Abstract:
An agricultural baler including a base unit, a plurality of ground engaging devices supporting the base unit and at least one tie system mounted to the base unit. The at least one tie system including a needle moveable relative to the base unit and a needle stabilizer. The needle stabilizer attached to the base unit with the needle stabilizer contacting the needle over a portion of the movement of the needle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an agricultural baler, and, more particularly, to an apparatus to stabilize the movement of a needle in an agricultural baler. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A cut and raked crop that has been dried or otherwise prepared in a field, such as hay, straw or other agricultural material is often gathered, compressed and shaped by an agricultural baler. There are several types of balers that are commonly used, each resulting in different types of bales. Some are rectangular and some are cylindrical of various sizes. Bales can be bound with netting, strapping, wire or traditionally twine using a tie system to connect ends of the twine. Large square balers often use a double tie knotting system. The double tie knotter ties two knots, one to complete the previous bale, and another to start the next or current bale. Twine is then directly fed out of the twine galls during bale formation. A typical large square bale weighs between 800 and 1,600 pounds and is often dropped in the field by the baler, for later retrieval, as the baling system proceeds though the field. 
         [0003]    A baler that produces small rectangular bales, often also called square bales, produce bales that are typically wrapped with two strands of knotted twine. The bales are light enough for easy handling and typically weigh from 40 to 80 pounds each. A bale is formed by a series of processes performed by the square baler including lifting the windrowed material, hereinafter referred to as hay, by way of the pickup portion of the baler. The hay is then moved by way of an auger into a chamber that has a feeding fork. The feeding fork moves the hay in front of a sliding plunger with a cutting edge that cuts the hay and moves the hay in the chamber into previously packed hay therein causing the hay to be compressed. Once a predetermined amount of hay has been gathered in the chamber, as measured by the amount being extruded through the opening at the rear of the chamber, a mechanism is triggered causing the twine to be threaded through the hay, cut and then knotted thereby forming the bale and one portion of the twine is retained to start to receive hay for the next bale. As the bales are moved through the compression channel out to the rear of the baler, the baled hay is then either loaded onto a wagon or dropped into the field for later retrieval. 
         [0004]    To operate properly the tie system of either a large or small square baler requires the twine to move properly without snagging on parts of the baler so that the twine is positioned by a needle for proper knotting by the tie system. The tie system itself carries out a choreographed sequence of operations, which is subject to malfunction if the twine is not properly routed by the needle to the knotters. The adjustment of the needle to properly meet the knotter is carried out by adjusting the knotter to the needle in a comparatively expensive manner. 
         [0005]    What is needed in the art is a baler that provides for a cost effective fine adjustment of the needle movement so that it properly meets the knotter of the tie system. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a cost effective fine adjustment of the needle pathway relative to a knotter of an agricultural baler. 
         [0007]    The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural baler including a base unit, a plurality of ground engaging devices supporting the base unit and at least one tie system mounted to the base unit. The at least one tie system including a needle moveable relative to the base unit and a needle stabilizer. The needle stabilizer attached to the base unit with the needle stabilizer contacting the needle over a portion of the movement of the needle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective partially sectioned view of a baling system including an embodiment of a tie system of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a knotter table of the tie system used in  FIG. 1  having an embodiment of a needle stabilizer of the present invention connected thereto; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the needle stabilizer of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is yet another perspective view of the needle stabilizer of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the needle stabilizer of  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a needle stabilizer used in the baling system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of yet another embodiment of a needle stabilizer used in the baling system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of still yet another embodiment of a needle stabilizer used in the baling system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of yet another embodiment of a needle stabilizer used in the baling system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a needle stabilizer used in the baling system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of yet a further embodiment of a needle stabilizer used in the baling system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of a needle stabilizer used in the baling system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a baling system  10  including a tractor  12 , and a baler  14 . Baler  14  is connected to tractor  12  by way of hitch  16  thereby providing towing for the movement of baler  14 . Tractor  12  additionally has a power takeoff (PTO) unit  18  providing rotational power by way of PTO shaft  20  to mechanisms in baler  14 . 
         [0023]    Baler  14  includes a base unit  22 , ground engaging devices  24  and a transmission  26  connected to base unit  22 . PTO shaft  20  connects to transmission  26  providing rotational power to transmission  26 . A tie system  28  is powered indirectly by power transmitted to baler  14  by shaft  20 , and tie system  28  may have several knotting mechanisms associated with baler  14 . For example, a large square baler with a width of 4 feet and a height of 3 feet typically has 6 knotting mechanisms to tie the twine strands that extend around the large square bale. 
         [0024]    Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , elements of tie system  28  are shown including a knotter table  30 , a needle  32 , a knotter  34 , a needle stabilizer  36  having slots  38  therein and being attached to knotter table  30  by way of fasteners  40  extending through slots  38 . Knotter table  30  is attached to and/or integral with base unit  22 . Knotter table  30  has openings therein, with needle  32  moving thorough an opening to bring twine to knotter  34 . Needle  32  moves in a direction along a needle pathway  42  as it brings twine to knotter  34 . Gross lateral adjustment of needle  32  is accomplished by shifting needle  32  relative to knotter table  30 . In prior art systems then a fine adjustment of knotter  34  is undertaken so that needle  32  properly meets knotter  34  as needle  32  brings the twine to knotter  34 . This prior art method is accomplished by a comparatively expensive method in terms of material and labor. 
         [0025]    In the present invention a fine adjustment of pathway  42  is carried out by adjusting needle stabilizer  36  so that needle  32  then meets knotter  34  properly to convey the twine to knotter  34 . The adjustment of needle stabilizer  36  takes place by moving needle stabilizer in a stabilizer adjustment direction to effect the fine adjustment of pathway  42 . Needle stabilizer  36  has a face  46  that is generally parallel to pathway direction  42 . Although face  46  is shown as flat other surface configurations are contemplated including a face with a radius. Face  46  contacts a portion of needle  32  as it moves toward knotter  34  to ensure that pathway  42  leads to knotter  34 , so that the twine is delivered to knotter  34  for proper knot formation. Face  46  controls or limits a side-to-side travel of needle  32  and also serves to dampen vibration that may exist in needle  32 . Face  46  is positioned by sliding needle stabilizer  36 , in direction  44 , within the limits of slots  38  and then needle stabilizer  36  is tightened to knotter table  30  by fasteners  40 . Slots  38  lie in a direction generally perpendicular to both face  46  and pathway  42 . 
         [0026]    Needle stabilizer  36  is shown as being located only along one side of pathway  42  to control a variance in pathway  42  along the side where needle stabilizer  36  is positioned, but additional locations are also contemplated. Needle stabilizer  36  is generally L-shaped in cross section, with a curve along the intersection of the horizontal and vertical parts of the L-shape, so that needle  32  does not hit a sharp edge as it encounters needle stabilizer  36 . The coarse adjustment discussed above can be considered a first degree of adjustment, while the fine adjustment afforded by the side-to-side adjustment of needle stabilizer  36  is a second degree of adjustment. The first degree of adjustment being either the location and orientation of needle  32  relative to knotter table  30  and/or the positioning of knotter  34 , and the second degree of adjustment being applied, by way of the position of needle stabilizer  36 , so that it will encounter needle  32  during the travel of needle  32  to knotter  34 . This second degree of adjustment results in an in-course adjustment of needle  32 . 
         [0027]    Advantageously, the present invention allows for a cost effective fine adjustment of the pathway of needle  32 . Another advantage of the present invention is that the adjustment is easily carried out with simple tools. 
         [0028]    Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 6 , there is illustrated another embodiment of a needle stabilizer  136 . The addition of a multiple of 100 to the reference number is to illustrate that there is a similar purpose for the similarly numbered item in another figure, and that which is discussed may apply to other similarly numbered items. Needle stabilizer  136  wraps around pathway  42  and has two faces directed toward needle  32 . Needle  32  may travel between the faces without contacting needle stabilizer  136  if, as needle  32  travels, it doesn&#39;t deviate from a desired path. However, vibrations of needle  32  as it travels along pathway  42  will likely cause needle  32  to contact at least one of the faces of needle stabilizer  136 , thereby correcting the travel of needle  32  to more closely follow pathway  42 . Needle stabilizer  136  removes a portion of the variability in the travel of needle  32  so that the twine can be accurately delivered to the knotting mechanism. 
         [0029]    Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated a needle stabilizer  236  having angled slots  238  and a roller  260  rotatively connected to bracket  262 , having a portion of roller  260  extending out of face  46 . Slots  238  allow for the adjustment of needle stabilizer  236  at an angle relative to pathway  42 . Roller  260  allows needle  32  to travel against a rotating surface of roller  260  as it proceeds along pathway  42 . 
         [0030]    Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 8 , there is illustrated a needle stabilizer  336  having a curved face  346 . Curved face  346  is shaped to engage needle  32  as it travels and allows the curved nature of face  346  to guide the travel of needle  32 . 
         [0031]    Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 9 , there is illustrated a needle stabilizer  436  with a threaded portion to engage bolts  40  through angled slots  438  that are provided in knotter table  30 . Although face  446  is illustrated as being flat it is also contemplated that another shape or attribute discussed herein may be employed with needle stabilizer  436 . 
         [0032]    Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 10 , there is illustrated a needle stabilizer  36  with a shim  564  to thereby extend the face of needle stabilizer  36  toward pathway  42 . It is contemplated that multiple shims  564  may be used and that the face of shim  564  may be shaped other that being flat. 
         [0033]    Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 11 , there is illustrated a needle stabilizer  636  having a sloped face  646  that angularly extends the surface of face  646  of needle stabilizer  636  toward pathway  42 . 
         [0034]    Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 12 , there is illustrated a needle stabilizer  736  having an angled divided surface  746 . Surface  746  is a featherboard type construct, with the individual elements progressively extending toward pathway  42 . Needle stabilizer  736  may be made of a resilient material to absorb some of the contact energy, which may be present when needle  32  contacts needle stabilizer  736 . 
         [0035]    While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.