System and method for directing a module wrap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11071254-B2
Application number	US-201615214052-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2016
Priority date	Jul 19, 2016
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

A module builder of an agricultural vehicle includes a chamber operable to support and form a product. A wrap is feedable into the chamber through a pinch point, the pinch point partially defined by a rotatable roller. A belt at least partially defines a wrap path. The wrap is configured to move along the wrap path to surround the product in the chamber. A gas flow system and/or a reversing belt is operable to direct the wrap from the pinch point toward the wrap path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A module builder of an agricultural vehicle, the module builder comprising:
a chamber operable to support and form a product;
a wrap feedable into the chamber through a pinch point, the pinch point partially defined by a rotatable roller;
a belt at least partially defining a wrap path, wherein the wrap is configured to move along the wrap path to surround the product in the chamber;
a wrap transfer assembly configured to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the wrap transfer assembly comprises a tray, and wherein, in the engaged position, the tray is spaced apart from the pinch point and is configured to press the wrap into engagement with the belt at a location spaced apart from the pinch point; and
a gas flow system operable to direct the wrap from the pinch point toward the wrap path.

2. The module builder of claim 1 , wherein the gas flow system is a vacuum device, and wherein the vacuum device is operable to adhere the wrap to a portion of the rotatable roller.

3. The module builder of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the vacuum device is contained within the rotatable roller.

4. The module builder of claim 2 , wherein the rotatable roller includes surface apertures in fluid communication with the vacuum device.

5. The module builder of claim 2 , wherein a gas-permeable portion is defined by the belt to provide a flow path between the vacuum device and the chamber.

6. The module builder of claim 1 , wherein the gas flow system includes a nozzle operable to direct a flow of gas toward the wrap.

7. The module builder of claim 6 , further including a vacuum device operable to adhere the wrap to a portion of the rotatable roller.

8. The module builder of claim 6 , wherein the nozzle is in fluid communication with a source of air at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

9. The module builder of claim 1 , wherein the belt is a first belt and wherein the module builder further comprises at least a portion of a second belt, the second belt rotatable about a plurality of rollers to direct the wrap from the pinch point toward the wrap path.

10. The module builder of claim 9 , wherein the second belt is rotatable about the plurality of rollers to direct the wrap through the pinch point.

11. A method of directing the wrap about the product in a chamber of the module builder of claim 1 , the chamber at least partially defined by the belt, the method comprising:
introducing the product into the chamber;
rotating the roller to feed the wrap in a first direction through the pinch point partially defined by the belt; and
actuating the gas flow system to direct the fed wrap in a second direction toward the belt, the second direction different than the first direction.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second direction is greater than 90 degrees away from the first direction.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein actuating the gas flow system includes actuating a vacuum device, at least a portion of which is contained with the roller.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein actuating the gas flow system includes discharging a flow of air from a nozzle in fluid communication with a source of air, the source of air at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein introducing the product into the chamber includes moving a feed belt about a plurality of rollers in a first direction, and wherein the method further includes moving the feed belt about the plurality of rollers in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein a portion of the belt and a portion of the feed belt define the pinch point.

17. An agricultural vehicle having the module builder of claim 1 , the agricultural vehicle comprising:
an accumulator operable to store the product; and
a first belt operable to direct the product from the accumulator to the module builder,
wherein the belt is a second belt operable to direct the product within the module builder;
wherein the wrap is feedable between the pinch point, wherein the pinch point is further defined by the first belt and the second belt, and
wherein the first belt is configured to move the wrap through the pinch point in a direction away from the second belt in a first mode of operation and is configured to move the wrap toward the second belt in a second mode of operation.

18. The module builder of claim 17 , wherein the second belt is positioned to cooperate with the first belt to move the wrap through the pinch point in the first mode of operation.

19. The agricultural vehicle of claim 17 , wherein in the second mode of operation, the first belt is operable to direct product from the accumulator to the module builder.

20. A module builder of an agricultural vehicle, the module builder configured to receive product at an inlet of the module builder via a feed belt at least partially defined by a first roller, the module builder comprising:
a chamber operable to support and form a product;
a wrap feedable into the chamber through a pinch point, the pinch point defined by the first roller and a second roller and distinct from the inlet of the module builder;
a belt at least partially defining a wrap path, wherein the wrap is configured to move around the second roller and along the wrap path to surround the product in the chamber; and
a gas flow system operable to direct the wrap from the pinch point toward the wrap path.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Noonan James T
• Goering Kevin J
• Cracraft Mark A
• Ackerman Nile T
• Hummel Justin E
• Wigdahl Jeffrey S
• Blad Robert C

Classifications

• A01D46/08

  of cotton · CPC title

• A01F2015/0755

  Configuration of support surfaces which can move in order to rotate a bale around at least one axis while wrapping · CPC title

• A01D46/084

  with compacting means · CPC title

• A01F15/0715 Primary

  Wrapping the bale in the press chamber before opening said chamber · CPC title

• A01F2015/0745

  Special features of the wrapping material for wrapping the bale · CPC title