Abstract:
A combined large round baler and whole bale wrapping apparatus includes a wheeled chassis carrying and extending between the baler and the wrapping apparatus and including tandem wheels carried at opposite ends of walking beams. A lower region of the baler is secured to the front of the chassis. First and second braces are fixed to, and diverge upwardly from, a fore-and-aft middle location of the chassis respectively to the hinge joint between the front and rear sections of the baler and a wrapping arm assembly. A tie-bar extends between the two braces. The wrapping apparatus includes a wrapping table mounted to the chassis for fore-and-aft movement between a receiving position, wherein it is disposed for receiving a bale formed by the baler, and a wrapping position, wherein it is located centrally below the wrapping arm.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention concerns a large round baler in combination with a wrapping apparatus for completely enveloping a bale formed by the baler. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   EP-A1-865 723 discloses a baler/wrapping apparatus combination in which a chassis is provided, into which a baler is installed and onto which a bale wrapping apparatus is placed. The chassis and frame laterally surround the baler and the wrapping apparatus. 
   DE-A1-41 20 733 shows a combination of a baler with a wrapping apparatus and a chassis in which two wheels are provided close to each other, similar to a tandem axle. The baler and chassis combination shown therein leaves open how the forces can be controlled in an actual embodiment. 
   The problem to be solved is that of providing a combination baler and wrapping apparatus which is robust while being of a size and weight that does not result in high manufacturing costs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the present invention, there is provided and improved combination baler and whole bale wrapping apparatus. 
   An object of the invention is to provide a combined baler and whole bale wrapping apparatus which is of a robust, relatively inexpensive construction. 
   A more specific object of the invention is to provide a combined baler and whole bale wrapping apparatus wherein a robust, wheeled chassis is located between the components making up the baler and the wrapping apparatus. 
   Yet a more specific object is to provide a combined baler and whole bale wrapping apparatus, as set forth in the immediately preceding object, wherein a lower section of the chassis serves to connect a carrying axle, the baler components are supported at the front of the chassis and also by at least one brace running between the chassis and an upper location of the baler. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a combined baler and wrapping apparatus including a wheeled chassis, with the baler including wrapping components together with an axle, which are removable from the chassis of the combined apparatus, the axle been adapted for receiving wheels so that the baler may be used apart from the wrapping apparatus. 
   These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the ensuing description together with the appended drawing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The sole FIGURE of the drawing is left side elevational view of a combined baler and whole bale wrapping apparatus supported from a common chassis in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a combined implement  10  including a baler  12 , a wrapping apparatus  14  and a chassis  16 . The combined implement  10  is adapted to be towed across a field by an agricultural tractor (not shown) so as to take up harvested crop, such as silage grass, compress the crop into bales, and finally to wrap the bales in an airtight covering. 
   The baler  12  in the shown embodiment is designed as a large round baler, which however is not mandatory. Instead, a rectangular baler could be used. An example of the bale forming arrangement of the baler  12  is embodied in the commercially available John Deere Model 575 Round Baler. In its usual condition, the lower section of the baler is provided with a carrying axle (not shown) on which the baler can be transported. Because the bale forming arrangement of the baler is linked with the chassis  16 , a carrying axle is superfluous; however, such an axle continues to be suitable for connection with support wheels and can be removed from the combination and be operated independently of the wrapping apparatus  14 . 
   The baler  12  includes, among other things, a front section  18 , a rear section  20 , and a draft tongue  22 . The front section  18  is provided with laterally spaced side walls  24  between which rollers  26  extend, which are positioned in an arc of a circle, in order to define a forward part of the circumference of a bale-forming chamber (not shown). In a front, lower location of the front section  18 , a space has been created for accommodating the in-coming crop delivered by a crop gathering arrangement, such as a pick-up (not shown), as is generally known. A flange  28  is provided in a lower location of the front section  18 , which, in the John Deere Model 575 baler, serves to connect a carrying axle. In other commercially available balers, such an existing flange may be used for a different purpose. This flange  28  is permanently linked with the side walls  24  and to a reinforcing plate (not shown) located between the walls and thus is suitable for transferring great forces. In an upper location, the side walls  24  are rigidly connected with a cross member  30 , which at the external sides of the side walls  24  is provided with a pipe  32 . Apart from the purpose explained below, this pipe  32  also serves for easier conveyance during production and thus is already provided as part of a conventional baler. Finally, a cross member  34 , which is connected to the draw bar  22 , extends between a lower forward location of the side walls  24 . This concludes the description of the front section  18 , because the remaining individual components are known and irrelevant to the invention. 
   Sometimes, the rear section  20  is referred to as the bale discharge gate and is designed in a known manner. The rear section  20  is provided with laterally spaced side walls  36 , between which rollers (not shown) extend which also are positioned in an arc of a circle, in order to define a rear part of the circumference of the bale-forming chamber. Furthermore, cross members (not shown) are provided between the side walls  36  in order to rigidify the rear section  20 . The front and rear sections  18  and  20 , respectively, are interconnected by a pivot bearing  38 , which is located inwardly of the pipes  32  at rear upper corner locations of the front section  18  and in a front upper corner location of the rear section  20 , and allows a vertical pivoting or swiveling motion of the rear section  20 , which is initiated by hydraulic cylinders (not shown). 
   The drawbar  22  has a vertically rigid connection with the cross member  34 , which in most cases, however, is adjustable, and normally serves to connect the baler  12  to a traction vehicle (not shown), such as an agricultural tractor, but here serves to connect the entire combination  10  to the tractor. Because of the rigid connection between the drawbar  22  and the front section  18 , each vertical movement of the drawbar  22  also is initiated in the front section  18 . 
   The wrapping apparatus  14  essentially is provided with two components, namely a wrapping arm  40  and a wrapping table  42 . The type of wrapping apparatus as shown herein is generally known in the market, and has the task of wrapping and hermetically sealing a bale formed in the baler  12 , so that silage feed can be produced. 
   The wrapping arm  40  includes a drive  44 , for example, with a motor and transmission assembly  45 , which includes a vertical drive shaft  46 . Furthermore, the wrapping arm  40  also has a wrapping rotor  48  in the form of an upside-down “U” to which the vertical arm of the rotor is attached with a film dispenser  50 . The wrapping rotor  48  is centrically connected with the drive shaft  46 , and is rotated by the drive  44  around the central axis of the drive, while in the free inner space, the bale is stored on the wrapping table  42  and rotated by the table around a horizontal axis, as is known. The wrapping arm  40  is suspended from a brace  52 , having a pair of members, each of which is similar to an upside-down “J” defined by a mainly vertical arm  54  and a mainly horizontal arm  56 , which enclose an obtuse angle of approximately 110° between them. Each nearly vertical arm  54  extends so that the wrapping rotor  48  can be rotated freely above the chassis  16 , and each horizontal arm  56  extends rearwardly and inwardly to the rotor drive motor and transmission assembly  45  and has a longitudinal component which is longer than the radius of the wrapping rotor  48 , so that the wrapping rotor  48  does not knock against the vertical arm  54  during the motion of rotation of the rotor. 
   The wrapping table  42  does not have a rotating design and contains a roller (not shown) in the front and rear end section, around which sagging belts (also not shown) are wound, in order to accept a bale on the upper half of the conveyor and to shift it during rotation. The wrapping table  42  is movably supported along the chassis  16  in a rail with a U profile, not shown. By means of a hydraulic motor (not shown), the wrapping table  42  can be moved below the rear section  20  in order to accept a bale, and then moved with the bale to the center below the wrapping arm  40  where, while being shifted in rotation, the bale is surrounded by film dispensers  50 . DE 41 20 733 discloses such a conveyor arrangement for placing a wrapping table for receiving a bale from the baler and for moving the table, together with the bale, to a location spaced rearward of the baler where wrapping apparatus is located. In lieu of using the wrapping table  42  as a conveyor for moving the baler from the baler to the wrapping apparatus  14 , a belt or chain conveyor or the like could be provided on the top of the chassis  16 . Finally, the wrapping table  42  is tipped towards the rear, as shown in the drawing, and the wrapped bale is deposited on the ground, as is generally known. Finally, film holders  58  are provided between the film dispensers  50  and the wrapping table  42 , which hold the film at the beginning of the wrapping process and cut the film upon completion of the process. 
   The chassis  16  contains two cheeks  60 , which run parallel to each other, two tandem axle supports  62  and two wheels  64  on each side. The chassis  16  accommodates the baler  12  at a front end location and the wrapping apparatus  14  at a rear end location. Further, the swiveling axis of the tandem axis support  62  at the cheeks  60  is so selected that the weight in front and back remains manageable regardless of whether the bale, which may weigh up to 1200 kg, is in the baler  12  or is displaced to the rear and located at the wrapping apparatus  14 . 
   The cheeks  60  are made of tubing having a rectangular cross section, but may be made of U-profile or C-profile channel members, or similar construction, and are rigidly connected by means of cross members. Flanges  66  are provided at a front location of the chassis  16  and match and are secured, as by screws, to the flanges  28  of the baler  12 . By this method, the baler  12  is primarily attached to the chassis  16 . On the inside of the cheeks  60 , the aforementioned rails are provided with a U-section, in which the wrapping table  42  can be moved longitudinally to the combination  10 . The consoles  68  are rigidly fixed to the outside of the cheeks  60 , in horizontal spaced relationship to, and to the rear of, the flanges  28 ,  66 . Tandem axle supports or walking beams  62  are respectively vertically pivotally mounted to the consoles  68  by bearings  70 . Because the chassis  16  is connected with the baler  12  via the flanges  28 ,  66 , the cheeks  60  are located below the baler  12 , thus resulting in a narrower design. Ultimately, in this embodiment, the outside of each cheek  60  is provided with a fender  72 . Of course, the chassis  16  is also provided with brakes, lighting, suspension, and the like, which, however, can be taken for granted, and, therefore, do not have to be described in detail. 
   Each tandem axle support or walking beam  62  is designed in the form of a plate, which axially, or essentially axially pivots around the bearing  70 , and in each end location is provided with one of the wheels  64 . The wheels  64  are spaced at a narrow distance, support the combination  10  on the ground, and ensure a small distance between the underside of the cheeks  60 , being the lowest point of the combination  10 , and the ground. 
   A first brace  74  and a tie bar  76  are provided at each side of the combination  10  to connect the baler  12  and wrapping apparatus  14  with the chassis  16 . The first brace  74  extends between the pipe  32  in the upper rear corner location of the front baler section  18  and the console  68 , and diverges from an imaginary line between the pipe  32  and the flanges  28 ,  66  in order to form part of a triangle. Since the location of the pipes  32  are coincident with the bearings  38  about which the discharge gate  20  swivels or pivots, the first brace  74  is ideally located for transferring the loads to the chassis  16 . The first brace  74  is developed as a straight pipe, which can be subjected both to tensile stress and pressure, and because of its straight design is not liable to kink. Between the console  68 , the pipe  32 , and the flanges  28 ,  66 , a solid triangle is formed which secures the baler  12  against tilting in the direction of travel. The first brace  74  is connected to the console  68  by means of straps, clamp straps, screws, or similar connections. 
   Each tie-bar  76  extends between one of the first braces  74  and one of the sides of the brace  52  which, according to the drawing, essentially form a “V” and thus appear to diverge upwardly. The tie-bar  76  extends between locations of the baler  12  and the wrapping apparatus  14 , which are almost at the respective tops of these structures. Specifically, on the one hand, the tie-bar  76  engages the pipe  32 , and on the other hand, it engages in the transitional area between the vertical and horizontal legs  54  and  56 , respectively, of a respective side of the brace  52 . The tiebar  76  can be provided with a clamp screw, which allows adjusting the length. In other embodiments, the tie-bar  76  may engage at different points, so long as it ensures that it is able to transmit the load. 
   Finally, a third brace  78  is provided, which extends between the pipe  32  and the area of the flanges  28 ,  66 . This brace  78 , however, does not serve to fix the baler  12  on the chassis  16 , but to mount the components of the baler  12  or the combination  10 , such as grease lines protective devices, electrical lines, hydraulic lines, etc. 
   From the above description, it follows that the line between the flanges  28 ,  66  and the pipe  32 , the first brace  74 , the tie-bar  76 , and the brace  52  form a type of latticework, which is intrinsically stable. Specifically, the first braces  74  make it possible to conduct the vertical forces initiated by the drawbar  22  to the chassis  16 , without excessive load upon the flanges  28 ,  66 . Excessive forces can also be avoided by virtue of the tandem axle supports or walking beams  62  being vertically pivotally mounted to the cheeks  60  and by the advantageous distribution of the weight of the combination  10  in front and to the rear of the bearings  70 . 
   The above description of the embodiment indicates that the cheeks  60 , braces  54 ,  74  and  78  and the tie-bars are provided on each side of the combination  10 , i.e., they are doubled, which, however, is not required for all of these parts. 
   Overall, in contrast to the prior art, the present invention offers a simpler and narrower design, which avoids providing or especially forming the press  12  with an additional frame. 
   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.