Abstract:
A large round baler includes a chassis which forms a forward part of a baling chamber, with a rearward part of the chamber being formed by a bale discharge gate. The discharge gate is constructed of first and second, separate parts that are, either each separately pivotally connected to chassis or are mounted such that the second part is pivotally attached to the first part. The parts are arranged such that arms of the second part overlap the opposite sides of the first part. Different embodiments disclose various driving structures for causing one part to be moved by moving the other part, with the arrangement of the two parts resulting in the gate being quickly moved to its open position for discharging a bale.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention concerns a large round baler with a chassis and a discharge gate that can be pivoted vertically from it.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Known large round balers, that disclosed in EP-0-651 939 B1, for example, consist of a chassis carried on wheels at whose rear side a discharge gate is connected in joints so as to be pivoted vertically. A baling chamber is formed in the chassis and the discharge gate in which a cylindrical bale can be produced. In this baler, the baling chamber is divided along a near vertical plane, and a support arrangement for a completed bale is mounted to the discharge gate and located near this plane. As soon as the cylindrical bale has reached its maximum size, the gate is raised so that the support arrangement swings upwardly from beneath the bale which is then deposited on the ground. Thereby the gate is raised so far that the baler can be operated further, without the danger of a collision between the gate and the cylindrical bale.  
           [0003]    A further known large round baler structure, that is disclosed in DE 3710550 C1, for example, consists of a chassis carried on wheels and includes a discharge gate including upper and lower sections which cooperate with the chassis to define a baling chamber in which a cylindrical bale can be produced. In this baler the chamber is divided along a plane which is inclined slightly from vertical from bottom to top. The discharge gate is constructed of upper and lower sections, which are each separately pivotally connected to the chassis. The lower section is pivoted at a lower rear location of the chassis for movement between a raised, closed position and a lowered open position, while the upper section is pivoted to an upper rear location of the chassis for movement between a lowered closed position and a raised open position.  
           [0004]    Still another known large round baler structure, that is disclosed in DE 3501 062 A1, for example, consists of a chassis carried on wheels and includes a discharge gate that cooperates with the chassis to define a chamber in which bales are formed, the gate meeting with the along a plane which is inclined forwardly from bottom to top. A bale supporting arrangement is mounted to the chassis and the gate is equipped with special structure to aid in the discharge of a completed bale.  
           [0005]    The problem underlying the invention is seen in the fact that, in the case of balers constructed like the first and last of the above-described prior art balers, the time interval for an adequate raising of the discharge gate is too long, with the last-mentioned prior art structure having the additional disadvantage or requiring special structure for aiding in the discharge of a bale; and in the case of the second of the above-described prior art balers, the movement of the two gate sections between the open and closed positions has to be properly sequenced to avoid interference, and the ground contour or other obstacles may prevent the lower gate section from achieving a completely open position during discharge of a bale.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    According to the present invention, there is provided an improved discharge gate arrangement for a large round baler.  
           [0007]    An object of the invention is to provide a large round baler having a discharge gate which can be raised more rapidly and/or with less force. This object is accomplished at least in part due to the discharge gate arrangement being constructed of separate sections. If the further part or parts are supported in bearings on the chassis so that they can be repositioned, the load on the bearing location of the first part is reduced. Furthermore the further part or parts can be supported in bearings in such a way that their pivoting movements can be shaped optimally.  
           [0008]    A more specific object of the invention is to provide a discharge gate, as defined in the previous object, including separate gate sections which are more advantageously positioned and driven than those of the prior art so that by pivoting one of the gate parts or sections through a first angular displacement the other gate part or section travels through an angular displacement substantially greater than said first angular displacement. A simple and reliable way of a common repositioning, that depends on one another and differs in the degree of movement of both parts, can be attained by having the first part come into contact with the further part and that the spacing between the point of contact and each of the pivot axes is different. In this way a small lifting of the first part can bring about a relatively large degree of lifting of the further part, so that the entire baling chamber is freed very rapidly. In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, the interdependency may be achieved mechanically through usage of guide arms or links, for example, or hydraulically, through usage of master and slave motors.  
           [0009]    Still another specific object of the invention is to provide a discharge gate arrangement that may be constructed of two or more parts or sections that are slid over one another as in a fan, or are lined up one behind the other.  
           [0010]    The arrangement of bearings on the chassis spaced at least vertically possibly also spaced horizontally to accept the first and the further part on the chassis represents an effective translation of the movement of the first part during the transition to the movement of the further part.  
           [0011]    These and other objects will become apparent from a reading of the ensuing description together with the appended drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a schematic left side view of a large round baler constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, with a chassis and a discharge gate including a first and a further part separate pivotally attached to the chassis and being shown in solid lines in a closed baling position and in broken lines in an open ejection position.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1, but showing a second embodiment of the invention, with the first and further parts of the discharge gate being shown in the open ejection position.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 1, but showing a third embodiment of the invention, with the first and further parts of the discharge gate being shown in the open ejection position.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 1, but showing a third embodiment of the invention, with the first and further parts of the discharge gate being shown in the open ejection position. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    Preliminarily, it is to be noted that throughout the specification, various components are indicated as occurring in multiples while only one of the components is shown, with it to be understood that the other component is identical to, or a right-hand version, of the one shown.  
         [0017]    The large round baler  10  includes a chassis  12 , that is supported by wheels  14  on the ground and that can be connected by means of a tow bar or tongue  16  to a towing vehicle, not shown, for example, an agricultural tractor.  
         [0018]    A crop pick up or recovery arrangement  18  is located in known manner on the front, lower side of the chassis  12 , with a front part of the chassis  12  defining a front part of a baling chamber  20 . At a rear, upper corner region of at each side of the chassis  12 , a first bearing  22  is located which provides support for a first part  24  of a discharge gate  30 , and underneath and to the rear of that is located a second bearing  26  for a second or further part  28  of the gate  30 . For the repositioning of the discharge gate  30 , described in greater detail below, an extensible and retractable servo motor  32  is provided on each side of the baler  10 .  
         [0019]    The baler  10  according to this invention is conventional, with regard to its baling function, with the baling chamber  20  being of invariable size, and for this purpose it contains a multitude of baling components extending parallel to each other, such as baling rolls, whose axes of rotation are located on a circular arc and of which at least several are driven. Alternatively the baler  10  can also be configured as one with a baling chamber of variable size. Therefore the configuration of the baler  10  will be described here only insofar as it concerns the invention.  
         [0020]    The chassis  12  ends at its rear side generally with a rear edge  34  located along a plane of separation inclined slightly forward from rear to front, at which the first part  24  of the gate  30  is in contact and is retained during the baling process. In an embodiment, not shown, the edge  34  could also extend vertically or be inclined to the rear. This edge  34  cuts the baling chamber  20  essentially at its center, but, as will become apparent from the description below, does not does not extend completely to the outer periphery of the baling chamber.  
         [0021]    The first bearing  22  is located in the immediate vicinity of the edge  34  at its upper end, as is known from conventional balers. The first bearing  22  may consist of bearing halves, bushings or the like, that engage a shaft, a tube or the like, free to pivot, that is or are connected with the first part  24  of the discharge gate  30 . On the side of the baler  10  not visible to the observer, a further first bearing  22  is provided analogously.  
         [0022]    The first gate part  24  corresponds generally to the upper region of a conventional discharge gate and is provided in its interior with components (not shown), for example, baling rolls and/or belts and/or chains that partially surround the baling chamber  20 . These components of the first gate part  24  extend around the circumference of approximately half of that portion of the baling chamber  20  located in the discharge gate  30 , and is provided with opposite side walls  36 . On the side wall  36  facing the observer, a driver  38  is located, that is configured in the form of a journal, a pin or the like and that extends to the side. In this special embodiment, the driver  38  engages a roll  40 , free to rotate, however, this is not required. The roll  40  can engage the driver  38 , for example, by means of a roller bearing or sliding bearing, not shown, and its use, as made clear in the description below, has the advantage that a relative movement in the radial direction created by the relative movement of the two parts  24  and  28  against each other can be transmitted with as little friction as possible. The driver  38  is located so that it is spaced at a distance from the first bearing  22  on the side wall  36  and at a height below the second bearing  26 .  
         [0023]    The visible second bearing  26  is located considerably behind the edge  34  and is attached to the chassis  12  by means of a console or bracket  42 , that, in this case, is triangular in shape and extends alongside a respective one of the sides  36  of the first part  24 . A further second bearing  26  and another console  42  are provided on the other side of the baler  10 . The second bearing  26  can be configured the same as the first bearing  22 .  
         [0024]    The further or second gate part  28  supplements the first part  24  to form the complete discharge gate  30 , that surrounds the baling chamber  20  in the region that is not surrounded by the chassis  12 . The further gate part  28  is smaller than the first gate part  24 , but supports approximately half the bale-forming components of the discharge gate  30 . The further gate part  28  is located underneath the first gate part  24  and extends under the chassis  12  and, in this embodiment, up to the recovery arrangement  18 . The further gate part  28  contains a circumferential region  44  that is formed essentially by a plurality of baling components  46  extending between opposite side plates. Arms  48  are provided at the opposite sides and have rear bottom ends that are rigidly connected with the circumferential region  44 , and have forward or upper ends mounted to the second bearing  26  for free vertical pivoting. The position of the second bearing  26  is selected in such a way that the further gate part  28  can be pivoted vertically past the rear side of the first gate part  24 . The arms  48  at the sides of the further gate contain driver eyes  50 , in each of which a respective one of the rolls  40  is received with play. If a straight line is drawn through both bearings  22 ,  26 , then the driver  38  is located approximately equally far from the straight line in both end positions of the first part  24 , so that the play of the roll  40  in the driver eye  38  can be held to a minimum. Although the rolls  40  can be omitted, nevertheless some play exists.  
         [0025]    As can be seen from the drawing, the driver  38  is located to the rear of the second bearing  26  in the region of the arms  48 . Accordingly the distance between the driver  38  and the second bearing  26  is considerably less than the distance between the driver  38  and the first bearing  22 . A movement of the first part  24  about the first bearing  22  brings about a translated movement of the further part  28  about the second bearing  26  by reason of the contact of the driver  38 , or of the roll  40  carried by it, with the driver eye  50 . Accordingly, a very small angular displacement of the first part  24  when being raised brings about a relatively large angular displacement of the further part  28 . For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, rotation of the first part  24  between its lowered closed position and raised open position results in an angular displacement of approximately 35° about the axis defined by the first bearings  22 . This movement is translated to the second part  28  and causes it to be displaced through an angle of approximately 70°, it being noted that the drawing shows the first part  24  and the further part  28  of the gate  30  respectively in solid lines in the closed position and in dashed lines in the ejection or discharge position.  
         [0026]    The servo motor  32  for the opening of the baling chamber  20  engages on the one hand a bearing, not shown, on the chassis  12  on the other hand the driver  38 , this is advantageous since it reduces cost and provides a direct transmission of the force at the point connecting both parts, but is not mandatory.  
         [0027]    Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawing, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the hydraulic servo motor  32  is coupled between the chassis  12  and the arm  48  of the second part  28 . The post  38  with the roller  40  are mounted to the wall  36  of the first gate part  24  at a location where the roller  40  is contacted by an edge of the arm  48  so as to translate upward motion of the arm  48  to the first part  24 .  
         [0028]    Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a third embodiment of the invention wherein the servo motor  32  is coupled between the chassis  12  and the arm  48  of the second part  28 , like in the second embodiment, but instead of using a driver, motion of the second part  28  is translated to the first part  24  by a link  52 .  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a fourth embodiment wherein a second hydraulic servo motor  54 , which may be plumbed to the motor  32  as a slave motor, is coupled between the chassis  12  and the arm  48  of the second part  28 . In this embodiment, actuation of the motor  32  results in actuation of the motor  54 .  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a fifth embodiment wherein the second part  28  is pivotally mounted, as at bearing  26 , to the first part  24 . In this embodiment, the servo motor  32  is connected between the chassis  12  and the second part  28 , with the driver  38  and roll  40  being fixed to the wall  36  of the first part  24  for being contacted by the upper edge of the arm  48 , so as to translate motion of the second part  28  to the first part when the second part is raised by the motor  32 .  
         [0031]    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.