Abstract:
An apparatus and method for combined raking and baling of either baleable crops or after-harvest stalks, stubble, and trash. A rake is installed in front of the operating throat of a baler. The rake channels materials into the baler throat in the same pass over the field to effectively improve on the baling efficiency and/or extend the area of ground coverage for the implement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to the baling of agricultural plants and/or trash or stubble of agricultural plants, and in particular, to an apparatus and method for improved capture and feeding of materials to be baled into a baler.  
           [0003]    2. Problems in the Art  
           [0004]    The task of baling has always been hard and time-consuming work. There has been a constant search for improved efficiency, including manpower, costs, time, fuel, machinery, and other aspects associated with baling.  
           [0005]    Many advances have been made over the years. For example, mechanized baling has evolved to where round balers have a substantial part of the market. Round balers allow one person to gather, crops, or trash and create a large bale that is left in the field. That bale can later be transported for use.  
           [0006]    However, prior to baling, there is generally the need to mow a live crop or existing stalks or stubble and then rake that material into wind-rows. The baler then picks up each wind-row and bales it. However, this requires at least two passes through the field, with associated fuel, machinery, and manpower costs.  
           [0007]    In some circumstances, usually quite limited, a round baler could be driven through the field without mowing or raking. However, round balers are generally limited in their operating width, which is essentially equivalent to the width of the bales it creates. In the industry, the round balers are generally five foot wide. Therefore, the baler itself has approximately a five-foot throat. This generally may only allow two or three rows of the crop or five-foot widths of the crop, mowed and rake crop, or trash to be covered per pass. It would be extremely inefficient and time-consuming to go through a field two rows at a time, or just in five foot strips at a time.  
           [0008]    Therefore, one part of the efficiency of round balers is how much material can be put into the baler, and how wide a reach per pass of the field the baler can handle.  
           [0009]    With some crops, such as field corn, it is beneficial to remove remaining stalks, stubble and trash, or at least remove some of the same. Furthermore, it is becoming increasing invaluable to utilize the remaining after-harvest plant material for things such as bedding for livestock, feed for livestock, and even non-agricultural products. For example old corn stalks and leaves are now used in a process of manufacturing certain types of plastics.  
           [0010]    However, of course, the economies of taking the time and machinery to process the remains of the after-harvest, must be carefully balanced with the amount of benefit that can be obtained from the same.  
           [0011]    One option to get rid of the remains of the after-harvest is to let livestock into the field to eat as much as possible. Another option is to run an implement through the field to chop up the remains so they will degrade faster before next year&#39;s planting season. A still further option is to bale the material, then either dispose of it or use it for other things such as described previously.  
           [0012]    However, similar problems regarding efficiencies described previously exist when attempting to bale the remains of after-harvest. One can make a pass through to cut and/or rake the remains, followed by a second pass through to bale the remains. As described previously, one could also just run a baler through the field to try to pick up as much as possible. However, the width of the baler, as far as its processing capability, is limited making it too costly in the amount of time and fuel to process the same. Also, the baler itself may not pick up materials merely scattered on the ground or stalks that are still anchored in the ground.  
           [0013]    Also, it should be understood that if two passes are made (one to rake the material up, the second to bale it), one may rake up too much material relative to the number of bales one needs or can afford to make. For example, if one rakes ten acres of material into wind rows, but only six acres of material is needed at the time to make the number of bales desired, the raking of the additional four acres is wasted time and resources. If so, the raked, unbaled material must be removed before the next year&#39;s planting. Again, the operation takes two passes.  
           [0014]    There are, of course, many types of agricultural implements that exist with regard to work in field crops. Round balers have been mentioned. Some rounder balers include what are called tucker or converging wheels at opposite sides of the front throat of the baler. The tucker wheels are relatively small and may have tines or teeth. They are angled to try to tuck into the throat of the baler any materials that are at the margins of the throat. They help try to even out the volume of material as it enters the baler so that the big round bales are as even as possible across their width. The tucker wheels generally do not extend much outside the width of the operating throat of the baler. It should be further mentioned that it is the experience of the applicant that such wheels are not useful with regard to baling, for example, after-harvest corn stalks, trash and stubble. They can be either ineffective or even detrimental by being plugged up by residues that exist with regard to corn stalks, for instance.  
           [0015]    All sorts of different types of rakes exist. For example, there are rakes having rotating, circular wheels comprised of the a number of tines. The wheels run across the ground. The wheels are positioned in such a way that moved materials are channeled into a wind-row for baling. A substantial width of the field can then be concentrated into a wind-row capable of being processed by the baler. Some of these rakes can either be linear, in other words, comprised of spaced-apart but overlapping wheels along a linear frame. Some exist that are v-shaped whereby the rake funnels material from a wide piece of ground into a center area that is no wider than a baler throat or intake. However, such rakes require at least two passes of the field (raking then baling), again which is costly.  
           [0016]    There are some known implements that combine a shredder device directly in front of a baler. While this assists in processing stubble, stalks and trash for a baler, it does not increase the working width of the baler. However, again, the baler may not effectively and efficiently pick up the shredded material. Also, shredders or choppers are mechanically driven, require more power and thus energy, and require more maintenance.  
           [0017]    Some devices are known which place rakes on the tractor to try to either gather more material or gather material from a width larger than the baler. However, a deficiency of such a system is that the rakes are attached to the tractor. There is not a self-contained rake/baler. Furthermore, it is difficult to allow the tractor to be used for other functions when such rakes are mounted thereon. Also, the rakes can kick up dirt, dust, and debris that can affect the operation of the tractor.  
           [0018]    Therefore, there is a real need in the art for an improvement regarding baling of either field crops such as hay, straw, and the like, or baling after-harvest stalks, trash, and stubble. It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a apparatus and method which improves upon or solves the problems and deficiencies in the art.  
           [0019]    Further objects, features, and advantages of the invention include an apparatus and method which:  
           [0020]    1. Allow one pass, one worker operation.  
           [0021]    2. Allow baling of only as much material as desired.  
           [0022]    3. Can be used for a variety of different crops or after-harvest materials.  
           [0023]    4. Increase efficiencies of balers by increasing the operating width of the baler.  
           [0024]    5. Save time.  
           [0025]    6. Save money.  
           [0026]    7. Are non-complex.  
           [0027]    8. Are durable and economical.  
           [0028]    9. Eliminate multiple vehicles operating simultaneously in a given field.  
           [0029]    10. Are flexible and adjustable for different applications.  
           [0030]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be come more apparent with reference to the accompanying specification and claims.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0031]    The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for increasing the efficiency of baling by one implement, in one pass of the field. The apparatus includes a rake on a frame that can be installed in front of the throat of the baler. The rake extends outside the operating width of the baler to increase the effective width of the implement during use. The rake gathers material from wider than the width of the baler for baling. By its attachment between a motive member, such as a tractor, and the baler, the rake/baler is self-contained and can be separated from the motive means or tractor so that the tractor can easily be used for other functions. The apparatus can also include the combination of the rake with a baler, and the rake with the baler and the tractor.  
           [0032]    The method according to the invention comprises, in one pass through a field, raking material from the field behind the motive member, such as a tractor, in a manner that gathers it in front of the baler from a wider swathe than a baler alone and concentrates it to a size useable for the throat of a baler and then baling the material to increase the efficiency of the baling process. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0033]    [0033]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus according to the present invention hitched to a tractor and illustrating its general operating principals in a crop field.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2 is a partial, enlarged elevational view taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged, top plan view taken along lines  3 - 3  of FIG. 2.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 is a still further enlarged, partial, elevational view taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 5 is a partially exploded, perspective view of the mainframe and part of one wing of the rake portion of the implement of FIG. 1.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 2 but shows an alternative embodiment of the attachment of the rake wheels to the framework supported them.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic depiction of the pivoting action of the embodiment of FIG. 6.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic views of the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 6. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0041]    In order to provide a better understanding of the invention, a description of one possible embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail. Frequent reference will be taken to the accompanying drawings. Reference numbers will be used to indicate certain parts and locations in the drawings. The same reference numbers will be used to indicate the same parts and locations throughout the drawings unless otherwise indicated.  
         [0042]    The preferred embodiment will be described with respect to a Vermeer 605K round baler, such as are known in the art. It will also be described relative to after-harvest stock, stubble, and trash from a corn field. It is to be understood, however, that the invention can be utilized for different stalks, stubble and/or trash or baling such things as hay, straw, and the like. It can also be used with other similar balers which have an intake or pick up and process mowed plant material or stubble and trash. Other uses are contemplated as will be within the understanding and skill of those skilled in the art.  
         [0043]    By referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. A rake/baler  10  is connected to tractor  12  by hitch  14  which is connected to tractor hitch  16 . A A Vermeer 605K round baler  18  is at the rear of apparatus  10 . Intermediate of hitch  14  and baler  18  is rake section  20 .  
         [0044]    As is further shown in FIG. 1, device  10  is running through a cornfield after the corn has been harvested. Corn stalks and stubble exist in rows R 1 -R 10 . Trash and other after-harvest materials can exist along rows R 1 -R 10  or in between rows R 1 -R 10 , such as is well known in the art. Baler  18  has an operating width of approximately five feet at throat  19 , which is approximately the entire width of baler  18 . As can be seen in FIG. 1, rake  20  includes two wing-arms  22  and  24  that extend outwardly and forwardly. Rake wheels  26  are staggered on opposite sides of each wing  22  and  24 , but overlap slightly. As indicated at arrows  28 , rake  20  therefore pulls into throat  19  of baler  18  stalks, stubble, and trash from at least crop rows R 3 -R 7  (five rows in total) which can be processed to create a bale  30  when enough material has been collected in baler  18 .  
         [0045]    It is further pointed out that tractor  12  can be driven so that its front wheels travel over rows R 3  and R 7  to flatten those rows. As is know in the art and as can be further appreciated by viewing FIG. 2, rake wheels  26  (approx. 4 feet in diameter) are standard, off-the-shelf John Day rake wheels and hubs. The tines  32  of rake wheels  26  contact the ground  34  of the field and roll along the ground. The angular orientation (approx. 45°) with regard to the direction of travel, also allows tines  32  to pick up and channel rearwardly stalks, stubble, and trash from the field. Although baler  18  is driven by PTO shaft  36  of tractor  12 , rake  20  does not require any drive mechanism and therefore does not contribute materially to any need power thus fuel for its operation.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 1 also illustrates that without rake  20 , baler  18  at best could cover perhaps 2 or 3 rows R 4  to R 6  instead of the at least five rows, R 3  to R 7 . Therefore, the area processed per pass is approximately doubled over just using baler  18 .  
         [0047]    For example, wing members  22  and  24  of rake  20  are approximately six foot in length. Rake wheels  26  are approximately 48 inches in diameter. Rake  20  and baler throat  19  therefore span over twelve and a half feet of the field as opposed to the approximately five-foot width of baler  18 . Thus, the operating width is in fact over double that of baler  18  alone.  
         [0048]    By referring also to FIGS.  2 - 5 , the construction of apparatus  10  can be further understood. Hitch  14  is simply the hitch normally associated with baler  18  and thus is available with baler  18 . Rake  20  is installed between hitch  14  and baler  18 . As shown in FIG. 5, a frame  40  is comprised of two 10 inch tall by {fraction (3/4)} inch wide by approximately 3-foot long rails  42  held parallel by cross-bar  44  (also 10 inch wide by {fraction (3/4)} inch thick steel plate and approximately 21 inches wide). A further cross-support  46  of 6 inch by {fraction (3/4)} inch by approximately 21 inches steel plate is also welded between rails  42 . A bearing block  48  exists in cross-bar  44 . As can be seen in FIG. 3, bearing block  48  cooperates with various sections of PTO shaft  36  to transfer rotational power take-off (PTO) power from tractor  12  to baler  18 . The precise connections are shown in FIG. 3 but could vary according to need and are within the skill of those skilled in the art to create.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 3 also shows that arms  50  of hitch  14  are bolted to the front of rails  42 . Flanges  52 , originally attached to baler  18 , are bolted to the rear of rails  42 . Thus, frame  40 , approximately 3-foot long, extends the length of the original baler  18  approximately 3 feet, but allows an extension of the PTO shaft  36  as mentioned.  
         [0050]    As previously mentioned, wing-arms  22  and  24  extend forwardly and outwardly from frame  40  (see in particular FIG. 3). FIG. 5 shows that a v-shaped component  60 , having feet  62  and  64  at opposite ends, is bolted through apertures in rail  42  to both side of frame  40 . A plate  66  is bolted to the forward-most facing side of v-shaped member  60 . An arm  68  is then attached to plate  66  by aligning tubes  70 , which are welded as shown in FIG. 5, in spaced-apart locations on plate  66  and arm  68 , in a manner so that when aligned, pivot pin  72  can be placed through all of tubes  70 . The pin  72  can then be removably secured in position by a cotter key or other means well within the skill of those skilled in the art. Therefore, tubes  70  and pin  72  essentially act like a piano hinge which would allow arm  68  to pivot upwardly. An upwardly extending ear  74  is welded on top of v-shaped member  60 . A similar ear  76  is welded on top of arm  68 . A hydraulic cylinder  80  is removably connected by pins  78  and  79  to ears  74  and  76 . Actuation of cylinder  80  would therefore lift or pivot arm  68  upwardly about hinge  70 / 72  when desired (see FIG. 4).  
         [0051]    By referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 it can be seen that rake wheel hubs  82  are rotatably connected to a vertical rod  84  that is adjustable in block halves  86  and  88 , which are secured to arm  68  by u-bolts  90 . Such an arrangement allows the height of rake wheels  26  to be adjusted by loosening the bolts in block halves  86  and  88  and adjusting vertical rod  84  relative to arm  68 . Also, u-bolts  90  can be loosened and moved along arm  68  to adjust the placement of rake wheels  26  along wings  22  and  24 .  
         [0052]    The previous description applies to both wings  22  and  24 , as can easily be appreciated. Each is basically a mirror image of the other.  
         [0053]    As can be seen in the figures, the front-most rake wheels are connected to the inside of wings of  22  and  24  whereas the rearward-most rake wheels  26  are connected to the outside. This allows some overlap between the reach of each rake wheels  26  on each side of rake  20  (see FIG. 1) for continuous coverage across the ground.  
         [0054]    It is furthermore to be understood that, if desired, each arm  68  of each wing  22  and  24  could be comprised of two pieces. As shown in FIG. 5, an extension piece  68 A could be of square, tubular steel that would slide within the square tube  68 . It could be secured in place by pin  69  or other means. This would allow, for example, the front-most rake wheels  26  to be removed if needed and the device operated with just rear rake wheels  26  (sometimes preferred if using device  10  for conventional hay baling, for example). Alternatively, arm  68  could be all one piece.  
         [0055]    In operation, rake  20  is installed between baler  18  and hitch  14  as previously described. The height and position (and number) of rake wheels  26  is then selected. One method of doing so is to hook apparatus  10  to tractor  12  and drive it onto a level surface such as a cement slab. The height of rake wheels  26  can be adjusted as described as can their spacing along wings  22  and  24 . Depending on what use is desired, the number of rake wheels  26  can be selected. The number can possibly exceed four but limitations do exist with respect to wings  22  and  24  getting too wide. If they are too long or wide, they may cause a conflict with the rear tires of tractor  12 , at least when turning. In the preferred embodiment, wings  22  and  24  are approximately 45° relative to the front-to-back axis of apparatus  10 . Other angles are possible, but 45° has been selected to provide enough action for channeling material into throat  19  of baler  18  with a minimum amount of rolling resistance and possibility of breakage of rake wheels  26 .  
         [0056]    Once adjusted, apparatus  10  can be transported to a field without operating rake wheels  26  by actuating cylinders  80 . When actuated, arms  68  would pivot upwardly raising rake wheels  26  off the ground.  
         [0057]    When arriving at the field, as with any other row-crop activity or field-working activity, the operator begins coverage of the field. In this instance the tractor is driven so that the front tires are on rows R 3  and R 6 . The device then rakes in stalks, stubble, and trash from rows R 3 -R 7  until enough is accumulated to make a bale  30 . In the next pass of the field, the operator moves over so that the next five rows are processed and continues successively in that manner until the number of bales  30  desired by the operator or the owner of the field are created. No excess stalks, stubble, and trash is raked, which would then have to be subsequently dealt with. The rake wheels  26  passively driven, pick up and channel material to baler  18 .  
         [0058]    When completed, cylinders are actuated to lift rake wheels  26  off the ground and implement  10  is driven off the field. It can then be detached from tractor  12 . Being a self-contained rake/baler  10 , tractor  12  can then be used for other purposes without having the structure associated with rake/baler  10  connected to the tractor  12  or having to remove any such structure from tractor  12 . Self-contained unit  10  is thus ready to be used again.  
         [0059]    It is to be understood that the foregoing preferred embodiment is set forth for exemplary purposes only and not by way of limitation of the invention. Obvious variations within the skill of those skilled in the art are included within the invention.  
         [0060]    For example, instead of having two cylinders  80  raising each wing  22  and  24 , a single cylinder could be placed centered on frame  40 . The cylinder could extend vertically so that when its piston extends, its outer end would extend upwardly. Connections such as a chain could be made to wings  22  and  24  so that when the Cylinder is extended upwardly, wings  22  and  24  would pivot upwardly.  
         [0061]    Different types of pivots and connections between parts could be made such as is within the skill of those skilled in the art.  
         [0062]    The preferred embodiment is made predominantly of steel plate and tubing. Other materials may be possible.  
         [0063]    An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown at FIGS.  6 - 9 . This embodiment, referred to generally at reference numeral  100 , is similar in most respects to embodiment  10  except for the following.  
         [0064]    As shown in FIG. 6, instead of straight tubes or wing arms extending from arm  68  (see FIGS. 2 and 5), an L-shaped extension  102  is mateable into arm  68 . The proximal section  104  of extension  102  (e.g. 30″ long) slides into extension  102  and can be secured there by bolts or other means. The distal section  106  (e.g. 8″ in long) extends upwardly and pivotally supports beam  108  by a pivot pin  110  or other means. Rake wheels  26  are adjustably mounted to beam  108  by vertical rods  84 , as described with regard to embodiment  10 .  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 6 does show some specific structure that will now be described. One way arm  108  can pivot relative to the support structure of arm  102  is by welding a tubular member  107  to the top of arm section  106  of arm  102 . Tube  107  would have opposite open ends and would be placed transverse or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of arm  108 . Plates  109  would be welded or otherwise secured to opposite sides of arm  108  (preferably at or linear the center of its length). Apertures would be formed in alignment on plates  109  and  111  underneath arm  108 . Plates  109  and  111  would be spaced so that they are slightly wider than the length of tube  107  and when the apertures and plates  109  and  111  are aligned with the ends of tube  107  a pivot pin  113  could be inserted there through and secured in position by any number of means, including cotter keys  115  and  117 . The bottom of arm  108  would be spaced apart from the top of tube  107  so that all the weight of arm  108  and any attachments is borne by pivot pin  113  and the associated structure with that pivot axis. Other methods of pivotal attachment of arm  108  to the remainder of the implement are possible.  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 6 also shows an alternative embodiment for attaching rakes to arm  108  and allowing their vertical adjustment. As shown in FIG. 6, a connection  121  could be welded to the side of arm  108 . A tubular sleeve  123  could in turn be welded or otherwise secured to connection  121  so that its opposite open ends are up and down generally. Sleeve  123  is split along its length. Flanges  125  and  127  extend on opposite sides of the split and have two sets of aligned apertures. The posts or —vertical support  84  for a rake is then inserted inside and through sleeve  123 . Bolts are positioned through the two sets of aligned apertures and are tightened down with nuts so that sleeve  123  squeezes or clamps posts  84  and a desired vertical position. Other ways of attaching the rakes to the arm  108  are possible.  
         [0067]    Another feature shown in FIG. 6 that is optional yet can be used advantageously is to connect at least one end of arm  108  to frame of the implement. As shown in FIG. 6, this can be accomplished by chain  137  connected at one end to a loop or hook welded or otherwise connected to one end of arm  108  and extending then to plate  133 . Plate  133  can be welded to the arm  102  (in this case a wing  22  or  24 ). The other end of chain  137  could have a hook and could be selectively positioned in any plurality of apertures  135  along plate  133  to adjust the amount of separation between the end of arm  108  connected to chain  137  and wing  22  or  24  when chain  137  is fully extended. This arrangement would prevent the opposite end of arm  108  from pivoting too far down which could create complications or damage.  
         [0068]    [0068]FIG. 7 illustrates diagrammatically how beam  108  pivots about pivot pin  100 . FIGS. 8 and 9 show the practical advantage of this arrangement. When a front rake wheel  26  experiences a rise in the terrain, or a rock or other object (FIG. 8), it will follow it and remain in contact. At the same time, this will cause beam  108  to pivot and allows the following rake wheel  26  to stay in contact with the ground. When the forward wheel  26  passes over the bump or object (FIG. 9), and the rear wheel  26  reaches it, beam  108  will pivot the other way and continue to allow both wheels  26  to maintain contact with the ground.  
         [0069]    This arrangement deters one of the wheels on a side of the device to lift off the ground if the other wheel must travel over a raised item, and allows both wheels to better follow the ground during use.  
         [0070]    It is to be understood that the tucker or converging wheels found on some round balers could, if desired, be removed from the baler if the rake  20  is used. Sometimes the tucker or converging wheels get plugged up or otherwise do not materially help the process.  
         [0071]    Still further, it is to be understood that while the preferred embodiment attaches rake  20  directly between the tractor and baler  18 , it is possible to have an implement or structure between the tractor and rake  20  and/or between rake  20  and baler  18 . For example, a shredder (as previously discussed) might be placed between rake  20  and baler  18  and shred the stalk and stubble collected by rake  20  prior to entry to baler  18 . Possibly, a shredder or other implement could be placed between the tractor and rake  20 . In any of these cases, rake  20 , baler  18  and any additional implements or structures are behind the tractor.  
         [0072]    Also, it is to be understood that the size and operating width of rake  20  can vary by design. In the preferred embodiment, the operating width of rake  20  is over twice the width of the throat of baler  18 , and can be on the order of ten to fourteen feet wide. Fourteen feet width has been found to create bales of relatively consistent diameter across their width. However, on the order of fifteen foot width can also be used. Even wider widths are possible, but it has been found that if much wider, the collected stalks and stubble tend to congregate at the opposite sides of the throat of the baler and thus create bales with larger diameters at opposite sides, which is usually undesirable and which could create enhanced wear and tear on the baler.