Agricultural baler platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016014969-A1
Application number	US-201414333540-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 17, 2014
Priority date	Jul 17, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An agricultural baler comprising a baler mechanism and a carriage assembly coupled to the baler mechanism. A platform is coupled to at least one of the baler mechanism and the carriage assembly. The platform is configured to move a bale from the baler mechanism to the carriage assembly and remain tilted until the bale is moved onto the carriage assembly at least substantially out of contact with the platform. A sliding mechanism is coupled to the carriage assembly. The sliding mechanism is configured to move the bale onto the carriage assembly.

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; a platform coupled to at least one of the baler mechanism and the carriage assembly, the platform configured to move a bale from the baler mechanism to the carriage assembly and remain tilted until the bale is moved onto the carriage assembly at least substantially out of contact with the platform; and a sliding mechanism coupled to the carriage assembly, the sliding mechanism configured to move the bale on the carriage assembly.

2 . The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein the platform is configured to at least one of lift and tilt the bale.

3 . The agricultural baler of claim 2 , wherein the platform tilts the bale in a direction opposite of the direction of travel.

4 . The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein the platform is configured to tilt so as to cause the bale to roll toward the carriage assembly.

5 . The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein the carriage assembly includes at least one forward side extending in a direction generally normal to the direction of travel, the platform being tiltable so as to move the bale so that a side of the bale is at least proximate to the forward side of the carriage assembly.

6 . The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein the platform is configured to tilt and hold the bale beyond the forward side of the carriage assembly such that the bale has reduced contact with the forward side while the bale is slid from the platform.

7 . The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein the carriage assembly is tiltable, the platform being configured to remain tilted, if the carriage assembly has a full load of bales, until the carriage assembly is tilted and the load of bales is discharged from the baler.

8 . A carriage assembly coupled to an agricultural baler mechanism having a direction of travel, the carriage assembly comprising:
a bale carriage coupled to the baler mechanism; and a platform coupled to at least one of the baler mechanism and the bale carriage, the platform configured to move a bale from the baler mechanism to the bale carriage and remain tilted until the bale is moved onto the bale carriage at least substantially out of contact with the platform.

9 . The carriage assembly of claim 8 , wherein the platform is configured to at least one of lift and tilt the bale.

10 . The carriage assembly of claim 9 , wherein the platform is configured to tilt the bale in a direction opposite of the direction of travel.

11 . The carriage assembly of claim 8 , wherein the platform is configured to tilt so as to cause the bale to roll toward the bale carriage.

12 . The carriage assembly of claim 8 , wherein the bale carriage includes at least one forward side extending in a direction generally normal to the direction of travel, the platform being tiltable so as to move the bale so that a side of the bale is at least proximate to the forward side of the bale carriage.

13 . The carriage assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a sliding mechanism coupled to the bale carriage, the sliding mechanism being configured to move a bale onto the bale carriage.

14 . The carriage assembly of claim 8 , wherein the platform is configured to tilt and hold the bale beyond the forward side of the bale carriage such that the bale has reduced contact with the forward side while the bale is slid away from the platform.

15 . The carriage assembly of claim 8 , wherein the bale carriage is tiltable, the platform being configured to remain tilted, if the bale carriage has a full load of bales, until the bale carriage is tilted and the load of bales is discharged from the baler.

16 . A method for moving a bale from an agricultural baler to a carriage assembly, the carriage assembly being coupled to a baler mechanism having a direction of travel, the method comprising:
repositioning a platform to move a bale from the baler mechanism to the carriage assembly, the platform being coupled to at least one of the baler mechanism and the carriage assembly.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the repositioning step includes at least one of lifting and tilting the bale.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the carriage assembly includes at least one forward side extending in a direction generally normal to the direction of travel, the platform being tiltable so as to move the bale so that a side of the bale is at least proximate to the forward side of the carriage assembly.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein a sliding mechanism is coupled to the carriage assembly, the sliding mechanism being configured to move a bale on the carriage assembly, the platform being configured to remain tilted until the bale is moved on the carriage assembly at least substantially out of contact with the platform.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Kraus Timothy J
• Anstey Henry D

Classifications

• A01F15/0883 Primary

  for round balers · CPC title

• A01D2085/007

  Machines directly attached to a baler · CPC title

• B65G47/967

  tilting about an axis perpendicular to the conveying direction · CPC title

• A01D85/005 Primary

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