Agricultural crop baler with oscillating side walls

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10932415-B2
Application number	US-201816145138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2018
Priority date	Sep 27, 2017
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

In one embodiment, an agricultural crop baler comprising: a supporting frame; a pressing chamber configured to receive a stuffer, the stuffer compressing the crop into the pressing chamber; and at least one positionally adjustable side wall forming part of the pressing chamber, the side wall being supported by the supporting frame and configured to vibrate upon movement of the stuffer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An agricultural crop baler comprising:
a supporting frame;
a pressing chamber configured to receive a stuffer, the stuffer is configured to compress a crop in the pressing chamber; and
at least one positionally adjustable side wall forming part of the pressing chamber, the at least one side wall supported by the supporting frame and configured to vibrate in response to the stuffer compressing the crop.

2. The agricultural crop baler of claim 1 , wherein the at least one side wall includes a tapered portion.

3. The agricultural crop baler of claim 2 ,
wherein the at least one side wall includes a first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall are configured to vibrate in opposing directions.

4. The agricultural crop baler of claim 3 ,
further including a first actuator and a second actuator, the first actuator is configured to adjust a position of at least one of the first side wall or the second side wall, the second actuator is configured to generate vibration of the at least one of the first side wall or the second side wall.

5. The agricultural crop baler of claim 4 ,
wherein the first actuator is coupled to the at least one of the first side wall or the second side wall proximate a rear end of the at least one of the first side wall or the second side wall,
wherein the first actuator is downstream of the second actuator relative to a direction of flow of the crop.

6. The agricultural crop baler of claim 4 , wherein the second actuator includes a mass oscillator and a drive motor.

7. The agricultural crop baler of claim 4 ,
wherein the second actuator has at least one of a variable oscillation frequency or a variable amplitude.

8. The agricultural crop baler of claim 4 ,
further including a control unit coupled to the first actuator, wherein the control unit is configured to control a static pressure of the first actuator.

9. The agricultural crop baler of claim 8 ,
further including a sensor couple to the agricultural crop baler, wherein the control unit controls the first actuator based on at least one of a characteristic of the crop, a signal from the sensor, and a characteristic of the agricultural crop baler.

10. The agricultural crop baler of claim 8 , wherein the control unit controls the first actuator based on real time data including at least one of a pressing force of the stuffer, a throughput of the agricultural crop baler, moisture of the crop, a bale length, a bale weight, a bale density, a twine tension, a traveling speed of a working vehicle, a position of the stuffer, and the static pressure of the first actuator.

11. The agricultural crop baler of claim 9 , wherein the characteristic of the crop includes at least one of moisture of the crop and a type of the crop.

12. The agricultural crop baler of claim 9 , wherein the characteristic of the agricultural crop baler includes predetermined data including at least one of a pressing force of the stuffer, a throughput of the agricultural crop baler, a bale length, a bale weight, a bale density, or a twine tension.

13. The agricultural crop baler of claim 4 ,
further including a control unit coupled to the second actuator, wherein the control unit is configured to control at least one of an oscillation frequency or an amplitude of the second actuator.

14. The agricultural crop baler of claim 13 ,
wherein the control unit controls the second actuator based on at least one of a characteristic of the crop, a signal from a sensor coupled to the agricultural crop baler, and a characteristic of the agricultural crop baler.

15. The agricultural crop baler of claim 14 ,
wherein the characteristic of the crop includes at least one of moisture of the crop and a type of the crop being bailed.

16. The agricultural crop baler of claim 14 , wherein the control unit controls the second actuator based on real time data including at least one of a pressing force of the stuffer, a throughput of the agricultural crop baler, a bale length, a bale weight, a bale density, a twine tension, a traveling speed of a working vehicle, a position of the stuffer, and a static pressure of the first actuator.

17. The agricultural crop baler of claim 14 , wherein the characteristic of the agricultural crop baler includes at least one of a pressing force of the stuffer, a throughput of the agricultural crop baler, a bale length, a bale weight, a bale density, or a twine tension.

18. A method for baling an agricultural crop, the method comprising:
moving an agricultural baler across a crop field, the baler including a supporting frame, a pressing chamber including at least one positionally adjustable side wall and a stuffer;
actuating the stuffer to compress the agricultural crop within the pressing chamber; and
actuating the at least one side wall to vibrate in response to the stuffer compressing the agricultural crop.

19. The method for baling an agricultural crop of claim 18 , further including:
adjusting a position of the at least one side wall using a first actuator; and
generating vibration of the at least one side wall using a second actuator.

20. The method for bailing an agricultural crop of claim 18 , further including actuating the at least one side wall based on at least a characteristic of the agricultural crop, a signal from a sensor coupled to the agricultural crop baler, and a characteristic of the agricultural crop baler.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Gresch Valentin

Classifications

• B30B9/3025

  Extrusion chambers with adjustable outlet opening · CPC title

• A01F15/04 Primary

  Plunger presses · CPC title

• A01F15/046

  with press-boxes · CPC title

• B30B9/3007

  Control arrangements · CPC title

• A01F15/02 Primary

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