Discharge means

Claim 2

In a crop roll forming machine of the type having a mobile frame, a pickup, a bale forming region for receiving the crop material from the pickup, bale forming means for imparting motion to the bale, and drive means, the improvement comprising: a kicker means fastened to the frame for receiving the bale upon its discharge from the frame and propelling it rearwardly clear of the frame.

Claim 3

The roll forming machine, according to claim 1, wherein the kicker means is pivotally fastened to the frame.

Claim 4

An improved crop roll forming machine for rolling crop material into large cylindrical bales having a mobile frame, a pickup, conveying means for receiving the crop material from the pickup, bale forming means for imparting motion to the bale, a bale forming region and drive means, wherein the improved roll forming machine comprises: a kicker means fastened to the frame for receiving the bale during its discharge from the machine and propelling it clear of the frame.

Claim 5

An improved crop roll forming machine for rolling crop material into large cylindrical bales having a mobile frame, a pickup, conveying means for receiving the crop material from the pickup, bale forming means for imparting motion to the bale, a bale forming region and drive means, wherein the improved roll forming machine comprises: a kicker means fastened to the frame for receiving the bale during its discharge from the machine and propelling it clear of the frame.

Claim 6

The roll forming machine, according to claim 3, wherein the kicker means is pivotally fastened to the frame.

Claim 7

In a crop roll forming machine adapted to be towed by a prime moving vehicle comprising: (a) a mobile frame having a front end, two opposing sides and a rear end; (b) a pickup fastened to the frame for collecting crop material from a field; (c) conveying means mounted on the frame extending substantially between the two opposing sides and defining a plane along which crop material is received adjacent the front end from the pickup and transported rearwardly toward the rear end; (d) bale forming means rotatably mounted to the frame extending substantially between the two opposing sides providing a curvilinear motion-imparting surface against which crop material is directed by the conveying means and being expandable to substantially envelope a crop roll as it forms; (e) a bale forming region between the plane of the conveying means and the bale forming means being defined generally thereby and within which crop material is formed into a crop roll by the cooperative interaction of the bale forming means and the conveying means; (f) drive means mounted to the frame for driving the pickup, the conveying means and the bale forming means; and (g) kicker means fastened to the frame and extending at least partially between each of the two opposing sides of the conveying means and the rear end so that upon completion of the formation of the crop roll the roll is ejected from the bale forming region and contacts the kicker means which propels the crop roll rearwardly of the roll forming machine.

Claim 8

In a crop roll forming machine adapted to be towed by a prime moving vehicle comprising: (a) a mobile frame having a front end, two opposing sides and a rear end; (b) a pickup fastened to the frame for collecting crop material from a field; (c) conveying means mounted on the frame extending substantially between the two opposing sides and defining a plane along which crop material is received adjacent the front end from the pickup and transported rearwardly toward the rear end; (d) bale forming means rotatably mounted to the frame extending substantially between the two opposing sides providing a curvilinear motion-imparting surface against which crop material is directed by the conveying means and being expandable to substantially envelope a crop roll as it forms; (e) a bale forming region between the plane of the conveying means and the bale forming means being defined generally thereby and within which crop material is formed into a crop roll by the cooperative interaction of the bale forming means and the conveying means; (f) drive means mounted to the frame for driving the pickup, the conveying means and the bale forming means; and (g) kicker means fastened to the frame and extending at least partially between each of the two opposing sides of the conveying means and the rear end so that upon completion of the formation of the crop roll the roll is ejected from the bale forming region and contacts the kicker means which propels the crop roll rearwardly of the roll forming machine.

Claim 9

The crop roll forming machine, according to claim 5, wherein the kicker means comprises a ramp.

Claim 10

The crop roll forming machine, according to claim 6, wherein the ramp is fastened to each of the two opposing sides of the frame extending substantially therebetween, further being pivotable between a first position and a second position and being spring loaded so that upon contact by the crop roll the ramp pivots downwardly from the first position to the second position until the roll is discharged and then pivotally returns to the first position.

Claim 11

The crop roll forming machine, according to claim 5, wherein the kicker means comprises a cross member extending substantially between the opposing two sides.

Claim 12

The crop roll forming machine, according to claim 8, wherein the kicker means further comprises said cross member pivotally mounted to a pair of arms, each one of the pair being fastened to one of the two opposing sides, the arms being spring biased between a first position and a second position so that upon contact by the crop roll the arm pivots downwardly from the first position to the second position until the roll is discharged and then pivotally returns to the first position.

Claim 13

Apparatus for forming large generally cylindrical bales of crop material, which comprises: a generally upright mobile frame having an inlet, an outlet and two opposing sides; conveying means mounted on the frame extending substantially between the opposing sides and between the inlet and outlet to receive crop material transported rearwardly from the inlet towards the outlet; bale forming means rotatably mounted to the frame generally above the conveying means and defining therebetween a bale forming region; drive means mounted on the frame; a tailgate pivotally mounted to the frame adjacent the outlet and operable between a first position to permit crop material delivered to the conveying means to be transported rearwardly into contact with the bale forming means and a second position to permit a completed bale to be discharged from the bale forming region, the tailgate being movable in a predetermined arc therebetween; lifting means operable to move the tailgate between the first position and the second position; and kicker means affixed to the frame adjacent the outlet so that upon the raising of the tailgate to the second position the bale contacts the kicker means as the bale is discharged from the bale forming region and is propelled sufficiently rearwardly so that the bale is clear of the predetermined arc of the tailgate as the tailgate returns to the first position.

Claim 14

Apparatus for forming large generally cylindrical bales of crop material, which comprises: a generally upright mobile frame having an inlet, an outlet and two opposing sides; conveying means mounted on the frame extending substantially between the opposing sides and between the inlet and outlet to receive crop material transported rearwardly from the inlet towards the outlet; bale forming means rotatably mounted to the frame generally above the conveying means and defining therebetween a bale forming region; drive means mounted on the frame; a tailgate pivotally mounted to the frame adjacent the outlet and operable between a first position to permit crop material delivered to the conveying means to be transported rearwardly into contact with the bale forming means and a second position to permit a completed bale to be discharged from the bale forming region, the tailgate being movable in a predetermined arc therebetween; lifting means operable to move the tailgate between the first position and the second position; and kicker means affixed to the frame adjacent the outlet so that upon the raising of the tailgate to the second position the bale contacts the kicker means as the bale is discharged from the bale forming region and is propelled sufficiently rearwardly so that the bale is clear of the predetermined arc of the tailgate as the tailgate returns to the first position.

Claim 15

The crop roll forming machine, according to claim 10, wherein the kicker means comprises a ramp.

Claim 16

The crop roll forming machine, according to claim 11, wherein the ramp is fastened to each of the two opposing sides of the frame and extending substantially therebetween, the ramp further being pivotable between a first position and a second position and being spring loaded so that upon contact by the crop roll the ramp pivots downwardly from the first position to the second position until the roll is discharged and then pivotally returns to the first position.

Claim 17

The crop roll forming machine, according to claim 10, wherein the kicker means comprises a cross member extending substantially between the opposing two sides.

Claim 18

The crop roll forming machine, according to claim 13, wherein the kicker means further comprises said cross member pivotally mounted to a pair of arms, each one of the pair being fastened to one of the two opposing sides, the arms being spring biased between a first position and a second position so that upon contact by the crop roll the arm pivots downwardly from the first position to the second position until the roll is discharged and then pivotally returns to the first position.

Claim 19

Apparatus for forming large generally cylindrical bales of crop material, which comprises: a generally upright mobile frame having an inlet, an outlet and two opposing sides; a bale forming region on the frame extending substantially between the opposing sides and between the inlet and the outlet to receive crop material transported rearwardly from the inlet towards the outlet; a pickup mounted on the frame adjacent the inlet for collecting crop material and delivering it to the bale forming region; bale forming means rotatably mounted to the frame generally above the bale forming region; drive means mounted on the frame; a tailgate pivotally mounted to the frame adjacent the outlet and operable between a first position to permit crop material delivered to the bale forming region by the pickup to be transported rearwardly into contact with the bale forming means and a second position to permit a completed bale to be discharged from the bale forming region, the tailgate being movable in a predetermined arc therebetween; lifting means operable to move the tailgate between the first position and the second position; and kicker means affixed to the frame adjacent the outlet so that upon the raising of the tailgate to the second position the bale contacts the kicker means as the bale is discharged from the bale forming region and is propelled sufficiently rearwardly so that the bale is clear of the predetermined arc of the tailgate as the tailgate returns to the second position.

Claim 20

Apparatus for forming large generally cylindrical bales of crop material, which comprises: a generally upright mobile frame having an inlet, an outlet and two opposing sides; a bale forming region on the frame extending substantially between the opposing sides and between the inlet and the outlet to receive crop material transported rearwardly from the inlet towards the outlet; a pickup mounted on the frame adjacent the inlet for collecting crop material and delivering it to the bale forming region; bale forming means rotatably mounted to the frame generally above the bale forming region; drive means mounted on the frame; a tailgate pivotally mounted to the frame adjacent the outlet and operable between a first position to permit crop material delivered to the bale forming region by the pickup to be transported rearwardly into contact with the bale forming means and a second position to permit a completed bale to be discharged from the bale forming region, the tailgate being movable in a predetermined arc therebetween; lifting means operable to move the tailgate between the first position and the second position; and kicker means affixed to the frame adjacent the outlet so that upon the raising of the tailgate to the second position the bale contacts the kicker means as the bale is discharged from the bale forming region and is propelled sufficiently rearwardly so that the bale is clear of the predetermined arc of the tailgate as the tailgate returns to the second position.

Claim 21

The crop roll forming machine, according to claim 15, wherein the kicker means comprises a ramp.

Claim 22

The crop roll forming machine, according to claim 16, wherein the ramp is fastened to each of the two opposing sides of the frame extending substantially therebetween, further being pivotable between a front position and a second position and being spring loaded so that upon contact by the crop roll the ramp pivots downwardly from the first position to the second position until the roll is discharged and then pivotally returns to the first position.

Claim 23

The crop roll forming machine, according to claim 15, wherein the kicker means comprises a cross member extending substantially between the opposing two sides.

Claim 24

The crop roll forming machine, according to claim 18, wherein the kicker means further comprises said cross member pivotally mounted to a pair of arms, each one of the pair being fastened to one of the two opposing sides, the arms being spring biased between a first position and a second position so that upon contact by the crop roll the arm pivots downwardly from the first position to the second position until the roll is discharged and then pivotally returns to the first position.