Abstract:
Bale collector having a mobile frame for connecting behind a bale delivery device, such as a baler, by which round bales can be deposited at desired points on the land. The bale collector provides a storage place for a single round bale, a non-return element for preventing rolling back of the bale from the rear and a tilt control element connected between the frame and the rear bearing part for tilting a rear end of the rear bearing part between an upper position of a collecting state and a lower position of an unloading state.

Description:
This is a continuation application of PCT/NL98/00182 filed Jan. 4, 1998. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a bale collector according to the preamble of claim  1 . The bale delivery device behind which the bale collector is connected is, for example, a baler or a wrapping device for wrapping each bale in a film. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A bale collector of this type is known, for example, from European Patent Application EP-A-0,622,011. The known collector is used for collecting several round bales which, after collection thereof on the collector, can be deposited at a suitable point on the ground. 
     The known bale collector has the disadvantage that it is complex and therefore susceptible to breakdown, and is expensive. Furthermore, the known bale collector is large both in length and height, which limits its manoeuvrability, and this makes working with it difficult and can cause unsafe situations both on the land and on the public highway. The large dimensions of the known bale collector are also a disadvantage for the periods during which the collector has to be stored when not in use, when it takes up a large amount of valuable space. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the known bale collector. 
     In addition, the inventor realized the desirability of a compact, simple and cheap bale collector, by means of which round bales can be deposited at desired points on the land with the greatest possible usable margin between the point where the bale is ready and the point where the bale is to be deposited on the ground. 
     The above objectives are achieved according to the invention by means of the bale collector according to claim  1 . 
     The bale collector according to the invention provides a storage place for a single round bale, which can be deposited at a desired point on the land while the bale delivery device is preparing the next bale. The desired point can lie within a margin of more or less half the distance which there would be between bales deposited directly from the baler onto the land. On the other hand, if depositing a bale on the ground is delayed until the bale delivery device has the next bale almost ready, and if these two bales are subsequently deposited on the ground shortly after one another, pairs of bales can be deposited on the ground at twice the above distance from each other. This means that it is possible to deposit the bales on the land within a large mutual distance range and according to a desired formation, in such a way that subsequent loading of the bales onto a transport vehicle is facilitated. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is explained below with reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a bale collector according to the invention with a bale thereon in a front position coming from a baler; 
     FIG. 2 shows in perspective a view like that of FIG. 1, but with the bale in a rear position; 
     FIG. 3 shows in perspective a view of the bale collector and the baler according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in a depositing position; and 
     FIG. 4 shows in perspective a view of the combination of the bale collector and the baler according to the preceding figures, with the bale collector in an idle, swung-up position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows in perspective a view of a bale collector  1  which is connected behind a baler  2 . The bale collector  1  comprises a frame  5 , to which two swivelling wheels  6  are fixed. During operation the bale collector  1  is pulled along by the baler  2  in a travel direction  7 . A bearing platform  10 , comprising a front part  11  and a rear part  12 , is fitted on the frame  5  between the two swivelling wheels  6 . By way of an outlet  15  thereof, the baler  2  delivers backwards in a direction  16  and onto the bearing platform  10  a disc-shaped round bale  18 , an axis of which runs parallel to the ground and crosswise to the travel direction  7 . The rear bearing part  12  has an upwardly projecting non-return flap  20  which is rotatable about a shaft  21  which has downwardly projecting arms  22 . Tension springs  23  are fixed between the ends of the arms  22  and the frame  5 . 
     When the baler  2  ejects a bale  18  in the direction  16 , the bale  18  will roll in succession onto the front bearing part  11  and against the non-return flap  20 , with the result that the non-return flap  20  rotates against the action of the springs  23  in the direction of the arrow  24 , so that the bale  18  rolls over the flap  20  and behind it. Further rolling of the bale  18  is prevented by a retaining panel  28 . 
     The non-return flap  20  is fitted on a construction with a tubular piece  30  which is slidable parallel to the travel direction  7  over a suitable pipe  32  of the rear bearing part  12 . The construction for the flap  20  can be slid into and fixed in such a position that, after a bale  18  has passed the flap  20  towards the rear, the flap  20  can rotate upwards again, as indicated by an arrow  35  in FIG. 2, and the bale  18  is subsequently retained between the flap  20  and the retaining panel  28 . 
     The rear bearing part  12  is rotatable about a shaft  40  which is parallel to the ground and crosswise to the travel direction  7  and is fitted between the flap  20  and the retaining panel  28 . 
     The rear bearing part  12  is held in a horizontal bearing position by a cylinder  42  mounted between the frame  5  and the rear bearing part  12 . The cylinder  42  is fed by way of lines  43 ,  44  from a tractor (not shown) connected in front of the baler. 
     When a bale  18  is situated on the rear bearing part  12 , and the bale collector  1  is situated at a desired point on the land, the driver of the baler  2  operates the cylinder  42 , which causes the rear bearing part  12  to rotate in the direction of the arrow  45 , i.e. with the retaining panel  28  towards the ground, as shown in FIG.  3 . The bale  18  consequently rolls off the rear bearing part  12  according to the arrow  46  over the retaining panel  28  and onto the ground. The driver then operates the cylinder  42 , in order to rotate the rear bearing part  12  back to its previous position. 
     The bale collector acts as a buffer for a bale  18 , which can be deposited on the land at a desired point of the travel route so long as the baler  2  is not ejecting the next bale. If the bale collector  1  deposits a bale  18  on the ground when the baler  2  has the next bale half ready, the result is that for the point for depositing the next bale a margin of more or less half the distance at which the bales would be deposited on the ground directly from the baler  2  is obtained. On the other hand, if the depositing of a bale on the ground is delayed until the baler  2  is almost ready with the next bale, and if these two bales are then deposited on the ground shortly after one another, pairs of bales situated at twice the above distance from each other can be deposited on the ground. By using the bale collector  1  according to the invention, the bales  18  can therefore be deposited accurately at desired points, for example in such a way that neat rows of bales  18  can be deposited on the land both parallel to the travel direction  7  of the baler  2  and crosswise thereto. This facilitates loading of the bales  18  deposited on the land onto a transport vehicle. 
     Other advantages of the bale collector  1  according to the invention are that the collector  1  is compact, simple and cheap. 
     The advantage of the compactness, with a short length parallel to the travel direction  7 , makes it possible for the bale collector  1 , as shown in FIG. 4, to be transported on the back of the baler  2  in an upward swung position according to an arrow  50  opposite the outlet  15  of the baler  2  shut off by a cap  51 . This makes transportation of the combination of the bale collector  1  and the baler  2  easier and safer both on the land and on the public highway. 
     In order to reach the position of the bale collector  1  shown in FIG. 4, the collector  1  and the baler  2  have two fork couplings  53 , each with a shaft  54  whose axes coincide. A cylinder  56 , which is fed by way of lines  57 ,  58  from the abovementioned tractor (not shown), is fitted between the bale collector  1  and the baler  2 . When the cylinder  56  is extended, the bale collector  1  is in a working position as shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , and in a retracted position of the cylinder  56  the idle position of the bale collector  1  shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. The idle position can be locked by means of locking means  60 ,  61 . 
     Various modifications are possible for an expert within the scope of the invention. 
     For example, the bearing platform  10  can consist of a tubular construction without cover plate. 
     Instead of the tension springs  23 , one or more compression springs can be fitted between the frame  5  and the flap  20 . Moreover, instead of the springs  23 , a counterweight can be fitted on the ends of the arms  22 , for example a pipe filled with a heavy material and running parallel to the ground. 
     Furthermore, the slide construction  30 ,  32  with the non-return flap  20  can be fitted on the frame  5  in a location such as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, instead of on the rear bearing part  12 . The last-mentioned and illustrated embodiment has the advantage that when the rear bearing part  12  tilts according to the arrow  45  in FIG. 3 it is better ensured that a bale  18  rolls off the rear bearing part  12  onto the ground, for example when the combination of baler  2  and bale collector  1  is travelling down a slope. 
     In addition, the construction with the non-return flap  20  can be replaced or supplemented by non-return means which act upon the side edges of a passing bale  18 . For this purpose, such a construction as the construction shown can be used, but in which the axis of rotation is vertical. 
     Furthermore, for the cylinders  42  and  56  other means can be used to rotate the rear bearing part  12  relative to the frame  5  or the frame  5  relative to the baler  2 . Even fully hand-operated means can be used. Alternatively, instead of the cylinder  42 , it is possible to fit a locking mechanism of which parts are fitted on the frame  5  or the bearing part  12 , the mechanism being self-locking when the bearing part  12  is rotated into the highest position of the rear part thereof, which can be achieved by a suitable position of the centre of gravity of the bearing part  12  under its own weight, while when the operator unlocks the mechanism the bearing part  12  with a bale  18  supported thereon rotates under its own weight to the ground. The rotation back to the ground can be promoted by using a tension spring fitted between the frame  5  and the bearing part  12 . 
     With a suitable length of the bearing part  12 , viewed in the travel direction  7 , several constructions with a non-return flap, such as the flap  20 , can be fitted, in which case a bale  18  can also be retained between two adjacent non-return flaps  20 . When the bearing part  12  is rotated downwards, all bales  18  will roll off the bearing part  12  onto the ground. 
     Although the bale collector  1  according to the invention is explained for use behind a baler  2 , the bale collector can also be used for other types of bale delivery devices, for example behind a wrapping device which wraps each bale in a film and ejects film-wrapped bales through a delivery opening to the bale collector  1 .