Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention deals generally with agricultural equipment and more specifically with an apparatus to complete the wrapping of a partially wrapped bale produced by a “round baler”. 
     Round balers with the capability of wrapping the bales in plastic film have become common machines on the agricultural landscape. The benefits of the wrapped bales are that they protect the crop material from the weather, encourage crops to ferment to enhance the nutritional value, and eliminate the need for costly storage facilities. Some machines in the prior art are built to pick up formed round bales from the fields, wrap them, and then put them back down, but such an approach requires significant manpower and machinery. Other machines can be pulled behind a round baler, accept the bale from the baler and wrap it as the baler forms the next bale. 
     However, there are several round balers that take advantage of the action of the baler itself, the rotation of a cylinder of crop material, to wrap the cylinder by inserting plastic film from a supply roll into the bale forming chamber. This allows the bale rotation in the forming chamber to catch the plastic film and wrap it around the bale&#39;s cylindrical surface. A particular example of this type of round baler is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,193 by Underhill et al. With such a wrapper, it is possible to furnish excess wrapping material extending off the non-cylindrical ends of cylindrical bales for later use in sealing the ends. 
     One approach in the prior art has been to build machines that rotate the bale around its axis to wrap the cylindrical surface and to sequentially or simultaneously rotate the bale in a horizontal plane to wrap the ends of the bale. Another approach has been to use a so called satellite system in which the bale is rotated around its axis to cover the cylindrical surface, and the ends of the cylindrical bale are wrapped by a supply roller that moves around the bale in a horizontal plane. 
     The problem with such machines are their great complexity. Almost all of them operate independently of the baler itself, even if they are towed behind the baler. Furthermore, they all must produce a duplicate motion that the baler has just completed, the rotation of the cylindrical bale around its cylindrical axis. 
     It would be very beneficial to have a simple machine that merely wraps the ends of a bale, the cylindrical surface of which was already wrapped by a round baler, and to include that machine right on the frame of the round baler, so that it could be operated by the baler operator and even use the same continuous film material that covers the cylindrical surface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a finishing wrapper structure added to the rear of a prior art round baler to complete the wrapping of a bale that has only its cylindrical surface wrapped with plastic film. The finishing wrapper of the invention is constructed on a base frame that is essentially a pivoting rearward extension of the frame of the round baler, and the finishing wrapper receives the ejected partially wrapped bale while the plastic film on the bale is still attached to the supply roll of the film that is in the baler. The bale is captured by a slightly “V” shaped table that prevents the bale from rolling off the back of the finishing wrapper because the table is oriented with its higher sides aligned transverse to the direction of motion of the baler and parallel to the axis of the ejected bale. The table is then rotated 90 degrees to reorient the bale with its cylindrical axis aligned with the baler&#39;s direction of motion. 
     Two clamping arms are attached to the base frame of the finishing wrapper, with one arm on each side of the base frame at a location approximately aligned with the sides of the baler and on opposite sides of the reoriented bale. Each clamping arm is pivotable and has a rotating clamp on its end remote from the base frame, with the rotating clamps formed essentially as short beams with paddle like ends that angle slightly inward toward the bale. The rotational motion of each clamp is powered by a hydraulic motor mounted on the clamping arm near the rotating clamp and is transferred to the rotating clamp by a conventional chain drive. 
     The clamping arms themselves can pivot both toward each other to clamp tightly onto the bale and in an arc toward the rear of the finishing wrapper to release a bale on the ground behind the apparatus. The pivoting action of the clamping arms and the rotation of the “V” shaped table are all conventionally powered by hydraulic cylinders. 
     The actions of the finishing wrapper are surprisingly straightforward. When the tailgate of the conventional baler opens, instead of the bale being ejected onto the ground and the plastic film that is wrapped around its cylindrical surface being cut free from the supply roll, the bale is caught by the “V” shaped table of the finishing wrapper. Furthermore, the plastic film is not cut, but trails out of the baler and stays on the bale. Then the table is rotated 90 degrees so that the unwrapped ends of the bale are now facing the front and rear of the finishing wrapper. This rotation causes the plastic film to twist and wrap from what is now one side of the bale toward the end of the bale facing the round baler. 
     The clamping arms, with the rotating clamps oriented in an approximately horizontal plane, are now activated to move inward and push the rotating clamps tightly onto the opposite cylindrical surfaces of the bale. After the rotating clamps are tightly gripping the cylindrical surface of the bale, the clamping arms are pivoted rearward in an arc that raises the rotating clamps to lift the bale off and clear of the table. The bale is then rotated by the rotating clamps so that the rotation pulls the plastic film onto the bale, and, as the rotation continues, it turns the bale end over end. This motion continues until the bale is fully wrapped, at which time the plastic film is conventionally cut within the round baler. During the wrapping operation the clamping arms are continuously pivoted farther toward the rear of the machine, so that, as the wrapping is completed, the arms are ready to release the bale onto the ground. The various parts of the finishing wrapper then return to their initial positions as the baler again begins its bale forming action. 
     The invention thereby provides a fully wrapped bale with a relatively simple structure that can be added to a conventional prior art round baler design and can be operated without additional personnel. An even more interesting aspect of the invention is that, based upon actual field tests of the invention, the entire finish wrapping procedure takes only about 20 seconds. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic, right rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the finishing wrapper of the invention with the round baler to which the invention is attached shown without all its details. 
     FIG.  2  through FIG. 8 are schematic left rear perspective views of the finishing wrapper of the invention sequentially demonstrating the operation of the invention from the opening of the tailgate of the round baler and discharge of the bale onto the finishing wrapper through the discharge of the bale from the finishing wrapper, the restart of baler operation, and the resetting of the parts of the finishing wrapper to their starting positions. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic, right rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of finishing wrapper  10  with round baler  12 , to which finishing wrapper  10  is attached, shown without all its details. In the following description, the term “front” is used to designate the direction toward the end of round baler  12  which has its front  13  defined based on its direction of motion indicated by the arrow “B”. Similarly, the term “rear” designates the direction toward end  15  of bale  14  which is most remote from round baler  12 . 
     Round baler  12  is a conventional machine, and is well described in the prior art. An example of this type of round baler is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,193 by Underhill et al. Without finishing wrapper  10  attached to the rear of round baler  12 , the round baler would simply discharge round bale  14  when it is wrapped with plastic film around only its cylindrical surfaces (see FIG.  3 ). However, finishing wrapper  10  completes the wrapping of the bale by turning it end over end as the bale is still attached to plastic film  16  that is being dispensed off supply roll  18  within round baler  12 . FIG. 1 shows bale  14  in its final stage of wrapping (also see FIG. 6) at which time cylindrical axis  17  of bale  14  is approximately aligned with the direction of motion B of round baler  12 . 
     Finishing wrapper  10  is attached to the rear of round baler  12  by being mounted on pivoting platform frame  20  which is constructed from structural components such as arm  22  and cross member  24 . Similar structural components are located on the opposite side of round baler  12 , but can not be seen because they are behind bale  14 . To permit platform  20  to pivot, it is attached to baler  12  only at pivot points (not shown) on the baler axle (not shown). This mounting arrangement permits platform  20  to be supported off the ground while the baler is operating and no bale is on platform  20  because springs  21  lift it up. However, when bale  14  is discharged onto “V” shaped table  26 , platform  20  lowers to the ground as springs  21  extend, and cross member  24  rests on the ground. This action makes it unnecessary to include support wheels on platform  20  and reduces the original cost and simplifies maintenance of the machine. 
     The bale contacting parts of finishing wrapper  10  are “V” shaped table  26  and rotating clamps  28 . “V” shaped table  26  is actually a simple rotating table with two high sides  30  sloping to lower center trough  32  where the two sides meet. The function of “V” shaped table  26  is first to catch bale  14  to prevent it from falling to the ground. For this purpose it is oriented across round baler  12 , that is, with center trough  32  parallel to a line between large wheels  34  of baler  12 . This position is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The second function of table  26  is to rotate with bale  14  on it so that bale  14  is turned 90 degrees, so that its cylindrical axis  17  is oriented in the direction of travel of round baler  12  and its unwrapped ends are then facing the front and the rear of finishing wrapper  10 . The 90 degree rotation of table  26  is accomplished quite conventionally by using a hydraulically activated piston attached to table  26  by a linkage that causes table  26  to rotate 90 degrees when the piston changes it length. The rotation then reverses when the piston motion reverses. 
     Identical rotating clamps  28  on pivoting arms  36  are located on opposite sides of finishing wrapper  10  (only one of each can be seen in FIG.  1 ). Rotating clamps  28  perform the entire finishing wrap procedure. Once bale  14  is turned so that its unwrapped surfaces face the interior of the round baler and the rear of finishing wrapper  10 , pivoting arms  36  are pivoted toward the center trough  32  of table  26 , and they move rotating clamps  28  against bale  14 . This action clamps fan shaped ends  38  of rotating clamps  28  tightly on bale  14 , because ends  38  are oriented at an angle to rotating clamps  28  and point in toward bale  14 . The inward pivoting motion of pivoting arms  36  is powered by the extension of hydraulic pistons  40  that are attached to platform frame  20  and oriented to point toward bale  14 . 
     At the time of this initial clamping, pivoting arms  36  are oriented so that they are angled toward round baler  12  (see FIG.  4 ), but once the clamping is complete hydraulic pistons  42  are partially extended. Hydraulic pistons  42  are attached to pivoting arms  36  and to locations on frame  22  closer to round baler  12  than are pivoting arms  36 . The extension of pistons  42  not only moves the tops of pivoting arms  36  on an arc toward the rear of finishing wrapper  10 , but since rotating arms  36  were originally angled toward round baler  12 , their tops were below the top of the arc, and the pivoting lifts the tops of pivoting arms  36  and rotating clamps  28  higher from table  26  than they previously were. This action, of course, also lifts bale  14  up off table  26 . 
     It is at this point in the process, with bale  14  clear of table  26 , that the turning motion of rotating clamps  28  is started. As rotating clamps  38  and bale  14  rotate in the direction indicated by arrow A, bale  14  is turned end over end and plastic film  16  is wrapped around the previously unwrapped non-cylindrical ends of bale  14 . The rotation of rotating clamps  38  is accomplished by hydraulic motors  44  that drive chains  46  and sprockets  48 . Sprockets  48  are on the same shafts  50  upon which rotating clamps  38  are mounted. 
     Spreader bar  52  serves the purpose of stretching plastic film  16  to its maximum width so that the film will completely cover and seal around bale  14 . This film stretching action is important because the stretched film grips bale  14  more tightly. There are several structures that can accomplish such a spreading action, and one example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,193 by Underhill et al. Therefore, that patent is incorporated herein for purposes of such disclosure. Spreader bar  52  is not shown in FIGS. 2-8 to better view other components of the invention. 
     It should be appreciated, that if spreader bar  52  were permanently in the position shown in FIG. 1, it would interfere with the discharge of bale  14  onto “V” shaped table  26 . Therefore, cam arms  53  are attached to spreader arm supports  55  and function not only to support spreader bar  52  upright during use, but also to fold spreader arm down when it is not in use. 
     FIG.  2  through FIG. 8 are schematic left rear perspective views of finishing wrapper  10  of the invention sequentially demonstrating the operation of the invention from the opening of tailgate  54  of round baler  12  and discharge of bale  14  onto finishing wrapper  10  through the discharge of bale  14  from finishing wrapper  10 , the restart of baler operation, and the resetting of the parts of finishing wrapper  14  to their starting positions. 
     FIG. 2 shows round baler  12  with tailgate  54  closed when round baler is completing the forming of the bale and the wrapping of the cylindrical surface of the bale. At this time, the components of finishing wrapper  10  are in their initial positions. “V” shaped table  26  is oriented with its center trough  32  transverse to the direction of motion B of round baler  12 , pivoting arms  36  are angled forward toward round baler  12 , and rotating clamps  28  are oriented in approximately a horizontal plane. 
     FIG. 3 depicts the apparatus after tailgate  54  has been opened and bale  14  has been discharged from round baler  12  onto finishing wrapper  10  in the direction indicated by arrow C. It should be appreciated that in FIG. 3 bale  14  is in the same orientation in which it was formed, with its cylindrical axis transverse to the direction of motion of round baler  12 . With center trough  32  of “V” shaped table  26  oriented parallel to the cylindrical axis of bale  14 , the surfaces of table  26  are tangent to the curve of bale  14  so table  26  catches and restrains bale  14 . As previously discussed, and although not completely visible in FIG. 3, plastic film  16  that is wrapped around bale  14  is still attached to the film supply roll located within round baler  12 . Furthermore, at this point in the finishing wrapping process, pivoting arms  36  and rotating clamps  28  have not been put into motion. 
     FIG. 4 shows the situation after bale  14  has been rotated 90 degrees, as indicated by directional arrow D, to align its cylindrical axis in the direction of motion of round baler  12 . This rotation is accomplished by turning “V” shaped table  26  by the use of a conventional hydraulic piston (not shown). At this point of the sequence pivoting arms  36  and rotating clamps  28  are still in their original positions. 
     FIG. 5 depicts the point in the finish wrapping process after pivoting arms  36  have been moved inward to clamp rotating clamps  28  tightly against bale  14 . Also, pivoting arms  36  have been pivoted away from round baler  12  in the direction indicated by arrow E, thus lifting bale  14  off of “V” shaped table  26 , 
     The actual finishing wrap is shown being applied in FIG. 6, which is the point in the process also shown in FIG.  1 . As described in regard to FIG. 1, during this process bale  14  is rotated end over end by rotating clamps  28  in the direction indicated by arrow A. Plastic film  16 , which at this time, is still attached to supply roll  18 , thus is wrapped around the previously uncovered ends of bale  14 . When this finishing wrapping is complete, plastic film  16  is cut free from supply roll  18  by conventional means (not shown) within round baler  12 , and pivoting arms  36  are again pivoted in direction E toward the rear of finishing wrapper  10 . 
     The motion of pivoting arms  36  in direction E continues until, as shown in FIG. 7, bale  14  is deposited onto ground  56  at the rear of finishing wrapper  10 . Then pivoting arms are drawn away from bale  14  in the direction indicated by arrow F, and rotating clamps  28  slip out of the plastic film. Rotating clamps  28  are released from the plastic film because of the angular orientation of their fan shaped ends  38 , because of the flexibility of the plastic film, and because the length of rotating clamps  28  is selected so that the plastic film covers only a portion of the ends of rotating clamps  28 . As pivoting arms  36  are fully withdrawn from bale  14 , tailgate  54  of round baler  12  is lowered in direction G into its closed position. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, as round baler  12  begins to move again in direction B to pick up crop and accumulate it into a round bale, pivoting arms  36  are moved in the direction indicated by arrow H to return them to their initial positions shown in FIG.  2 . At the same time, rotating clamps  28  and “V” shaped table  26  are also reoriented to their initial positions. 
     FIG. 8 also shows bale  14  resting on ground  56  in an orientation that can be accomplished by finishing wrapper  10 , but none of the prior art. Because of the versatility of rotating clamps  28 , bale  14  can be placed with one of its non cylindrical surfaces  15  on the ground. Without finishing wrapper  10 , machines such as round baler  12  always discharge their bales with their cylindrical surfaces touching the ground, and this orientation can cause significant problems because the bale can then roll away on hills. 
     The invention thereby provides a fully wrapped bale, and because it is mounted upon the round baler itself, it is operable without additional personnel. Furthermore, because of the simplicity of the apparatus, the invention is not only less costly and simpler to maintain than prior art, but its operation is very fast. 
     It is to be understood that the form of this invention as shown is merely a preferred embodiment. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of parts; equivalent means may be substituted for those illustrated and described; and certain features may be used independently from others without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 
     For example, “V” shaped table  26  and rotating clamps  28  can be constructed in different configurations, but still accomplish the same functions. Furthermore, although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in conjunction with a round bale, the bale could also be a rectangular prism, and the invention would function just as well to wrap the ends of such a bale.

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