System and method for recompressing round bales into square bales

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10912258-B2
Application number	US-201816137374-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2018
Priority date	Oct 2, 2017
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

An actuation system for moving a movable platen of a bale recompression system includes one or more actuators, a first scissors linkage, a second scissors linkage and a cross-member. The first scissors linkage has a first link end coupled to a frame of the bale recompression system and has a second link end coupled to the movable platen. The second scissors linkage has a third link end coupled to the frame and has a fourth link end coupled to the movable platen. The cross-member interconnects the first scissors linkage and the second scissors linkage. Actuation of the one or more actuator pivots the first link end of the first scissors linkage and the third link end of the second scissors linkage relative to the frame and translates the movable platen from a first position to a second position. The first scissors linkage and the second scissors linkage are configured to maintain a fixed orientation of the movable platen in the first position and in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An actuation system for moving a movable platen of a bale recompression system, the actuation system comprising:
one or more actuators;
a first scissors linkage having a first link end coupled to a frame of the bale recompression system and having a second link end coupled to the movable platen;
a second scissors linkage having a third link end coupled to the frame and having a fourth link end coupled to the movable platen; and
a cross-member that interconnects the first scissors linkage and the second scissors linkage;
wherein actuation of the one or more actuator pivots the first link end of the first scissors linkage and the third link end of the second scissors linkage relative to the frame and translates the movable platen from a first position to a second position;
wherein the first scissors linkage and the second scissors linkage are configured to maintain a fixed orientation of the movable platen in the first position and in the second position; and
wherein the first scissors linkage includes:
a pair of first links that each define the first link end and are coupled to a first actuator of the one or more actuators, and the pair of first links is coupled to the frame;
a pair of second links coupled to the pair of first links, and the pair of second links is coupled to the cross-member and to a connector link;
a pair of third links coupled to the pair of second links, and each of the pair of third links is coupled to the movable platen;
a pair of fourth links that each define the first link end and is coupled to the first actuator, and the pair of fourth links is coupled to the connector link and to a second cross-member;
a pair of fifth links coupled to the pair of fourth links; and
a pair of sixth links coupled to the pair of fifth links, and each of the pair of sixth links is coupled to the movable platen.

2. The actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the second scissors linkage includes:
a pair of first links that each define the third link end and is coupled to a second actuator of the one or more actuators, and the pair of first links of the second scissors linkage is coupled to the frame;
a pair of second links coupled to the pair of first links of the second scissors linkage, and the pair of second links of the second linkage is coupled to the cross-member and to a second connector link;
a pair of third links coupled to the pair of second links of the second scissors linkage, and each of the pair of third links of the second linkage is coupled to the movable platen;
a pair of fourth links that each define the third link end and is coupled to the second actuator, and the pair of fourth links of the second scissors linkage is coupled to the second connector link and to the second cross-member;
a pair of fifth links coupled to the pair of fourth links of the second scissors linkage; and
a pair of sixth links coupled to the pair of fifth links of the second scissors linkage, and each of the pair of sixth links of the second linkage is coupled to the movable platen.

3. The actuation system of claim 2 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuators are hydraulic cylinders;
wherein the pair of first links of the first scissors linkage is coupled to a first piston of the first actuator and the pair of first links of the second scissors linkage is coupled to a second piston of the second actuator; and
wherein the pair of fourth links of the first scissors linkage is coupled to a first cylinder of the first actuator and the pair of fourth links of the second scissors linkage is coupled to a second cylinder of the second actuator.

4. The actuation system of claim 3 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator pivot the pairs of first links and fourth links of the first scissors linkage and the second scissors linkage relative to the frame.

5. The actuation system of claim 2 , wherein the pairs of third links of the first scissors linkage and the second scissors linkage are coupled to the movable platen at a first pair of laterally spaced apart pivotal mounting locations; and
wherein the pairs of sixth links of the first scissors linkage and the second scissors linkage are coupled to the movable platen at a second pair of laterally spaced apart pivotally mounting locations.

6. The actuation system of claim 5 , wherein the first pair of laterally spaced apart pivotal mounting locations and the second pair of laterally spaced apart pivotal mounting locations are fixed in position relative to the movable platen; and
wherein the first pair of laterally spaced apart pivotal mounting locations is at a different height than the second pair of laterally spaced apart pivotal mounting locations.

7. The actuation system of claim 6 , wherein the first pair of laterally spaced apart pivotal mounting locations is at a lower area of the movable platen and the second pair of laterally spaced apart pivotal mounting locations is at an upper area of the movable platen.

8. A round baler, comprising:
a baling chamber for forming a round bale;
a bale recompression system to receive the round bale and to recompress the round bale into a square bale, the bale recompression system includes an actuation system for moving the movable platen to recompress the round bale; and
a transfer table coupled to the bale recompression system and configured to transfer the round bale to the bale recompression system;
wherein the actuation system includes:
one or more actuators;
a first scissors linkage having a first link end coupled to a frame of the bale recompression system and having a second link end coupled to the movable platen;
a second scissors linkage having a third link end coupled to the frame and having a fourth link end coupled to the movable platen; and
a cross-member that interconnects the first scissors linkage and the second scissors linkage;
wherein actuation of the one or more actuators pivots the first link end of the first scissors linkage and the third link end of the second scissors linkage relative to the frame and translates the movable platen from a first position to a second position; and
wherein the first scissors linkage and the second scissors linkage are configured to maintain a fixed orientation of the movable platen in the first position and in the second position.

9. A method for moving a movable platen of a bale recompression system of a round baler having a baling chamber that forms a round bale, the bale recompression system configured to receive the round bale and to recompress the round bale into a square bale, the bale recompression system including an upper platen, the movable platen and a bottom platen that cooperate to recompress the round bale, and the bale recompression system includes an actuation system for moving the movable platen to recompress the round bale, the method comprising:
actuating, by a first actuator, a first scissors linkage to translate a second link end coupled to a side of the movable platen relative to a first link end coupled to a frame of the bale recompression system; and
actuating, by a second actuator, a second scissors linkage to translate a fourth link end coupled to a second side of the movable platen relative to a third link end coupled to the frame of the bale recompression system;
wherein actuating the first actuator pivots the first link end of the first scissors linkage relative to the frame and actuating the second actuator pivots the third link end of the second scissors linkage relative to the frame and translates the movable platen from a first position to a second position; and
wherein the first scissors linkage and the second scissors linkage are interconnected by a cross-member such that the side and the se

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Kraus Timothy J

Classifications

• B30B9/3057 Primary

  Fluid-driven presses · CPC title

• B30B9/301

  Feed means · CPC title

• A01F15/0833 Primary

  for round balers · CPC title

• A01F15/02

  with press-boxes {(A01F15/046 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B30B9/3082

  with compression means other than rams performing a rectilinear movement · CPC title