FI110381B - Wrapping bale of hay or straw with layers of plastic film, comprises wrapping corner between envelope and end surfaces of bale with plastic film from rolls whose axis of rotation is held in horizontal position while bale is rotated - Google Patents

Abstract

Wrapping a bale of hay or straw with layers of plastic film comprises wrapping a corner between the envelope surface and the end surface of the bale with plastic film from plastic rolls whose axis of rotation is held in a horizontal position while the bale is rotated to cause the plastic roll to bend over the corner of the bale partly on the envelope surface and the end surface of the bale. An independent claim is also included for an apparatus for wrapping a bale of hay or straw, i.e. a straw fodder bale, with plastic comprising a support for the bale to be wrapped; plastic roll (s) (16); a controlling element (15) for stretching a plastic film wound off from the plastic layer about the bale; another controlling element (17) for changing the position of the axis of rotation of the plastic roll; and guide and pressing roller (19, 20) for guiding the plastic film as it is being moved over a corner.

Description

110381

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING FEED

The invention relates to a method as described in the preamble of claim 1 and to an apparatus for plasticizing a fresh feed bale as set out in the preamble of claim 3.

Circular bale wrappers are known in the art, in which the plastic wrap is wound around a rotating bale so that, upon completion of the wrapping, the wrapper is completely sealed with 10 plastic wraps. Known solutions include e.g. picking means for picking a bale from the ground, a bale rotating plastic table, a wrapping arm with a plastic roller and a plastic holder and a plastic cutter rotating around the bale. One known solution is disclosed in Finnish Patent No. 91123, which is equivalent to European Patent No. EP0499285.

In prior art solutions, a bale is rotated about its longitudinal axis substantially horizontally on a plastic table, and at the same time a wrapping arm 20 is rotated about the bale with a plastic roll having a substantially vertical axis of rotation. The purpose here is to provide as close a layer of plastic as possible around the bale that does not allow air into the bale. In order to provide a sufficiently dense layer, a minimum of four, preferably six times · · 25 plastic layers are needed on the bale envelope. In addition, the plastic layers have to be overlapped. Due to the known wrapping method, the layers of plastic are deposited on the bale as shown in Figure 1. · ... · 'An acceptable layer thickness is obtained on the bale shell surface, but too much plastic is applied to the bale end surface. Particularly in the middle part there are up to 30 - 40 layers. So expensive plastic is wasted a lot. This is one of the well-known, ···. disadvantage of solutions.

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Another drawback with the known solutions is that the edges of the surface of the shell 35 generally have an upright ridge so that the ends of the heels are pressed against the plastic. The drier the haymaker: · 'is allowed to become before plasticizing, the more the ends of the stems damage the plastic during the wrapping process. At the end of the ridge, the • i “· plastic will stretch very thin or even tear. In this case, the overall thickness of the plastic 2 110381 film is not sufficient.

A further disadvantage of the known solutions is that as the bale dries and shrinks, the plastic wrap wrapped in the longitudinal direction 5 on the diaper surface loosens and may release air into the feed, thus increasing the risk of mildew.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above drawbacks and to provide a reliable and easy to use paddle system and apparatus for plasticizing bales. The method according to the invention is characterized in what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 1. The apparatus according to the invention is characterized by what is set forth in the characterizing part of claim 3. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized in what is set forth in the other claims.

An advantage of the solution according to the invention is that due to the new wrapping method, plastic is saved and at the same time a durable plastic layer is obtained around the bale. Saves about 30-40% of plastic, because there is no thick layer of plastic at the ends of the bale.

Another advantage is that the plastic film is exported in accordance with the invention. In one way or another, around the corners of the bale shell surface, the upright ends of the trough now do not interfere with the plastics, as in the past, but bend easily under the plastics. This improves the quality of the plastic wrap, and thus the quality of the feed, both because of the better durability of the plastic and because of the better durability of the plastic. '... · Another advantage is that the new wrapping method makes the surface layer of the 30 bale diaper denser than before because; *: The bale sheath can be pressed better with plastic due to the * * · directional plasticization. This will leave no air between the plastic wrap and the feed, which would degrade the feed quality. Therefore, better wrapping results in better quality feed.

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by way of one embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 3 Fig. 5 shows the angle crossing step of the wrapping function according to the invention viewed from the end of the bale 10 and Fig. 5 shows the angle crossing step of the wrapping function according to the invention seen from the top of the bale.

First, the apparatus according to the invention will be described, after which it will be easier to understand the method. The solution of the invention can be used in a variety of wrapper applications. This example illustrates the use of the solution according to the invention in connection with a towing machine, which is driven by its own wheels, so-called round baler molding equipment. The main body of the device consists of a drawbar 2 with wheels 4 at the rear end, between the wheels and the front end of the drawbar an upwardly curved upper support arm 5 with a plastic wrapping arm hinged to the rear »· '·; 15. The wrapping arm is curved downwards to accommodate it

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···· 25 to rotate horizontally around bale 1 without hitting the upper arm * · ». The wrapping arm is rotated by means of a rotating machine 33 and an intermediate member · · · · ... *. At the lower end of the wrapping arm is a plastic roll «t · 16, which wraps the plastic wrap around the forage bale.

*: The frame of the plastic roll is attached to the lower end of the wrapping arm from the middle of the axis of rotation of the plastic roll, so that the plastic roll. ···. the axis of rotation can be changed between horizontal and vertical * ·

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, ···, between the working position about the joint 18 * · at the lower end of the wrapping arm by means of the actuator 17.

'... · 35 At the back of the frame are securing lugs 7 plastic tables 3 toe ·. ten. The plastic table may be fixed, but in this example, ··. it is inclined to the bale picking and ejecting position by means of the force member 41. On the side beams of the plastic table, two pivoting rollers 10 and 13 are mounted at their ends, and at least one belt 11 is tensioned around them, forming a concave pocket for the forage bale 1. The pivoting roller 10 has a drive roll which is powered by a hydraulic motor 26. which prevents the bale from falling over the front of the table. In order to pick up the bale from the field, a pick-up member 6 has been hinged at each of the rear corners of the plastic table, the pick-up movement being carried out by the force member 9.

10 On each side of the plastic table, at the front edge of the table, there is a guide roll 19 which rotates freely about its longitudinal axis, and which serves to press the plastic wrap that folds over the bale angle against the bale end surface. The axis of the guide roll 19 is substantially parallel to the plane of the bale end surface. In addition to the Li-15, on each side of the plastic table, the front edge of the table has a freely rotating press roll 20 which, viewed from the top of the bale, is inclined to the horizontal axis of rotation and thus to the bale end and mantle surface. The press roll 20 is spring-loaded, whereby the spring force pushes the press roll against the angle between the bale shell and the end during molding. The guide and thrust roller support structures are not shown in the drawings for clarity. ... The advantage is a better wrapping result because both the guide and the pressed roller I optimally guide the plastic over the bale angle.

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The processing of the bale by the method according to the invention is carried out as follows: The start of the cycle can be regarded as the situation illustrated in Fig. 2, with the bale 1 raised on the plastic table 3 and the plastic roll 16 in an upright position. Initially, at least t t 30 30 is wrapped around the bale by rotating the upright plastic roll 16 with the wrapping arm 15 about a non-rotating bale. Figure 3 illustrates this step. The plastic roll of this residue is positioned at the edge of the bale and turned with the plastic roll substantially horizontally such that a portion of the plastic roller · 35 children extends beyond the bale end plane. The turning phase can be performed either smoothly starting before the aforementioned position or * * · ι'- · ι once in place. Now let's start the bale

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The film wraps around its horizontal axis, whereby the plastic wrap tightens around the bale 5 110381 so that part of the wrap is pressed against the bale end surface and part against the bale shell surface. The guide roller 19 and the presser roller 20 further enhance the squeezing of the plastic into the bale. The plastic roll 5 16 is then rotated substantially horizontally by means of the wrapping arm, the self-rotating axis of the plastic roll being also substantially horizontal. At the same time, the bale is rotated about its horizontal axis, causing the plastic wrap to tighten evenly over the bale shell surface. The rotational movement of the wrapping arm and bale is synchronized so as to obtain the desired overlap on the diaper surface. When the plastic roll 16 reaches the second edge of the bale, it is again passed somewhat past the end line of the bale and is allowed to tighten the plastic wrap over an angle to both the edge of the bale shell surface and the end surface of the bale. In this case, also the protruding ends of the straw 15 on the edge of the bale bend under the plastic film. The guide roller 19 and the presser roller 20 again enhance the control of the plastic around the corner. The plastic roll 16 is then turned upright again, either by a single turn or by slowly rotating the wrapping arm around the bale. In the latter embodiment, the plastic wrap is better positioned on the bale after the corner crossing step. Finally, the wrapping arm is rotated about the bale as many times as needed in known manner.

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When the bale is wrapped, the press cutter arm 25 of the plastic cutter is lifted up and the wrapping arm is moved to its standby position so that, in the final round, the plastic wraps around the press cutter arm of the plastic cutter. The presser arm is lowered back, whereby the arm ry puts the plastic in the direction of the plastic wrap, squeezes it for a press-release, and cuts across the plastic so that the plastic is retained between the presser and the wrap: spool. Once the plastic is cut, the bale is free to drop from the plastic table

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the example set forth above, but may vary within the scope of the following claims. Thus, for example, the structure of the device may differ from the above.

Claims (4)

110381 A method for wrapping a hay or straw bale, such as a forage hay bale, comprising wrapping a hay fodder bale (1) to be plasticized into a multi-layer plastic roll reel (16) which is connected to a wrapper, characterized in that rotating the axis 10 of rotation of the plastic roll (16) from a vertical position to a substantially horizontal position and positioning the plastic roll (16) beyond the bale end plane and rotating the bale about its horizontal axis so as to bend the plastic film more than 15 at an angle to both the bale shell and the end surface. A method for plasticizing a forage bale according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one layer of plastic film is wrapped in a first step of plasticization. Rotating the wrapping arm (15) about the bale with the axis of rotation of the plastic roll (16) substantially vertical, and with the plastic roll (16) close to the angle between the bale shell and the end surface, rotating the axis of rotation of the plastic roll (16) starting to plasticize the bale shell surface by rotating the bale about its horizontal axis and the wrapping arm around its vertical axis, whereby the plastic roll (16) moves substantially horizontally from the first end of the bale to the other end of the bale; stopping the rotation of the bale and rotating the axis of rotation of the plastic roll (16) substantially vertically and wrapping at least one layer of plastic film around the bale substantially: horizontally rotating the wrapping arm (15) near the angle between the bale shell surface and the end surface around the bale, the axis of rotation of the plastic web (16) being substantially vertical. 110381 Apparatus for plasticizing a hay or straw bale, such as a forage bale, comprising at least a tray (3) for a plasticizable bale (1), a plastic roller (16), an actuator (15) for tensioning the unwound plastic film from a plastic roller and an actuator (17) ) for changing the position of the axis of rotation, characterized in that the apparatus comprises control and pressure members (19, 20) for guiding the plastic film during the angle of the plastic film crossing. Apparatus for plasticizing a forage bale according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide roller (19) acting as a guide member having an axis substantially parallel to the plane of the bale end surface is adapted to press against the bale end face and a press roller (20) respectively. is inclined in an oblique position against the horizontal axis of rotation of the bale, is arranged to press against the angle of the bale at an angle of about 45 ° to the axis of rotation of the bale. 20 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •