Round baler with bale holder in gate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022015300-A1
Application number	US-202016932881-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 20, 2020
Priority date	Jul 20, 2020
Publication date	Jan 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A round baler includes a housing, and a gate rotatably attached to the housing. A bale holder is attached to and moveable with the gate. The bale holder includes a retractable member that is moveable between an engaged position operable to grasp a bale and move the bale with the gate, and a disengaged position operable to release the bale. The retractable member is positioned to grasp an end face of the bale at a contact location. The contact location is disposed rearward of a vertical reference plane passing through a centerline of the bale when the bale is within an interior region of the round baler and the gate is in the closed position. The contact location may be disposed below a horizontal plane passing through the centerline of the bale when the bale is within the interior region and the gate is in the closed position.

First claim

1 . A round baler comprising:
a housing; a gate rotatably attached to the housing about a gate rotation axis for movement between a closed position, an open position, and at least one intermediate position disposed between the closed position and the open position; wherein the housing and the gate cooperate to define an interior region; a bale formation system disposed within the interior region and operable to form a bale having a circular cylindrical shape having a first circular end face and a second circular end face disposed at opposing ends of the bale relative to a centerline of the cylindrical shape, with the centerline of the cylindrical shape generally parallel with the gate rotation axis during formation of the bale by the bale formation system; a bale holder attached to and moveable with the gate, the bale holder including a retractable member moveable between an engaged position operable to grasp the bale and move the bale with the gate, and a disengaged position operable to release the bale relative to the gate.

2 . The round baler set forth in claim 1 , wherein the retractable member is positioned to grasp the first circular end face of the bale within the interior region at a contact location, with the contact location disposed rearward of a vertical reference plane passing through the centerline of the bale when the bale is disposed within the interior region and the gate is disposed in the closed position.

3 . The round baler ser forth in claim 1 , further comprising a lower roller attached to and supported by the gate at a forward lowermost edge of the gate, and extending across a width of the interior region.

4 . The round baler set forth in claim 3 , wherein the contact location is positioned such that a gravitational force acting on the bale urges the bale into engagement with the lower roller when the gate is disposed in the intermediate position so that the bale is supported by the bale holder and the lower roller when the gate is disposed in the intermediate position.

5 . The round baler set forth in claim 2 , wherein the retractable member is moveable relative to the gate based on a diameter of the bale to change the position of the contact location when the gate is disposed in the closed position.

6 . The round baler set forth in claim 2 , wherein the contact location is disposed an edge distance from a circumferential edge of the first circular end face, with the edge distance equal to or greater than a value that is approximately ten percent of a diameter of the bale.

7 . The round baler set forth in claim 2 , wherein the contact location is disposed below a horizontal plane passing through the centerline of the bale when the bale is disposed within the interior region and the gate is disposed in the closed position.

8 . The round baler set forth in claim 2 , wherein the gate includes a first side wall positioned generally parallel with the first circular end face of the bale during formation of the bale in the bale formation system, with the bale holder positioned against the first side wall.

9 . The round baler set forth in claim 8 , wherein the bale holder includes a support member.

10 . The round baler set forth in claim 9 , wherein the first side wall defines an opening, and wherein the retractable member is moveable within the opening.

11 . The round baler set forth in claim 10 , wherein the retractable member includes a shape complimentary to a shape of the opening, such that the retractable member substantially fills the opening when the retractable member is disposed in the engaged position and the disengaged position.

12 . The round baler set forth in claim 9 , wherein the gate holder includes an actuator interconnecting the retractable member and the gate, and operable to move the retractable member between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

13 . The round baler set forth in claim 12 , wherein the actuator includes a linear actuator operable to extend and retract along a linear path.

14 . The round baler set forth in claim 13 , wherein the retractable member is rotatable relative to the first side wall about a holder rotation axis.

15 . The round baler set forth in claim 14 , wherein the actuator includes a first end pivotably attached to the retractable member at a location spaced form the holder rotation axis.

16 . The round baler set forth in claim 15 , wherein the retractable member includes a base portion and a tooth portion extending from the base portion at a location spaced from the holder rotation axis, with the first end of the actuator coupled to the base portion.

17 . The round baler set forth in claim 16 , wherein the tooth portion includes an end surface positioned substantially flush with an interior surface of the first side wall when the retractable member is disposed in the disengaged position.

18 . The round baler set forth in claim 17 , wherein the base portion of the retractable member is positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the first side wall.

19 . The round baler set forth in claim 8 , wherein the retractable member includes a latch portion disposed in a latched position when the retractable member is disposed in the engaged position to secure the gate relative to the first side wall, and wherein the latch portion is disposed in an un-latched position when the retractable member is disposed in the disengaged position to allow movement of the gate relative to the first side wall.

20 . The round baler set forth in claim 19 , wherein the retractable member is rotatable about a holder rotation axis, and wherein the latch portion is disposed forward of the holder rotation axis.

21 . The round baler set forth in claim 19 , wherein the retractable member includes a base portion and a tooth portion extending from the base portion at a location spaced from the holder rotation axis, with the tooth portion disposed rearward of the holder rotation axis.

22 . The round baler set forth in claim 19 , wherein the latch portion includes a hook operable to grasp the first side wall in interlocking engagement.

23 . The round baler set forth in claim 2 , wherein the vertical reference plane is perpendicular to the first circular end face and the second circular end face of the bale.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Derscheid Daniel E
• Jones Austin J

Classifications

• A01F15/07

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

• A01F15/0883 Primary

  for round balers · CPC title

• A01F2015/0891

  Weighing the finished bale before falling to ground · CPC title

• A01F2015/077

  Pressing chamber formed by belts and rollers · CPC title