Abstract:
A baler is equipped with a pick-up for elevating a crop windrow from the ground and delivering it to a rotary conveyor which delivers the crop through an inlet to the baling chamber. Suspended for operation in conjunction with the pick-up so as to aid in achieving continuous, even delivery of crop to the baling chamber is a crop control arrangement including a baffle located in front of the path swept by the pick-up teeth and a plurality of hold down rods which are mounted to the baffle and extend to the rear to the rotary conveyor. The suspension of the baffle allows it engage the top of a windrow and to flex vertically in a quick, responsive manner both to changes in thickness along the length of and crosswise to the width of the windrow.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to pick-ups for windrowed crops and more particularly relates to devices used in conjunction with pick-ups for controlling crop flow.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Crop processing implements such as balers and forage harvesters are often provided with a front-mounted pick-ups that are used for lifting a windrow of crop from the ground and delivering it for further processing by the implement. These pick-ups utilize a rotating conveyor provided with a plurality of spring teeth across its width to engage and lift the windrow. One problem attendant with these pick-ups is that when operating to pick up relatively small windrows of light crop, the crop tends to be kicked forward by the rotating teeth until a relatively large amount has accumulated. When this crop finally feeds in, plugging of the implement sometimes results. In attempting to overcome this problem, designers have provided various crop compressors or hold down arrangements.  
           [0003]    For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,513,430, issued to Scheid on Jul., 4, 1950, there is disclosed a crop compressor arrangement comprising a U-shaped support having its opposite legs pivotally mounted to opposite sides of the pick-up for allowing the frame to pivot vertically, the bight of the frame supporting a plurality of compressor straps spaced across its width. The straps extend down into close proximity of the ground and then are curved up and back to terminal ends located above a tine supporting, pick-up conveyor belt. The compressor bars act to gently press on the crop windrow with the curved portion of the bars acting in conjunction with the spring teeth for preventing the crop in the windrow from being merely pushed forwardly by the teeth. The pivotal mounting of the U-shaped frame allows it to raise and lower in response to the thickness of the windrow.  
           [0004]    The known compressor arrangements suffer from the drawbacks of not being suspended for quick response to abrupt changes in windrow thickness both along the length and width of the windrow.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    According to the present invention there is provided an improved crop controlling arrangement for use with a windrow pick-up of a crop processing implement.  
           [0006]    An object of the invention is to provide a crop controlling arrangement in the form of a baffle having an optionally usable flexible flap at its lower end that engages the ground so as to serve to effectively prevent light crop from bunching ahead of a windrow pick-up, while maintaining the crop against the tined rotating device of the pick-up.  
           [0007]    Another object of the invention is to provide a crop controlling arrangement including a baffle suspended for riding on top of the windrow and/or for being immediately responsive to changes in thickness of the windrow and/or for maintaining an approximate constant spacing between the baffle and pick-up tooth path.  
           [0008]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a crop controlling arrangement having a suspension that is flexible vertically, so as to move in response to side-to-side differences in thickness of windrows, but which exhibits side ways stiffness so as to resist side-to-side-flexure.  
           [0009]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a crop controlling arrangement including a baffle, as set forth in one or more of the previous objects, wherein compressor rods are joined to, and spaced transversely across the top of the baffle and extend rearwardly above the pick-up.  
           [0010]    These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the ensuing description together with the appended drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic left side elevational view of a forward end portion of a baler equipped with a pick-up with which a crop controlling arrangement, constructed in accordance with the present invention, is associated.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a left front perspective view from above of the crop controlling arrangement removed from the baler, but excluding the flexible flap at the bottom of the baffle. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]    Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a forward end portion of a baler  10  including a main frame  12  supported on ground wheels  14  for being towed over the ground by a tractor that is hitched to a tongue  16  projecting forwardly from the frame  12 . Mounted to the frame  12 , in front of the wheels  14 , is a crop gathering assembly including a pick-up  18  and a rotary conveyor  20 . The pick-up  18  is wider than the baling chamber of the baler  10  and includes a frame  22  mounted to the main frame  12  for pivoting about a horizontal transverse axis  24 . Flare sheets or crop dividers  26  are mounted to opposite sides of the pick-up frame  22  for pivoting about a horizontal transverse axis  28 , with a portion of the divider at the left side of the frame  22  being broken away so as to reveal a portion of the present invention, as will be evident from the following description. Mounted to the frame  22  for rotation about the horizontal transverse axis  28  is a center shaft of a pick-up tine reel or cylinder to which is mounted spiders carrying a plurality of angularly spaced tine bars, not shown, carrying sets of spring tines or teeth that sweep an arcuate path, indicated at  30 , as the reel rotates clockwise, whereby the tines act to pick-up a windrow of crop material and deliver it to the rotary conveyor  20 .  
         [0014]    For the sake of simplicity, the rotary conveyor  20  is shown only in outline. It has its drive shaft located along the pivot axis  24  of the pick-up  18 . The rotary conveyor  20  is an overshot conveyor of a known type including centering augers for narrowing the stream of crop material received from the pick-up  18  to the width of a baling chamber inlet. Located between the centering augers is a plurality of transversely spaced flat, rigid tines for delivering the material to the rear through the inlet of the baler  10 , which is defined between a bale starter roller  32  and a further roller, not shown, which is spaced below and to the rear of the roller  32 .  
         [0015]    Suspended from the baler main frame  12  in a location forward of the pick-up  18  is a crop controlling arrangement  34 . Referring now also to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the crop controlling arrangement  34  includes a generally inverted U-shaped frame  36  including a cross tube  38  joined, as by welding, to upper ends of opposite legs  40 . A pair of U-shaped brackets  42  have their legs extending inwardly from bight portions that are respectively fixed, as by a pair of fasteners  44 , against inner surfaces of the legs  40  at locations spaced about midway between the cross tube  38  and bottom ends of the legs  40 . Mounted to the frame  36  is a crop controlling baffle  46  including a major, somewhat tear drop shaped portion constructed of two rectangular pieces of thin sheet metal, with a first piece  48  being formed so that it is generally J-shaped in cross section, and a second piece  50  (FIG. 2) being of a generally inverted L-shape in cross section. The first piece  48  is arranged such that the hook of the J forms a lower rounded bottom  52 , with a rear part of the baffle  46  being formed by the stem of the J and secured to the rear leg of the bracket  42  by a fastener  54 . The hook of the J terminates at an upper horizontal transverse edge (not visible) that is located beneath a forward side of the baffle  46  that is defined by the long leg of the second baffle piece  50 , the two pieces being connected together by a plurality of transversely spaced screw fasteners  56 . Opposite ends of the second baffle piece  50  are respectively secured, as by fasteners  58 , to front legs of the brackets  42 . The short leg of the second baffle piece  50  extends over the top of the cross tube  38  and terminates at the first baffle piece  48 . A plurality of angle or corner brackets  60 , shown only in FIG. 2, are spaced transversely across the juncture of the baffle pieces  48  and  50 , and a first fastener  62  secures each bracket  60  to the first baffle piece  48 , while a second fastener  64  secures each bracket  60  to the short leg of the second baffle piece  50  and to the cross tube  38 . Forming a lower section of the baffle  46  is a rectangular flexible flap  65  (shown only in FIG. 1) having an upper marginal portion secured to a lower front location of the tear drop shaped portion of the baffle  46  by the fasteners  56 . The flexible flap  65  is used in very light crop having windrows which are thin enough to pass beneath the lower end of the flap, the flap  65  serving to prevent crop from being kicked forward by the pick-up reel teeth. If the flap  65  encounters thicker windrows, it will flex upwardly and in some conditions will become folded around the rounded lower end  52  of the tear drop shaped portion of the baffle  46 .  
         [0016]    Forming an integral part of the crop control arrangement  34  are a plurality of transversely spaced hold down rods  66  having forward ends extending down through the short leg of the inverted L-shaped baffle piece  50  and through the cross tube  38 , with each of the rods  66  having a threaded end exposed below the cross tube  38  and receiving a nut (not shown) which draws a swaged, or otherwise enlarged section  68  (FIG. 2) of the rods tight against baffle piece  50 . The hold down rods  66  are each curved upwardly to the rear and terminate at a respective location adjacent the center section of the rotary conveyor  20  that is inward of the centering augers so as to control the flow of crop from the pick-up tines to the conveyor  20 . It is here noted that the disposition and shape of the hold down rods  66  is such that loose crop which falls out of the bale-forming belts either passes between the rods  66  or slides down off the front of the rods  66  and then off the front of the baffle  46 .  
         [0017]    The crop control arrangement  34  is suspended so as to engage and float upon the top of a windrow of crop and/or the ground. Specifically, fixed to opposite forward sides of the baffle  46  are a pair of hangers  74 , which are each secured in place by one of the fasteners  56  and one of the fasteners  58 . The hangers  74  are constructed of elements that are flexible vertically but resist side-to-side flexure. The hangers  74  are here shown constructed of belt material having upper that are each bent forwardly and secured, as by a fastener  76 , to a respective downwardly facing surface of a bracket  77  fixed to the baler frame  12 . The hangers  74  each have a thickness and width that results in the hangers  74  flexing vertically but being relatively stiff for resisting sideways movement of the baffle  46 .  
         [0018]    In lieu of the pair of belt hangers  74 , a single hanger could be used; or, optionally, lengths of roller chain could be used, for example.  
         [0019]    A further pair of flexible elements, here shown in the form of cables  78 , are respectively located at opposite ends of the baffle  46 , with lower rear ends of the cables  78  being defined by eyes that are respective received under washers carried by, and held in place by fasteners  79  respectively secured to the baffle frame legs  40  at locations just below the cross tube  38 . Upper front ends of the cables  78  are defined by eyes that are received under washers carried by respective fasteners  80  that are fixed to the flare sheets  26  and positioned for movement along respective fore-and-aft extending slots  82  that are provided in transversely spaced vertical plates  84  that form respective parts of the brackets  77 . The usage of the flare sheets  26  as a mounting point for the cables  78  is a matter of convenience since the flare sheets  26  are mounted for pivoting about the axis  28  of the tine reel. However, in pick-up structures where the flare sheets are not pivotally mounted, simple pivoted links would work just as well. In any event, the cables  78  control the minimum spacing permitted between the baffle  46  and the pick-up tine path  30 .  
         [0020]    In lieu of the cables  78 , lost-motion links having slotted upper ends could be used, with the upper end of each of the slots engaging the associated one of the fasteners  80  when the pick-up  18  and baffle  46  are both in the lower extremes of their working ranges, as shown in FIG. 1, the lost motion permitting the baffle to raise and lower relative to the pick-up  18 .  
         [0021]    The suspension of the baffle  46  is completed by a pair of trailing guide links  86  that are in the form of straps located at the opposite ends of the baffle  46  and having their rear ends pivotally coupled to lower ends of the legs  40  of the frame  36  by a pair of fasteners  88 . An elongate guide slot  90  is provided in a forward end section of each of the links  86 , and a guide pin  92  is received in each of the guide slots  90  and is secured to a respective mounting arm  94  having a rear portion welded to the underside of the bracket  77 , the arm  94  being in the form of a strap that is angled downward and forward from the bracket  77 .  
         [0022]    In operation, assuming normal crop conditions where the windrow is ¢relatively thick, the baffle  46  of the crop controlling arrangement  34  will be used without the flexible flap  65 . Thus, the rounded bottom  52  will be in engagement with the top of a windrow that is being fed into the baler  10  by the pick-up  18  and the rotary conveyor  20 . When the windrow is relatively thick, the crop lying on the ground will work alone or together with the baffle  46  to prevent the crop from being kicked forwardly and rolled ahead of the tines. Also, the location of the baffle  46  in closely spaced relationship to the tine path  30  will define a passage for the crop being lifted by the tines, with the baffle  46  acting to keep the crop in contact with the spring tines for positive feeding while at the same time being deflected away from the tines so as to permit thicker sections of windrow to be easily fed.  
         [0023]    When the windrows are relatively heavy, but uneven, the baffle  46  will float in response to changing thickness of the windrow both along the length and across the width of the windrow. When one side of the baffle  46  raises, the trailing guide link  86  on that side will shift forwardly along the associated guide pin  92 , it being noted that, due to the trailing nature of the links  86 , the lifting action of the windrow on the baffle  46  causes it to react quite rapidly to the variation in crop thickness. After the windrow of crop passes through the channel defined between the spring tines and the back side of the baffle  46 , the hold down rods  66  will maintain pressure on the stream of crop so that it is fed evenly to the rotary conveyor  20 . Further, it is to be noted that the upward movement of the baffle  46  is permitted by the flexible belts  74 , but that belts will resist sideways shifting of the baffle  46 .  
         [0024]    The vertical movement of the pick-up  18  is compensated for by the suspension cables  78  which pivot with the flare sheets  26  and thus are guided along the slots  82 , the cables  78  acting to maintain a minimum distance between the baffle  46  and the pick-up tine path  30 .  
         [0025]    In crop conditions where the windrow being picked up is very light, i.e., relatively thin, the flap  65  will be used. In these conditions, the flap  65  will permit the thin windrow to pass beneath it but will be positioned so as to prevent the crop from being rolled ahead by the pick-up teeth.  
         [0026]    It is to be noted that during operation the operator will be able to observe crop feeding in above the top of the baffle  46  as it passes beneath the compressor rods  66 . Thus, in the event that a plugging situation does develop, the operator will be able to see this and take appropriate action.  
         [0027]    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.