Agricultural bale sliding method and mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016014967-A1
Application number	US-201414332746-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 16, 2014
Priority date	Jul 16, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An agricultural baler includes a baler mechanism. A carriage assembly is coupled to the baler mechanism. The carriage assembly includes a bale carriage and a bale sliding mechanism operable along the bale carriage in a direction generally normal to the direction of travel. The bale sliding mechanism includes a pusher and a plurality of movement devices drivingly coupled to the pusher. The plurality of movement devices being coupled to the bale carriage and including a first movement device and a second movement device. The first and second movement devices operate in opposite directions to each other as the pusher is moved.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An agricultural baler having a direction of travel, the agricultural baler comprising:
a baler mechanism; a carriage assembly coupled to the baler mechanism, the carriage assembly comprising:
a bale carriage; and
a bale sliding mechanism operable along the bale carriage in a direction generally normal to the direction of travel, the bale sliding mechanism comprising:
a pusher; and
a plurality of movement devices drivingly coupled to the pusher, the plurality of movement devices being coupled to the bale carriage, the plurality of movement devices comprising a first movement device and a second movement device, the first and second movement devices operating in opposite directions to each other as the pusher is moved.

2 . The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein the pusher is configured to move in a linear direction at a pusher speed that is faster than a speed at which the first and second movement devices move.

3 . The agricultural baler of claim 2 , wherein the pusher speed is generally twice as fast as the first and second movement devices move.

4 . The agricultural baler of claim 2 , wherein the pusher is arranged between the first movement device and the second movement device.

5 . The agricultural baler of claim 4 , further comprising a flexible element connected to the pusher, the flexible element being in driving contact with both the first and second movement devices.

6 . The agricultural baler of claim 4 , wherein the sliding mechanism is configured to move an agricultural bale on the bale carriage in either of two opposite directions normal to the direction of travel of the baler.

7 . The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein the bale carriage is tiltable relative to the baler mechanism, the sliding mechanism being configured to tilt along with the bale carriage.

8 . The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein the bale carriage further comprises at least one extending section and a fixed section, the extending section being extendable from the fixed section, the extending section being extended as the sliding mechanism moves a bale from the fixed section toward the extending section.

9 . A carriage assembly coupled to an agricultural baler mechanism having a direction of travel, the carriage assembly comprising:
a bale carriage; and a bale sliding mechanism operable along the bale carriage in a direction generally normal to the direction of travel, the bale sliding mechanism comprising:
a pusher; and
a plurality of movement devices drivingly coupled to the pusher, the plurality of movement devices being coupled to the bale carriage, the plurality of movement devices comprising a first movement device and a second movement device, the first and second movement devices operating in opposite directions to each other as the pusher is moved.

10 . The carriage assembly of claim 9 , wherein the pusher is configured to move in a linear direction at a pusher speed that is faster than a speed at which the first and second movement devices move.

11 . The carriage assembly of claim 10 , wherein the pusher speed is generally twice as fast as the first and second movement devices move.

12 . The carriage assembly of claim 10 , wherein the pusher is arranged between the first movement device and the second movement device.

13 . The carriage assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a flexible element connected to the pusher, the flexible element being in driving contact with both the first and second movement devices.

14 . The carriage assembly of claim 12 , wherein the sliding mechanism is configured to move a bale on the bale carriage in either of two opposite directions normal to the direction of travel of the agricultural baler.

15 . The carriage assembly of claim 9 , wherein the bale carriage is tiltable relative to the baler mechanism, the sliding mechanism being configured to tilt along with the bale carriage.

16 . The carriage assembly of claim 9 , wherein the carriage further comprises at least one extending section and a fixed section, the extending section being extendable from the fixed section, the extending section being extended as the bale sliding mechanism moves a bale from the fixed section toward the extending section.

17 . A method for moving a bale on a bale carriage, the bale carriage being coupled to an agricultural baler mechanism having a direction of travel, the method comprising:
operating a bale sliding mechanism along the bale carriage in a direction generally normal to the direction of travel, the operating step including the step of moving a pusher with a plurality of movement devices drivingly coupled to the pusher, the plurality of movement devices being coupled to the bale carriage, the plurality of movement devices comprising a first movement device and a second movement device, the first and second movement devices operating in opposite directions to each other as the pusher is moved.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the pusher is configured to move in a linear direction at a pusher speed that is faster than a speed at which the first and second movement devices move.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the pusher speed is generally twice as fast as the first and second movement devices move.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the pusher is arranged to travel between the first movement device and the second movement device.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Kraus Timothy J
• Anstey Henry D

Classifications

• A01D85/005 Primary

  Forming groups of bales, e.g. bale sledges (loaders for bales A01D87/12; vehicles for loading bales A01D90/08) · CPC title

• A01F15/0883 Primary

  for round balers · CPC title

• A01D2085/008

  Making groups of bales just at horizontal level for leaving them on the field · CPC title

• A01D2085/007

  Machines directly attached to a baler · CPC title