension member 140 contacting the base module 112 at the
pivot point 162.
Preferably, the truss member of the first frame extension member 140 contacts
the main frame
120.
FIG. 6 also appropriately shows a mating contact between an end surface 142 of
the first
frame extension member 140 an end surface 144 on the base module 112. The end
surface 142 of
the first frame extension member 140 has a downward angle relative to a
horizontal axis when the
first extension table 104 is in the unstowed position. The end surface 144 on
the base module 112
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has an upward angle relative to the horizontal axis which is complementary to
the downward
angle. The end surface 142 the first frame extension member 140 contacts the
end surface 144 on
the base module 112 to translate an upward force through the first frame
extension member 140 to
support the first extension table 104 from the base module 112. The
complimentary angles
advantageously direct a larger component of force from the base module 112 to
the first extension
table 104.
FIG. 7 shows a separation between the end surface 142 of the first frame
extension
member 140 the end surface 144 on the base module 112 when the second, left
side extension
table is in the stowed position.
In the second embodiment of the load bed extension module 20, FIGS. 15-20, and
22 are
particularly well suited for illustrating a truss member of the first frame
extension member 140
providing support "off' the pivot axis 148. FIGs. 15-20, and 22 show the first
frame extension
member 140 having three truss members. Each of the three truss members contact
the fixed frame
member of the third frame extension member 154 which will be described in
further detail
hereinbelow. Each of the three truss members contacts the fixed frame member
of the third frame
extension member 154 in a similar manner to the way the truss member contacts
that main frame
120 as described hereinabove with the first embodiment of the load bed
extension module 102.
Although three truss members are shown which provide superior support along
the length first
extension table 104, only one truss member near the front 117 of the bale
accumulator 100 can be
used to provide adequate support "off' the pivot axis.
The truss member of the first frame extension member 140 is described with
reference to
the fifth, seventh, eight and ninth embodiments of the load bed extension
module 102, as shown
in FIGS. 32 and 33, 34 and 35, and 36 and 37, respectively. In FIGs. 32 and
33, the truss
member of the first frame extension member 140 is attached to a third
extension table 105 and
contacts the moveable frame member of the fourth frame extension member 192.
This
embodiment is advantageous in reducing the distance traveled by the moveable
frame member of
the fourth frame extension member 192. In FIGs. 34 and 35, a truss member of
the first frame
extension member 140 is attached to each of the first extension table 104 and
the third extension
table 105 to build a continuous truss support for each of the first extension
table 104 and the third
extension table 105 when each of the first extension table 104 and the third
extension table 105 are
in the unstowed position. This embodiment is advantageous because no moveable
parts are
needed to support the extension tables. In FIGS. 36 and 37, the truss member
of the first frame
extension member 140 is attached to a third extension table 105 and contacts a
lower part of the
first extension table 104. This embodiment is advantageous in reducing the
travel of the cylinder
150 which would support a wider extension table.
3 . Second Frame Extension Member (ex: cylinder)
The collapsible cylinder of the second frame extension member 150 is described
with
reference to the first, second, and ninth embodiments of the load bed
extension module 102, as
shown in FIGs. 1-10, 11-23, and 36 and 37, respectively.
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The first extension table support system 130 further comprises a second frame
extension
member 150 having a first end connected to the base module 112 and a second
end connected to
the first extension table 104 and being moveable between a collapsed position
and an expanded
position. The second frame extension member 150 is in the collapsed position
when the first
extension table 104 is in the unstowed position, wherein the second frame
extension member 150
is in the expanded position when the first extension table 104 is in the
stowed position. The
second frame extension member 150 is connected to the first extension table
104 and the base
module 112 to support the first extension table 104 from the base module 112.
In the first, second, and ninth embodiments of the load bed extension module
102, as
shown in FIGs. 1-10, 11-23, and 36 and 37, respectively, the second frame
extension member
150 further comprises a first hydraulic cylinder 150 for moving the first
extension table 104
between the stowed position and the unstowed position responsive to receiving
pressurized
hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid source 115. FIG. 41 shows the hydraulic
fluid source 115.
Alternatively, the second frame extension member 150 can be a telescoping
frame member which
provides equivalent support as the hydraulic cylinder 150 for the first
extension table 104 but does
not permit assistance from the hydraulic fluid source. In this case the
extension table would
require manual assistance.
In the second and ninth embodiments of the load bed extension module 102, as
shown in
FIGs. 15-17, 19-21-23; and 36 and 37, respectively, the second frame extension
member 150 is
connected to the main frame 120 of the base module 112 "on" the pivot axis
146. These
embodiments advantageously provide a combination of support for the extension
table and
hydraulic assistance. In the first embodiment of the load bed extension module
102, the second
frame extension member 150 is connected to the load bed 113 of the base module
112 "off' the
pivot axis 148. The embodiment advantageously provides additional support for
the extension
table 104 from above the extension table 104 in addition to the support on the
pivot point 162
provided by the truss member of the first frame extension member 140.
In the first and second embodiments of the load bed extension module 102, as
shown in
FIGs. 1-10 and 11-23, respectively, the agricultural bale accumulator 100
further comprises the
second hydraulic fluid cylinder 190 having a first end connected to the main
frame 120 and a
second end connected to the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113. The
second cylinder 190
moves the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 relative to the main frame
120 between the
bale accumulating position and the bale discharging position responsive to
receiving pressurized
hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source 115, as shown in FIG. 41. FIG.
41 illustrates a
schematic diagram of a hydraulic system for use with the agricultural bale
accumulator of FIGs. 1
and 23. A hydraulic valve 214, as shown in FIG. 41, selectively routes the
pressurized hydraulic
fluid from the hydraulic fluid source 115 to one of the first hydraulic
cylinder 150 and the second
hydraulic cylinder 190 responsive to an electric control signal 216. This
embodiment
advantageously permits hydraulic power to be used to move the extension table
104 when there
are a limited number of hydraulic sets of ports available from a tractor
carrying the hydraulic fluid
source 115. In the preferred embodiment, the tractor used to pull the baler
101 and the bale
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accumulator 100 only has three hydraulic sets of ports: a first set is used to
by the baler 101 to
bale the crop into bales, a second set is used by the bale accumulator 100 to
operate the bale
transfer module 186, a third set to operate the bale discharge module 116,
118, and 190.
Therefore, one set is lacking to move the extension tables between their
stowed and unstowed
positions. Therefore, the third set of hydraulic ports is advantageously
shared between the bale
discharge module 116, 118, and 190 and the load bed extension module 102.
In the first and second embodiments of the load bed extension module 102, as
shown in
FIGS. 1-10 and 11-23, respectively, the second frame extension member 150
further comprises at
least one spring member 152, connected to at least one of the base module 112,
the first extension
table 104 and the second frame extension member 150, for exerting a bias force
on the first
extension table 104 when the first extension table 104 is moved to at least
one of the stowed
position and the unstowed position. This embodiment advantageously pulls the
collapsible frame
member over its center point when moving the extension table 104 to the stowed
position. In the
first embodiment of the load bed extension module 102, the spring is connected
to a front, top
side of the first extension table 104 and to a distal end of the hydraulic
cylinder 150. In the
second embodiment of the load bed extension module 102, the spring is
connected to a bottom
side of the first extension table 104 and to a distal end of the hydraulic
cylinder 150.
4. Third Frame Extension Member (ex: fixed frame)
The fixed frame member of the third frame extension member 154 is described
with
reference to the second, fourth, and fifth, embodiments of the load bed
extension module 20, as
shown in FIGS. 11-23, 26 and 27, and 28 and 29, respectively.
In the second, fourth, and fifth, embodiments of the load bed extension module
20, as
shown in FIGS. 11-23, 26 and 27, and 28 and 29, respectively, the first
extension table support
system 130 further comprises a third frame extension member 154 having a
proximal end 156 and
a distal end 158. The proximal end 156 of the third frame extension member 154
is connected to
the main frame. The distal end 158 of the third frame extension member 154
extends beyond the
main frame 120 in a direction transverse to a traveling direction of the
agricultural bale
accumulator 100 at a fixed position which is located inside a road travel
width dimension 160 of
the agricultural bale accumulator 100 to permit safe traveling of the
agricultural bale accumulator
100 on a public roadway when the first extension table 104 is in the stowed
position. A first
portion of the first extension table 104 is positioned inside the distal end
158 of the third frame
extension member 154 and a second portion of the first extension table 104 is
positioned outside
the distal end 158 of the third frame extension member 154 when the first
extension table 104 is in
the unstowed position to permit the third frame extension member 154 to
contact the first
extension table 104 between the first portion of the first extension table 104
and the second
portion of the first extension table 104 to support the first extension table
104 from the main frame
120.
These embodiments advantageously provide support for the extension table 104
with no
moving parts. Further, the third frame extension member 154 is positioned
directly beneath the
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extension table 104 to provide a component of force along the vertical axis
203 in an upward
direction 225.
5. Fourth Frame Extension Member (ex: moveable frame)
The moveable frame member of the fourth frame extension member 192 is
described with
reference to the fourth, sixth, seventh, eleventh and twelfth embodiments of
the load bed
extension module 102, as shown in FIGs. 26 and 27, 30 and 31, 32 and 33, 39,
and 40,
respectively.
In the fourth, sixth, seventh, eleventh and twelfth embodiments of the load
bed extension
module 102, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, 30 and 31, 32 and 33, 39, and 40,
respectively, the
first extension table support system 130 further comprises a fourth frame
extension member 192
and a frame attachment mechanism 218. The fourth frame extension member 192
has a proximal
end 156 and a distal end 158. The frame attachment mechanism 218 is connected
to the proximal
end 156 of the fourth frame extension member 192 and the main frame 120 to
permit the distal end
158 of the fourth frame extension member 192 to be moveable relative to the
main frame 120
between a stowed position and an unstowed position. The distal end 158 of the
fourth frame
extension member 192 moves towards the main frame 120 when the fourth frame
extension
member 192 is in the stowed position, wherein the distal end 158 of the fourth
frame extension
member 192 moves away from the main frame 120 when the fourth frame extension
member 192
is in the unstowed position, wherein the distal end 158 of the fourth frame
extension member 192
contacts the first extension table 104 to support the first extension table
104 from the main frame
120 when the fourth frame extension member 192 is in the unstowed position.
In the fourth, sixth, seventh, eleventh and twelfth embodiments of the load
bed extension
module 102, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, 30 and 31, 32 and 33, 39, and 40,
respectively, the
frame attachment mechanism 218 further comprises a telescoping mechanism for
telescopically
connecting the proximal end 156 of the fourth frame extension member 192 to
the main frame 120
along a horizontal axis 146 or 148 relative to the main frame 120. Preferably,
the frame
attachment mechanism 218 telescopes from the main frame along the pivot axis
146 to provide
support for the extension tables when moved to at least one of the bale
accumulating position and
the bale discharging position. Alternatively, the frame attachment mechanism
218 may telescope
from the main frame "off' the, pivot axis 148. Alternatively, the frame
attachment mechanism 218
further comprises a pivoting mechanism for pivotally connecting the proximal
end 156 of the
fourth frame extension member 192 to the main frame 120 about a vertical axis
198 relative to the
main frame.
In the fourth, sixth, seventh, eleventh and twelfth embodiments of the load
bed extension
module 102, as shown in FIGs. 26 and 27, 30 and 31, 32 and 33, 39, and 40,
respectively, the
first extension table support system 130 further comprises a first support
wheel 164 connected to
the distal end 158 of the fourth frame extension member 192 and moveable with
the fourth frame
extension member 192 when the fourth frame extension member 192 moves between
the stowed
position and the unstowed position. The first support wheel 164 contacts the
ground surface 128
to support the first extension table 104 from the ground surface 128 when the
fourth frame
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extension member 192 is in the unstowed position. The support wheel 164
advantageously
provides additional support for the extension tables.
In the twelfth embodiment of the load bed extension module 102, as shown in
FIG. 40,
the first support wheel 164 provides a sole support for a first side 124 of
the base module 112
from the ground surface 128 to permit the agricultural bale accumulator 100 to
be transported
across the ground surface 128 when the first extension table 104 is in the
stowed position and
when the fourth frame extension member 192 is in the stowed position. The
first support wheel
164 provides the sole support for the first side of the base module 112 and
the first extension table
104 from the ground surface 128 to permit the agricultural bale accumulator
100 to be transported
across the ground surface 128 when the first extension table 104 is the
unstowed position and
when the first extension table 104 is in the unstowed position and when the
fourth frame
extension member 192 is in the unstowed position. In this embodiment, the main
wheels 108 and
110 on the bale accumulator 100 are eliminated. Preferably, the frame
attachment mechanism 218
telescopes from the main frame along the pivot axis 146 to provide support for
the extension
tables when the load bed 113 moves to at least one of the bale accumulating
position and the bale
discharging position as well as the sole support for the one side of the base
module 112 when the
frame attachment mechanism 218 moves to the stowed position.
In the fourth, sixth, seventh, and eleventh embodiments of the load bed
extension module
102, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, 30 and 31, 32 and 33, and 39, respectively,
the agricultural
bale accumulator 100 further comprises a first wheel 108 and a second wheel
110 coupled to the
main frame. The first wheel 108 and the second wheel 110 contact the ground
surface 128 to
support the base module 112 from the ground surface 128 and to permit the
agricultural bale
accumulator 100 to be transported across the ground surface 128 when the first
extension table
104 is in the stowed position and the unstowed position and when the fourth
frame extension
member 192 is in the stowed position and the unstowed position. The first
support wheel 164
contacts the ground surface 128 to support the first extension table 104 from
the ground surface
128 when the first extension table 104 is the unstowed position and when the
fourth frame
extension member 192 is in the unstowed position. The first wheel 108, the
second wheel 110
and the first support wheel 164 share a common axis of rotation 134 when the
fourth frame
extension member 192 is in at least the unstowed position. Preferably, the
frame attachment
mechanism 218 telescopes from the main frame along the pivot axis 146 to
provide support for the
extension tables when the load bed 113 moves to at least one of the bale
accumulating position and
the bale discharging position as well as the additional support for the one
side of the base module
112 when the frame attachment mechanism 218 moves to the stowed position.
C. Load Bed Alignment Mechanism
In the first and second embodiments of the load bed extension module 102, as
shown in
FIGS. 1-10 and 11-23, respectively, the agricultural bale accumulator further
comprises an
alignment mechanism 206 for aligning the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed
113 with the main
frame 120 when the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 moves from the bale
discharging
position to the bale accumulating position.
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In the first embodiment of the load bed extension module 102, as shown in
FIGs. 1-10,
the alignment mechanism 206 includes first and second alignment members, in
the shape of an
inverted "V", connected to the main frame 120 and the portion 116 and 118 of
the load bed 113,
respectively, on a front side 117 of the bale accumulator 100. The first
alignment member
cooperatively engages the second alignment member to align the portion 116 and
118 of the load
bed 113 with the main frame 120 when the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed
113 is in the bale
accumulating position. The first alignment member cooperatively disengages the
second
alignment member when the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is in the
bale discharging
position.
In the second embodiment of the load bed extension module 102, as shown in
FIGS. 11-
23, the alignment mechanism 206 includes two guide posts attached to the fixed
frame member of
the third frame extension member 154. The guide posts are positioned to fall
between a side of
the load bed 113 and the extension table to channel the load into a home
position on the main
frame 120 when the load bed is returning from the bale discharging position to
the bale
accumulating position.
The alignment mechanism 206 reduces the strain on the pivot point 188 when the
load bed
113 moves between the bale discharging position to the bale accumulating
position. Under new
design considerations the alignment mechanism 206 may not be necessary if
heavy duty
construction materials are used, especially on the pivot point 188 and the
load bed 113.
D. Load Bed Latch Mechanism
In the second embodiment of the load bed extension module 102, as shown in
FIGs. 11-
23, the agricultural bale accumulator further comprises a latch mechanism 208
for latching the
portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to the main frame 120 when the portion
116 and 118 of
the load bed 113 is in the bale accumulating position and for unlatching the
portion 116 and 118 of
the load bed 113 from the main frame 120 when the portion 116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 is in
the bale discharging position.
The latch mechanism 208 advantageously secures the portion 116 and 118 of the
load bed
113 to the main frame 120 when the extension tables have bales accumulated
thereon. Without the
latch mechanism 208, the weight of the bales on one side of the portion 116
and 118 of the load
bed 113 could cause the front,end of the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed
113 on the other side
of the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to twist in an upward direction
away from the main
frame 120. Under new design considerations the latch mechanism 208 may not be
necessary if
heavy duty construction materials are used, especially on the pivot point 188
and the load bed
113.
In the second embodiment of the load bed extension module 102, the latch
mechanism 208
is shown in shown in FIGs. 13, 15, 16 and 18. The latch mechanism 208 includes
a hook
member, connected to a front end of the main frame 120 and a bar member,
adapted to engage the
hook member and attached to a front side of the right side portion 116 of the
load bed 113. A
control bar is connected between the hook member and the hydraulic cylinder
190 which is used
for tilting the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113. When the hydraulic
cylinder 190 begins to
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cause the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to move to the bale
discharging position, an
end of the hydraulic cylinder 190 moves along a slot formed in the main frame
120 where the
hydraulic cylinder 190 is attached. Such movement, pulls the control bar to
cause the latch to
disengage the bar member thereby permitting the hydraulic cylinder 190 to
pivot the portion 116
and 118 of the load bed 113 to the bale discharging position. When the portion
116 and 118 of
the load bed 113 returns to the bale accumulating position from the bale
discharging position, the
hydraulic cylinder move the opposite direction to cause the hook member to
engage the bar
member thereby securing the portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to the
main frame 120.
E. Bale Position Sensors
In the first and second embodiment of the load bed extension module 102, as
shown in
FIGS. 1-10 and 11-23, respectively, each of the first 104 and second 106
extension tables include
bale position sensors 176 and 178, respectively, for sensing bales disposed on
each of the first
104 and second 106 extension tables, respectively. Bale position sensors 170,
172 and 174 are
also located on the center table 114, right table 116 and left table 118 of
load bed 113,
respectively.
F. Multiple Extension Tables
In the third through twelfth embodiments of the load bed extension module 102,
as shown
in FIGs. 24-41, the agricultural bale accumulator further comprises a third
extension table 105, a
third extension table attachment mechanism 125 and a third extension table
support system. The
third extension table attachment mechanism 125 is connected to the third
extension table 105 and
the first extension table 104 to permit the third extension table 105 to be
moveable with the first
extension table 104 relative to the base module 112 when the first extension
table 104 moves
between the stowed position and the unstowed position. The third extension
table 105 is
moveable between a stowed position and an unstowed position relative to the
first extension table
104. The third extension table 105 is substantially co-planar with the load
bed 113 and the first
extension table 104 and adjacent to the first extension table 104 when the
first extension table 104
and the third extension table 105 are each in their unstowed positions to
permit the third extension
table 105 to accumulate thereon at least one of the plurality of bales.
The third extension table support system connects at least one of the base
module 112, the
first extension table 104 and the third extension table 105. The third
extension table support
system contacts the third extension table 105 at a location beyond the first
extension table 104 and
contacts at least one of the base module 112, the first extension table 104
and the ground surface
128 to support the third extension table 105 from at least one of the base
module 112, the first
extension table 104 and the ground surface 128, respectively, when the first
extension table 104
and the third extension table 105 are each in their unstowed positions.
In the tenth embodiment of the load bed extension module 102, as shown in
FIGs. 38, the
first extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a first hinge 122
for pivotally
connecting the first extension table 104 to the base module 112, at the load
bed 113, about a first
hinge axis 136. The third extension table attachment mechanism further
comprises a third hinge
125 for pivotally connecting the third extension table 105 to the first
extension table 104 about a
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third hinge axis 137. The first extension table 104 pivots upwards towards the
base module 112
about the first hinge axis 136 when the first extension table is in the stowed
position. The third
extension table 105 pivots upwards towards the base module 112 and the first
extension table 104
about the third hinge axis 137 when the third extension table 105 is in the
stowed position. This
embodiment advantageously permits the first 104 and third 105 extension tables
to fold up on top
of the load bed 113.
In the eleventh embodiment of the load bed extension module 102, as shown in
FIGS. 39,
the first extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a first hinge
122 for pivotally
connecting the first extension table 104 to the base module about a first
hinge axis 136. The third
extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a third hinge 125 for
pivotally connecting
the third extension table 105 to the first extension table 104 about a third
hinge axis 137. The first
extension table 105 pivots upwards towards the base module 112 about the first
hinge axis 136
when the first extension table 104 is in the stowed position. The third
extension table 105 pivots
downwards towards the base module 112 and the first extension table 104 about
the third hinge
axis 137 when the third extension table 105 is in the stowed position. This
embodiment
advantageously permits the first 104 and third 105 extension tables to
collapse in an accordion
fashion next to the side of the load bed.
In the twelfth embodiment of the load bed extension module 102, as shown in
FIGS. 40,
the first extension table attachment mechanism further a first telescoping
mechanism 220 for
telescopically connecting a proximal end of the first extension table 104 to
the base module 112
along a horizontal axis relative to the base module 112. The third extension
table attachment
mechanism further comprises a first telescoping mechanism 220 for
telescopically connecting a
proximal end of the third extension table 105 to a distal end of the first
extension table 104 along
the horizontal axis relative to the base module 112. The first extension table
104 telescopes along
the horizontal axis to a first position substantially inside the base module
112 when the first
extension table 104 is in the stowed position. The third extension table 105
telescopes along the
horizontal axis to a first position substantially inside the first extension
table 104 when the third
extension table 104 is in the stowed position. The first extension table 104
telescopes along the
horizontal axis to a second position substantially outside the base module 112
when the first
extension table 104 is in the unstowed position. The third extension table 105
telescopes along
the horizontal axis to a second position substantially outside the first
extension table 104 when the
third extension table 105 is in the unstowed position. This embodiment
advantageously permits
the first 104 and third 105 extension tables to collapse inside or underneath
the load bed 113.
In the twelfth embodiment of the load bed extension module 102, as shown in
FIGS. 40, a
top surface of the first extension table 104 is lower than a top surface of
the load bed 113 by a first
predetermined distance 204 when the first extension table 104 is in the
unstowed position. A top
surface of the third extension table 105 is lower than the top surface of the
first extension table
104 by a second predetermined distance 204 when the third extension table 105
is in the unstowed
position. This embodiment advantageously permits bales dispose on the first
104 and third 105
extension tables from sliding back toward the center of the bale accumulator
100.
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In the eleventh and twelfth embodiment of the load bed extension module 102,
as shown
in FIGS. 39 and 40, the moveable frame member of the fourth frame extension
member 192 is
connected to the third extension table 105 to move the first 104 and third 105
extension tables
between their stowed and unstowed positions in cooperation with the moveable
frame member of
the fourth frame extension member 192 its stowed and unstowed positions. In
FIG. 39 a bias
spring causes the first 104 and third 105 extension tables to pop upward about
the hinge axis 225.
Spacers support the tables on the moveable frame member of the fourth frame
extension member
192.
G . Modular Attachment/Detachment
Preferably, the load bed extension module 102 of the present invention is
attachable to and
detachable from the base module 112 as a modular unit independently of any
other module on the
agricultural bale accumulator 100. In each of the first and second embodiments
of the load bed
extension module 102, as shown in FIGS. 1-23, the load bed extension module
102 is adapted to
a bale accumulator Model 1030, manufactured by Hoelscher, Inc., 312 S. Main,
P.O Box 195,
Bushton, Kansas, U.S.A., 67427. With a modular construction, conventional bale
accumulators
presently used in the field may be upgraded with the load bed extension module
102 to increase
the bale carrying capacity of the conventional bale accumulators.
Alternatively, the modular
construction of the load bed extension module 102 may offered as an option on
newly
manufactured bale accumulators to vary the bale carrying capacity of the bale
accumulator
according to the desires of the manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer or
purchaser of the bale
accumulator.
While the preferred embodiments describe a modular construction for the load
bed
extension module 102, the present invention is not limited to only a modular
construction. The
load bed extension module 102 may also be incorporated in to mechanical
designs for bale
accumulators such that it is not possible, difficult or inconvenient to detach
the load bed extension
module 102 from the base module 112.
H . Combination of Extension Table Support Systems
FIG. 42 illustrates a table 212 having thirty six embodiments of the extension
table
support system 130 for a load bed extension module for use on and/or off a
pivot axis for one or
more extension tables. The twelve embodiments of the load bed extension module
102 are
represented as individual combinations in the table 212. The table 212 shows
each of the five
embodiments for extension table support system 130 along each side of the
table plus one
category on each side indicating no support for an extension table. In the
first and second
embodiments of the load bed extension module 102, the table 212 is applied to
one extension table
disposed on a side of the base module 112. In the third through twelfth
embodiments of the load
bed extension module 102, the table 212 is applied to more than one extension
table disposed on
a side of the base module 112. In all twelve embodiments of the load bed
extension module 102,
the table 212 is applied to on and/or off a pivot axis. Thus, from the
combinations in the table 212
and from the preferred embodiments described hereinabove numerous design
alternatives can be
achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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VI. Bale Stacking Module
FIGS. 43-73 illustrate a bale stacking module 332. FIGS. 43-61 illustrate a
bale stacking
method and apparatus, using a single load bed, that raises the bales above the
load bed, lowers the
bales below the load bed, or raises and/or lowers bales to form a stack of
bales on the load bed.
FIGS. 62-73 illustrate a bale stacking method and apparatus using multiple
load beds that are
either moveable or fixed relative to each other, wherein the accumulator 100
discharges the bales
from the load bed to a ground surface either simultaneously to form stacks of
bales on the ground
surface or sequentially to form a single layer of bales on the ground surface.
A. Bale Stacking Method and Apparatus - Single Load Bed
FIG. 43 illustrates a flowchart 232 describing a first general bale stacking
method 230-240
for forming and accumulating stacks of bales on a load bed of an agricultural
bale accumulator and
for discharging the stacks of bales to a ground surface.
1. Bale Raising Method
a. Bale Raising Method
FIG. 44 illustrates a flowchart 243 describing a first particular bale
stacking method 242-
266 for performing the first general bale stacking method described in FIG. 43
for forming and
accumulating the stacks of bales on the load bed, by raising the bales above
the load bed to form a
stack of bales then transfernng the stack of bales across the load bed, and
for discharging the
stacks of bales to the ground surface.
b. First Bale Handling Sequence - Raise,/Transfer
FIG. 45 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations 270-300 responsive to the
first particular bale
stacking method described in FIG. 44 to accumulate the stacks of bales on the
load bed.
c. Second Bale Handling Sequence - Transfer/Ralse
FIG. 46 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations 302-330 responsive to an
alternate embodiment
of the first particular bale stacking method described in FIG. 44 to
accumulate the stacks of bales
on the load bed by transferring the bales across the load bed then raising the
bales above the load
bed to form the stack of bales.
3. Bale Raising Apparatus
a. First Bale Raising Apparatus - Moveable Frame
FIG. 47 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having a
first embodiment of a bale stacking module 332 for raising the bales above a
load bed responsive
to the first particular bale stacking method described in FIG. 44 and the
sequence of bale handling
operations shown in FIG. 45. FIG. 48 illustrates, in a top side plan view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator having the first embodiment of the bale stacking module shown in
FIG. 47.
FIG. 49 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator having the first
embodiment of the bale stacking module shown in FIGS. 47 and 48.
These figures first disclose: a recessed bale raising mechanism 334, a bale
raising pad
336, a bale raising support arm 338, a bale engaging fork 340, a bale raising
pad pivot 342, a bale
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raising support arm pivot 344, a bale raising support frame (H-frame) 346, a
bale raising
hydraulic cylinder 348, a pad receiving holes in center load bed 350, a
support arm guide 352, a
bale raising distance 354, a support frame moving distance 356, a hydraulic
cylinder movement
358, a lateral load bed bale guide 360, a bale raising pad hinge 362, a
recessed bale raising
mechanism 334, a bale raising pad 336, a bale raising support arm 338, a bale
engaging fork 340,
a bale raising pad pivot 342, a bale raising support arm pivot 344, a bale
raising support frame (h
frame) 346, a bale raising hydraulic cylinder 348, a pad receiving holes in
center load bed 350, a
support arm guide 352, a bale raising distance 354, a support frame moving
distance 356, a
hydraulic cylinder movement 358, a lateral load bed bale guide 360 and a bale
raising pad hinge
362.
b. Second Bale Raising Apparatus - Fixed Frame
FIG. 50 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having a
second embodiment of a bale stacking module for raising bales above the load
bed responsive to
the first particular bale stacking method described in FIGS. 44 and the
sequence of bale handling
operations shown in FIG. 45. FIG. 51 illustrates, in a top side plan view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator having the second embodiment of the bale stacking module shown in
FIG. 52.
This figure first discloses: a fixed bale raising mechanism 364, a bale
raising cam 366, a
cam follower 368, a cam gate 370 and a fixed bale raising frame 372.
4. Bale Lowering Method and Apparatus
a. Bale Lowering Method
FIG. 52 illustrates a flowchart 375 describing a second particular bale
stacking method
374-394 for performing the first general bale stacking method described in
FIG. 43 for forming
and accumulating the stacks of bales on the load bed, by lowering the bales
below the load bed to
form a stack of bales then transferring the stack of bales across the load
bed, and for discharging
the stacks of bales to the ground surface.
b. Bale Handling Sequence - Lower,/Transfer
FIG. 53 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations 400-444 responsive to the
second particular
bale stacking method described in FIG. 52 to accumulate the stacks of bales on
the load bed.
c. Bale Lowering Apparatus - Lowering Center Load Bed
FIG. 54 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having a
third embodiment of a bale stacking module for lowering the bales below a load
bed responsive to
the second particular bale stacking method described in FIG. 52 and the
sequence of bale handling
operations shown in FIG. 53, wherein a bale receiving portion of the load bed
is located in a bale
lowering position. FIG. 55 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator having the third embodiment of a bale stacking module shown in
FIG. 54, wherein
the bale receiving portion of the load bed is located in a bale receiving
position. FIG. 56
illustrates, in a right side elevation view, the agricultural bale accumulator
having the third
embodiment of a bale stacking module shown in FIGS. 54 and 55, wherein the
bale receiving
portion of the load bed is located in the bale receiving position. FIG. 57
illustrates, in a right side
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elevation view, the agricultural bale accumulator having the third embodiment
of a bale stacking
module shown in FIGs. 54 ,55 and 56, wherein the bale receiving portion of the
load bed is
located in the bale lowering position. FIG. 58 illustrates, in a top side plan
view, the agricultural
bale accumulator having the third embodiment of a bale stacking module shown
in FIGs. 54 ,55,
56 and 57, wherein the bale receiving portion of the load bed is located in
the bale receiving
position.
These figures first disclose: a bale lowering mechanism 446, a scissors
mechanism 448,
scissors cam 450, a bale lowering hydraulic cylinder 452, a retractable bale
support member 454,
a bale support member pocket 456, a retractable bale support guide 458, a
guide hinge 460
5. Bale Raising/Lowering Combination Method and Apparatus
a. Bale Raising/Lowering Combination Method
FIG. 59 illustrates a flowchart 263 describing a third particular bale
stacking method 462-
508 for performing the first general bale stacking method described in FIG. 43
for forming and
accumulating the stacks of bales on the load bed, by raising and/or lowering
the bales above
and/or below the load bed, respectively, to form the stack of bales then
transferring the stack of
bales across the load bed, and for discharging the stacks of bales to the
ground surface.
b. Bale Handling Sequence - Raising/LoweringlTransfer
FIG. 60 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations 510-558 responsive to the
third particular bale
stacking method described in FIG. 59 and using the second embodiment of a bale
stacking
module shown in FIGS. 50 and 51 in combination with the third embodiment of a
bale stacking
module shown in FIGs. 54-58 to accumulate the stacks of bales on the load bed,
wherein a first
received bale is raised above the load bed and a second received bale is
lowered below the load
bed.
c. Bale Handling Sequence - Lowering/Raising/Transfer
FIG. 61 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations 560-608 responsive to the
third particular bale
stacking method described in FIG. 59 and using the second embodiment of a bale
stacking
module shown in FIGS. 50 and 51 in combination with the third embodiment of a
bale stacking
module shown in FIGS. 54-58 to accumulate the stacks of bales on the load bed,
wherein a first
received bale is lowered below the load bed and a second received bale is
raised above the load
bed.
d. Bale Raising/Lowering Combination Apparatus
The combination apparatus is not illustrated, but is constructed from a
combination of the
separate bale raising and bale lower apparatus to produce the resulting
combination apparatus.
B. Bale Stacking Method And Apparatus - Multiple Load Beds
FIG. 62 illustrates a flowchart 611 describing a second general bale stacking
method 610-
622 for accumulating bales on a plurality of load beds of an agricultural bale
accumulator which
are disposed parallel to and vertically displaced relative to each other along
a common vertical load
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bed axis and for discharging the accumulated bales to a ground su'rf'ace to
form stacks of bales or a
single layer of bales.
1. Moveable Load Bed Method And Apparatus
a. Moveable Load Bed Method
FIG. 63 illustrates a flowchart 623 describing a first particular bale
stacking method 624-
654 for performing the second general bale stacking method described in FIG.
62 for
accumulating the bales on the plurality of load beds, by accumulating the
bales on a first load bed,
moving the first load bed above a second load bed, then accumulating the bales
on the second load
bed, and for discharging the accumulated bales to a ground surface to form
stacks of bales or a
single layer of bales.
b. Bale Handling Sequence - Fill/Raise Load Bed
FIG. 64 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations 656-682 responsive to the
first particular bale
stacking method described in FIG. 63 to accumulate the bales on the plurality
of load beds and for
discharging the accumulated bales to a ground surface to form stacks of bales
or a single layer of
bales.
c. First Moveable Load Bed Apparatus - Stacked Load Beds
FIGs. 65 and 66 illustrate, in a rear side elevation view and a top side plan
view,
respectively, an agricultural bale accumulator having a first embodiment of
the bale stacking
module for accumulating bales on the plurality of load beds and for
discharging the accumulated
bales to a ground surface to form stacks of bales or a single layer of bales
responsive to the first
particular bale stacking method described in FIG. 63 and the sequence of bale
handling operations
shown in FIG. 64.
These figures first disclose: a moving load bed mechanism 684, a bale sensor
pad
opening 686, a bale transfer module opening 688, a lateral bale advancement
apparatus 690, a
table raising hydraulic cylinder 692, a fixed guide post 694 and a movable
load bed 696.
d. Second Moveable Load Bed Apparatus - Nested Load Beds
FIGS. 67 and 68 illustrate, in a rear side elevation view and a top side plan
view,
respectively, an agricultural bale accumulator having a second embodiment of
the bale stacking
module for accumulating bales on the plurality of load beds and for
discharging the accumulated
bales to a ground surface to form stacks of bales or a single layer of bales
responsive to the first
particular bale stacking method described in FIG. 63 and the sequence of bale
handling operations
shown in FIG. 64.
These figures first disclose: a nested bale moving load bed 698, a movable
load bed slats
700, a fixed load bed slats 702, a movable load bed frame 704.
2. Fixed Load Bed Method And Apparatus
a. Fixed Load Bed Method
FIG. 69 illustrates a flowchart 707 describing a second particular bale
stacking method
706-736 for performing the second general bale stacking method described in
FIG. 62 for
accumulating the bales on the plurality of load beds, by accumulating the
bales on a first load bed
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and a second load bed located at a fixed position above the first load bed,
and for discharging the
accumulated bales to a ground surface to form stacks of bales.
b. Bale Handling Sequence - Fill Lower/Upper Load Bed
FIG. 70 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
performing a sequence of bale handling operations 738-778 responsive to the
second particular
bale stacking method described in FIG. 69 to accumulate the bales on the
plurality of load beds
and for discharging the accumulated bales to a ground surface to form stacks
of bales.
c. Fixed Load Bed Apparatus
FIG. 71 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having
an embodiment of the bale stacking module for accumulating bales on the
plurality of load beds
and for discharging the accumulated bales to a ground surface to form stacks
of bales responsive
to the second particular bale stacking method described in FIG. 69 and the
sequence of bale
handling operations shown in FIG. 70, wherein a bale receiving portion of the
load bed is in a
bale receiving position. This figure first discloses: a fixed load bed
mechanism 780 and a fixed
load bed 782. FIG. 72 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the
agricultural bale accumulator
having the embodiment of the bale stacking module shown in FIG. 71, wherein
the bale receiving
portion of the load bed is in a bale elevating position. FIG. 73 illustrates,
in a top side plan view,
the agricultural bale accumulator having the embodiment of the bale stacking
module shown in
FIGS. 71 and 72, wherein a bale receiving portion of the load bed is in a bale
receiving position.
VII. Bale Advancement Module
FIGs. 74-80 illustrate a bale advancement module 798, including a method which
is
performed by one of a first apparatus, formed as a spiked cylinder, and a
second apparatus,
formed as a spiked conveyor.
A. Bale Advancement Method
FIG. 74 illustrates a flowchart 785 describing a bale advancement method for
advancing
bales on a load bed 113 of an agricultural bale accumulator 100. The method
starts at step 784.
At step 786, a plurality of bales, including a first bale 801 followed by a
second bale 803,
are received on the load bed 113 at a first rate of speed 802 along a bale
receiving axis 201. The
bale advancement method is particularly beneficial when the bales are
successively and directly
received from a baler 101 as described herein. However, the bale advancement
method may also
be used when the bales are not successively and directly received from a baler
101, such as when
the bales are picked up from a ground surface.
Next, at step 788, a determination is made whether the first bale 801 is
located at a first
predetermined position on the load bed 113 along the bale receiving axis 201
responsive to the
receipt of the first bale 801 on the load bed 113. If the determination at
step 788 is negative, then
the method returns to step 786 to continue to receive the first bale 801 on
the load bed 113. If the
determination at step 788 is positive, then the flowchart continues to step
790. In particular, step
788 monitors the formation of and the ejection of the first bale 801 from a
bale chamber of the
baler 101. When the first bale 801 is located at the first predetermined
position on the load bed
113, the first bale 801 is completely formed, tied, ejected from the bale
chamber of the baler 101
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and, preferably, clear of the bale chute 103 to permit the first bale 801 to
be advanced without any
type of friction or interference from the baler 101.
Continuing at step 790, the first bale 801 is advanced onto the load bed 113
at a second
rate of speed 804, greater than the first rate of speed 801, along the bale
receiving axis 201
responsive to the determination at step 788 that the first bale 801 is located
at the first
predetermined position along the bale receiving axis 201 to advance the first
bale 801 ahead of the
second bale 803 by a predetermined distance 808 along the bale receiving axis
201.
Next, at step 792, a determination is made whether the first bale 801 is
located at a second
predetermined position along the bale receiving axis ahead of the first
predetermined position
along the bale receiving axis 201 by the predetermined distance 808 responsive
to the
advancement of the first bale 801 onto the load bed 113 along the bale
receiving axis 201 at step
790. If the determination at step 792 is negative, then the flowchart returns
to step 790 to
continue to advance the first bale 801 on the load bed 113. If the
determination at step 792 is
positive, then the flowchart continues to step 794 to continue to stop the
advancement of the first
bale 801 on the load bed 113.
After step 794, at step 796, the first bale 801 received on the load bed 113
is handled in a
first amount of time less than a second amount of time required for the second
bale 803 to move
through the predetermined distance 808 at the first rate of speed 802 along
the bale receiving axis
201 responsive to the advancement of the first bale 801 onto the load bed 113
along the bale
receiving axis 201. In particular, the first bale 801 received on the load bed
113 is handled
responsive to the determination that the first bale 801 is located at the
second predetermined
position on the load bed 113. After step 796, the method returns to step 786
to continue to receive
a new first bale 801 on the load bed 113.
At step 796, the first bale 801 received on the load bed 113 may be handled to
accomplish
any bale handling operation including, by example and without limitation, the
operation of
accumulating the bales on the load bed 113 and the operation of discharging
the bales from the
load bed 113 to the ground surface 128, and particularly including all of the
bale handling
operations disclosed herein. In the preferred embodiment, the bale handling
operation includes
bale stacking and bale discharging operations, as described herein. In the
case of the bale stacking
operation, the bales or the load beds advantageously move in the first amount
of time less than the
second amount of time required for the second bale 802 to move through the
predetermined
distance 808 along the bale receiving axis 201 at the first rate of speed 802
responsive to the first
bale 801 being advanced onto the load bed 113, at step 796. In the case of the
bale discharging
operation implemented as a pivoting load bed, the load bed advantageously
moves from the bale
receiving position to the bale discharging position and back to the bale
receiving position in the
first amount of time less than the second amount of time required for the
second bale 802 to move
through the predetermined distance 808 along the bale receiving axis 201 at
the first rate of speed
802 responsive to the first bale 801 being advanced onto the load bed 113, at
step 796.
Therefore, the bale advancement method advantageously provides the accumulator
100
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with enough time to perform bale handling operations on the last received bale
801 before the next
bale 802 is received on the load bed 113.
Preferably, at least one of the first predetermined position and the second
predetermined
position, determined to be reached by the first bale 801, along the bale
receiving axis 201 is
adjustable. This adjustment optimizes the predetermined distance 808, created
between the first
bale 801 and the second bale 803, for various bale lengths, distances between
the front side 117
of the accumulator 100 and either the baler 101 or the bale chute 103, various
bale traveling
speeds, various crop conditions, such as type, weight, moisture content, etc.,
various bale
handling operations, such as different bale accumulation arrangements and bale
discharging
operations, etc., and the like. The adjustment may be perform manually by a
person, such as an
operator, distributor, or a manufacturer of the accumulator 100, and/or may be
performed
automatically under control of the tractor, baler 1 O 1, the accumulator 100,
or the like. Manual
adjustment is advantageous to accommodate the various bale lengths and various
distances
between the front side 117 of the accumulator 100 and either the baler 101 or
the bale chute 103.
Automatic adjustment is advantageous to accommodate, in real time during the
operation of the
accumulator 100, the various bale traveling speeds, various crop conditions,
such as type, weight,
moisture content, etc., various bale handling operations, such as different
bale accumulation
arrangements and bale discharging operations, etc., and the like.
B . Bale Advancement Apparatus
FIGs. 75, 76 and 77 illustrate, each in a right side elevation view, an
agricultural bale
accumulator having a first embodiment of a bale advancement module performing
a sequence of
bale advancing operations responsive to the bale advancement method of FIG.
74. FIGs. 78, 79
and 80 illustrate, each in a right side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having a
second embodiment of a bale advancement module performing a sequence of bale
advancing
operations responsive to the bale advancement method of FIG. 74. Referring to
FIGS. 75-80, a
load bed 113 is adapted to receive thereon a plurality of bales, including a
first bale 801 followed
by a second bale 803, at a first rate of speed 802 along a bale receiving axis
201.
A first bale position sensor 168 determines that the first bale 801 is located
at a first
predetermined position on the load bed 113 along the bale receiving axis 201
responsive to
receiving the first bale 801 on the load bed 113. Generally, the first bale
position sensor 168
comprises a bale position monitoring mechanism adapted to monitor the
formation of and the
ejection of the first bale 801 from the bale chamber of the baler 101. In the
preferred embodiment,
the first bale position sensor 168 is implemented as a sensing plate located
at the first
predetermined position along the bale receiving axis 201 and moveable between
a first position
and a second position about a hinge axis mechanically coupling the sensing
plate to the load bed
113. The sensing plate is located in the first position responsive to the
first bale 801 not applying a
force to the sensing plate. The sensing plate is located in the second
position responsive to the
first bale 801 applying a force, generated by its weight, to the sensing
plate. A switch is coupled
to the sensing plate and has a first switched state responsive to the sensing
plate being located in
the first position and a second switch state responsive to the sensing plate
being located in the
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second position. A first adjustment mechanism, mechanically coupled to the
sensing plate and the
load bed 113, permits adjustment of the first predetermined position of the
first bale position
sensor 168 along the bale receiving axis 201 for the reasons discussed
hereinabove with reference
to the bale advancement method. The first adjustment mechanism may be adjusted
by physically
relocating the first bale position sensor 168 along the bale receiving axis
201 within an elongated
slot or recess, formed in the load bed 113, and disposed essentially parallel
to the bale receiving
axis 201.
A bale advancement apparatus advances the first bale 801 onto the load bed 113
at a
second rate of speed 804, greater than the first rate of speed 802, along the
bale receiving axis 201
responsive to the determination by the first bale position sensor 168 that the
first bale 801 is
located in the first predetermined position along the bale receiving axis 201
to advance the first
bale 801 ahead of the second bale 803 by a predetermined distance 808 along
the bale receiving
axis 201.
In the preferred embodiment, the bale advancement apparatus includes a bale
engaging
mechanism and a bale driving mechanism. The bale engaging mechanism engages
the first bale
801. The bale driving mechanism is coupled to the bale engaging mechanism and
causes the bale
engaging mechanism to engage the first bale 801 and to drive the bale engaging
mechanism to
advance the first bale 801 ahead of the second bale 803 by the predetermined
distance 808 along
the bale receiving axis 201. The bale driving mechanism may any drive
mechanism including,
hydraulic or electric. The bale driving mechanism may be driven either
continuously or
periodically, wherein each periodic drive of the bale driving mechanism
advances the first bale
801 a subdistance within the predetermined distance 808.
The bale engaging mechanism includes projections 805 and a projection support
surface
807. The projections 805 protrude at least partially into the first bale 801
when engaging the first
bale 801. The projections 805 have an appropriate length and shape to securely
engage the first
bale 801 without damaging the bale or breaking the bale twine. The projection
support surface
807 is coupled to the projections 805 in such a manner that the projections
805 extend outwardly
from the projection support surface 807. In the preferred embodiment, the
projection support
surface 807 is disposed below a bale receiving surface of the load bed 113
upon which the first
bale 801 is received on the load bed and the projections 805 are permitted to
extend above the bale
receiving surface of the load bed 113 to protrude at least partially into the
first bale 801.
Preferably, the projections 805 are disposed above the bale receiving surface
of the load
bed 113 to protrude at least partially into the first bale 801 to advance the
first bale 801 and are
disposed below the bale receiving surface of the load bed 113 when not
advancing the bale so as
not to interfere with any subsequent bale handling operations. In the
preferred embodiment, the
projections 805 are disposed at intermittent positions on the projection
support surface 807
permitting the bale driving mechanism to move the bale engaging mechanism to a
position such
that no projections extend above the bale receiving surface of the load bed
113 and to move the
bale engaging mechanism to a position such that the projections 805 extend
above the bale
receiving surface of the load bed 113. In other words the projection support
surface 807 has a
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bald spot where no projections 805 are located. With the bald spot
implementation, the bale
engaging mechanism periodically drives the first bale 801 due to the bald spot
between the
projections even though the bale drive mechanism drives the bale engaging
mechanism
continuously. Preferably, the bale drive mechanism stops driving the bale
engagement
mechanism when the bale spot on the projection support surface 807 is opposite
to the bale
receiving surface of the load bed 113 so that no projections above the bale
receiving surface of the
load bed 113. Alternatively, a retraction mechanism can retract the bale
engaging mechanism or
the projections 805 below the bale receiving surface of the load bed 113 by
lowering the bale
engaging mechanism or the projections 805. However, the bald spot embodiment
is preferable to
avoid the need for a retraction mechanism which would be more complicated and
more costly.
A bale handling module handles the first bale 801 received on the load bed 113
in a first
amount of time less than a second amount of time required for the second bale
803 to move
through the predetermined distance 808 at the first rate of speed 802 along
the bale receiving axis
201 responsive to the advancement of the first bale 801 onto the load bed 113
along the bale
receiving axis 201. Reference number 810 represents a distance traveled by the
second bale 803
while the first bale 801 is advanced onto the load bed 113. Reference number
812 represents a
distance, between the bale chute 103 and the front side 117 of the load bed,
over which the second
bale will travel before reaching the load bed 113. The distance 812 is an
important distance if the
bale handling operation involves the discharge of the first bale 801 from the
bale receiving portion
114 of the load bed 113, as will be described hereinbelow with reference to
the permissive bale
discharge module and the selective bale discharge control module.
The bale handling module includes any module on an accumulator including, by
example
and without limitation, any bale accumulation module and any bale discharge
module, and
particularly including all of the modules disclosed herein. In the preferred
embodiment, the bale
handling module includes the bale stacking module and the bale discharging
module, as described
herein.
In the preferred embodiment, the bale advancement apparatus 798 also includes
a second
bale position sensor 184 that determines that the first bale 801 is located in
a second predetermined
position along the bale receiving axis 201. Reference number 810 represents a
distance between
the first bale position sensor 168 and the second bale position sensor 184 on
the bale receiving
surface 114 of the load bed 113 when each of the two sensor are implemented as
sensing plates.
The distance 810 may be greater than or less than the distance 808 created
between the first bale
801 and the second bale 803. The second bale position sensor 184 is located
ahead of the first
predetermined position along the bale receiving axis 201, when reference to
the bale traveling
direction 222, by a predetermined distance 806. The bale advancement apparatus
stops the
advancement of the first bale 801 onto the load bed 113 along the bale
receiving axis 201
responsive to the determination by the second bale position sensor 184 that
the first bale 801 is
located in the second predetermined position along the bale receiving
axis.201. The bale handling
module handles the first bale 801 responsive to the determination that the
first bale 801 is located
in the second predetermined position.
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The second bale position sensor 184 is preferably implemented as a sensing
plate like the
sensing plate described hereinabove with the first bale position sensor 168.
Preferably, the
second bale position sensor 184 is be the same bale position sensor that is
used to determine when
to discharge the bales from the load bed to the ground surface. In this case,
the accumulator 100
performs any bale handling operations before the bale discharge operation when
the accumulator
is ready to discharge the bales from the load bed 113. Alternatively, the
second bale position
sensor 184 may be a separate sensor.
As an alternative to the sensing plate implementation, the second bale
position sensor 184
may be implemented with the bale drive mechanism. In this case the bale drive
mechanism drive
the bale engagement mechanism by a known drive amount to advance the first
bale 801 by the
predetermined distance 808. This implementation is attractive because a
separate device, such as a
sensing plate, is not needed. However, intelligent control of the bale drive
mechanism is needed
to drive the first bale 801 for an appropriate amount of time to create the
predetermined distance
808.
A second adjustment mechanism, mechanically coupled to the second bale
position sensor
184 and the load bed 113, permits manual or automatic adjustment of the second
predetermined
position along the bale receiving axis 201 for the same reasons discussed
hereinabove with the
bale advancement method. The second adjustment mechanism may be adjusted by
physically
relocating the second bale position sensor 184 along the bale receiving axis
201 within an
elongated slot or recess, formed in the load bed 113, and disposed essentially
parallel to the bale
receiving axis 201.
Although the bale advancement apparatus is described for the purpose of
advancing bales
onto the load bed 113 along bale receiving axis 201 substantially parallel to
the longitudinal axis of
the load bed 113, the bale advancement apparatus may also be used to transfer
bales across the
load bed along a bale transfer axis substantially transverse to the bale
receiving axis and essentially
parallel to the lateral axis of the load bed 113. This lateral bale
advancement apparatus 690 may be
considered as an alternative bale transfer module, implemented as the push bar
186. The lateral
bale advancement apparatus 690 is illustrated in FIGs. 65, 66, 67 and 68 as a
bale transfer
mechanism to laterally transfer the bales from the load bed onto a load bed
extension table when
the bale stacking apparatus having two load beds is used. The lateral bale
advancement apparatus
690 is advantageously used in FIGs. 65, 66, 67 and 68 to advance the bales
past the posts
supporting the moveable load bed to permit the bales to be discharged from
each of the load beds
to the ground surface without interfering with the posts. In FIGS. 65, 66, 67
and 68, the
conventional bale transfer module, implemented as the push bar 186, cannot
create the needed
separation between a bale located on the side of the load bed, adjacent to the
load bed extension
table, and a bale located on the load bed extension table.
1. First Bale Advancement Apparatus - Spiked Cylinder
In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGs. 75, 76 and 77 the bale engaging
mechanism described hereinabove is implemented as a cylinder or a plurality of
disks 800 having
a circular shaped cross-section and positioned so that rotation of the
cylinder causes the first bale
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801 to advance ahead of the second bale 803 by the predetermined distance 808
along the bale
receiving axis 201. The bale engaging mechanism, implemented as a cylinder
800, is also
illustrated in FIGs. 66, 68, 130, 131 and 132. Preferably, the cylinder has an
appropriate length
or the disks are spaced appropriately so that the projections 805 extend into
the bale across a width
of the bale to permit the bale drive mechanism to drive the bale along a
straight line along the bale
receiving axis 201 with minimal lateral displacement.
2. Second Bale Advancement Apparatus - Spiked Conveyor
In an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIGs. 78, 79 and 80, the bale engaging
mechanism described hereinabove is implemented a spiked conveyor 814 forming a
closed loop
and positioned so that rotation of the conveyor causes the first bale 801 to
advance ahead of the
second bale 803 by the predetermined distance 808 along the bale receiving
axis 201. In the
preferred embodiment, the conveyor is implemented as a chain. However, other
types of
conveyors can be used such as a belt.
VIII. Bale Arrangement Control Module
FIGS. 81-83 illustrate a bale arrangement control module 832. FIG. 81
illustrates a
flowchart describing a method to be performed by an embodiment of an apparatus
shown in FIG.
82 and 128 to determine a dynamic arrangement of bales on the load bed of the
accumulator, as
shown in FIG. 83.
A. Bale Arrangement Control Method
FIG. 81 illustrates a flowchart 830 describing a bale arrangement control
method for
accumulating bales on a load bed 113 of an agricultural bale accumulator 100
by varying a bale
accumulation arrangement responsive to an input condition.
At step 816, the accumulator 100 starts the method. At step 818, the
accumulator 100
receives an input condition. At step 820, the accumulator 100 receives a
plurality of bales, formed
by a baler 101. At step 822, the accumulator 100 determines a dynamic
arrangement for the
plurality of bales received on the accumulator 100 responsive to the input
condition. At step 824,
the accumulator 100 accumulates the plurality of bales received on the
accumulator 100 responsive
to the dynamic arrangement. At step 826, the accumulator 100 determines
whether to discharge
the bales accumulated on the accumulator 100 in the dynamic arrangement from
the accumulator
100 to the ground surface 128. If the determination at step 826 is positive,
then the method
continues to step 828. At step 828, the accumulator 100 discharges the bales
accumulated on the
accumulator 100 in the dynamic arrangement from the accumulator 100 to the
ground surface 128.
If the determination at step 826 is negative, then the method continues to one
of steps 818 and
820, to continue to receive bales along with a dynamic input condition and a
static input condition,
respectively.
In the preferred embodiment, the input condition is determined the input
condition is
determined during the step of receiving to provide a dynamic and real time
input condition while
the accumulator 100 is operating. Alternatively,. the input condition is
determined the input
condition is determined before the step of receiving to provide a
predetermined and static input
condition prior to operating the accumulator 100.
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Preferably, the accumulator 100 performs the step of accumulating, at step
824, by
forming at least one stack of bales, having at least t~vo bales, along the
bale stacking axis 203
responsive to receiving the plurality of bales on the load bed 113 and
responsive to the determined
dynamic bale arrangement to permit the accumulator 100 to accumulate the at
least one stack of
bales on the load bed 113, and by transfernng the at least one stack of bales
across the load bed
113 along the bale transfer axis 202 responsive to the at least one stack of
bales being formed on
the load bed 113 and responsive to the determined dynamic bale arrangement to
permit the
accumulator 100 to accumulate the plurality of bales on the load bed 113.
Hence, the accumulator
100 can create any number of dynamic bale arrangements, in a matrix of bale
arrangements,
represented by a number of bales permitted to be stacked by the accumulator
100 and a number of
bales permitted to be transferred across the accumulator 100 for accumulation
thereon.
Generally, the input conditions includes any input condition. In a first
embodiment of the
bale arrangement control method, the input condition is condition of the
accumulator 100. In one
example of the first embodiment of the bale arrangement control method, the
input condition of the
accumulator 100 is a bale accumulating capacity of the accumulator 100. For
example, where the
accumulator 100 has a load bed extension module 102 including a extension
table, the bale
accumulating capacity of the accumulator 100 is responsive to the extension
table being in one of
the stowed position and the unstowed position. The accumulator 100 has a first
bale accumulating
capacity when the extension table is in the stowed position by not permitting
at least one bale of
the plurality of bales to be received on the extension table. The accumulator
100 has a second bale
accumulating capacity, greater than the first bale accumulating capacity, when
the extension table
is in the unstowed position by permitting bales to be received on the
extension table. Hence, the
accumulator 100 dynamically changes its bale arrangement depending on the
position of the
extension table. In practice, for example, the accumulator 100 would confine
the bale
arrangement to the load bed 113, if the extension tables are moved to their
stowed positions while
accumulating bales near a fence row.
In another example of the first embodiment of the bale arrangement control
method, the
input condition of the accumulator 100 is a measure of levelness of the load
bed 113 relative to a
horizontal plane as determined by a load bed leveling module described
hereinbelow. In this case,
the accumulator 100 determines a dynamic arrangement for the plurality of
bales received on the
accumulator 100 responsive to the measure of levelness of the load bed
relative to the horizontal
plane. Hence, the accumulator 100 dynamically changes its bale arrangement
depending on a
measure of levelness of the load bed 113. In practice, for example, the
accumulator 100 would
stop stacking bales or reduce the number of bales in a stack if the load bed
too far out of level.
In a second embodiment of the bale arrangement control method, the input
condition is a
condition of each of the plurality of bales. In one example of the second
embodiment, the input
condition of each of the plurality of bales is a weight of each of the
plurality of bales received.
Hence, the accumulator 100 dynamically changes its bale arrangement depending
on the weight of
each of the plurality of bales received. In practice, for example, the
accumulator 100 would stop
stacking bales or reduce the number of bales in a stack if the bales are
determined to be too heavy.
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In another example of the second embodiment of the bale arrangement control
method, the
input condition of each of the plurality of bales is at least one of a length,
a width and a height of
each of the plurality of bales received. Hence, the accumulator 100
dynamically changes its bale
arrangement depending on at least one of the length, the width and the height
of each of the
plurality of bales received. In practice, for example, the accumulator 100
would stop stacking
bales or reduce the number of bales in a stack if the bales are determined to
be too big.
In a third embodiment of the bale arrangement control method, the input
condition is a
condition of an input signal representative of a location of the accumulator
100 in a field in which
the accumulator 100 is accumulating or discharging the plurality of bales, as
described
hereinbelow with the field location module. In one example of the third
embodiment of the bale
arrangement control method, the input condition is a location of the
accumulator 100 relative to
predetermined bale discharge zones in the field. Hence, the accumulator 100
dynamically changes
its bale arrangement depending on the location of the accumulator 100 relative
to the
predetermined bale discharge zones in the field. In practice, for example, the
accumulator 100
would arrange the bales to provide the most compact arrangement of bales to be
discharged in the
bale discharge zones.
In a fourth embodiment of the bale arrangement control method, the input
condition is a
condition of a bale carrying capacity of a bale hauling truck which is adapted
to haul the plurality
of bales accumulated by the accumulator 100 to a remote site. In this case,
some bale hauling
vehicles, such as semi trailers can carry big rectangular bales stacked two
bales high and others
can carry bales stacked three bales high depending on the height of the
trailer, the height of the
bales forming the stack of bales and the weight of the bales, in order to meet
the height and weight
limits of the trailer for safe roadway travel. Hence, the accumulator 100
dynamically changes its
bale arrangement depending on the bale accumulating capacity of a bale hauling
truck. In practice,
for example, the accumulator 100 would arrange the bales to be accumulated and
discharged in an
arrangement to minimize the time for a loader to load the bale hauling truck
while providing the
most efficient hauling capacity, within legal limits, for the bale hauling
truck.
In a fifth embodiment of the bale arrangement control method, the input
condition is a
condition of a bale storing capacity of a remote site adapted to store the
plurality of bales
accumulated by the accumulator 100. In this case, some storage facilities,
such as barns can store
big rectangular bales stacked in multiples of two bales high and others can
carry bales stacked in
multiples of three bales high depending on the height of the storage facility,
the height of the bales
forming the stack of bales and the weight of the bales, in order to provide
for safe and efficient
storage of the bales. Hence, the accumulator 100 dynamically changes its bale
arrangement
depending on the bale storing capacity of a remote site. In practice, for
example, the accumulator
100 would arrange the bales to be accumulated and discharged in an arrangement
to minimize the
time for a loader to store the bales while providing safe and efficient
storage of the bales.
In a sixth embodiment of the bale arrangement control method, the input
condition is a
condition of a manual input signal provided by an operator of the accumulator
100. In this case,
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the operator can dynamically changes its bale arrangement depending on
conditions desirable to
the operator and which conditions may be undetermined by the accumulator 100.
B . Bale Arrangement Control Apparatus
FIG. 82 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an accumulator 100 having
a load bed
extension module 102, including four extension tables 104-107, having a bale
stacking module
332 and having a bale arrangement control module 830 for controlling the bale
accumulation
arrangement responsive to the bale arrangement control method described in
FIG. 81. The
accumulator 100 represented in FIG. 82 is a simplified representation of the
accumulator 100
illustrated in FIGs. 129-132, described hereinbelow. The accumulator 100 in
FIG. 82 is shown to
have a maximum bale accumulating capacity of twenty one bales. At its maximum
bale
accumulating capacity, the accumulator 100 can carry three bales high, formed
by the bale
stacking module 332, along the bale stacking axis 203 and can carry seven
bales wide, formed by
the bale transfer module 186, along the bale transfernng axis 202. Hence the
bale arrangement
apparatus comprises the various apparatus, including, without limitation, the
bale stacking and
bale transfer apparatus, needed to accumulate the bales on the accumulator 100
in the dynamic bale
arrangement.
FIG. 83 illustrates a table 832 showing a plurality of bale arrangements
capable of being
produced by the bale arrangement control module 830 responsive to the bale
arrangement control
method described in FIG. 81 for the accumulator 100 shown in FIG. 82.
Preferably, the dynamic
bale arrangement is a matrix arrangement represented by a first number of
bales 834 disposed
along the bale transfer axis 202 horizontally transverse to the bale receiving
axis 201 and by a
second number of bales 836 disposed along the bale stacking axis 203
vertically transverse to the
bale receiving axis and the bale transfer axis 202. The table 832 shows the
horizontal bale
accumulating capacity being seven bales and shows the vertical bale
accumulating capacity being
three bales to provide a maximum bale accumulating capacity of twenty one
bales for accumulation
by the accumulator 100 illustrated in FIG. 83. Hence, the table 832 shows
twenty one dynamic
bale arrangements available to the accumulator 100 illustrated in FIG. 83.
Note that the entries in the table 832, indicating a bale number, do not imply
the order in
which the bales are accumulated on the accumulator 100 illustrated in FIG. 83.
However, the
entries in the table 832, indicating the bale number, do correspond to the
location of the bales on
the accumulator 100 illustrated in FIG. 83 for the particular bale
arrangement. For example, if
bale arrangement control module 830 determines that a bale arrangement of
three bales wide by
one bale wide is desired, then bales numbered fifteen, twenty one and eighteen
will be
accumulated on the left 118, center 114 and right 116 portions of the load bed
113, respectively.
The dynamic bale arrangements range from one bale (i.e. one horizontally
accumulated
bale by one vertically accumulated bale) to twenty one bales (i.e. seven
horizontally accumulated
bale by three vertically accumulated bale). The table 832 notes at the table
entry, corresponding to
three bales high by three bales wide, that the load bed 113 is filled to its
maximum bale
accumulating capacity. The table 832 also notes at the table entry,
corresponding to three bales
high by seven bales wide, that the load bed 113 and the load bed extension
module 102, including
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the four extension tables 104-107, forming the entire bale accumulating
surface of the accumulator
100 are filled to their maximum bale accumulating capacity.
Although the dynamic bale arrangement is represented as a matrix of bales
herein, the bale
arrangement control module 830 is not limited to this particular arrangement.
The bale
arrangement control module 830 can arrange the bales along one axis, two axes
or three axes, as
desired. Further, the accumulator 100 shown in FIG. 82 and the table 832 in
FIG. 83 are
provided for an example only and any other accumulator and any other table
having dynamic bale
arrangements corresponding to the other accumulator may incorporate the bale
arrangement
control module 830.
IX. Bale Stabilization Module
FIGs. 84-103 illustrate a bale stabilization module 899. FIGs. 84-91
illustrate a load bed
leveling module 900. FIGs. 84, 92-103 illustrate a lateral bale stabilization
module 966. FIG.
84 illustrates a flowchart 839 describing a general stabilization method for
stabilizing bales
accumulated on a load bed of an agricultural bale accumulator.
In FIG. 84, at step 838, the method starts.
Next, at step 840, a plurality of bales are received on a load bed along a
bale receiving
axis. The load bed forms a part of a base module of the accumulator adapted to
be supported by
and transported across a ground surface. The ground surface has a degree of
levelness, relative to
a horizontal plane, which varies across the ground surface. The load bed is
substantially planar
and has a measure of levelness, relative to the horizontal plane, which varies
in accordance with
the degree of levelness as the agricultural bale accumulator is transported
across the ground
surface.
Next, at step 842, the plurality of bales are accumulated on the load bed at
predetermined
positions on the load bed responsive to the step of receiving as the
agricultural bale accumulator is
transported across the ground surface. An undesirable amount of the measure of
levelness of the
load bed encourages the plurality of bales located at the predetermined
positions on the load bed to
move from the predetermined positions as the accumulator is transported across
the ground
surface.
Next, at step 844, the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed are
stabilized, without
using a bale stabilization structure permanently disposed above a bale
receiving surface of the load
bed, responsive to the step of accumulating to encourage the plurality of
bales accumulated on the
load bed, located at the predetermined positions on the load bed, to remain
located at the
predetermined positions on the load bed as the agricultural bale accumulator
is transported across
the ground surface.
Next, at step 849, the method ends.
In the preferred embodiment of the load bed leveling module, the step 842 of
accumulating
is performed by transfernng the plurality of bales across the load bed along a
bale transferring axis
disposed horizontally traverse to the bale receiving axis, at the appropriate
time, to permit the
accumulator to accumulate the plurality of bales in a side-by-side
relationship on the load bed.
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In the preferred embodiment of the load bed leveling module, the step 842 of
accumulating
is performed by forming at least one stack of bales, having at least two
bales, along a bale
stacking axis disposed vertically transverse to the bale receiving axis
responsive to receiving the
plurality of bales on the load bed to permit the accumulator to accumulate the
at least one stack of
bales on the load bed.
Hence, the general stabilization method advantageously stabilizes bales
accumulated on a
substantially planar load bed. The general stabilization method is
particularly useful for stabilizing
stacks of bales accumulated on the load bed that would otherwise have a
tendency to sway, tip or
shift as the accumulator travels across a bumpy or an uneven ground surface
relative to the
horizontal plane. However, the general stabilization method could also be used
to stabilize a
single layer of bales on the load bed. The general stabilization method is
advantageously
performed without using a bale stabilization structure permanently disposed
above a bale receiving
surface of the load bed, such as a fence, or a boxed in load bed to provide
bale stabilization while
minimizing weight, cost and storage space for the accumulator.
A. Load Bed Leveling Method And Apparatus
1. Load Bed Leveling Method
FIG. 85 illustrates a flowchart 844 describing a first particular
stabilization method for
performing the general stabilization method described in FIG. 84 for
stabilizing bales accumulated
on a load bed, by leveling the load bed along one of a longitudinal axis and a
lateral axis of the
load bed.
In FIG. 85, the method starts at step 848.
Next, at step 850, a first measure of levelness of the load bed is determined
along a
longitudinal axis, disposed substantially parallel to the bale receiving axis,
relative the horizontal
plane as the agricultural bale accumulator is transported across the ground
surface.
Next, at step 852, a determination is made whether the first measure of
levelness is
desirable. If the determination at step 852 is positive, the method continues
to step 854. If the
determination at step 852 is negative, the method continues to step 853. In
the preferred
embodiment of the load bed leveling method, the step 853 includes steps 856,
858, 860 and 862.
At step 854, the leveling position, within the predetermined range of leveling
positions, of
the load bed is maintained along the longitudinal axis relative the horizontal
plane responsive to a
determination that the first measure of levelness is desirable.
At step 853, the leveling position, within the predetermined range of leveling
positions, of
the load bed is changed along the longitudinal axis relative the horizontal
plane responsive to a
determination that the first measure of levelness is undesirable.
At step 856, which is the first step in step 853, a determination is made
whether the first
measure of levelness has reached a maximum adjustment limit within the
predetermined range of
leveling positions along the longitudinal axis. If the determination at step
856 is positive, then the
method returns to step 854. If the determination at step 856 is negative, then
the method
continues to step 857.
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Returning to step 854, the leveling position, within the predetermined range
of leveling
positions, of the load bed is maintained along the longitudinal axis relative
the horizontal plane
responsive to a determination that the first measure of levelness has reached
the maximum
adjustment limit within the predetermined range of leveling positions along
the longitudinal axis.
At step 857, the leveling position, within the predetermined range of leveling
positions, of
the load bed is changed along the longitudinal axis relative the horizontal
plane responsive to a
determination that the first measure of levelness has not reached the maximum
adjustment limit
within the predetermined range of leveling positions along the longitudinal
axis. In the preferred
embodiment of the load bed leveling method, the step 857 includes steps 858,
860 and 862.
At step 858, which is the first step in step 857, a determination is made
whether the first
measure of levelness indicates that a front end of the load bed or a rear end
of the load bed is
higher relative to the horizontal plane. If the determination at step 858
indicates that the front end
of the load bed is higher, then the method continues to step 860. If the
determination at step 858
indicates that the rear end of the load bed is higher, then the method
continues to step 862.
At step 860, a leveling position of the load bed is changed along the
longitudinal axis,
within the first predetermined range of leveling positions, by lowering a
front end (high) of the
load bed relative to the horizontal plane and/or by raising a rear end (low)
of the load bed relative
to the horizontal plane. After step 860, the method continues to step 864.
At step 862, a leveling position of the load bed is changed along the lateral
axis, within the
first predetermined range of leveling positions, by raising a front end (low)
of the load bed relative
to the horizontal plane and/or by lowering a rear end (high) of the load bed
relative to the
horizontal plane. After step 862, the method continues to step 864.
Hence, leveling the load bed along the longitudinal axis in steps 860 and 862,
compensates the load bed for an undesirable degree of levelness of the ground
surface along the
longitudinal axis relative to the horizontal plane.
In the preferred embodiment of the load bed leveling module, steps 860 and 862
are
implemented by performing the step of pivoting the load bed about a pivot
axis, disposed
substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and disposed
substantially parallel to a lateral
axis of the load bed, relative to a frame of the base module, responsive to
the first measure of
levelness to effectuate the change of the leveling position, within the
predetermined range of
leveling positions, of the load bed along the longitudinal axis relative to
the horizontal plane.
Preferably, the step of pivoting the load bed about the pivot axis relative to
the frame
further includes the step of pivoting the load bed about the pivot axis
relative to the frame in one of
a positive direction or a negative direction relative to the horizontal plane
responsive to the first
measure of levelness to effectuate the change of the leveling position, within
the predetermined
range of leveling positions, of the load bed along the longitudinal axis
relative to the horizontal
plane responsive to the first measure of levelness. This is shown in-FIG. 107,
using the level
determining device 912 and the "bent frame" configuration. This is the
preferred longitudinal
leveling operation.
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Moreover, the step of pivoting the load bed about the pivot axis relative to
the ~framc'
further includes the step of pivoting the load bed about the pivot axis
between a bale receiving
position and a bale discharging position relative to the frame. The load bed
assumes the leveling
position, within the predetermined range of leveling positions, when the load
bed is in the bale
receiving position to permit the load bed to receive and accumulate thereon
the plurality of bales.
The load bed assumes an inclined position relative to the frame when the load
bed is in the bale
discharging position to permit the plurality of bales to be discharged from
the load bed to the
ground surface under a gravitational force acting on the plurality of bales.
Hence, the same
mechanics and steps used for the longitudinal load bed leveling also is use
for a bale discharge
operation. This is the preferred longitudinal leveling operation.
Alternatively, steps 860 and 862 are implemented by performing the step of
changing a
frame leveling position, within a predetermined range of frame leveling
positions, of a forward
end portion of a frame, supporting the load bed above the ground surface,
relative to a hitch on
towing unit, pulling the agricultural bale accumulator in tandem behind the
towing unit across the
ground surface, responsive to the first measure of levelness to effectuate the
change of the leveling
position, within the predetermined range of leveling positions, of the load
bed along the
longitudinal axis relative to the horizontal plane.
Continuing from one of the steps 854, 860 and 862, at step 864, a second
measure of
levelness of the load bed is determined along a lateral axis, disposed
substantially perpendicular to
the bale receiving axis, relative the horizontal plane as the agricultural
bale accumulator is
transported across the ground surface.
Next, at step 866 a determination is made whether the second measure of
levelness is
desirable. If the determination at step 866 is positive, then the method
returns to step 868. If the
determination at step 866 is negative, then the method continues to step 869.
In the preferred
embodiment of the load bed leveling method, the step 869 includes steps 870,
872, 874, 876,
878, 880, 882, 884, 886, 888, 890, 892, 894, 896 and 898.
At step 868, the leveling position, within the predetermined range of leveling
positions, of
the load bed is malntalned along the lateral axis relative the horizontal
plane responsive to a
determination that the second measure of levelness is desirable.
At step 869, the leveling position, within the predetermined range of leveling
positions, of
the load bed is changed along the lateral axis relative the horizontal plane
responsive to a
determination that the second measure of levelness is undesirable.
Next, at step 870, which is the first step in step 869, a determination is
made whether the
second measure of levelness indicates that a right side of the load bed or a
left side of the load bed
is higher relative to the horizontal plane. If the determination at step 870
indicates that the right
side of the load bed is higher, then the method continues to step 872. If the
determination at step
870 indicates that the left side of the load bed is higher, then the method
continues to step 882.
At step 872, a determination is made whether the second measure of levelness
has reached
a maximum adjustment limit within the predetermined range of leveling
positions along the lateral
axis responsive to the step 870. If the determination at step 872 is positive,
then the method
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continues to the step 874. If the determination at step 872 is negative, then
the method continues
to the step 878.
At step 874, a determination is made whether the load bed has any bale
accumulating
capacity remaining at a location on the load bed along the lateral axis which
needs to be changed
relative to the horizontal plane. In step 874, the location checked is the
right (high) side of the
accumulator. If the determination at step 874 is positive, then the method
continues to the step
876. If the determination at step 874 is negative, then the method continues
to the step 896.
At step 876, the plurality of bales are transferred along the lateral axis 202
to the right
(high) side of the accumulator at the appropriate time. After step 876, the
method continues to
step 850 to again check the first measure of levelness of the load bed
relative to the horizontal
plane along the longitudinal axis.
At step 896, the leveling position, within the predetermined range of leveling
positions, of
the load bed is maintained along the lateral axis relative the horizontal
plane.
After step 896, at step 898, the plurality of bales are transferred along the
lateral axis 202
to the left (low) side of the accumulator at the appropriate time. After step
898, the method
continues to step 850 to again check the first measure of levelness of the
load bed relative to the
horizontal plane along the longitudinal axis.
Hence, steps 872, 874, 876, 896 and 898 advantageously tries to shift the
bales to the
high side, if capacity is available when the leveling system has reached its
maximum range. Of
course, for these steps to be most effective, a transfer module capable of
shifting successively
received bales in the same direction across the load bed is needed. The
described bale
advancement module can provide such a transfer module for multiple, successive
bale transfer
operation. The same applies to steps 882, 884, 886, 890 and 892.
Returning to step 872, if the determination at step 872 is negative, then the
method
continues to the step 878.
At step 878, a leveling position of the load bed is changed along the lateral
axis, within the
second predetermined range of leveling positions, by lowering a right side
(high) of the load bed
relative to the horizontal plane and/or by raising a left side (low) of the
load bed relative to the
horizontal plane. After step 878, the method continues to step 880.
At step 880, the plurality of bales are transferred along the lateral axis 202
to either the
right side or the left side of the accumulator, at the appropriate time. After
step 880, the method
continues to step 850 to again check the first measure of levelness of the
load bed relative to the
horizontal plane along the longitudinal axis.
Returning to step 870, if the determination at step 870 indicates that the
left side of the load
bed is higher, then the method continues to step 882.
At step 882, a determination is made whether the second measure of levelness
has reached
a maximum adjustment limit within the predetermined range of leveling
positions along the lateral
axis responsive to the step 870. If the determination at step 882 is positive,
then the method
continues to the step 888. If the determination at step 882 is negative, then
the method continues
to the step 884.
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At step 884, a determination is made whether the load bed has any bale
accumulating
capacity remaining at a location on the load bed along the lateral axis which
needs to be changed
relative to the horizontal plane. In step 884, the location checked is the
left (high) side of the
accumulator. If the determination at step 884 is positive, then the method
continues to the step
886. If the determination at step 884 is negative, then the method continues
to the step 890.
At step 886, the plurality of bales are transferred along the lateral axis 202
to the left (high)
side of the accumulator at the appropriate time. After step 886, the method
continues to step 850
to again check the first measure of levelness of the load bed relative to the
horizontal plane along
the longitudinal axis.
At step 890, the leveling position, within the predetermined range of leveling
positions, of
the load bed is maintained along the lateral axis relative the horizontal
plane.
After step 890, at step 892, the plurality of bales are transferred along the
lateral axis 202
to the right (low) side of the accumulator at the appropriate time. After step
892, the method
continues to step 850 to again check the first measure of levelness of the
load bed relative to the
horizontal plane along the longitudinal axis.
Returning to step 882, if the determination at step 882 is negative, then the
method
continues to the step 888.
At step 888, a leveling position of the load bed is changed along the lateral
axis, within the
second predetermined range of leveling positions, by lowering a right side
(low) of the load bed
relative to the horizontal plane and/or by raising a left side (high) of the
load bed relative to the
horizontal plane. After step 888, the method continues to step 894.
At step 894, the plurality of bales are transferred along the lateral axis 202
to either the
right side or the left side of the accumulator, at the appropriate time. After
step 894, the method
continues to step 850 to again check the first measure of levelness of the
load bed relative to the
horizontal plane along the longitudinal axis.
In the preferred embodiment of the load bed leveling module, the steps 878 and
888 of
changing the leveling position, within the predetermined range of leveling
positions, of the load
bed along the lateral axis relative to the horizontal plane include the steps
of: changing a frame
leveling position, within a predetermined range of frame leveling positions,
of a first side of a
frame, forming a part of the base module and supporting the load bed above the
ground surface,
relative to a first support wheel, mechanically coupled to a first side of the
frame, supporting the
frame above the ground surface and permitting the agricultural bale
accumulator to travel across
the ground surface, responsive to the second measure of levelness to
effectuate the change of the
leveling position, within the predetermined range of leveling positions, of
the load bed along the
lateral axis relative to the horizontal plane responsive to the second measure
of levelness; and
changing the frame leveling position, within the predetermined range of the
frame leveling
positions, of the second side of the frame relative to a second support wheel,
mechanically
coupled to a second side of the frame, supporting the frame above the ground
surface and
permitting the agricultural bale accumulator to travel across the ground
surface, responsive to the
second measure of levelness to effectuate the change of the leveling position,
within the
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predetermined range of leveling positions, of the load bed along the lateral
axis relative to the
horizontal plane responsive to the second measure of levelness
2. Longitudinal load bed leveling Sequence
FIG. 86 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator
traveling over a ground surface which varies relative to a horizontal plane. A
longitudinal load
bed leveling module levels the load bed responsive to the first particular
stabilization method
described in FIG. 85 to compensate load bed for the varying ground surface to
stabilize the bales
on the load bed along the longitudinal axis. In particular, longitudinal load
bed leveling module of
the accumulator in FIG. 86 operates responsive to the method steps 850, 852,
853, 854, 856,
857, 858, 860 and 862.
Starting with the accumulator position at the left side of FIG. 86, a
longitudinal axis of the
load bed is substantially level relative to the horizontal plane because the
ground surface is also
level relative to the horizontal plane.
Next, as the accumulator travels in the accumulator traveling direction 221
over a
longitudinally increasing grade of the ground surface, the load bed would
normally remain parallel
with the increasing grade of the ground surface, as shown in a dashed line.
However, the
longitudinal load bed leveling module determines that the first measure of
levelness of the load bed
along the longitudinal axis is undesirable due to the increasing grade and
changes the position of
the load bed by lowering the front end of the load bed and/or raising the rear
end of the load bed,
as shown in a solid line, to compensate for the increasing grade of the ground
surface.
Next, as the accumulator travels in the accumulator traveling direction 221,
the
accumulator reaches a plateau having a level ground surface relative to the
horizontal plane.
Therefore, the longitudinal load bed leveling module determines that the first
measure of levelness
of the load bed along the longitudinal axis has decreased, relative to the
previous longitudinally
increasing grade, due to the leveling the ground surface on the plateau and
changes the position of
the load bed by raising the front end of the load bed and/or lowering the rear
end of the load bed to
compensate for the leveling grade of the ground surface.
Next, as the accumulator travels in the accumulator traveling direction 221
over a
longitudinally decreasing grade of the ground surface, the load bed would
normally remain
parallel with the decreasing grade of the ground surface, as shown in a dashed
line. However, the
longitudinal load bed leveling module determines that the first measure of
levelness of the load bed
along the longitudinal axis is undesirable due to the longitudinally
decreasing grade and changes
the position of the load bed by raising the front end of the load bed and/or
lowering the rear end of
the load bed, as shown in a solid line, to compensate for the decreasing grade
of the ground
surface.
Next, as the accumulator travels in the accumulator traveling direction 221,
the
accumulator again reaches a level ground surface relative to the horizontal
plane. Therefore, the
longitudinal load bed leveling module determines that the first measure of
levelness of the load bed
along the longitudinal axis has increased, relative to the previous
longitudinally decreasing grade,
due to the leveling the ground surface and changes the position of the load
bed by lowering the
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front end of the load bed and/or raising the rear end of the load bed to
compensate for the leveling
grade of the ground surface.
3 . Lateral Load Bed Leveling Sequence
FIG. 87 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator traveling
over a ground surface which varies relative to a horizontal plane. A lateral
load bed leveling
module levels the load bed responsive to the first particular stabilization
method described in FIG.
85 to compensate load bed for the varying ground surface thereby stabilizing
the bales on the load
bed along the lateral axis. In particular, lateral load bed leveling module of
the accumulator in
FIG. 86 operates responsive to the method steps 864, 866, 868, 869, 870, 872,
874, 876, 878,
880, 882, 884, 886, 888, 890, 892, 894, 896 and 898.
Starting with the accumulator position at the left side of FIG. 86, a lateral
axis of the load
bed is substantially level relative to the horizontal plane because the ground
surface is also level
relative to the horizontal plane.
Next, when the accumulator travels over a laterally increasing grade of the
ground surface,
the load bed would normally remain parallel with the increasing grade of the
ground surface, as
shown in a dashed line. However, the lateral load bed leveling module
determines that the second
measure of levelness of the load bed along the lateral axis is undesirable due
to the increasing
grade and changes the position of the load bed by lowering the right side of
the load bed and/or
raising the left side of the load bed, as shown in a solid line, to compensate
for the increasing
grade of the ground surface.
Next, as the accumulator reaches a plateau having a level ground surface
relative to the
horizontal plane. Therefore, the lateral load bed leveling module determines
that the second
measure of levelness of the load bed along the lateral axis has decreased,
relative to the previous
laterally increasing grade, due to the leveling the ground surface on the
plateau and changes the
position of the load bed by raising the right side of the load bed and/or
lowering the left side of the
load bed to compensate for the leveling grade of the ground surface.
Next, as the accumulator travels reaches a decreasing grade of the ground
surface, the load
bed would normally remain parallel with the laterally decreasing grade of the
ground surface, as
shown in a dashed line. However, the lateral load bed leveling module
determines that the second
measure of levelness of the load bed along the lateral axis is undesirable due
to the laterally
decreasing grade and changes the position of the load bed by raising the right
side of the load bed
andlor lowering the left side of the load bed, as shown in a solid line, to
compensate for the
laterally decreasing grade of the ground surface.
Next, the accumulator again reaches a level ground surface relative to the
horizontal plane.
Therefore, the lateral load bed leveling module determines that the second
measure of levelness of
the load bed along the lateral axis has increased, relative to the previous
laterally decreasing grade,
due to the leveling the ground surface and changes the position of the load
bed by lowering the
right side of the load bed and/or raising the left side of the load bed to
compensate for the leveling
grade of the ground surface.
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4. Load Bed Leveling Apparatus
A load bed leveling module 900 includes a level determining device and a level
controlling
device. The level determining device determines the measure of levelness of
the load bed relative
to the horizontal plane as the agricultural bale accumulator is transported
across the ground
surface. The level controlling device changes a leveling position, within a
predetermined range of
leveling positions, of the load bed relative to the horizontal plane
responsive to the measure of
levelness to compensate for the degree of levelness of the ground surface
relative to the horizontal
plane thereby encouraging the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed
located at the
predetermined positions to remain located at the predetermined positions as
the agricultural bale
accumulator is transported across the ground surface.
In the preferred embodiment of the load bed leveling module, the level
controlling device
positions the load bed at an intermediate leveling position between a minimum
leveling position
and a maximum leveling position of the predetermined range of leveling
positions when the
ground surface and the load bed are substantially level with the horizontal
plane to permit the level
controlling device to change the leveling position, within the predetermined
range of leveling
positions, of portions of the load bed in either a positive direction or a
negative direction relative to
the horizontal plane responsive to the measure of levelness.
In the preferred embodiment of the load bed leveling module, the accumulator
further
includes a bale transfer module adapted to transfer the plurality of bales
across the load bed along
a bale transfernng axis disposed horizontally traverse to the bale receiving
axis responsive to
receiving the plurality of bales on the load bed to permit the agricultural
bale accumulator to
accumulate the plurality of bales in a side-by-side relationship on the load
bed.
In the preferred embodiment of the load bed leveling module, the accumulator
further
includes a bale stacking module adapted to form at least one stack of bales,
having at least two
bales, along a bale stacking axis disposed vertically transverse to the bale
receiving axis
responsive to receiving the plurality of bales on the load bed to permit the
agricultural bale
accumulator to accumulate the at least one stack of bales on the load bed.
a. Lateral Load Bed Leveling Apparatus
FIGs. 88 and 89 illustrate, each in a rear side elevation view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator shown in FIG. 86 having a lateral load bed leveling module for
leveling the load bed
along the lateral axis responsive to the first particular stabilization method
described in FIG. 85 to
compensate load bed for the varying ground surface thereby stabilizing the
bales on the load bed.
The level determining device 902 further includes a lateral level determining
device 908
adapted to determine a second measure of levelness of the load bed along the
lateral axis relative
the horizontal plane 906 as the agricultural bale accumulator is transported
across the ground
surface. The level controlling device further includes a lateral level
controlling device adapted to
change the leveling position, within the predetermined range of leveling
positions, of the load bed
along the lateral axis relative to the horizontal plane responsive to the
second measure of levelness
to compensate for the degree of levelness of the ground surface along the
lateral axis relative to the
horizontal plane, thereby encouraging the plurality of bales accumulated on
the load bed located at
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the predetermined positions to remain located at the predetermined positions
as the agricultural
bale accumulator is transported across the ground surface.
The lateral level controlling device is adapted to change the leveling
position, within the
predetermined range of leveling positions, of the load bed along the lateral
axis relative the
horizontal plane when the second measure of levelness is undesirable and is
adapted to not change
the leveling position, within the predetermined range of leveling positions,
of the load bed along
the lateral axis relative the horizontal plane when the second measure of
levelness is desirable.
The lateral level controlling device further includes a first lateral level
controlling device
and a second lateral level controlling device. The first lateral level
controlling device mechanically
coupled between the first side of the frame and the first support wheel and
adapted to change a
frame leveling position, within a predetermined range of frame leveling
positions, of the first side
of the frame relative to the first support wheel responsive to the second
measure of levelness to
effectuate the change of the leveling position, within the predetermined range
of leveling
positions, of the load bed along the lateral axis relative to the horizontal
plane responsive to the
second measure of levelness. The second lateral level controlling device
mechanically coupled
between the second side of the frame and the second support wheel and adapted
to change the
frame leveling position, within the predetermined range of the frame leveling
positions, of the
second side of the frame relative to the second support wheel responsive to
the second measure of
levelness to effectuate the change of the leveling position, within the
predetermined range of
leveling positions, of the load bed along the lateral axis relative to the
horizontal plane responsive
to the second measure of levelness.
Preferably, the first lateral level controlling device 910 positions the first
side of the frame
at a first intermediate frame leveling position between a first minimum frame
leveling position and
a first maximum leveling frame position of the predetermined range of frame
leveling positions
when the ground surface and the frame are substantially level with the
horizontal plane along the
lateral axis to permit the first lateral level controlling device to change
the frame leveling position,
within the predetermined range of frame leveling positions, the first side of
the frame in either a
positive direction or a negative direction relative to the horizontal plane
responsive to the first
measure of levelness. Preferably, the second lateral level controlling device
positions the second
side of the frame at a second intermediate frame leveling position between a
second minimum
frame leveling position and a second maximum leveling frame position of the
predetermined range
of frame leveling positions when the ground surface and the frame are
substantially level with the
horizontal plane along the lateral axis to permit the second lateral level
controlling device to change
the frame leveling position, within the predetermined range of frame leveling
positions, the second
side of the frame in either a positive direction or a negative direction
relative to the horizontal plane
responsive to the second measure of levelness. When operated together, the
first side of the
frame and the second side of the frame are substantially level with the
horizontal plane along the
lateral axis when the first lateral level controlling device positions the
first side of the frame at the
first intermediate frame leveling position and when the second lateral level
controlling device
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positions the second side of the frame at the second intermediate frame
leveling position to permit
the load bed to be substantially level with the horizontal plane along the
lateral axis.
b . Longitudinal Load Bed Leveling Apparatus
FIGs. 90 and 91 illustrate, each in a right side elevation view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator shown in FIG. 87 having a longitudinal load bed leveling module
for leveling the
load bed along the longitudinal axis responsive to the first particular
stabilization method described
in FIG. 85 to compensate load bed for the varying ground surface thereby
stabilizing the bales on
the load bed.
The level determining device further includes a longitudinal level determining
device 912
adapted to determine a first measure of levelness of the load bed along the
longitudinal axis
relative the horizontal plane as the agricultural bale accumulator is
transported across the ground
surface. The longitudinal level controlling device further includes a
longitudinal level controlling
device adapted to change the leveling position, within the predetermined range
of leveling
positions, of the load bed along the longitudinal axis relative to the
horizontal plane responsive to
I S the first measure of levelness to compensate for the degree of levelness
of the ground surface
along the longitudinal axis relative to the horizontal plane, thereby
encouraging the plurality of
bales accumulated on the load bed located at the predetermined positions to
remain located at the
predetermined positions as the agricultural bale accumulator is transported
across the ground
surface.
The longitudinal level determining device may be implemented electrical or
mechanical or
electromechanical. The longitudinal level determining device is preferably
mounted on the load
bed parallel to the bale receiving axis.
The longitudinal level controlling device changes the leveling position,
within the
predetermined range of leveling positions, of the load bed along the
longitudinal axis relative the
horizontal plane when the first measure of levelness is undesirable and does
not change the
leveling position, within the predetermined range of leveling positions, of
the load bed along the
longitudinal axis relative the horizontal plane when the first measure of
levelness is desirable. The
change of the leveling positions may be continuous or periodic and may require
a minimum
predetermined amount of unlevelness before a change is made to keep the load
bed from fidgeting
around to provide for smoother operation.
The longitudinal level controlling device further includes a first
longitudinal level
controlling device mechanically coupled to a frame and the load bed and
adapted to pivot the load
bed about the pivot axis responsive to the first measure of levelness to
effectuate the change of the
leveling position, within the predetermined range of leveling positions, of
the load bed along the
longitudinal axis relative to the horizontal plane responsive to the first
measure of levelness.
Preferably, the first longitudinal level compensating device is a hydraulic
cylinder. Alternatively,
the first longitudinal level compensating gravity may be incorporated into the
gravity based
discharge mechanism, described herein.
Preferably, as shown in FIG. 107, the frame has a forward end portion and a
rear end
portion disposed along the longitudinal axis as referenced to a forward
traveling direction of the
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agricultural bale accumulator. The load bed is mechanically coupled to the
frame about the pivot
axis at the rear end portion of the frame between a forward end portion of the
load bed and a rear
end portion of the load bed as referenced to the forward traveling direction
of the agricultural bale
accumulator. The forward end portion of the frame is disposed closer to the
ground than the rear
end portion of the frame as the agricultural bale accumulator is transported
across the ground
surface to permit the frame to be disposed at an acute angle relative to the
ground surface with a
closed end of the acute angle leading an open end of the acute angle as the
agricultural bale
accumulator is transported across the ground surface. The level controlling
device positions the
load bed at an intermediate leveling position between a minimum leveling
position and a maximum
leveling position of the predetermined range of leveling positions when the
ground surface and the
load bed are substantially level with the horizontal plane to permit the first
longitudinal level
controlling device to pivot the forward end portion of the load bed about the
pivot axis in either a
positive direction or a negative direction relative to the horizontal plane in
correspondence with the
rear end portion of the load bed being pivoted about the pivot axis in either
the negative direction
or the positive direction, respectively, relative to the horizontal plane,
responsive to the first
measure of levelness to effectuate the change of the leveling position, within
the predetermined
range of leveling positions, of the load bed along the longitudinal axis
relative to the horizontal
plane responsive to the first measure of levelness. This teeter totter design
advantageously
increases the longitudinal leveling range eliminates any longitudinal
adjustments at the hitch., as
shown in FIGs. 90 and 91
Preferably the first longitudinal level controlling device is further adapted
to pivot the load
bed about the pivot axis between a bale receiving position and a bale
discharging position relative
to the frame. The load bed assumes the leveling position, within the
predetermined range of
leveling positions, when the load bed is in the bale receiving position to
permit the load bed to
receive and accumulate thereon the plurality of bales. The load bed assumes an
inclined position
relative to the frame when the load bed is in the bale discharging position to
permit the plurality of
bales to be discharged from the load bed to the ground surface under a
gravitational force acting
on the plurality of bales.
Alternatively, the longitudinal level controlling device further includes a
second
longitudinal level controlling device 914 mechanically coupled to the forward
end portion of the
frame and adapted to change a frame leveling position, within a predetermined
range of frame
leveling positions, of the forward end portion of the frame relative to the
hitch responsive to the
first measure of levelness to effectuate the change of the leveling position,
within the
predetermined range of leveling positions, of the load bed along the
longitudinal axis relative to
the horizontal plane responsive to the first measure of levelness.
Preferably, the second longitudinal level controlling device positions the
load bed at an
intermediate frame leveling position between a minimum frame leveling position
and a maximum
frame leveling position of the predetermined range of leveling positions when
the ground surface
and the load bed are substantially level with the horizontal plane to permit
the second longitudinal
level controlling device to change the frame leveling position, within the
predetermined range of
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frame leveling positions, of portions of the frame in either a positive
direction or a negative
direction relative to the horizontal plane responsive to the first measure of
levelness.
B . Lateral Bale Stabilization Method and Apparatus
1. Lateral Bale Stabilization Method
FIG. 92 illustrates a flowchart 917 describing a second particular
stabilization method for
performing the general stabilization method described in FIG. 84 for
stabilizing bales accumulated
on a load bed, by adaptively moving the load bed extension tables between a
stowed position and
an unstowed position to stabilize the bales along the lateral axis of the load
bed and to accumulate
the bales on the load bed extension tables, respectively.
In FIG. 92, at step 916, the method starts.
At step 918, the bale accumulating capacity of the load bed is set equal to C
1. The bale
accumulating capacity of all of the load bed extension tables is set equal to
C2. The bale
accumulating capacity of the accumulator is set equal to C3 = C 1 + C2.
At step 920, the load bed is pivoted to a bale receiving position, as
described herein.
At step 922, the extension tables on the right side and the left side of the
load bed are
moved to their stowed positions, as described herein.
At step 934, the bales are received on the load bed, as described herein.
At step 926, a determination is made whether the bale received on the load bed
has reached
a predetermined position indicating that the bale is fully formed, as
described herein. If the
determination at step 926 is negative, the method returns to step 924 to
continue receiving the
bale. If the determination at step 926 is positive, the method continues to
step 928.
At step 928, a determination is made whether the stack of bales is complete,
as disclosed
herein. If the determination at step 928 is negative, the method returns to
step 924 to continue
receiving the bale. If the determination at step 928 is positive, the method
continues to step 930.
At step 930, a determination is made whether the load bed has reached its
maximum bale
accumulating capacity, C 1. If the determination at step 930 is negative, the
method continues to
step 940. If the determination at step 930 is positive, the method continues
to step 932.
At step 932, a determination is made whether all of the extension tables have
reached their
maximum bale accumulating capacity, C2. If the determination at step 932 is
negative, the method
continues to step 946. If the determination at step 932 is positive, the
method continues to step
934.
At step 934, a determination is made whether the accumulator is ready to
discharge the
bales on the load bed to the ground surface. If the determination at step 934
is negative, the
method returns to step 924 to continue receiving bales on the load bed. If the
determination at step
934 is positive, the method continues to step 936.
At step 936, the bales are discharged from the load bed to the ground surface
by pivoting
the load bed to the bale discharging position. After step 936, the method
continues to step 920,
wherein the load bed is pivoted back to the bale receiving position. Hence, if
the load bed and the
load bed extension tables are filled to capacity the accumulator discharges
the accumulated bales to
the ground.
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Returning to step 930, if the determination at step 930 is negative, the
method continues to
step 940.
At step 940, a determination is made whether to transfer the bales towards a
right side or a
left side of the load bed. If the determination at step 940 results in a
decision to transfer the bales
towards the right side of the load bed, the method returns to step 924. If the
determination at step
940 results in a decision to transfer the bales towards the left side of the
load bed, the method
continues to step 944.
At step 942, the bales are transferred across the load bed (and the extension
tables)
towards the right side of the load bed. After step 942, the method returns to
step 924 to continue
receiving bales on the load bed.
At step 944, the bales are transferred across the load bed (and the extension
tables)
towards the left side of the load bed. After step 944, the method returns to
step 924 to continue
receiving bales on the load bed.
Hence, at steps 940, 942 and 944, the accumulator has remaining bale
accumulating
capacity on the load bed and proceeds to transfer the bales to the right and
left sides of the load
bed to accumulate the bales on the load bed.
Returning to step 932, if the determination at step 932 is negative, the
method continues to
step 946. Hence, the accumulator has determined that the load bed is filled to
capacity but the load
bed extension tables still have capacity remaining.
At step 946, a determination is made whether to transfer the bales towards a
right side or a
left side of the load bed. If the determination at step 946 results in a
decision to transfer the bales
towards the right side of the load bed, the method returns to step 948. If the
determination at step
946 results in a decision to transfer the bales towards the left side of the
load bed, the method
continues to step 950.
At step 948,. an extension table on the right side of the load bed is moved to
from a
stowed position to an unstowed position. After step 948, the method continues
to step 942,
wherein the bales are transferred across the load bed (and the extension
tables) towards the right
side of the load bed.
At step 950, an extension table on the left side of the load bed is moved to
from a stowed
position to an unstowed position. After step 950, the method continues to step
944, wherein the
bales are transferred across the load bed (and the extension tables) towards
the left side of the load
bed.
Steps 948 and 950 represent important steps in FIG. 92, because the shown how
the
movement of the load bed extension tables is dependent on the bale
accumulating capacity of the
load bed, the bale accumulating capacity and the determination of which ways
to transfer the
bales. These steps represent the dynamic movement of the load bed extension
modules to
advantageously provide for lateral bale stabilization while not significantly
increasing the cost of
the accumulator.
2. Lateral Bale Stabilization Sequence
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FIG. 93 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having a
lateral bale stabilization module for performing a sequence of bale
stabilizing and accumulating
operations 952-994 responsive to the second particular stabilization method
described in FIG. 92.
3 . Lateral Bale Stabilization Apparatus
The lateral bale stabilization module 996 includes a first extension table, a
first extension
table attachment mechanism and a first extension table movement mechanism.
The first extension table is substantially planar and has a first side
disposed essentially
opposite to and essentially parallel to a second side of the first extension
table;
The first extension table attachment mechanism is connected to the first side
of the first
extension table and the first side of the base module to permit the first
extension table to be
moveable relative to the base module between a stowed position and an unstowed
position. The
agricultural bale accumulator has a first bale carrying capacity when the
first extension table is in
the stowed position by not permitting at least one bale of the plurality of
bales to be received on
the first extension table. The agricultural bale accumulator has a second bale
carrying capacity,
greater than the first bale carrying capacity, when the first extension table
is in the unstowed
position by permitting at least one bale of the plurality of bales to be
received on the first extension
table.
The first extension table movement mechanism is connected to the first
extension table and
the base module and adapted to move the first extension table relative to the
base module between
the stowed position and the unstowed position, wherein the first extension
table movement
mechanism is further adapted to maintain the first extension table in the
stowed position to permit
physical contact between at least a portion of the first extension table and
at least one bale of the
plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed at a location adjacent to the
first extension 'table to
encourage the plurality of bales located at the predetermined positions on the
load bed to remain
located at the predetermined positions on the load bed as the agricultural
bale accumulator is
transported across the ground surface, and adapted to move the first extension
table from the
stowed position to the unstowed position responsive to the bale transfer
module transferring the
plurality of bales across the load bed towards the first extension table to
permit the at least one bale
of the plurality of bales to be transferred from the location on the load bed
adjacent to the first
extension table to a location on the first extension table as the agricultural
bale accumulator is
transported across the ground surface.
In the preferred embodiment of the lateral bale stabilization apparatus, the
first extension
table attachment mechanism further includes a first hinge for pivotally
connecting the first side of
the first extension table to the first side of the base module about a first
hinge axis. The first
extension table movement mechanism is adapted to cause the first extension
table to pivot in an
upward direction towards the base module about the first hinge axis so that
the first extension
table is disposed substantially perpendicular to the load bed and above a bale
receiving surface of
the load bed when the first extension table is in the stowed position, and is
adapted to cause the
first extension table to pivot in a downward direction away from the base
module about the first
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hinge axis so that the first extension table is disposed substantially co-
planar with the load bed and
adjacent to the first side of the load bed when the first extension table is
in the unstowed position.
Alternatively, the first extension table attachment mechanism further includes
a first sliding
mechanism for slidably connecting the first side of the first extension table
to the first side of the
base module. The first extension table movement mechanism is adapted to cause
the first
extension table to retract in an inward direction towards the base module
substantially parallel to
the bale transfer axis so that the first extension table is disposed
substantially parallel to the load
bed and substantially inside a perimeter of the load bed when the first
extension table is in the
stowed position, and is adapted to cause the first extension table to extend
in an outward direction
away from the base module substantially parallel to the bale transfer axis so
that the first extension
table is disposed substantially co-planar with the load bed, adjacent to the
first side of the load bed
and substantially outside a perimeter of the load bed when the first extension
table is in the
unstowed position. The load bed extension module further includes a first bale
stabilizing
member mechanically coupled to the second side of the first extension table,
wherein the first bale
stabilizing member is disposed above a bale receiving surface of the first
extension table to permit
physical contact between the first bale stabilizing member and the at least
one bale of the plurality
of bales accumulated on the load bed adjacent to the first extension table
when the first extension
table is in the stowed position to encourage the plurality of bales located at
the predetermined
positions on the load bed to remain located at the predetermined positions on
the load bed as the
agricultural bale accumulator is transported across the ground surface and to
permit physical
contact between the first bale stabilizing member and the at least one bale of
the plurality of bales
accumulated on the bale receiving surface of the first extension table when
the first extension table
is in the unstowed position to encourage the plurality of bales located at the
predetermined
positions on the load bed and on the first extension table to remain located
at the predetermined
positions on the load bed and on the first extension table as the agricultural
bale accumulator is
transported across the ground surface.
Preferably, the lateral bale stabilization module further includes a third
extension table, a
third extension table attachment mechanism and a third extension table
movement mechanism.
The third extension table which is substantially planar, wherein the third
extension table has a first
side disposed essentially opposite to and essentially parallel to a second
side of the third extension
table. The third extension table attachment mechanism connected to the first
side of the third
extension table and the second side of the first extension table to permit the
third extension table to
be moveable relative to the base module between a stowed position and an
unstowed position.
The agricultural bale accumulator has one of the first and the second bale
carrying capacity when
the third extension table is in the stowed position by not permitting at least
one of the plurality of
bales to be received on the third extension table, and wherein the
agricultural bale accumulator has
a third bale carrying capacity, greater than one of the first and the second
bale carrying capacity,
when the third extension table is in the unstowed position by permitting at
least one of the plurality
of bales to be received on the third extension table. The third extension
table movement
mechanism connected to the third extension table and at least one of the first
extension table and
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the base module and adapted to move the third extension table-relative to the
base module between
the stowed position and the unstowed position. The third extension table
movement mechanism is
further adapted to maintain the third extension table in the stowed position
to permit physical
contact between at least one of at least a portion of the first extension
table and at least a portion of
the third extension table and at least one bale of the plurality of bales
accumulated at a location on
one of the load bed and the first extension table adjacent to the third
extension table to encourage
the plurality of bales located at the predetermined positions on the load bed
and on the first
extension table to remain located at the predetermined positions on the load
bed and on the first
extension table as the agricultural bale accumulator is transported across the
ground surface, and
adapted to move the first extension table and the third extension table from
their respective stowed
positions to their respective unstowed positions responsive to the bale
transfer module transfernng
the plurality of bales across the load bed towards the first extension table
and the third extension
table to permit the at least one bale of the plurality of bales to be
transferred from the location on
one of the load bed and the first extension table adjacent to the first
extension table and the third
extension table, respectively, to a location on one of the first extension
table and the third
extension table, respectively, as the agricultural bale accumulator is
transported across the ground
surface.
The first extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a first hinge
for pivotally
connecting the first side of the first extension table to the first side of
the base module about a first
hinge axis. The third extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a
third hinge for
pivotally connecting the first side of the third extension table to the second
side of the first
extension table about a third hinge axis. The first extension table movement
mechanism is adapted
to cause the first extension table to pivot in an upward direction towards the
base module about the
first hinge axis so that the first extension table is disposed substantially
perpendicular to the load
bed and above a bale receiving surface of the load bed when the first
extension table is in the
stowed position to permit physical contact between the at least a portion of
the first extension table
and the at least one of the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed at
the location adjacent to
the first extension table to encourage the plurality of bales located at the
predetermined positions
on the load bed to remain located at the predetermined positions on the load
bed as the agricultural
bale accumulator is transported across the ground surface. The first extension
table movement
mechanism is adapted to cause the first extension table to pivot in a downward
direction away
from the base module about the first hinge axis so that the first extension
table is disposed
substantially co-planar with the load bed and adjacent to the first side of
the load bed when the
first extension table is in the unstowed position responsive to the bale
transfer module transferring
the plurality of bales across the load bed towards the first extension table
to permit at least one bale
of the plurality of bales to be transferred from the location on the load bed
adjacent to the first
extension table to the location on the first extension table as the
agricultural bale accumulator is
transported across the ground surface. The third extension table movement
mechanism is adapted
to cause the third extension table to pivot in an upward direction towards the
base module about
the third hinge axis so that the third extension table is disposed
substantially perpendicular to at
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least one of the load bed and the first extension table and above a bale
receiving surface of at least
one of the load bed and the first extension table, respectively, when the
first extension table is in
the stowed position to permit physical contact between the at least a portion
of the third extension
table and the at least one bale of the plurality of bales accumulated on one
of the load bed and the
first extension table, respectively, at the location adjacent to the third
extension table to encourage
the at least one bale of the plurality of bales located at the predetermined
positions on at least one
of the load bed and the first extension table, respectively, to remain located
at the predetermined
positions on at least one of the load bed and the first extension table,
respectively, as the
agricultural bale accumulator is transported across the ground surface. The
third extension table
movement mechanism is adapted to cause the third extension table to pivot in a
downward
direction away from the base module about the third hinge axis so that the
third extension table is
disposed substantially co-planar with the load bed and the first extension
table and adjacent to the
second side of the first extension table when the third extension table is in
the unstowed position
to permit at least one bale of the plurality of bales to be transferred from
the location on the first
extension table adjacent to the third extension table to the location on the
third extension table as
the agricultural bale accumulator is transported across the ground surface.
Preferably, the third extension table movement mechanism is a third cylinder
adapted to
move the third extension table relative to the base module between the stowed
position and the
unstowed position responsive to receiving pressurized fluid from the fluid
source.
Alternatively, the third extension table movement mechanism is a counterweight
movement
mechanism, mechanically coupled to at least one of the base module and the
first extension table,
and mechanically coupled to the third extension table, and adapted to permit a
weight of at least
one bale of the plurality of bales disposed on at least one of the load bed
and the first extension
table at least one predetermined position to move the third extension table
from the stowed
position to the unstowed position.
a. First Lateral Bale Support Apparatus - Moveable Support Arm
FIGS. 94, 95 and 96 illustrate, each in a rear side elevation view, the
agricultural bale
accumulator shown in FIG. 93 having a lateral bale stabilization module for
performing the
sequence of bale stabilizing and accumulating operations shown in FIG. 93
responsive to the
second particular stabilization method described in FIG. 92, wherein the
lateral bale stabilization
module has a moveable support arm.
The lateral bale stabilization apparatus includes a first bale stabilizing
member 998
representing the portion of the first extension table and mechanically coupled
to the second side of
the first extension table. The first bale stabilizing member is moveable
between at least one of a
stowed position, a first unstowed position, and a second unstowed position.
The first bale
stabilizing member is disposed substantially coplanar with the first extension
table and adjacent to
the second side of the first extension table when the first bale stabilizing
member is in the stowed
position and when the first extension table is in the stowed position. The
first bale stabilizing
member is disposed substantially coplanar with the first extension table and
away from the second
side of the first extension table when the first bale stabilizing member is in
the first unstowed
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position and when the first extension table is in the stowed position. The
first bale stabilizing
member is disposed above a bale receiving surface of the first extension table
when the first bale
stabilizing member is in the second unstowed position and when the first
extension table is in the
unstowed position to permit physical contact between at least one of the first
bale stabilizing
member and the first extension table and the at least one of the plurality of
bales disposed on at
least one of the bale receiving surface of the first extension table and the
bale receiving surface of
the load bed to encourage the plurality of bales located at the predetermined
positions on the load
bed and on the first extension table to remain located at the predetermined
positions on the load
bed and on the first extension table as the agricultural bale accumulator is
transported across the
ground surface. A hydraulic cylinder 999 moves the bale support member.
b. Second Lateral Bale Stabilization Apparatus - Decreasing Angles
FIG. 97 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator shown
in FIG. 93 having a lateral bale stabilization module for performing the
sequence of bale
stabilizing and accumulating operations shown in FIG. 93 responsive to the
second particular
stabilization method described in FIG. 92, wherein a bale receiving surface of
each of a right bale
accumulating portion of the load bed extension tables is disposed at
progressively decreasing
angles, each being somewhat less than 180°, relative to a center bale
receiving portion of the load
bed to progressively bias the bales accumulated thereon towards the center
bale receiving portion
of the load bed in proportion to an increasing distance of the accumulated
bales from the center
bale receiving portion of the load bed. This figure discloses: a side load bed
angle 1000, a first
load bed extension table angle 1002 and a third load bed extension table angle
1004.
c. Third Lateral Bale Stabilization Apparatus - Constant Angle
FIG. 98 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the agricultural bale
accumulator shown
in FIG. 93 having a lateral bale stabilization module for performing the
sequence of bale
stabilizing and accumulating operations shown in FIG. 93 responsive to the
second particular
stabilization method described in FIG. 92, wherein a bale receiving surface of
each of a right bale
accumulating portion of the load bed extension tables is disposed at a
constant angle 1006
somewhat less than 180° relative to a center bale receiving portion of
the load bed to constantly
bias the bales thereon towards the center bale receiving portion of the load
bed over a distance
between the center bale receiving portion of the load bed and the farthest
positioned load bed
extension table.
5 . Counterweight Mechanism - For Load Bed Extension Tables
a. General Counterweight Method
FIG. 99 illustrates a flowchart 1008 describing a general counterweight method
for
performing a part of the second particular stabilization method described in
FIG. 92 to
dynamically move a load bed extension table between a stowed position and an
unstowed position
responsive to a weight of a bale on the load bed adjacent to the load bed
extension table.
In FIG. 99, at step 1008, the method begins.
At step 1009, a bale is accumulated on a load bed at a location on the load
bed adjacent to a
load bed extension table mechanically coupled to the load bed. The load bed
extension table is
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moveable between a stowed position and an unstowed position. The load bed
extension table is
permitted to stabilize the bale, located adjacent thereto, along the lateral
axis of the load bed when
the load bed extension table is located in its stowed position. The load bed
extension table is
permitted to accumulate the bale, located adjacent thereto, responsive to the
bale being transferred
along the lateral axis of the load bed from its location, adjacent to the load
bed extension table, on
the load bed onto the load bed extension table when the load bed extension
table is located in its
unstowed position.
At step 1010, the load bed extension table is moved from the stowed position
to the
unstowed position responsive to a counterweight force provided by a weight of
the bale on the
load bed at the location on the load bed, adjacent to the load bed extension
table, and responsive to
the bale being transferred from the location on the load bed to a location on
the load bed extension
table.
At step 1011, the method ends.
b . Particular Counterweight Method
FIG. 100 illustrates a flowchart 1010 describing a particular counterweight
method for
performing the general counterweight method described in FIG. 99.
In FIG. 100, at step 1012, the method starts from step 946 in FIG. 92, wherein
the
accumulator decides whether transfer the bales to the right side or the left
side of the load bed.
This particular counterweight method 1010 represents either step 948 or 950 In
FIG. 92.
Next, at step 1031, a first bias force is exerted on the load bed to cause the
load bed
extension table to move from the unstowed position to the stowed position.
Next, at step 1041, a first latch is secured to hold the load bed extension
table in the
stowed position.
Next, at step 1051, a counterweight force is provided by a weight of a bale on
the load bed
at a location on the load bed adjacent to the load bed extension table.
Next, at step 1016, the counterweight force is applied against the first bias
force to
substantially reduce the effect of the first bias force.
Next, at step 1017, a second bias force is exerted on the load bed extension
table to cause
the load bed extension table to move from the stowed position towards the
unstowed position.
Next, at step 1018, the first latch is released responsive to the bale being
transferred from
the location, adjacent to the load bed extension table, on to the load bed
extension table to permit
the second bias force to move the load bed extension table from the stowed
position to the
unstowed position. The precise timing between the bale transfer mechanism the
load bed
extension table movement may be implemented in various ways, as desired.
Next, at step 1019, a second latch is secured to hold the load bed extension
table in the
unstowed position.
Next, at step 1020, the method continues to step 944 or step 948 in FIG. 92.
Further, in FIG. 100, at step 1021, the method starts from step 936 in FIG.
92, wherein
the bales are discharged from the load bed.
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Next, at step 1022, the second latch is released responsive to the load bed
pivoting from
the bale discharging position to the bale receiving position after discharging
the bales from the
load bed to the ground surface to permit the first bias force to move the load
bed extension table
from the unstowed position back to the stowed position. Step 1032 informally
corresponds to
step 922 in FIG. 92.
Next, at step 1023, the method continues to step 924 in FIG. 92, wherein new
bales are
received and accumulated on the load bed.
c. Counterweight Theory Of Operation
FIGS. 101 and 102 illustrate, each in a rear side elevation view, the right
side of the
agricultural bale accumulator shown in FIGs. 93-98, but with only one load bed
extension table,
showing the theory underlying the particular and general counterweight methods
described in
FIGs. 99 and 100, respectively.
Generally, a counterweight of the bale is used to provide the force for how to
move the
load bed extension table from the stowed position to the unstowed position and
the step of
transferring the bale from the location on the load bed, adjacent to the load
bed extension table, to
the location on the load bed extension table is used to provide the timing for
when to move the
load bed extension table. Hence, the determinations of how and when to move
the load bed
extension table are the primary considerations for operation of the load bed
extension table on the
accumulator.
Before the load bed extension table is moved from the stowed position, the
load bed
extension table provides lateral stabilization for the bale. It is
advantageous to leave the load bed
extension table in its stowed position for as long as possible while the bales
are being accumulated
to maximize the time that the bales on the load bed receive lateral
stabilization from the load bed
extension table. Therefore, an appropriate time, for example, for when to move
the load bed
extension table to its unstowed position is just before the bale is going to
be transferred from the
location on the load bed, adjacent to the load bed extension table, to the
location on the load bed
extension table.
FIGS. 99 and 100 primarily illustrate the interplay of the forces among the
various element
shown therein to effect the counterweight apparatus. A weight of the bale
located on the load bed
provides a force 1020 in a negative direction along a vertical axis 203. A
first bias spring
produces a force 1016 is essentially a positive direction along the vertical
axis 203. The load bed
extension table is affected by the force of gravity on the load bed extension
table itself and is
represented as force 1022. A second bias spring provides a force 1018 in a
negative direction
along the vertical axis 203.
When a bale is not located on the load bed, adjacent to the load bed extension
table, or
located on the load bed extension table, the force 1016, provided by the first
bias spring, is strong
enough to overcome the force 1022 provided by the weight of the table alone
and including any
friction at the hinge 122. Therefore, the force 1016 provided by the first
bias spring causes the
load bed extension table to move to its stowed position, essentially
perpendicular to the load bed.
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When a bale is accumulated on the load bed, adjacent to the load bed extension
table, the
force 1020 produced by the weight of the bale on the load bed is applied
against the force 1016 of
the first bias spring to substantially reduce the net force 1016 applied by
the first bias spring.
Further, the presence of the bale on the load bed causes the second bias
spring to exert a force
1018 on the load bed extension table to urge the load bed extension table
towards its unstowed
position.
The interplay of the four forces is shown in FIG. 102, as EQ: 1, designated by
reference
number 1117. On the left side of the equation 1117, the force 1022, provided
by the weight of
the load bed extension table, plus, the force 1018, provided by the second
bias spring, if applied
continuously, must be less than the force 1016 produced by the first bias
spring to permit the first
bias spring to overcome the weight of the load bed extension table and any
force provided by the
second bias spring so that the load bed extension table can move to the stowed
position. On the
right side of the equation 1117, the force 1020, provided by the weight of the
bale, plus the force
1022, provided by the load bed extension table itself, plus the force 1018,
provided by the
second bias spring, must be greater than the force 1016 provided by the first
bias spring to permit
the weight of the table, the weight of the bale and the force of the second
bias spring to overcome
the first bias spring so that the load bed extension table can move to the
unstowed position.
To complete a practical design, the force 1016, provided by the first bias
spring and the
force 1018, if any, provided by the second bias spring, are determined when
the average weight
of the bale and the weight of the load bed extension table, including any
friction, is known.
Preferably, the force 1016, provided by the first bias spring and the force
1018, if any, provided
by the second bias spring are chosen so that the load bed extension table has
a smooth and
controlled motion when moving between its stowed and unstowed position.
The second bias spring is preferably used to kick the load bed extension table
out of its
stowed position, essentially perpendicular to the load bed. Hence, the force
1018 produced by the
second bias spring is relatively small compared to the other three forces
mentioned. Preferably,
the second bias spring is engaged to apply its force 1022 only when the bale
is located on the load
bed, adjacent to the load bed extension table, so that the force 1016,
produced by the first bias
spring, does not have to work against the force 1022, produced by the second
bias spring, when a
bale is not located on the load bed.
Alternatively, if the second bias spring is not used an interference between
the bale and the
load bed extension table, during the transfer of the bale from the load bed to
the load bed
extension table, may be used to overcome the inertia of the load bed extension
table in its stowed
position to cause the load bed extension table to move to its untstowed
position. However, the
second bias spring is preferred to avoid the interference between the bale and
the load bed
extension table during the bale transfer operation.
d. Counterweight Embodiment
FIG. 103 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view, the right side of the
agricultural bale
accumulator shown in FIGs. 93-98, but with only one load bed extension table,
having a
counterweight mechanism 1014 for implementing the counterweight theory
described in FIGS.
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101 and 102 and for performing the particular and general counterweight
methods described in
FIGs. 99 and 100, respectively.
In the preferred embodiment of the counterweight embodiment, the counterweight
mechanism generally includes a bale receiving plate 1028, a ratchet 1030, a
gear 1032, a first bias
spring 1034, a second bias spring 1036, a first latch mechanism 1024, and a
second latch
mechanism 1026. Also shown are the load bed 113, the load bed extension table
104, a hinge
122 connecting the load bed 113 and the load bed extension table 104 and a
hinge 1038
connecting the bale receiving plate to the load bed.
The bale receiving plate 1028 provides the mechanism to capture the weight of
the bale.
The bale receiving plate 1028 is coupled to the load bed at a hinge 1038. The
bale receiving plate
1028 may be single or multiple plates disposed on the load bed. Preferably,
the bale receiving
plate 1028 is a single plate having a width substantially equal to the width
of the bale and having a
length substantially equal to the length of the bale. With these dimensions,
the force applied by
the bale on the bale receiving plate 1028 will be evenly distributed along the
bale receiving plate
1028. Further, a wider the bale receiving plate 1028 along the bale width
requires less sliding
force by the bale transfer bar 186 to push the bale on top of the bale
receiving plate 1028. Other
design variations of the location and construction of the bale receiving plate
1028 may be used, as
desired.
The ratchet 1030 and the gear 1032 provide a counterweight transfer mechanism
used to
transfer the counterweight of the bale against the first bias spring. The
ratchet 1030 is
mechanically coupled to the bale receiving plate 1028. The gear 1032 is
mechanically coupled to
the first bias spring 1034. Movement of the bale receiving plate 1028
responsive to the weight of
the bale disposed thereon causes the ratchet 1030 be driven in a downward
direction to produce a
negative force 1020 along the vertical axis, corresponding to the weight of
the bale. The gear
1032 receives the negative force 1020 produced by the ratchet 1030 and is
driven by the ratchet
1030 in a counterclockwise direction to generate a positive force along the
vertical axis.
The first bias spring provides a passive energy storage device. The first bias
spring is
implemented as a torsion spring, for example, mechanically coupled to the
first extension table
and the base module and adapted to exert a first bias force 1016 on the
extension table to permit
the extension table to move from the unstowed position to the stowed position
responsive to the
first bias force 1016 when there are no bales disposed on the first extension
table and when there
are no bales disposed on the load bed at the predetermined bale receiving
counterweight position.
The positive force in the counterclockwise direction, provided by the gear
1032 is applied against
the force 1016, produced by the first bias spring. Hence, the weight of the
bale relaxes the first
bias spring.
The second bias spring provides a second passive energy storage device. The
second bias
spring is mechanically coupled to the first extension table and the base
module and exerts a second
bias force on the first extension table to permit the first extension table to
move from the stowed
position to the unstowed position responsive to the second bias force. The
second bias spring is
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preferably implemented as an ''L" shaped spring pin biased in an outward
direction. Other various
implementations may be used, as desired.
The first latch mechanism is mechanically coupled to the first extension table
and the base
module, at either the load bed or the frame. The first latch mechanism is
holds the first extension
table in the stowed position to prevent the second bias force, if applied,
from moving the first
extension table from the stowed position to the unstowed position while the
bales are being
accumulated on the load bed. The first latch mechanism releases the first
extension table from the
stowed position responsive to the bale transfer module transferring the bales
across the load bed
towards the first extension table to permit the first extension table to move
from the stowed
position to the unstowed position responsive to the second bias force, if
applied, and to permit
the bale to be transferred from the location on the load bed adjacent to the
first extension table to a
location on the first extension table as the accumulator is transported across
the ground surface.
Preferably, the first latch mechanism is released by a control arm from the
push bar 186. The
control arm is designed to release the first latch mechanism a few seconds
before the push bar 186
begins to physically slide the bales across the load bed to permit the load
bed extension table to
reach its unstowed position. Various other control mechanisms, either electric
or mechanical, may
be used, as desired to implement the control of the first latch mechanism.
The second latch mechanism is mechanically coupled to the first extension
table and the
base module, at either the load bed or the frame. The second latch mechanism
holds the first
extension table in the unstowed position to prevent the first bias force from
moving the first
extension table from the unstowed position to the stowed position while the at
least one of the
plurality of bales is being accumulated on the load bed and on the first
extension table. The second
latch mechanism releases the first extension table from the unstowed position
responsive to a bale
discharge module discharging the plurality of bales to the ground surface to
permit the first
extension table to move from the unstowed position to the stowed position
responsive to the first
bias force. Preferably, the second latch mechanism is released when the load
bed has fully
returned to its bale receiving position. Note that there is no rush to move
the load bed extension
table back to in its stowed position, because there are not any bales located
next to the load bed
extension table immediately after the load bed returned to its bale receiving
position. Preferably
the second latch mechanism is engaged by the force of gravity on the table
when the load bed is
located in its bale receiving position and the load bed extension table is
moved to the unstowed
position. Then, movement of the load bed to the bale discharging position
causes the second latch
mechanism to be released when the load bed returns to the bale receiving
position. Various other
control mechanisms, either electric or mechanical, may be used, as desired to
implement the
control of the second latch mechanism.
The two latches are not required but provide for a clean, interference free
design. The first
latch mechanism is used to hold the load bed extension table in its stowed
position even though
the counter weight force has been applied against the first bias spring.
Hence, when bale is ready
to be transferred all that needs to be done is to release the first latch
mechanism to permit the bale
to be transferred onto the load bed extension table without interference from
the load bed
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extension table. The second latch mechanism is used to hold the load bed
extension table in its
unstowed position even though the counterweight force has been removed against
the first bias
spring during the bale discharge operation. Hence, the load bed extension
table remains in its
unstowed position until after the bale are discharged to prevent the load bed
extension table from
moving towards its stowed position while the bales are being discharged.
In summary of the counterweight embodiment, this embodiment provides for a low
cost
and low complexity design that still delivers automatic operation. Although,
the counterweight
design was described for only one load bed extension table, it should be
understood that the same
theory of operation and same mechanics apply to tables located on opposites
sides of the load bed
or multiple extension tables on one side of the load bed. In the case of
multiple extension tables
on one side of the load bed connected by a hinge, the counterweight becomes a
bit more
complicated, due to the multiple movements of the load bed extension tables,
as shown in FIG.
93, but possible.
In general, the counterweight embodiment is intended to be applied to any of
the load bed
extension modules disclosed herein, including by example and without
limitation, multiple sliding
or hinged tables on one side of the load bed or on each side of the load bed,
as described herein.
C. Combination Load Bed Leveling Module And Lateral Bale Stabilization Module
The load bed leveling module is advantageously combined with the lateral bale
stabilization
module to provide an advantageous bale stabilization module. The "bent frame"
idea of FIG. 107
is used to implement the longitudinal leveling module. This embodiment,
provides the flexibility
of positive and negative adjustment about the pivot point and also doubles as
a bale discharge
module to discharge the accumulated bales to the ground. Therefore, for the
longitudinal
direction, this embodiment is a relatively simple and cost effective
implementation. However, the
lateral bale stabilization, using the lateral load bed leveling module,
requires an extra mechanism to
be applied between the main frame and the wheel frame which adds cost and
complexity. By
contrast, the lateral bale stabilization module implemented as the dynamically
moving load bed
extension tables is a very cost effective and relatively simple design to
build. Therefore, a
preferred combination is to use the longitudinal load bed leveling module as
shown in FIG. 107
with the lateral bale stabilization module, as shown and described in FIGs. 92-
98. This
combination is not meant to be limiting, as various other combinations are
possible.
X . Permissive Bale Discharge Module
FIGS. 104-111 and 74-80 illustrate a permissive bale discharge module 1052 .
FIG. 104
illustrates a flowchart 1039 describing a method to be performed by one of
five embodiments of
an apparatus shown in FIGS. 105-111 or to be performed by the embodiment of
method and
apparatus shown in FIGs. 74-80.
A. Permissive Bale Discharge Method
FIG. 104 illustrates a flowchart 1039 describing a permissive bale discharge
method 1039
for permitting a bale received on a bale receiving portion of a load bed 113
of an agricultural bale
accumulator at a first rate of speed along a bale receiving axis 201 in a bale
receiving direction to
be discharged from the bale receiving portion of a load bed 113 to a ground
surface 128 in a bale
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discharging direction 222, essentially the same as the bale receiving
direction 222, without
interfering with a successively formed bale approaching the bale receiving
portion of a load bed
113 during the bale discharge operation.
In FIG. 104, the method begins at step 1040.
At step 1041, a plurality of bales are successively received at an entry
region 1053 on a
substantially planar bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 of an
accumulator at a first rate
of speed along the bale receiving axis 201 in a bale receiving direction 222,
as described herein.
At step 1042, a determination is made whether the bale received on the load
bed 113 has
reached a predetermined position on the load bed 113 along the bale receiving
axis 201, indicating
that the bale is fully formed, as described herein. If the determination at
step 1042 is negative, the
method returns to step 1041 to continue receiving the bale on the load bed
113, as described
herein. If the determination at step 1042 is positive, the method continues to
step 1043.
At step 1043, a determination is made whether the accumulator is ready to
discharge the
bales from the load bed 113 to the ground surface 128, as described herein. If
the determination
at step 1043 is negative, the method continues to step 1046. If the
determination at step 1043 is
positive, the method continues to step 1044.
At step 1046, the bales are transferred across the load bed 113, as described
herein, to
accumulate the bale on the load bed 113. After step 1046, the method returns
to step 1041 to
continue receiving the bales on the load bed 113, as described herein.
At step 1044, the bales are discharged from the load bed 113 to the ground
surface 128 by
pivoting the load bed 113, including the bale receiving portion 114 of the
load bed 113, from a
bale receiving position to a bale discharging position and back to the bale
receiving position in a
first amount of time less than a second amount of time required for the next
successive bale to be
received to move through a space or gap 812, in the entry region 1053 of the
load bed 113, at the
first rate of speed along the bale receiving path to discharge the bales in
the bale discharging
direction, essentially the same as the bale receiving direction, without
interfering with the next
successive bale approaching the entry region 1053 of the bale receiving
portion 114 of the load
bed 113 during the bale discharge operation. After step 1044, the method
returns to step 1041 to
continue receiving the bale on the load bed 113, as described herein. Hence,
the gap 812
provided in the entry region 1053 of the load bed 113 provides the load bed
113 with time to
move before it can interfere with or be interfered by a successively received
bale.
At step 1045 which is the first step of step 1044, a determination is made
whether a next
successive bale to be received on the load bed 113 will interfere with an
entry region 1053 of the
load bed 113 when the load bed 113 pivots from the bale receiving position
towards the bale
discharging position. If the determination at step 1045 is positive, the
method continues to step
1047. If the determination at step 1045 is negative, the method continues to
step 1048, thereby
bypassing step 1047.
At step 1047, a distance, space or gap 812 along the bale receiving axis 201
is provided in
the entry region 1053 of the load bed 113, without supporting the next
successive bale to be
received on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113, responsive to
the load bed 113
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pivoting from the bale receiving position towards the bale discharging
position. The space may be
provided dynamically, with a moveable bale support member, or statically, with
no load bed 113
support in the entry region 1053 of the load bed 113.
At step 1048, the bales on the load bed 113, including the bale located on the
bale
receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113, are discharged to the ground
surface 128 by pivoting
the load bed 113 from the bale receiving position to the bale discharging
position.
Hence, at steps 1045, 1047 and 1048, the gap 812 in the entry region 1053 is
provided
either dynamically or statically, as needed, when the load bed 113 pivots from
the bale receiving
position towards the bale discharging position to avoid interference with the
next successive bale.
Next, at step 1049, a determination is made whether the next successive bale
to be
received on the load bed 113 will interfere with the entry region 1053 of the
load bed 113 when
the load bed 113 pivots back from the bale discharging position to the bale
receiving position. If
the determination at step 1049 is positive, the method continues to step 1050.
If the determination
at step 1049 is negative, the method continues to step 1051, thereby bypassing
step 1050.
At step 1050, a distance, space or gap 812 along the bale receiving axis 201
is provided in
the entry region 1053 of the load bed 113, without supporting the next
successive bale to be
received on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113, responsive to
the load bed 113
pivoting back from the bale discharging position to the bale receiving
position. The space may be
provided dynamically, with a moveable bale support member, or statically, with
no load bed 113
support in the entry region 1053 of the load bed 113, as is described
hereinbelow.
At step 1051, the load bed 113 is pivoted back from the bale discharging
position to the
bale receiving position. After step 1051, the method returns to step 1041 to
continue receiving the
next successive bale to be received on the receiving portion of the load bed
113 along the bale
receiving axis 201.
Hence, at steps 1049, 1050 and 1051, the gap 812 in the entry region 1053 is
provided
either dynamically or statically, as needed, when the load bed 113 pivots from
the bale
discharging position towards the bale receiving position to avoid interference
with the next
successive bale.
B . First Permissive Bale Discharge Apparatus - Load bed Notch
FIGs. 104-111 and 74-80 illustrate a permissive bale discharge module 1052 .
In each of
FIGs. 104-111 and 74-80 the accumulator comprises a frame 120, a load bed 113
and a bale
discharge module.
The frame 120 is supported above the ground surface 128 by the wheels 108 and
110, as
described herein.
The load bed 113 is substantially planar and is supported by the frame 120.
The load bed
113 receives, on a bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113, the
plurality of bales at the first
rate of speed along the bale receiving axis 201 in the bale receiving
direction to accumulate thereon
the plurality of bales, as described hereinabove with the method in FIG. 104.
The load bed 113
has an entry region 1053 designating a part of the load bed 113 where the
plurality of bales are
first received on the load bed 113. The load bed 113 also has a notch 1060
formed in a side of the
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load bed 113, at the entry region 1053 of the load bed 113, along the bale
receiving path between
the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 and the entry region 1053
of the load bed 113.
The bale discharge module discharges the plurality of bales accumulated on the
load bed
113 to the ground surface 128. In the preferred embodiment of the permissive
bale discharge
apparatus, the bale discharge module further comprises a pivot mechanism. The
pivot mechanism
is mechanically coupled to the frame 120 and the load bed 113 and adapted to
pivot the load bed
113 between a bale receiving position and a bale discharging position. The
load bed 113 is
located in a horizontal position relative to the frame 120 when the load bed
113 is located in the
bale receiving position. The load bed 113 is located in an inclined position
relative to the frame
120 when the load bed 113 is located in the bale discharging position. The
pivot mechanism
pivots the load bed 113 relative to the frame 120 from the bale receiving
position to the bale
discharging position to discharge the plurality of bales accumulated on the
load bed 113 to the
ground surface 128 under a gravitational force acting on the plurality of
bales.
1. Bale Support Member In The Load bed Notch
In FIGs. 105, 106, 108 and 109, the accumulator further comprises a bale
support member. The
bale support member is mechanically coupled to the load bed 113 at the entry
region 1053 of the
load bed 113 along the bale receiving path, disposed between the bale
receiving portion 114 of the
load bed 113 and the entry region 1053 of the load bed 113 and moveable
between a bale
supporting position and a bale clearing position. The bale support member is
adapted to support
each of the plurality of bales before they are first received at the entry
region 1053 of the load bed
113 when the bale support member is located in the bale supporting position
and when the load
bed 113 is located in the bale receiving position. The bale support member is
adapted to move to
the bale clearing position when the load bed 113 pivots either to or from the
bale discharging
position to create a space having a predetermined distance along the bale
receiving axis 201
between a next bale to be received on the load bed 113 and the entry region
1053 of the load bed
113 so that the bale support member does not interfere with the next bale of
the plurality of bales
to be received on the load bed 113 when the load bed 113 pivots either to or
from the bale
discharging position. The load bed 113 moves from the bale receiving position
to the bale
discharging position and back to the bale receiving position in a first amount
of time less than a
second amount of time required for the next bale of the plurality of bales to
move through the
predetermined distance at the first rate of speed along the bale receiving
path.
Preferably, a bale support member movement mechanism causes the bale support
member
to move from the bale supporting position to the bale clearing position
responsive to the load bed
113 being pivoted to the bale receiving position and causes the bale support
member to move from
the bale clearing position to the bale supporting position responsive to the
load bed 113 being
moved from the bale discharging position to the bale receiving position. The
bale support member
is disposed in the notch 1060, substantially coplanar with the load bed 113,
when the bale support
member is located in the bale supporting position. The bale support member is
not disposed in the
notch 1060 and is disposed beneath the bale receiving surface of the load bed
113 when the bale
support member is located in the bale clearing position.
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Hence, the bale support member advantageously provides a dynamic bale guide
and
support design while permitting the load bed 113 to pivot between the bale
discharging position
and the bale receiving position without interference by or with the next
successive bale to be
received on the load bed 113.
a. First Embodiment - Hinged Bale Support Member
FIGS. 105 and 106 illustrate, in a right side elevation view and a top side
plan view, respectively
an agricultural bale accumulator having a first embodiment of a permissive
bale discharge module
1052 , formed by a hinged bale support member located in a load bed 113 notch
1060, operating
responsive to the permissive bale discharge method 1039 described in FIG. 104.
In FIGs. 105 and 106, the bale support member movement mechanism is
implemented as
a hinge mechanism 1058 mechanically coupled to the load bed 113 at the entry
region 1053 of the
load bed 113 along the bale receiving axis 201 and having a hinge axis. The
hinge mechanism
1058 mechanically couples the bale support member to the load bed 113 about
the hinge axis. The
bale support member pivots about the hinge axis between the bale supporting
position and the bale
clearing position.
Preferably, the hinge axis is disposed substantially perpendicular to the bale
receiving axis
201 and substantially parallel to a lateral axis of the load bed 113 to permit
the bale support
member to pivot toward and away from the bales being received. This
configuration provide a
space in the notch 1060 along the bale receiving axis 201 of maximum length
while permitting the
bale support member to guide and support any bales being received, as
necessary. In this
preferable case, the bale support member is implemented as a substantially
planar plate 1056
pivotally coupled to one side of the notch 1060 in the load bed 113.
Alternatively, the hinge axis
may be disposed substantially parallel to the bale receiving axis 201 and
substantially parallel to a
longitudinal axis of the load bed 113. In this alternate case, the bale
support member may be is
implemented as a substantially planar plate pivotally coupled to one side of
the notch 1060 in the
load bed 113 or two substantially planar plates pivotally coupled to each side
of the notch 1060 in
the load bed 113.
FIG. 105 also shows a distal end of the substantially planar plate 1056,
opposite to the
hinge mechanism 1058, slidably coupled to the main frame 120. The frame 120
has a cam 1062
provided therewith and is implemented as a curved slot, for example. The
substantially planar
plate 1056 has a cam follower 1064 mechanically coupled thereto and is
implemented as a set of
pins, for example. The cam 1062 and the cam follower 1064 advantageously
permit the
substantially planar plate 1056 to move between the bale supporting position
and the bale clearing
position responsive to the load bed 113 being moved between the bale receiving
position and the
bale discharging position. This relationship is reciprocal such that movement
of the substantially
planar plate 1056, via a hydraulic cylinder, for example, causes the load bed
113 to move, or such
that movement of the load bed 113, via a hydraulic cylinder, for example,
causes substantially
planar plate 1056 to move. In this case, the distal end of the substantially
planar plate 1056 is
always connected to the frame 120. Preferably, the cam 1062 provided with the
frame 120 has a
curved shape to permit the distal end of the substantially planar plate 1056
to drop below any sag
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in a leading end of a next successively received bale to guide the leading end
up towards the top,
bale receiving surface of the load bed 113 and to support the next
successively received bale as it
is received on the top, bale receiving surface of the load bed 113.
Alternatively, the movement of the substantially planar plate 1056 may be made
dependent
upon the movement of the load bed 113 by using a force transfer mechanism
implemented as a
spring, for example, connected from the substantially planar plate 1056 to the
load bed 113 then to
the frame 120. In this case, movement of the load bed 113 relative to the
frame 120 to the bale
discharging position applies a force to the substantially planar plate 1056
causing the substantially
planar plate 1056 to move against a bias force of the spring to the bale
clearing position.
Likewise, movement of the load bed 113 relative to the frame 120 to the bale
receiving position
releases the force on the substantially planar plate 1056 causing the
substantially planar plate 1056
to move with the bias force of the spring to the bale supporting position.
This alternative is
attractive because no hydraulic, electric or electric over hydraulic force
producing devices are
needed to move the substantially planar plate 1056.
Further, the substantially planar plate 1056 may also have a sloped bale
receiving surface,
shown in dashed lines, advantageously provided for the same bale guiding
reasons as described
herein below with the fourth embodiment as the sloped load bed 113.
b. Second Embodiment - Sliding Bale Support Member
FIG. 108 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having
a second embodiment of a permissive bale discharge module 1052 , formed by a
sliding bale
support member located in a load bed 113 notch 1060, operating responsive to
the permissive
bale discharge method 1039 described in FIG. 104.
In FIG. 108, the bale support member movement mechanism is implemented as a
slide
mechanism mechanically coupled to the load bed 113 at the entry region 1053 of
the load bed 113
along the bale receiving axis 201 and having a slide axis. The slide mechanism
mechanically
couples the bale support member to the load bed 113 about the slide axis. The
bale support
member slides along the slide axis between the bale supporting position and
the bale clearing
position.
Preferably, the slide axis is disposed substantially perpendicular to the bale
receiving axis
201 and substantially parallel to a lateral axis of the load bed 113. In this
preferable case, the bale
support member is implemented as a substantially planar plate 1066 slidably
coupled to one side
of the notch 1060 in the load bed 113. Alternatively, the slide axis may be
disposed substantially
parallel to the bale receiving axis 201 and substantially parallel to a
longitudinal axis of the load
bed 113. In this alternate case, the bale support member may be is implemented
as a substantially
planar plate slidably coupled to one side of the notch 1060 in the load bed
113 or two substantially
planar plates slidably coupled to each side of the notch 1060 in the load bed
113.
The substantially planar plate 1066 may be made to move with a bias spring in
a similar
manner to that described hereinabove with the first embodiment as the hinged
bale support
member. Further, the substantially planar plate 1066 has a sloped bale
receiving surface
advantageously provided for the same bale guiding reasons as described herein
below with the
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fourth embodiment as the sloped load bed 113. Note that the hinged bale
support member is
preferred over the sliding bale support member for the reason the hinged bale
support member is
able to dip lower than the sliding bale support member to pick up a greater
amount of sag in the
successively received bales. However, the sliding bale support member is
advantageous over the
fourth embodiment having the sloped load bed 113 with no bale support in the
notch 1060,
because the sliding bale support member proactively extends towards the
successively received
bale to pick up the sag, if any in leading end of the bale rather than waiting
for the bale to reached
the sloped side of the notch 1060 in the fourth embodiment.
c. Third Embodiment - Rotating Bale Support Member
FIG. 109 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having a third
embodiment of a permissive bale discharge module 1052 , formed by a rotating
bale support
member located in a load bed 113 notch 1060, operating responsive to the
permissive bale
discharge method 1039 described in FIG. 104.
In FIG. 109, the bale support member movement mechanism is implemented as a
rotate
mechanism 1072 mechanically coupled to the load bed 113 at the entry region
1053 of the load
bed 113 along the bale receiving axis 201 and having a rotate axis. The rotate
mechanism 1072
mechanically couples the bale support member to the load bed 113 about the
rotate axis. The bale
support member rotates along the rotate axis between the bale supporting
position and the bale
clearing position.
Preferably, the rotate axis is disposed substantially perpendicular to the
bale receiving axis
201 and substantially parallel to a lateral axis of the load bed 113. In this
preferable case, the bale
support member is implemented as a substantially planar plate 1068 rotatably
coupled to one side
of the notch 1060 in the load bed 113. The substantially planar plate 1068 has
a cigar shape and is
adapted to rotate 360° in either direction. A detent mechanism 1170,
implemented as retractable
and outwardly biased pins located on the sides of the substantially planar
plate 1068 adapted to
engage corresponding recesses in on the sides of the load bed 113 in the notch
1060, permits the
substantially planar plate 1068 to settle into a home position, substantially
parallel to and
substantially coplanar with the bale receiving surface of the load bed 113,
when supporting a bale
being received on the load bed 113.
In operation, a bale facing end of the substantially planar plate 1068 is
adapted to rotate
downward if the bale facing end of the substantially planar plate 1068
contacts the next successive
bale being received on the load bed 113 when the load bed 113 pivots to the
bale discharging
position. Hence, the substantially planar plate 1068 deflects downwardly out
of the way of the
bale being received. Likewise, the bale facing end of the substantially planar
plate 1068 is adapted
to rotate upwardly if the bale facing end of the substantially planar plate
1068 contacts the next
successive bale being received on the load bed 113 when the load bed 113
pivots to the bale
receiving position. Hence, the substantially planar plate 1068 deflects
upwardly out of the way of
the bale being received. Then, the continued receipt of the next successive
bale causes the
substantially planar plate 1068 to continue to rotate towards a rear side 119
of the load bed 113
until the substantially planar plate 1068 reaches its home position.
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The rotating bale support member advantageously avoids interference with the
next
successive bale being received on the load bed 113, while providing a bale
guide and a bale
support, when the load bed 113 is pivoting to each of the bale receiving
position and the bale
discharging position. However, the rotate mechanism 1072 requires that the
rotating bale support
member rotate about a rotation axis about midway along the a longitudinal axis
of the notch 1060
which limits the gap 812 needed to buy time for the load bed 113 discharging
operation. A
detailed design analysis of a desired design of an accumulator would indicate
whether the benefits
of this embodiment outweigh its disadvantage.
2. No Bale Support Member In The Load bed Notch
a. Fourth Embodiment - Sloped Load bed
FIGs. 110 and 111 illustrate, in a right side elevation view and a top, rear
and right side
perspective view, respectively, an agricultural bale accumulator having a
fourth embodiment of a
permissive bale discharge module 1052 , formed by a sloped load bed 113 in a
load bed 113 notch
1060, operating responsive to the permissive bale discharge method described
in FIG. 104.
In FIGs. 110 and 111, each of the three sides of the notch 1060 in the load
bed 113 are
sloped 1074 and 1076 upwards from a bottom side 111 of the load bed 113
towards a top side
109 of the load bed 113. The bale receiving surface of the load bed 113 is
located on the top side
109 of the load bed 113. The sloped 1074 and 1076 may have any angle, shape or
length, as
desired. FIGs. 110 and 111 show the slope 1074 being about 45° relative
to the bottom side 111
of the load bed 113 being substantially parallel to the top side 109 of the
load bed 113. The
purpose of the slope 1074, on the lateral side of the notch 1060, is to guide
a forward sagging
end, if any, of a successively received bale towards the top, bale receiving
surface, 111 of the
load bed 113. After the slope 1074, on the lateral side of the notch 1060,
guides a leading end of
the bale to the top, bale receiving surface, 111 of the load bed 113 and is
received on the bale
receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 along the bale receiving axis 201,
the slope 1074, on the
lateral side of the notch 1060, no longer guides the leading end of the bale.
After the bale is fully received on the top, bale receiving surface, 111 of
the load bed 113
the transfer module transfers the bale across the load bed 113. The purpose of
the slope 1076, on
the longitudinal sides of the notch 1060, is to guide a trailing sagging end,
if any, of the last bale
received on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 to the top,
bale receiving surface,
111 of the load bed 113. After the slope 1076, on the longitudinal sides of
the notch 1060, guides
the trailing sagging end, if any, of the last bale received on the bale
receiving portion 114 of the
load bed 113 to the top, bale receiving surface, 111 of the load bed 113 and
the last bale receive
has been transferred to a bale accumulating portion of the load bed 113, the
slope 1076, on the
longitudinal sides of the notch 1060, no longer guides the trailing end of the
bale.
Hence, the slope 1074 and 1076 sides of the notch 1060 advantageously picks up
any sag
in a leading or trailing end of the last received bale to compensate for the
lack of a dynamically
moveable bale support member in the notch 1060, as described hereinabove. The
slope 1074 and
1076 sides of the notch 1060 advantageously provides a static bale guide
design which has no
moving parts while permitting the load bed 113 to pivot between the bale
discharging position and
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the bale receiving position without interference by or with the next
successive bale to be-re~eiv~2~
on the load bed 113.
b. Fifth Embodiment - Pivoting Load Bed
FIG. 107 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator having
a fifth embodiment of a permissive bale discharge module 1052 , formed by a
pivoting load bed
113 with a load bed 113 notch 1060, operating responsive to the permissive
bale discharge
method described in FIG. 104.
The pivoting load bed 113 with sloped sides in the notch 1060 provide the same
function
and benefits as described with the fourth embodiment as the sloped load bed
113 and has the
additional benefit that a front side 117 of the load bed 113 can pivot
downward relative to a
horizontal plane to pick up a greater amount of sag in the next successively
received bale. A "bent
frame 120" that slopes downward relative to the horizontal place from the
pivot axis towards the
hitch connection to the baler advantageously permits the front side 117 of the
load bed 113 to
advantageously pivot downward relative to a horizontal plane.
Note that the "bent frame 120" idea is also advantageously used as a
longitudinal load bed
113 leveling device to permit the load bed 113 to be leveled responsive to an
indication from a
level determining device 912 that the accumulator is going up a hill along an
accumulator traveling
path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the accumulator.
Since this fifth embodiment serves multiple purposes is a first of the two co-
preferred
embodiments of the permissive bale discharge apparatus.
C. Second Permissive Bale Discharge Apparatus - Bale Advancement Module
FIG. 74 illustrates a flowchart describing a bale advancement method for
advancing bales
on a load bed 113 of an agricultural bale accumulator. FIGs. 75, 76 and 77
illustrate, each in a
right side elevation view, an agricultural bale accumulator having a first
embodiment of a bale
advancement module performing a sequence of bale advancing operations
responsive to the bale
advancement method of FIG. 74. FIGS. 78, 79 and 80 illustrate, each in a right
side elevation
view, an agricultural bale accumulator having a second embodiment of a bale
advancement module
performing a sequence of bale advancing operations responsive to the bale
advancement method
of FIG. 74.
As described with the bale advancement module hereinabove, a first bale is
advanced onto
the load bed 113 at a second rate of speed greater than a first rate of speed
of a second bale being
received on the load bed 113 to create a gap 808, in FIGS. 75, 77 and 80. The
gap 808 provided
by the bale advancement module is analogous to the gap 812 provided by the
notch 1060,
described in the first - fifth embodiments hereinabove. In both cases the gap
created buys time for
the accumulator to operate, such as by pivoting the load bed 113 during a bale
discharge
operation, before the next successive bate travels the gap 812 to reach the
load bed 113.
Therefore, the bale advancement module is the sixth embodiment of the
permissive bale discharge
apparatus to permit a bale received on the bale receiving portion 114 of the
load bed 113 to be
discharged from the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 to the
ground.
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Since this sixth embodiment also serves multiple purposes is a second of the
two co-
preferred embodiments of the permissive bale discharge apparatus.
In the preferred embodiment, the permissive bale discharge method is
advantageously
used to permit the discharge of a bale on a center, bale receiving, portion
114 of the load bed 113.
However, the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 is not required to
be in the center of
the load bed 113, but may alternatively be located on one side of the load bed
113, for example.
Further, in each of the six embodiments, the particular dimensions of the bale
support
member, if appropriate, the load bed 113, the notch 1060, the frame 120, etc.
and the distance of
travel of the load bed 113 and the bale support member, for example, are
designed to be
appropriate, as desired.
XI. Selective Bale Discharge Control Module
FIGs. 112-119 illustrate a selective bale control module 1093. FIG. 112
illustrates a
flowchart 1078 describing a method to be performed by an embodiment of an
apparatus shown
in FIGS. 113-119.
A. Selective Bale Discharge Control Method
FIG. 112 illustrates a flowchart 1078 describing a selective bale discharge
method for
permitting a bale receiving portion 114 of a load bed 113 of an agricultural
bale accumulator 100
to discharge a bale, received along a bale receiving axis 201 in a bale
receiving direction 222, from
the bale receiving portion 114 of a load bed 113 to a ground surface 128 in a
bale discharging
direction 222, essentially the same as the bale receiving direction 222,
either dependently or
independently and at the same time or different times, relative to a bale
accumulating portion 116
and 118 of the load bed 113 discharging accumulated bales to the ground
surface 128.
At step 1079, the method starts. Next, at step 1080, a plurality of bales are
received on a
bale receiving portion 114 of a load bed 113 along a bale receiving axis 201.
An accumulator 100
performing step 1079 is illustrated in FIGS. 113, 114, 116 and 117.
Next, at step 1081, a determination is made whether to discharge the bales
from at least
one of the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 and a bale
accumulating portion of the
load bed 113 which is located adjacent to the bale receiving portion 114 of
the load bed 113. In
one embodiment of the selective bale discharge control method, the
determination made at step
1081 is responsive to a determination of a number and a location of the bales
received and/or
accumulated on the load bed 113. In another embodiment of the selective bale
discharge control
method, the determination made at step 1081 is responsive to a determination
of a location of the
accumulator 100 in a field 1135, as further described herein below. Other
determinations may be
made, for example and without limitation, as disclosed herein.
If the determination at step 1081 is negative, then the method continues to
step 1087. If
the determination at step 1081 is positive, then the method continues to step
1083.
Continuing at step 1087, a determination is made whether the last bale
received has
reached a predetermined position on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load
bed 113 along the
bale receiving axis 201, responsive to receiving the plurality of bales on the
bale receiving portion
114 of the load bed 113, indicating that the last bale received is completely
formed, ejected from
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the bale chamber of the agricultural baler 101 and substantially received the
bale receiving portion
114 of the load bed 113.
If the determination at step 1087 is negative, then method returns to step
1080 to continue
receiving the bales on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113. If
the determination at
step 1087 is positive, then the method continues to step 1088.
Continuing at step 1088, the plurality of bales are transferred across the
load bed 113 from
the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 to the bale accumulating
portion 116 and 118 of
the load bed 113 along a bale transfer axis 202 disposed horizontally
transverse to the bale
receiving axis 201 responsive to bales being received on the bale receiving
portion 114 of the load
bed 113 to accumulate the bales on the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118
of the load bed
113. Hence, steps 1087 and 1088 describe that a bale cannot be transferred
across the load bed
until the bale is fully received on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load
bed 113 and ejected
from the baler 101.
Returning to step 1081, if the determination at step 1081 is positive, then
the method
continues to step 1083. At step 1083, any bales received on the bale receiving
portion 114 of the
load bed 113 are discharged from the bale receiving portion 114 of the load
bed 113 to the ground
surface 128, either dependently or independently and at the same time or
different times, relative
to any bales received on the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load
bed 113 being
discharged to the ground surface 128. After step 1083, the method returns to
step 1080 to
continue receiving the bales on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed
113. In the
preferred embodiment of the selective bale discharge control method, the step
1083 further
includes steps 1082, 1083, 1085, 1086, 1089, 1090, 1091 and 1092.
In the preferred embodiment of the selective bale discharge control method,
the method of
selectively discharging the bales accumulated on the load bed 113 from either
or both of the bale
receiving portion 114 of the load bed I 13 and the bale accumulating portion
116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 to the ground surface 128, at step 1081, is performed by a step
of pivoting either or
both of the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 and the bale
accumulating portion 116
and 118 of the load bed 113 relative to a frame between a bale receiving
position and a bale
discharging position. Either or both of the bale receiving portion 114 of the
load bed 113 and the
bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is located in a
horizontal position
relative to the frame when either or both of bale receiving portion 114 of the
load bed 113 and the
bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113, respectively, is
located in the bale
receiving position. Either or both of the bale receiving portion 114 of the
load bed 113 and the
bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is located in an
inclined position
relative to the frame when either or both of the bale receiving portion 114 of
the load bed 113 and
the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113, respectively,
is located in the bale
discharging position. The step of pivoting causes either or both of the bale
receiving portion 114
of the load bed 113 and the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load
bed 113 to pivot
relative to the frame from the bale receiving position to the bale discharging
position to permit a
gravitational force acting on the plurality of bales to discharge the
plurality of bales accumulated
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on either or both of the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 and
the bale accumulating
portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to the ground surface 128,
respectively.
Returning to step 1081, if the determination at step 1081 is positive, then
the method
continues to step 1082 which is the first step in step 1083.
At step 1082, a determination is made whether the last bale received has
reached a
predetermined position on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113
along the bale
receiving axis 201, responsive to receiving the plurality of bales on the bale
receiving portion 114
of the load bed 113, indicating that the last bale received is completely
formed, ejected from the
bale chamber of the agricultural baler 101 and substantially received the bale
receiving portion 114
of the load bed 113.
If the determination at step 1082 is positive, then the method continues to
step 1084. If
the determination at step 1082 is negative, then the method continues to step
1089.
Continuing at step 1084, a determination is made whether to discharge to the
ground
surface 128 any bales received on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load
bed 113 and any bales
accumulated on the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113
at the same time.
Hence, step 1084 describes that a condition where although the accumulator 100
is ready to
discharge the bales and the last received bale is fully formed and received on
the bale receiving
portion 114 of the load bed 113, the accumulator 100 may not decide to
discharge all of the bales
for one reason or another. Such a reason may be related to a location of the
accumulator 100 in a
field 1135, as described further hereinbelow.
If the determination at step 1084 is positive, then the method continues to
step 1085. If
the determination at step 1084 is negative, then the method continues to step
1089.
Continuing at step 1085, in the preferred embodiment of the selective bale
discharge
control method, the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 is
mechanically coupled to the
bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to permit the bale
receiving portion
114 of the load bed 113 to pivot between the bale receiving position and the
bale discharging
position with the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113
only when the bale
accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 pivots between the bale
receiving position
and the bale discharging position. After step 1085, the method continues to
step 1092.
Next, at step 1092, any bales received on the bale receiving portion 114 of
the load bed
113 and any bales accumulated on the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of
the load bed 113
are discharged to the ground surface 128 at the same time. An accumulator 100
performing step
1092 is illustrated in FIGs. 115 and 118. After step 1092, the method returns
to step 1080 to
continue receiving the bales on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed
113.
Returning to step 1082, if the determination at step 1082 is negative, then
the method
continues to step 1089. At step 1089, the bale receiving portion 114 of the
load bed 113 is
mechanically decoupled from the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 to
permit the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to pivot
between the bale
receiving position and the bale discharging position without the bale
receiving portion 114 of the
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load bed 113 when the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed
113 pivots between
the bale receiving position and the bale discharging position.
Next, at step 1086, a determination is made whether to discharge to the ground
surface
128 only the bales located on the. bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed
113. If the
determination at step 1086 is positive, then the method continues to step
1091. If the
determination at step 1086 is negative, then the method continues to step
1090.
Continuing at step 1091, any bales received on only the bale receiving portion
114 of the
load bed 113 are discharged to the ground surface 128. An accumulator 100
performing step
1091 is illustrated in FIG. 119. After step 1091, the method returns to step
1080 to continue
receiving the bales on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113.
Continuing at step 1090, any bales accumulated on only the bale accumulating
portion 116
and 118 of the load bed 113 are discharged to the ground surface 128. An
accumulator 100
performing step 1090 is illustrated in FIGS. 114 and 117. After step 1092, the
method returns to
step 1080 to continue receiving the bales on the bale receiving portion 114 of
the load bed 113.
In the preferred embodiment, steps 1085 and 1089 represent a dependent
relationship
between the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 and the bale
accumulating portion 116
and 118 of the load bed 113. In this dependent relationship the bale receiving
portion 114 of the
load bed 113 is not permitted to discharge bales independently of the bale
accumulating portion
116 and 118 of the load bed 113. While this restriction may, at first, appear
limiting because it
prohibits the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 from discharging
the received bale
without moving the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113,
it should be noted
that a discharge of the received bale from the bale receiving portion 114 of
the load bed 113 may
also be accomplished by permitting a successive bale being ejected from the
baler 101 to push the
last bale received off a rear side 119 of the bale receiving portion 114 of
the load bed 113. Hence,
this push method, effectuates a selective discharge of a bale located on the
bale receiving portion
114 of the load bed 113 independently of a discharge of bales located on the
bale accumulating
portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113.
In an alternative embodiment of the selective bale discharge control method,
the selective
bale discharge control method performs the step of pivoting by further
performing a step of
selectively controlling the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load
bed 113 to pivot
between the bale receiving position and the bale discharging position
independently of the bale
receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 pivoting between the bale receiving
position and the bale
discharging position. In this alternative embodiment, the selective bale
discharge control method
selectively controls a first discharge mechanism mechanically coupled between
the bale
accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 and the frame, and
selectively controlling a
second discharge mechanism mechanically coupled between the bale receiving
portion 114 of the
load bed 113 and the frame.
B. Selective Bale Discharge Control Apparatus
FIG. 113 illustrates, in a right side elevation view, an agricultural bale
accumulator 100
having a selective bale discharge module operating responsive to selective
bale discharge method
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described in FIG. 112, wherein the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed
113 is located in a
bale receiving position and the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 is
located in a bale accumulating position. FIG. 114 illustrates, in a right side
elevation view, the
agricultural bale accumulator 100 shown in FIG. 113, wherein the bale
receiving portion 114 of
the load bed 113 is located in the bale receiving position and the bale
accumulating portion 116
and 118 of the load bed 113 is located in a bale discharging position. FIG.
115 illustrates, in a
right side elevation view, the agricultural bale accumulator 100 shown in
FIGS. 113 and 114,
wherein each of the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 and the
bale accumulating
portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is located in a bale discharging
position. FIG. 116
illustrates, in a top side planar view, the agricultural bale accumulator 100
shown in FIGs. 113 -
115, wherein the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 is located in
a bale receiving
position and the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is
located in a bale
accumulating position. FIG. 117 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view,
the agricultural bale
accumulator 100 shown in FIGS. 113 - 115, wherein the bale receiving portion
114 of the load
bed 113 is located in the bale receiving position and the bale accumulating
portion 116 and 118 of
the load bed 113 is located in a bale discharging position. FIG. 118
illustrates, in a rear side
elevation view, the agricultural bale accumulator 100 shown in FIGS. 113 -
115, wherein each of
the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 and the bale accumulating
portion 116 and 118
of the load bed 113 is located in a bale discharging position. FIG. 119
illustrates, in a rear side
elevation view, the agricultural bale accumulator 100 shown in FIGs. 113 -
115, wherein the bale
receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 is located in the bale discharging
position and the bale
accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is located in a bale
accumulating position.
Hence, FIG. 113 corresponds to FIG. 116, FIG. 114 corresponds to FIG. 117, and
FIG. 115
corresponds to FIG. 118.
In FIGS. 113-119 a selective bale discharge control apparatus selectively
controls a
discharge of the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed 113 from at
least one of the bale
receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 and the bale accumulating portion
116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 to the ground surface 128.
The selective bale discharge control apparatus includes a bale position sensor
170 to
determine whether the plurality of bales have reach a predetermined position
on the bale receiving
portion 114 of the load bed 113 along the bale receiving axis 201 responsive
to receiving the
plurality of bales on the bale receiving of the load bed 113 along the bale
receiving axis 201. The
selective bale discharge control module selectively controls the discharge of
the plurality of bales
accumulated on the load bed 113 from the at least one of the bale receiving
portion 114 and the
bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to the ground
surface 128 responsive
to the predetermined position of the bales on the bale receiving portion 114
of the load bed 113.
The selective bale discharge control apparatus includes a bale accumulating
capacity sensor
172, 174 and 170 adapted to determine a number and a location of each of the
bales accumulated
on the load bed 113. The selective bale discharge control module selectively
controls the
discharge of the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed 113 from the
at least one of the bale
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receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 and the bale accumulating portion
116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 to the ground surface 128 responsive to the number and the
location of the bales
accumulated on the load bed 113.
The selective bale discharge control apparatus includes a field position
location module,
described further hereinbelow, comprising a field position locator adapted to
determine a location
of the agricultural bale accumulator 100 in a field 1135. The selective bale
discharge control
module selectively controls the discharge of the plurality of bales
accumulated on the load bed 113
from the at least one of the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113
and the bale
accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to the ground surface 128
responsive to a
determination of the position of the agricultural bale accumulator 100 in the
field 1135.
The selective bale discharge control apparatus includes a bale discharge
module adapted to
discharge the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed 113 from at least
one of the bale
receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 and the bale accumulating portion
116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 to the ground surface 128 which is preferably implemented as a
pivot mechanism
mechanically coupled to a frame and adapted to pivot either or both of the
bale receiving portion
114 of the load bed 113 and the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the
load bed 113
between the bale receiving position and the bale discharging position, as
described hereinabove.
Alternatively, other types of discharge mechanism, such as a push mechanism,
may be used as
disclosed herein.
In the preferred embodiment of the selective bale discharge control apparatus,
the bale
discharge module further includes a first discharge mechanism and a second
discharge
mechanism. The first discharge mechanism causes the bale accumulating portion
116 and 118 of
the load bed 113 to pivot between the bale receiving position and the bale
discharging position.
The second discharge mechanism causes the bale receiving portion 114 of the
load bed 113 to
pivot between the bale receiving position and the bale discharging position.
In the preferred embodiment of the selective bale discharge control apparatus,
the selective
bale discharge control apparatus selectively controls the second discharge
mechanism and the first
discharge mechanism to permit the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed
113 to pivot between
the bale receiving position and the bale discharging position only when the
bale accumulating
portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 pivots between the bale receiving
position and the bale
discharging position.
In the preferred embodiment of the selective bale discharge control apparatus,
the second
discharge mechanism is adapted to mechanically couple the bale receiving
portion 114 of the load
bed 113 to the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to
permit the bale
receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 to pivot between the bale receiving
position and the bale
discharging position with the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 when the
first discharge mechanism pivots the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of
the load bed 113
between the bale receiving position and the bale discharging position, and is
adapted to
mechanically decouple the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 from
the bale
accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to permit the bale
accumulating portion 116
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and 118 of the load bed 113 to pivot between the bale receiving position and
the bale discharging
position without the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 when the
first discharge
mechanism pivots the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113
between the bale
receiving position and the bale discharging position.
In the preferred embodiment of the selective bale discharge control apparatus,
the second
discharge mechanism is implemented as a latch mechanism 1094 adapted to
mechanically couple
and decouple the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 and the bale
accumulating portion
116 and 118 of the load bed 113. The latch mechanism 1094 includes two pins
adapted to fit into
corresponding holes aligned with the pins. The pins and holes may be located
on either of the
bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 and the bale accumulating
portion 116 and 118 of
the load bed 113. FIG. 116, for example, shows the pins on the bale
accumulating portion 116
and 118 of the load bed 113 extended into and retracting out of their
corresponding holes in bale
receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113. FIGs. 117 and 119, for example,
show the pins on the
bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 retracted out of
their corresponding
holes in bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113. FIG. 118, for
example, shows the pins
on the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 extended into
their
corresponding holes in bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113. In
FIGS. 116 - 119, two
separate drive mechanisms, located on the bale accumulating portion 116 and
118 of the load bed
113, extends and retracts the two pins. Alternatively, only one drive
mechanism, located on the
bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113, is needed to extend and
retracts the two pins when
the two pins are also located on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load
bed 113 and the
corresponding holes are in bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load
bed 113.
In the preferred embodiment of the selective bale discharge control apparatus,
the first
discharge mechanism is a hydraulic cylinder 190 mechanically coupled between
the bale
accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 and the frame.
Hence, in the preferred embodiment of the selective bale discharge control
apparatus, the
hydraulic cylinder 190 produces a force to pivot the bale accumulating portion
116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 between the bale receiving position and the bale discharging
position and the latch
mechanism 1094 operates to cause the bale receiving portion 114 of the load
bed 113 to either stay
in the bale receiving position or to move to the bale discharging position
with the bale
accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113.
Alternatively, the selective bale discharge control apparatus selectively
controls the first
discharge mechanism and the second discharge mechanism to cause the bale
accumulating portion
116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to pivot between the bale receiving position
and the bale
discharging position independently of the bale receiving portion 114 of the
load bed 113 pivoting
between the bale receiving position and the bale discharging position.
The independent control of the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113
and the bale
accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is advantageous in a
situation where there
is a stack of bales formed on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed
113 and the
accumulator 100, for one reason or another, as disclosed herein, decides to
discharge the stack of
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bales only located on the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113. In
this case, pivoting the
bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 would permit the stack of bales
to be gently
discharged from the ground, as disclosed herein. By contrast, permitting the
next successive bale
to push the stack of bales located on the bale receiving portion 114 of the
load bed 113 would not
be desirable because the weight of the stack of bale could be to much for the
successive bale to
push, thereby causing the successive bale to bind up in the baler 101.
Moreover, even if the
successive bale does have enough force to push the stack of bales off the rear
side 119 of the load
bed 113, this push method would still be undesirable because the stack of
bales would most likely
not retain their stacked arrangement when falling off of the bale receiving
portion 114 of the load
bed 113 when located in the bale receiving position, substantially horizontal
with the frame 120.
In one example of the alternate embodiment of the selective bale discharge
control
apparatus, using hydraulic cylinder 190 to discharge the bales from the load
bed 113, as described
hereinabove, the first discharge mechanism further comprises a first discharge
cylinder 190
mechanically coupled between the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the
load bed 113 and
the frame, and the second discharge mechanism further comprises a second
discharge cylinder
mechanically coupled between the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed
113 and the frame.
A third cylinder may also be used so that one discharge cylinder is
mechanically coupled to each
side of the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to
provide an even
discharge force on each side of the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of
the load bed 113.
In another example of the alternate embodiment of the selective bale discharge
control
apparatus, using the counterweighted load bed 113 to discharge the bales from
the load bed 113,
as described hereinabove, the first discharge mechanism is implemented as a
first latch adapted to
release the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 from the
frame when the
bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 is located in the
bale receiving position
to permit the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113 to
pivot from the bale
receiving position to the bale discharging position responsive to a force of
gravity exerted upon
the plurality of bales accumulated on the bale accumulating portion 116 and
118 of the load bed
113 and to permit the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed
113 to pivot from the
bale discharging position to the bale receiving position responsive to the
force of gravity exerted
upon the bale accumulating portion 116 and 118 of the load bed 113. Further,
in this example of
the alternate embodiment of the selective bale discharge control apparatus,
the second discharge
mechanism is implemented as a second latch adapted to release the bale
receiving portion 114 of
the load bed 113 from the frame when the bale receiving portion 114 of the
load bed 113 is located
in the bale receiving position to permit the bale receiving portion 114 of the
load bed 113 to pivot
from the bale receiving position to the bale discharging position responsive
to a force of gravity
exerted upon the plurality of bales accumulated on the bale receiving portion
114 of the load bed
113 and to permit the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113 to pivot
from the bale
discharging position to the bale receiving position responsive to the force of
gravity exerted upon
the bale receiving portion 114 of the load bed 113.
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Preferably, the bales are recemed on a center portion of the load bed 113.
However, the
bales may also be received along a bale receiving axis 201 which is aligned
with either the right
portion 116 of the load bed 113 or the left side 118 of the load bed 113. In
this case, the right
portion 116 of the load bed 113, for example, becomes the bale receiving
portion of the load bed
and the center portion 114 and the left portion 118 become the bale
accumulating portion of the
load bed.
XI. Bale Speed Discharge Control Module
A. Bale Speed Discharge Control Method
FIGs. 120-124 illustrate a bale speed discharge control module 1106. FIG. 120
illustrates a
flowchart 1095 describing a method to be performed by an embodiment of a bale
speed control
discharge apparatus shown in FIGs. 121-124. FIG. 120 illustrates a flowchart
1095 describing a
bale speed discharge control method for controlling a discharge speed of bales
accumulated on a
load bed 113 of an agricultural bale accumulator 100 as the bales are
discharged from the load bed
113 to a ground surface 128 responsive to a forward traveling direction 221 of
the agricultural
bale accumulator 100.
In FIG. 120, at step 1096, the method starts. At step 1097, the accumulator
100
successively receives a plurality of bales on a load bed 113 of the
accumulator 100. At step 1098,
the accumulator 100 determines whether a received bale has reached a
predetermined position on
the accumulator 100 indicating that the received bale is fully formed and
ejected from the baler
101, as described hereinabove. If the determination at step 1098 is negative,
the method returns
to step 1097 to continue receiving the bale, as described hereinabove. If the
determination at step
1098 is positive, the method continues to step 1099. At step 1099, the
accumulator 100 forms a
stack of bales on the accumulator 100, as described hereinabove. At step 1100,
the accumulator
100 determines whether the accumulator 100 is ready to discharge the stacks of
bales received and
accumulated on the accumulator 100 to the ground surface 128, as described
herein. If the
determination at step 1100 is negative, the method continues to step 1101. At
step 1101, the
accumulator 100 transfers the stacks of bales across the accumulator 100 to
accumulate the stacks
of bales on the accumulator 100, as described hereinabove. After step 1101,
the accumulator 100
continues to step 1097 to receive another bale on the accumulator 100. If the
determination at step
1100 is positive, the method continues to step 1102. At step 1102, the
accumulator 100
determines a rate of speed that the accumulator 100 is traveling in a forward
direction 221 across
the ground surface 128. At step 1103, the accumulator 100 discharges the
stacks of bales
accumulated on the accumulator 100 from the accumulator 100 to the ground
surface 128 in a
rearward direction 222 essentially opposite to the forward traveling direction
221 of the
accumulator 100 responsive to the rate of speed that the accumulator 100 is
traveling in a forward
direction 221 across the ground surface 128.
In the preferred embodiment, the determination of whether or not to discharge
the stacks of bales
at the step 1100, is based on one of several factors including, by example and
without limitation, a
bale accumulating capacity of the accumulator 100, a location of the
accumulator 100 in a field
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1135, and the position of a recemed bale on the bale receiving portion 114 of
the load bed 113, as
described herein.
B. Bale Speed Discharge Control Apparatus
FIG. 121 illustrates, in a top, rear and right side perspective view, an
accumulator 100
having a bale speed control discharge apparatus 1108 operating responsive to
the bale speed
discharge control method described in FIG. 120, wherein the load bed 113 is
located in a bale
receiving and accumulating position. FIG. 122 illustrates, in a right side
elevation view, the
accumulator 100 shown in FIG. 121, wherein the load bed 113 is located in a
bale receiving and
accumulating position and in a bale discharging position. FIGs. 123 and 124
illustrate, each in a
right side elevation view, the accumulator 100 shown in FIGs. 121 and 122,
wherein the load bed
113 is located in a bale receiving and accumulating position and in a bale
discharging position,
respectively, and wherein the bale speed control discharge module includes an
accumulator
traveling speed sensing mechanism 1112, a bale engagement mechanism 1106, and
a bale speed
controller 1114.
In the preferred embodiment, the bale speed control discharge apparatus
comprises a speed
sensing mechanism 1112, a bale position sensor 170, a bale discharge
controller 1114 and a bale
engagement mechanism 1106. Each of the these elements of the bale speed
control discharge
apparatus may be implemented either electrically or mechanically, as desired.
Generally, the bale speed control discharge apparatus controls the rate of
speed at which
the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed 113 are discharged from the
load bed 113 to the
ground surface 128 responsive to the rate of speed at which the accumulator
100 is traveling
across the ground surface 128. To accomplish this, the bale engagement
mechanism 1106 is
positioned behind a rear side 119 of the load bed 113. In a preferred
embodiment of the bale
speed control discharge module, the bale engagement mechanism 1106 is located
substantially
coplanar with a bale accumulating surface of the load bed 113. Alternatively
the bale engagement
mechanism 1106 may be located on, recessed in or below the bale accumulating
surface of the
load bed 113 at a rearward side 119 of the load bed 113. Various types of bale
engagement
mechanisms provided at various locations may be implemented without departing
from the spirit
and the scope of the present invention.
The speed sensing mechanism 1112 determines the rate of speed at which the
accumulator
100 is traveling across the ground surface 128 in a forward direction 221. The
bale discharge
controller 1114 controls the rate of speed at which the plurality of bales
accumulated on the load
bed 113 are discharged from the load bed 113 to the ground surface 128
responsive to the
determined rate of speed at which the accumulator 100 is traveling across the
ground surface 128.
The speed sensing mechanism may be attached to the accumulator 100, to the
baler 101 or the
tractor. In the case of the tractor, the speed sensing mechanism is
conveniently implemented as
the speedometer of the tractor.
The bale position sensor translates determined location of the bales on the
load bed 113 to
a time when the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed 113 first
contact or are just about to
contact the ground surface 128 as the plurality of bales accumulated on the
load bed 113 are
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discharged from the load bed 113 to the ground surface 128. The bale speed
controller controls
the rate of speed at which the plurality of bales, accumulated on the load bed
113, are discharged
from the load bed 113 to the ground surface 128 responsive to the time when
the plurality of bales
accumulated on the load bed 113 first contact or are just about to contact the
ground surface 128.
Generally, the bale position sensor is implemented in a similar manner to the
bale positions
sensors, with related adjustments, as disclosed with the bale advancement
module, described
hereinabove. Preferably, the bale position sensor is implemented as one or
more sensing plates
170, 172, 174 located at a midsection or a forward end of the load bed 113 and
having the weight
of the bales disposed thereon. As bale discharge control mechanism discharges
the bales towards
that ground surface 128 by a predetermined distance, a trailing end of a bale,
near the front side
117 of the load bed 113, moves over and past the sensing plate 170. When the
sensing plate 170
pops up, upon the release of the weight of the bale, a switch, associated with
the sensing plate
170, send a signal to the bale discharge controller 1114 indicating that the
bale have moved the
predetermined distance along the load bed 113. This predetermined distance
corresponds to a time
when the bales first contact or are just about to contact the ground surface
128.
The sensing plate 170 is preferably the same sensing plate used for other bale
positioning
functions. In this case, the signal generated by the switch is interpreted
differently by the
controller depending on the present mode of operation of the accumulator 100.
For example, the
signal provides a bale capacity indication when the load bed 113 is in the
bale receiving position
and provides the function for the bale position sensor 170 for the bale speed
discharge control
apparatus when the load bed 113 is moved from the bale receiving position
towards the bale
discharging position. A load bed position sensor 1107, shown in FIG. 124,
provides the
controller with the input signal for the controller to determine how to
interpret the signal from the
switch as the sensing plate 170 moves. Alternatively the sensing plate may be
a separate plate
dedicated to this function.
Alternatively, the bale position sensor may be implemented by the bale
discharge controller
1114 receiving feedback from the bale engagement mechanism 1106. In this case
the bale
discharge controller 1114 tracks the number of turns, for example, that the
bale engagement
mechanism 1106 makes while controlling the discharge of the bales to the
ground surface 128.
When the number of turns equals a predetermined number of turns, the bale
discharge controller
1114 knows that the bales have been discharged from the load bed 113 by a
corresponding
predetermined distance towards the ground surface 128.
In the preferred embodiment of the bale speed control module, the bales are
first permitted
to freely slide towards the bale engagement mechanism 1106 located at the
rearward 119 end of
the load bed 113 responsive to the load bed 113 pivoting from the bale
receiving position to the
bale discharging position. The bale engagement mechanism 1106 causes a leading
end of the
bales to stop sliding when they reach the bale engagement mechanism 1106. This
operation
advantageously permits the leading end of the bales to align with each other
at the rearward end of
the load bed 113. Then, as the load bed 113 continues to pivot towards the
bale discharging
position, the bale engagement mechanism 1106 engages the bales and begins to
control the
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discharge of the bales from the load bed 113. At this point, the bale
engagement mechanism 1106
is not yet discharging the bales at the rate of speed of the accumulator's
forward traveling
distance. As the load bed 113 continues to pivot towards the bale discharging
position and as the
bale speed controller 1114 drives the bale engagement mechanism 1106 to
discharge the bales
from the load bed 113 at a nominal speed, the bale discharge controller 1114
is monitoring the
location of the leading end of the bales, relative to the ground surface 128,
via the bale position
sensor 170. When the bale position sensor 170 indicates that the leading end
of the bales first
contact or are about to first contact the ground surface 128, the bale
discharge controller 1114
increases the speed of the bale engagement mechanism 1106 to discharge the
bales from a
rearward side of the load bed 113 in a rearward direction 222 at substantially
the same speed at
which the accumulator 100 is traveling across the ground surface 128 in the
forward direction
221. Alternatively, when the bale position sensor 170 indicates that the
leading end of the bales
first contact or are about to first contact the ground surface 128, the bale
discharge controller 1114
permits the bale engagement mechanism 1106 to move freely, without control, in
the rearward
bale traveling direction 222 caused by the movement of the bales across the
bale engagement
mechanism 1106.
Note that the controlled discharge of the bales does not necessarily imply
that the
controlling operation is time consuming and inconvenient for an operator of
the accumulator 100.
On the contrary, the controlled discharge of the bales is preferably designed
to happen relatively
quickly, within a manner several seconds of time, to complete the entire bale
speed discharge
control operation. Hence, the bales are advantageously discharged to the
ground surface 128 in
such a manner as to maintain a neat and orderly arrangement of the accumulated
bale and/or to
prevent damage to the bales upon discharge while not slowing down the bale
accumulation
operation.
In the preferred embodiment, the bale discharge controller 1114 decreases the
rate of speed
at which the plurality of bales, accumulated on the load bed 113, are
discharged from the load bed
113 to the ground surface 128 by applying a negative force on the plurality of
bales accumulated
on the load bed 113 which opposes at least a portion of the gravitational
force acting on the
plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed 113. Likewise, the bale
discharge controller 1114
increases the rate of speed at which the plurality of bales, accumulated on
the load bed 113, are
discharged from the load bed 113 to the ground surface 128 by applying a
positive force on the
plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed 113 which aids the
gravitational force acting on the
plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed 113.
In the preferred embodiment, the bale engagement mechanism 1106 is implemented
as a
cylinder 1108 having friction providing means. The cylinder 1108 has a
circumferencial surface
and has an axis of rotation. The cylinder 1108 is disposed substantially
coplanar with the load
bed 113 and positioned at a side of the load bed 113 where the plurality of
bales accumulated on
the load bed 113 are to be discharged, such as ,for example, the rearward side
119 of the load bed
113. The friction providing means provides friction between the cylinder and
the bales
accumulated on the load bed 113 as the bales accumulated on the load bed 113
are discharged
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from the load bed 113 to the ground surface 12$. The bale discharge controller
1114 is coupled to
the cylinder 1108 and controls a rotation of the cylinder 1108 about the axis
of rotation to permit
the rotation of the cylinder 1108 and the friction providing means to control
the rate of speed at
which the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed 113 are discharged
from the load bed 113
S to the ground surface 128. Preferably, the friction providing means is
provided by a plurality of
spikes disposed on the circumferencial surface of the cylinder and projecting
radially outward
from the axis of rotation of the cylinder.
In the preferred embodiment, the speed sensing mechanism 1112 and the bale
discharge
controller 1114 are implemented mechanically, as shown in FIGs. 123 and 124,
and generally
referred to as reference number 1110. The speed sensing mechanism is
implemented as a spiked
ground engaging wheel 1112 and the bale discharge controller 1114 is
implemented as a gear box
1114. In operation, the spiked ground engaging wheel 1112 contacts the ground
surface 128
when the load bed 113 is moved to the bale discharging position relative the
main frame 120. As
the accumulator 100 travels in a forward direction 221 across the field 1135
with the load bed 113
in the bale discharging position, the spiked ground engaging wheel 1112
rotates in a forward
rotating direction, as indicated. The gear box 1114 translates the forward
rotating direction of the
spiked ground engaging wheel 1112 into a reverse rotating direction to drive
the bale engagement
mechanism 1106, as indicated. The gear box 1114 also manages the varying speed
of the bale
engagement mechanism 1106 responsive to the position of the bales on the load
bed 113, .relative
to the ground surface 128, and the inclined position of the load bed 113,
relative to the frame 120,
as described hereinabove.
In the preferred embodiment, the bale speed discharge control module 1106 is
advantageously used in combination with the stacking module 332, as described
herein to permit
the stacks of bales accumulated on a single load bed 113 to be discharged from
the single load bed
to the ground surface 128 in such a manner that the bales remain in a neat and
orderly stacked
arrangement after being discharged to the ground surface 128, or to permit the
bales accumulated
on multiple load beds to be discharged from the multiple load beds to the
ground surface 128 in
such a manner so as to form stacks of bales, having a neat and orderly
arrangement, on the
ground surface 128. Alternatively, the bale speed discharge control module
1106 may also be
advantageously used without the bale stacking module 332 when only a single
layer of bales are
accumulated and discharged. The bale speed discharge control module is
advantageously used in
the single layer of bales situation to cause a rearward end of each of the
bales to align with each
other prior to discharging the bales to the ground surface 128 and to
discharge the bales so as not
to damage the bales. In both the bale stacking situation and the single layer
of bales situation, the
bale speed discharge control module advantageously provides a rearward end of
the discharged
bales with a relatively soft landing when they are discharged to the ground
surface 128.
XII. Field Location Control Module
FIGs. 125 and 126 illustrate a field location control module. FIGs. 125 and
126 illustrate
flowcharts describing a method to be performed by the accumulator 100,
represented in FIG. 128,
when traveling across a field 1135 shown in FIG. 127.
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A. General Field Location Control Method
FIG. 125 illustrates a flowchart 1115 describing a general field location
control method for
controlling operations, such as bale accumulation and/or bale discharge
functions, of an
accumulator 100 responsive to a location of the accumulator 100 in a field
1135.
At step 116, the method starts. At step 117, a location of the accumulator 100
located in a
field 1135 is determined. At step 118, the accumulator 100 is operated
responsive to the location
of the accumulator 100 in the field 1135. The field 1135 is defined herein,
for example, as a
ground surface 128 of earth having crop material thereon to be harvested.
In the preferred embodiment of the field location control method, the
operation of the
accumulator 100 includes bale accumulation and/or bale discharge operations of
the accumulator
100. In one embodiment of the field location control method, the accumulator
100 discharges the
plurality of bales received and accumulated by the accumulator 100 to a ground
surface 128 of the
field 1135 responsive to the location of the accumulator 100 in the field
1135.
In the preferred embodiment of the field location control method, the location
of the
accumulator 100 in the field 1135, at step 1117, is determined by receiving a
plurality of input
signals transmitted by a plurality of satellites located around earth and
processing the plurality of
input signals to produce a location signal indicative of the location of the
accumulator 100 in the
field 1135. At least three signals are typically needed to produce the
location signal. In the case of
the accumulator's bale accumulation or bale discharging operation, the bale
accumulation or
discharge operation is responsive to the location signal determined by this
method.
Alternatively, the location of the accumulator 100 in the field 1135, at step
1117, is
determined by receiving an initialization signal indicative of a starting
location 1148 of the
accumulator 100 in the field 1135, receiving an input signal from a compass,
determining a
distance traveled by the agricultural bale accumulator in the field 1135, and
processing the
initialization signal, the input signal from the compass and the distance
traveled by the accumulator
100 in the field 1135 to produce a location signal indicative of the location
of the agricultural bale
accumulator in the field 1135. In the case of the accumulator's bale
accumulation or bale
discharging operation, the bale accumulation or discharge operation is
responsive to the location
signal determined by this method.
B . Field Location Control Discharge Method
FIG. 126 illustrates a flowchart 1118 describing a particular field location
control method
for the general field location control method described in FIG. 125 to
automatically control bale
discharge functions of an accumulator 100 responsive to the location of the
accumulator 100 in the
field 1135. FIG. 127 illustrates, in an aerial view, a field 1135 showing a
path of travel of an
agricultural bale accumulator 100 across the field 1135 while performing the
field location control
methods described in FIGs. 126 and 127 and showing predetermined bale
discharge zones 1184
in the field 1135.
In FIG. 126, the method starts at step 1119.
Next, at step 1120, a plurality of bales are received and accumulated on the
accumulator
100, as described herein.
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Next, at step 1121, a present number of bales received and accumulated on the
accumulator 100 is determined.
Next, at step 1122, a past distance traveled by the accumulator 100 in the
field 1135 is
determined while the present number of bales were received and accumulated on
the accumulator
100.
Next, at step 1123, an average number of bales received and accumulated on the
accumulator 100 over the past distance traveled by the accumulator 100 in the
field 1135 is
determined responsive to the present number of bales received and accumulated
on the
accumulator 100, determined at step 1121, and the past distance traveled by
the accumulator 100
in the field 1135, determined at step 1122. Hence, the accumulator 100 now
knows about how
many complete bales are being accumulated per the distance traveled by the
accumulator across the
field 1135.
At step 1124, a determination is made whether the present number of bales
received and
accumulated on the accumulator 100 is substantially equal to or less than a
predetermined bale
accumulating capacity of the accumulator 100. If the determination at step
1124 is positive, the
method continues to step 1133. If the determination at step 1124 is negative,
the method
continues to step 1125. The predetermined bale accumulating capacity of the
accumulator 100
may be either fixed or variable and either predetermined or dynamically
determined, as described
hereinabove with the bale arrangement control module 830.
Language used herein, such as, "substantially" with step 1124 incorporates a
calculation
that even though the accumulator 100 may not be exactly filled to its
capacity, it is close enough.
Close enough may mean, for example, that the accumulator 100 is over half way
filled to its
capacity, or it may mean that it is over ninety percent filled to its
capacity. Such tolerances, are
incorporated into the determination of whether the accumulator 100 has reached
its maximum bale
accumulating capacity. The tolerance may be incorporated by varying what the
accumulator 100 is
instructed as its maximum bale accumulating capacity regardless of its actual
physical bale
accumulating capacity available. Depending on various considerations for
determining whether
the accumulator 100 has reached its maximum bale accumulating capacity, the
tolerances may vary
during the operation of the accumulator 100. Such considerations may be the
same or similar to
those considerations used for the determination of the bale discharge zones
1184 described
hereinbelow.
Continuing at step 1133, a determination is made whether the accumulator 100
is located
in (or has recently passed through) a bale discharge zone 1184 located in the
field 1135 responsive
to a determination of the location of the accumulator 100 in the field 1135.
If the determination at
step 1133 is positive, the method continues to step 1134. If the determination
at step 1133 is
negative, the method continues to step 1170. Hence, the accumulator 100,
having its bale
accumulating capacity filled up, now needs to decide when, where and how many
bales to
discharge from the accumulator 100 responsive to the location of the
accumulator 100 in the field
1135 relative to the bale discharge zones 1184.
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The bale discharge zones 1184 may be either fixed or variable and either
predetermined or
dynamically determined. In the preferred embodiment of the field location
control module 1115,
the bale discharge zones 1184 are predetermined by an operator of the
accumulator 100. In typical
global positioning satellite (GPS) farming systems, an operator maps out field
parameters and
boundaries in advance, then downloads the electronic map of the field 1135
into a control module
carried with the agricultural equipment. In the preferred embodiment of the
field location control
module 1115, the operator of the accumulator 100 downloads the electronic map
of the desired
field 1135 into a memory unit, such as that provided with the controller 1154
shown in FIG. 128,
associated with the accumulator 100. The operator manually creates the bale
discharge zones
1184 on the electronic map either before or after the electronic map is
downloaded into the
memory unit. For example, to create the bale discharge zones 1184 on the
electronic map, the
operator uses the user interface module 1155 by inputting a few commands to
the bale discharge
zones 1184 via the keypad 1156, a touchscreen display 1157, voice recognition,
or the like.
Preferably, the bale discharge zones 1184 correspond to convenient locations
for the
discharged bales to be retrieved by a loader for loading onto a semi trailer.
Other considerations
for determining the bale discharge zones 1184 may include, for example and
without limitation,
the contour of the field 1135, the length 1140 and the width 1142 and 1144 of
the field 1135, a
distance 1146 between bale discharge zones 1184, a path 1137 traveled by the
accumulator 100, a
distance 1138 between adjacent paths traversed by the accumulator indicating a
distance between
windrows, for example, starting 1148 and ending 1150 locations of the
accumulator 100 in the
field 1135, the number of loaders available for retrieving and loading the
discharged bales, the
shape of the perimeter of the field 1135, the bale accumulating capacity of
the accumulator 100,
the pulling capacity of the tractor pulling the baler in tandem with the
accumulator 100, the
location of public or private access roads 1180 adjacent to the field 1135,
the location of a bale
storage facility 1182 located adjacent to the field 1135, to name just a few.
Moreover, the bale
discharge zones 1184 may have, without limitation, any number of locations in
the field 1135,
any size or shape 1136, discrete or continuous patterns, and be located in any
location in the field
1135, for example. Preferably, the bale discharge zones 1184 are continuous,
have a constant
width, are located on each side of the field 1135, follow the side of the
field 1135 as it broadens
or narrows, are located near the public or private access road 1180 and near
the bale storage
facility 1182, as shown in FIG. 127, for example.
Continuing at step 1134, all of the present number of bales received and
accumulated on
the accumulator 100 are discharged from the accumulator 100 to the ground
surface 128 in (or
near) the present predetermined bale discharge zone. After step 1134, the
method continues by
returning to step 1120 to receive and accumulate more bales on the accumulator
100. Hence, the
accumulator 100, having its bale accumulating capacity filled up and being
located in a
predetermined bale discharge zone, discharges all of the accumulated bales for
convenient retrieval
by the loader. The situation, at step 1134, represents a best case scenario of
efficient farming
operations which is a full accumulator 100 and all the bales being discharged
in the bale discharge
zone. Language used herein, such as, "in or recently passed through" with step
1133 and "in or
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near'' in step 1134 incorporates that calculation that even though the
accumulator 100 may not be
exactly in the bale discharge zone, as predetermined, it is close enough.
Close enough, in FIG.
127, means that the accumulator 100 is closer to the bale discharge zone 1184
on one side of the
field 1135 than the bale discharge zone 1184 on the other side of the field
1135 (i.e. less than half
way to the next bale discharge zone). Such tolerances, are incorporated into
the determination of
the bale discharge zones 1184. Depending on the considerations mentioned
herein for
determining the bale discharge zones 1184, the tolerances may vary across the
field 1135. Similar
tolerances are also applied to step 1125.
Continuing at step 1170, some of the present number of bales received and
accumulated
on the accumulator 100 are discharged to the ground surface 128 prior to
reaching a next
predetermined bale discharge zone 1184 to be reached by the accumulator 100 as
the accumulator
100 travels a remaining distance from a present location of the accumulator
100 in the field 1135
to the next predetermined bale discharge zone 1184 responsive to the location
of the accumulator
100 in the field 1135 and a location of the next predetermined bale discharge
zone. After step
1170, the method continues by returning to step 1120 to receive and accumulate
more bales on the
accumulator 100. In the preferred embodiment of the field location control
module 1115, step
1170 is implemented as steps 1171, 1172 and 1173. Hence, the accumulator,
having is bale
accumulating capacity filled up and not be located in or near a bale discharge
zone, does the next
best thing which is discharging a minimum number of bales on the way to the
next bale discharge
zone. In this case, a loader and/ or semi trailer will still need to go into
the field 1135 to retrieve
the minimum number of bales discharged. However, this is better than going out
to retrieve all of
the bales from a full discharge of the accumulator 100, especially, when there
are only a few bales
and the loader can carry several bales at one time back to the semi trailer.
The minimum bales are
preferably discharged one at a time, but may be discharged several at a time,
such as when stacks
of bales are formed. The bales are preferably discharged one at a time by
letting the last received
bale be pushed off the accumulator 100 by the next successive bale to be
received by the
accumulator 100. This push operation can even be performed with the bale
stacking module using
one table, disclosed hereinabove, by not stacking the bales or by keeping a
previously received
bale in a raised or lowered position while the last received bale, coplanar
with the load bed, is
pushed off the load bed.
Continuing within step 1170, at step 1171, the remaining distance between the
present
location of the accumulator 100 in the field 1135 and the next predetermined
bale discharge zone
1184 in the field 1135 to be reached by the accumulator 100 is determined
responsive to the
location of the accumulator 100 in the field 1135 and the location of the next
predetermined bale
discharge zone 1184 in the field 1135. Hence, the accumulator 100 is now
calculating how much
farther it must go before it can relieve its full capacity in the next bale
discharge zone.
At step 1172, a future number of bales to be received and accumulated on the
accumulator
100 over the remaining distance between the present location of the
accumulator 100 in the field
1135 and the next predetermined bale discharge zone 1184 to be reached by the
accumulator 100
is estimated responsive to the average number of bales received and
accumulated on the
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accumulator 100 over the past distance traveled by the accumulator 100 in the
field 1135 and the
remaining distance between the present location of the accumulator 100 in the
field 1135 and the
next predetermined bale discharge zone. Hence, the accumulator 100 is now
calculating how
many more bales it will probably accumulate before it can relieve its full
capacity bale discharge
zone.
At step 1173, the estimated future number of bales to be received and
accumulated on the
accumulator 100 are discharged from the load bed 113 to a ground surface 128
prior to reaching
the next predetermined bale discharge zone 1184 as the accumulator 100 travels
the remaining
distance from the present location of the accumulator 100 in the field 1135 to
the next
predetermined bale discharge zone. After step 1174, the method continues by
returning to step
1120 to receive and accumulate more bales on the accumulator 100. Hence, the
accumulator 100 is
now discharging the estimated number of bales it will probably accumulate
before it can relieve its
full capacity bale discharge zone. This estimation is helpful for the
accumulator 100 whether to
discharge the bales one at a time or in stacks, for example, to provide a
convenient arrangement
for the loader to pick up. A preferred arrangement of bales discharged to the
ground can
significantly reduce the amount of time the loader needs to retrieve the
partial discharge of bales.
Returning to step 1124, if the determination at step 1124 is negative, the
method continues
to step 1125. At step 1125, a determination is made whether the accumulator
100 is located in (or
has recently passed through) a predetermined bale discharge zone 1184 located
in the field 1135
responsive to a determination of the location of the accumulator 100 in the
field 1135. If the
determination at step 1125 is negative, the method continues to step 1120 to
receive and
accumulate more bales on the accumulator 100. Hence, the accumulator 100, not
having its bale
accumulating capacity filled and not being located in a bale discharge zone,
continues on to receive
and accumulate bales.
If the determination at step 1125 is positive, the method continues to step
1126. At step
1126, a determination is made whether the accumulator 100 should discharge the
present bales
accumulated on the accumulator 100 in the present predetermined bale discharge
zone 1184 as
opposed to continuing to accumulate future bales for discharge at the next
predetermined bale
discharge zone. In the preferred embodiment of the field location control
module 1115, step 1126
is implemented as steps 1127,,1128, 1129 and 1131. Hence, the accumulator 100,
not having its
bale accumulating capacity filled but now being located in a bale discharge
zone, now needs to
decide whether to discharge the bales that it has in the present bale
discharge zone 1184 or
whether it can make it to the next bale discharge zone 1184 before maximizing
its bale
accumulating capacity. The accumulator 100 is trying to avoid a situation
where unsuspectingly
passes up an opportunity to discharge the bales it has in a dump zone only to
find itself filled to
capacity far from the next bale discharge zone.
If the determination at step 1126 is positive, the method continues to step
1132. At step
1132, the present bales accumulated on the accumulator 100 are discharged in
the present
predetermined bale discharge zone 1184 from the accumulator 100 to the ground
surface 128 and
the method continues to step 1120 to receive and accumulate more bales on the
accumulator 100.
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If the determination at step 1126 is negative, the method continues to step
1120 to receive and
accumulate more bales on the accumulator 100, without discharging any bales.
Returning to step 1125, if the determination at step 1125 is positive, the
method continues
to step 1127 described first in step 1126.
At step 1127, the present number of bales received and accumulated on the
accumulator
100 are subtracted from the predetermined bale accumulating capacity of the
accumulator 100 to
determine the remaining number of bales that the accumulator 100 can receive
and accumulate
before the predetermined bale accumulating capacity of the accumulator 100
reaches its maximum
limit. Hence, the accumulator 100 has determined the number of open spaces
available for new
bales to be received.
At step 1128, a remaining distance between a present location of the
accumulator 100 in
the field 1135 and the next predetermined bale discharge zone 1184 to be
reached by the
accumulator 100 is determined. Hence, the accumulator 100 has determined how
much farther it
has to travel with only the determined number of open spaces available.
At step 1129, the average number of bales received and accumulated on the
accumulator
100 over the past distance traveled by the accumulator 100 in the field 1135
is multiplied by the
remaining distance between a present location of the accumulator 100 in the
field 1135 and the
next predetermined bale discharge zone 1184 to be reached by the accumulator
100 to determine
the future number of bales that the accumulator 100 can receive and accumulate
before the
accumulator 100 reaches the next predetermined bale discharge zone. Hence, the
accumulator 100
uses its past calculated data to estimate how many more bales the accumulator
100 can expect to
receive before reaching the next bale discharge zone.
At step 1131, a determination is made whether a future number of bales that
the
accumulator 100 can receive and accumulate before the accumulator 100 reaches
the next
predetermined bale discharge zone 1184 is greater than a remaining number of
bales that the
accumulator 100 can receive and accumulate before reaching the predetermined
bale accumulating
capacity of the accumulator 100. Hence, the accumulator 100 compare its
determined number of
open spaces available for additional bales to be received to its estimate of
how many more bales
the accumulator 100 can expect to receive before reaching the next bale
discharge zone 1184 to
determine if it has enough bale accumulating capacity available to accumulate
the estimated number
of bales it expects to receive.
If the determination at step 1131 is positive, the method continues to step
1132. At step
1132, the present bales accumulated on the accumulator 100 are discharged in
the present
predetermined bale discharge zone 1184 from the accumulator 100 to the ground
surface 128.
Hence, the accumulator 100 decides that it does not have enough capacity to
accumulate the
estimated number of bale to be received before reaching the next dump zone and
that it is better to
discharge the partially filled accumulator 100 in the present bale discharge
zone.
If the determination at step 1131 is negative, the method continues to step
1120 to receive
and accumulate more bales on the accumulator 100. Hence, the accumulator
decides that it does
have enough capacity to accumulate the estimated number of bale to be received
before reaching
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the next dump zone and that it is better to continue to accumulate more bales
to discharge a larger
number of bales at the next bale discharge zone.
The flowcharts 1115 and 1118 are provided by example only and are not meant to
be
limiting. Various modifications to the flowcharts can be made within the scope
of the present
invention. For example, a manual override to provide instant discharge can
also be provided.
Further, all of the steps to not need to be implemented to provide for simpler
operation.
The field location control method, as described in FIG. 1118, advantageously
decides
when and where to discharge the accumulated bales so that the operator does
not have to decide.
Therefore, the field location control method greatly reduces a burden on the
operator to
continuously monitor the accumulation operation relative to a location of the
accumulator 100 in
the field 1135, as well as other considerations mentioned herein above, in
order to manually
discharge the bales at the desired locations. Alternatively, on the other end
of the spectrum when
the bales are automatically discharged only when the accumulator 100 is
filled, the field location
control method provides intelligent discharge of the bales to avoid the
discharge of the bales at
inappropriate locations in the field 1135.
The description of the field location control module provides an excellent
example of an
environment in which the accumulator 100 can utilize the various modules
disclosed herein. For
example, the accumulator 100 advantageously uses the load bed extension module
120 and the
bale stacking module 332 to increase its bale accumulating capacity in order
to have greater
flexibility of how to accumulate as well as how and when to discharge the
bales relative to the bale
discharge zones 1184 in the field 1135, as used in step 1124 of FIG. 126, for
example. The bale
arrangement control module 830 advantageously permits various dynamic bale
arrangement
responsive to various input conditions, including the location of the
accumulator 100 in the field
1135, as used in step 1120 of FIG. 126, for example. The bale advancement
module 798
advantageously advances fully formed bales onto the accumulator 100 ahead of a
next successive
bale to be received to permit the accumulator 100 to have enough time to
handle the received bale,
such as to form the stacks of bales, without interfering with or without
interference from the next
successive bale, as used in step 1120, for example. The bale stabilization
module 899,
advantageously automatically stabilizes the dynamic arrangement of bales
responsive to the
location of the accumulator 100 in the field 1135, for example, and as used in
step 1120 of FIG.
126, for example. The permissive bale discharge module 1052 advantageously
permits the bale
on the bale receiving portion of the load bed to be discharged, when desired,
to free up additional
bale accumulation capacity on the accumulator 100 when the bales are
discharged from the
accumulator 100, as used in steps 1173, 1134 and 1132 of FIG. 126, for
example. The selective
bale discharge control module 1093 advantageously permits the bales on at
least one of the bale
receiving portion of the load bed and the bale accumulating portion of the
load bed to be
discharged, as used in steps 1173, 1134 and 1132 of FIG. 126, for example. The
bale speed
discharge control module 1106 advantageously controls the discharge of the
bales, accumulated
on the load bed, to the ground surface 128 responsive to the forward traveling
speed of the
accumulator 100, as used in steps 1173, 1134 and 1132 of FIG. 126, for
example. And, of
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course, the field location control module 1115 utilizes, a GPS received
signal, for example, to
optimize the bale accumulating and bale discharging operations of the
accumulator 100 having one
or more of these modules and other modules, such as the bale transfer module
186, the bale
discharge module 190, the base module 112, the baler interface module 1163,
the tractor interface
module 1164, the real time clock module 1165 and the user interface module
1115.
C . Field Location Control Apparatus
The field position location control apparatus comprises a field position
locator and a
controller 1154. The field position locator generates a location signal
indicative of a location of
the accumulator 100 in a field 1135. The controller 1154 controls an operation
of the accumulator
100 responsive to receiving determined the location signal.
The field position locator is preferably implemented as a Global Positioning
Satellite
(GPS) receiver. The GPS receiver may be mounted on the accumulator 100, on the
baler or on
the tractor. Since manufacturers are already providing GPS receivers on
tractors and balers and
due to the present day cost of the GPS receivers, the GPS receiver of the
field location control
apparatus is preferably the same GPS receiver as that GPS receiver used on
either the baler or the
tractor. In this case, the location signal produced by the GPS receiver is
sent to the controller
1154 on the baler, on the tractor, or on the accumulator 100 to generate
control signals, as
disclosed herein, for the accumulator 100. When the GPS receiver is located on
the baler or the
tractor, the location signal or the control signals from the controller 1154
are sent to the
accumulator 100 via the baler interface module 1163 and the tractor interface
module 1164,
respectively. The controller 1154 is implemented as described in FIG. 128.
Alternatively, the field position locator is a compass and used as, as
described with the
field location control method, hereinabove. The location signal produced the
by the method using
the compass is used in the same manner as the location signal produced by the
GPS receiver. The
method using the compass is advantageous over the GPS receiver because the
compass is less
expensive. However, the method using the compass has the disadvantage that it
is dependent on
the starting point in the field 1135. Whereas, the GPS receiver provides a
location signal
indicative of a definite location of the receiver regardless of the starting
point. Further, advances
in technology is rapidly causing the cost of GPS receiver to decrease.
Operations controlled by the accumulator 100 responsive to the position of the
accumulator
100 in a field 1135 include, for example and without limitation, operations
of: the load bed
extension module 120, the bale stacking module 332, the bale arrangement
control module 830,
the bale advancement module 798, the bale stabilization module 899, the
permissive bale
discharge module 1052, the selective bale discharge control module 1093, the
bale speed
discharge control module 1106, the bale transfer module 186, the bale
discharge module 190, the
base module 112, the baler interface module 1163, the tractor interface module
1164, the real time
clock module 1165, and the user interface module 1115.
XIII. Agricultural Bale Accumulator Block Diagram
FIG. 128 illustrates a block diagram 1152, representing the accumulator 100
and method
therefor shown in FIGs. 1-127 and 129-132,. The block diagram 1152 generally
includes a
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controller having a memory unit, the load bed extension module 102, the bale
stacking module
332, the bale arrangement control module 830, the bale stabilization module
899, the permissive
bale discharge module 1052, the selective bale discharge control module 1093,
the bale speed
discharge control module 1106, the bale advancement module 798, the field
locator module 1115,
the bale discharge module 190, the bale transfer module 186, the base module
112, a baler
interface module 1163, a tractor interface module 1164, a real time clock
module 1165 and a user
interface module 1155. The user interface module 1155 further includes a
keypad 1156, a display
1157, a compact disk or floppy disk drive 1158, visual indicators 1159,
audible indicators 1160,
a computer interface 1161, and an Internet or an intranet interface 1162.
Each of the load bed extension module 102, the bale stacking module 332, the
bale
arrangement control module 830, the bale stabilization module 899, the
permissive bale discharge
module 1052, the selective bale discharge control module 1093, the bale speed
discharge control
module 106, the bale advancement module 798, the field locator module 1115,
the bale discharge
module 190, the bale transfer module 186, and the base module 112 are
implemented as disclosed
herein and each have sensors associated therewith. The sensors provide the
controller 1154 with
information related to locations of bales on the accumulator, locations of
moveable apparatus and
mechanisms associated with the accumulator, characteristics of the bales, such
as length, width,
height, weight, type, moisture content, etc., locations of the accumulator in
the field. The sensors
provide the controller 1154 with information about what is going on with the
accumulator 100 so
that the controller can cause the accumulator to operate appropriately. Some
of the sensors inform
the controller 1154 that an action needs to be or can be taken. Other sensors
provide positive
feedback to the controller 1154 that an action initiated by the controller has
been completed.
The controller 1154 may be implemented electrically, mechanically or a
combination of the
two, since some modules may be implemented more conveniently, less expensively
or more
simply with a particular implementation. Further, the controller 1154,
implemented as an
electrical embodiment, may reside on the accumulator 100, on a baler 101 or on
a tractor, or
partially on any of the three units. In the case of the controller I 154 being
located remotely on the
baler 101 or on the tractor, the accumulator would have an electrical
interface, connected to the
various sensors and control mechanisms, adapted for connection to the remotely
located
controller, via the baler interface module 1163 or the tractor interface
module 1164. Whether the
controller 1154 is located locally on the accumulator 100 or remotely on the
baler 101 or tractor
depends on whether the units are sold together or separately, sold by the same
manufacturer, etc.
The memory unit in the controller 1154, implemented electrically, stores all
of the methods
disclosed as flowcharts herein to control the accumulator 100 as disclosed
herein.
The real time clock module 1165 provide a real time clock signal for the
controller 1154
for use with the modules as described herein. Generally, the real time clock
signal is used by the
controller 1165 to control the timing of the various apparatus and mechanism
of the modules.
The user interface module 1155 is preferably located in a tractor cab for use
by an operator
of the accumulator being towed behind the tractor and baler 101. Preferably,
the user interface
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module 1155 is integrated with other user interfaces that the operator has to
operate and monitor
the tractor and the baler 101.
The keypad 1156 permits a person to enter data into the controller 1154
related to the
operation of the accumulator 100 as disclosed herein. Such data inputs may
include, for example
and without limitation: a particular combination of modules installed on the
accumulator 100, the
desired position of the load bed extension tables of the load bed extension
module 102, the desired
bale arrangement of the bale arrangement control module 830, the range of
leveling positions or
the lateral bale stabilization operation of the bale stabilization module 899,
a desired control of the
selective bale discharge module 1093, an adjustment of bale speed upon
discharge of the bale
speed discharge control module 1106, the adjustment of the first predetermined
position or the
second predetermined positions, or the speed of bale advancement of the bale
advancement
module 798, and the desired bale discharge zones of the field location control
module 1115.
The display 1157 permits a person to receive data produced by the controller
1154 related
to the operation of the accumulator 100 as disclosed herein. Such provided
data may include, for
example and without limitation: a particular combination of modules installed
on the accumulator
100, a graphic or numeric depiction of a position of the load bed extension
tables of the load bed
extension module 102, a graphic or numeric depiction of the bale arrangement
of the bale
arrangement control module 830, a graphic or numeric depiction of leveling
positions or the lateral
bale stabilization operation of the bale stabilization module 899, a graphic
or numeric depiction of
the control of the selective bale discharge module 1093, a graphic or numeric
depiction of the
speed at which the bales are discharged of discharge of the bale speed
discharge control module
1106, a graphic or numeric depiction of the adjustment of the first
predetermined position or the
second predetermined positions, or the speed of bale advancement of the bale
advancement
module 798, and a graphic or numeric depiction of the desired bale discharge
zones and the bale
being discharged therein of the field location control module 1115. Such
graphic depiction's may
be similar to any of the various figures disclosed herein which illustrate, by
example and without
limitation, the operation of the accumulator 100, the locations of the bales,
sequence of bale
handling operations, location of the accumulator 100 in the field, etc.
The compact disk or floppy disk drive 1158 permits a person to manually
transfer data
between the controller 1154 and a remote controller located, for example, in a
personal computer.
The visual indicators 1159, implemented as lights, and the audible indicators
1160,
implemented as a speaker or a horn, provides a person with visual and audible
sensory alerts,
alarms, indications, prompts, messages, etc., while operating the accumulator
100.
The computer interface 1161, implemented as a direct line connection or a
radio frequency
connection, permits a transfer data between the controller 1154 and a remote
site such as a remote
controller located, for example, in a personal computer. The transfer may be
initiated manually or
may be automatic. In the preferred embodiment, the computer interface 1161 is
the radio
frequency connection and is implemented with a radio communication device and
a radio
frequency modem. The radio communication device is a cellular telephone, for
example,
compatible with the modem. The radio frequency connection is a powerful
interface because it
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permits information related to the operation of the accumulator 100, the baler
101, the tractor, or
any other type of agricultural equipment to transmit to a remote site and
receive from remote site
real time data related to the operation of the agricultural equipment. Such
data may be transferred
to a person's remote personal computer, for example, for real time input and
analyzing. Such data
may include, for example and without limitation, equipment status, maintenance
and operation,
field preparation, crop planting, crop maintenance and crop harvesting
information. In particular,
information related to the accumulator 100 includes, for example and without
limitation, bale
yield, characteristics of the bales, such as length, width, height, weight,
type, moisture content,
etc., and locations of the accumulator and distance traveled by the
accumulator in the field. The
radio frequency connection is also be used for emergency or maintenance
purposes to alert a
person or a computer at a remote site that the operator of the agricultural
equipment or the
agricultural equipment itself needs assistance. The data received via the
radio frequency
connection is sent by a person or remote computer that is analyzing the real
time operation of the
agricultural equipment and is providing feedback to the agricultural equipment
for appropriate
corrections, if needed, either manually by the operator of the agricultural
equipment or
automatically by the agricultural equipment itself.
The Internet or the intranet interface 1162 permits an operator of
agricultural equipment,
such as the accumulator 100, the baler 101 or the tractor, for example, to
have access to an
intranet or the Internet. The Internet or the intranet interface 1162, is
implemented with the radio
frequency connection, as described hereinabove and appropriate browsing
software to access the
Internet or the intranet. Recently, the Internet has quickly gained acceptance
as a device for
searching and retrieving information. Further, the Internet is rapidly
expanding into a multitude of
applications including, for example and without limitation, electronic
commerce, multimedia,
voice communications, to name a few. The agricultural equipment uses, either
manually by the
operator of the agricultural equipment or automatically by the agricultural
equipment itself, the
Internet interface to transmit data to a remote Internet site or receive data
from the remote Internet
site. Such data includes, for example and without limitation, any of the
information disclosed
herein.
XIV. Bale Accumulator Having A Combination Of Modules
FIGs. 129-132 illustrate the accumulator 100 including an embodiment of each
of the
abovementioned modules. FIG. 129 illustrates, in a rear side elevation view,
an agricultural bale
accumulator having a preferred combination of each of the modules disclosed
herein. FIG. 130
illustrates, in a right side elevation view, the agricultural bale accumulator
shown in FIG. 129,
wherein a load bed of the agricultural bale accumulator is located in a bale
receiving and
accumulating position relative to a main frame. FIG. 131 illustrates, in a top
side plan view, the
agricultural bale accumulator shown in FIGs. 129 and 130. FIG. 132
illustrates, in a right side
elevation view, the agricultural bale accumulator shown in FIGs. 129 = 131,
wherein the load bed
is located in a bale discharging position relative to the main frame to permit
bales accumulated on
the load bed to be discharged to a ground surface.
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It should be evident from the present disclosure that there is a very I-arge
number ways that the
modules and their various embodiments, disclosed herein, can be combined to
produce
accumulators of varying types. The method and the apparatus of each of
modules, including the
various particular embodiments thereof, have particular advantages and
disadvantages associated
therewith depending on the desired objectives for accumulator. It is important
to state that
anything disclosed herein is intended to be used individually or in
combination with anything else
disclosed herein to produce an accumulator having any desired combination of
things, even
though a particular desired combination is not expressly described herein.
This statement
provides notice that any and all combinations of anything disclosed herein is
anticipated by and
implicitly disclosed by the present applicants. Given number of ideas and
amount of information
disclosed herein, it would simply not be practical to provide such an
exhausting and endless
disclosure to explicitly disclose each and every combination of the ideas
disclosed herein. Such
combinations include for example and without limitation, combinations of the
method and the
apparatus of each of modules, including the various particular embodiments
thereof, disclosed
herein.
In each of the embodiments disclosed herein, the bales are preferably received
directly
from the baler 101 in a bale receiving direction 222 opposite to the
accumulator and baler traveling
direction 221. Alternatively, the bales may be picked up off the ground after
the bales have been
deposited on the ground by the bale l Or. Further, the bales may be received
from the baler 101 or
picked up off the ground along any axis, and not necessarily limited to an
axis corresponding to
an axis formed by the direction of travel of the accumulator.
Each of the modules disclosed herein is intended to be attachable to and
detachable from
the agricultural bale accumulator independently of any other module on the
agricultural bale
accumulator. A modular assembly of the accumulator permits a manufacturer to
produce a
common accumulator platform adaptable to receive the modules order by a
customer to meet the
customers particular needs without overburdening the manufacturer. Moreover,
such a modular
assembly also permits a customer to upgrade the accumulator's capabilities as
the customer's
needs change over time. However, a modular assembly is not intended to be
limiting. An
accumulator may be made having one or more of the modules where in the modules
are integrated
and not intended to be upgraded, mixed and matched, custom ordered, or the
like. Business
decisions will determine whether the modules will be attachable to and
detachable from the
accumulator or integrated with the accumulator.
Therefore, while the present invention has been described with reference to
various
illustrative embodiments thereof, the present invention is not intended to be
limited to these
specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations
and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set
forth in the appended
claims.
Moreover, in the specification and in the claims, the terms "comprises",
"comprising",
"includes", "including", "including, at least" or any other variation thereof,
are intended to be
interpreted as a non-exclusive inclusion of elements listed after such a term,
such that a description
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or a claim of a method or apparatus using such a term that recites a number of
elements after the
term not only includes solely those elements listed, but also may include
other elements not listed.
Hence, such terms shall be interpreted as open ended inclusions.
XV. Industrial Application
The accumulator described herein is particularly suitable for, but not limited
to, use with
the following equipment made by the following manufacturers: Agco: 4910 large
baler and 4755
mid-size baler, GPS receiver system: FIELDSTAR (TM); Case IH: 8575 mid-size
baler and 8500
large baler; GPS receiver system: Advance Farming Systems (AFS) (TM); John
Deere: Baler:
100 Big Square Baler. GPS receiver system: GREENSTAR (TM); New Holland: Baler:
590
and 595.
We claim:
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