High capacity baler with multiple knotters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11140830-B2
Application number	US-201916446093-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2019
Priority date	Jan 9, 2019
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

A high capacity square baler comprising a pickup mechanism configured to pick up a single windrow of crop material off the ground. The baler additionally comprising one or more stuffer chutes each configured to receive at least a portion of the crop material picked up by the pickup mechanism. The baler additionally comprising one or more stuffer assemblies each configured to push crop material generally upward through one or more of the stuffer chutes. The baler additionally comprising a plurality of bale-forming chambers each configured to receive crop material from one or more of the stuffer chutes. The baler further comprising a plurality of knotter assemblies each associated with one of the bales forming chambers and each configured to wrap and tie securement lines around each formed bale. The knotter assemblies are configured to operate independently of one another, such that formed bales can be tied at different times.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A high capacity square baler configured to pick up crop material from a single windrow and form a plurality of square bales from the crop material, said baler comprising:
one or more stuffer chutes each configured to receive at least a portion of the crop material picked up by said baler;
one or more stuffer assemblies each configured to push crop material upward through said one or more stuffer chutes;
a plurality of bale-forming chambers, including a first bale-forming chamber and a second bale-forming chamber, each configured to receive crop material from said one or more stuffer chutes, wherein said first and second bale-forming chambers are spaced apart from each other, wherein said bale-forming chambers are configured to receive crop material from said one or more stuffer chutes through bottom portions of said bale-forming chambers; and
a plurality of knotter assemblies, including a first knotter assembly and a second knotter assembly,
wherein said first knotter assembly is associated with said first bale-forming chamber and is configured to wrap and tie at least two securement lines around bales formed in said first bale-forming chamber,
wherein said second knotter assembly is associated with said second bale-forming chamber and is configured to wrap and tie at least two securement lines around bales formed in said second bale-forming chamber,
wherein said first knotter assembly includes a first trip mechanism configured to initiate tying of said securement lines by said first knotter assembly around the bales formed in said first bale-forming chamber upon the bales being completely formed within said first bale-forming chamber, wherein said first trip mechanism comprises a first bale measuring assembly configured to determine sizes of bales formed within said first bale-forming chamber,
wherein said second knotter assembly includes a second trip mechanism configured to initiate tying by said second knotter assembly of said securement lines around the bales formed in said second bale-forming chamber upon the bales being completely formed within said second bale-forming chamber, wherein said second trip mechanism comprises a second bale measuring assembly configured to determine sizes of bales formed within said second bale-forming chamber,
wherein said first and second knotter assemblies are configured to operate independently of one another, such that bales formed in said first bale-forming chamber can be tied at different times than bales formed in said second bale-forming chamber.

2. The baler of claim 1 , wherein said baler has an inline configuration.

3. The baler of claim 1 , wherein said first and second bale-forming chambers are positioned side-by-side.

4. The baler of claim 1 , wherein said securement lines comprise twine.

5. The baler of claim 1 , wherein each knotter assembly further comprises at least two knotting mechanisms and at least two needles, wherein said knotting mechanisms and said needles are configured to be cooperatively actuated to tie said securement lines around the bales.

6. The baler of claim 5 , wherein said trip mechanism of each knotter assembly is configured to measure a length of a formed bale and to initiate tying of said securement lines around each bale upon completion of bale formation.

7. The baler of claim 6 , wherein said trip mechanism of each knotter assembly is configured to operate independently of each other.

8. The baler of claim 5 , wherein each measuring assembly comprises an electronic measuring assembly for measuring the length of the bales formed in the bale-forming chamber with which said measuring assembly is associated, wherein said electronic measuring assembly includes a rotary encoder configured to provide bale length data to an electronic control unit.

9. The baler of claim 1 , further comprising a rotating power source for providing rotational power to said knotter assemblies.

10. The baler of claim 9 , wherein the rotating power source comprises a gearbox, wherein said gearbox is configured to receive rotating power from a power take-off of a tow vehicle.

11. The baler of claim 9 , wherein said baler is configured to provide rotating power from the rotating power source independently to each of said knotter assemblies.

12. The baler of claim 9 , wherein said stuffer assemblies include a drive input assembly, wherein said rotating power source includes one or more drive shafts configured to provide rotational power to said stuffer assemblies via the drive input of said stuffer assemblies.

13. The baler of claim 12 , wherein said first and second knotter assemblies are configured to receive rotational power from the said one or more stuffer assemblies.

14. The baler of claim 13 , wherein said first and second knotter assemblies each comprises at least two knotting mechanisms and at least two needles, wherein said first and second knotter assemblies each further includes clutch mechanisms for selectively applying rotational power to actuate said knotting mechanisms and said needles.

15. The baler of claim 1 , wherein said first and second bale-forming chambers are capable of releasing bales at different times, with such bales being completely formed and tied with the securement lines.

16. A method of forming a plurality of bales of crop material with a high capacity square baler, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) picking up crop material from a single windrow;
(b) providing the crop material to one or more stuffer chutes, wherein the stuffer chutes are configured to pre-compress the crop material;
(c) transferring the crop material from the stuffer chutes to a first bale-forming chamber and a second bale-forming chamber, wherein said first and second bale-forming chambers are spaced apart from each other, wherein crop material is transferred through bottom portions of said first and second bale-forming chambers;
(d) forming bales of crop material within each of the first bale-forming chamber and the second bale-forming chamber;
(e) measuring bale sizes of the bales formed in the first bale-forming chamber via a first trip mechanism associated with the first bale-forming chamber;
(f) measuring bale sizes of the bales formed in the second bale-forming chamber via a second trip mechanism associated with the second bale-forming chamber;
(g) tying, via a first knotter assembly, at least two securement lines around the bales formed in the first bale-forming chamber;
(h) tying, via a second knotter assembly, at least two securement lines around the bales formed in the second bale-forming chamber,
wherein the first and second knotter assemblies are configured to operate independently of one another, such that said tying of steps (g) and (h) can be performed at different times.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said measuring of steps (e) and (f) include measuring a length of each bale passing through each of the first bale-forming chamber and the second bale-forming chamber.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first and second trip mechanisms include an electronic measuring assembly for measuring the length of the bales, wherein the electronic measuring assembly includes a rotary encoder configured to provide bale length data to an electronic control unit.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein said tying of steps (g) and (h) includes providing rotary power independently to each of the first and second knotter assemblies.

Assignees

• Great Plains Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Olander Brian
• Bozarth Taylor

Classifications

• B60K35/53

  Movable instruments, e.g. slidable · CPC title

• B60K35/65

  Instruments specially adapted for specific vehicle types or users, e.g. for left- or right-hand drive · CPC title

• B60K35/10

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B30B9/3092

  with two or more stationary press boxes co-operating alternately with a press ram or simultaneously with press rams · CPC title

• B30B9/3007

  Control arrangements · CPC title