Between Opposed Belts Patents (Class 100/88)
  • Patent number: 6807901
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for discharging a bale from a baler including a bale ramp that is capable of moving a formed cylindrical bale away from the bale-forming machine. The bale ramp is capable of supporting the formed bale, and utilizing power from a linkage to the bale discharge gate to provide initial horizontal travel of the bale prior to the bale losing significant potential energy. The linkage between the bale discharge gate and the bale ramp includes a lost motion device including a spring that allows energy to be stored from the hydraulic system that powers the bale discharge gate open. That stored energy is applied to the bale, at the appropriate time, as it is able to move. A second stage is provided, which utilizes a traditional spring-loaded ramp. As the bale drops a portion of its potential energy is translated into horizontal momentum and the bale will be caused to move away from the baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Rustin V. Bentzinger, Kent L. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20040177773
    Abstract: A round baler having storage and dispensing mechanisms for both twine and net/plastic wrapping materials for the bales can be modified to provide a lower cost twine baler. A pivoting dispensing assembly across the front of the baler is replaceable by a similar-sized twine box to convert the baler to an all-twine baler with sufficient twine storage to make the machine efficient in field operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: John R. McClure, Fred M. Horchler, Ronald L. McAllister, James T. Clevenger, John H. Merritt, Cecil R. Sudbrack, Joseph N. Smith
  • Patent number: 6777719
    Abstract: The notch 17 is formed at one end of the board (12) and the two notches (18a and 18b) are formed at both sides of the other end. The first and second electrode patterns (13 and 14) covering, which cover the notches formed at both ends, are formed on the board surface, the light emitting diode (LED) chip (11) is connected to the first electrode pattern (13) and the electrode (11a) of the LED chip (11) and the surface electrode (14a) of the second electrode pattern (14) are bonded to each other with the metal wire (15). The LED chip (10) and the metal wire (15) are embedded with the translucent resin mold 16. Wire bonding on the surface electrode (14a) of the second electrode pattern (14) with the other end (15b) of the metal wire is made on the board 12 located between the two notches (18a and 18b). As a result, wire bonding can be made stably. Moreover, the polarity of the LED chip can be checked easily based on the appearance. Furthermore, handling jprocess can be performed smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiro Fujii
  • Patent number: 6769353
    Abstract: A round baler including a housing; a bale chamber; bale forming apparatus; and bale wrapping apparatus including: four twine supply rolls defining four twine strands; four twine dispensing tubes, each tube presenting one of the strands so that each strand dangles from the corresponding tube, each tube movable between home and twine insert positions, wherein each strand dangles adjacent to a bale rotating in the chamber when the tubes are in the insert position; and two twine tensioning members disposed so that each tensioning member receives two strands, wherein each tensioning member has a receiving portion through which two strands are threaded, wherein each tensioning member is positioned to provide slack tension on two respective strands when the tubes are in the insert position, and wherein each tensioning member is positioned to increase wrapping tension on the two strands after the two respective strands have started to wrap the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Smith, Edward H. Priepke
  • Patent number: 6763761
    Abstract: A round baler, including a housing and bale wrapping apparatus, the bale wrapping apparatus comprising: a rotating twine supply roll defining a twine strand; a twine dispensing arm presenting the twine strand; a shear bar having a cutting surface; a knife assembly rotatingly connected to the housing by an elongated bar and rotatable from a first position to a second cutting position in contact with the cutting surface, wherein the twine dispensing arm is movable from a first position to a second cutting position wherein the twine strand extends transversely between the shear bar and the knife assembly; and a wiper is mounted to the twine dispensing arm so that when the twine dispensing arm moves from the first position to the cutting position, the wiper engages the cutting surface of the shear bar to clean trash from the cutting surface of the shear bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Smith
  • Publication number: 20040134177
    Abstract: A large round baler is equipped with a bale processing arrangement in the form of a bale wrapping arrangement. A wrapping table is mounted to a guide arrangement for guided movement between a bale-receiving position and bale wrapping and bale discharge positions. The guide arrangement includes two sections, one of which can be moved to a near vertical non-operating position so as to diminish the overall length of the baler and processing arrangement. The wrapping arm of the bale wrapping arrangement can be dismounted for an operating mode where formed bales are deposited directly on the ground by the wrapping table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 6745681
    Abstract: A large round baler includes bale-forming means conducted over rotary bodies with stationary axes and rotary bodies with movable axes so as to define an expansible circumference of a baling chamber. Some of the movable rotary bodies are mounted to a carrier mounted to fixed side walls defining opposite sides of the baling chamber. The carrier is pivotally mounted to opposite side walls defining opposite sides of the baling chamber for movement between a lowered operating position and a raised discharge position wherein it holds a span of the bale-forming means, which during operation, forms the rear portion of the circumference of the baling-chamber above the formed bale so that the latter may be discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Philippe Lucand, Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 6745680
    Abstract: A large round baler is equipped with a chassis, including an outer pair of fixed side walls, that extend rearwardly beyond a pair of inner side walls which form opposite sides of a baling chamber. In an upper region of the baler, belts or the like are supported by a plurality of fixed rotary bodies extending either between the inner or the outer side walls and a movable rotary body carried at the end of a pivotally mounted tension arm, to form a large take-up loop that becomes smaller as a run of the belts expands during growth of the bale being formed. The run of belts, which is looped about the bale being formed, is conducted over rollers carried by a vertically pivoted frame, such that when the frame is swung between a lower extreme position, which it occupies during formation of a bale to a raised position, the formed bale is deposited on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jean Viaud, Philippe Lucand
  • Publication number: 20040103632
    Abstract: A bale unloading arrangement of a large round baler includes a bale take-up device mounted to a carrier which is in turn mounted to the axle of the baler for vertical pivoting movement beneath the baling chamber of the baler. A spring is mounted between the carrier and the axle for keeping the carrier in an elevated position until a completed bale is discharged onto the carrier. The carrier is shaped such that the bale take-up device, which is mounted for movement along the carrier, moves down the carrier to the rear and into a position for gently depositing the bale on the ground. The bale take-up device includes an upper bale-receiving structure that may be selectively pivoted about a fore-and-aft axis so as to deposit a bale on its end, and the carrier is mounted for being shifted sideways so that a bale deposited in this manner may be deposited outside the path traveled by the baler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: Deere & Company, a Delaware Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Eric Derscheid, Jean Viaud
  • Publication number: 20040089167
    Abstract: A wrapping implement is mounted to a rear location of a large round baler with connections permitting its quick attachment to, and detachment from, the baler. The wrapping implement includes a guidance ring that is essentially oriented vertically for guiding at least one wrapping material carrier about its periphery. The baler is equipped with a bale conveyor that receives a bale discharged from the baling chamber and transfers the bale to a bale carrier mounted to the guidance ring. The carrier supports and effects or permits the rotation of the supported cylindrical bale, where during the wrapping process the axis of rotation of the cylindrical bale extends perpendicular to the central axis of the circle of movement of the wrapping material carrier. The bale carrier is mounted for moving between a raised wrapping position, and a lowered discharge position, wherein in different embodiments, it respectively deposits the bale on its circumference or on its end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 6729118
    Abstract: A non-stop, large round baler is provided with transversely spaced side walls having peripheries which are not connected to any structure or to the chassis and mounted so as to be adjusted transversely to increase or decrease the width of a bale forming chamber formed between them. Furthermore flexible bale forming elements are trained over rolls carried on the free end of revolving arms mounted outside the side walls, the rolls moving along the periphery of the side walls so as to define between them separate expansible chamber sections permitting one chamber section to begin filling with oncoming crop while the other chamber is being emptied of a completed bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Publication number: 20040031402
    Abstract: A large round baler includes a discharge or outlet gate mounted for swinging vertically about a horizontal transverse axis located approximately at the center of a baling chamber. In one of several variations, two hydraulic cylinders, that are arranged offset to each other, engage the outlet gate at various radial positions, so that both actuating devices cannot simultaneously reach a dead center or a blocking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 6681688
    Abstract: A round baler includes a housing, a bale chamber, and a bale wrapping apparatus. The bale wrapping apparatus includes two twine supply rolls providing two twine strands; two twine dispensing arms, each presenting one of the two strands; a shear bar connected to the housing; and a knife assembly rotatingly connected to the housing by an elongated bar to rotate from a first position to a second cutting position, the two twine strands extending transversely between the shear bar and the knife assembly, the knife assembly comprising: a mounting assembly comprising a mounting member having two protruding posts; a knife having two slots formed therein and a cutting edge, the knife mounted on the mounting member so each protruding post extends through one of the slots; and a biasing member disposed on each post to bias the knife toward the mounting member while permitting the knife to move relative to the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6681689
    Abstract: A roll baler including circumferentially rotatable conveyor elements limiting a compression space therebetween, and a device for wrapping up a roll bale, which is formed in the compression space, with a section of a sheath web, the wrapping-up device including a pivotable start-up element for pressing the sheath web, against a surface of one of the rotatable conveyor elements, a separation element for cutting the sheath web off after the wrapping-up process ends and pivotable between cutting and non-cutting positions, and a common pivot axle for supporting the start-up element and separation element for pivotal movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Lely Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Geiser
  • Patent number: 6679040
    Abstract: A large round baler includes an expansible baling chamber having an inlet at a forward location thereof and defined in part by a lower run of a flexible, endless component arrangement of an upper conveyor, and by an upper run of a flexible, endless component arrangement of a bottom conveyor. In each of two embodiments, the bottom conveyor includes a moveable roller which operates to selectively deflect the upper run of the bottom conveyor so that it cooperates with a lower run of the upper conveyor so as to define a baling chamber having a cross section conducive to starting a bale core at the beginning of the baling process and moveable to a discharge position for allowing a completed bale to roll onto the ground. In the second embodiment, the upper conveyor also includes a moveable roller that operates to yieldably resist expansion of the lower run of the upper conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Philippe Lucand, Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 6672205
    Abstract: A large round baler includes a chassis which forms a forward part of a baling chamber, with a rearward part of the chamber being formed by a bale discharge gate. The discharge gate is constructed of first and second, separate parts that are, either each separately pivotally connected to chassis or are mounted such that the second part is pivotally attached to the first part. The parts are arranged such that arms of the second part overlap the opposite sides of the first part. Different embodiments disclose various driving structures for causing one part to be moved by moving the other part, with the arrangement of the two parts resulting in the gate being quickly moved to its open position for discharging a bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Publication number: 20040000131
    Abstract: In known large round balers, a rotating side wall is provided that can be pivoted away from a baling chamber either in a straight line or about a pivot axis, so that the pressure on the end faces of the cylindrical bale is reduced during the unloading process. A large round baler is proposed in which a support structure provided with rolls for supporting one or more flexible bale-forming elements, which can be pivoted about a pivot axle that penetrates the side walls of the baling chamber. At least one side wall is provided with a cam having an inclined surface which is ramped outwardly from the side wall from top to bottom. The support structure is provided with a cam follower that can slide on the surface cam so as to move from bottom to top when the support structure is raised to effect a discharge of a formed bale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Jean Viaud, Daniel Eric Derscheid
  • Patent number: 6655121
    Abstract: A round baler for forming round bales of crop material includes a crop pickup which feeds crop material rearwardly toward a bale-forming chamber defined by a series of rollers in combination with a bale-forming section of a series of side-by-side baler belts. The series of rollers include front and rear floor rollers which rotate in the same direction, as well as an upper stripping roller and a powered feed roller. The powered feed roller cooperates with the front floor roller to define a crop inlet, and the feed roller and the front floor roller aggressively feed crop material into the bale-forming chamber. The front and rear floor rollers cooperate with the bale-forming section of the baler belts and the upper stripping roller to define an open initial bale-forming chamber. As the bale grows, the bale-forming section of the belts expands and the bale is supported by the rear floor roller without support from the front floor roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Gehl Company
    Inventors: Kim P. Viesselmann, David William Tulloch, Graeme Hugh Tulloch
  • Patent number: 6644005
    Abstract: An overload and overfill protection system for a round baler includes a selectively engageable drive mechanism located between a rotary input member of the baler and an input driven member, such as a sprocket, which drives a pickup mechanism forming a part of the round baler. The selectively engageable drive mechanism includes a fixed drive member mounted to the rotary input member, and a shiftable engagement member mounted to the sprocket for movement between an engaged position for transferring power to the pickup mechanism, and a disengaged position in which power from the rotary input member is not transferred to the sprocket. The fixed drive member is in the form of a shear bolt, which is sheared by an overload force applied to the engagement member when the pickup mechanism is overloaded so as to disable the pickup mechanism. The overfill protection system is in the form of a clutching mechanism interconnected between a movable member of the baler, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Gehl Company
    Inventors: Scott V. Grahl, Kim P. Viesselmann
  • Patent number: 6640699
    Abstract: A round baler has a bale chamber surrounded by bale forming means running over stationary and moveable rollers. Some moveable rollers are carried by arms which are located outside opposite side walls of the bale chamber. This enables a bale to be formed within the spacing between the side walls and to be ejected by raising the arms carrying moveable rollers to open the bale chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Co.
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 6622468
    Abstract: A baling chamber for a large round baler includes a discharge gate having opposite side walls which meet respective side walls of the main frame along a line of separation that inclines downwardly and to the rear from top to bottom. The bottom of the baling chamber is defined in part by a bottom conveyor which slopes downward to the rear from a front end which delimits a lower side of an inlet through which crop is fed into the baling chamber. The discharge gate carries a lower front roll that supports an endless tension element arrangement and that is itself supported on a tensioning arm arrangement that pivoted to the discharge gate for movement against the resistance of a yieldable spring arrangement so as to permit the lower front roll to move rearwardly from a first position adjacent the inlet, which it occupies at the beginning of bale formation, as the bale grows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Philippe Lucand, Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 6591743
    Abstract: Cotton receiving structure includes a receptacle supported on a wheeled frame and a floor conveyor moving cotton towards an upright set of fingered rotors which feed the cotton into an upright hopper. The fed cotton is directed into a baler mounted on the frame for forming and wrapping. The compact wrapped bale is discharged from the baler and loaded onto a transport device using conventional bale handling equipment such as a tractor-mounted loader. The baler can be mounted directly on the frame with the receptacle and the hopper for movement as a unit to the desired field location for receiving cotton from the harvester basket. In an alternate embodiment, the baler can be a separate unit towed behind or towed independently of the frame and the receiver and hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Timothy Arthur Deutsch, Virgil Dean Haverdink, Maurice Vincent Salz
  • Patent number: 6581364
    Abstract: The expansible baling chamber of a large round baler is constructed so as to have chamber-forming elements that act to bias a forming bale away from the chamber inlet so that harvest entering the inlet will be more easily wrapped onto the bale, these chamber-forming elements, in some embodiments, also acting to increase the tension of tensioning mechanism forming part of the baling chamber. Also aiding in the delivery of harvest to the baling chamber is a conveyor having portions located within the chamber inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Philippe Lucand, Jean Viaud
  • Publication number: 20030079621
    Abstract: A large round baler is equipped with a chassis, including an outer pair of fixed side walls, that extend rearwardly beyond a pair of inner side walls which form opposite sides of a baling chamber. In an upper region of the baler, belts or the like are supported by a plurality of fixed rotary bodies extending either between the inner or the outer side walls and a movable rotary body carried at the end of a pivotally mounted tension arm, to form a large take-up loop that becomes smaller as a run of the belts expands during growth of the bale being formed. The run of belts, which is looped about the bale being formed, is conducted over rollers carried by a vertically pivoted frame, such that when the frame is swung between a lower extreme position, which it occupies during formation of a bale to a raised position, the formed bale is deposited on the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Jean Viaud, Philippe Lucand
  • Patent number: 6539851
    Abstract: A round baler, including a front housing, a rear housing pivotally connected with the front housing by an upper axle secured in the front housing and supporting the rear housing for a pivotal movement relative to the front housing, and a locking device for latching the rear housing to the front housing in a closed operational position of the rear housing and releasable upon a pressure acting on the rear housing reaching a predetermined value, and including an element for latchingly connecting the rear housing with the front housing in a partially open position of the rear housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Lely Welger Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Wilkens, Joost Honhold
  • Patent number: 6536337
    Abstract: A large round baler is equipped with a device for wrapping a bale formed in the baling chamber of the baler with a web of plastic sheeting or net wrapping medium. A supply roll of the wrapping medium is located in a box mounted forward of the baling chamber for movement along a fore-and-aft extending guide rail between a standby position, wherein a free end of the wrapping medium is supported by a guide surface at a location spaced forward of the baling chamber, and a wrapping position, wherein the free end of the wrapping medium is located for being grabbed by rotating rollers and/or the formed bale so that a length of the wrapping medium is pulled from the supply roll as it is wrapped about the bale. A power operated brake operates on the supply roll so as to provide a constant tension in the wrapping medium during wrapping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Pierre-Philippe Huchet, Philippe Lucand
  • Publication number: 20020174781
    Abstract: A baler is described which has a collection chamber or duct and a baling chamber. Crop material enters the duct until a pre-determined level has been reached at which time a stuffer transfers the pre-compressed crop to the baling chamber. A control system is provided for calculating the ratio between the amount of crop material which should be formed into bales under optimal conditions and the rate of flow of crop material entering the duct. This ratio can be displayed and used to control the speed of the towing vehicle. The present invention uses the duct as a kind of measuring cylinder to determine the rate at which crop material is entering the baler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Dirk G. C. Leupe, Christiaan A.C. Lippens
  • Patent number: 6453805
    Abstract: A large round baler has an expansible baling chamber defined, in part, by a plurality of side-by-side mounted belts that act to roll up crop to form a bale within the chamber. The baler is equipped with a twine wrapping arrangement which leaves loose twine ends adjacent one of the ends of the wrapped baler. In order to secure these loose ends, there is provided an adhesive tape dispensing arrangement, which cooperates with the bale-forming belt that is aligned with the area of the bale on which the loose twine ends lie, so that a length of adhesive tape is selectively fed into the bale chamber by the bale-forming belt such that it is wrapped about the bale in covering relationship to the loose twine ends. A separating arrangement is provided for causing that part of the length of adhesive tape that is wrapped about the bale to be separated from the supply roll of tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jean Viaud, Jean Francois Fournier, Jerome Repellin, Aurelien Chabassier
  • Patent number: 6425322
    Abstract: The present invention is for a log made from wastes from forestry and the like material. The invention also is for means and method for the production of such log. The log comprises a sheath which surrounds the compressed forestry wastes of the log. A log according to the invention is produced by that forestry wastes is compressed. The goods are fed to a delimited space which corresponds to the outer shape of the log. In this space the goods are rotated around the lengthwise axis of the log to be during compression after which a holding, moisture releasing sheath is applied during rotation. In the compriming engine the log is formed inside the space which is defined by the compression rolls and the side walls including their movable side wall parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventors: Gösta Karlsson, Erland Josefsson
  • Patent number: 6421996
    Abstract: A harvester includes an integral two-section baling device with the section movement designed to provide both a bale discharge function and a transport height reduction function. In one embodiment, one section of the device includes rollers which follow a downwardly sloped ramp as the sections are opened relative to each other. The sloped ramped additionally serves as a portion of a finished bale handler and bale support. In a second embodiment, an additional hydraulic cylinder system controls the downward movement of the opened sections towards the transport position. Existing baler functions are advantageously utilized to provide transport height reduction with a minimal amount of additional hardware, and the operator can switch between transport and operational modes quickly and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Timothy Arthur Deutsch, Michael Lee Pearson, Virgil Dean Haverdink
  • Publication number: 20020078674
    Abstract: A large round baler includes an expansible baling chamber having an inlet at a forward location thereof and defined in part by a lower run of a flexible, endless component arrangement of an upper conveyor, and by an upper run of a flexible, endless component arrangement of a bottom conveyor. In each of two embodiments, the bottom conveyor includes a moveable roller which operates to selectively deflect the upper run of the bottom conveyor so that it cooperates with a lower run of the upper conveyor so as define a baling chamber having a cross section conducive to starting a bale core at the beginning of the baling process and moveable to a discharge position for allowing a completed bale to roll onto the ground. In the second embodiment, the upper conveyor also includes a moveable roller operates to yieldably resist expansion of the lower run of the upper conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Philippe Lucand, Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 6370851
    Abstract: A baler for making large cylindrical bales is equipped with a cutting device for cutting picked up crop into pieces before it enters the baling chamber. The cutting device includes a plurality of cutting knives that are pivotable about a horizontal transverse axis between an working position for cutting crop, wherein the knives each project upwardly through respective slits provided in a guide sheet, and a non-working position wherein the knives are withdrawn to a non-working position substantially below the guide sheet. A plurality of knife positioning elements are respectively associated with the knives and mounted for pivoting about a second horizontal transverse axis such that when the positioning elements are in a first position corresponding to the working position of the knives rollers respectively carried by the positioning elements are in engagement with a recess in a surface provided on the rear of the associated knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Raymond Uros, Jérôme Simon, Jérôme Repellin, Aurelien Chabassier
  • Patent number: 6332309
    Abstract: A round baler for agricultural harvested crop and including a variable volume bale chamber having a delivery opening and limited, in an axial direction, by side walls of the baler housing and, in a radial direction, by at least one flexible transporting and pressing belt, which is guided over deflection rolls, and by at least one pressing roller which is arranged adjacent to a respective deflection roll, a pivot device supported in the baler housing for pivoting the transporting and pressing belt, with increase of a bale diameter, from a start position of the transporting and pressing belt into its end position, and elements for positively shifting a radial position of at least one pressing roller or the respective deflection roll relative to the bale chamber dependent on the pivotal movement of the pivot device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Lely Welger Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Rodewald
  • Patent number: 6321507
    Abstract: A belt roll-up machine which includes at least two endless belts. The endless belts have portions that overlap one another. The overlapping portions of the belts form a loop. A compressible strip of insulation material may be rolled in the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Paul Copeland, James D. Haaser
  • Patent number: 6301869
    Abstract: A baler plug removing system for unplugging a conventional hay baler without the user having to risk bodily injury or leave the comfort of the tractor cab. The device includes a support member having a front edge, a plurality of wheels rotatably attached to the support member, a pair of opposing tracks that are secured to the conventional baler that receive the plurality of wheels, a pair of front bearing for guiding the front of the support member, a pair of rear bearings for guiding the rear of the support member, a first blade member slidably positioned upon the front edge of the support member, a motor mechanically connected to the first blade member to reciprocate the first blade member upon the support member and a pair of hydraulic cylinders connected to the support member for extending/retracting the support member along the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Inforcer, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald L. Schmitcke
  • Patent number: 6298646
    Abstract: A baler for making rectangular crop bales has a generally horizontally disposed fore-and-aft extending baling chamber. The pickup of the baler is disposed underneath the baling chamber in line with the path of travel of a reciprocating plunger in the overhead chamber. An in-line transfer duct leads generally upwardly and rearwardly from the pickup to the bottom of the chamber. An enclosed crop flow passage is defined from a point immediately behind the pickup to a point located at the opening in the bottom of the baling chamber and presents a forwardmost cutting zone, a packing zone behind the cutting zone, and an accumulating zone behind the packing zone. Cutter apparatus within the cutting zone reduces the crop materials into smaller pieces as they flow through the cutting zone, whereupon a separate packer takes the materials from the rear side of the cutter apparatus and packs them in a downstream direction toward the accumulating zone where they form into a charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hay & Forage Industries
    Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Kelly Booton
  • Patent number: 6272825
    Abstract: A round baler includes bale forming mechanism and a crop delivery apparatus for delivering crop material to the bale forming mechanism. A clutch is provided for drivingly disconnecting the bale forming mechanism and delivery apparatus from the driveline while the tailgate is raised to discharge a wrapped bale. Engagement and disengagement of the clutch is controlled by a piston and cylinder assembly, and raising and lowering of the tailgate is controlled by a pair of piston and cylinder units. The baler is provided with a hydraulic sequencing circuit that connects the clutch assembly and the tailgate units to a common source of pressurized fluid. Moreover, the sequencing circuit controls fluid flow to the assembly and the units so that the clutch is disengaged before the tailgate is raised and the clutch is not re-engaged until the tailgate has been closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Hay & Forage Industries
    Inventors: J. Dale Anderson, Ferol S. Fell, Craig Pecenka
  • Patent number: 6240712
    Abstract: Bale collector having a mobile frame for connecting behind a bale delivery device, such as a baler, by which round bales can be deposited at desired points on the land. The bale collector provides a storage place for a single round bale, a non-return element for preventing rolling back of the bale from the rear and a tilt control element connected between the frame and the rear bearing part for tilting a rear end of the rear bearing part between an upper position of a collecting state and a lower position of an unloading state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Meijer Ten Post Beheer B.V.
    Inventor: Thomas H. D. Meijer
  • Patent number: 6237478
    Abstract: A round bale press, for baling agricultural products, includes a pressing chamber that is circumferentially surrounded by compaction elements and a tying apparatus that lays twine onto the circumferential surface of a rotating bale formed in the pressing chamber of the baler, the twine being engaged between the rotating bale and the compaction elements and wrapped about the circumference of the bale. At least one pressing device is provided which includes at least one rotating pressing tool for engaging the circumference of the bale at a location where the twine that is wrapped about the bale is to be cut off when the desired number of wraps have been applied to the bale. The pressing tool operates to form a groove in the circumference of the bale and to guide the finishing wraps or wrap of twine to the vicinity of the groove so that the tension in the twine acts to seat the finishing wraps or wrap of twine in the groove prior to the wrapped length of twine being severed from the supply roll of twine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Frédéric Carteret, Claude Georget
  • Patent number: 6233913
    Abstract: In a round baler for agricultural crops including a supply station for feeding-out a strip-like covering material for the fully wound round bale and a cutting device for severing the covering material, simple provision is desirable for pulling the new leading-edge of the strip of covering material away from the knife-edge after the cutting process. Drive shafts of the advancing roller and a detainable ratchet wheel are mutually coupled in rotatable manner by a resilient hub-shaft connection. The hub-shaft connection is constructed such that, when the ratchet wheel is detained, the advancing roller can still rotate through a small angle and thereby deform resilient drive elements in order to produce an extremely high tension in the strip. The restoring forces so created turn the advancing roller in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the strip as soon as the strip is severed. The leading-edge of the strip is thereby pulled away from the knife-edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Usines Claas France
    Inventors: Arsene Roth, Ralf Evelgünne, Peter Guthmann
  • Patent number: 6170245
    Abstract: A round baler for forming crop material into cylindrical bales. The baler has a main frame, a pair of side walls, a crop pickup mounted on the main frame, and a tailgate pivotally connected to the main frame. The tailgate is operative between a closed position during which a bale is being formed in an expandable chamber, and an open position during which a formed bale is being discharged from the chamber. A sledge assembly, pivotally mounted on the main frame for movement between a bale starting position and a full bale position, has crop engaging transverse rolls for urging the crop material along a spiral path in the chamber for starting and forming a bale. A apron is supported along a continuous path on the main frame and tailgate by a plurality of rotatable guide members. The path has an inner course that cooperates with the sledge rolls on the sledge assembly to define moveable walls of the chamber. A drive roll moves the apron along the continuous path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Underhill
  • Patent number: 6164050
    Abstract: A round baler comprising a baling chamber mounted on a main frame for forming cylindrical packages of crop material therein, the baling chamber being at least partially defined by a pair of side walls and an apron assembly having an inner run which is guided at the inside of a cylindrically shaped continuous wall, and an outer run which is guided at the outside of said continuous wall. The continuous wall is provided with an opening for the recuperation into the chamber of crop material which has been entrained by the apron assembly when the latter left the baling chamber and entered its outer run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Johan Adolf Eric Vande Ryse, Cyriel Richard Jozef De Busscher, Danny Noel Oscar Claeys, Dirk Andre Rene Vandamme
  • Patent number: 6134868
    Abstract: A baler plug removing system for unplugging a conventional hay baler without the user having to risk bodily injury or leave the comfort of the tractor cab. The system includes a bar member having an engaging face that is extendable between a pair of feed rollers, a plurality of wheels rotatably attached to the bar, a pair of opposing tracks that are secured to the conventional baler that receive the plurality of wheels, a pair of front bearing for guiding the front of the bar, a pair of rear bearings for guiding the rear of the bar, and a pair of hydraulic cylinders connected to the bar for extending/retracting the bar along the tracks. A plurality of push hooks are preferably connected to a rear portion of the bottom surface of the bar for pulling in hay from the pickup into the feed rollers. A plurality of pull hooks are preferably attached to the bottom surface of the bar adjacent the engaging face for pulling tightly compacted hay from between the feed rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Inforcer, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald L. Schmitcke
  • Patent number: 6112507
    Abstract: A square baler has a pick-up device, a feeding channel, a baling chamber with a baling ram, side walls of the baling chamber, a hydraulic adjustment device to change the position of at least one pivotal side wall and corresponding sensors and control devices, which regulate the side walls. A control device regulates the baling force of the square baler. A pressure sensor measures the baling pressure in the hydraulic adjustment device. The baling pressure is then compared with a set pressure value. The difference in the value of the pressures is processed via a PID controller, which sends an adjustment signal to a hydraulic valve for adjusting the difference in the actual and set pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Usines Claas France
    Inventor: Denis Mesmer
  • Patent number: 6109560
    Abstract: An apparatus to roll-up a lane of compressible material includes a first endless conveyor belt, a second endless conveyor belt that forms an angle of between 50.degree. and 80.degree. with the first belt, a winding roller that, with the first and second belts, form a winding space, and a third endless conveyor belt between the first and second belt. The third belt includes a guide plate above the upper portion and the lower portion runs in the same direction and at the same speed as the first belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Kaibel & Sieber GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Siegel
  • Patent number: 6098391
    Abstract: A round baler for forming crop material into cylindrical bales. The baler has a main frame, a pair of side walls, a crop pickup mounted on the main frame, and a tailgate pivotally connected to the main frame. The tailgate is operative between a closed position during which a bale is being formed in an expandable chamber, and an open position during which a formed bale is being discharged from the chamber. A sledge assembly, pivotally mounted on the main frame for movement between a bale starting position and a full bale position, has crop engaging transverse rollers for urging the crop material along a spiral path in the chamber for starting and forming a bale. A apron is supported along a continuous path on the main frame and tailgate by a plurality of rotatable guide members. The path has an inner course that cooperates with the sledge rolls on the sledge assembly to define moveable walls of the chamber. A drive roll moves the apron along the continuous path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Underhill
  • Patent number: 6094900
    Abstract: A round baler is disclosed for forming crop material into cylindrical bales. The baler has a main frame, a pair of side walls, a crop pickup mounted on the main frame, and a tailgate pivotally connected to the main frame. The tailgate is operative between a closed position during which a bale is being formed in an expandable chamber, and an open position during which a formed bale is being discharged from the chamber. A sledge assembly, pivotally mounted on the main frame for movement between a bale starting position and a full bale position, has crop engaging transverse rolls for urging the crop material along a spiral path in the chamber for starting and forming a bale. An apron is supported along a continuous path on the main frame and tailgate by a plurality of rotatable guide members. The path has an inner course that cooperates with the sledge rolls on the sledge assembly to define the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Underhill, Dennis L. White
  • Patent number: 6094899
    Abstract: A belt separating arrangement for a round baler includes a separating member positioned in a run of belts between a pair of spaced baler rollers. The separating member may be in the form of a separating roller with which each belt in a pair of adjacent belts is engaged in a different location, such that the separating member is operable to separate the belts to enable trash to fall into the crop inlet stream for incorporating into a baler. In one form, the separating arrangement includes a separating roll and an auxiliary roll, and each belt in a pair of adjacent belts is trained about the separating roll in a different location, as well as about the auxiliary roll. In another form, the separating arrangement is in the form of a sectioned separating roll, which includes a series of side-by-side roller sections mounted to a shaft such that each roller section can rotate in either direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Gehl Company
    Inventor: Kim P. Viesselmann
  • Patent number: 6079324
    Abstract: A variable chamber round baler having a bale core formation chamber with a variable geometry including a primary belt tensioner and a secondary belt tensioner, the primary belt tensioner begins to act only after the bale core has been completely formed; varying the initial geometry of the chamber and the compression program allows the formation of bales having different properties, such as a hard or soft core (with different diameters), a bale with constant density, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Antonio Feraboli
    Inventors: Antonio Feraboli, Vanni Caglieri
  • Patent number: 6073550
    Abstract: The bale pusher mechanism of a round baler has a one-way safety breakaway latch between the push bar that engages the ejected bale and the actuator that operates the push bar. During the pushing stroke of the push bar, the latch cannot unlock, but during the return stroke if the push bar hangs up on the bale for any reason, the relief spring of the latch can yield to allow the push bar to disconnect itself from the actuator and remain engaged with the bale. As the baler is driven forwardly a short distance with the tailgate raised, the unlatched push bar rides harmlessly across the top surface of the bale until it completely clears the bale. In most cases the push bar will then easily relatch itself with the actuator by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Hay & Forage Industries
    Inventors: Lavern R. Goossen, J. Dale Anderson