Abstract:
A device for wrapping bales of agricultural produce such as bales of hay, straw or green crop with a film. The bales are completely wrapped with the film and are marked to set forth the quality of the bale as silage and with further information. The information may include the amount of film used to wrap the bale and thus the number of wrapping layers, and the name of the person responsible for wrapping the bale. Electronic devices may be applied to the wrapping film for ascertaining the location of the bale after it has been wrapped by GPS or DGPS. The information can be imprinted directly on the film used for wrapping the bale or on labels applied to the film.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
         [0001]    This is a Continuation of International PCT/NL00/00619, filed Sept. 4, 2000.  
         FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates to a device for wrapping bodies, especially bales of harvested agricultural produce from hay, straw or wilting green crop with a film.  
           [0003]    The invention furthermore relates to a method for wrapping bodies, especially bales of harvested agricultural produce from hay, stray or wiling green crop, with a film in the above mentioned device.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:  
         [0004]    Wrapping bales of fresh or wilting grass with a ductile and adhesive film is currently growing more and more popular because the tightly wrapped bales—apart from other advantages—mature into silage within the film wrap in a relative short period of time without releasing silage fluid that damages the environment, as is the case with clamp silos or silage towers.  
           [0005]    Both round and rectangular bales can be wrapped. Currently basically two bale wrapping systems have been introduced into practice. In the case of the so-called wrapping table system, subsequent covering layers of film are placed two to three times around the entire outer bale circumference during the rotation of the bale around a horizontal axis and simultaneous rotation around a vertical axis. In the case of the so-called rotary arm system, the bale is also placed on a type of wrapping table that rotates the bale around its horizontal longitudinal axis, however the wrapping table does not simultaneously rotate around its vertical axis but instead the relative rotation between the bale and the dispensing reel is generated by a rotary arm that circles the bale and holds the film reel at its outermost end.  
           [0006]    The silage quality depends on the bale quality of the film wrap on the other hand.  
           [0007]    Type, age and wilting degree of the harvested agricultural produce as well as swath preparation and pre-treatment of the harvested agricultural produce (cut or uncut) plus particularly the bale pressing density and shape largely determine the bale, quality. Bales with a higher pressing density contain a lower portion of air so that within the wrapped bale better silage quality can be achieved.  
           [0008]    The quality of the film wrap is determined by the quality of the film, i.e. the manufacturing process (drawn or blown), film thickness, film coloration (white, black, green), tear strength, adhesive force as well as gas permeability and especially also the care of the operator, i.e. exact adjustment of the pre-stretching process of the film, even film overlapping and correct number of layers as well as careful bale storage.  
           [0009]    A high degree of silage quality can be achieved if all abovementioned conditions are met.  
           [0010]    With combinations of round balers and devices for wrapping the bales have been introduced recently, it depends on the care of a single person on whether or not a high-quality silage is obtained.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The invention relates to ensuring that the quality of the produced bale silage is recorded for further processing, particularly in the case of feed for high-yielding animals, thus allowing it to be traced back.  
           [0012]    This requirement is resolved with regard to the device by providing means for attaching an identification such as a label or a print on, at, in or below the film covering the bale.  
           [0013]    With regard to the method, the requirement is met in that the means for attaching an identification are controlled based on the extent the bale is wrapped by the film.  
           [0014]    Based on the invented device or the invented method or both, with appropriate information, for example, origin, quality, pressing or wrapping date, or both, as well as, in particular, the worker or farmer who performed the pressing and wrapping processes can be recognized and traced back at any time. When making the attachment of identifying information dependent upon adherence to previously established requirements during the production of the silage, it can serve as a certification mark for consistent quality assurance across the entire production process of the bale silage and also, for example, as a basis for invoicing when marketed because it offers an advertising effect for the equipment or companies or both that were involved in its production.  
           [0015]    In a beneficial embodiment, the identifying information is a self-adhesive label, for example, consisting of a printed film, which is arranged on a label tape.  
           [0016]    In another embodiment, the means comprise a labeling dispensing unit and a pressing element. Conventional label dispensing units ensure a simple feeding process of a label in which a label tape is pulled around a pull-off edge, thus detaching the label and attaching it to and pressing it onto the film wrap of the bale with a pressing element.  
           [0017]    Detaching the label from the label tape can be done automatically by the rotating bale or also with the help of mechanical, electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, auxiliary drives or with a drive source on the tractor, or any appropriate combination thereof.  
           [0018]    In another embodiment of the invention, means are provided for imprinting the individual labels separately. Consistent parameters, e.g. the pressed product, are pre-printed onto the label, while changing parameters such as the operator information or the wrapping data are printed individually before or while attaching the self-adhesive labels, mechanically or electronically, upon appropriate input from the operator or based on the bale. If necessary, the operator can confirm the excellent work at the end by including his signature on the label of a bale.  
           [0019]    Generally it is feasible to control the means for attaching identifying information based on the extent that the bale is wrapped with the film. The attached self-adhesive label is attached just before, during or just after completion of the wrapping process. In this case of white or nearly transparent films, a non-adhesive label can be placed beneath one of the last film layers where it will still be visible despite being covered by the film.  
           [0020]    Identifying information to be applied can include, for example, round or rectangular pre-printed or blank self-adhesive labels or also label tapes or self-adhesive, imprinted film tapes, which are perforated at regular intervals or separated into sections with a cutting device. Similarly, the identification can include electronically captured data in order pick the silage bales, for example, up from the ground with an automated handling system, transport them or process them. So-called ‘smart labels’ are also feasible, which represent very thin electronic transponders, i.e. transmit-receive devices with microchip and antenna, which are applied to the film.  
           [0021]    Additional useful embodiments of the invention will be appreciated from the subsequent description of several embodiments of the invention based on the following drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 shows a first device for identifying a bale wrapped in film with a rotary arm wrapping device in a perspective diagrammatic view wherein the rotary arm has attached a label on the bale;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 discloses the label dispensing unit of FIG. 1 in enlarged view while pressing a label onto the film that surrounds the bale with a pressing roller;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 shows a second device for identifying a bale wrapped with a film in a perspective diagrammatic view;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively, disclose other embodiments for identifying a bale wrapped with film in a wrapping table device in perspective views; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 shows another embodiment for imprinting a bale wrapped in film on a wrapping table device in perspective view. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    The device shown in FIG. 1 for wrapping a bale  1  of harvested agricultural produce with a ductile and self-adhesive film  2  is an embodiment with a rotary arm  3  and a stationary wrapping table  4  for holding bale  1  of harvested agricultural produce, as is basically described in EP 0 234 763 A1. On its outer, lower end, rotary ram  3  carries a film dispensing reel  5 , which is guided around a vertical axis  6  around bale  1  of harvested agricultural produce during the wrapping process in a rotational movement, wherein a strip of film  8  is pulled off of film dispensing reel  5  and wound around bale  1  of harvested agricultural produce, which is turning around a horizontal rotational axis  9  in the rotational direction  10 . As shown in FIG. 1 the entire outer bale circumference has been wrapped, for example, twice with overlapping strips of film so that the wrapping process is just before completion, for which a cutting-and-clamping device (not shown) cuts strip of film  8  in the free area between bale  1  and rotary arm  3  and holds it in place with a clamping process for wrapping another bale  1 .  
         [0028]    As furthermore shown in FIG. 1, a film stretching device  11  is arranged in the path of travel of strip of film  8  dispensing reel  5  and bale  1  of harvested agricultural produce, wherein this device  11  includes at least two stretch rollers  12  that are arranged vertically. Film stretching device  11  is fastened to rotary arm  3  with dispensing reel  5  as one modular unit.  
         [0029]    According to the invention, the film stretching device  11  is followed by a device  13  for identifying a film section  14  on bale  1  of harvested agricultural produce with a label  15  or a print. In a simple design version, this means a label dispensing unit  16  with a pressing roller  17  that can be activated and brought into an operating position from a resting position  18  away from bale  1 , wherein a label  15  is attached to a previously set position on the film surface and pressed on. Bale  1  or the film surface or both form a counter-force in this case when pressing on label  15 . FIG. 1 shows bale  1  of harvested agricultural produce with an attached label  15 .  
         [0030]    Label dispensing unit  16  and the attaching process to bale  1  can best be viewed in FIG. 2. Label dispensing unit  16  is equipped with a label dispensing reel  20  that can rotate within a housing  19  and consists of a label tape  21  that is wound onto a reel core (not shown). For the purpose of dispensing a label  15 , label tape  21  is pulled around a pull-off edge  22  through a drive device, thus detaching a label  15 , feeding it to a pressing element  17 , attaching it on the object that is to be identified, and pressing it on. The empty tape  24  is wound onto a take-up roller  24 . Hand-held labeling devices of this kind are described, for example, in EP 0 810 155 B1. These devices, however, are not suitable for applying labels automatically in the case of wrapping devices for bales.  
         [0031]    As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, label dispensing unit  16  is seated in an articulating manner in the horizontal plane on a shaft  25 , which is also fastened to the modular unit, parallel and at a distance to stretch rollers  12 . Label dispensing unit  16  can also be arranged on shaft  25  in such a manner so that its height can be adjusted in order to establish the application area or label  15  on the film surface. The articulating feature is caused by a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit  26 , which is arranged on the modular unit on the one hand and label dispensing on the other hand. Furthermore a chain sprocket  27  is arranged on shaft  25 , which through a chain  28  or belt drive is connected with a chain sprocket  29  that drives take-up roller  24  for label tape  21  when swiveling label dispensing unit  16  in the rotational direction  30  and thus pulling label tape  21  from label dispensing reel  20  around pull-off edge  22  for a certain distance—thus detaching label  15  from tape  23 , attaching it to film surface, as shown in the working position  31  of label dispensing unit  16  in FIG. 2, and running pressing roller  17  over it while rotating rotary arm  3  in rotational direction  6  so that it is firmly attached to film  2 . For the purpose of controlling label dispensing unit  16 , a sensor  31  is provided, which is arranged in a coaxial manner relative to axis  7  on a master hole gage  33 , which in turn is connected firmly with the stand  34  for the rotary arm seating. The position of sensor  32  can be varied either by turning master hole gage  33  or by inserting it into different hole patterns. Additionally, sensor  32  serves as cyclometer for rotary arm  3  and is connected with an electronic control and evaluation unit  35 . Through appropriate angular positions, sensor  32  can on the one hand effect signals for triggering a cutting-and-clamping device (not shown), but on the other hand particularly by triggering a signal for the drive of label dispensing unit  16  when rotary arm  3  passes sensor  32  before the location where label  15  is to be attached. Control and evaluation unit  35  works together with a control valve  36  of hydraulic piston and cylinder unit  26  in order to effect the motion of label dispensing unit  16  from its resting position  18  in accordance with FIG. 1 into the operating position shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0032]    Activation of label dispensing unit  16  is thus pre-set by control and evaluation unit  35  or on the rotary arm sensor, or both, in such a way that a label  15  is attached in the desired location, e.g. in the center of the film width and in the horizontal longitudinal median plane of bale  1 , as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the cutting-and-clamping process follows immediately thereafter without covering label  15  with another layer of film. The areas in which label  15  is attached also depends on how bale  1  will be stored, i.e. on the front or circumference side. Visibility of label  15  should be ensured. The advantage of the above solution is particularly that no additional drive devices are required because the already existing rotary motion of rotary arm  3  is utilized to dispense a label  15  and roll pressing roller  17  over that label  15 , and thus press it onto the bale. In this embodiment, for example, a round pre-printed self-adhesive label with the name of the press manufacturer is used. The size can be about {fraction (1/10)}th of the bale diameter. Of course, any other label designs can be utilized. The label can also include a text area for signature of the machine operator. In label dispensing unit  16 , a printing device can also be arranged for imprinting label  15  before dispensing it from the unit, e.g. in order to imprint the wrapping date or bale weight or both onto label  15  through appropriate sensors and signal transmitters. Similarly, electronic signal transmitters or receivers like transponders or other data can also be stored on the labels.  
         [0033]    The embodiment, in accordance with FIG. 3, only shows a bale  37  on two wrapping rollers  38  and  39  units in its resting position and wrapped overall with the film. A label dispensing unit  40 , in accordance with FIG. 2, is arranged in an articulating manner roughly in the center of the bale width on a stationary support shaft  41  that is arranged parallel to wrapping rollers  38  and  39 . During bale rotation in the direction marked with the arrow  42 , label dispensing unit  40  is pressed around the shaft  41  in the direction  44  against the film surface by extending a hydraulic piston and cylinder device  43 , which causes rotating bale  37  to attach a label strip  45  automatically on its own. The pulled label tape  46  issues a signal when the label has been completely pulled off, thus causing the automatic return of label dispensing unit  40 , for example, through the force of a spring element, into the resting position shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively it is also feasible to stop the bale and move the label dispensing unit along the film surface.  
         [0034]    In the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 4, a wrapping table device  48  is shown for wrapping a bale  49  of harvested agricultural produce, with the device pulled during the operation of a tractor (not shown) in the driving direction F. It basically consists of a wrapping table  52 , which can be driven around a vertical axis  50  in the rotational direction  51  together with drivable rollers  53 , which are arranged at a distance from each other and simultaneously move bale  49  of harvested agricultural produce resting on it around a horizontal bale center line  54  in the rotational direction  55 , wherein bale  49  pulls film  57  off a film dispensing reel  56  over a stretching device (not shown) and wraps it around itself. On the wrapping table  52  a cutting-and-clamping deice  58  is arranged. With regard to the design and function thereof, reference is made to EP 0 367 529 B1. As shown in FIG. 4, a label dispensing unit  59  is no longer arranged in the path of travel of bale  49 , but in the area of path of travel of film  57  between the film dispensing reel  56  and rotating wrapping table  52 . Label dispensing unit  59  corresponds to one the of FIGS.  2  and is arranged in an articulating manner around a shaft  61  that is fastened to the stand  60 . Inasmuch as the free film area would move when pressing on the label dispensing unit  59 , a freely rotating counter-pressure roller  63 , which is seated on stand  60  presses against the film interior exactly opposite the desired area of attachment of label  62 . For placing label  62  in the desired location on bale  49  only the distance between the bale&#39;s center line  54  and the attachment location of the label  62  must be established. After attaching label  62  on film  57 , the labeled film section is pulled around bale  49  through further rotation of bale  49 , thus allowing label  62  to rest in the desired location X on bale  49 . In a preferred version, the distance of label dispensing unit  59  can be changed in the feeding direction of the film  57  in order to place a label in various locations on bale  49 .  
         [0035]    The device for wrapping a bale  64  of harvested agricultural produce shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to the device in accordance with FIG. 4; however a label dispensing unit  65  has been arranged in such a way that label  66  is attached directly on the film  67  resting against bale  64 . Label dispensing unit  65  is seated on stand  71  in an articulating manner around the axis  70  through a parallel guiding element  68  and hydraulic piston and cylinder member  69  roughly in the horizontal longitudinal median plane and is equipped, instead of with a pressing roller with a hydraulically or pneumatically actuated pressing stamp  72 , with a vacuum-and-blow head  73  which can be moved in a coaxial direction to the rotational axis  74  of bale  64  for pressing label  66  against the bale front. Depending on the position of wrapping table  75 , a label  66  can be selectively placed on the bale front, as shown in FIG. 5, or on the bale circumference in the case of a resting bale  64 .  
         [0036]    In FIG. 5, bale  64  of harvested agricultural produce is wrapped with film  67  until the cuffing-and-clamping process. The bale&#39;s center line  75  is aligned coaxially to the direction of movement of vacuum-and-blow head  73 . For the purpose of labeling bale  64 , label  66  is initially fed to vacuum-and-blow head  73 , subjected to suction and pressed on film  67  surrounding bale  64  while bale  64  is resting. For detaching label  66  from vacuum-and-blow head  73 , the device is switched to blowing air, and label dispensing unit  65  is swiveled back into the position shown in FIG. 5, in which label dispensing unit  65  is outside the path of travel of wrapping table  75 .  
         [0037]    It is basically also feasible to arrange an appropriate label dispensing unit with a pivoting vacuum-and blow head on wrapping table  75  and to attach a label during the film wrapping process, i.e. while the wrapping table and the base are turning. With this process it should be noted that attachment of the label occurs on the bale of harvested agricultural produce beneath the film bottom edge of the last layer of film that was pulled off or that the label dispensing unit must be moved out of the path of travel of the film if additional wrapping processes are supposed to take place.  
         [0038]    Alternatively a label dispensing unit (not shown) can also be arranged next to a cutting-and-clamping device  76  for the film on wrapping table  75  in order to attach a label  77  on the circumference side of the bale  64  on a film section that will not be wrapped any more. The advantage here is that label  77  is automatically pressed on the film surface again by rollers  78  while the bale continues to rotate in the rotational direction  79 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 6 shows a device for wrapping a bale  80  of harvested agricultural produce in accordance with FIGS. 4 and 5. However the film is imprinted with an ink-jet printer after the cutting-and-clamping process of the film performed by a cutting-and-clamping device  81  has occurred For the purpose of identifying the bale  80 , in this example the film  82  is directly imprinted with an ink-jet printer  83 . The ink-jet printer  83  is seated in an articulating manner on the stand  85  with a parallel guiding element  84 . After the printing process, the ink-jet printer  83  is moved out of the circular path of the wrapping table  86 . When the bale is not rotating, the ink-jet printer is activated, for example, by actuating the cutting-and-clamping device  81  or by triggering the tilt function of wrapping table  86 , after the ink-jet printer has been arranged at the correct distance relative to the bale surface by a hydraulic piston and cylinder means. Instead of the ink-jet printer, simple printing stamps or similar printing means can also be utilized.  
         [0040]    Although I have disclosed the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of other adaptations and modifications within the scope of the following claims.