Repositionable windguard assembly for agricultural baler feeder system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12396404-B2
Application number	US-202217589387-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2022
Priority date	Jan 31, 2022
Publication date	Aug 26, 2025
Grant date	Aug 26, 2025

Abstract

An agricultural machine includes: a machine frame; and a feeder system coupled with the machine frame and including a windguard assembly, the windguard assembly being configured for selectively occupying a first position and a second position, the first position being associated with a normal flow direction of a crop material relative to the feeder system, the second position being associated with a reversal of the normal flow direction of the crop material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A windguard assembly for a feeder system of an agricultural baler, the agricultural baler including a baler frame, the feeder system being coupled with the baler frame, the feeder system including a pickup assembly, the windguard assembly comprising:
a first arm configured to be pivotably coupled to the pickup assembly;
a second arm pivotably coupled to the first arm;
a roller rotatably coupled to the second arm;
a tine mechanism pivotably coupled with the second arm;
an actuator pivotably coupled with the first arm and the second arm and configured for moving the second arm between a retracted position associated with a first position of the roller and an extended position associated with a second position of the roller, the first position being associated with a normal flow direction of a crop material relative to the feeder system, the second position being associated with a reversal of the normal flow direction of the crop material; and
a linkage assembly coupled with the first arm and the tine mechanism to move the tine mechanism between a down position and an up position when the second arm moves between the retracted position and the extended position, respectively.

2. The windguard assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second position is associated with a reversed operation of a rotor device of a rotary feeder assembly, which is coupled with the baler frame.

3. The windguard assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first arm includes a proximal end, the actuator including a proximal end which is pivotably coupled with the proximal end of the first arm.

4. The windguard assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first arm includes a central section, the actuator including a proximal end which is pivotably coupled with the central section of the first arm.

5. An agricultural machine, comprising:
a machine frame; and
a feeder system coupled with the machine frame and including a pickup assembly and a windguard assembly, the windguard assembly comprising:
a first arm configured to be pivotably coupled to the pickup assembly;
a second arm pivotably coupled to the first arm;
a roller rotatably coupled to the second arm;
a tine mechanism pivotably coupled with the second arm;
an actuator pivotably coupled with the first arm and the second arm and configured for moving the second arm between a retracted position associated with a first position of the roller and an extended position associated with a second position of the roller, the first position being associated with a normal flow direction of a crop material relative to the feeder system, the second position being associated with a reversal of the normal flow direction of the crop material; and

a linkage assembly coupled with the first arm and the tine mechanism to move the tine mechanism between a down position and an up position when the second arm moves between the retracted position and the extended position, respectively.

6. The agricultural machine of claim 5 , wherein the agricultural machine is an agricultural baler and the machine frame is a baler frame, the feeder system further including a rotary feeder assembly coupled with the baler frame, the rotary feeder assembly including a rotor device, the second position being associated with a reversed operation of the rotor device.

7. The agricultural machine of claim 5 , wherein the first arm includes a proximal end, the actuator including a proximal end which is pivotably coupled with the proximal end of the first arm.

8. The agricultural machine of claim 5 , wherein the first arm includes a central section, the actuator including a proximal end which is pivotably coupled with the central section of the first arm.

9. A method of using an agricultural baler, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a baler frame and a feeder system, the feeder system being coupled with the baler frame and including a pickup assembly and a windguard assembly, the windguard assembly comprising a first arm configured to be pivotably coupled to the pickup assembly, a second arm pivotably coupled to the first arm, a roller rotatably coupled to the second assembly, a tine mechanism pivotably coupled with the second arm, an actuator pivotably coupled with the first arm and the second arm and configured for moving the second arm between a retracted position associated with a first position of the roller and an extended position associated with a second position of the roller, the first position being associated with a normal flow direction of a crop material relative to the feeder system, the second position being associated with a reversal of the normal flow direction of material, and a linkage assembly coupled with the first arm and the tine mechanism to move the tine mechanism between a down position and an up position when the second arm moves between the retracted position and the extended position, respectively;
occupying selectively, by the roller, a first position, with the tine mechanism in the down position, the first position being associated with a normal flow direction of a crop material relative to the feeder system by moving the second arm into the retracted position; and
occupying selectively, by the roller, a second position, with the tine mechanism in the up position, the second position being associated with a reversal of the normal flow direction of the crop material by moving the second arm into the extended position.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the feeder system includes a pickup assembly and a rotary feeder assembly each of which is coupled with the baler frame, the windguard assembly being coupled with the pickup assembly, the rotary feeder assembly including a rotor device, the second position being associated with a reversed operation of the rotor device.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first arm includes a proximal end, the actuator including a proximal end which is pivotably coupled with the proximal end of the first arm.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first arm includes a central section, the actuator including a proximal end which is pivotably coupled with the central section of the first arm.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Childs Albert

Classifications

• A01F2015/107

  Means for withdrawing knives, rotor or walls of the feeding chamber in case of plugging or congestion · CPC title

• A01F15/07

  Rotobalers, i.e. machines for forming cylindrical bales by winding and pressing · CPC title

• A01F15/10

  Feeding devices for the crop material {e.g. precompression devices} · CPC title

• A01F15/106 Primary

  for round balers · CPC title

• A01D89/008 Primary

  Devices cooperating with the pick-up · CPC title