Patent Description:
Round balers are well known in the art. Such balers pick up a harvested crop and feed the crop into a baling chamber where it is compressed into a cylindrical bale. Before ejecting the formed bale from the baler it is necessary to wrap or bind the formed bale with a binding material. The binding material is typically supplied as roll of binding material. It will be appreciated that such rolls of binding material are a major consumable in the operation of such a baler. Additionally, such rolls of binding material are heavy and cumbersome to manoeuvre. Rolls of binding material typically measure between <NUM> to <NUM> centimetres (<NUM> to <NUM> inches) in length and weigh between <NUM> and <NUM> kilograms (<NUM> to <NUM> pounds). As such, loading such rolls into position onto the baler by an operator, such that the binding material can then be arranged to be delivered into the baling chamber, is a burdensome task, and one that needs to repeated throughout the operation of the baler.

A number of solutions to this problem have been proposed.

One such solution is disclosed in <CIT> (CLAAS) in which a loading apparatus for loading a roll of binding material into a baler location from which the binding material may be dispensed wherein a first support member is supported at a first end and a carriage member is slidably mounted on the baler. The support member is pivotable about a vertical axis allowing it to be swung out away from the baler and then about a horizontal axis allowing for raising of the roll of binding material supported on the support member to be raised towards the carriage member. Once raised, the roll of binding material can be transferred onto the carriage member and slid into place in the baler.

The present invention aims to provide a better solution.

The invention provides a loading apparatus for loading a roll of binding material according to claim <NUM> and a method thereof according to claims <NUM> and <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are provided in the dependent claims.

Reference to terms such as longitudinal, transverse and vertical are made with respect to a longitudinal vehicle axis which is parallel to a normal forward direction of travel.

With reference first to <FIG>, a loading apparatus is shown in an initial position in which there is no roll of binding material present. A roll of binding material typically comprises a hollow tube, typically a cardboard tube about which a binding material has been wound. In use, it will understood that the loading apparatus will mostly present such a tube for removal from the loading apparatus, and that such a tube can readily be removed without the level of physical exertion required for manoeuvring a full roll of binding material.

The loading apparatus comprises a first (generally horizontally oriented) support member <NUM> pivotally connected at a first end <NUM> to a first side of a frame of a baler <NUM>. A second (horizontally oriented) support member <NUM> is pivotally connected at a first end <NUM> to a first side of a storage apparatus forming part of the baler <NUM>. The second support member <NUM> is releasably connected at a second end <NUM> to a second side of a storage apparatus forming part of the baler <NUM>. The second support member <NUM> is conveniently connected at the second end <NUM> to the storage apparatus by a releasable latch mechanism.

A carriage member <NUM> is slidably mounted to the first support member <NUM>. As may be best seen in <FIG>, the carriage member <NUM> comprises a first part <NUM> and a second part <NUM>. The first part <NUM> of the carriage member <NUM> is hingedly connected to the second part <NUM>. When the carriage member <NUM> is slid along the first support member <NUM> away from the first side of the baler, such that only the first part <NUM> is supported by the first support member <NUM>, the second part <NUM> is able to pivot downward.

A stand <NUM> is provided toward the first end of the first support member <NUM> to support the second support member <NUM> once it has been released from the second side of the dispensing apparatus (<FIG>). The stand <NUM> may be located on the first support member <NUM> or provided on the baler frame adjacent the first support member <NUM>. In a preferred embodiment, the stand <NUM> is pivotally mounted to the baler frame and is biased such that it moves into an upright position when the carriage member is pulled out. It will be appreciated in each case that the location of the stand <NUM> with respect to the first support member <NUM> is positioned so that it does not interfere with the loading of a roll of binding material <NUM>.

It will be understood that the first part <NUM> of the carriage member <NUM> is provided with a suitable mechanism to prevent the carriage member <NUM> from becoming removed from the first support member <NUM>, for example an internal stop for abutment with a second end of the first support member <NUM>.

The second part <NUM> of the carriage member <NUM> is provided with first and second side support elements <NUM> along a middle portion of its length. Conveniently the first and second parts <NUM>,<NUM> of the carriage member <NUM> are connected by a biasing means <NUM>, such as a gas strut, to assist in the controlled movement of the second part <NUM> with respect to the first part <NUM>.

Toward the end of the second part <NUM> of the carriage member <NUM> remote from the first part <NUM>, that is the distal end of the second part <NUM> of the carriage member <NUM>, the second part <NUM> is provided with a pivoting angle bar <NUM>. The angle bar <NUM> comprises first and second limbs arranged substantially perpendicular to on another. The first limb of the angle bar <NUM> comprises first and second side support elements <NUM>. It can be seen that the first and second side support elements <NUM> of the angle bar <NUM> align with the first and second side support elements <NUM> of the second part <NUM> of the carriage member <NUM> when the angle bar <NUM> is in a first position (<FIG>). The second limb of the angle bar <NUM> comprises a substantially U-shaped element <NUM>.

Preferably, a centring element <NUM> is mounted to the angle bar <NUM> for a pivoting movement about an axis with respect to the U-shaped element <NUM> between a first position in which the centring element <NUM> is releasably secured, for example by a releasable latch mechanism <NUM>, to the U-shaped element <NUM> and a second position pivoted away from the U-shaped element <NUM>. The centring element <NUM> is typically part frustoconical in form and may be manufactured from any suitable material, for example from a plastics material.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the centring element may be omitted. In such a construction, the limbs of the U-shaped element <NUM> of the second limb of the angle bar are conveniently sized and shaped to receive the hollow tube of the roll of binding material while an edge of the binding material wrapped about the tube is supported by a surface of the U-shaped element <NUM>. The distal end of the second part of the carriage member may be provided with an abutment surface in the region of the angle bar. In such an embodiment, pivoting of the angle bar is constrained by abutment of the stop with the abutment surface. The depending wings and the abutment surface are selected such that when the second part of the carriage is in the second position and the angle bar is moved to the second position, the U-shaped element <NUM> is arranged substantially parallel to a ground surface.

At the end of the second part <NUM> of the carriage member <NUM> remote from the first part <NUM>, the second part <NUM> is provided with a manipulation means <NUM> in the form of a handle by which an operator can manoeuvre the carriage member <NUM> with respect to the baler.

Operation of the loading apparatus will now be described by reference to the accompanying Figures. An operator first slides the carriage member <NUM> out from the frame of the baler <NUM> using the handle <NUM> (<FIG>).

Once the carriage member <NUM> has been pulled to the end of the first support member <NUM>, the operator allows the second part <NUM> of the carriage member <NUM> to pivot downwards (<FIG>) such that the free end of the carriage member <NUM> rests upon the ground.

The second end <NUM> of the second support member <NUM> is also released from the second side of the dispensing apparatus. It will be appreciated that once the second end of the second support member <NUM> has been released an empty tube of an expended roll of binding material, if present, can readily be slid along the second support member <NUM> and so removed from the second support member <NUM>.

The operator then pivots the angle bar <NUM> away from the second part <NUM> of the carriage member <NUM> to raise the second side support elements <NUM> until the U-shaped element <NUM> is supported in a second position on the free end of the second part of the carriage member <NUM> (<FIG>). Optionally a latching mechanism may be provided temporarily to hold the U-shaped element <NUM> in this position.

The operator then lifts a roll of binding material <NUM> onto the loading apparatus locating a first end of the internal tube of the roll of binding material over the centring element <NUM> (<FIG>). The operator can use the second side support elements <NUM> to guide the roll of binding material <NUM> into position.

Alternatively, where the centring element has been omitted, the operator may use the limbs of the U-shaped element <NUM> to locate the protruding end of the central tube of the roll of binding material <NUM>.

The angle bar <NUM> is then pivoted back to the first position such that the second side support elements <NUM> are once again aligned with the first side support elements <NUM>. If a latching mechanism is optionally provided, this is released prior to pivoting the angle bar back to this position. It can be seen that an upper portion of the roll of binding material <NUM> is now supported by the first and second side support elements <NUM> of the second part <NUM> of the carriage member <NUM> (<FIG>) with the lower portion of the roll of binding material <NUM> supported by the first and second side support elements <NUM> of the angle bar <NUM>.

Using the handle <NUM>, the operator then lifts the distal end of the carriage member <NUM> to allow the carriage member <NUM> to be slid back along the first support member <NUM>. (<FIG>) It can be seen that as the second part <NUM> of the carriage member <NUM> is raised level with the first part <NUM>, a second upper end of the central tube of the roll of binding material <NUM> is now aligned around the free end <NUM> of the second support <NUM>.

The operator then pushes the carriage member <NUM> back along the first support member <NUM> until the centring element <NUM> abuts the free end <NUM> of the second support member <NUM> (<FIG>).

The centring element <NUM> can now be released and pivoted away from the U-shaped element <NUM>. The carriage member <NUM> can now be further moved toward the first side of the baler such that the roll of binding material <NUM> is fully loaded onto the second support member <NUM>, where the second end of the second support member <NUM> passes though the limbs of the U-shaped element <NUM>.

It will be appreciated that as the roll of binding material <NUM> is loaded onto the second support member <NUM> the second upper end of the roll of binding material <NUM> is lifted away from the carriage member <NUM> (<FIG>). This reduces the frictional contact between the carriage member <NUM> and the roll of binding material <NUM> as the carriage member <NUM> is pushed into position. In view of this, an operator may at this stage instead manually push the roll of binding material <NUM> along the second support member <NUM> into the desired position.

In the absence of the centring member the free end <NUM> of the second support member <NUM> passes though the limbs of the U-shaped element <NUM> and the operator can simply manually push the roll of binding material <NUM> along the second support member <NUM> into the desired position.

Once the carriage member <NUM> is in this position, the operator engages a locking or latching mechanism (not shown) to prevent relative movement of the first and second parts <NUM>,<NUM> of the carriage member.

Using the handle <NUM>, the operator then lifts the carriage member <NUM> and the first end of the roll of binding material <NUM> upwards such that the free end of the second support member <NUM> is engaged with the latching mechanism at the second side of the dispensing apparatus (<FIG>). The roll of binding material <NUM> is now located within the storage apparatus.

The operator then lowers the carriage member <NUM> (<FIG>).

This loading apparatus has as an advantage that all of the components are permanently mounted to the baler.

Claim 1:
A loading apparatus for loading a roll of binding material into a dispensing apparatus of a baler from which the binding material is dispensed comprises a first support member (<NUM>) supported at a first end, a carriage member (<NUM>) slidably mounted on the first support member (<NUM>), the carriage member (<NUM>) comprising a first part (<NUM>) and a second part (<NUM>), the second part (<NUM>) of the carriage member (<NUM>) being hingedly connected to the first part (<NUM>) of the carriage member (<NUM>), the second part (<NUM>) of the carriage member (<NUM>) being provided with first and second side support elements (<NUM>) and a roll support element characterised in that a distal end of the second part (<NUM>) of the carriage member (<NUM>) is provided with an adjustable angle bar (<NUM>), a first limb of the angle bar (<NUM>) comprising further first and second side support elements (<NUM>) and a second limb of the angle bar (<NUM>) provided with the roll support element.