Continuous round baler chambers and conveyor system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9491909-B2
Application number	US-201414522555-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2014
Priority date	May 15, 2012
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A crop harvesting system for continuous round baling is described that comprises a first and second bale chamber and a conveyor system in operable communication with the first and second bale chambers. The crop harvesting system can comprise at least three bale carriers, at least two serpentine systems to facilitate movement of the bale into and out of the first and second bale chambers. The crop harvesting system can be integrated into an agricultural harvester such as a baler or combine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of baling crop with a harvester comprising:
a first bale chamber and a second bale chamber operably coupled by a conveyor system; wherein the first bale chamber is positioned forward of the second bale chamber with respect to a direction of travel of the harvester, wherein each of the first and second bale chambers comprise a first sidewall and a second sidewall, an entry point at the front of the first and second bale chambers, an outlet at a rear of the first and second bale chambers, and at least one floor roller positioned at a bottom of each of the bale chambers transverse to the first and second sidewalls; wherein the conveyor system is positioned between the first and second bale chambers at a downward angle along the direction of travel of the harvester; and
at least one bale carrier, each bale carrier movable among a closed position and one or more open positions, comprising:
a first pair of arms extending transversely from and affixed to a first pair of pivot points on the first and second sidewalls;
a second pair of arms extending transversely from and affixed to a second pair of pivot points on the first and second sidewalls;
a pair of parallel bars affixed to the end of the first and second pair of arms positioned at the ends of first and second pair of arms distal to the first and second pair of pivot points; and
one or more fixed members positioned transversely between the pair of parallel bars and the one or more fixed members defining a rotatable axis around which a roller is capable of rotation;

said method comprising:
feeding crop into the first bale chamber;
forming a partially formed bale in the first bale chamber to a desired size;
transferring the partially formed bale from the first bale chamber to the second bale chamber by operation of the conveyor system;
completing bale formation in the second bale chamber; and
ejecting the completed bale from the second bale chamber contemporaneously with again initiating feeding crop into the first bale chamber in a new sequence of steps.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (c) further comprises transferring the partially formed bale from the first bale chamber to the second bale chamber on one or more conveyor belts within the conveyor system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the partially formed bale is transferred from the first bale chamber to the second bale chamber by a bale-kicking mechanism.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the:
a first serpentine system is arranged for the first bale chamber, the first serpentine system comprising:
a first bale carrier positioned at the outlet of the first bale chamber; and
a plurality of baling belt rollers in operable contact with one or more baling belts, the plurality of baling belt rollers comprising two lower baling belt rollers movable in an up and downward direction independent of movement of any other baling belt rollers;

a second serpentine system is arranged for the second bale chamber, the second serpentine system comprising:
a second bale carrier positioned at the entry point of the second bale chamber;
a third bale carrier positioned at the outlet of the second bale chamber; and
a plurality of baling belt rollers in operable contact with one or more baling belts, the plurality of baling belt rollers comprising two belt rollers movable in the fore and aft directions and independent of movement of any other rollers; wherein the second and third bale carriers are in operable contact with the one or more baling belts.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the harvester further comprises a fixed member positioned above the at least one bale carrier for feeding or retracting a flexible material attached along a face of the at least one bale carrier distal to the fixed member.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the fixed member comprises a spring-loaded roller for feeding or retracting the flexible material.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the fixed member is operably coupled to at least one motor for facilitating the feeding or retraction of the flexible material.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the harvester is one of: a round baler, a cotton harvester, a waste baler, and a combine.

9. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more fixed members define a rotatable axis around which at least a first roller is capable of rotation.

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more fixed members of the at least one bale carrier comprises at least a first roller and a second roller; wherein the pair of parallel bars are affixed to each end of the first roller and the second rollers on a set of rotatable axes.

11. The method of claim 4 , wherein either one or a combination of the first pair of arms and the second pair of arms of the at least one bale carrier is operably coupled to a hydraulic system for facilitating upward and downward movement of the first pair of arms or the second pair of arms around the first and second pair of pivot points.

12. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more fixed members of the at least one bale carrier comprise at least a first roller, a second roller, a third roller; wherein the pair of parallel bars is affixed to each end of the first roller, the second roller, and the third roller on a set of rotatable axes; and wherein the at least one bale carrier comprises a fourth roller positioned transverse to the first and second side walls and above the first roller and proximate to the top of the first and second sidewalls.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the crop collection system further comprises:
one or more baling belts to convey rotation of a bale in the bale chamber in contact with the fourth roller positioned above the at least one bale carrier that imparts tension to the one or more baling belts;
wherein the first roller of the at least one bale carrier takes up slack in the one or more baling belts when the at least one bale carrier pivots upward at any angle from its closed position and provides slack in the one or more baling belts when the at least one bale carrier pivots downward from an open position;
wherein the second roller of the at least one bale carrier deflects contact between the bale and the one or more baling belts; and
wherein the third roller of the at least one bale carrier conveys tension to the one or more baling belts whereby it positions the one or more baling belts in operable contact with the bale when the at least one bale carrier is in its closed position.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the crop collection system comprises three bale carriers, each bale carrier comprising:
one or more baling belts to convey rotation of a bale in the bale chamber in contact with a roller positioned above the at least one bale carrier that imparts tension to the one or more baling belts;
wherein the first roller of the at least one bale carrier takes up slack in the one or more baling belts when the retractable bale carrier pivots upward at any angle from its closed position and provides slack in the one or more baling belts when the at least one bale carrier pivots downward from an open position;
wherein the second roller of the at least one bale carrier deflects contact between the bale and the one or more baling belts; and
wherein the third roller of the at least one bale carrier conveys tension to the one or more baling belts whereby it positions the one or more baling belts in operable contact with the bale when the at least one bale carrier is in its closed position.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd
• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Roberge Martin J

Classifications

• A01F15/0705 Primary

  Arrangements for continuous operation · CPC title

• A01D43/006

  with devices for pressing or compacting · CPC title

• A01D39/005

  Binders combined with devices for picking-up the harvest · CPC title

• A01F15/0883

  for round balers · CPC title

• A01F15/07

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