WO2024261570A1

WO2024261570A1 - Agricultural baler

Info

Publication number: WO2024261570A1
Application number: PCT/IB2024/055470
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shane Bollinger; Kelly Booton; Patrick CHERNEY
Original assignee: AGCO Corp
Current assignee: AGCO Corp
Priority date: 2023-06-19
Filing date: 2024-06-05
Publication date: 2024-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-19

Abstract

An agricultural baler (2) comprising a baling chamber (18) within which a bale is formed, a reciprocating piston plunger (20) operating within the baling chamber for compressing cut crop material into compacted flakes of cut crop material, a dividing partition (60) within the baling chamber is disclosed. The baler is further provided with a first bale measurement apparatus (62A) to a first side of the dividing partition and a second bale measurement apparatus (62B) to a second side of the dividing partition as well as first bale tying mechanisms (19a) to the first side of the dividing partition and second bale tying mechanisms (19B) to the second side of the dividing partition. A control unit (50) is adapted to receive signals from each of the first and second bale measurement apparatus and to provide signals to a drive mechanism (64) adapted selectively to engage the first and/or second bale tying mechanisms.

Description

Agricultural Baler

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to an agricultural harvesting machine, and in particular to a baling machine producing multiple bales simultaneously.

BACKGROUND

[0003] It is known to collect cut crop, such as hay, straw or silage crop into a windrow on a field where the cut crop may subsequently be collected by an agricultural baler and processed into bales of cut crop. In a square baler, charges of cut crop are delivered by the pick up apparatus from the ground to a precompression chamber. The charges of cut crop are then transferred from the precompression chamber to a baling chamber where the charges are compressed into flakes by the action of a reciprocating piston plunger. Successive flakes are created and form a generally parallelepiped bale within the baling chamber. Once the forming bale has reached a predetermined length a tying mechanism is operated to encircle the bale with strands of binding material and to knot the strands to form a finished or formed bale which is subsequently ejected from the agricultural baler.

[0004] Larger balers can process larger amounts of crop material, but result in larger bales that are heavy and impossible to move by hand, making them unsuitable for use by a small hobby farmer. To address this, it has become known to use such larger balers to produce bales of a reduced size in pairs, for example as disclosed US 10,869,428 (Grady) in which bales are formed to each aside of a dividing partition within the baling chamber. [0005] Nevertheless, problems remain. It is known to provide a single tying mechanism to bind both bales on each side of the dividing partition. In the event of uneven loading of the baling chamber, a bale to a first side of the dividing partition may be of a different size to a baler at a second side of the divider. In such a case, the tying mechanism will be actuated, but one of the bales will be improperly tied, adversely affecting the integrity of that bale.

[0006] It is an advantage of the present invention that this problem is addressed.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an agricultural baler comprises a baling chamber within which a bale is formed, a reciprocating piston plunger operating within the baling chamber for compressing cut crop material into compacted flakes of cut crop material, a dividing partition within the baling chamber, a first bale measurement apparatus to a first side of the dividing partition, a second bale measurement apparatus to a second side of the dividing partition, first bale tying mechanisms to the first side of the dividing partition, second bale tying mechanisms to the second side of the dividing partition, a control unit adapted to receive signals from each of the first and second bale measurement apparatus and a drive mechanism adapted selectively to engage the first and/or second bale tying mechanism in response to signals from the control unit.

[0008] In this way, the control unit can cause both bales to be tied simultaneously if they are of the desired length or each of the bales to be tied independently as they achieve the desired length.

[0009] Preferably, each of the first and second bale tying mechanisms comprises two knotter assemblies. Alternatively, each of the first and second bale tying mechanisms comprises three knotter assemblies. [0010] Preferably, the drive mechanism incorporates a clutch mechanism selectively to engage the first or second bale tying mechanism in response to the signals from the control unit.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the invention, a control system for controlling operation of the first or second bale tying mechanisms of an agricultural baler according to the first aspect of the invention, the control system comprising one or more controllers configured to: receive data indicative of a forming bale length to each side of the dividing partition; determine, in dependence on the data received, values of the forming bale size to each side of the dividing partition and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling the drive mechanism in dependence on the one or more determined values of forming bale size.

[0012] According to a third aspect of the invention a method of controlling operation of the first or second bale tying mechanisms of an agricultural baler according to the first aspect of the invention comprises the steps of: receiving data indicative of a forming bale length to each side of the dividing partition from the measurement apparatus; determining, in dependence on the data received, values of the forming bale size to each side of the dividing partition; and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling the drive mechanism in dependence on the one or more values of the determined forming bale sizes.

[0013] According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a system, comprising: an agricultural baler according to the first aspect of the invention; and a control system configured to direct operation of the agricultural baler in accordance with the values of the determined forming bale sizes according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0014] Preferably, the system further comprises an agricultural vehicle towing the agricultural baler.

[0015] A further aspect of the invention provides computer software comprising computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause performance of a method in accordance with the third aspect of the invention to be performed on a baler in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

[0016] A yet further aspect of the invention provides a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising the computer software of the preceding aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG 1 shows a side view of an agricultural baler for use with the present invention;

[0019] FIG 2 shows a perspective side view of a elements of a baling chamber of an agricultural baler for use with the present invention;

[0020] FIG 3 shows a schematic side view of a baling chamber of an agricultural baler for use with the present invention;

[0021] FIG 4 shows a schematic diagram of a tractor-baler combination embodying aspects of the present invention;

[0022] FIG 5 shows a diagrammatic representation of elements of a control system for the baler; and

[0023] FIG 6 shows a flow chart illustrating operation of an example control system for an agricultural baler according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The invention will now be described in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein preferred embodiments are described in detail to enable practice of the invention. Although the invention is described with reference to these specific preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. But to the contrary, the invention includes numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents as will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description.

[0025] Relative terms such as forward, rearward, transverse, lateral, longitudinal and sideways will be made with reference to the normal forward direction of travel of the baler. The terms vertical and horizontal will be made with reference to level ground upon which the baler is disposed. The terms "upstream" and "downstream" are made with reference of the general direction of crop flow along the material conveyance systems described.

[0026] Referring first to FIGS 1 and 2, an agricultural baler of the kind known as a small square baler is shown. The agricultural baler 2 is shown on flat ground 4. The agricultural baler 2 includes a pick up unit 6 to gather cut crop from a windrow of cut crop lying on the ground 4. A stuffer unit 8 directs the crop into a precompression chamber 10 to form a charge of cut crop (FIG 3).

[0027] Moving in a forwards direction, the agricultural baler 2 is operable to gather loose cut crop material, form it into an individual charge 12 of cut crop, and following introduction of the charge 12 of the cut crop through an opening in a bottom wall of the baling chamber 18, compress the individual charge into a flake.

[0028] A baling system may broadly comprise a towing agricultural vehicle 16, such as a tractor, and the agricultural baler 2 (FIG 4). The towing agricultural vehicle 16 may include a cab wherein an operator may be located; an engine operable to move the towing agricultural vehicle; a steering mechanism to control the direction of travel of the towing vehicle and a Power Take Off arrangement (PTO) operable to transfer mechanical power from the engine to an agricultural baler or other connected machinery. The agricultural baler 2 may broadly comprise a frame mechanically coupled with the towing agricultural vehicle 16; a loose crop material receiving and stuffing component as noted above; the baling chamber 18; and a reciprocating piston plunger 20 having a plunger face 22. The towing agricultural vehicle 16 is also electrically and electronically coupled to the agricultural baler 2.

[0029] The piston plunger 20 moves in a reciprocating manner within the baling chamber 18 from a front-dead-center position in which the plunger face 22 of the piston plunger 20 is furthest from the forming bale 14 to a rear-dead-center position in which the plunger face 22 is compressing the forming bale. More specifically, the piston plunger 20 repeatedly extends into the baling chamber 18 such that the plunger face 22 contacts and compresses the charge 12 and the flakes that are already present therein, and retracts to allow the next charge 12 to enter the baling chamber 18 from the precompression chamber 10.

[0030] In the example shown the baling chamber is provided with a dividing partition 60 which extends vertically in the baling chamber 18 between a lower surface of the baling chamber 18 and an upper surface of the baling chamber 18. A leading edge of the dividing partition 60 is located ahead of the rear-dead-center position of the reciprocating piston plunger 20. The leading edge of the dividing partition 60 is conveniently provided with a sharp edge or a splitting knife.

[0031] The baling chamber 18 of the agricultural baler 2 is adapted to receive the charge of cut crop through the bottom wall of the baling chamber 18 when the plunger face 22 is travelling forwards (towards the towing agricultural vehicle 14) so that the charge of cut crop is in position to be compressed by the plunger face 22 into flakes on either side of the dividing partition 60 by the return stroke of the piston plunger 20. By generating multiple successive flakes in this manner two parallel forming bales 14 are created. The baling chamber 18 is conveniently substantially rectangular in shape in order to facilitate the compression and forming process. The piston plunger 20 is operable to compress the charge 12 into the forming bales 14 by moving within the baling chamber 18. Each side of the baling chamber 18 is also provided with an independently operable bale tying assembly, for example knotter mechanisms 19A,19B. Conveniently, each of the knotter mechanisms 19A, 19B comprises two or three knotter assemblies.

[0032] The baling system may further comprise one or more electronic control units or processors 50. Typically, the baling system comprises a processor associated with the baler 2 and a processor associated with the towing agricultural vehicle 14. However, a single processor may be used. The processors communicate with one another and other electrical components, as will be described below, by way of any suitable communications network 56.

[0033] In the example illustrated in FIG 2, first and second bale measurement apparatus are shown in the form of a star wheel apparatus 62A, 62B. Each star wheel apparatus is provided to each side of the dividing partition 60. Each star wheel apparatus may be level with the dividing partition 60 or downstream of the dividing partition 60.

[0034] Each star wheel apparatus includes a wheel having teeth extending into the baling chamberl8. The teeth dig into the forming bale 14 and as the forming bale grows, and advances within the baling chamber 18, the wheel is caused to be rotated about an axis. Movement of the wheel about this axis causes signals to be generated and sent to the electronic control unit 50. The electronic control 50, following receipt of these signals, is able to determine the bale size of each forming bale 14 to each side of the dividing partition 60. Once a predetermined bale size has been achieved, the electronic control unit 50 generates signals causing a drive mechanism incorporating a clutch mechanism 64 selectively to engage the first or second bale tying mechanism such that the appropriate knotter mechanisms 19A, 19B is driven to encircle the formed bale with strands of binding material and to knot the strands of binding material to form a finished bale which is subsequently ejected from the agricultural baler 2 by way of a chute 26 at a rear end of the baling chamber 18.

[0035] It can be seen that the electronic control unit 50 receives a measurement signal with data indicative of a forming bale length from each side of the dividing partition from the associated measurement apparatus (62A;62B) (steps 100,102 FIG 6); determines, in dependence on the data received, values of the forming bale size to each side of the dividing partition by reference to data in the memory (52) (steps 104,106); and generates and outputs one or more control signals for controlling respective drive mechanisms of each of the first and second bale tying mechanisms (19A,19B) in dependence on the one or more values of the determined forming bale sizes (step 108).

[0036] In the event of uneven loading of the baling chamber, a bale to one side of the dividing partition 60 may be of a different size to a bale at the other side of the dividing partition 60. In such a case, the drive mechanism for the tying mechanism on one side will be actuated only when the bale forming at that side is of a suitable size to be bound.

[0037] All references cited herein are incorporated herein in their entireties. If there is a conflict between definitions herein and in an incorporated reference, the definition herein shall control.

[0038] From reading the present disclosure, other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such modifications may involve other features which are already known in the field of square balers and component parts therefore and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1 An agricultural baler comprising a baling chamber within which a bale is formed, a reciprocating piston plunger operating within the baling chamber for compressing cut crop material into compacted flakes of cut crop material, a dividing partition within the baling chamber, a first bale measurement apparatus to a first side of the dividing partition, a second bale measurement apparatus to a second side of the dividing partition, first bale tying mechanisms to the first side of the dividing partition, second bale tying mechanisms to the second side of the dividing partition, a control unit adapted to receive signals from each of the first and second bale measurement apparatus and a drive mechanism adapted selectively to engage the first and/or second bale tying mechanisms in response to signals from the control unit.

2 An agricultural baler according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second bale tying mechanisms comprises two knotter assemblies.

3 An agricultural baler according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second bale tying mechanisms comprises three knotter assemblies.

4 An agricultural baler according to any of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein the drive mechanism incorporates a clutch mechanism selectively to engage the first or second bale tying mechanism in response to the signals from the control unit.

5 A control system for controlling operation of the first or second bale tying mechanisms of an agricultural baler accordingto any one of claim 1 to claim 4, the control system comprising one or more controllers configured to: receive data indicative of a forming bale length to each side of the dividing partition; determine, in dependence on the data received, values of the forming bale size to each side of the dividing partition and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling the drive mechanism in dependence on the one or more determined values of forming bale size. 6 A method of controlling operation of the first or second bale tying mechanisms of an agricultural baler according to any one of claim 1 to claim 4 comprising the steps of: receiving data indicative of a forming bale length to each side of the dividing partition from the measurement apparatus; determining, in dependence on the data received, values of the forming bale size to each side of the dividing partition; and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling the drive mechanism in dependence on the one or more values of the determined forming bale sizes.

7 A system, comprising: an agricultural baler according to any one of claim 1 to claim 4; and a control system configured to direct operation of the agricultural baler in accordance with the values of the determined forming bale sizes according to claim 6.

8 A system according to claim 7, wherein the system further comprises an agricultural vehicle towing the agricultural baler.

9 Computer software comprising computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause performance of a method in accordance with claim 6 to be performed on a baler according to any one of claim 1 to claim 4.

10 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising the computer software of claim 9.