BALE PICKUP DEVICE FOR PICKING UP OF ROUND BALES OF A ROUND BALER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bale pick-up device for picking up of at least one round bale from a round baler, comprising a coupling device with at least one coupling frame element to be fixedly arranged on a machine frame of the round baler and at least one drawbar element extending in a pick-up direction at least partially between the coupling frame element and a machine frame of the bale pick-up device and mounted in such a way on the coupling device that it is pivotably movable relative to the coupling frame element at least about a vertical axis perpendicular to a contact surface of the bale pick-up device at least in a first position of the coupling device, wherein a guide element mounted on the coupling device and pivotably movable relative to the drawbar element at least about the vertical axis and extending in the pick-up direction in such a way that the drawbar element is arranged at least partially between the transfer element and the contact surface in a side view. The present invention moreover relates to a vehicle combination with a round baler and such a bale pick-up device.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A bale pickup device (2) for picking up of at least one round bale from a round baler (4), comprising: a coupling device (6) with at least one coupling frame element (8) to be fixedly arranged on a machine frame (10) of the round baler (4); at least one drawbar element (14) extending in a pickup direction (AR) at least partially between the coupling frame element (8) and a machine frame (12) of the bale pickup device (2) and mounted in such a way on the coupling device (6) that it is pivotably movable relative to the coupling frame element (8) at least about a vertical axis (VA) perpendicular to a contact surface (AF) of the bale pickup device (2) at least in a first position of the coupling device (6); and a transfer element (16) mounted on the coupling device (6) and pivotably movable relative to the drawbar element (14) at least about the vertical axis (VA) and extending in the pickup direction (AR) in such a way that the drawbar element (14) is arranged at least partially between the transfer element (16) and the contact surface (AF) in a side view.

17. The bale pickup device according to claim 16, wherein the transfer element (16) is mounted on the coupling device (6) in such a way that it is pivotably movable relative to the coupling frame element (8) about a transverse axis (HA) parallel to the contact surface (AF).

18. The bale pickup device according to claim 16, wherein the drawbar element (14) is mounted on the coupling device (6) in such a way that it is pivotably movable relative to the coupling frame element (8) about the transverse axis (HA).

19. The bale pickup device according to claim 16, wherein the transfer element (16) is mounted on the coupling device (6) in such a way that it is pivotably movable relative to the drawbar element (14) about the transverse axis (HA).

20. The bale pickup device according to claim 16, wherein the coupling device (6) comprises an intermediate coupling element (18) that is mounted on the coupling frame element (8) so as to be exclusively pivotably movable about the transverse axis (HA) and is mounted on the drawbar element (14) so as to be exclusively pivotably movable about the vertical axis (VA).

21. The bale pickup device according to claim 16, wherein the transfer element (16) is mounted on the intermediate coupling element (18) spaced apart from the coupling frame element (8).

22. The bale pickup device according to claim 16, wherein the transfer element (16) comprises a radial extension (A) relative to the transverse axis (HA), which extension, at least in a straight-ahead position of the bale pickup device, corresponds to at least half, preferably at least two thirds, particularly preferably at least three quarters, of a clearance (B) of the machine frame (12) of the bale pickup device (2) from the transverse axis (HA).

23. The bale pickup device according to claim 16, further comprising a clearance (C) of the vertical axis (VA) to the machine frame (12) from the bale pickup device (2) is at least as large, preferably at least twice as large, particularly preferably at least five times as large, as a clearance (D) of the vertical axis (VA) from the transverse axis (HA).

24. The bale pickup device according to claim 16, further comprising at least one drawbar adjustment element (20) configured for a pivoting of the drawbar element (14) relative to the machine frame (12) of the bale pickup device (2) about a drawbar pivot axis (DA) arranged parallel to the transverse axis (HA) in a straight-ahead position of the bale pickup device (2).

25. The bale pickup device according to claim 16, wherein the transfer element (16) includes a support segment (22) for supporting the transfer element (16) on the drawbar element (14).

26. The bale pickup device according to claim 25, wherein the support segment (22) extends in a circular arc shape about the vertical axis (VA).

27. The bale pickup device according to claim 16, wherein a ball bearing or a slide bearing (28), in particular made of plastic, is arranged between the drawbar element (14) and the transfer element (16).

28. The bale pickup device according to claim 16, wherein the transfer element (16) comprises at least two transfer segments (24) extending longitudinally in the pickup direction (AR), between which the drawbar element (14) extends at least partially, in a plan view, at least when in one/the straight-ahead position of the bale pickup device (2).

29. A vehicle combination (26) comprising: a round baler (4); and a bale pickup device (2) that is coupled to the round baler (4), wherein the at least one coupling frame element (8) is fixedly arranged on a machine frame (10) of the round baler (4).

30. A vehicle combination according to claim 29, wherein the at least one coupling frame element (8) is arranged on an undercarriage vehicle axle (32) encompassed by the machine frame (10) of the round baler (4).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Several embodiments in which the present invention can be practiced are illustrated and described in detail, wherein like reference characters represent like components throughout the several views. The drawings are presented for exemplary purposes and may not be to scale unless otherwise indicated. Further details and advantages of the invention can be found in the schematic figures described below:

[0035] In the drawings:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a vehicle combination according to the invention driving straight ahead;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows the vehicle combination according to FIG. 1 in a top view;

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a coupling device and a drawbar element of a bale pickup device according to the invention of the vehicle combination according to FIG. 1 in a perspective representation,

[0039] FIG. 4a shows the parts and additional elements of the vehicle combination according to FIG. 3 in a perspective representation;

[0040] FIG. 4b shows a further embodiment of the coupling device and the drawbar element;

[0041] FIG. 5 shows the parts according to FIG. 4 in a longitudinal section,

[0042] FIG. 6 shows the vehicle combination according to FIG. 1 during a change of direction in a top view;

[0043] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the parts according to FIGS. 4a and 4b during a change of direction; and

[0044] FIG. 8 shows a coupling device, a drawbar element, a transfer element, and a portion of a machine frame of a further bale pickup device according to the invention in a plan view. An artisan of ordinary skill in the art need not view, within isolated figure(s), the near infinite number of distinct permutations of features described in the following detailed description to facilitate an understanding of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] The present disclosure is not to be limited to that described herein. Mechanical, electrical, chemical, procedural, and/or other changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. No features shown or described are essential to permit basic operation of the present invention unless otherwise indicated. The hereinafter elucidated features may also be an aspect of the invention individually or in combinations other than those shown or described, but always at least in combination with the features of the claims. Where appropriate, functionally equivalent parts are provided with identical reference numbers.

[0046] FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 show a vehicle combination 26 according to the invention comprising a round baler 4 towed by a tractor unit 30 and a bale pickup device 2 coupled to the round baler 4. The bale pickup device 2 serves to pickup a plurality of round bales, not shown, from the round baler 4, in order to be able to deposit the round bales collectively and not need to subsequently pickup each round bale individually.

[0047] The bale pickup device 2 comprises a coupling device 6. The coupling device 6 comprises two coupling frame elements 8, which are fixedly arranged on a vehicle axle 32 of a machine frame 10 of the round baler 4 (cf. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). The coupling device 6 moreover comprises an intermediate coupling element 18. The intermediate coupling element 18 is mounted pivotably movable about a transverse axis HA on the coupling frame elements 8. A drawbar element 14 is mounted pivotably movable about a vertical axis VA on the intermediate coupling element 18. A longitudinal axis LA is, in particular, arranged at a right angle to both the vertical axis VA and the transverse axis HA, at least in one position. The drawbar element 14 extends in a pickup direction AR between the intermediate coupling element 18 and a machine frame 12 of the pickup device 2. The vertical axis VA extends at least in a first position of the coupling device 6 at a right angle to a contact surface AF of the bale pickup device 2 (cf. FIG. 1). A transfer element 16 is pivotably mounted on the intermediate coupling element 18 about the transverse axis HA. The transfer element 16 is immovable relative to the coupling device 6 about the vertical axis VA or an axis parallel thereto (cf. FIG. 4 and FIG. 7). The transfer element 16 extends in the pickup direction AR in such a way that the drawbar element 14 in the longitudinal section or alternatively the side view according to FIG. 5 is arranged at least in part between the transfer element 16 and the contact surface AF.

[0048] The transfer element 16 has a radial extension A relative to the transverse axis HA, which corresponds to at least two-thirds of a clearance B of the machine frame 12 of the bale pickup device 2 from the transverse axis HA (cf. FIG. 5). The radial extension is variable in the bale pickup device 2 according to FIG. 8 by means of screwed extension elements 34 of the transfer element 16. A clearance C of the vertical axis VA from the machine frame 12 of the bale pickup device 2 (cf. FIG. 8) is, moreover, at least five times as large as a clearance D of the vertical axis VA from the transverse axis (cf. FIG. 5). The bale pickup device 2 comprises two drawbar adjustment elements 20 which are configured for a pivoting of the drawbar element 14 relative to the machine frame 12 of the bale pickup device 2, about a drawbar pivot axis DA, which runs parallel to the transverse axis HA in the straight-ahead position of the bale pickup device 2 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (cf. FIG. 8).

[0049] The transfer element 16 comprises a support segment 22 extending in a circular shape about the vertical axis VA, which is shown in simplified form in FIG. 4a, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8 as consisting of straight elements angled towards one another. The support segment 22 serves to support the transfer element 16 on the drawbar element 14. Between them, a ball bearing or a slide bearing 28 made of plastic is arranged on the drawbar element 14, which allows the pivoting of the drawbar element 14 relative to the transfer element 16 about the vertical axis VA (cf. FIG. 7). In addition to the support segment 22, the transfer element 16 comprises two transfer segments 24 extending longitudinally in the pickup direction AR, between which the drawbar element 14 is arranged in the plan view according to FIG. 8.

[0050] In the transfer element 16 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4b, the support segment 22 is in contrast approximately U-shaped and, moreover carries rollers 35. This allows the round bale ejected from the round baler 4 to roll quickly and reliably to the bale pickup device 2 with less friction on the initially very steep transfer element 16.

[0051] From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of the stated objectives.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0052] The following table of reference characters and descriptors are not exhaustive, nor limiting, and include reasonable equivalents. If possible, elements identified by a reference character below and/or those elements which are near ubiquitous within the art can replace or supplement any element identified by another reference character.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 List of Reference Characters 2 Bale pickup device 4 Round baler 6 Coupling device 8 Coupling frame elements 10 Machine frame 12 Machine frame of the pickup device 14 Drawbar element 16 Transfer Element 18 Intermediate coupling element 20 Drawbar adjustment element(s) 22 Support segment 24 Transfer segments 26 Vehicle combination 28 Ball bearing or slide bearing 30 Tractor unit 32 Vehicle axle 34 Secure elements of the transfer element 35 Rollers A Radial extension AF Contact surface AR Pickup direction B Clearance C Clearance of the vertical axis from the machine frame of the bale pickup device D Clearance of the vertical axis from the transverse axis DA Drawbar pivot axis HA Transverse axis LA Longitudinal axis YA Vertical axis

Glossary

[0053] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used above have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments of the present invention pertain.

[0054] The terms a, an, and the include both singular and plural referents.

[0055] The term or is synonymous with and/or and means any one member or combination of members of a particular list.

[0056] The terms invention or present invention are not intended to refer to any single embodiment of the particular invention but encompass all possible embodiments as described in the specification and the claims.

[0057] The term about as used herein, refers to slight variations in numerical quantities with respect to any quantifiable variable. Inadvertent error can occur, for example, through the use of typical measuring techniques or equipment or from differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of components.

[0058] The term substantially refers to a great or significant extent. Substantially can thus refer to a plurality, majority, and/or a supermajority of said quantifiable variable, given proper context.

[0059] The term generally encompasses both about and substantially.

[0060] The term configured describes a structure capable of performing a task or adopting a particular configuration. The term configured can be used interchangeably with other similar phrases, such as constructed, arranged, adapted, manufactured, and the like.

[0061] Terms characterizing sequential order, a position, and/or an orientation are not limiting and are only referenced according to the views presented.

[0062] The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The scope of the invention is further qualified as including any possible modification to any of the aspects and/or embodiments disclosed herein which would result in other embodiments, combinations, subcombinations, or the like that would be obvious to those skilled in the art.