METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRAPPED BALES

Abstract

An apparatus for producing wrapped bales comprises first and second wrapping material dispenser means for dispensing wrapping material on the bales. It also comprises a wrapping means for circulating the first and second wrapping material dispenser means in a first plane of rotation around said bale for wrapping said web of wrapping material around said bale. The apparatus is further configured to emerge the first wrapping material from the first wrapping material dispenser means and the second wrapping material from the second wrapping material dispenser means around the bale at least in two different areas so that the properties of the final wrapping of at least one of said first and/or second wrapping material provided onto the bale differs substantially at least in the second area from the properties of the final wrapping of at least one of said first and/or second wrapping material in said first area in order to make the bale wrapping stronger in said second area.

Claims

1. A method for producing wrapped bales, comprising steps of: in a receiving stage for receiving a bale to be wrapped; in a first wrapping stage moving the bale and wrapping device in relation to each other, said wrapping device comprising at least first and second wrapping material dispensers, said wrapping material dispensers being arranged to rotate around said bale in a circular path in a first plane of rotation, whereby a web of wrapping material emerges from said first and second wrapping material dispensers such that said web of wrapping material becomes wrapped on the sides of said bale in a first direction of wrapping; wherein the first wrapping stage comprises steps of emerging the first wrapping material from the first wrapping material dispenser and the second wrapping material from the second wrapping material dispenser around the bale at least in two different areas of the bale in said first plane of rotation and in the direction perpendicular to said first plane of rotation so that the properties of the final wrapping of at least one of said first or second wrapping material provided onto the bale differs substantially at least in the second area from the properties of the final wrapping of at least one of said first or second wrapping material in said first area in order to make the bale wrapping stronger in said second area.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first wrapping material is emerged from the first wrapping material dispenser with a first tension and the second wrapping material is emerged from the second wrapping material dispenser with a second tension, where said first and second tensions differs from each other, or wherein width or tension of at least one of said first or second wrapping material is substantially less at least in the second area than width or tension of at least one of said first or second wrapping material in said first area in order to make the bale wrapping stronger in said second area.

3. (canceled)

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the width or tension of the first or second wrapping material provided onto the second area is: the width or tension of the original wrapping material, or the width or tension achieved from the original wrapping material by tilting at least one of said wrapping material dispensers in relation to the normal of said first plane of rotation in the second area so that the surface of said web of wrapping material differs substantially of the normal of said first plane of rotation before wrapping, mechanically shrinking the original wrapping material narrower before wrapping, tightening or tensioning the original wrapping material by resisting the free emerging of the original wrapping material from the dispenser or thermally shrinking the original wrapping material before wrapping.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second area is provided with more rounds of at least the second wrapping material than said first area in order to make the bale wrapping stronger in said second area, or wherein the moving of the base is slowed or stopped in the position where the second wrapping material is provided to the second area.

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first wrapping stage comprises additionally steps of: wrapping by said wrapping device said web of at least the first and optionally also the second wrapping material onto a frame means, moving the frame means and wrappings-device in relation to each other to form a tunnel construction comprising said wrapping material, and moving the bale in the direction perpendicular to said first plane of rotation and at least partly into the tunnel construction comprising wrapping material to attach the tunnel construction comprising wrapping material to the bale.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second wrapping material dispensers with the wrapping material are arranged so that the second wrapping material is emerged essentially onto the frame means and the first wrapping material is emerged only partly onto the frame means and the proximal end of the first wrapping material is emerged outside the frame means in the moving direction of the bale so to form the end of the tunnel construction.

10. (canceled)

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a second wrapping stage comprises turning said bale in a second plane of rotation, which is substantially normal to said first plane of rotation, whereby the wrapping is provided onto the sides of said bale in a second direction of wrapping substantially normal to said first direction of wrapping, and turning said surface of said web of wrapping material merging from said dispenser between said first wrapping step and said second wrapping step such that said web surface becomes substantially parallel with said first plane of rotation so that said wrapping device remains in said first plane of rotation thereof.

12. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method comprises a step of cutting the second wrapping material before providing the first wrapping material onto the sides of the bale in said second direction.

13. An apparatus for producing wrapped bales, said apparatus being configured to receive a bale to be wrapped, and the apparatus comprising: at least first and second wrapping material dispensers for dispensing a web of wrapping material, wrapping for circulating said first and second wrapping material dispensers in a first plane of rotation around said bale for wrapping said web of wrapping material around said bale and moving device for moving said bale and said wrapping device in relation to each other such that said bale is moved past said wrapping device in a direction essentially perpendicular to said first plane of rotation, wherein the apparatus is configured to emerge the first wrapping material from the first wrapping material dispenser and the second wrapping material from the second wrapping material dispenser around the bale at least in two different areas of the bale in said first plane of rotation and in the direction perpendicular to said first plane of rotation so that the properties of the final wrapping of at least one of said first or second wrapping material provided onto the bale differs substantially at least in the second area from the properties of the final wrapping of at least one of said first or second wrapping material in said first area in order to make the bale wrapping stronger in said second area.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first wrapping material dispenser is configured to emerge the first wrapping material with a first tension and the second wrapping material dispenser is configured to emerge the second wrapping material with a second tension, where said first and second tensions differs from each other.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a braking or resisting device arranged in connection with at least one of said first and second dispenser in order to control the tension of the wrapping material during emerging.

16. (canceled)

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of said wrapping material dispenser is tiltable in relation to the normal of said first plane of rotation at least in said second area so that the surface of said web of wrapping material emerged by said tilted wrapping material dispenser means differs substantially of the normal of said first plane of rotation before wrapping, whereupon the apparatus is configured to provide the wrapping material provided onto the second area so that the width said wrapping material is reduced in relation to the width of said wrapping material in said first area.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a mechanical shrinking device for mechanically shrinking the original wrapping material narrower onto the second area so that the width said wrapping material is reduced in relation to the width of said wrapping material in said first area; or wherein the apparatus comprises a heating device for heating the original wrapping material narrower onto the second area so that the width said wrapping material is reduced in relation to the width of said wrapping material in said first area.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide the second area with more rounds of at least the second wrapping material (5B, 5C) than said first area in order to make the bale wrapping stronger in said second area.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the moving device is configured to move the bale and slow or stop the bale in the position where the second wrapping material is provided to the second area.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said wrapping device is configured to provide said web of at least the first and optionally the second wrapping material onto a frame means, the frame means and wrapping device being arranged to be movable in relation to each other to form a tunnel construction comprising said wrapping material, and said moving device is configured to move the bale in the direction perpendicular to said first plane of rotation and at least partly into the tunnel construction comprising wrapping material to attach the tunnel construction comprising wrapping material to the bale.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second wrapping material dispensers of the wrapping device with the wrapping material are arranged in relation to each other so that the second wrapping material is emerged essentially wholly onto the frame means and the first wrapping material is emerged only partly onto the frame means and the proximal end of the first wrapping material is emerged outside the frame means in the moving direction of the bale so to form the end of the tunnel construction.

23. (canceled)

24. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the said wrapping means comprises a substantially vertically disposed circular ring which is rotatably assembled onto a support roller means disposed in a framework of the apparatus which circular ring preferably further includes a support arm extending from said circular ring for pivotally supporting said dispenser.

25. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a turning means for turning said surface of said web of wrapping material emerging from said dispenser between a first wrapping stage and a second wrapping stage such that the surface of said web of wrapping material becomes substantially parallel with said first plane of rotation, wherein said turning means for turning said surface of said web of wrapping material is arranged such said wrapping device remains in said first plane of rotation, and by rotation means for rotating said bale in a second plane of rotation substantially normal to said first plane of rotation.

26. The apparatus according 25, wherein the apparatus comprises a cutting device for cutting the second wrapping material before providing the first wrapping material onto the sides of the bale in said second direction in the second wrapping stage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Next the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a principle of an exemplary apparatus for producing wrapped bales (first and second stages) with a web-like wrapping material by sequential figures according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention,

[0027] FIGS. 7-8 illustrate a principle of exemplary parts of the first and second stages of wrapping as seen from one end of the apparatus according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, and

[0028] FIGS. 9-10 illustrate two principles of providing two different areas of wrapping onto the bale according to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a principle of an exemplary apparatus 100 for producing wrapped bales 1 with a web-like wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C by sequential figures according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive a bale from a bale producing means 2 for producing bales 3 (raw bale without wrapping). The bale 3 can contain e.g. straw, fodder, cotton, branch, pulp or waste, however not limiting to those only. The apparatus comprises also at least first and second wrapping material dispenser means 4A, 4B, 4C for dispensing a web of wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C, as well as a wrapping means 6 for circulating said first and second wrapping material dispenser means 4A, 4B, 4C in a first plane of rotation around the bale 3 for wrapping the web of wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C around the bale 3.

[0030] The apparatus may also be provided with a moving means for moving the bale 3 and the wrapping means 6 in relation to each other such that the bale 3 is moved past said wrapping means 6 in a direction essentially perpendicular to said first plane of rotation (arrow on the bales 3 in Figures). The moving means comprises or is configured to be coupled with a tunnel means 9 for receiving bales 3 from the bale producing means 2. The tunnel means 9 comprises an open downstream end 10.

[0031] The apparatus comprises advantageously also a frame means 11. The frame means 11 and the wrapping means 6 are movable in relation to each other such that the wrapping means 6 is capable of applying at least of of said wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C onto the frame means 11 to form a tunnel construction 12 comprising wrapping material 5. The frame means 11, on which wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C is applied to form a tunnel construction 12 or on which wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C is to be applied to form a tunnel construction 12, is arrangable in relation to the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means so that the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 is or becomes situated inside a the tunnel construction 12 comprising wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C, so that a bale 3 that is moved out of the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 is moved into a tunnel construction 12 comprising wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C, which tunnel construction 12 becomes part of the wrapping or the wrapping capable of at least partly holding the material of the bale 3 together.

[0032] The tunnel construction 12 can be formed when the frame means 11 is arranged in such position in relation to the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 so that the tunnel construction 12 comprising wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C is formed around the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 by applying wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C at the frame means 11 so that the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 will become situated in the tunnel construction 12 that is formed.

[0033] Alternatively, the tunnel construction 12 may initially be formed at a distance from the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 and thereafter the tunnel construction 12 can be moved in relation to the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 so that the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 will become situated in the tunnel construction 12.

[0034] In an apparatus as the one shown in the figures the frame means 11 may be movable both in relation to the wrapping means 6 and in relation to the tunnel means 9 (when used) in such a way that the frame means 11 is firstly perpendicularly movable in relation to a first plane of rotation of the dispenser means 4A, 4B, 4C of the wrapping means 6 so that wrapping material is applied at the sides of the frame means 11 while moving the frame means 11 in relation to the wrapping means to form the tunnel construction 12 comprising wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C onto the frame means and in such a way that the tunnel construction 12 formed onto the frame means 11 is thereafter movable in relation to the tunnel means 9 so that the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 is situated inside the tunnel construction 12 comprising wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C.

[0035] However, according to an example the frame means 11 may also be stationary, whereupon the wrapping material will slip off from the frame means 11 when the bale is transferred through or from the wrapping means 6 and/or the tunnel means 9 (when used).

[0036] According to an embodiment the first and second wrapping material dispenser means 4A, 4B, 4C of the wrapping means 6 with the wrapping material are arranged in relation to each other so that the second wrapping material 5B, 5C is emerged essentially wholly onto the frame means 11 and the first wrapping material 5A is emerged only partly onto the frame means 11 and the proximal end 5Ap (so the furthest end of the material 5Ap in the direction of the movement of the bale) of the first wrapping material 5A is emerged outside or over the frame means 11 in the moving direction of the bale so to form the end of the tunnel construction 12 (as can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10).

[0037] The frame means 11 comprises preferably, but not necessarily, bars, rods 18, or similar elongate elements. One purpose of the frame means 11 is to provide such a support for the tunnel construction 12 comprising wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C so that when the bale 3 is at least partly moved into the tunnel construction 12, the frame means 11 enables the wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C of the tunnel construction 12 to be in contact with the bale 3 so that the wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C of the tunnel construction 12 is capable of at least partly retaining the structure of the bale 3. This is important because the tunnel construction 12 will become the final wrapping for the bale 3 or part of the final wrapping for the bale 3.

[0038] In one embodiment of the invention the frame means 11 comprises four rods 18 which are arranged in relation to each other so that wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C applied with said wrapping means 6 onto the frame means 11 forms a tunnel construction 12 having a rectangular cross-shape and that is supported by said four rods 18.

[0039] The apparatus may also comprise a rotation means 8 for rotating the bale 3 in a second plane of rotation substantially normal to said first plane of rotation.

[0040] According to an embodiment the first wrapping material dispenser means 4A is configured to emerge the first wrapping material 5A with a first tension and the second wrapping material dispenser means 4B, 4C is configured to second emerge the second wrapping material 5B, 5C with a second tension, where said first and second tensions differs from each other, as is described elsewhere in this document.

[0041] FIGS. 7-8 illustrate a principle of exemplary parts of the first and second stages of wrapping as seen from one end of the apparatus according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention. As can be seen in FIGS. 7-8 the wrapping means 6 comprises also a circular ring 13 which is rotatably assembled onto a support roller means 14 disposed in a framework 15 of the apparatus which circular ring 13 preferably further includes a support arm 16 extending from the circular ring 13 for pivotally supporting said dispenser means 4A, 4B, 4C.

[0042] The circular ring 13, the support roller means 14, the framework 15 and the support arm 16 correspond preferably, but not necessarily, to the circular ring 13, the support roller means 14, the framework 15 and the support arm presented and described in publication WO/1994/022717 or EP2496068B1. The apparatus may also comprise a conveyor means 17 for additionally conveying the bale.

[0043] The apparatus 100 may comprise furthermore a turning or tilting means 7 for turning or tilting the surface of at least one web of wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C emerging from the dispenser means 4A, 4B, 4C in relation to said first plane of rotation. The turning or tilting can be done for changing the angle of the surface of the emerging wrapping material web so that the emerging wrapping material web meets the bale in an angle and thus produces narrower (and this denser) wrapping on the bale than when the surface of the emerging wrapping material web is substantially normal to said first plane of rotation. The turning or tilting is also done advantageously between a first wrapping stage and a second wrapping stage such that the surface of said web of wrapping material 5A becomes substantially parallel with said first plane of rotation, wherein said turning means 7 for turning said surface of said web of wrapping material 5A is arranged such said wrapping means 6 remains in said first plane of rotation.

[0044] It is to be noted that the apparatus advantageously comprises a braking or resisting device 23 arranged in connection with at least one of said first and second dispenser means 4A, 4B, 4C in order to control the tension of the wrapping material during emerging. The braking or resisting device 23 can be implemented e.g. by a controllable electric motor, mechanical or hydraulic or pneumatic brakes, induction brakes or a friction braking device by which the tension of the emerging wrapping material can be controlled, as is described elsewhere in this document.

[0045] FIGS. 9-10 illustrates two principles of providing two different areas of wrapping onto the bale according to advantageous embodiments of the invention, where the wrapping apparatus 100 is configured to emerge the first wrapping material 5A from the first wrapping material dispenser means 4A and the second wrapping material 5B, 5C from the second wrapping material dispenser means 4B, 4C around the bale 1 at least in two different areas 21, 22 of the bale in said first plane of rotation and in the direction perpendicular to said first plane of rotation so that the properties of the final wrapping of at least one of said first and/or second wrapping material 5B, 5C provided onto the bale are substantially different at least in the second area 22 than the properties of the final wrapping of at least one of said first and/or second wrapping material 5A in said first area 21 in order to make the bale wrapping stronger in said second area.

[0046] According to an advantageous embodiment the property of the first wrapping material 5A is different in the first area 21 that the property of the wrapping material 5B, 5C in the second area 22. It is to be noted that also the first wrapping material 5A can be provided into the second area 22 so that its properties, at least when or after contacted and folded on the bale, differs from the properties on the first area 21. The property is advantageously the width of the wrapping material, but may also be another property, such as the final density after provided onto the surface of the bale. The width and/or density or other property of the second wrapping material 5B, 5C may differ already in originally from the property of the first wrapping material so before emerged. Also the emerging process can be controlled so that the width and/or density of the second wrapping material 5B, 5C after provided onto the surface of the bale is different on the second area 22 as in the first area 21. This can be done e.g. by turning or tilting (advantageously by the turning or tilting means 7) at least one of said wrapping material dispenser means 4C in relation to the normal of the first plane of rotation at least in said second area 22 so that the surface of said wrapping material web 5C emerged by said tilted wrapping material dispenser means 4C differs substantially of the normal of said first plane of rotation before wrapping, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 10. In the embodiment described in FIG. 10 the apparatus is thus configured to provide the wrapping material 5B, 5C onto the second area 22 so that the width said wrapping material 5B, 5C is reduced in relation to the width of said wrapping material 5B, 5C in said first area 21.

[0047] However, according to an embodiment the apparatus 100 is configured to keep the surface of the web of at least one wrapping material 5A substantially normal to the first plane of rotation during.

[0048] The narrowing of at least one wrapping material web 5B, 5C can also be done in other way than tilting the angle of emerging web. For this the apparatus may comprise a mechanical shrinking device for mechanically shrinking the original wrapping material 5B, 5C narrower for the second area 22 so that the width said wrapping material 5B, 5C is reduced in relation to the width of said wrapping material 5B, 5C in said first area. The apparatus may also comprise a heating device for heating the original wrapping material 5B, 5C narrower for the second area 22 (depending whether the wrapping material is heat shrinkable) so that the width said wrapping material 5B, 5C is reduced in relation to the width of said wrapping material 5B, 5C in said first area 21.

[0049] According to an embodiment the apparatus may also be configured to provide the second area 22 with more rounds of at least the second wrapping material 5B, 5C than said first area 21 in order to make the bale wrapping stronger in said second area. If and when the first wrapping material 5A is not cut (by a cutting device (not shown)) or otherwise manipulated in the second area 22, it 5A is also round as many rounds around the bale as the second wrapping material 5B, 5C. For this the moving means is advantageously configured to move the bale and slow or stop the bale in the position where the second wrapping material is provided to the second area. Other option is to speeding up the rotations of the wrapping means 6.

[0050] Advantageously the apparatus is configured to provide the second area onto the portion of the bale comprising a supporting portion 19 (batten) and/or on the end portion(s) of the bale or onto the frame means.

[0051] The invention has been explained above with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, and several advantages of the invention have been demonstrated. It is clear that the invention is not only restricted to these embodiments, but comprises all possible embodiments within the spirit and scope of the inventive thought and the following patent claims. The features recited in dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. For example the apparatus for producing wrapped bales can be a stationary apparatus or a movable apparatus mounted for example on a trailer to be pulled by a tractor. In addition it can be operated in horizontal or vertical directions.