Continuous round baler with variable conveyor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9603308-B2
Application number	US-201414316162-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2014
Priority date	Jun 26, 2014
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A crop harvesting system for continuous round baling is described that with 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 have 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 harvester comprising:
a first bale chamber and a second bale chamber operably coupled by a conveyor system; wherein the first bale chamber is positioned at one end of the harvester and the second bale chamber is positioned at the opposite end of the harvester;
wherein each of the first and second bale chambers comprise:
a first sidewall and a second sidewall,
an entry point at one end of the first and second bale chambers,
an outlet at the opposite end of the first and second bale chambers, and
at least one floor roller positioned at the 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 and comprises one or a plurality of endless belts extending around and supported by at least one stationary roller and at least a first movable roller and a second movable roller;
wherein the at least one stationary roller and the at least first movable roller are positioned transverse to the first and second sidewalls and spin about a rotational axis; and wherein the rotational axis of the at least first moveable roller is capable of movement in one or more operable positions independent of the rotational axis of the at least one stationary roller such that the position of the at least first movable roller creates more than two points of inflection in the one or plurality of endless belts;
wherein the harvester comprises at least a first operable condition in which the conveyor system facilitates a transfer of harvested material from the first bale chamber to the second bale chamber by synchronized movement of the at least first and second movable rollers, such that, upon transfer of harvested material from the first bale chamber to the second bale chamber, the first movable roller slides rearward, and optionally upward; and the second movable roller slides upward such that the position of the second movable roller is moved with respect to the position of the first movable roller.

2. The harvester of claim 1 , wherein the second moveable roller rotating about a rotational axis, wherein the rotational axis of the at least first moveable roller and the rotational axis of the second movable roller are capable of movement in one or more operable positions independent of the axis of rotation of the at least one stationary roller such that the position of the at least first and the second movable roller create more than two points of inflection in the one or plurality of endless belts.

3. The harvester of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the at least first movable roller exacts tension in the one or plurality of endless belts and creates a rearward moving point of contact between the harvested material and the one or plurality of endless belts during the transfer.

4. The harvester of claim 1 , wherein the at least first movable roller is movable in at least a frontward and rearward direction relative to the orientation of the harvester.

5. The harvester of claim 1 , wherein the second movable roller is movable in at least an upward and downward direction relative to the orientation of the harvester.

6. 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 at one end of the harvester and the second bale chamber is positioned at the opposite end of the harvester;
wherein each of the first and second bale chambers comprise:
a first sidewall and a second sidewall,
an entry point at one end of the first and second bale chambers,
an outlet at the opposite end of the first and second bale chambers, and
at least one floor roller positioned at the 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 and comprises one or a plurality of endless belts extending around and supported by at least one stationary roller and at least a first movable roller and a second movable roller,
wherein the at least one stationary roller and the at least first movable roller are positioned transverse to the first and second sidewalls and spin about a rotational axis; and
wherein the rotational axis of the at least first moveable roller is capable of movement in one or more operable positions independent of the rotational axis of the at least one stationary roller such that the position of the at least first movable roller creates more than two points of inflection in the one or plurality of endless belts;
wherein the harvester comprises at least a first operable condition in which the conveyor system facilitates a transfer of harvested material from the first bale chamber to the second bale chamber by synchronized movement of the at least first and second movable rollers, such that, upon transfer of harvested material from the first bale chamber to the second bale chamber,
the first movable roller slides rearward, and optionally upward; and the second movable roller slides upward,
a harvesting assembly positioned on one end of the harvester and operably connected to the first bale chamber;
a first serpentine system 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 upward and downward direction independent of movement of any other baling belt rollers in the first serpentine system;

a second serpentine system 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 independently movable from any other roller in the second serpentine system; wherein the second and third bale carriers are in operable contact with the one or more baling belts.

7. The harvester of claim 6 , wherein the first, second, and third bale carriers are movable among a closed position and one or more open positions, each bale carrier 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;
one or more fixed members positioned at a distance defined by the length of the first and second pair of arms; and
a pair of parallel bars affixed to the one or more fixed members.

8. The harvester of claim 1 , wherein the at least first movable roller of the conveyer system is operably synchronized with the at least first operable condition of the harvester, such that the first movable roller slides rearward, and optionally upward, upon transfer of a bale from the first bale chamber to the second bale chamber.

9. The harvester of claim 6 , wherein the at least first and second movable rollers of the conveyor system are operably synchronized with the movement of the first bale carrier such that: the first movable roller slides rearward, and optionally upward, when the first bale carrier uncovers the outlet of the first bale chamber; and the second movable roller slides upward when the first bale carrier uncovers the outlet of the first bale chamber.

10. The harvester of claim 6 , wherein the at least first movable roller is operably connected t

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Roberge Martin J

Classifications

• A01F15/0705 Primary

  Arrangements for continuous operation · CPC title

• A01F15/0883

  for round balers · CPC title