Abstract:
A large round baler includes a pick-up which delivers crop to a transport assembly including a guide wall and tined rotor, together with a rotor stripper, which cooperate to move harvest material from the pick-up to the inlet of a baling chamber. Various embodiments are disclosed for moving one or more of the guide wall, rotor or stripper for effecting adjustments narrowing or expanding the cross section of a guide channel for the harvest material defined in part by the guide wall, rotor and stripper. These adjustments can be done manually or with power and can be made in response to computer generated information or command signals resulting from collected and/or stored data indicating various conditions of the harvested material.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention pertains to a transport or conveying assembly for a harvest recovery machine, the assembly including a rotor, at least one stripper and a crop transport channel that includes at least one guide wall.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    DE-C1 42 19 719 discloses a baling press for large bales which includes a transport channel through which the harvested crop material is conveyed from a pick-up to a compression channel by a stuffing rotor. The transport channel includes a guide wall that is formed of webs that extend in the material flow direction and guide plates situated between these webs. The guide plates are able to move against the force of springs in order to prevent peak loads.  
           [0003]    DE-C2 195 46 263 discloses a transport device for a round baler, in which the transport channel includes a lower guide wall that can be pivoted transverse to the material flow direction about a downstream bearing. A movement of the guide wall and consequently a widening of the inlet gap occurs when a certain pressure of the harvest material is reached.  
           [0004]    According to DE-C1 198 21 591, the bottom of a transport section between a pick-up and the compression chamber of a baler is held in a pivot bearing on its upstream end and adjustable at a downstream end region, namely transverse to the material flow. The adjustment is realized with the aid of a motor and serves for removing obstructions from the transport channel.  
           [0005]    According to EP-A1 0 074 533 a guide wall of a transport device of a self-loading forage box can be adjusted with the aid of a lever in order to remove obstructions.  
           [0006]    EP-A1 0 339 733 discloses a pivoted wall that makes it possible to open the transport channel in order to make it possible to remove obstructions from the supply channel of a large agricultural baler.  
           [0007]    According to DE-A1 198 41 598, a round baler is provided with a cutting mechanism in combination with a rotor. Knives that protrude through a wall and extend into a transport channel are provided opposite the rotor. The wall can be adjusted transverse to the material flow upstream of the rotor in order to change the channel cross section. On the downstream end, the wall can be pivoted downward in order to remove foreign matter from the channel. The harvest material is removed from the rotor at the harvest material inlet by a stationary stripper. The adjustment of the wall takes place in dependence on a torque that is measured on the rotor.  
           [0008]    The problem on which the invention is based can be seen in the fact that known measures aim to remove or eliminate rather than prevent obstructions or peak loads or require a significant adjustment of the guide wall.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    According to the present invention there is provided an improved arrangement of adjustable components for transporting harvest material from a pickup into a baling chamber.  
           [0010]    An object of the invention is to provide components arranged for defining a channel through which harvest material is transported and for effecting the transport of such material from a pick-up to the inlet of an arrangement for further processing, with at least some of the components being adjustable to vary the cross section of the channel in accordance with the amount of crop so as to maintain a constant density.  
           [0011]    A more specific object of the invention is to provide transport components, as set forth in the previous object, wherein one of the components is a guide wall which is adjustable transversely to the flow path of the material as it progresses from the pick-up to the inlet.  
           [0012]    Another object of the invention is to provide transport components, as set forth in one or more of the previous objects, wherein a tined rotor is provided for acting in conjunction with the guide wall to form a portion of the channel, with the tined rotor being adjustable alone or together with the guide wall in a direction transverse to the flow path of the material as it progresses from the pick-up to the inlet.  
           [0013]    Still another object of the invention is to provide transport components, as set forth in one or more of the previous objects, wherein a stripper assembly is associated with the tined rotor and acting in conjunction with the guide wall to form a portion of the channel, with the stripper assembly being adjustable alone of together with the guide wall and/or the rotor in a direction transverse to the flow path of the material as it progresses from the pick-up to the inlet.  
           [0014]    These and other objects will become apparent from a reading of the ensuing description together with the appended drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 1 through 6 and  8  through  19  are schematic left side views of a forward portion of a large round baler, with each figure showing a respective one of eighteen different embodiments of the transport device.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 illustrates a different position of the transport device shown in FIG. 6. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]    Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a harvest recovery machine  10  that is equipped with a crop transport device  12  constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The machine  10  is here shown in the form of a baler for making large cylindrical bales and having a bale compression chamber of fixed size. However, it is to be understood that the present invention could just as well be applied to a baler having a bale compression chamber that is variable in size, a baler for making parallelepiped bales, a self-loading forage box, or the like. In addition to the transport device  12 , the harvest recovery machine  10  includes, among other things, a pick-up  14  and compression elements  16 .  
         [0018]    The pick-up  14  lifts the harvest material off the ground by means of revolving teeth or prongs  18  and transports the harvest material toward the compression elements  16  by stripper plates  20 .  
         [0019]    The compression elements  16  are illustrated in the form of rollers, but may also be realized differently, namely, in the form of belts or rod chains that extend over rollers. The compression elements  16  are arranged on an arc of a circle together with other not-shown compression elements  16  and surround a compression or baling chamber  22 , in which the supplied harvest material is compressed into a bale. At the lower front of the baling chamber  22 , two of the compression elements  16  are separated so as to define an inlet  24 , here shown at approximately the 7:00 position, however its position could be varied to a certain degree. The transport device  12  protrudes into the inlet  24 .  
         [0020]    The compression elements  16 , the pick-up  14  and the transport device  12  are arranged on a not-shown undercarriage that is supported on the ground by wheels and can be connected to a towing vehicle by a not-shown hitch. In this respect, no detailed explanations are provided because this aspect does not pertain to the invention.  
         [0021]    In all embodiments, the essential components of the transport device  12  consist of a rotor  26 , a guide wall  28 , strippers  30  and an adjusting device  32 . Knives  34  are provided as secondary but not absolutely imperative components.  
         [0022]    The rotor  26  is driven in a fashion that is not illustrated in the figures, namely in such a way that it moves the harvest material from the pick-up  14  to the inlet  24 . Depending on its arrangement, the rotating direction may either be clockwise or counterclockwise. The rotor  26  includes a central core in the form of a tube  36  to which is secured feeder tines  38 . The tines  38  extend approximately radially from the tube  36  and are preferably attached thereto by screws or welding. The tines  38  are arranged in co-planar sets of three which may be formed from the same plate. Five or six of these sets of tines  36  may be spaced axially along the length of the tube  36 . The tines  38  each have a leading, curved transport edge  40  and a straight trailing edge which converge radially outward to form a point, the length of the tines  38  being such that they extend into the vicinity of the guide wall  28 . The number of teeth  38  and their distribution can be adapted to the respective circumstances.  
         [0023]    The guide wall  28  is formed by a stiff plate of steel bent to form a trough facing the rotor  26  and has sufficient stability to withstand the pressure of the material being transported and guides this material on a partially concentric path around the rotor  26 . The guide wall  28  may be reinforced by means of webs or ribs or the like in a fashion that is not illustrated in the figures. In the embodiments shown, the guide wall  28  is provided with not-shown slots through which the knives  34  are able to extend such that they are not influenced by the position of the guide wall  28 . Although the function of the guide wall  28  is identical in all embodiments and the curvature and length of the guide walls  28  are essentially also identical, the suspension of the guide wall  28  on the upstream and the downstream end region is realized differently.  
         [0024]    In the embodiments according to FIGS.  1 - 3 ,  5 - 7 ,  9 ,  15 ,  18  and  19 , the upstream end of the guide wall  28  is held in a stationary pivot bearing  42 . Due to this measure, the guide wall  28  can be pivoted about this pivot bearing  42  transverse to the material flow direction, as described in greater detail below. The pivot bearing  42  is positioned such that a transition without shoulders is formed between the plates  20  and the guide wall  28 , if the rotor  26  is rotating counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1, so as to function as an undershot rotor. If the rotor  26  is rotated clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2, so as to function as an overshot rotor, the pivot bearing  42  is situated approximately above the rear or downstream end of the plates  20 . In this case, a not-shown rigid wall is situated adjacent to the plates, with the main function of this rigid wall being to prevent the harvest material from falling downward.  
         [0025]    In the embodiments according to FIGS. 8 and 10- 13 , in lieu of the stationary pivot bearing  42 , a vertically moving sliding bearing  44  is guided by a slideway  46  such that it moves transverse to the material flow.  
         [0026]    The downstream end region of the guide wall  28  is provided with a bearing  48  that is rigidly held in not-shown side walls of the harvest recovery machine  10  in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1, 2,  10 ,  11 ,  18  and  19 . In the other embodiments, the bearing  48  is mounted so as to be adjustable.  
         [0027]    The utilization of the sliding bearing  44  and the movable bearing  48  makes it possible to adjust the guide wall within the region of the rotor  26 .  
         [0028]    Strippers  30  are provided for each row of tines  38  and serve for receiving harvest material supplied by the tines  38  from the rotor  26  and additionally transporting the harvest material into the compression chamber  22 . This means that only one stripper  30  is provided in an embodiment that includes only one row of tines  38 .  
         [0029]    The tines  38  have the same shape and arrangement in all embodiments, however, this is not absolutely imperative. The shape is defined due to the fact that an edge  50  situated at the rotor  26  or its tube  36 , respectively, extends on part of an arc of a circle while a stripping edge  52  situated remote from the rotor  26  follows an involute. The position of the involute is chosen such that it tangentially extends from the tube  36  on an upstream end and ends on a downstream end with a maximum of distance from the tube  36 . This means that the distance of the stripping edge  52  from the tube  36  increases constantly and continuously in the direction of material flow. The two downstream ends of the edge  50  and the stripping edge  52  are connected to one another in the shape of an arc. The stripper(s)  30  is/are preferably mounted on a not-shown carrier in a removable fashion. This carrier is situated within the region of the transport channel that is situated between the pick-up  14  and the inlet  24  and does not convey any material, with said carrier being extended or moved through suitable openings in the not-shown side walls of the harvest recovery machine  10 . According to FIGS. 1 and 2, limit stops  54  are provided which define the end positions of the strippers  30 . These limit stops  54  are intended for the carrier of the strippers  30  and may also be realized adjustably. It would also be conceivable to assign sensors to the limit stops  54 , with said sensors determining whether the carrier and consequently the strippers  30  are situated in their end position or not. The circular shape of the inner edge  50  is chosen in such a way that it firs on the outer circumference of the tube  36 , i.e., the strippers  30  can be supported on the tube  365  or at least maintain such a small distance from this tube that no harvest material can be clamped between the strippers  30  and the tube  36 .  
         [0030]    The adjusting device  32  is actuated by an external force, e.g., hydraulically or electrically. In this case, the actuation can either be realized in the form of manual control or automatic control or regulation. This control or regulation is not illustrated in the figures. The adjusting device  32  acts directly upon the rotor  26 , the guide wall  28  and the stripper  30  in FIGS.  1 - 3 ,  6 - 7 ,  14 - 16 , and  18 . In FIGS. 4, 5,  8 - 13 ,  16 ,  17  and  19 , cranks or pitmans  56  or cable s 58  are provided between the adjusting device  32  and the rotor  26 , guide wall  28  and/or the strippers  30 . In all embodiments, one end of the adjusting device  22  is arranged on a frame, undercarriage, side wall or the like so as to always be outside the transport channel such that material flow is not impaired. Although all embodiments show a doubleacting adjusting device  32 , it may also be realized in the form of a single-acting adjusting device, in which case the stroke that requires less power can be realized with the aid of a spring or another energy storing device. In addition, an energy storing device in the form of a damping element that absorbs peak loads may be provided between the adjusting device  32  and the a rotor  26 , the guide wall  28  and/or the stripper  30 , however, this is not shown in the figures.  
         [0031]    The cranks or pitmans  56  produce a connection between the adjusting device  32  and the rotor  26 , the guide wall  28  and/or the stripper  30  when a compressive movement needs to be transmitted, with one or more pitman(s)  56  or one or more cable(s)  58  being used for transmitting a tensional movement.  
         [0032]    According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the adjusting device  32  directly engages on the strippers  30 , with the adjusting device indirectly engaging on the guide wall  28  in FIGS. 6, 7 and  15 , and in each case for over- or undershot transport. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, one end of the adjusting device  32  engages on the stripper  30  and the other end engages on the guide wall  28  the correct position of the adjusting device  32  is achieved due to the fact that it is held and positioned between the strippers  30  or the guide wall  28  or the adjusting device  32  and the frame of the harvest recovery machine  10  by means of a not-shown spring or a similar adjusting element.  
         [0033]    According to FIGS. 4 and 5, two pitmans  56  are provided. On of the ends of these pitmans collectively engages on the adjusting device  32 , with their other ends being connected to the stripper  30  ad to the bearing  48  of the guide wall  28 . Consequently, an adjustment of the adjusting device  32  causes the stripper  30  and the guide wall  28  to be moved out of, or into, the transport channel in the same sense such that the clear cross section is increased or reduced.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 8 and 11 show an embodiment in which a cable  58  is provided between the sliding bearing  44  or the bearing  48  and the adjusting device  32 . The cable path is turned back such that the position of the adjusting device  32  is changed.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 9 and 10 show a scissor-like pitmans system, in which one pitman  56  stabilizes the position of the adjusting device  32  and the other pitman  56  transmits movement on the sliding bearing  44  or bearing  48 . Due to this measure, the movements can also be reversed and the adjusting device  32  can be arranged differently.  
         [0036]    According to FIGS. 12 and 13, the position of the sliding bearing  44  and the position of the bearing  48  are changed by means of a scissor-like pitmans system. In FIG. 12, two adjusting devices  32  are provided, with only one adjusting device  32  being provided in FIG. 13. This adjusting device acts upon the two other pitman systems via a third scissor-like pitman system.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 14 and 17 show an adjustment of a guide wall  28  during overshot transport. In these figures, the adjusting device  32  engages on the bearing  48 , with the upstream end region of the guide wall  28  engaging on an energy storing device  62  by means of a bearing  60 . This energy storing device  62  is mounted to the frame or the side walls of the harvest recovery machine  10  with one end realized in the form of a compression spring or other compressive energy storing device, such as a gas pressure accumulator, for example. This energy storing device  62  is arranged such that it is unable to bend and it is provided in order to eliminate the necessity for constant control or regulation of the adjustment device  32  and makes it possible to react to unforeseen peak loads, e.g., when a foreign body is present. In order to prevent destabilization of the position of the guide wall  28 , corresponding guides and, if so required, limit stops  54  are provided. However, this is not shown in the figures.  
         [0038]    In the embodiment according to FIG. 16, a first adjusting device  32  is engaged on the front bearing  60  by means of a scissor-like pitman system and a second adjusting device is directly engaged on the rear bearing  48 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 18 and 19 show an adjustment of the rotor  26  in order to change the clear cross section of the transport channel. For this purpose, the rotor  26  is, for example, accommodated in a vertically sliding fashion in a slideway  64  with the ends of its carrying shaft. The adjustment is again realized either directly with the aid of an adjusting device  32  (FIG. 18) or a scissor-like pitman system (FIG. 9). A not-shown synchronizing unit ensures the uniform movement of the rotor  26  at its end regions such that it cannot become jammed in the slideway  64 . In a device that differs from this embodiment, the rotor  26  can also be adjusted when the strippers  30  and the guide wall  28  are arranged rigidly.  
         [0040]    Although the engagement of the adjusting device  32 , the pitman  56  and/or the cables  58  on the strippers  30  is respectively illustrated on the strippers  30 , this merely serves for a simplified illustration of the function. This engagement is actually realized on the carrier of the strippers  30 .  
         [0041]    The knives  34  are arranged in accordance with the tines  38 , i.e., directly laterally thereof, in order to produce a tensional cut in cooperation with the tines  38 . The knives  34  have a conventional design and are conventionally mounted in an adjustable fashion on a carrier. The knives  34  extend through the above-mentioned slots in the guide wall  28  and protrude into the moving path of the drivers  38 .  
         [0042]    The sliding bearing  44  may be realized in the form of a rod, a pin or a roller and protrudes beyond the side walls of the harvest recovery machine  10  on the lateral ends of the guide wall  28 . The slideway  46  can be easily realized in the form of two rails that are spaced apart from one another or a U-shaped profile, in which the respective sliding bearing  44  is able to move. According to FIG. 11, a limit stop  54  is provided above the guide wall  28 . This limit stop prevents the guide wall  28  from protruding into the material flow and causing an obstruction.  
         [0043]    Thus, it will be appreciated that the transport channel through which harvest material passes on its way the baler inlet  24  is defined in part by the rotor  26 , the guide wall  28  and the stripper  30  and that by adjusting any one of these transverse to the path along which the harvest material flows, the cross section of the channel is either increased or decreased, with this adjustment being made so that a desired material density is always achieved. The degree of adaptation of the channel cross section to the material thickness can be predetermined by the driver or determined by a sensor. The sensor may measure various signals, e.g., the load on the rotor carrying the tines  18  of the pick-up  14 , the density of the harvest material which is determined by means of ultrasound or the like, the height of the harvest material windrow or the like. Since the quantity of harvest material, i.e., its volume, represents a relatively reliable measure for the load to be expected, in particular, if its specific properties such as mass, firmness and the like are also taken into consideration, it is very well suited as a basis for determining a control value.  
         [0044]    A value for the size of the clear cross section of the transport channel is generated by means of a manual or automatic control or regulation device. Such an automatic regulation or control is able to react to the conditions of the various harvest materials and harvesting conditions, e.g., humidity, soiling and the like, and can be realized by determining corresponding data during tests and storing said data in memory that is used for determining the transport channel cross section. This value leads to an adaptation of the clear cross section to the material quantity, namely in such a way that a certain density for ensuring reliable transport behavior is always achieved.  
         [0045]    Depending on the respective embodiment, a movement of the adjusting device  32  results in a movement of the rotor  26 , the guide wall  28  and/or the strippers  30 . When the adjusting device  32  is extended, and enlargement of the clear cross section is achieved in most embodiments, except for those illustrated in FIGS. 10, 17 and  19 . For example, the strippers  30  are pivoted about coaxially to the tube  36  in FIGS. 1 and 2 such that they increase the clear cross section. If the adjusting device  32  is, for example, extended in FIGS.  4 - 7 , the guide wall  28  moves away from the rotor  26  and the clear cross section is increased. In the embodiments according to FIGS. 12 and 16, the control or regulation of the respective adjusting device  32  is decisive for changing the clear cross section on the inlet side end, the outlet side end or both ends. In all instances, it is ensured that the harvest material has a uniform density which, in turn, ensures an operation without essentially any peak loads during the transport and, in particular, the cutting process.  
         [0046]    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.