Method for operating a round baler and a round baler

Abstract

The present disclosure refers to a method for operating a round baler. The method comprises providing a nonstop baler type machine; controlling a feeding mechanism for feeding of crop into a prechamber and a main bale forming chamber by a control system of the baler; in a feeding operation, feeding the crop through a first feeding channel into the prechamber; and switching the feeding operation by the control system, thereby, stopping feeding the crop into the prechamber and starting feeding the crop through a second feeding channel into a main bale forming chamber of the baler. The control system is configured to switch the feeding operation in response to a binding material parameter reaching a predetermined parameter value, the binding material provided for wrapping a bale formed in the main bale forming chamber. Furthermore, a round baler is disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for operating a round baler, comprising providing a nonstop baler type machine; controlling a feeding mechanism for feeding of crop into a prechamber and a main bale forming chamber by a control system of the baler; in a feeding operation, feeding the crop through a first feeding channel into the prechamber; switching the feeding operation by the control system, thereby, stopping feeding of the crop into the prechamber and started feeding of the crop through a second feeding channel into a main bale forming chamber of the baler; Sensing or calculating, by the control system, a bale size as a bale is formed in the main bale forming chamber of the baler; activating, by the control system, a binding unit to feed a binding material into the main bale forming chamber to attach to a bale circumference when the bale size is determined to reach a bale size that is less than a full bale size; sensing or calculating, by the control system, a binding material parameter indicative of a bale circumference as crop continues to enter the main bale forming chamber; stretching the binding material using a stretch roller as the binding material is fed into the main bale forming chamber; applying a braking force on the stretch roller to increase surface tension between the stretch roller and the binding material; releasing the braking force on the stretch roller as the binding material parameter indicates the bale circumference is approaching the full bale size; and switching the feeding operation to feed the crop from the main bale forming chamber to the prechamber in response to the binding material parameter reaching the predetermined value indicative of a substantially full bale size.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of switching the feeding operation includes switching the feeding operation to feed crop into the prechamber when the binding material parameter reaches the predetermined value indicative of a predetermined location between 0 and 360 degrees on the circumference of the bale formed in the main bale forming chamber.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of switching the feeding operation includes switching the feeding operation to feed crop into the prechamber when the binding material reaches a predetermined value corresponding to a point in the circumference of the main bale forming chamber.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of switching the feeding operation as the binding material is wrapping the bale formed in the main bale forming chamber.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to: the step of sensing or calculating the binding material parameter includes determining the length of the binding material wrapped around the bale, and the step of switching the feeding operation is performed when the length of the binding material wrapped around the bale reaches a specific length.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising stopping the crop from entering the main bale forming chamber at a predetermined value of a binding cycle for wrapping the bale by the binding material; and covering the binding material by a volume of the crop.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the binding material provided as at least one of a plastic binding material and a sheet material.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising switching the feeding operation by switching a moveable plate in a crop channel.

9. A round baler, comprising a prechamber; a main bale forming chamber; a pressure sensing mechanism in the main bale forming chamber configured to sense bale pressure increases in the main bale chamber; a first feed channel configured to feed crop into the prechamber; a second feed channel configured to feed the crop into the main bale forming chamber; a binding unit comprising a binding material roll, a braking mechanism, a stretch roller, a binding material length monitor, and at least one binding material guide roller, the binding unit configured to release a binding material into the main bale forming chamber; and a control system configured to; sense a pressure in the main bale forming chamber and calculate a bale size as a bale is formed in the main bale forming chamber of the baler; activate the binding unit to feed the binding material into the main bale forming chamber to attach to a bale circumference when the bale size is determined to reach a bale size that is less than a full bale size; sense a length of the binding material, where the length of the binding material is indicative of a bale circumference as crop continues to enter the main bale forming chamber; stretch the binding material using the stretch roller as the binding material is fed into the main bale forming chamber; apply a braking force on the stretch roller to increase surface tension between the stretch roller and the binding material; release the braking force on the stretch roller as the binding material parameter indicates the bale circumference is approaching the full bale size; and switch the feeding operation to feed the crop from the main bale forming chamber to the prechamber in response to the binding material parameter reaching the predetermined value indicative of a substantially full bale size.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Following, further embodiments are described by referring to figures. In the figures show:

(2) FIG. 1 a schematic representation of crop flow to the main bale forming chamber, the crop flow entering the chamber encloses the binding material between the outer layer of crop on the bale and the inner material on the bale;

(3) FIG. 2 a schematic representation of the switching of the crop flow to the baler's prechamber at a predetermined point on the bales circumference of the binding material;

(4) FIG. 3 a schematic representation of a binding apparatus, wherein the binding apparatus is provided with a braking mechanism, within the braking mechanism the stretch roller locates in the parked/binding roll recharge position;

(5) FIG. 4 a schematic representation of a binding apparatus, wherein the braking mechanism is shown, within the braking mechanism the stretch roller locates in the binding feed position, located away from the binding material;

(6) FIG. 5 a schematic representation of the binding apparatus, wherein the braking mechanism is shown, within the braking mechanism the stretch roller locates in the stretching position, the stretching position, the stretch roller applying a braking force on the binding material roll; and

(7) FIG. 6 a schematic representation of the binding apparatus, wherein the braking mechanism is shown, within the braking mechanism the stretch roller locates in the binding material roll change recharge position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(8) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a baling machine 10 of the nonstop type. The baling machine 10 is provided with a prechamber 20 in which a preformed bale is prepared in the process of forming a bale from crop 41. There is a feeding channel 21 configured to feed the crop 41 picked up by a crop pickup mechanism 42 to the prechamber 20.

(9) There is a second feeding channel 45 for feeding or guiding the crop 41 into a main baling forming chamber 60. In the main bale forming chamber 60 a full bale of crop material is prepared.

(10) A crop cutting device 43 is provided. A crop switching plate 44 can be pivoted on the rear side of the crop cutting device 43 for guiding the crop 41 to at least one of the prechamber 20 and the main bale forming chamber 60.

(11) The feeding of the crop 41 is conducted by a feeding mechanism 47.

(12) While according to FIG. 1 the crop 41 is fed to the main bale forming chamber 60, the crop 41 is fed to the prechamber 20 according to FIG. 2 when the crop switching plate 44 is in a different position compared to FIG. 1.

(13) A binding apparatus 31 is provided for the baling machine 10. The binding apparatus 31 is provided with a roll 32 of binding material. A binding material pathway 33 is provided. A tail end 34 of the binding material is on the circumference of the bale 11.

(14) Further, a feeding roller 35 is provided for the binding apparatus 31.

(15) Referring to FIGS. 3 to 7, further aspects are described, specifically with respect to the binding apparatus 31 provided in a binding unit 100.

(16) In FIGS. 3 to 6 bale chamber rollers 102 are depicted applied for forming the bale 11.

(17) A braking apparatus structure 111 is provided.

(18) There are binding material guide rollers 112.

(19) The binding unit 100 is provided with a frame 113. With respect to the binding unit 100, a binding apparatus grouping mechanism 114 and a binding material cutting mechanism 115 are provided.

(20) A part 116 of the binding material 117 is entering the main bale forming chamber 60 between one of the bale chamber rollers 102 and the circumference of the bale 11.

(21) The binding material is provided by a roll of binding material 117. The binding material is moved along a path 118 when leaving the roll of binding material 117.

(22) A stretch roller 119 is provided. The stretch roller 119 is configured to contact the binding material 117 with different forces or no forces to allow the binding material 117 to move freely, to stretch the binding material 117 with controlled tension as the binding material is wrapping the bale, and to apply braking forces to the binding material 117.

(23) A secondary force depicted by reference numeral 120 is applied to the stretch roller 119.

(24) There is a braking mechanism 121 of the braking apparatus structure 111 for providing a braking function.

(25) A primary force depicted by reference numeral 122 is applied to the stretch roller 119.

(26) There is a primary force monitoring device 123.

(27) A connecting rod 124 is connecting an actuator 110 for braking in the brake mechanism.

(28) Further, a binding material feeding roller 125 is provided.

(29) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a binding apparatus 31, wherein the binding apparatus 31 is provided with a braking mechanism, within the braking mechanism the stretch roller locates in the parked/binding roll recharge position. In this state, the binding apparatus 31 is in a switch over state, the braking mechanism 121 is lifted into a home position so the binding material roll can be recharged when the binding material 117 goes empty.

(30) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the binding apparatus 31, wherein the braking mechanism 121 is shown. Within the braking mechanism 121, the stretch roller 119 is places in the binding feed position away from and not contacting the binding material 117. The binding apparatus 31 is now engaged in the working mode, the roll of binding material 117 is in position and the braking mechanism 121 lifts the stretch roller 119 from the binding materials surface so the binding material 117 can be pulled from the roll and fed into the baling chamber 60. The binding material follows a path 118 from the circumference of the roll of binding material 117 over the guiding rollers 112, between the plastic grouping sys-tem 114, through the binding systems feeding rollers 125 and binding material cutting mechanism 115 and in-to the baling chamber 60.

(31) FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of the binding apparatus depicting the braking mechanism 121. Within the braking mechanism, the stretch roller is placed in a stretching position in which the stretch roller 119 applies a braking force on the binding material roll. The stretch roller 119 is pressed onto the circumference of the roll of binding material 117 by the actuator moving the connecting rods 124 which increases the primary force 122 via tension springs in the embodiment of FIG. 5. Primary force 122 is increased at the braking roller braking mechanism which in turn increases the friction of the braking mechanism onto the stretch roller 119, therefore slowing down the circumference rotation speed of the stretch roller 119 and slowing down the circumference rotation speed of the roll of binding material 117. The arrangement in this embodiment provides a speed difference between the roll of binding material 117 and the baling chamber thus providing stretching of the binding material. Secondary force applied to the braking roller 120 applies a force to the braking apparatus structure 111 which applies a secondary force to the stretch roller 119 and therefore to the roll of binding material 117.

(32) The primary force monitoring device detects the position of the Primary force applied to braking roller mechanism in which its parameters can be adjusted to provide various levels of stretch to binding material 117. When the roll of binding material 117 is in position and the braking mechanism 121 is lifted from the stretch roller 119, the binding material 117 can be cut by the binding material cutting mechanism 115.

(33) FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of the binding apparatus 31, wherein the braking mechanism is shown. The primary braking force 122 is removed from the stretch roller 119 and the secondary braking force 120 is removed by the lifting of the stretch roller 119 from being in contact with the binding material 117.

(34) The features disclosed in this specification, the figures and/or the claims may be material for the realization of various embodiments, taken in isolation or in various combinations thereof.

REFERENCE LIST

(35) 10 Baling machine of the nonstop type 11 Bale 20 Prechamber 21 Feeding channel entering the prechamber 31 Binding apparatus 32 Roll of binding material 33 Binding material and binding material pathway 34 Tail end of the binding material on the bale's circumference 35 Feeding roller and binding material cutting mechanism 42 Crop pickup mechanism 43 Crop cutting device 44 Crop switching plate pivoting on the rear side of the crop cutting device, in this position guides crop to the main bale forming chamber 45 Crop channel for guiding crop into the main baling chamber 46 Crop switching plate pivoting on the rear side of the crop cutting device, in this position guides crop to the prechamber 47 Feeding mechanism 60 Main bale forming chamber with a full bale of material 100 Binding unit 102 Bale chamber rollers 103 Bale of material 111 Braking apparatus structure 112 Binding material guide rollers 113 Frame of binding unit 114 Binding apparatus grouping mechanism 115 Binding material cutting mechanism 116 Binding material entering bale chamber between roller and bale circumference 117 Roll of binding material 118 Path of binding material leaving from the roll of binding material 119 Stretch roller (Stretching/braking roller) 120 Secondary force applied to the braking roller 121 Braking roller braking mechanism 122 Primary force applied to braking roller mechanism 123 Primary force monitoring device 124 Connecting rod, connecting actuator to braking roller brake mechanism 125 Binding material feeding roller