Net knife assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018317393-A1
Application number	US-201715588654-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 7, 2017
Priority date	May 7, 2017
Publication date	Nov 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A net knife assembly for a baler is provided. The net knife assembly includes a linkage drive system including a drive linkage coupled to a motor. The net knife assembly includes a knife carrier coupled to the linkage drive system and configured to be positioned in a home position and a cut position. The net knife assembly includes a tensioning member coupled to the linkage drive system. The motor is configured to rotate the drive linkage of the linkage drive system, rotation of the drive linkage rotating the knife carrier between the home position and the cut position. Upon rotation of the knife carrier through a center position relative to the tensioning member, the tensioning member accelerates rotation of the knife carrier into the home position or the cut position.

First claim

1 . A net knife assembly for a baler, comprising:
a linkage drive system comprising a drive linkage coupled to a motor; a knife carrier coupled to the linkage drive system and configured to be positioned in a home position and a cut position; and a tensioning member coupled to the linkage drive system, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the drive linkage of the linkage drive system, rotation of the drive linkage rotating the knife carrier between the home position and the cut position; and wherein upon rotation of the knife carrier through a center position relative to the tensioning member, the tensioning member accelerates rotation of the knife carrier into the home position or the cut position.

2 . The net knife assembly of claim 1 , wherein the motor is an electric motor.

3 . The net knife assembly of claim 1 , wherein the linkage drive system comprises a slotted linkage, a bearing linkage, and an attachment linkage.

4 . The net knife assembly of claim 3 , wherein the drive linkage is slidably coupled to a slot of the slotted linkage.

5 . The net knife assembly of claim 3 , wherein the bearing linkage is rotatably coupled to the slotted linkage.

6 . The net knife assembly of claim 3 , wherein the attachment linkage is coupled to the knife carrier at a coupling point at one end and coupled to the tensioning member at an opposing end.

7 . The net knife assembly of claim 6 , wherein the center position comprises alignment of the coupling point between the attachment linkage and the knife carrier, a pivot point of the knife carrier, and an anchor of the tensioning member, along a plane.

8 . The net knife assembly of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the knife carrier above the center position accelerates rotation of the knife carrier with the tensioning member into the cut position.

9 . The net knife assembly of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the knife carrier below the center position accelerates rotation of the knife carrier with the tensioning member into the home position.

10 . The net knife assembly of claim 1 , wherein one full rotation of the drive linkage in a single direction rotates the knife carrier from the home position to the cut position, and from the cut position to the home position.

11 . The net knife assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tensioning member accelerates rotation of the knife carrier into the home position or the cut position without assistance from the motor.

12 . The net knife assembly of claim 1 , comprising a knife coupled to the knife carrier.

13 . A net wrapping system for a baler, comprising:
a net dispensing assembly, comprising:
a supply roll holding a net material;
a duckbill for receiving the net material from the supply roll and feeding the net material into a bale chamber along a first direction of travel; and
one or more bale chamber rolls proximate the bale chamber for receiving the net material from the duckbill; and
a net knife assembly, comprising:
a linkage drive system comprising a drive linkage coupled to a motor;
a knife carrier coupled to the linkage drive system and configured to be positioned in a home position and a cut position; and
a tensioning member coupled to the linkage drive system,
wherein the motor is configured to rotate the drive linkage of the linkage drive system, rotation of the drive linkage rotating the knife carrier between the home position and the cut position; and wherein upon rotation of the knife carrier through a center position relative to the tensioning member, the tensioning member accelerates rotation of the knife carrier into the home position or the cut position.

14 . The net wrapping system of claim 13 , wherein rotation of the knife carrier into the cut position is in a second direction of travel, the second direction of travel being opposite from the first direction of travel.

15 . The net wrapping system of claim 13 , wherein the supply roll comprises a cylindrical body extending transversely across the baler.

16 . The net wrapping system of claim 13 , wherein the duckbill is configured to be moved between a home position and an insert position.

17 . The net wrapping system of claim 13 , wherein:
the linkage drive system comprises a slotted linkage, a bearing linkage, and an attachment linkage; the drive linkage is slidably coupled to a slot of the slotted linkage; the bearing linkage is rotatably coupled to the slotted linkage; and the attachment linkage is coupled to the knife carrier at a coupling point at one end and coupled to the tensioning member at an opposing end.

18 . The net wrapping system of claim 17 , wherein the center position comprises alignment of the coupling point between the attachment linkage and the knife carrier, a pivot point of the knife carrier, and an anchor of the tensioning member, along a plane.

19 . A baler, comprising:
a frame; an apron assembly disposed within the frame and configured to form a bale; and a net wrapping system, the net wrapping system comprising:
(i) a net dispensing assembly, comprising:
a supply roll holding a net material;
a duckbill for receiving the net material from the supply roll and feeding the net material into a bale chamber along a first direction of travel; and
one or more bale chamber rolls proximate the bale chamber for receiving the net material from the duckbill; and

(ii) a net knife assembly, comprising:
a linkage drive system comprising a drive linkage coupled to a motor;
a knife carrier coupled to the linkage drive system and configured to be positioned in a home position and a cut position; and
a tensioning member coupled to the linkage drive system,

wherein the motor is configured to rotate the drive linkage of the linkage drive system, rotation of the drive linkage rotating the knife carrier between the home position and the cut position; and wherein upon rotation of the knife carrier through a center position relative to the tensioning member, the tensioning member accelerates rotation of the knife carrier into the home position or the cut position.

20 . The baler of claim 19 , wherein:
the linkage drive system comprises a slotted linkage, a bearing linkage, and an attachment linkage; the drive linkage is slidably coupled to a slot of the slotted linkage; the bearing linkage is rotatably coupled to the slotted linkage; and the attachment linkage is coupled to the knife carrier at a coupling point at one end and coupled to the tensioning member at an opposing end.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Peterson Charles Brandon
• Simmons Scott C

Classifications

• A01F15/07

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

• B65B11/04 Primary

  the articles being rotated · CPC title

• B65B61/08

  using rotary cutters · CPC title

• B65B65/02

  Driving gear · CPC title

• B65B41/12

  Feeding webs from rolls · CPC title