Abstract:
A twine box is provided for an agricultural baler. The twine box permits ready access to twine balls housed therein because all twine balls are located on a single row or tier. The twine balls are not compartmentalized and thus relocation of twine balls within twine ball groups is facilitated. Twine ball separators are employed to secure, locate and separate twine balls when the baler is operating. The twine ball separators may serve to maintain twine balls in a staggered configuration whereby it is possible to house a greater number of twine balls in a given space. The twine ball separators do not interfere with the movement of twine balls within the twine box during reloading of twine. The single row twine box allows the baler operator to access the twine balls from the ground and permits moving of twine balls without the need to cut and retie twine.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to agricultural balers. More particularly, the present invention relates to such balers that form discrete bales of crop material and wherein twine is used for wrapping the bales to maintain bale shape and structural integrity after being formed in the baling chamber. Specifically, the present invention relates to an improved twine box for holding, storing and dispensing twine. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Agricultural balers commonly have machine configurations that cause the location of the twine box, usually a double row twine box, to be situated such that access by the operator from the ground is limited, especially the top row of twine balls. This is more apparent on larger size balers, and sometimes requires the operator to stand on an elevated platform such as a truck bed or step ladder to load twine. In order to carry enough twine capacity for larger square balers, manufacturers have previously chosen multiple row twine box designs, partially due to space constraints. 
   The pattern of the twine ball compartments within the twine box wherein there is generally one compartment for each twine ball, can require the operator to cut and retie the twine if he/she wants to move the twine ball to another twine ball compartment. While this is generally accepted, it is undesirable due to the added likelihood of mis-ties. 
   Accordingly, there is a clear need in the art for an improved twine box design that provides ready access to the twine balls and that facilitates the relocation of twine balls within the box when reloading twine. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The single row twine box according to the invention contains all of the twine balls (for one side of the machine) on a single tier or row. By eliminating the top tier from the twine box the operator can more easily access all of the twine balls in the box without the aid of a ladder. In order to house the balls in a single row the twine balls are placed next to each other rather than on top of each other. 
   By locating all the balls of twine on a single row and by keeping the twine ball compartments open, the twine balls (within a twine ball group) can be moved to another location within the twine ball group, without cutting and retying the twine. This aids the operator in arranging and loading twine. A twine ball group is two or more balls of twine tied together to feed a single twine knotter on the baler. Twine balls can be placed all in a single row or staggered to conserve the overall length of the box. 
   One of the difficulties of placing the twine balls next to each other on the same level is the need and possible difficulty of accessing the twine balls that are furthest from the operator and behind the other balls of twine (when staggered). The twine balls in this concept are not compartmentalized during service. To allow the operator access to these twine balls, partitions which define the twine ball compartment within the twine box have traditionally been placed on the back wall of the twine box. By eliminating partitions that compartmentalize the twine balls and instead utilizing twine ball separators, the inside of the twine box can be free of structure that impedes the access to the twine balls that are located along the back wall of the twine box. 
   Twine ball separators mounted on the twine box door engage the balls of twine when closed to ensure the balls are located correctly and do not fall over. These separators disengage from the balls when the door is opened, allowing easy access and relocation of twine balls. 
   The present invention thus provides easier access to twine balls for loading and unloading as well as flexibility on rearranging twine balls within a specific group. Such a configuration can also be manufactured more compactly and at a lower cost. 
   In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide a twine box for an agricultural baler. 
   Another object of the invention is the provision of such a twine box that provides ready access to the twine balls without the need for ladders etc. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide such a twine box that allows twine balls to be relocated within the twine box without the need to cut and retie the twine. 
   An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a twine box that is compatible with known baler designs and twine delivery systems. 
   In general, a twine box is provided for an agricultural baler. The twine box permits ready access to twine balls housed therein because all twine balls are located on a single row or tier. The twine balls are not compartmentalized and thus relocation of twine balls within twine ball groups is facilitated. Twine ball separators are employed to secure, locate and separate twine balls when the baler is operating. The twine ball separators may serve to maintain twine balls in a staggered configuration whereby it is possible to house a greater number of twine balls in a given space. The twine ball separators do not interfere with the movement of twine balls within the twine box during reloading of twine. The single row twine box allows the baler operator to access the twine balls from the ground and permits moving of twine balls without the need to cut and retie twine. 
   To acquaint persons skilled in the art most closely related to the present invention, one preferred embodiment of the invention that illustrates the best mode now contemplated for putting the invention into practice is described herein by and with reference to, the annexed drawings that form a part of the specification. The exemplary embodiment is described in detail without attempting to show all of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied. As such, the embodiment shown and described herein is illustrative, and as will become apparent to those skilled in the art, can be modified in numerous ways within the spirit and scope of the invention—the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the details of the specification. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a complete understanding of the objects, techniques, and structure of the invention reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a somewhat schematic side elevational view showing a large parallelepiped agricultural baler; 
       FIG. 2  is a partially cut-away perspective view of a twine box according to the invention; and, 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the twine box according to the invention with a plurality of twine balls disposed therein. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings it can be seen that a large parallelepiped agricultural baler is designated generally by the numeral  10 . The baler  10  includes a frame  12  supported on a tandem set of ground wheels  14 . A tongue  16  is fixed to and extends forwardly from the frame  12  and is adapted for being attached to a prime mover, such as an agricultural tractor (not shown) equipped with a power take-off shaft for supplying power for driving various driven components of the baler. A baling chamber  18  of rectangular cross section is defined in part by upper and lower walls  20  and  22 , respectively, with the lower wall  22  being provided with a crop inlet  24  to which is attached a curved in-feed duct  26  which serves as a pre-compression chamber. A crop pick-up and center-feed auger assembly  28  is provided ahead of the duct for picking up a windrow of crop from the ground and delivering it to a packer fork assembly  30  which acts to pack crop into the duct  26  until a charge of a pre-selected density has accumulated, at which time the charge of crop material is stuffed into the baling chamber  18  by a stuffer fork assembly  36 . Once the charge of crop material is stuffed into the baling chamber  18 , a plunger mechanism  40 , which is mounted to a forward location of the frame  12  is operated to move the material rearwardly in the chamber  18  where it is compacted into a column. Upon the column of compressed crop material reaching a pre-selected length, a twine-delivery needle assembly (not shown), including a plurality of curved needles, is actuated to deliver a plurality of strands of twine respectively to a plurality of knotters (not shown) which act to tie lengths of twine about the pre-selected column length to form a bale  50  that is then ready for discharge, which will occur upon it being forced from the rear end of the chamber  18  by a bale portion  52  as it grows in length upon new charges of crop being stuffed into the chamber. Twine is provided to the twine delivery needle assembly and knotters from a supply of twine balls  80  housed in one or more twine boxes  60  mounted on the baler. 
   A twine box  60  according to the invention is illustrated in more detail in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . It should be noted that while a baler  10  employing the invention might have a second twine box located on the other side of the baler, the second twine box is substantially identical in construction to the twine box  60  illustrated and thus is not illustrated separately. As shown, the twine box  60  is comprised generally of a first or rear wall  62 , a pair of opposed end walls  64 , an upper wall  66 , a lower wall  68  opposing the upper wall  66 , and a hinged access door  70  which forms a second or front wall that opposes the first or rear wall  62  when closed. As can be seen, the twine box  60  may further include one or more twine ball separators  72  attached to the first or rear wall  62 . Two types of twine ball separators  72  are illustrated. Both separator types have a generally vee-shaped cross-section and each include a pair of mounting flanges  74 . The first type of twine ball separator  72 A is substantially the same height as the first or rear wall  62  and serves to separate adjacent twine balls. In the preferred embodiment illustrated the twine box  60  includes three twine ball separators  72 A. The second type of twine ball separator  72 B is substantially smaller in height than the separators  72 A and also serves to separate and secure a pair of adjacent twine balls. In the preferred embodiment illustrated there are four separators  72 B, one on either side of each separator  72 A. A plurality of separators  72 B are similarly provided on the hinged access door  70  to further separate, locate and secure the twine balls when the access door  70  is closed. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3  it can be seen that the twine box  60  is illustrated with a plurality of twine balls  80  loaded therein.  FIG. 3  further illustrates how the separators  72  cooperate with one another when the hinged access door  70  is closed so as to separate, locate and secure the twine balls  80  during baler operation without the need for dividers that compartmentalize the twine balls as in previously known designs. It will also be seen that the separators  72  facilitate a staggered arrangement of twine balls  80  within the twine box  60  so as to permit loading of a substantial number of twine balls  80  while utilizing the smallest space possible. Those having skill in the art will recognize that the concept of the invention is applicable to twine boxes wherein the twine balls are positioned in a straight line (non-staggered). In the preferred embodiment described herein the twine box  60  is one of two twine boxes mounted on either side of the baler—each of the two twine boxes feeding half of the knotters of the baler. In the particular embodiment shown each twine box feeds three of a total of six knotters. For purposes of discussion the knotters fed by the twine box  60  illustrated will be referred to as knotters one, two, and three, it being understood that knotters four, five and six are fed by a substantially identical twine box located on the other side of the baler. For purposes of understanding the invention, it should also be noted that each knotter is fed two independent strands of twine. Accordingly, each knotter is associated with two separate twine ball groups  82 . As illustrated, the three twine balls designated  80 A form a first twine ball group  82 A feeding knotter one, while the two twine balls designated  80 B form a second twine ball group  82 B also feeding knotter one. Likewise the three twine balls designated  80 C form a first twine ball group  82 C feeding knotter two, while the twine balls designated  80 D form a second twine ball group  82 D also feeding knotter two. Finally, the three twine balls designated  80 E form a first twine ball group  82 E feeding knotter three, while the two twine balls  80 F form a second twine ball group  82 F also feeding knotter three. It should be understood that a first end of the strand of twine comprising the first twine ball (e.g.  80 A 1 ) of each twine ball group  82  is threaded through one or more twine guides  84  mounted to the upper wall  66  of the twine box  60 , through twine guide apertures  86  in the rear wall  62  of the twine box  60  and ultimately routed to the knotters (not shown). The first or leading end of the remaining twine balls  80  in each twine ball group  82  is tied to the second or tail end of the adjacent twine ball  80  within the twine ball group  82 . For example, the leading end of twine ball  80 A 1  (occupying the number one position within the group  82 A) is routed to the knotter via the twine guides  84  and the twine guide apertures  86  while its tail end is tied to the leading end of the twine ball  80 A 2  (occupying the number two position within the group  82 A). The tail end of twine ball  80 A 2  is likewise tied to the leading end of twine ball  80 A 3  (occupying the number three position within the group  82 A). Thus, as the baling process proceeds twine is paid out to knotter one, first from twine ball  80 A 1  until the ball is depleted, at which time twine is then paid out to knotter one from twine ball  80 A 2  and then from twine ball  80 A 3 . A similar arrangement is used for each twine ball group  82  in the twine box  60 . Thus it can be seen that it is advantageous to have the ability to readily move twine balls  80  from one twine ball group location or position within the twine box  60  to another. More particularly, when the baler operator stops to reload the twine boxes it is likely that one or more of the twine balls  80  within each twine ball group  82  will have already been completely depleted, possibly leaving less than a complete twine ball  80  from each twine ball group  82 . Therefore it is advantageous for the operator to be able to move the remaining (partial) twine ball  80  to the number one position from the number two or three position and tie the newly loaded twine balls together and to the remaining (partial) twine ball as described above. With previously known two tier twine box designs this was difficult, as moving a twine ball from one tier to another involved cutting, retying and possibly rethreading the twine. Further, previously known single tier twine boxes have dividers which isolate the twine balls from one another and typically include twine routing apertures in the dividers which complicate the process of moving a twine ball from one compartment to another. Because the twine box  60  of the invention locates all twine balls on a single tier or row and further because there are no dividers isolating the twine balls from one another it is possible to simply move twine balls from one location to another within the twine ball group without the need to cut, rethread and/or retie the twine. The twine ball separators of the invention facilitate the staggered orientation of twine balls on a single row or tier while not requiring substantially more space than that of previously known designs. Because of the single tier design, access to the twine balls is greatly improved as the baler operator can readily access all twine balls while standing on the ground beside the baler. 
   Thus it can be seen that the objects of the invention have been satisfied by the structure presented above. While in accordance with the patent statutes, only the best mode and preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented and described in detail, it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly and legally entitled.