GB1574605A

GB1574605A - Baling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB1574605A
Application number: GB1924476A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Howard Machinery Ltd
Current assignee: Howard Machinery Ltd
Priority date: 1976-05-11
Filing date: 1976-05-11
Publication date: 1980-09-10
Also published as: DE2720883A1; AU2470577A; FR2350783A1; NL7705116A

Description

(54) BALING APPARATUS (71) We, HOWARD MACEIINERY LIMITED, a British Company, of Saxham, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to baling apparatus in particular baling apparatus by which crops such as straw and grass may be formed into large compact bales for efficient transport and storage.

it has been proposed to provide baling apparatus for crops which apparatus is capable of forming relatively large-sized rectangular bales and such apparatus has been successful in improving the efficiency of baling operations and bale usage. Such baling apparatus is the subject of British Patent No. 1,244,302. Despite the success of said prior baling apparatus it is sometimes found, particularly when straw is being baled, that the density of bale achieved is below the optimum density for transporta- tion and storage purposes. For this and other reaspns an object of the present inven tion is to provide improved baling apparatus capable of forming compact, rectangular large bales.

According to the invention baling appara tus comprises a mobile frame defining a bale chamber in which a bale is formed; pick-up means for picking up material to be baled; a duct having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end communicating with the bale chamber; Ipacking members located at or adjacent the duct inlet and arranged to receive material from the pick up means, feed it in bundles into the duct and move it towards the outlet; releasable abutment means disposed at the outlet from the duct and arranged to act as an abutment --to - inhibit the passage of material from the duoty - whereby the packing members pack and compress a succession of bundles of material in the duct against the abutment means before release of the abutment means allows a compressed column of the bundles of material in the duct to pass through the outlet into the bale chamber; and transfer means for moving successive columns of material received from the duct along the bale chamber until a composite bale has been formed.

Preferably the abutment means comprises reciprocable members movable across the duct outlet into position to inhibit passage of material from the duct, the reciprocable members being movable clear of the outlet to allow material to pass out of the duct.

Furthermore the reciprocabie members are conveniently in the form of fingers arranged to be movable through the compressed material being discharged through the duct outlet.

Conveniently the duct extends across the width of the mobile frame and the packing members and abutment means are spaced along the duct at the inlet and outlet thereof respectively.

Preferably the duct is inclined upwardly and rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the frame. The transfer means may comprise a reciprocable transfer member mounted at one end of the bale chamber and movable towards the opposite end a distance substantially equal to the depth of the duct so as to move each column of material discharged from the duct clear of the duct outlet.

Preferably the baler comprises a restraining member in the bale chamber and constituting a movable wall of the bale chamber, the restraining member being movable from a position adjacent the transfer means in which the bale chamber is empty to a position remote from the transfer means in which the bale chamber is full, and back again, the restraining member including means offering a restraint to movement of columns of material along the bale chamber by the transfer means.

It will be understood that a complete bale is formed of a succession of - columns or batches of material each of which is compressed and moved along the bale chamber by operation of the transfer means.

iThe restraining member may be mounted on guides on the roof of the bale chamber and restrained in its rearward movement by brake means.

The apparatus may include a bale cham ber of square or rectangular cross-section and have a length in the fore and aft direc tion greater than its width and height.

Furthermore in each case the bales may be bound before discharge by binding means whereby binding material extends around the bale as it is being formed and the ends of the binding material are connected - together on completion of each bale.

The pick up means may take the form of -a, pick up reel of- the form described in said prior specification or alternatively the pick up means may be in the - form of a combined pick up and de-energising or conditioning means. As a further alternative de-energis ing means may be -additional to the pick up means. In the latter case the de-energising means-may comprise rollers between which the material is fed to crush the material to reduce its natural resilience-thereby making it more readily compressed in subsequent stages of the baling process.

Further features of the invention appear from the following description of - various - embodiments of the invention, given by way of-example only and with reference to the ,accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of one:embodiment of baling -apparatus accord ing to the invention, with parts omitted for clarity, - Figure - lA is an enlarged view of part of the apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 2 is an elevation óf the apparatus of Figure 1 showing alternative binding means, and Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation o;a further embodiment of baling apparatus.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figures 1 and 1A, baling apparatus includes a wheel-mounted frame 10 having a pair of -wheels 11 and arranged to be towed behind a tractor (not shown) in a direction of travel A. The apparatus is attached to the tractor by a drawbar 12 and is powered by the tractor through the conventional power take- off connection '(not shown) and by hydraulic power taken from the tractor hydraulics.

Alternatively power may be derived from an -engine mounted on the frame 10.

A bale chamber 13 is of generally rect angular form having a roof 14, floor 15, sides 16,- 'a forward end defined by a transfer plate 17 and an open rearward end at the sides of which are support bars 18. The chamber 13 is located with its flow 15 and roof 14 extending -' downwardly rearwardly -so that the rearward end of the floor 15 is near the ground surface 19 over which the frame lO is drawn. The internal dimen sions of the bale chamber are preferably of the order of 8ft. long by 4 to 5ft. wide by ^4 to 5 ft. high but the dimensions may be such as to suit different uses of the bales.

Across the width of the floor of the chamber 13 at the forward end -thereof is than entry slot 21 which also ,forms the outlet opening for material passing along a duct 22.

The duct 22 is inclined upwards and rear wards from an inlet 23 which is also in the nature of a slot extending across the width of the frame. Material is fed to the inlet 23 by a pick up reel 24 driven to rotate in a clockwise direction, as seen, to pick up material off the ground 19 as the baler moves forward. The reel 24 may be of con ventional -form having a series of radial tines or it may be a combined pick up and de-energising means in which case it may include a rotor about which are fitted pivot able flails which beat and crush the material as it is picked up to remove some of the natural resilience of the material.

In either case the pick up 24 feeds the material to packing fingers 25 spaced across the width of the inlet '23 and arranged to pass a succession of bundles of the material up into the duct 22 and pack it therein. The packing fingers 25 are connected to a trans verse shaft 25A driven by a rotatable drive member 26 and to links 27 whose free ends lare pivotally attached to a'fixed pivot so that as the member 26 rotates the fingers move up towards the duct 22 and are then withdrawn in returning to their initial posi tion.

At the entry 23 to' the duct 22 there is provided a restrictor 28 whereby the width of the duct is reduced to improve the com pression action of the 'fingers 25 on the material as it passes towards 'the restrictor tarid to inhibit the 'material in The duct from passing back down the duct once it has -entered. The resistor 28 may comprise resiliently-mounted members which can move apart if a predetermined high- pressure is-reached to relieve the resistance to the movement of the packing fingers.

The duct 22 has flat, parallel sides 29 and 30 so as to offer the least resistance to material passing along the duct between the inlet 23 and outlet 21 and the sides of the duct are rectilinear so htat the column of material compressed in the duct has straight sides when discharged and also the packing forces are kept to a minimum.

Instead of 'the lower side 30 of the duct 22 being-formed as a, flat plate, as shown, at leastepart of!*at.side of the duct may be constituted by an endless conveyor which can be driven to assist in- discharging a com pleted oolumn of material from the duct Such a- conveyor may be formed with fingers or other -means for engaging the column of material during discharge.

retaining or abutment means 32 in the form of transversely-spaced pointed tines or fingers 33 are located at the - outlet 21 of the duct 22to prevent matérial in the duct 22 from being discharged during charging of the duct with the bundles and compression of the bundles of material in the duct. The tines 33 extend across the duct in their operative position and they ,are ,pivotally mounted on pivotal support arms 34. A ram or rams 35 are connected to the arms 34 to pivot the arms and move the tines across or away from the duct, and the tines 33 are also movable up and down about their con nection to the arms 34 ,by means of a further ram or rams 36. Upper and lower positions of the tines are shown as 331 and 33 respectively in Figure 1.

Other retaining means to that shown can be employed, for example, retaining means can be mounted along the lower edge of the transfer plate 17, and the extent of upward and downward movement of the retaining means may be greater than that indicated in Figure 1 to enable the retaining means to assist even more in charging a column of compressed material into the bale chamber, as will be explained.

The transfer plate 17 is mounted for reciprocal forward and rearward movement under the action of a ram or rams 38. The stroke of the, plate 17 is approximately equal to the width of the duct 22 and, although referred to as a plate, the transfer plate 17 is in the form of bars extending between the floor and roof of the bale chamber, spaces being provided between the bars through which the binding means passes, as will be explained. The plate 17 occupies substantially the full cross-section of the bale chamber and guides at the edges of the plate are provided for maintaining correct location of the plate.

Binding means is also provided for bind ing completed bales formed in the bale chamber. Such binding means may take the 'form already used in the baling apparatus described in said prior Patent Specification No. 1,244,302 in which three strings are laid about each bale, -each string passing along the floor, 'the rear side, and the roof of the chamber and each being knotted by knotting mechanisms 39 in conjunction with needles 40. A fuller explanation of how the binding means is operated will appear from the description of the - operation of the apparatus.

Positioned in the bale chamber 13, mov able in. the fore and aft direction, is a restraining member 42 which includes a retrainlng ;-plate .43 extending downward from the roof 14 of the chamber 13 and mounted at its upper ed on -a trolley or like means 44,movable,along guides formed by the roof members.l4 (Figure 1A). The lower end of the plate 43 is located adjacent the floor 15,of the, chamber 13 and the plate 43 may comprise beams (not shown) con nected by cross members, or -a flat plate supported at its rear side by beams. The trolley 44 includes rollers 46 engaging with the roof guides and, in one form of the invention; the trolley is attached to chains extending along the guides and around sprockets at each end of the guides. The movement of the trolley in the rearwards direction is controlled by brake means, for example in the form of disc brakes con nected to the sprockets, and forward move ment is powered by a hydraulic motor. Such an arrangement can be as described in our Application No. 44470/75 (Serial No.

.1,551,913) and 44471/75 (Serial No.

1,551,913). Alternatively rearward move ment can be controlled by a restriction in a fluid circuit which only allows rearward movement when the fluid pressure reaches a predetermined value. In either case the restraining member is arranged to move rear towards, as the -chamber is being filled, in incremental movements continuously offering a resistance to the rearward movement of the transfer plate 17. When the bale chamber 13 has been emptied of a completed bale the restraining member is moved forwards to it most forward position, as shown in full lines in Figure 1, to commence another bale forming cycle. In its most rearward position 431it the lower end of the plate 43 engages a stop 49.

The bale chamber 13 is emptied of a com pleted bale by pivoting the roof 14, and .thereby the restraining member 42, about pivots 47 by which the roof 14 and guides are attached to the frame 10, to the position 141. The pivoting action is sufficient to allow the lower edge of the restraining plate 43 to clear the upper side of the bale and allow the bale to slide out of the chamber onto the ground as the baler moves forward.

The operation of the baler of Figure 1 and further optional features, not hitherto described, will ow be -described.

In Figure 1 the baler is shown in a posi tion having discharged a complete bale -and ready to commence forming a further bale.

Thus the restraining member -43 is located spaced from the transfer plate 17 by the width of the duct 22, the knotter needles 40, are, retracted to their inoperative position and the transfer plate 17 is in its most forward position aligned with the upper wall -29 of the duct 22.

The pick-up reel 24 picks up material from the ground as the baler moves forward over a swath of straw or the like which is preferably of a width the same as or rather less than the width of the duct 22. The reel 24 passes the straw into the path of the packing fingers 25 which urge the straw through the restricter 28, thereby achieving some compression before the straw enters the duct 22. Bundles of straw pass up the duct 22 and at this point the tines 33 are across the outlet 21 of the duct to prevent the straw from leaving the duct. As the bundles of material build up in the duct the material becomes compressed and it is envisaged that a density of straw of the order of 10 lbs. per cubic foot will be achieved by this means.

The rams 35 are then operated to withdraw the tines 33 from across the outlet when discharge of material from the duct 22 is required. In practice this action is effected when the pressure of material in the duct reaches the required level. Conveniently this is when means (not shown) for detecting the pressure of the straw in the duct detects a predetermined pressure being reached but other means may be provided, for example means operating according to a predetermined time cycle. After withdrawal of the tines 33 from across the outlet 21, the packing fingers 25 continue to operate in pushing straw into the duct and this causes the charge of compressed straw to pass upwardly out of the duct into the space between the transfer plate 17 and the forward side of the restraining plate 43. As explained previously the charge may be assisted in its upward movement by a conveyor or other means located along the side 30 of the duct 22.

When the upper end of the column of compressed straw has reached or nearly reached, the roof 14 of the bale chamber 16, the rams 35 are again operated to move the tines 33 forward across the outlet 21 but only after the rams 36 are retracted to draw the tines downwards to said level. Thus the tines enter the duct at a level, at 3311 as shown, which is that reached by the lower end of the column when the .upper end reaches the roof 14, some expansion of the column taking place as the charge is moved upwards. The rams 36 are then extended so that the tines reach the position 331, compressing the column up into the space as the tines are moved up. As these movements are taking place the pick up reel 24 and packing fingers 25 continue to operate passing bundles of straw up against the underside of the tines 33.

The transfer plate 17 is operated as soon as the complete, column of material is between the plate 17 and the plate 43, and the plate 17 pushes against the column which causes the restraining plate 43 to move back wards to position 431. After the ram 38 is fully extended, which is when the face of the plate 17 is past the side 30 of the duct 22, the ram 38 is retracted. The next column of compressed straw is discharged from the duct 22 to the space existing between the forward side of the column in the chamber 13 and the retracted transfer plate 17. This further column is discharged, as before, up wardly into this space and then pushed rearwardly by a further operation of the transfer plate.

The columns of straw in the chamber 13 are located between the floor and roof of the chamber and tend to expand, due to the resilience of the material, to press against the floor and roof. This tendency to expand may be sufficient to keep the material in column form, despite there being no support for the forward side of the column after the retraction of the plate 17. However in the case where the column is not maintained in position by this tendency, there may be provided pivotable retaining members 55 which engage the forward side of the last column to be discharged into the chamber as the transfer plate 17 is disengaged from the column.

The retaining members 55 are pivotably mounted on a support 56 located in advance of the forward position of the transfer member 17 in such a way that the members 55 are freely pivotable between a rear wardly extending position normal to the support 56 and an upwardly extending posi tion parallel to the support. At their free ends the members 55 carry a curved bearing plate 57 which in the rearward position is arranged to bear on the forward side of the last column after the transfer plate is returned after an operative movement. The members 55 pass through openings (not shown) formed in the transfer plate and it will be appreciated that due to the inclina tion of the support to the vertical, the mem bers are biased towards their lowered posi tion. During discharge of the material from the chute 22 the members 55 are pivoted upwards by engagement of the material with the members.

Alternatively the retaining members may take the form of bars (not shown) which are moved down from the roof 14 or up from the floor at the rearmost position reached by the plate 17 but it may be found that resilientlv side-mounted hooks or flaps or other retaining means will -suffice to retain the column in position.

It will be appreciated that a succession of compressed columns or batches of straw are fed into the bale chamber until the chamber is filled and the restraining plate has reached its rearmost position 4311. At this point the binding of the bale is completed and the bale discharged.

To explain how the bale is bound reference is made to the beginning of the baling cycle. Prior to the first column or batch of straw being discharged from the duct 22 into the chamber 13, the required number of lengths of baling twine are laid across the outlet 21, extending from the needles 40 to the knotting mechanisms 39. The twine is stored on reels (not shown) and, as the columns are fed into the chamber, twine is unwound from the reels by the columns pushing against the lengths of twine. Thus each length of twine passes from its associated reel through a needle 40, across the underside and up the rear face of the columns, across the top side and down the front face of the columns to the associated knotting mechanism 39. Provision is made for the lengths of twine to pass along the floor, the restraining plate, the roof and the transfer plate without being obstructed, as, for example, by providing slots or other openings.

As the size of the bale increases by the addition of columns the twine is paid out to surround the bale except for that portion across the outlet 21. When the bale is completed, as in Figure 2, the needles 40 are driven to pass across the opening 21 to feed the lengths of twine to the knotting mechanisms 39 and complete the binding of the bale. The needles 40 are operated with the plate 17 in its rearmost position 4311.

When the bale has been bound it is ready for discharge by pivoting the roof about pivot 47 to the position 141 shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. Due to the inclination of the floor of the chamber to the horizontal and the removal of the restraining member 43 from the path of the bale, the bale moves downwardly until it engages the ground 19.

As the baler continues to move forward over the ground the bale is discharged by the relative movement between the bale and the ground until it rests wholly on the ground.

The roof is then pivoted back until it resumes its initial position with the restraining plate moved to its most forward position.

Pivoting of the roof during discharge is con veniently achieved by a ram (not shown) and releasable latches (not shown) hold the roof in its lowered position.

After discharge of a completed bale a new baling cycle commences but it will be appreciated that the baler continues to move forward during discharge, charging the duct even during the final binding and discharge phase. Thus the action of the baler is con tinuous.

It is envisaged that some loss of density may arise as the columns of compressed straw are passed from the duct to the bale chamber so that the density of the straw in the chamber may reduce from', say, 10 to about 9 Ibs. per cubic foot, but the action of the packing plate, particularly as the last column is pushed backwards in the chamber, and held during binding, may result in the finished bale being somewhat denser than the anticipated 9 Ibs. per cubic foot.

Although the baler described is capable of producing a relatively dense bale it will be appreciated that the density of the .finished bale can be arranged to be less than the maximum by adjusting the pressure reached in the column of straw before it is discharge from the duct.

To increase the density of the bale and possibly reduce the power requirements' of the baler, de-energising means may be introduced between the pick up reel 24 and the packing fingers 25 to reduce the natural resilience of the material. Such means may take the form of rollers resiliently urged towards one another and with or without projections, between which the material is fed. Feed to and/or from the rollers may be assisted by a belt conveyor.

It may be found that the movement of the tines 33 between positions 3311 and 331 (Figure 1) may advantageously be greater than indicated. The extent of such movement depends partly on the likely expansion of the column during discharge from the duct and on the possibility of utilising the movement of the tines to assist in transferring columns from the duct to the bale chamber. Thus the tines could be arranged to be movable a distance up to half the length of the duct.

It will also be appreciated that the columns of compressed straw formed in the duct will tend to expand in the direction of compression but not to any great extent in the direction transverse thereto. For this this reason it is considered that the columns will retain their shape in the chamber and will not expand in the fore and aft direction by an unacceptable amount even when unconstrained in their direction.

Although reference has been made particularly to straw as being the material to be baled, it will be appreciated that the apparatus may find application in baling other crops and other materials apart from agricultural crops.

As an alternative to the use of the tines 33 the duct may have other means for inhibiting the discharge of material to thereby compress material in the duct. Hooks or other abutment means obstructing the dis charge of material may be used. In each case material collected and compressed in the duct can be discharged by withdrawing the means inhibiting such discharge.

The illustrated restraining member 42 may be arranged to be withdrawn upwardly and the roof raised only a small distance to relieve frictional resistance between the top of the bale and the roof and allow the bale to be discharged. It may also be useful to be able to move the sides of the chamber apart for the same purpose.

A discharge member may be provided which is pivotable about a pivot located towards and below the rear end of the bale chamber and which extends forwards to a point just clear of the duct at the lower end thereof in its inoperative position. Such a member is pivoted upwardly about its pivot to thereby enter the duct and assist in discharging batches of compacted material from the duct as it moves up the duct.

Referring now to Figure 2, various alternative arrangements of the binding means are illustrated and in Figure 2 the apparatus is shown in the position in which the binding means is operated. As a first alternative the positions of the needles 40 and knotting mechanisms 39 are reversed, compared with the Figure 1 arrangement, to those shown at 401 and 391 in Figure 2. It will be appreciated that with this arrangement the binding of the bales takes place in a similar manner to that already described except that the needles 401 move down across the outlet 21 from above.

As a second alternative needles 50 are mounted on the packing plate 17, spaced across the plate 17 and movable parallel to the plane of the plate to engage with knotting mechanisms 391 located below the needles when the plate is in its most rearward position (as shown). In this arrangement it will be evident that the needles 50 do not pass across the outlet 21 during a knotting operation and the needles effect a reciprocal motion rather than a pivoting movement as with the previously described arrangements.

Referring now to Figure 3 which shows another embodiment of the invention in which parts similar to those of Figures 1 and 2 are given the same reference numbers, a baling apparatus has pick-up means 24 feeding material to packing fingers 25 which feed and compress successive bundles of the material in a duct 22. In this case a wall 291 of the duct is pivotable about a pivot 60 to cause the duct to taper outwardly in the direction from the inlet 23 to the outlet 21, as will be explained. At the outlet 21 of the duct, are located pointed tines 62 spaced across the width of the outlet and mounted on a transverse bar 63. The tines 62 are reciprocable by means of a ram or rams 64 to pass across the outlet (as shown) or to retract clear of the outlet. The tines 62 act as abutments in a similar way to the tines 33 of Figures 1 and 2. The tines 62 are not, in this case, movable in the direction of discharge of material from the duct.

A transfer plate 17 is reciprocated by a ram or rams 65 through linkages including upper and lower connecting brackets 66, pivoting links 67 on each bracket 66, bell cranks 68 having fixed pivots 69, and pivots between the bell cranks 68 and the associated rams 65. In the case of the upper bell crank the connection to the ram 65 is through a link 70. The ram 65 is connected at its end opposite to the bell cranks 68 to a pivot 71 which is selectively movable along a slot 72.

The position of the pivot 71 along the slot 72 adjusts the position of the plate 17 so that in the retracted position of the ram 65, as shown, the plate 17 can either be in the full line position, as shown, or in the chain line position 171, or in any intermediate position. The chain line position 171 is arranged to correspond to the position of the duct wall 291 when pivoted to position 2911 since the wall 291 is connected by a link 73 to the pivot 71. Movement of the pivot 71 along the slot 72 is powered by unshown drive means.

The packing fingers 25 are operated by a similar mechanism to the Figure 1 apparatus except that the link 27 is pivoted about a pivot 74 whose position can be moved by a ram 75 through a link 76 and a link 77 associated with each finger 25. The link 76 is mounted on a shaft 78 extending across the frame and the links 77 are fixed at spaced locations along the shaft 78 so that when the ram 75 is operated the link 76 pivots the shaft 78 about its axis which pivots each link 77 to position 771 and each link 27 about its attachment to the associated finger 25. In this way the path of movement of the finger 25 is altered to reduce the extent of upward movement of the free end of the finger along the duct 22. This reduces the packing action of the finger and provides increased space in the duct for receiving material. The purpose of this will become apparent from the description of the operation of the apparatus of Figure 3.

In the Figure 3 embodiment the pivot about which the roof 14 is raised is at 80 aligned with the axis of a drive sprocket and brake assembly 81 for the carriage 44, and to the rear of the assembly 81 are knotters 82 spaced across the top of the bale chamber 16 and in alignment with respective needles 83. The needles 83 are arranged to be housed in slots (not shown) in the wall 30 of the duct in their retracted position and to pass through openings in the transfer plate 17 in passing towards the knotters 82 during a knotting operation. The needles 83 are each mounted on a cross member (not shown) which is connected to rams or other actuating means by which the needles are reciprocated during the knotting operation.

In the position in which the needles are engaged with the knotters the bodies of the rams extend across the bale chamber, and, after the transfer plate 17 has been returned the ram bodies can serve the purpose of the restraining plate 43 in being placed across the bale chamber to the rear of where a column of material is discharged from the duct. To support the needles 83 in this position guides (not shown) are provided adjacent the knotters to engage below the needles and prevent any damage to the needles. Similar guides are also provided near the floor of the chamber.

---The operating cycle of the apparatus of Figure 3 is as follows, commencing with the bale chamber empty, the transfer plate 17 in its forward position and the restraining member 43 in is forward position spaced from the transfer plate 17. The tines 62 are across the outlet 21 of the duct 22 and the packing fingers 25 operate to fill the duct with successive bundles of compressed material. When the duct is full the tines 62 are withdrawn from across the outlet and the first charge of material consisting of a collection or column of bundles is discharged from the duct to between the plate 17 and the member 43. After the charge has fully entered the cha > rwas Ivndizcätèd~~by ~ a pressure sensing device in the roof of the cKamber,~thè tines 62 are moved bàck åcross ffl"b outlet to shear off a column of com pressed material and the transfer plate 17 moves the column against the restraining member 43 to push it back against the resistance of the brake means. Packing of the duct with bundles of material continues in the usual way during this movement so that when the transfer plate is returned to its initial position a further charge of material may be ready for discharge.

It will be appreciated that after discharge of each charge the wall 291 is returned to its full line position, as shown.

Successive columns of material are fed into the chamber and moved rearwards against the restraining plate until the cham ber is filled. At this point the needles 83 are operated to move them into the knotters 82 and knot the lengths of string about the completed bale. The latches holding the roof are released and the brake holding the restraining plate 43 is released. The ram for raising the roof pushes up the roof and the bale is released for rearward movement from the chamber with the needles still in their raised position so that a further charge of material can be discharged from the duct during the binding and bale discharge opera tion. The roof may be raised sufficiently for the restraining plate to move forward under gravity during discharge o öf ba'le.

Alternatively; 'a'fter re'fease f th# blthe restraining member 43 is driven back to its forward position.

The roof is lowered, when the bale is discharged, and the brake reapplied with the restraining member in its forward position.

The needles are retracted to their inoperative position.

It will be appreciated that throughout the whole of the baling cycle the packing fingers continue to operate in packing bundles of material into the duct. However at certain stages of the cycle, particularly during transfer of a discharged column of material by the transfer plate and during discharge of a bale, it is desirable to reduce the extent of the packing action. Thus at such stages the upward movement of the fingers 25 is reduced by operation of the ram 75.

Movement of the pivot 71 along the slot 72 may be automatically or manually controlled and may be effected at various stages of the operating cycle primarily to assist in the discharge of the material from the duct. For example, the pivot 71 may be moved to pivot the wall 291 to the chain line position 2911 and retract the plate 17 to the chain line position 171 during discharge of a column of material from the duct or at any time during charging of the duct.

Other aspects of the Figure 3 embodiment not specifically described are as shown and described with reference to Figure 1.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. Baling apparatus comprising a mobile frame defining a bale chamber in which a bale is formed; pick-up means for picking up material to be baled; a duct having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end communicating with the bale chamber; packing members located at or adjacent the duct inlet and arranged to receive material from the pick-up means, feed it in bundles into the duct and move it towards the outlet; releasable abutment means disposed at the outlet from the duct and arranged to act as an abutment to inhibit the passage of material from the duct whereby the packing members pack and compress a succession of bundles of material in the duct against the abutment means before release of the abutment means allows a compressed column of the bundles of material in the duct to pass through the outlet into the bale chamber; and transfer means for moving successive columns of material received from the duct along the bale chamber until a composite bale has been formed.

2. Baling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the abutment means comprises reciprocable members movable across the duct outlet into position to inhibit passage of material from the duct, the reciprocable members being movable clear of the outlet to allow material to pass out of the duct.

3. Baling apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the reciprocable members are in the form of fingers arranged to be movable

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. after the transfer plate 17 has been returned the ram bodies can serve the purpose of the restraining plate 43 in being placed across the bale chamber to the rear of where a column of material is discharged from the duct. To support the needles 83 in this position guides (not shown) are provided adjacent the knotters to engage below the needles and prevent any damage to the needles. Similar guides are also provided near the floor of the chamber. ---The operating cycle of the apparatus of Figure 3 is as follows, commencing with the bale chamber empty, the transfer plate 17 in its forward position and the restraining member 43 in is forward position spaced from the transfer plate 17. The tines 62 are across the outlet 21 of the duct 22 and the packing fingers 25 operate to fill the duct with successive bundles of compressed material. When the duct is full the tines 62 are withdrawn from across the outlet and the first charge of material consisting of a collection or column of bundles is discharged from the duct to between the plate 17 and the member 43. After the charge has fully entered the cha > rwas Ivndizcätèd~~by ~ a pressure sensing device in the roof of the cKamber,~thè tines 62 are moved bàck åcross ffl"b outlet to shear off a column of com pressed material and the transfer plate 17 moves the column against the restraining member 43 to push it back against the resistance of the brake means. Packing of the duct with bundles of material continues in the usual way during this movement so that when the transfer plate is returned to its initial position a further charge of material may be ready for discharge. It will be appreciated that after discharge of each charge the wall 291 is returned to its full line position, as shown. Successive columns of material are fed into the chamber and moved rearwards against the restraining plate until the cham ber is filled. At this point the needles 83 are operated to move them into the knotters 82 and knot the lengths of string about the completed bale. The latches holding the roof are released and the brake holding the restraining plate 43 is released. The ram for raising the roof pushes up the roof and the bale is released for rearward movement from the chamber with the needles still in their raised position so that a further charge of material can be discharged from the duct during the binding and bale discharge opera tion. The roof may be raised sufficiently for the restraining plate to move forward under gravity during discharge o öf ba'le. Alternatively; 'a'fter re'fease f th# blthe restraining member 43 is driven back to its forward position. The roof is lowered, when the bale is discharged, and the brake reapplied with the restraining member in its forward position. The needles are retracted to their inoperative position. It will be appreciated that throughout the whole of the baling cycle the packing fingers continue to operate in packing bundles of material into the duct. However at certain stages of the cycle, particularly during transfer of a discharged column of material by the transfer plate and during discharge of a bale, it is desirable to reduce the extent of the packing action. Thus at such stages the upward movement of the fingers 25 is reduced by operation of the ram 75. Movement of the pivot 71 along the slot 72 may be automatically or manually controlled and may be effected at various stages of the operating cycle primarily to assist in the discharge of the material from the duct. For example, the pivot 71 may be moved to pivot the wall 291 to the chain line position 2911 and retract the plate 17 to the chain line position 171 during discharge of a column of material from the duct or at any time during charging of the duct. Other aspects of the Figure 3 embodiment not specifically described are as shown and described with reference to Figure 1. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. Baling apparatus comprising a mobile frame defining a bale chamber in which a bale is formed; pick-up means for picking up material to be baled; a duct having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end communicating with the bale chamber; packing members located at or adjacent the duct inlet and arranged to receive material from the pick-up means, feed it in bundles into the duct and move it towards the outlet; releasable abutment means disposed at the outlet from the duct and arranged to act as an abutment to inhibit the passage of material from the duct whereby the packing members pack and compress a succession of bundles of material in the duct against the abutment means before release of the abutment means allows a compressed column of the bundles of material in the duct to pass through the outlet into the bale chamber; and transfer means for moving successive columns of material received from the duct along the bale chamber until a composite bale has been formed.

through the compressed material being discharged through the duct outlet.

4. Baling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the duct extends across the width of the mobile frame and the packing members and abutment means are spaced along the duct at the inlet and outlet thereof respectively.

5. Baling apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the sides of the duct are rectilinear and the inlet and outlet are in the form of slots.

6. Baling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the transfer means comprises a reciprocable transfer member mounted at one end of the bale chamber and movable towards the opposite end a distance substantially equal to the depth of the duct so as to move each column of material discharged from the duct clear of the duct outlet.

7. Baling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a restraining member in the bale chamber and constituting a movable wall of the bale chamber, the restraining member being movable from a position adjacent the transfer means, in which the bale chamber is empty, to a position remote from the transfer means in which the bale chamber is full, and back again, the restraining member including means offering a restraint to movement of columns of material along the bale chamber by the transfer means.

8. Baling apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the restraining member is movable away from the transfer means under the action of the transfer means in moving the material along the bale chamber so that the restraining member is moved incrementally -upon each operative movement of the transfer means.

9. Baling apparatus according to claim 7 or 8 comprising drive means for driving the restraining member towards the transfer means after discharge of each bale from the bale chamber, the restraining member being mounted on the roof of the bale chamber.

10. Baling apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the roof of the bale chamber is pivotable so as to pivot upwardly about its end adjacent the transfer means to release completed bales from the bale chamber.

11. Baling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims comprising retaining means for retaining material in the position to which it has been moved by the transfer means after each operation thereof.

12. Baling apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the retaining means comprises pivotable bars biased towards their retaining position and movable away from the retaining position by the entry of each batch of material into the bale chamber from the duct.

13. Baling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims comprising binding means for binding lengths of binding material around the completed bales, the binding means including at least one needle and associated knotter, the needle being movable across a face of the completed bale to the knotter in a direction parallel to the transfer means.

14. Baling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein walls of the duct are selectively operable to taper outwardly in the direction from the inlet towards the outlet.

15. Baling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the packing members are operable to provide a reduced packing action over part of the baler operating cycle.

16. Baling apparatus substantially as described with reference to Figure 1.

17. Baling apparatus substantially as described with reference to Figure 2.

18. Baling apparatus substantially as described with reference to Figure 3.