US3894484A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bale wrapping mechanism for large cylindrical bales
Assignee: Deere and Co
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Filing: 1974-07-17
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1994-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A machine for forming large cylindrical bales includes a mobile main frame with crop delivery means operative to deliver a mat of crop material to a baling zone where a bale forming mechanism rolls the mat of material into a cylindrical bale and is operative to continue rolling the bale after it reaches a selected size. After the bale reaches its selected size, a twine dispensing mechanism is actuated to feed twine from a roll of twine on the machine to the baling zone while the bale is rotated, the twine dispensing mechanism including an arm that carries the twine and swings in a generally horizontal arc from one side of the baling zone to the other so that the twine is wrapped in a spiral about the bale as it rotates. The arm is controlled by a two-way hydraulic cylinder, which moves the arm in one direction during the start of the tying cycle and returns the arm to a rest position during its return stroke, and a cutoff mechanism is actuated when the arm reaches its rest position to automatically cut the twine to discontinue the wrapping. A variable orifice is provided between the control valve for the cylinder and the cylinder to selectively vary the rate of retraction of the cylinder on its return stroke to selectively control the number of turns of twine placed on the bale during the return stroke.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry Dennis Anstey
- 👤 Gust Soteropulos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:24
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01F; A01F15/00; A01F15/08; A01F15/14; A01F15/141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
In a machine for forming large cylindrical bales of crop material and including a mobile main frame, and crop delivery means operative to deliver a mat of crop material to a baling zone where a bale forming mechanism rolls the mat of material into a bale and is operative to continue rolling the bale after it reaches a selected size while a wrapping element is fed to the baling zone to wind the wrapping element around the bale as it rotates, the combination therewith of an improved dispensing mechanism for selectively feeding the wrapping element from a supply of continuous wrapping element on the machine to the baling zone and comprising: a shiftable dispenser member operatively carrying the wrapping element and shiftable laterally on the machine forwardly of the baling zone to dispense the wrapping element across a substantial portion of the width of the baling zone; a power means operatively connected to the dispenser member for shifting the dispenser member laterally on the machine; and selective control means operatively associated with the power means for selectively controling the rate of shifting of the dispenser members to control the number of turns of the wrapping element wound on the bale as the dispenser moves from one end of its travel to the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
In a machine for forming large cylindrical bales of crop material and including a mobile main frame, and crop delivery means operative to deliver a mat of crop material to a baling zone where a bale forming mechanism rolls the mat of material into a bale and is operative to continue rolling the bale after it reaches a selected size while a wrapping element is fed to the baling zone to wind the wrapping element around the bale as it rotates, the combination therewith of an improved dispensing mechanism for selectively feeding the wrapping element from a supply of continuous wrapping element on the machine to the baling zone and comprising: a shiftable dispenser member operatively carrying the wrapping element and shiftable laterally on the machine forwardly of the baling zone to dispense the wrapping element across a substantial portion of the width of the baling zone; a power means operatively connected to the dispenser member for shifting the dispenser member laterally on the machine; and selective control means operatively associated with the power means for selectively controling the rate of shifting of the dispenser members to control the number of turns of the wrapping element wound on the bale as the dispenser moves from one end of its travel to the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the power means includes a source of fluid pressure, a hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to the dispenser member, and valve means selectively operative to control the flow of pressurized fluid from the fluid pressure source to the cylinder, the control means including a variable orifice operative to control the flow rate of pressurized fluid to the cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the dispenser member is shiftable laterally on the machine between a first position wherein it dispenses the wraping element adjacent one lateral side of the baling zone and a second position wherein it dispenses the wrapping element adjacent the other lateral side of the baling zone, and the hydraulic cylinder is a two-way cylinder and is operative to move the dispenser member from the first position to the second position during its expansion stroke and from its second position to its first position during its return stroke.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The invention defined in claim 3 wherein the variable orifice is disposed in a hydraulic line between the control valve and one side of the cylinder and a check valve is disposed in parallel with the variable orifice so that the variable orifice is bypassed through the check valve when the flow is in one direction through said line, while the check valve is closed to fluid flow in the opposite direCtion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention defined in claim 4 wherein the fluid flows only through the variable orifice during the return stroke of the cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The invention defined in claim 5 wherein the wrapping element is not delivered to the baling zone to start the wrapping of the bale until the dispenser member has moved a substantial distance from its first position toward the second position, the dispensing member dispensing the wrapping element substantially during the entire movement of the member from its second position to its first position wherein the variable orifice controls the rate of movement of the dispensing member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention defined in claim 6 wherein the dispensing member includes an arm swingable in a generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical pivot, between said first and second positions, the wrapping element being carried by the rearward free end of the arm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |