Agricultural baler with a binding system and method for maintaining the baler The present invention relates to an agricultural baler with a pressing chamber for pressing crops into a bale and a binding system having at least one binding unit which has a receiving space for receiving a binding means roll, the unrolled binding means of which is provided for binding the pressed bale, the binding unit being pivotable from an operating position provided in an operating state of the baler into a maintenance position provided in a maintenance state.
The present invention further relates to an agricultural work train with a tractor to which such a baler is attached.
The present invention further relates to a method for inserting a binding means roll into a receiving space of a binding unit of an agricultural baler.
Crops such as straw and hay are regularly baled to reduce volume and improve handleability.
To ensure that a pressed bale can not come loose and fall apart, it is bound with a binding means.
Bands, nets and foils made of woven or braided natural fibers or plastic can be employed as
— binding means.
The binding means are selected, for example, depending on the shape, size, pressing density or use of the bale or crop.
Balers therefore regularly have a binding system with a binding unit for receiving a binding means roll.
The binding means unrolled from the binding means roll can be fed from the binding unit into
— the pressing chamber and then be used to bind the pressed bale.
To replace the binding means, for example because the binding means in the binding means roll has been used up or another binding means is to be used, the binding means roll must be removed from the binding unit and another binding means roll must be inserted into the binding unit.
However, in order to keep the maintenance effort on the field as low as possible, binding means rolls have a long running length and therefore a considerable weight.
Binding units for receiving the binding means rolls are also often arranged very high above the ground, so that the binding means rolls have to be lifted to a height above the waist or even over the shoulder of an operator
— when they are exchanged, and their exchange therefore not only presents a considerable physical strain, but can also be very dangerous.
In addition, threading the binding means into feed means with which it is guided into the pressing chamber is difficult and time-consuming when the binding means roll is positioned high above the ground.
Lifting devices are often used to facilitate the insertion of a binding means roll into the roll receiver.
However, with such solutions, threading the binding means into the feed means often requires a ladder or platform, so that the operator can carry out this work from an elevated position.
However, this still poses a risk to the operator and the threading in of the binding means is still laborious.
The use of magazines in which several binding means rolls are stored, is also known.
Such magazines, while simplifying the replacement of the binding means roll itself, do not allow switching between different binding materials when a current binding means roll is not completely used up.
In addition, threading in the binding means can even be made more difficult due to the space required by the magazine.
Further known are balers with two binding units, in which the inserted binding means can be used one after the other or simultaneously.
In addition to the larger stock of binding means being available, these solutions allow greater flexibility in the use of different binding means materials. — The publication EP 1 707 045 A1 discloses a carrier for receiving a binding means roll that is movable between a loading position and an operating position.
The publication EP 0 252 485 Al discloses a receiving space for a binding means roll which is pivotable from an operating position to a maintenance position.
A stretching roller and a drive roller are pivoted together with the receiving space.
The publication DE 10 2004 027 307 A1 discloses a quick-change device for exchanging rolls of web material, which is arranged on a drawbar.
Object of the invention is, in contrast, to provide an agricultural baler, in particular a round baler, which allows a flexibility that is a great as possible in relation to the binding means material used, and whose handling, especially in the event of maintenance, for the operator is also associated with fewer risks, lighter, easier and faster.
The object is achieved with an agricultural baler having the features of independent claim 1, an agricultural work train having the features of independent claim 12 and a method having the features of independent claim 13. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent — claims.
For this, an agricultural baler is provided.
The baler includes a pressing chamber in which crops are pressed into a bale.
For this purpose, it has a collection rotor which is provided for collecting the crop from the ground.
A pick-up is preferred as the collection rotor.
It also includes an intake rotor for feeding the crops into the pressing chamber.
The intake rotor can be designed as a conveyor rotor, cutting rotor or integral rotor.
Pressing elements, for example pressing rollers and/or pressing belts, are arranged in the pressing chamber and can be used to press the crop into bales.
The baler is preferably a round baler that presses the crop into an approximately cylindrical bale. 3 Both round balers designed as belt presses and round balers designed as roller presses are preferred.
In order to be able to bind the pressed bales, the baler has a binding system with at least one binding unit.
The binding unit includes a receiving space for receiving a binding means roll.
The binding means unrolled from the binding means roll is provided for binding, in particular for wrapping around, the pressed bale.
The binding prevents crop from becoming loose from the bale.
The binding unit can further be adjusted from an operating position provided in an operating state into a maintenance position provided for inserting the binding means roll.
In this case, the baler is in the operating state during bale formation, that is to say during the pressing of the crop into bales and the binding of the pressed bale.
In the maintenance state, on the other hand, the pressing chamber is not driven, so that neither crops nor binding means is conveyed into the pressing chamber and the pressing elements provided in the pressing chamber are at a standstill.
The maintenance state is provided for inserting a binding means roll, such as loading the binding means roll for the first time, or because the binding means roll currently housed in the binding unit is to be replaced with another, either because it is empty or because it is to be replaced by a binding means roll of a different binding means material.
The agricultural baler is characterized in that it has two binding units which, in their operating position, are offset from one another in at least one spatial direction, wherein both binding units are adjustable into the same maintenance position.
In principle, further binding units can also be provided.
By providing two binding units, twice the amount of binding means is immediately available for binding the bales in the field.
With this embodiment, therefore, the baler can be operated twice as long in relation to a necessary replacement of the binding means rolls.
Alternatively, two binding means rolls of different binding means materials can be used one after the other or simultaneously, for example a binding means roll with a film made of plastic as the binding means and a binding means roll with a net made of natural fibers and/or plastic as the binding means.
This gives the operator in the field a great deal of flexibility in relation to the choice of binding means material that is used.
The binding units can preferably be used independently for this purpose.
They can essentially, 1.e. regarding their functional elements relating to the binding means roll and the unrolled binding means, be of identical construction.
By providing the same maintenance position, the operation of the entire binding system, in particular both binding units, is unified.
This makes operation much easier for the operator.
This applies above all to the threading of the binding means into the feed unit.
In addition, the same tools can be used to fill both binding units with a binding means roll.
The binding units are preferably arranged offset from one another, at least in the vertical direction.
In addition, they can be offset from one another in the direction of travel.
The binding unit or binding units is/are preferably positioned in the vertical direction above a drawbar.
The binding unit preferably has at least one first deflection roller and/or a feed unit which can be pivoted together with the binding unit from the operating position into the maintenance position.
As a result, not only the receiving space but also the first deflection roller and/or the feed unit is
— pivoted into the maintenance position.
Overall, this makes it much safer, easier and faster for the operator to insert or replace the binding means roll.
In addition, threading the binding means into the feed unit is much safer, easier and faster for the operator.
For this it is preferred that a distance of the binding unit from the ground is smaller in the
— maintenance position than in the operating position.
Preferably, the distance between the binding unit and the ground in the maintenance position is approximately hip height of a person of average build.
The distance between the binding unit and the ground in the maintenance position is particularly preferably about 0.7 m — 1.5 m, very particularly preferably about 0.9 m — 12m.
Asa result, the binding unit and the feed unit are easily accessible for the operator and the operator then
— does not need a ladder or platform to thread the binding means into the feed unit.
The risk of injury for the operator is also significantly reduced due to the lower height.
In addition, the handling of the heavy binding means roll, in particular the insertion into the binding unit, is considerably easier and safer than above hip or even shoulder height.
— The first deflection roller is preferably arranged in a stationary manner in the binding unit.
Further preferably, it has an adhesive surface (not shown). For this purpose, it can be made at least partially from an elastic material.
As a result, it can be used to slow down the binding means.
In a preferred embodiment, it can be braked, in particular automatically by means of a control unit of the agricultural working machine.
5 A feed unit within the meaning of the invention is provided for guiding and/or transporting the binding means to the pressing chamber.
For this purpose, it can provide auxiliary means with which the binding means are transportable to the pressing chamber.
For this purpose, the feed unit is preferably arranged behind the receiving space in the direction of travel.
In order to ensure a continuous unwinding of the binding means during binding of the bale, it is preferred that the feed unit comprises at least one deflection roller as an aid for deflecting the binding means.
The binding means can easily be placed around the deflection roller manually by the operator.
The deflection roller is preferably moveably provided so that the binding means is guided together with it when it is fed to the pressing chamber.
The feed unit also preferably includes as aid a feed spout into which the unrolled binding means can be threaded.
The feeding spout is provided for feeding the binding means into the pressing chamber.
It preferably has two guide plates arranged opposite one another.
The guide plates are also preferably spaced apart from one another by a feed gap that preferably narrows in the insertion
— direction of the binding means.
They can be made at least partially from a flexible material.
When threading the binding means into the feed unit, it is preferably guided through the feed gap by means of further aids and/or automatically.
Manual threading of the binding means through the feed gap can also be provided.
The feed spout is also preferably moveably provided so that the binding means is guided together with it when it is fed into the pressing chamber.
The binding means is held in place to the pressing chamber during transport with the feeding spout and/or the deflection roller.
As a result, it does not slip out of the feed unit.
In order to introduce the binding means into the pressing chamber in the further process, it is also preferred that the agricultural baler includes an automatically driven adjustment means for adjusting the feed spout and a guide slot, wherein the feed spout is adjusted by driving the adjustment means along the guide link.
The adjustment means can be designed as a lever.
In addition or as an alternative, however, a different, for example linear, automatic adjustment of the feed spout can also be provided.
Due to the automatic adjustment of the feed spout, the binding means is fed into the pressing chamber without any further effort for the operator.
This eliminates the need for the operator to bend into the baler.
In the maintenance position of the binding unit, the feed unit is preferably arranged in a basic
— position in which the deflection roller and the feed spout are easily accessible.
By driving the adjusting means, the feed unit is adjusted into a working position in which the binding means is introduced into the pressing chamber and is available there for binding the bale.
This introduction of the binding means into the pressing chamber can take place automatically, in particular after a desired or maximum bale diameter has been reached.
The binding unit is preferably adjustable from its operating position into the maintenance position by sliding and/or pivoting.
It can be pivoted about a pivot axis assigned to it from its operating position into the maintenance position.
— The baler can be designed as a self-propelled baler.
In a preferred embodiment, however, the agricultural baler has a drawbar with which it can be hitched to a tractor, wherein the binding unit is arranged on the drawbar in the maintenance position in such a way that the drawbar is adjacent to the receiving space.
— This positioning enables the binding means roll accommodated in the receiving space of the binding unit to be placed on the drawbar.
The binding means roll is mounted very securely on the drawbar so that the operator can feed the binding means into the feed unit without being burdened or endangered by the binding means roll.
For this purpose, the drawbar preferably has at least one support on which the binding means roll can be placed.
The binding unit preferably has side walls, in particular as dust protection.
The receiving space and the feed unit are preferably arranged between the side walls.
The binding means roll is preferably stored in a trough of the binding unit, which is preferably rounded in shape and also preferably extends between the side walls.
In order to be able to insert the binding means roll into the binding unit, the binding unit preferably comprises a recess through which the receiving space is accessible from the outside.
The recess can preferably be at least partially closed by a cover.
Alternatively or additionally, a safety bracket can be provided to hold the binding means roll in the receiving space.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the binding means roll is slidable into the receiving space.
In order to also be able to place the binding means roll on the drawbar, it is also preferred that an insertion direction, in which the binding means roll is slidable into the receiving space, extends transversely to the direction of travel.
The receiving space also preferably extends in the insertion direction.
In this embodiment it is also preferred that the side walls have an extension component in the direction of travel.
Furthermore, it is preferred in this embodiment that at least one of the side walls, particularly preferably both side walls, do not delimit the receiving space transversely to the insertion direction, or that at least one of the side walls, particularly preferably both side walls, has the recess towards the receiving space.
This embodiment not only enables the binding means roll to be slid into the receiving space in the insertion direction, but also the binding means roll to be laid down on the drawbar or the support provided for this purpose.
In order to facilitate the displacement in or against the insertion direction of the binding means roll on the drawbar, it is also preferred to provide the support with rollers.
A particularly safe placement of the roll of binding material on the drawbar can be achieved with at
— least two such supports, which are arranged in alignment with one another, in particular in the insertion direction.
It is preferred that the binding unit is pivotable from its operating position into the maintenance position by pivoting about a pivot axis associated with the binding unit.
For this purpose, a
— pivoting means, for example a receptacle for a shaft or for an axle stub, is preferably provided in at least one side wall of the binding unit.
Furthermore, the binding unit can preferably be lowered onto the drawbar by pivoting about its pivot axis.
Depending on its position relative to the drawbar, however, a combination of a sliding and a pivoting movement is also preferred for moving it from its operating position into the maintenance position.
An actuator is preferably used to pivot the binding unit.
An electric, hydraulic or electrohydraulic drive can be provided as an actuator, in particular an (electro)hydraulic cylinder or a linear drive.
The adjustment can be semi-automatic or fully automatic.
Sensors for detecting the current position of the binding unit are also preferably provided for this purpose.
However, manual adjustment of
— the binding unit is also conceivable.
The binding unit or the binding units are particularly preferably arranged in the vertical direction above the drawbar.
As a result, the construction space below and at the level of the drawbar is available for the collection rotor and/or the intake rotor.
In addition, this position of the binding unit or units allows the weight of the binding means to be used to advantage when being guided into the pressing chamber and when binding the bale.
As an aid for filling a binding unit with a binding means roll, the binding system preferably comprises at least one roll carrier.
The roll carrier serves as a support for a (spare) binding means roll.
It is preferred that the roll carrier can be adjusted from a storage position provided in the — operating state to an exchange position provided in the maintenance state.
In the exchange position, a binding means roll arranged on the roll carrier can be slid into the receiving space of the binding means unit arranged in the maintenance position.
The binding means roll can preferably be inserted from the roll carrier by sliding in an insertion direction into the receiving space of the roll receiver.
The roll carrier is preferably provided such that it can be pivoted and/or slid from the storage position into the exchange position.
It particularly preferably comprises a swivel arm for this purpose, which is furthermore preferably mounted on the frame of the baler.
In its storage position, the roll carrier is preferably arranged transversely to the exchange position, — in particular approximately in the direction of travel, so that the width of the baler is not increased by the roll carrier.
The exchange position can preferably be reached by pivoting the pivot arm about an essentially vertical axis.
The roll carrier can also be adjusted semi-automatically, fully automatically or manually.
The semi-automatic or fully automatic embodiment preferably provides actuators, for example electric and/or hydraulic drives, and optionally sensors for detecting the position of the roll carrier.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the binding system comprises two roll carriers which are arranged on opposite sides of the baler.
As a result, more binding means can be stored.
In addition, — different binding means, for example a film roll and a net roll, can be stored in this way.
The object is also achieved with an agricultural work train comprising such a baler and a tractor to which the baler is hitched.
The agricultural work train is characterized in that the tractor has an actuating means for reversibly adjusting the binding unit or binding units from the operating — position to the maintenance position.
The actuating means is preferably arranged in the cockpit of the tractor.
In this way, the operator can trigger the adjustment of the binding unit or binding units in the cockpit, for example when the binding means roll is empty.
Additionally or alternatively, actuating means for reversibly adjusting the binding unit or binding units from their operating position to the maintenance position can also be arranged on the baler itself, in particular near the — drawbar and/or the binding unit or binding units.
In a further preferred embodiment, the tractor and/or the baler comprise actuating means for adjusting the roll carrier(s) from the storage position to the exchange position and/or back. The object is also achieved with a method for inserting a binding means roll into a receiving space of a binding unit of a baler. The method comprises the steps of: a) pivoting the binding unit from the operating position into the maintenance position, so that the drawbar is arranged on or in the receiving space of the binding unit, b) sliding the binding means roll in the insertion direction into the receiving space, wherein the — binding means roll is placed on the drawbar, and c) pivoting the binding unit from the maintenance position back into the operating position. The operator is relieved considerably by placing the binding means roll on the drawbar. Between steps a) and b), the method can optionally comprise the step of: — d) removing a binding means roll still arranged in the binding unit, in particular by sliding in or against the insertion direction. Preferably, the method comprises between steps b) and c) in addition the step of: e) threading the binding means into a feed unit. Due to the good accessibility of the feed unit in the maintenance position of the binding unit, threading is easy and guick for the operator. All in all, replacing or inserting a binding means roll is very quick and comfortable for the operator — with this baler. The invention is described below with reference to figures. The figures are merely exemplary and do not limit the general inventive concept. Shown are
Fig. 1 schematically a baler according to the invention in a side view;
Fig. 2 in (a) a sectional view of the baler of Fig. 1 showing a binding system with two binding units above a drawbar of the baler, wherein the binding units are both arranged in an operating position, and in (b) a perspective view of a binding unit; and
Fig. 3 in (a) the sectional view of Fig. 2 (a) without the binding means rolls being inserted in the respective binding unit, and in (b) and (c) the sectional view of Fig. 2 (a) wherein one of the two — binding units is respectively arranged in the maintenance position;
Fig. 4 schematically shows the baler from Fig. 1 when inserting a binding means roll, specifically in (b) from above and in (a) a front side of the baler.
Fig. 1 schematically shows a baler 1 according to the invention in a side view. This baler 1 concerns a round baler which comprises a pressing chamber 5 in which the crop (not shown) is pressed by means of pressing elements 51 into an essentially cylindrical bale (not shown). A few press rollers are shown here by way of example as press elements 51. The terms baler 1 and round baler are therefore used synonymously in the description of the figures. The invention extends both to belt presses and to roller presses. The baler 1 has a collection rotor 41, here a pick-up, with which crop such as hay or straw is picked up from the ground 8. The terms collection rotor 41 and pick-up are therefore used synonymously in the description of the figures. Fig. 1 shows the pick-up 41 in a transport position (not labelled) lifted off the ground 8. In the operating state (not labelled) of the baler 1, the pick-up — 41 is lowered into a working position (not shown), so that a feeler wheel 411 of the pick-up 41 rolls over the ground 8 and detects uneven ground. The crop picked up from the ground 8 by the pick-up 41 in the operating state is fed to a intake rotor 42 which conveys it into the pressing chamber 5. The baler 1 comprises a frame 11 on which a drawbar 3 is arranged, with which it can be attached to a towing vehicle (not shown). The drawbar 3 is frontally arranged on a front side 14 of the baler 1 in the direction of travel 91. It is attached to the frame 11 in a height-adjustable manner by means of a drawbar cylinder 30. The height adjustability is indicated in Fig. 1 by arrows 32 around — drawbar axes (not labelled). It has a counter-coupling 31 for attachment to a coupling (not shown) of the towing vehicle. A binding system 2 with two binding units 21, 22 for receiving binding rolls 231 is arranged above the drawbar 3. For this purpose, the binding units 21, 22 each comprise a receiving space 213, 223 — for receiving a binding means roll 231 in each. The unrolled binding means 61, 62 (see Fig. 2a) is provided for binding the pressed bale. The baler 1 shown here comprises two binding units 21, 22. However, the invention also includes balers 1 with only one binding unit 21, 22 or more than two binding units 21, 22. The binding units 21, 22 are spatially offset from one another. In the context of the invention, a vertical direction 92, a direction of travel 91 and an insertion direction 93 are indicated as spatial direction. The vertical direction 92, the direction of travel 91 and the insertion direction 93 are each arranged transversely to one another. The binding units 21, 22 have a large offset in the vertical direction 92 here. They are also arranged slightly offset from one another in the direction of travel 91. A first one of the two binding units 21 has a smaller first distance al to the drawbar 3 than a second one of the two binding units 22. As a result, a distance a3 of the drawbar 3 from the ground 8 is smaller than the first distance al of the first binding unit 21 from the ground 8 and this less than a second distance a2 of the second binding unit 22 from the ground 8. The pressing chamber 5 is arranged on a rear side 15 of the baler 1, that is to say at the rear in the direction of travel 91. To eject the finished bale, a flap 50 of the pressing chamber 5 is foldingly provided. The ability of the flap 50 to be folded is also indicated by an arrow 55 about a folding — axis (not labelled). On one side 13 (see FIG. 4a) of the baler 1 there is a roll carrier 23 which is intended for storing a binding means roll 231. The roll carrier 23 is part of the binding system 2 of the baler 1. It is here positioned in a storage position L (see Fig. 4a), from which it is adjustable into an exchange position A (see Fig. 4a), in which the binding means roll 231 can be slid into the receiving space 213,223 of one of the roll carriers 21, 22.
Fig. 2 (a) and 3 (a) show an enlarged detail from the baler 1 of Fig. 1, which shows the binding system 2 with the two binding units 21, 22 abive the drawbar 3 of the baler 1. The binding unites 21,22 are both arranged in Fig. 2 (a) and 3 (a) in an operating position B1, B2, in which they are positioned in the operating state of the baler 1. Fig. 3 (b) and (c), on the other hand, each show one of the binding units 21, 22 in a maintenance position W, which is provided for inserting a binding means roll 231 into the binding unit 21, 22. — The binding units 21, 22 have a spatial offset to each other. However, they have the same functional elements regarding the binding means roll 231 and the unrolled binding means 61, 62 and can therefore be used independently. In the following, the binding units 21, 22 are initially described using the second binding unit 22 — with reference to Fig. 2(b). In Fig. 2(b), the binding means roll 231 positioned in the receiving space 223 is schematically indicated by a broken line.
The binding unit 22 comprises the receiving space 223 which extends in the insertion direction 93 transversely to the direction of travel 91 and transversely to the vertical direction 92. It also has side walls 224. The side walls 224 extend in a plane (not labelled) spanned by the vertical direction 92 and the direction of travel 91. The side walls 224 each have a recess 227 whose contour (not labelled) extends along the receiving space 223. The receiving space 223 is accessible from the outside through the recess 227 in the side walls 224. The side walls 224 are connected to one another by connecting struts 29.
A receiving trough 292 for the binding means roll 231 extends between the side walls 224 along the contour of the recess 227. A first deflection roller 228 also extends between the side walls 224, which is provided for the first deflection of the binding means 62 that is unrolled from the binding means roller 231. The first deflection roller 228 is part of the binding unit 22 and can be pivoted from the operating position B2 into the maintenance position W together with the binding unit 22.
Itis fixed in place between the side walls 224. Here, it has an adhesive surface (not shown). For this purpose, it is at least partially made of an elastic material.
The first deflection roller 228 is used to decelerate the binding means 62.
A safety bracket 27 is provided above the recess 227. The safety bracket 27 includes holding arms
— 273 attached to the side walls 224. The holding arms 273 are connected to one another by a holding strut 274. The holding arms 273 are preferably fastened to the side walls 224 such that they can be pivoted in a pivoting direction 261 and back.
As a result, the safety bracket 27 can be pivoted about a holding axis 26 against a restoring force, for example a spring 272, in and against the pivoting direction 261. The retaining strut 274 is arranged to the side of or above the binding
— meansroller 231 in the operating state B2. Instead of a spring 272, the safety bracket 27 can also be actuated automatically, for example by means of a hydraulic cylinder.
Holding elements 271 are arranged on the holding strut 274 and press the binding means roll 231 into the receiving space 223. The holding elements 271 are positioned in such a way that the
— binding means roll 231 placed in the receiving space 224 can not fall out of the receiving space 223 even in the maintenance position W.
Belts (not labelled) are provided on the holding elements 271, with which the binding means roller 231 is pressed against the first deflection roller 218, 228 in the maintenance position W.
When the — binding means roll 231 unrolls, the belts of the holding elements 271 and the first deflection roller
218, 228 can rotate and thus facilitate the unrolling of the binding means 61, 62 from the binding means roll 231. Alternatively, instead of the belts, rollers can also be provided.
By pivoting the holding strut 274, the receiving space 223 is accessible not only through the lateral recesses but also from the front, that is to say from the front side 14. The binding means roll 231 can therefore also be inserted into or removed from the receiving space 223 from the front side 14.
The binding unit 22 also comprises a feed unit 72. The feed unit 72 is arranged behind the receiving space 223 in the direction of travel 91. It is intended to lead binding means 61, 62 to the pressing chamber.
The binding unit 22 is also designed to be open at the top in the vertical direction and is therefore also accessible to the operator from above.
This gives the operator access to the feed unit 72.
— The feed unit 72 comprises a second deflection roller 722 and a third deflection roller 723 for deflecting the binding means 231 as well as a feed spout 720. The feed spout 720 is provided for introducing the binding means 62 into the pressing chamber 5. The deflection rollers 722, 723 and the feed spout 720 of the feed unit 72 are fastened to two coupling rods (not labelled) spaced apart from one another, between which they extend.
The two coupling linkages each comprise a first linkage 724 and a second linkage 725 extending at an angle thereto.
The second deflection roller 722 extends between a first end (not labelled) of the first linkage 724. The first ends of the first linkage 724 are also each rotatably attached to the side wall 224 adjacent to them.
A second end (not labelled) of the first linkage 724 is rotatably attached to a first end (not labelled) of the second linkage 725. The third deflection roller 723 also extends between the first ends of the second linkage 725. The feed spout 720 extends between the second ends (not labelled) of the second linkage 725.
Due to the rotatable attachment of the first ends of the first rods 724 respectively to the side wall
224 adjacent to them, as well as the rotatable attachment of the second rods 725 to the first rods 724, the feed spout 720 is adjustable from a basic position G along a guide slot 162 (see Fig. 3a) into a working position (not shown).
A lever can be provided as an adjustment means (not shown) with which the first linkage 724 is rotated about the second deflection roller 722 so that the linkages 724, 725 unfold and the feed spout 720 is guided along the guide link 162. The adjusting means can be adjusted by external power, for example by means of a hydraulic or electro-hydraulic cylinder (not shown).
Fig. 3 (b) shows the basic position G of the feed unit 72 into which the feed unit 72 has moved when the binding unit 22 is pivoted from the operating position B2 to the maintenance position W. In the basic position G, the feed unit 72 is arranged within the binding unit 22 so that the operator does not have to bend over into the baler 1 to thread the binding means 231. In the basic position G, a counter-stop 726 of the feed spout 720 is arranged on a stop 226 of the binding unit 22. As a result, the deflection rollers 722 - 723 and the feed spout 720 of the feed unit 72 are arranged in a defined position for the operator and are easily accessible. In the case of an automatically adjustable feed unit 72, such a defined position can also be automatically approached by means of a control unit (not shown). The feed spout 720 comprises two guide plates 728 arranged opposite one another, between which afeed gap 729 tapering in an insertion direction 727 is provided. One of the two guide plates 728 is only shown schematically here by dashed lines. The guide plates 728 are each attached to cross braces that extend between the second ends of the second linkages 725. The binding means 62 is threaded in by first being placed around the first deflection roller 228. It is then fed to the feed unit 72, being first laid around the second deflection roller 722 and then around the third deflection roller 723. It is then threaded into the feed gap 729 between the guide plates 728 in the insertion direction 727. The threading of the binding means 62 between the guide plates 728 of the feed spout 720 takes — place in the maintenance position W of the binding unit 22. In the operating position B2, however, the feed unit 72 can be moved in order to guide the binding means 231 into the baler 1 and to the pressing chamber 5.
Fig. 2 (a) shows the two binding units 21, 22 of the baler 1 with binding means rolls 231 each inserted into the receiving space 213, 223 of the binding units 21, 22. The unrolled binding means 61, 62 are each guided around the first deflection roller 218, 228, then around the second deflection roller 712, 722, then around the third deflection roller 713, 723 and then threaded into the feed spout 710, 720. This is shown schematically with dashed lines. Fig. 2 (a) shows the basic position G of the feeding unit. In addition, a guide slot 161, 162 is shown schematically for each of the two feed spouts 710, 720,
along which the feed spout 710, 720 can be moved from the basic position G to the pressing chamber 5 into the working position in order to introduce the respective binding means 61, 62 into the pressing chamber 5. In the working position, the binding means 61, 62 can each be drawn into the pressing chamber 5 through a gap 52 between the pressing elements 51. In the process, the binding means 61, 62 drawn in is caught by the rotating bale. The feed unit 71, 72 is preferably moved into the working position automatically, for example after the desired or maximum bale diameter has been reached.
Fig. 3 shows in (a) the section from Fig. 2 (a) without the binding means roll 231 inserted into the receiving space 213, 223 of the binding unit 21, 22. The binding units 21, 22 are constructed identically in terms of their receiving space 213, 223 and their feed unit 71, 72. Due to their offset position relative to the drawbar 3, however, they differ in the shape of their side walls 224. The side walls 224 each comprise a receptacle for a stub axle 210, 220 (see Fig. 3 (b), (c)) as pivoting means, which serves as a pivoting axis. Within the context of the invention, this pivot axis is also referred to as being associated with the binding unit 21, 22. Each of the binding units 21, 22 can be pivoted from its operating position B1, B2 into the maintenance position W about this stub — axle 210, 220. For this purpose, the stub axles 210, 220 are each rotatably attached to the frame 11 of the baler 1. At least one of the side walls 224 of each binding unit 21, 22 further comprises a receptacle for a stub axle 215, 225 (see Fig. 3 (b), (¢)) as pivoting means, which is used to articulate an actuator 212,222. The respective binding unit 21, 22 can be pivoted automatically from its operating position B1, B2 into the maintenance position W with the actuator 212, 222. An electro- hydraulically driven piston cylinder is shown here as the actuator 212, 222. The binding units 21, 22 are arranged in the vertical direction 92 above the drawbar 3 and are at different distances al, a2 from the drawbar 3. They can each be lowered onto the drawbar 3 by pivoting about their pivot axis 210, 220. The drawbar 3 is further provided as height adjustable. In order to still be able to approach the maintenance position W precisely, so that a binding means roll 231 received in the receiving space 213,223 is placed on the drawbar 3 in the maintenance position W, the binding units 21, 22 each comprise sensors (not shown) that detect their position, in particular relative to the drawbar 3. The height adjustment enables the maintenance position W to be adjusted to the height of an operator. In Fig. 3(b), the second binding unit 22 is lowered into the maintenance position W from its — operating position B2. The first binding unit 21 is in its operating position BI. In Fig. 3(c), the first binding unit 21 is lowered into the maintenance position W from its operating position B1. The second binding unit 22 is in its operating position B2. The maintenance position W is the same for both the first binding unit 21 and the second binding unit 22. The feed unit 71, 72, in particular the feed spout 710, 720, is arranged at the top in the maintenance position W in the vertical direction 92 and 1s therefore particularly easily accessible. In order to further simplify the unrolling of the binding means 61, 62 in the maintenance position W, rolling means (see Fig. 2 (b)) can be provided on the receiving trough 292 and/or the holding arm 273.
Fig. 4 shows schematically the baler 1 from Fig. 1 when inserting a binding means roll 231, specifically in (a) a front side 14 of the baler 1 and in (b) the baler from above. For the sake of clarity, the binding units 21, 22 are shown schematically in their operating position B1, B2 in Fig. 4(a). Only one binding means roll 231 is shown there in the maintenance position W and placed on two supports 33 arranged on the drawbar 3. At each side 12, 13 of the baler 1, a roll carrier 23 is arranged in each case. A binding means roll 231 is arranged on each of the two roll carriers 23. One of the roll carriers 23 is arranged in the storage position L, in which it extends approximately parallel to the direction of travel 91. For the sake of clarity, the other roll carrier 23 has been moved, here pivoted, to the replacement position A. For pivoting purposes, the roll carriers 23 each have a pivoting lever 25, one end of which (not labelled) is mounted on the frame 11 so that it can rotate about a pivoting lever axis 250 in a pivoting direction 251 and back, and the other end (not labelled) is mounted rotatably about a roll carrier axis 280 in a roll carrier pivoting direction 281 on the roll carrier 23.
The pivoting lever 25 allows the roll carrier 23 to be pivoted through an angle (not shown) of approximately 90°, so that the roll carrier 23 is arranged in the exchange position A approximately in alignment with the maintenance position W.
Fig. 4(b) shows the roll carrier 23 with the binding means roller 231 schematically when the pivoting lever 25 is pivoted into two intermediate
— positions Z1, Z2. In addition, the roll carrier 23 is arranged in the exchange position A at the level of the supports 33 of the drawbar 3. As a result, the binding means roll 231 stored on the roll carrier 23 can be slid directly onto the supports 33 from the roll carrier 23 by sliding the insertion direction 92.
When the binding unit 21, 22 is in the maintenance position W, the binding means roll 231 is slid directly into the receiving space 213, 223.
The roll carrier 23 is preferably pivoted manually.
In principle, however, the pivoting of the roll
— carrier 23 can also be automated.
To operate the binding system 2, in particular the binding units 21, 22, actuating means (not shown), in particular switches or levers, are provided at least on the baler 1, preferably on its front side 14, in particular in the vicinity of the drawbar 3.
The baler 1 can be attached to a towing vehicle (not shown) so that these together form a work train (not shown). In the case of the work train, it is preferred that actuating means (not shown) for operating the binding 2 are also arranged in the towing vehicle.
— The actuating means enable the operator to at least adjust the binding units 21, 22 from their operating position B1, B2 to the maintenance position W and/or back.
In addition, there can be a possibility for the operator to adjust their feed unit 71, 72 from the basic position G into the working position and/or back.
Furthermore, a possibility for adjusting the roll carrier 23 from the storage position L to the exchange position A and/or back can be provided for the operator.
Additional actuating means are provided at least in the towing vehicle, which enable the selection of the binding unit that is active during binding.
It can also be provided that both binding units are used simultaneously, for example to wrap a bale with net and film at the same time.