Abstract:
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing wrapped bales. Bales ( 3 ) is in a first wrappingstage moved past wrapping means ( 6 ) while said wrapping means ( 6 ) provided with dispenser means ( 4 ) are rotated around said bale ( 3 ) along a circular path in a first plane of rotation. In a further optional second stage of wrapping said bale ( 3 ) is rotated by rotating means in a second plane of rotation substantially normal to said first plane of rotation. Between said stages the surface of the wrapping material web is turned about 90° such that said surface of said web is always substantially normal to said planes of rotation in both stages. The first wrapping stage includes using of a tunnel means ( 9 ), which makes it possible to produce both unbound wrapped bales and bound wrapped bales.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a method for producing wrapped bales as defined in the preamble of independent claim  1 . 
         [0002]    The invention also relates to an apparatus for producing wrapped bales as defined in the preamble of independent claim  10 . 
         [0003]    Publication WO/1994/022717 presents a method and an apparatus for wrapping an article with a web-like wrapping material. Said article is in one stage moved past wrapping means while said wrapping means provided with dispenser means are rotated around said article along a circular path in a first plane of rotation. In a further stage of wrapping said article is rotated by rotating means in a second plane of rotation substantially normal to said first plane of rotation. Between said stages the surface of the wrapping material web is turned about 90° such that said surface of said web is always substantially normal to said planes of rotation in both stages. One problem with the method and apparatus known from publication WO/1994/022717 is that if the article to be wrapped is a bale, the bale must be bound to hold together the material of the bale i.e. to retain the structure of the bale prior to the wrapping. A separate bounding, which is disposed under the wrapping, more precisely between the bale and the wrapping, is after the wrapping of the bale unnecessary for holding the material of bale together, because the wrapping can perform the task of holding the material of bale together. 
       OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The object of the invention is to provide a new and inventive method and apparatus for producing wrapped bales which is suitable for producing both wrapped bales provided with a bounding prior to the wrapping and wrapped unbound bales i.e. bales not provided with any bounding prior to the wrapping. 
       SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The method for producing wrapped bales of the invention is characterized by the definitions of independent claim  1 . 
         [0006]    Preferred embodiments of the method for producing wrapped bales are defined in the dependent claims  2  to  9 . 
         [0007]    The apparatus for producing wrapped bales of the invention is correspondingly characterized by the definitions of independent claim  10 . 
         [0008]    Preferred embodiments of the apparatus for producing wrapped bales are defined in the dependent claims  11  to  15 . 
         [0009]    The invention also relates to the use of the method according to any of the claims  1  to  8  or to the use of the apparatus according to any of the claims  10  to  15  for the production of unbound wrapped bales. 
         [0010]    The invention is partly based on using of a tunnel means which is capable of holding together the material of bales produced by a bale producing means i.e. capable of at least partly retaining the structure of bound and unbound bales produced by a bale producing means prior wrapping the bales with wrapping material. 
         [0011]    The invention is partly based on using of a tunnel means and a wrapping means which are movable in relation to each other in such way that the wrapping means is capable of applying wrapping material web on the on the sides of an open downstream end of the tunnel means. This makes it possible apply wrapping material on the open downstream end of the tunnel means and/or on the sides of the open downstream end of the tunnel means and then to attach the wrapping material web wrapped on the open downstream end of the tunnel means and/or on the sides of the open downstream end of the tunnel means to the end of a bale when a bale starts to move through the open downstream end of the tunnel means so that for example an unbound bale does not in an uncontrolled manner expand when the unbound bale exits the tunnel means through the open downstream end. 
         [0012]    The invention is partly based on moving the bale and the wrapping means in relation to each other while the bale exits the tunnel means through said open downstream end and on wrapping by means of said wrapping means wrapping material web on the sides of the bale while the bale moves out of said tunnel means through said open downstream and on continuing wrapping by means of said wrapping means wrapping material web on the sides of the bale as the bale fully exits the open downstream end of the tunnel means so that wrapping material web also becomes wrapped onto the sides of the open downstream end of the tunnel means. 
         [0013]    The invention is partly based on moving the bale apart from the open downstream end of the tunnel means so that wrapping material web wrapped onto the sides of the open downstream end of the tunnel means detaches from the sides of the open downstream end of the tunnel means and follows with the bale to for example prevent an end of an unbound bale to expand in an uncontrolled manner when an unbound bale finally completely fully exits the tunnel means. 
         [0014]    After the first wrapping stage in the invention can follow a second wrapping stage, in which the bale, as in the method and the apparatus for wrapping an article with a web-like wrapping material presented in publication WO/1994/022717, is rotated a second plane of rotation, which is substantially normal to said first plane of rotation, whereby wrapping is provided onto the sides of said bale in a second direction of wrapping substantially normal to said first direction of wrapping. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment of the method for wrapping an article with a web-like wrapping material, the method comprises, as in the method presented in publication WO/1994/022717, a first wrapping stage and a second wrapping stage and the apparatus of the invention is designed to perform a first wrapping stage and a second wrapping stage. The first wrapping stage comprises moving the bale and wrapping means in relation to each other, said wrapping means having a wrapping material dispenser means, said wrapping material dispenser means being arranged to rotate around said bale in a circular path in a first plane of rotation, whereby a wrapping material web emerges from said wrapping material dispenser means such that the surface of said wrapping material web is substantially normal to said first plane of rotation and said wrapping material web becomes wrapped on the sides of said bale in a first direction of wrapping. The second wrapping stage comprises turning said bale in a second plane of rotation, which is substantially normal to said first plane of rotation, whereby the wrapping is provided onto the sides of said bale in a second direction of wrapping substantially normal to said first direction of wrapping. The method includes furthermore turning said surface of said wrapping material web emerging from said dispenser means between said first wrapping step and said second wrapping step such that said web surface becomes substantially parallel with said first plane of rotation so that said wrapping means remains in said first plane of rotation thereof. Correspondingly, the apparatus comprises turning means for turning said surface of said web of wrapping material emerging from said dispenser means between the first wrapping stage and the second wrapping stage such that the surface of said web of wrapping material becomes substantially parallel with said first plane of rotation, wherein said turning means for turning said surface of said web of wrapping material is arranged such said wrapping means remains in said first plane of rotation 
         [0016]    In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention the first wrapping stage includes using of such tunnel means comprising a stationary tunnel part, which is stationary in relation to a bale producing means, and a movable tunnel part, which is movable in relation to the stationary tunnel part and which comprises the open downstream end. In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes wrapping by means of the wrapping means wrapping material web on the open downstream end of the movable tunnel part and/or onto the sides of the open downstream end of the movable tunnel part. In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes moving the bale into the stationary tunnel part from the bale producing means. In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes moving the bale from the stationary tunnel part into the movable tunnel part. In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes moving the bale inside the movable tunnel part towards the open downstream end of the movable tunnel part. In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes moving the bale out of the movable tunnel part to attach the wrapping material web wrapped on said open downstream end and/or on the sides of said open downstream end to the bale. In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes continuing wrapping by means of said wrapping means wrapping material web on the sides of the bale while the bale moves out of said movable tunnel part through said open downstream and on continuing wrapping by means of said wrapping means wrapping material web on the sides of the bale as the bale fully exits the open downstream end of the movable tunnel part so that wrapping material web also becomes wrapped onto the sides of the open downstream end of the movable tunnel part. In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes moving the movable tunnel part in the direction of the stationary tunnel part to move the bale apart from the movable tunnel part and to attach the wrapping material web wrapped on said open downstream end to the bale. 
     
    
     
       LIST OF FIGURES 
         [0017]    In the following the invention will described in more detail by referring to the figures, of which 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  shows in top view wrapping of wrapping material web on an open downstream end of a movable tunnel part, 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  shows in top view attaching of the wrapping material web wrapped in  FIG. 1  on the open downstream end of the movable tunnel part to the end of a bale by moving the bale out through the open downstream end of the movable tunnel part, 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  shows in top view wrapping of wrapping material web at the sides of the other end of the bale and on the sides of the open downstream end of the movable tunnel part, 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  shows in top view moving of the partly wrapped bale and the movable tunnel part apart from each other, 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  shows in top view the second stage of wrapping, 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  shows in top view the end of the production sequence and including rewrapping of wrapping material web on the open downstream end of the movable tunnel part, 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  shows a part of the first stage of wrapping as seen from one end of the apparatus, and 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  shows a part the second stage of wrapping as seen from one end of the apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    The figures show an example of a method and an apparatus according to the invention. 
         [0027]    First the apparatus and preferable embodiments of the apparatus will be described. 
         [0028]    The apparatus for producing wrapped bales  1  comprises bale producing means  2  for producing bales  3 . The bale  3  can for example contain straw, fodder, cotton, branch, pulp or waste. 
         [0029]    The apparatus comprises furthermore dispenser means  4  for dispensing a web of wrapping material  5 . 
         [0030]    The apparatus comprises furthermore wrapping means  6  for circulating said dispenser means  4  in a first plane of rotation (not marked with a reference numeral in the drawings) around said bale  3  for wrapping said web of wrapping material  5  around said bale  3  while keeping the surface of said web of wrapping material  5  substantially normal to said first plane of rotation. 
         [0031]    The dispenser means  4  and wrapping means  6  corresponds preferably, but not necessarily, to the dispenser means  4  and wrapping means  6  presented and described in publication WO/1994/022717. 
         [0032]    The apparatus comprises furthermore moving means (not marked with a reference numeral in the drawings) for receiving a bale  3  from said bale producing means  2  and for moving said bale  3  and said wrapping means  6  in relation to each other such that said bale  3  is moved past said wrapping means  6  in a direction essentially perpendicular to said first plane of rotation. 
         [0033]    The apparatus shown in the Figures comprises furthermore turning means  7  for turning said surface of said web of wrapping material  5  emerging from said dispenser means  4  between a first wrapping stage and a second wrapping stage such that the surface of said web of wrapping material  5  becomes substantially parallel with said first plane of rotation, wherein said turning means  7  for turning said surface of said web of wrapping material  5  is arranged such said wrapping means  6  remains in said first plane of rotation. 
         [0034]    The turning means  7  corresponds preferably, but not necessarily, to the turning means  7  presented and described in publication WO/1994/022717. 
         [0035]    The apparatus shown in the Figures comprises furthermore rotation means  8  for rotating said bale  3  in a second plane of rotation substantially normal to said first plane of rotation. 
         [0036]    The rotation means  8  corresponds preferably, but not necessarily, to the rotation means  8  presented and described in publication WO/1994/022717. 
         [0037]    Said moving means comprises a tunnel means  9  for receiving bales  3  from the bale producing means  2 . 
         [0038]    Said tunnel means  9  comprises an open downstream end  10 . 
         [0039]    Said tunnel means  9  and said wrapping means  6  are movable in relation to each other such that said wrapping means  6  is capable of applying wrapping material on the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9  and/or onto the sides of the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9 . 
         [0040]    In the figures said tunnel means  9  comprises a stationary tunnel part  11 , which is stationary in relation to the bale producing means  2 , and a movable tunnel part  12 , which is movable in relation to the stationary tunnel part  11  and which comprises the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9 . In the figures said tunnel means  9  comprises tunnel moving means  19  for moving the movable tunnel part  12  in relation to the stationary tunnel part  11 . In the figures the tunnel moving means  19  comprises a hydraulic cylinder (not marked with a reference numeral). 
         [0041]    In the figures said stationary tunnel part  11  and said wrapping means  6  are fixedly arranged in relation to each other and said movable tunnel part  12  is movable in relation to said wrapping means  6 . 
         [0042]    Said tunnel means  9  is preferably, but not necessarily, configured for holding the bales  3  at least partly compressed while the bales  3  are at least partly inside the tunnel means  9  to at least partly retain the structure of a bale  3  while the bales  3  are at least partly inside the tunnel means  9 . 
         [0043]    Said bale producing means  2  are preferably, but not necessarily, configured to produce unbound bales, and said tunnel means  9  consequently are preferably, but not necessarily, configured to receive unbound bales from said bale producing means  2 . 
         [0044]    Said wrapping means  6  includes in the figures a substantially vertically disposed circular ring  13  which is rotatable assembled onto a support roller means  14  disposed in a framework  15  of the apparatus which circular ring  13  preferable further includes a support arm  16  extending from said circular ring  13  for pivotally supporting said dispenser means  4 . 
         [0045]    The substantially vertically disposed circular ring  13 , the support roller means  14 , the framework  15  and the support arm  16  corresponds preferably, but not necessarily, to the substantially vertically disposed circular ring  13 , the support roller means  14 , the framework  15  and the support arm  16  presented and described in publication WO/1994/022717. The open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9  is preferably, but not necessarily, provided with elastic of flexible additional supporting means  18  for supporting and/or pressing a bale  3  exiting the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9  and for lowering the friction between the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9  and the web of wrapping material  5  to makes the releasing of the web of wrapping material  5  from the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9  easier when a bale  3  is moved apart from the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9 . 
         [0046]    The apparatus for producing wrapped bales can be a stationary apparatus or a movable apparatus mounted for example on a trailer to be pulled by a tractor. 
         [0047]    Next the method and preferable embodiments of the method will be described. 
         [0048]    The method for producing wrapped bales  1  includes a production stage for producing a bale. 
         [0049]    The method for producing wrapped bales  1  includes in addition a first wrapping stage comprising moving the bale  3  and wrapping means  6  in relation to each other, said wrapping means  6  having a wrapping material dispenser means  4 , said wrapping material dispenser means  4  being arranged to rotate around said bale  3  in a circular path in a first plane of rotation, whereby a web of wrapping material  5  emerges from said wrapping material dispenser means  4  such that the surface of said web of wrapping material  5  is substantially normal to said first plane of rotation and said web of wrapping material  5  becomes wrapped on the sides of said bale  3  in a first direction of wrapping. 
         [0050]    The first wrapping stage including moving the bale  3  and a tunnel means  9  in relation to each other such that the bale  3  is moved into the tunnel means  9 ; said tunnel means  9  having an open downstream end  10 . 
         [0051]    The first wrapping stage including in addition moving the bale  3  and tunnel means  9  in relation to each other such that the bale  3  moves inside the tunnel means  9  towards the open downstream end  10 . 
         [0052]    The first wrapping stage including in addition wrapping by means of said wrapping means  6  a web of wrapping material  5  onto the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9  and/or onto the sides of the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9 . 
         [0053]    The first wrapping stage including in addition moving the bale  3  and tunnel means  9  in relation to each other such that the bale  3  moves through said open downstream end  10  out of the tunnel means  9  to attach the web of wrapping material  5  wrapped on said open downstream end  10  and/or on the sides of said open downstream end  10  to the bale. 
         [0054]    The first wrapping stage including in addition moving wrapping by means of said wrapping means  6  web of wrapping material  5  onto the sides of the bale  3  while the bale  3  moves through said open downstream end  10  out of the tunnel means  9  and continuing wrapping by means of said wrapping means  6  web of wrapping material  5  while the bale  3  moves completely out of said tunnel means  9  through said open downstream end  10  so that web of wrapping material  5  is also wrapped onto the side of the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9 . 
         [0055]    The first wrapping stage including in addition moving the bale  3  apart from the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9  so that web of wrapping material  5  wrapped onto the side of the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9  detaches from the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9  and follows with the bale. 
         [0056]    The method for producing wrapped bales  1  includes in a preferred embodiment of the method in addition a second wrapping stage comprising turning said bale  3  in a second plane of rotation, which is substantially normal to said first plane of rotation, whereby the wrapping is provided onto the sides of said bale  3  in a second direction of wrapping substantially normal to said first direction of wrapping. The method for producing wrapped bales  1  includes in this preferred embodiment in addition a step of turning said surface of said web of wrapping material  5  emerging from said dispenser means  4  between said first wrapping step and said second wrapping step such that said web surface becomes substantially parallel with said first plane of rotation so that said wrapping means  6  remains in said first plane of rotation thereof. 
         [0057]    The moving of the bale  3  inside the tunnel towards the open downstream end  10  of the tunnel means  9  is preferably, but not necessarily, achieved by pushing the bale  3  with another bale, and consequently the moving of the bale  3  out of the tunnel means  9  to attach the web of wrapping material  5  wrapped on said open downstream end  10  and/or on the sided of said open downstream end  10  is preferably, but not necessarily, achieved by pushing the bale  3  with another bale. 
         [0058]    The first wrapping stage includes in a preferable embodiment of the method using of such tunnel means  9  comprising a stationary tunnel part  11 , which is stationary in relation to a bale producing means  2 , and a movable tunnel part  12 , which is movable in relation to the stationary tunnel part  11  and which comprises the open downstream end  10 . In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes wrapping by means of the wrapping means  6  web of wrapping material  5  onto the open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12  and/or onto the sides of the open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12 . In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes moving the bale  3  into the stationary tunnel part  11 . In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes moving the bale  3  from the stationary tunnel part  11  into the movable tunnel part  12 . In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes moving the bale  3  inside the movable tunnel part  12  towards the open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12 . In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes moving the bale  3  out of the movable tunnel part  12  to attach the web of wrapping material  5  wrapped on said open downstream end  10  and/or wrapped on the sides of said open downstream end  10  to the bale  3 . In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes wrapping by means of said wrapping means  6  web of wrapping material  5  onto the sides of the bale  3  while moving the bale  3  out of the movable tunnel part  12  and continuing wrapping by means of said wrapping means  6  web of wrapping material  5  while the bale  3  moves completely out of said movable tunnel part  12  through said open downstream end  10  so that web of wrapping material  5  is also wrapped onto the sides of the open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12 . In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes moving the bale  3  and movable tunnel part  12  in relation to each other so that the bale  3  moves apart from the open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12  so that web of wrapping material  5  wrapped onto the sides of the open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12  detaches from the open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12  and follows with the bale. In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes preferably, but not necessarily moving the movable tunnel part  12  in the direction of the stationary tunnel part  11  and in the direction of the stationary tunnel part  11  to move the bale  3  apart from the movable tunnel part  12 . In this preferable embodiment of the method the first wrapping stage includes preferably, but not necessarily, moving the bale  3  and movable tunnel part  12  apart from the open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12  by means of a conveyor means  17  for pulling the bale  3  apart from the open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12 . In this preferable embodiment of the method said moving of the bale  3  from the stationary tunnel part  11  into the movable tunnel part  12  is preferably, but not necessarily, achieved by pushing the bale  3  with another bale  3 , and consequently, said moving of the bale  3  inside the movable tunnel part  12  towards the open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12  is preferably, but not necessarily, achieved by pushing the bale  3  with another bale, and consequently, said moving of the bale  3  out of the movable tunnel part  12  to attach the web of wrapping material  5  wrapped on said open downstream end  10  and/or on the sides of said open downstream end  10  is preferably, but not necessarily, achieved by pushing the bale  3  with another bale  3 . 
         [0059]    The method the first wrapping stage includes preferably, but not necessarily, holding the bale  3  compressed by means of the tunnel means  9  while the bale  3  is at least partly inside the tunnel means  9 . 
         [0060]    Said wrapping means  6  comprises preferably, but not necessarily, a circular ring  13  provided with a dispenser means  4  rotated along a circular path in a substantially vertical plane and said bale  3  is rotated in a substantially horizontal plane on a rotation means  8  for turning said bale  3  in said second plane of rotation. 
         [0061]    The production stage for producing a bale  3  comprises preferably, but not necessarily, producing a bale  3  in the form of an unbound bale. 
         [0062]    Next the producing sequence shown in the  FIGS. 1 to 6  will be described.  FIGS. 1 to 6  shows in sequence a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         [0063]      FIG. 1  shows in top view a part of a first stage of wrapping stage including wrapping of web of wrapping material  5  on the sides of an open downstream end  10  of a movable tunnel part  12  and on an open downstream end  10  of a movable tunnel part  12 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 2  shows in top view attaching of the web of wrapping material  5  wrapped in  FIG. 1  on the sides of the open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12  and on the open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12  to the end of the bale  3  by moving the bale out of the movable tunnel part  12  through the open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 3  shows in top view the situation after  FIG. 3  when the bale  3  has fully exited the movable tunnel part. In this situation web of wrapping material  5  is wrapped on the sides of the end of the bale  3  and on the sides of the open downstream end  10  of a movable tunnel part  12 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 4  shows in top view the situation after  FIG. 3  when the partly wrapped bale  3  and the movable tunnel part  12  are moved apart from each other to detach the wrapping material  5  wrapped on the sides of an open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12  so that the wrapping material  5  wrapped on the sides of an open downstream end  10  of the movable tunnel part  12  follows with the bale  3  to retain the structure of the end of the bale  3 . 
         [0067]      FIG. 5  shows in top view the situation after FIG.  3 —the second stage of wrapping comprising turning said bale  3  in a second plane of rotation, which is substantially normal to said first plane of rotation, whereby the wrapping is provided onto the sides of said bale  3  in a second direction of wrapping substantially normal to said first direction of wrapping. 
         [0068]      FIG. 6  shows in top view the situation after  FIG. 3 , which can be considered to be the end of the production sequence.  FIG. 6  shows, as in  FIG. 1 , wrapping of web of wrapping material  5  on the sides of an open downstream end  10  of a movable tunnel part  12 . 
         [0069]    It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advanced, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are therefore not restricted to the above examples, but they may vary within the scope of the claims. 
         [0070]    List of reference numerals used:
         1 . Wrapped bale     2 . Bale producing means     3 . Bale     4 . Dispenser means     5 . Web of wrapping material     6 . Wrapping means     7 . Turning means     8 . Rotation means     9 . Tunnel means     10 . Open downstream end     11 . Stationary tunnel part     12 . Movable tunnel part     13 . Substantially vertically disposed circular ring     14 . Support roller means     15 . Framework     16 . Support arm     17 . Conveyor means     18 . Elastic of flexible additional supporting means     19 . Tunnel moving means