Abstract:
A large round baler includes a wheeled chassis constructed as a separate unit including a tow bar adapted for connection to a tractor. Also constructed as separate units that are releasably secured to the chassis are a baling assembly and a crop receiving and/or processing assembly. The baling assembly is constructed in such a way that, by separating the baling assembly from the chassis either in its entirety or by tilting it about a longitudinal axis defined at a connection at one side of the chassis, baling belts may be moved over the entire periphery of the baling assembly and mounted into engagement with baling element support rolls forming part of the baling assembly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a baler, in particular round baler, comprising a chassis, a baling assembly and a crop receiving and/or processing assembly.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     EP-A1-0 865 723 discloses a chassis on the top of which is located a round baler and a wrapping assembly. The round baler is an ordinary round baler of which the axle has been taken away, and whereas the flanges for the axle are used for the connection to the chassis.  
         [0003]     It is also known from Göweil (Göweil Uni-Combi G 5040), to use a chassis carrying a round baler and a wrapping assembly, whereas the chassis is connected by means of a tongue to a tractor. Although in this case the tongue of the round baler is removed, the round baler is designed to assume all loads of a vehicle.  
         [0004]     The problem this invention is based on is seen in the efforts needed to make the round baler strong enough to assume all loads applied to this vehicle or in redundant strength.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     According to the present invention, there is provided an improved large round baler construction.  
         [0006]     An object of the invention is to provide a large round baler constructed so that draft loads are not transferred through the bale forming assembly of the round baler. This object is accomplished by building the baler in a modular configuration.  
         [0007]     By means of this teaching of a modular baler concept, the baling assembly is a self-sufficient assembly, which has to be designed only to assume the baling forces. It is not necessary to assume the bending forces in the whole vehicle. Bolt connections and bearings will not be applied by forces to be encountered by the vehicle portion of the baler. The baler may be a large square baler as well as a round baler. Accordingly, the baling assembly may be a rectangular bale case or a variable or fixed bale chamber of a round baler with a round cylindrical space, when the bale is completed. The chassis is pulled behind a prime mover, like an agricultural tractor and is provided with the number and type of wheels and axles, which are needed to carry the load of the whole vehicle. The tongue is not connected to the baling assembly but to the carrying structure. The tongue may be adjustable in height or fixed. The same chassis may be used for various types and sizes of balers, which allows a low cost production. Crop receiving and/or processing assemblies can be produced in various sizes and capacities, like wide or narrow pick-ups, short or long cut cutting devices etc.; they all would use the interface on the carrying structure. The carrying structure may also carry all the drives and power lines, like hydraulic lines, electric lines, etc., which are connected to the individual assemblies.  
         [0008]     All known types of crop receiving and/or processing assemblies, like pick-ups, cutting means, windrowing means, humidifying means, etc. can be attached to the carrying structure either alone or in combination with each other. Height adjustment devices, like hydraulic actuators would act between the carrying structure and the respective crop receiving and/or processing assembly to move it into one or several operative positions and into an inoperative position.  
         [0009]     The crop receiving and/or processing assembly may be formed such, that it reinforces the carrying structure, when it is attached to it. Means to reinforce the carrying structure are seen in a strong frame of the crop receiving and/or processing assembly, in additional struts or braces, in the way the crop receiving and/or processing assembly is attached to it, and the like. This will make the whole assembly more stiff without increasing the strength of any of these components.  
         [0010]     If desired, bale handling assemblies can be attached to the carrying structure, like a bale wrapping means, a bale weighing means, a bale unloading means, a bale tying or netting means, etc., again either alone or in combination with each other.  
         [0011]     Since with known balers it is normally a front part, which does not need adoption to another size or type of the rear part of the baler, it reduces assembly efforts, if said front part is fixed to the carrying structure, whereas a rear part is adapted to and fixed to said front part. For example, a round baler may have a front part with rolls or belts, to which may be attached one of a set of different rear parts, with belts, rolls, chains, etc. to create either a fixed or a variable chamber round baler. In the case of a large square baler the drive portion may reside in the front part, whereas the bale case of different sizes or strength may be attached to said front part. This however does not exclude, that both—the front and the rear part—are attached to the carrying structure, such that in the case of a round baler the rear part is hinged to the carrying structure rather than to the front part.  
         [0012]     In a case, in which the baling assembly has walls, normally side walls, between which extend struts or cross beams to form a substantially rigid structure and rolls rotatably journalled in said walls to receive belts, whereas the cross beams are offset from the path of the belts towards the interior of the round baler, it is possible to install these belts like a ring slid over the circumferential surface of the baling assembly. These belts are brought in place and pressed onto the rolls by other rolls moved from the circumference inwardly and fixed in the operative position. This allows to use either endless belts or finite belts, the ends of which are connected to each other.  
         [0013]     The belts can be pressed onto the rolls and the lately installed rolls to press the belts on the rolls already in place, can be brought in place in a fixed structure of the baling assembly, if some of the rolls are replaceable while the walls are in place, in particular by means of shafts or stub shafts connectable to a roll body.  
         [0014]     The belts can be taken from the rolls or put onto them without routing them in a cumbersome way through the spaces between the rolls, if they are slid like a ring over the circumference of the baler. This circumference can be freed by disconnecting the whole baling assembly from the carrying structure and by lifting it therefrom by means of a crane or the like. Or access can be provided, if the baling assembly is hinged to the carrying structure such, that it can be tilted laterally about an axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the baler. Latter solution does not require a crane but could be performed also with a jack stand or hydraulic actuator. The baling assembly would always remain connected to the carrying structure and could easily be returned to the initial position. Different from prior art balers the baling assembly would be free on any other assembly, including pick-up and netting or tying means, which allows to install the belts or even a slat-chain conveyor as an endless ring.  
         [0015]     A tilting movement or even a removal of the baling assembly from the carrying structure is easy to accomplish, if the drives are easy to disconnect, like with chains, universal joint shafts, clutches etc., when disconnection is needed. Alternatively, hydraulic hoses and couplings may be used. If the drives are present on the side, where the baling assembly is hinged to the carrying structure, universal joint shafts, universal joints, hydraulic or electric cables or the like may be provided, which retain the connection even in the tilted position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     One embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below and in relation to the drawing.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a baler in a schematic side view with the components disassembled.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows the baler of  FIG. 1  in a partly assembled stage with loose endless belts surrounding the baling assembly.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows the baler of  FIG. 2 , but with the belts mounted and under tension.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows the baler of  FIG. 2 , but with the baling assembly being moved away from the carrying structure by a short distance. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a baler  10 , having a chassis  12 , a baling assembly  14 , a crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16  and a bale handling assembly  18 .  
         [0022]     The baler  10 , as shown, is in the form of a round baler of the variable chamber type. However, the baler could be as well a round baler of the fixed or mixed chamber version or a large square baler. The baler  10  is of the pull type, i.e. it gets attached to a tractor (not shown) or the like and is pulled during operation and transport.  
         [0023]     The chassis  12  comprises a carrying structure  20 , wheels  22  and a tongue  24 . The chassis  12  is of a self-carrying structure to which all assemblies of the baler  10  can be attached.  
         [0024]     The carrying structure  20  is made of beams, traverses, struts, axles, cross beams, etc. welded or bolted together to form a rigid piece. The carrying structure  20  is formed such, that it can assume in an inner space or on its top side the baling assembly  14 , at its underside the crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16  and normally at the back side or above the crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16  a bale handling assembly  18 . The bale handling assembly  18  could be installed on any place which fits the purpose. Flanges or other interface connecting means are provided at places which are useful to receive either of the above assemblies  14 ,  16 ,  18 . In the shown embodiment, the carrying structure  20  extends under an angle of about 45 degrees to the ground on which it stands and is connected to the tongue  24  at one end and to the wheels  22  at the other end. Two beams (only one shown) extend on each side in the longitudinal direction of the baler  10  and are interconnected by means of cross beams (not shown). Provided at the underside of the carrying structure  20  is a recess  26  to provide additional space for the crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16 . Such a recess  26  or additional space may not be needed in other embodiments. While the carrying structure  20  here is shown in straight lines, it is obvious that it may be of a different shape and layout, when this is necessary. Furthermore, the carrying structure  20  may be formed such that the baling assembly  14  is not fastened to its upper side, but is suspended from a portion high up. The carrying structure  20  is also provided with electronic controls (not shown) and drives  56  in the form of belts, chains, gears or hydraulic drives, whereas the one shown comprises a bevel gear with an universal joint. In a slight overlapping relationship to the wheels  22 , a bottom roll  58  is rotatably received by the carrying structure  20 . This bottom roll  58  is oriented and located such that it can support a round bale formed in this baling assembly  14 .  
         [0025]     The wheels  22  are rotatably connected to the carrying structure  20  either directly or via an axle (not shown). The wheels  22  may be arranged in tandem fashion, spring suspended or fixed, steerable or straight and with or without brakes. The arrangement of the wheels  22  is such that the baling assembly  14  in question can be readily connected to the carrying structure  20 .  
         [0026]     The tongue  24  is connected to the front end area of the carrying structure  20  in a vertically adjustable way. In other embodiments, the tongue  24  may be attached rigidly. Sufficient space is left below the tongue  24  and the carrying structure  20  to receive the crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16 . Beyond that, the tongue  24  is of known construction.  
         [0027]     The baling assembly  14  is formed by a front part  28  and a rear part  30 , which are connected to each other in a bearing  32  with a pivot axis extending horizontally and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the baler  10 . The baling assembly  14  is substantially of known type and in the form of a variable chamber round baler, in which a series of rolls  34  is rotatably received in side walls  36  and whereas other rolls  38  are carried by a tensioning arm  40  moving between end positions against the resistance provided by a tensioning means  42 , like a spring or a hydraulic actuator. A hydraulic actuator  44  is provided to swing the rear part  30  about the pivot axle of the bearing  32  between a lowered baling position, as shown, and a raised unload position. This baling assembly  14  is formed as a self-carrying unit, which can be handled during assembly, transport etc. as a single and independent piece. For this purpose, struts and cross beams  46  are provided between and fixed to the side walls  36 , to make the front and rear parts  28  and  30 , respectively, rigid units. The baling assembly  14  is provided furthermore with a set of belts  48 , running parallel with little distance to each other over the rolls  34  and  38 . Unless the belts  48  are manufactured in an endless fashion, the ends of the belts  48  are connected to each other to make the belts  48  endless. In other embodiments the belts may be replaced by a chain and slat conveyor or by rolls or by a single belt. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the cross beams  46  are provided inside a space covered by the belts  48  and close to a fixed roll  34 , such that, even with a completed bale in a bale chamber  50 , the belts  48  will not touch the cross beams  46 . The location of each of the cross beams  46  is chosen such that, if the belts  48  are slid over the baling assembly and are concentrated towards the bale chamber  50 , they are always in the shadow of the rolls  34  and are facing the inner side of the belts  48  as opposed to their outer side. Some of the rolls  34 ′ and  38 ′ are either made of multiple parts with a shaft or stub shafts and a roll body, or they can be inserted through holes in one of the side walls  36 . This location of the beams  46  and the use of such rolls  34 ′,  38 ′ are reasons why the belts  48  can be installed, as will be described later. The underside of the front part  28  forms an interface to be connected to the upper side of the carrying structure  20 . In this specific embodiment, front and rear mounting or bearing plates  52  are provided at each side of the carrying structure and include aligned openings lying along a longitudinally extending tilt axis T. Fixed to lower edges of each of the opposite side structures  36  are front and rear pairs of mounting lugs  53  that are spaced for receiving the bearing plates  52  between them and when coupled to the bearing plates establish a hinge joint at the respective tilt axis T about which the baling assembly  14  can be tilted when the fasteners establishing the coupling between the front and rear plates  52  and lugs  53  at one side of the carrying structure  20  and baling assembly  14  are removed. Nevertheless, it would also be sufficient, instead of there being a pivot axis defined by the connection of the front part  28  with the bearings  52 , to simply provide a bolted connection which may be disconnected so that the baling assembly  14  may be lifted, by a hoist or the like, so as to achieve a gap of at least about 0.02 m.  
         [0028]     The crop and/or processing assembly  16  is formed as a pick-up with a subsequent cutting device combined to a single unit. In other embodiments it may be either of them or another crop receiving and/or processing assembly, like a mower. Usually this crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16  extends laterally beyond the carrying structure  20  and has a rearward delivery opening to feed the crop into the bale chamber  50 . Contrary to the prior art this crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16  is not connected directly to the baling assembly  16  but to the carrying structure  20 , where it is suspended in a vertically moveable way, as this is known. Guide sheets or the like will be provided—where necessary—to provide for a secure feeding of the crop along the feed path, when the crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16  is adjusted in height. Interfaces (not shown) are provided at the underside of the carrying structure  20  and on the upper side of the crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16  to connect both to each other, whereas connection may happen via fast connectors, bearings, flanges or the like. The crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16  may be formed such that it reinforces the carrying structure  20 , when it is attached to it. Means to reinforce the carrying structure are seen in a strong frame of the crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16 , in additional struts or braces, in the way the crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16  is attached to it and the like.  
         [0029]     The bale handling assembly  18  is shown as a bale ramp, on which a bale can roll down, once the rear part  30  is swung up. Instead of or in addition to it a bale wrapper, a weighing device, a bale tying or netting device or the like could be attached to the carrying structure  20 . The connection between the bale handling assembly  18  and the carrying structure  20  may be rigid or adjustable. The bale handling assembly  18  may include either means that is used to handle or process the bale as opposed to the crop not being formed to a bale yet.  
         [0030]     It is obvious from the above description, that various baling assemblies  14  and crop receiving and/or processing assemblies  16  and/or bale handling assembly  18  can be attached to the underside, upper side or rear side of the carrying structure  20  respectively to form a series of different balers  10 .  
         [0031]     Reference is made to  FIGS. 2 and 3  to describe the method for installing the belts  48 .  
         [0032]     When new belts  48  have to be placed on the rolls  34 ,  38 , either during initial production or for maintenance, the baling assembly  14  is either swung about the axis of the bearings  52  to create a gap between the baling assembly  14  and the carrying structure  20  and the crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16  and the bale handling assembly  18  (see  FIG. 4 ), or it is lifted completely for example by means of a fork lift or a crane, into a position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . In this situation, the circumferential surfaces of the baling assembly  14 , i.e. its upper, lower, front and rear sides are freely accessible. All rolls  34 ,  38  are in place except those shown in dotted lines in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which is the most forward one  38 ′ on the tensioning arm  40  and the upper rearward one  34 ′ in the front part  28 . Loops  54  of the belts  48  are created between pairs of opposite rolls  34 ,  38 , whereas the removable rolls  34 ′,  38 ′ serve as idling points for these loops  54 . In order to install the belts  48 , they are made endless and are slid over the side walls  36  to surround the circumferential surfaces, as shown in  FIG. 2 . As a next step, the missing rolls  34 ′ and  38 ′ are installed, which will tighten the loops  54  and apply all belts  48  to the adjacent surfaces of the rolls  34 ,  38 . Finally, the tensioning means  42  is activated to provide for a tight connection. The situation in  FIG. 4  is comparable to the situation in  FIG. 2 , with the difference being however that the distance between the baling assembly  14  and the carrying structure  20  and the crop receiving and/or processing assembly  16  and bale handling assembly  18  is much smaller and assumes a size which is needed in the case of maintenance or repair, which should be performed with the least effort. A small distance of about 0.02. to 0.1 m should be sufficient to install the endless belts  48  and can be reached by either lifting off the baling assembly  14  or by pivoting it about the axis defined at one side of the carrying structure at the connection of the front part  28  with the bearings  52 .  
         [0033]     Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.  
       ASSIGNMENT  
       [0034]     The entire right, title and interest in and to this application and all subject matter disclosed and/or claimed therein, including any and all divisions, continuations, reissues, etc., thereof are, effective as of the date of execution of this application, assigned, transferred, sold and set over by the applicant(s) named herein to Deere &amp; Company, a Delaware corporation having offices at Moline, Ill. 61265, U.S.A., together with all rights to file, and to claim priorities in connection with, corresponding patent applications in any and all foreign countries in the name of Deere &amp; Company or otherwise.