Feed system cap for agricultural baler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11064657-B2
Application number	US-201815947529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2018
Priority date	Apr 6, 2018
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

A baler having a frame, a feed system coupled to the frame, a baling chamber for receiving crop from the feed system, and a plunger assembly reciprocally compressing the crop. The baling chamber defines an extrusion axis therethrough. The plunger assembly is at least partially positioned within and movable with respect to the baling chamber. The plunger assembly has at least a first plunger motion aligned with the extrusion axis. The baler also includes a feed system cap having at least a first cap motion aligned with the extrusion axis, the first cap motion being synchronized with the first plunger motion. At least one of the plunger assembly and the feed system cap has a second motion that is not aligned with the extrusion axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A baler comprising:
a frame;
at least one wheel coupled to the frame proximate a bottom of the frame, the at least one wheel configured to provide traction on a support surface;
a feed system coupled to the frame;
a baling chamber for receiving crop from the feed system, the baling chamber defining an extrusion axis therethrough;
a plunger assembly having a plunger configured for reciprocally compressing the crop, the plunger being at least partially positioned within and movable with respect to the baling chamber, the plunger having at least a first plunger motion aligned with the extrusion axis, wherein the plunger defines a bottom half and a top half, the bottom half closer to the at least one wheel than is the top half; and
a feed system cap pivotably coupled to the bottom half of the plunger and having at least a first cap motion aligned with the extrusion axis;
wherein during operation the first cap motion is synchronized with the first plunger motion, and at least one of the plunger and the feed system cap has a second motion that is not aligned with the extrusion axis.

2. The baler of claim 1 , wherein the feed system cap is generally disposed between the feed system and the plunger to inhibit flow of the crop from the feed system to the baling chamber during a compression stroke, wherein the feed system cap is disposed above the feed system and below the plunger.

3. The baler of claim 1 , wherein the feed system includes an opening disposed in an upper region of the feed system, wherein the upper region is defined in a direction away from the support surface, through which the crop passes from the feed system to a bottom of the baling chamber, wherein the bottom of the baling chamber is defined in a direction towards the support surface, and wherein the feed system cap is configured to open and close the opening.

4. The baler of claim 1 , wherein the plunger assembly further includes a crank arm linkage coupled directly to the plunger, wherein the plunger includes a face for engaging and compressing the crop, wherein the feed system cap is pivotally coupled to the plunger at a location defining an articulation axis, wherein the articulation axis is disposed closer to the face than to the crank arm linkage.

5. The baler of claim 1 , wherein the feed system cap is pivotable about an articulation axis for movement with respect to the plunger, wherein the articulation axis is generally perpendicular to the extrusion axis.

6. The baler of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fixed track; and
a roller arm coupled to the feed system cap, the roller arm having a roller coupled thereto, the roller disposed on the fixed track for fore and aft movement relative to the fixed track.

7. The baler of claim 6 , wherein the fixed track is non-linear.

8. The baler of claim 1 , wherein the feed system includes a pre-compression chamber and a fork, wherein the fork is configured to raise the crop into the baling chamber against gravity.

9. A baler comprising:
a frame;
a feed system coupled to the frame;
a baling chamber disposed at least partially above the feed system and configured for receiving crop from the feed system, wherein the feed system is configured to raise the crop directly into the baling chamber above against gravity such that the baling chamber is configured to receive the crop from below; the baling chamber defining an extrusion axis therethrough;
a plunger assembly for compressing the crop, the plunger assembly having a plunger at least partially positioned within and movable with respect to the baling chamber; and
a feed system cap pivotally coupled to the plunger assembly, the feed system cap having a roller moveable along a fixed track;
wherein in operation the plunger is configured to present a first plunger motion aligned with the extrusion axis and a second plunger motion not aligned with the extrusion axis, wherein the second plunger motion proceeds about a pivot axis, and wherein the feed system cap is pivotally coupled to the plunger assembly about an articulation axis coincident with the pivot axis.

10. The baler of claim 9 , wherein the feed system cap includes a roller moveable along a non-linear fixed track.

11. The baler of claim 9 , wherein the feed system cap is generally disposed above an opening in a top of the feed system and below the plunger assembly to inhibit flow of the crop from the feed system to the baling chamber during a compression stroke.

12. The baler of claim 9 , wherein the plunger assembly further includes a crank arm linkage coupled directly to the plunger, wherein the plunger includes a face for engaging and compressing the crop, wherein the feed system cap is pivotally coupled to the plunger at a location defining the articulation axis, wherein the articulation axis is disposed closer to the face than to the crank arm linkage.

13. The baler of claim 9 , wherein the articulation axis is generally perpendicular to the extrusion axis.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Lang Eric R

Classifications

• A01F15/04 Primary

  Plunger presses · CPC title

• A01F15/18

  Endless belts, rolls or the like · CPC title

• A01F2015/102

  the pressing chamber is fed from the bottom side · CPC title

• B30B9/301

  Feed means · CPC title

• A01F15/101 Primary

  Feeding at right angles to the compression stroke (A01F15/106 takes precedence) · CPC title