Dynamic resistance generator for square baler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12484484-B2
Application number	US-202218047483-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2022
Priority date	Oct 18, 2022
Publication date	Dec 2, 2025
Grant date	Dec 2, 2025

Abstract

A baler implement may include a frame, a first panel, a plunger, and a hook mechanism. The frame has a central longitudinal axis. The first panel partially forms a compression chamber for compressing crop therein. The plunger is operable to reciprocate within the compression chamber to provide a compressive force to compress crop material in the compression chamber into a flake against a plurality of other flakes of a currently forming bale and is operable to move the currently forming bale through the compression chamber. The hook mechanism is positioned on the first panel and is operable to engage the currently forming bale inside the compression chamber to resist the compressive force applied by the plunger to increase compression of the crop material within the compression chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A baler implement, comprising:
a frame having a central longitudinal axis; a first panel partially forming a compression chamber for compressing crop therein; a plunger operable to reciprocate within the compression chamber to provide a compressive force to compress crop material in the compression chamber into a flake against a plurality of other flakes of a currently forming bale, and to move the currently forming bale through the compression chamber; a first hook positioned on the first panel and operable to engage the currently forming bale inside the compression chamber to resist the compressive force applied by the plunger to increase compression of the crop material within the compression chamber; a sensor coupled to a portion of the plunger and operable to measure a characteristic of the portion of the plunger and to transmit a signal indicative of the characteristic of the portion of the plunger; and a controller configured to change the resistive force from a resistor based on the signal indicative of the characteristic of the portion of the plunger; wherein the first panel includes a slot, and wherein the first hook includes a first tooth shaped to penetrate into the currently forming bale through the slot in the first panel; wherein the slot includes a front edge and a rear edge opposite to the front edge along the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the first tooth travels between the front edge and the rear edge in a first direction with the currently forming bale while resisting movement of the currently forming bale; wherein the first hook includes the resistor, and the resistor is controllable to provide an adjustable resistive force on the currently forming bale, via the first tooth of the first hook, against the compressive force applied by the plunger.

2 . The baler implement of claim 1 , wherein the first hook includes a resistor coupled to one of the first panel or the frame, wherein the resistor is operable to generate a resistive force against the currently forming bale in response to the compressive force applied by the plunger to increase a density of the currently forming bale.

3 . The baler implement of claim 1 , wherein the first hook includes a first carrier on which a root of the first tooth is mounted, wherein the first carrier is operable to be pulled by the first tooth traveling along the slot.

4 . The baler implement of claim 3 , wherein the first hook includes a first shaft and a second shaft both coupled to the first carrier and spaced apart from each other along the central longitudinal axis, wherein the first carrier includes an endless loop surrounding the first shaft and the second shaft, and at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft is coupled to the resistor, which is a rotational resistor, to transfer a resistance from the resistor to the first carrier and then to the currently forming bale.

5 . The baler implement of claim 4 , wherein the second shaft is positioned in front of the rear edge with a distance greater than a thickness of the first carrier and a length of the first tooth, whereby the first tooth is drawn out of the forming bale and through the slot to an exterior of the compression chamber.

6 . The baler implement of claim 4 , wherein the resistor includes one of a hydraulic retarder, a friction brake, a magnetic resistive device, or an electric motor.

7 . The baler implement of claim 4 , further comprising a cover positioned between the first shaft and the second shaft and operable to cover a portion of the slot, so as to prevent the crop material from leaving the compression chamber to an exterior of the compression chamber through the slot.

8 . The baler implement of claim 4 , further comprising a ramp configuration formed by a first shaft and a second shaft relative to the first panel, such that the first tooth penetrates into the currently forming bale through the slot in different extent when the first tooth travels from the front edge to the rear edge of the slot.

9 . The baler implement of claim 3 , wherein the first hook includes a second tooth shaped to penetrate into the currently forming bale through the slot in the first panel and a second carrier on which a root of the second tooth is mounted, wherein the second carrier operable to be pulled by the second tooth traveling along the slot, and the first carrier and the second carrier run parallel to each other.

10 . The baler implement of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator coupled between the frame and one of the panels and moveable to compress the panel toward the currently forming bale to increase a friction between a surface of the panel and the currently forming bale; wherein the controller is operable to move the actuator based on the signal indicative of the characteristic of the portion of the plunger.

11 . The baler implement of claim 1 , wherein the first tooth is a hook shape with a curved edge facing opposite the direction of movement of the currently forming bale in the compression chamber and is operable to engage the currently forming bale.

12 . The baler implement of claim 1 , further comprising a second panel partially forming the compression chamber and a second hook positioned on the second panel, wherein the second hook is operable to engage the currently forming bale inside the compression chamber to resist the force applied by the plunger, and the second hook includes another resistor, wherein the resistor of the second hook is controllable to provide an adjustable resistive force on the currently forming bale, via the first tooth of the second hook, against the compressive force applied by the plunger.

13 . The baler implement of claim 12 , wherein the first panel and the second panel are positioned on opposite sides across the currently forming bale.

14 . The baler implement of claim 13 , further comprising:
a sensor operable to measure a characteristic of the currently forming bale and to transmit a signal indicative of the characteristic of the currently forming bale; and a controller operable to differentiate the adjustable resistive force from the resistor of the first hook and the adjustable resistive force from the resistor of the second hook based on the signal indicative of the characteristic of the currently forming bale.

15 . The baler implement of claim 13 , further comprising:
an input device operable to transmit a signal to control the first hook and the second hook; a controller coupled to the input device and operable to differentiate the adjustable resistive force from the resistor of the first hook and the adjustable resistive force from the resistor of the second hook based on the signal from the input device.

16 . The baler implement of claim 12 , further comprising a wrapping assembly operable to encircle the currently forming bale with a twine to form a completed bale, wherein sides of the currently forming bale against which the first hook and the second hook engage are different from sides of the forming bale on which the wrapping assembly wraps or encircles the bale.

17 . A baler implement, comprising:
a frame having a central longitudinal axis; a first panel partially forming a compression chamber for compressing crop therein; a plunger operable to reciprocate within the compression chamber to provide a compressive force to compress crop material in the compression chamber into a flake against a plurality of other flakes of a currently forming bale, and to move the currently forming bale through the compression chamber; a first ho

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Chaney Nathan A
• Bradshaw Christopher L

Classifications

• A01F15/046

  with press-boxes · CPC title

• A01F15/042

  Plungers · CPC title

• A01F15/0825 Primary

  Regulating or controlling density or shape of the bale · CPC title

• A01F2015/048

  Anti-return systems for the material in the pressing chamber when the plunger moves backwards · CPC title

• A01F15/04 Primary

  Plunger presses · CPC title