Agricultural Baler and Method for Removing a Plug of Crop Material Stuck in the Feeder Duct of an Agricultural Baler

Abstract

A method for removing a plug of crop material stuck in a feeder duct of a baler including a bale chamber; a feeder duct communicating with a bale chamber feeder operable within the feeder duct to accumulate a charge of crop material therein and then stuff that accumulated charge into the bale chamber; and crop holding fingers provided at an upper end of the feeder duct to hold back the crop material while the charge of crop material is being accumulated. The method includes steps of in case of a plug of crop material being stuck in the feeder duct with the crop holding fingers in their crop holding position, moving the crop holding fingers in their withdrawn position and causing the feeder to operate in the feeder duct with the crop holding fingers in their withdrawn position.

Claims

1. Method for removing a plug (61) of crop material stuck in a feeder duct (23) of a baler (1), said baler comprising: a bale chamber (9) having an inlet opening (19) formed therein; a feeder duct (23) communicating with the bale chamber (9) through the inlet opening (19) for charges of crop material (53) to be transferred from the feeder duct into the bale chamber, wherein the feeder duct (23) has an upper end (27) facing generally upwardly and communicating with the inlet opening (19) in the bale chamber and a lower end (27) facing generally in a forward direction; a plunger (7) reciprocally movable within the bale chamber (9) to compress successive charges of crop material (53) received from the feeder duct (23) to form a bale; feeder means (25) operable within the feeder duct to accumulate a charge of crop material therein and then stuff that accumulated charge into the bale chamber (9); and crop holding fingers (55) provided at the upper end (27) of the feeder duct (23), that are movable between a crop holding position and a withdrawn position, wherein in the crop holding position the crop holding fingers (55) extend in the feeder duct (23) in the upper end part thereof to hold back the crop material (53) while the charge of crop material is being accumulated and in the withdrawn position the crop holding fingers (55) are withdrawn from the upper end part of the feeder duct to allow the accumulated charge of crop material to be stuffed into the bale chamber; wherein the method comprises: in case of a plug (61) of crop material being stuck in the feeder duct (23) with the crop holding fingers (55) in their crop holding position, moving the crop holding fingers (55) in their withdrawn position and causing the feeder means (25) to operate in the feeder duct (23) with the crop holding fingers (55) in their withdrawn position.

2. Method according to claim 1, comprising detecting the occurrence of a plugging of the feeder duct (23) and after detecting the occurrence of a plugging of the feeder duct (23), in case the crop holding fingers (55) are in their crop holding position, moving the crop holding fingers (55) in their withdrawn position and causing the feeder means (25) to operate in the feeder duct with the crop holding fingers in their withdrawn position.

3. Method according to claim 2, comprising for detecting the occurrence of a plugging of the feeder duct, measuring the load on the feeder means (25) during operation thereof in the feeder duct (23) and comparing the measured load with a predetermined load that is indicative of a stuck plug (61) of crop material in the feeder duct.

4. Method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the feeder duct (23) has a top wall (35) and a bottom wall (37) extending between the lower end (29) and the upper end (27) of the feeder duct (23), said top wall providing an upper boundary of the feeder duct and said bottom wall providing a lower boundary of the feeder duct, the method further comprising in case of a plug (61) of crop material being stuck in the feeder duct (23), in addition to withdrawing the crop holding fingers (55) and before causing the feeder means (25) to operate in the feeder duct (23), increasing the distance (a) between the top wall (35) and the bottom wall (37) of the feeder duct (23) in at least a part of the feeder duct, while leaving the upper boundary provided by the top wall of the feeder duct and the lower boundary provided by the bottom wall of the feeder duct intact.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the distance (a) between the top wall (35) and the bottom wall (37) of the feeder duct (23) is preferably at least increased in the part of the feeder duct where a plugging has occurred, wherein preferably the distance (a) between the top wall (35) and the bottom wall (37) of the feeder duct is additionally increased in the part of the feeder duct (23) downstream, as seen in the direction (B) of conveying, of the part of the feeder duct where the plugging has occurred, and wherein more preferably the distance (a) between the top wall (35) and the bottom wall (37) of the feeder duct (23) is increased over substantially the whole length of said downstream part, and more preferably over substantially the whole length of the feeder duct (23).

6. Method according to any of claims 4 to 5, wherein the distance (a) between the top wall (35) and the bottom wall (37) of the feeder duct (23) in at least part of the feeder duct (23) is increased by moving the bottom wall (37) away from the top wall (35) in said at least part of the feeder duct.

7. Agricultural baler (1) comprising: a bale chamber (9) having an inlet opening (19) formed therein; a feeder duct (23) communicating with the bale chamber (9) through the inlet opening for charges of crop material (53) to be transferred from the feeder duct (23) into the bale chamber (9), wherein the feeder duct (23) has an upper end (27) facing generally upwardly and communicating with the inlet opening in the bale chamber and a lower end (29) facing generally in a forward direction; a plunger (7) reciprocally movable within the bale chamber (9) to compress successive charges of crop material (53) received from the feeder duct (23) to form a bale; feeder means (25) operable within the feeder duct (23) to accumulate a charge of crop material therein and then stuff that accumulated charge into the bale chamber; crop holding fingers (55) provided at the upper end part of the feeder duct (23), that are movable between a crop holding position and a withdrawn position, wherein in the crop holding position the crop holding fingers (55) extend in the feeder duct (23) in the upper end part thereof to hold back the crop material (53) while the charge of crop material is being accumulated and in the withdrawn position the crop holding fingers (55) are withdrawn from the upper end part of the feeder duct (23) to allow the accumulated charge of crop material (53) to be stuffed into the bale chamber (9); and means (59, 65) for selectively moving the crop holding fingers (55) between the crop holding position and the withdrawn position independently from the operation of the feeder means (23).

8. Baler according to claim 7, wherein the means for selectively moving the crop holding fingers (55) between the crop holding position and a withdrawn position comprise an actuator (59) and a controller (65) connected to the actuator for controlling said actuator.

9. Baler according to claim 8, wherein the controller (65) is manually operable.

10. Baler according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the controller (65) is configured for controlling the operation of the feeder means and comprises a processor (67) that is configured for causing the controller (65) to perform the method according to any of claims 1 to 7.

11. Baler according to claim 10, wherein sensor means (63) adapted for detecting a plugging of the feeder duct (23) or for measuring load on the feeder means (25) are connected to the controller (65).

12. Baler according to any of claims 7 to 11, comprising a drive for driving the crop holding fingers depending from the operation of the feeder means, wherein the means for selectively moving the crop holding finger between the crop holding position and the withdrawn position independently from the operation of the feeder means comprise a release mechanism for selectively releasing the crop holding fingers from said drive in order to be able to move the crop holding fingers between the crop holding position and the withdrawn position independently from the operation of the feeder means.

13. Baler according to any of claims 7 to 12, comprising means for moving at least one of the top wall (35) and the bottom wall (37) of the feeder duct (23) relative to the other one of the top wall and the bottom wall of the feeder duct (23) in at least part of the feeder duct.

14. Baler according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the top wall (35) and the bottom wall (37) of the feeder duct is divided in sections (37a, 37b, 37c) along the length of the feeder duct, said means for moving at least one of the top wall and the bottom wall of the feeder duct are adapted for selectively moving said sections relative to the other one of the top wall and the bottom wall of the feeder duct, wherein for each pair of adjacent sections, adjacent edges of the sections are mutually attached such that when moving the sections adjacent edges of the sections remain adjacent to one another, or said means for moving are adapted to move the sections such that adjacent edges of the sections remain adjacent to one another.

15. Baler according to claim 14, wherein said means for moving at least one of the top wall and the bottom wall of the feeder duct relative to the other one of the top wall and the bottom wall of the feeder duct in at least part of the feeder duct comprise at least one actuator (69) acting on at least a part (37a, 37b, 37c) of at least one of the top wall (35) and the bottom wall (37) of the feeder duct (23), wherein for controlling said at least one actuator is connected to said controller (65) for controlling said actuator (59) for moving said crop holding fingers (55).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0027] The accompanying drawings are used to illustrate present non-limitative preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The above stated and other advantages, features and objectives of the invention will become more apparent, and the invention better understood, from the following detailed description when read in combination with the accompanying drawings, in which

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a baler according to the invention adapted to execute the method according to the invention, drawn and driven by a tractor;

[0029] FIGS. 2 and 3 show in schematic side view the feeding duct of the baler of FIG. 1 during normal operation;

[0030] FIGS. 4 to 6 show in schematic side view the feeding duct of the baler of FIG. 1 the method according to the invention for removing a stuck plug of crop material from the feeder duct according to a first embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 7 shows in schematic side view the feeding duct of the baler of FIG. 1 an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a rectangular agricultural baler 1. Baler 1 can be moved forward over ground surface 3 by means of a tractor 5. In baler 1 is provided with a plunger 7 that during operation is moved reciprocally along a linear path A in bale chamber 9 by means of a crank mechanism 11 connected to plunger 7. Crank mechanism 11 is connected for driving via a drive shaft 13 to the motor of tractor 5. Tractor 5 is provided for this purpose with a power take-off device, also referred to as PTO. Drive shaft 13 connects an output shaft of the PTO of tractor 5 to an input shaft 15 of crank mechanism 11. A flywheel 17 is arranged on the input shaft of the crank mechanism.

[0033] The bale chamber 9 has an inlet opening 19 formed in the bottom wall 21 thereof. A feeder duct 23 communicates with the bale chamber 9 through the inlet opening 19 for charges of crop material to be transferred from the feeder duct 23 into the bale chamber 9. Feeder means 25 are operable within the feeder duct 23 to accumulate a charge of crop material therein and then stuff that accumulated charge into the bale chamber 9. The feeder duct 23 has an upper end 27 facing generally upwardly and communicating with the inlet opening 19 in the bale chamber 9 and a lower end 29 facing generally in a forward direction and communicating with a cutting unit 31. The cutting unit 31 is arranged for cutting crop material supplied by a pick-up device 33 and to convey the cut crop material into the feeder duct 23.

[0034] In FIGS. 2 and 3 the feeder duct 23 is shown in more detail during normal operation. The feeder duct 23 is defined between a feeder duct top wall 35 and feeder duct bottom wall 37. The feeder duct top wall 35 provides an upper boundary for the feeder duct 23. The feeder duct bottom wall 37 provides a lower boundary for the feeder duct 23. In the feeder duct 23 feeder means 25 are operable. The feeder means 25 include a rotatable drum 39 having sets of tines 41, 43 arranged thereon. In operation the drum 39 is rotated in the direction of arrow B about axis of rotation 45.

[0035] The feeder means 25 further include a schematically shown drive 47. The drive 47 is arranged for rotating the drum 39 in the direction of arrow B about axis of rotation 45. The drive 47 further includes a mechanism for rotating the respective sets of tines 41, 43 relative to the drum 39 about a respective axis of rotation 49, 51, while the drum 39 is rotated in the direction of arrow B about axis of rotation 45. This causes the outer ends of the tines 41, 43 to be moved along a path of movement. This path of movement may be a fixed path of movement or an adjustable path of movement, wherein the drive 47 comprises a mechanism for adjusting the path of movement of the sets of tines 41, 43, while the drum 39 is rotated in the direction of arrow B about axis of rotation 45.

[0036] During normal operation, the outer ends of the tines 41, 43 are caused to be moved along a path of movement P, Q through the feeder duct 23 in the direction indicated by arrow B, thereby conveying cut crop material that has been conveyed by the cutting unit 31 into the lower end 29 of the feeder duct 23, from the lower end 29 of the feeder duct 23 toward the upper end 27 thereof.

[0037] As illustrated by means of FIG. 2, the feeder means 25 first accumulate a charge of crop material 53 in the feeder duct 23. Thereto, tines 41, 43 are moved through the feeder duct 23 along an accumulating movement path P. While the charge of crop material 53 is being accumulated, crop holding fingers 55 provided at the upper end 27 of the feeder duct 23 extend in the feeder duct 23 in the upper end part thereof to hold back the crop material 53 that is being accumulated. The crop holding fingers 55 thus prevent that said crop material 53 is forced through the opening 19 into the bale chamber 9. Furthermore, while the charge of crop material 53 is being accumulated, the plunger 7 reciprocates in the bale chamber 9, wherein during part of the reciprocating movement, the plunger 7 blocks the opening 19.

[0038] As illustrated by means of FIG. 3, once the charge of crop material 53 has been accumulated, the plunger 7 that reciprocates in the bale chamber 9 is clear from the opening 19 in the bale chamber 9, and the bale chamber 9 is ready to receive the accumulated charge of crop material 53, the crop holding fingers 55 are withdrawn from the upper end part of the feeder duct 23. In particular, the crop holding fingers 55 are withdrawn from the upper end part of the feeder duct 23 by rotating the crop holding fingers 55 in the direction of arrow C (see FIG. 2) about axis of rotation 57 by means of linear actuator 59. Subsequently, the outer ends of the tines 43 are caused to be moved along a stuffing movement path Q through the feeder duct 23 in the direction indicated by arrow B, thereby stuffing, i.e. conveying, the accumulated charge of crop material 53 through the opening 19 into the bale chamber 9. After the charge of crop material 53 has been stuffed into the bale chamber 9, the crop holding fingers 55 are moved in the direction of arrow D back into their crop holding position wherein they extend in the feeder duct 23 in the upper end part thereof, and the feeder means 25 operate to accumulate a next charge of crop material in the feeder duct 23.

[0039] In FIG. 4 is shown a situation wherein during accumulation of the charge of crop material 53, a plug 61 of crop material gets stuck in the feeder duct 23 causing the feeding means 25 to become inoperable. As shown in FIG. 4 sensor means 63 are provided that are configured to measure the load on the sets of tines 41, 43. The sensor means 63 are connected to a controller 65 that in turn is connected to the actuator 59 of the crop holding fingers 55 and to the drive 47 of the feeder means 25. The controller 65 is provided with a processor 67 that compares the measured load on the sets of tines 41, 43 with a predetermined load that is indicative of a plugging of the feeder duct. Once a plugging of the feeder duct 23 is detected, the controller 65 cause the drive 47 of the feeder means 25 to stop operation of the feeder means 25. The operation of the feeder means 25 is stopped by stopping the rotation of the drum 39 or by adjusting the path of movement of the outer ends of the tines 41, 43 such that the outer ends do not pass through the feeder duct 23.

[0040] Subsequently, in order to dislodge the plug 61 of crop material, the controller 65 controls the actuator 59 of the crop holding fingers 55 such that the crop holding fingers 55 are moved from the crop holding position in the direction of arrow C into the withdrawn position (shown in FIG. 5) wherein the crop holding fingers 55 do no longer hold back the crop material 53. As a result, and as illustrated by means of FIG. 5, the crop material 53 is allowed to expand and to move into the space S (shown in FIG. 4 between the crop holding fingers and the bale chamber 9). This relieves the pressure exerted on the stuck plug 61 of crop material at its downstream side and provides additional space for the plug 61 of crop material and the crop material 53 downstream thereof to be moved into the direction of the upper end of the feeder duct 23 indicated by arrow B (see FIG. 5) with reduced pressure build up.

[0041] Subsequently, the controller 65 controls the drive 47 of the feeder means 25 such that the feeder means 25 are caused to resume operation wherein the outer ends of the tines 41 resume movement along the accumulating movement path P through the feeder duct 23 in the direction indicated by arrow B. As a result of the relieved pressure exerted on the stuck plug 61 of crop material at its downstream side and the additional space for moving the plug of crop material and the crop material downstream thereof into the direction of the upper end of the feeder duct indicated by arrow B with reduced pressure build up, the counter pressure experienced by the outer ends of the tines 41 while exerting force on the stuck plug 61 of crop material at its upstream side, is reduced thereby allowing the outer ends of the tines 41 to dislodge the stuck plug 61 of crop material and continue its accumulating movement path P. This allows the feeder means 25 to resume normal operation, wherein, as illustrated by FIG. 6, once the plunger 7 that reciprocates in the bale chamber 9 is clear from the opening 19 in the bale chamber 9, and the bale chamber 9 is ready to receive the accumulated charge of crop material 53, the outer ends of the tines 43 are caused to be moved along the stuffing movement path Q through the feeder duct 23 in the direction indicated by arrow B, thereby stuffing, i.e. conveying, the accumulated charge of crop material 53 including the dislodged plug 61 of crop material through the opening 19 into the bale chamber 9. After the charge of crop material 53 has been stuffed into the bale chamber 9, the crop holding fingers 55 are moved in the direction of arrow D back into their crop holding position wherein they extend in the feeder duct 23 in the upper end part thereof, such that the feeder means 25 can accumulate a next charge of crop material in the feeder duct 23.

[0042] In case the plunger 7 has already cleared the opening 19 when moving the crop holding fingers 55 from the crop holding position in the direction of arrow C into the withdrawn position in order to provide the additional space S or when resuming operation of the feeder means 25 in order to dislodge the stuck plug of crop material 61, the bale chamber 9 provides additional space for the crop material 53 downstream of the plug of crop material 61 to move into. This allows for further reduction of pressure exerted on the stuck plug 61 of crop material at its downstream side and/or pressure build up when moving the plug of crop material and the crop material downstream thereof into the direction of the upper end of the feeder duct indicated by arrow B.

[0043] It should be understood that the specific paths of movement of the tines indicated in the FIGS. 2 to 6 as well as the number of tines of the feeder means are exemplary.

[0044] FIG. 7 is illustrative of an alternative embodiment of the method illustrated by means of FIGS. 4 to 6, wherein in case during accumulation of the charge of crop material, a plug 61 of crop material 53 gets stuck in the feeder duct 23 causing the feeding means 25 to become inoperable, in addition to withdrawing the crop holding fingers 55 and before causing the feeder means 25 to operate in the feeder duct 23 to dislodge the stuck plug 61 of crop material, the distance a between the top wall 35 and the bottom wall 37 of the feeder duct 23 is increased, while leaving the upper boundary provided by the top wall 35 of the feeder duct and the lower boundary provided by the bottom wall 37 of the feeder duct 23 intact. In particular it is schematically shown that three sections 37a, 37b, 37c of the bottom wall of the feeder duct 23 having overlapping edges are moved from their original position, indicated with the dotted line, away from the top wall 35 of the feeder duct 23 in the direction of arrows E by means of linear actuators 69 that are connected to and controlled by the controller 65. As a result additional space S is provided in the feeder duct 23 that further relieves the pressure exerted on the stuck plug 61 of crop material and that allows for more movement of the stuck plug 61 of crop material and the crop material downstream 53 thereof. After the plug 61 of crop material has been removed from the feeder duct 23 by conveying the dislodged plug 61 of crop material into the bale chamber 9, the three sections 37a, 37b, 37c of the bottom wall 37 of the feeder duct 23 are moved back into their original position in the direction indicated by arrow F by means of linear actuators 69 and the crop holding fingers 55 are moved in the direction of arrow D back into their crop holding position by means of actuator 59 wherein they extend in the feeder duct 23 in the upper end part thereof, such that the feeder means 25 can accumulate a next charge of crop material in the feeder duct 23.

[0045] Although the principles of the invention have been set forth above with reference to specific embodiments, it must be understood that this description is given solely by way of example and not as limitation to the scope of protection, which is defined by the appended claims.