Round bale ground placement orientation during baler ejection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12310291-B1
Application number	US-202418735305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 6, 2024
Priority date	Jun 6, 2024
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

A baler implement includes a baling chamber. A wrap system wraps a wrap material around a bale within the baling chamber. A wrap sensor detects data related to a position of a tail end of the wrap material on the bale. A bale transfer device pushes the bale away during ejection from the baler implement. A baler controller determines a position of the tail end of the wrap material on the bale within the baling chamber, and initiates the ejection sequence to eject the bale onto a ground surface. The baler controller controls the bale transfer device based on the position of the tail end of the wrap material, such that the bale comes to rest with at least a minimum length of the wrap material extending between the tail end of the wrap material and a ground contact location disposed nearest the tail end of the wrap material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A baler implement comprising:
a frame;
a baling chamber configured to form crop material into a bale having a cylindrical shape;
a wrap system configured to wrap a wrap material around an exterior circumference of the bale within the baling chamber to secure the shape of the bale;
a wrap sensor operable to detect data related to a position of a tail end of the wrap material on the bale;
a bale transfer device operable to direct the bale away from the frame;
a baler controller including a processor and a memory having a bale ejection algorithm stored thereon, wherein the processor is operable to execute the bale ejection algorithm to:
determine a position of the tail end of the wrap material on the bale within the baling chamber from data detected by the wrap sensor;
initiate an ejection sequence in which the bale is ejected from the baling chamber onto a ground surface;
control the bale transfer device during the ejection sequence, based on the position of the tail end of the wrap material, such that the bale comes to rest on the ground surface with at least a minimum length of the wrap material extending between the tail end of the wrap material and a ground contact location disposed nearest the tail end of the wrap material, wherein the minimum length of the wrap material is greater than twenty five percent (25%) of a circumference of the bale and less than ninety percent (90%) of the circumference of the bale.

2. The baler implement set forth in claim 1 , wherein the minimum length of the wrap material is greater than fifty percent (50%) of the circumference of the bale and less than eighty percent (80%) of the circumference of the bale.

3. The baler implement set forth in claim 1 , wherein the processor is operable to execute the bale ejection algorithm to control the bale transfer device during the ejection sequence, based on the position of the tail end of the wrap material, such that the bale comes to rest on the ground surface with the tail end of the wrap material spaced at least a minimum distance above the ground surface.

4. The baler implement set forth in claim 3 , wherein the minimum distance is equal to or greater than three hundred millimeters (300 mm).

5. The baler implement set forth in claim 1 , wherein the wrap sensor is configured to detect data related to cessation of operation of the wrap system.

6. The baler implement set forth in claim 5 , further comprising a bale size sensor configured to detect data related to a diametric size of the bale within the baling chamber.

7. The baler implement set forth in claim 6 , further comprising a speed sensor configured to detect data related to a rotational speed of the bale within the baling chamber.

8. The baler implement set forth in claim 7 , wherein the processor is operable to execute the bale ejection algorithm to determine the position of the tail end of the wrap material on the bale within the baling chamber from the data related to the cessation of operation of the wrap system, the data related to the diametric size of the bale, and the data related to the rotational speed of the bale within the baling chamber.

9. The baler implement set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a rotating member selectively controllable to control rotation of the bale within the baling chamber.

10. The baler implement set forth in claim 9 , wherein the processor is operable to execute the bale ejection algorithm to control the rotating member to stop rotation of the bale within the baling chamber such that a position of the tail end of the wrap material is located at a desired location within the baling chamber prior to initiating the ejection sequence.

11. The baler implement set forth in claim 9 , wherein the rotating member includes an endless belt supported by a plurality of rollers.

12. The baler implement set forth in claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of rollers is a drive roller, and further comprising a belt drive operable to rotate the drive roller to thereby rotate the endless belt.

13. The baler implement set forth in claim 12 , wherein the belt drive includes a rotation control mechanism for controlling a rotational speed of the drive roller.

14. The baler implement set forth in claim 12 , wherein the belt drive includes an adjustable tensioner for controlling a tension of the endless belt about the plurality of rollers, wherein the rotational speed of the endless belt may be controlled via the adjustable tensioner.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Erdmann Jeremy M

Classifications

• A01F15/0715

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

• A01F2015/076

  Wrapping device incorporating sensors · CPC title

• A01F15/071

  Wrapping devices (tying devices A01F15/141) · CPC title

• A01F15/0883 Primary

  for round balers · CPC title