Accessory for receiving and storing bales of compacted loose material

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an accessory as defined in the preamble of claim 1, for receiving and storing bales of compacted loose material formed by a machine for compacting loose material into bales.

The use of machines for collecting loose material such as tree and bush prunings, hay, grass and the like is well-known in agriculture.

As a rule, loose materials are well adapted to be advantageously compacted into bales, substantially having the shape of round cylinders, for easy disposal and/or transport.

By way of example, an agricultural machine of this type is known from the prior art document

WO2006/040783, which conveniently has a cylindrical compaction chamber with a horizontally extending axis. The machine further comprises means for picking up material from the ground and conveying it into said collection chamber, as well as means adapted to eject the' bale of compacted loose material from the compaction chamber.

Concerning the above machines, they have been found to ensure high efficiency and performance, as they allow collection of loose material into easy-to-handle bales.

Nevertheless, it shall be noted that the collection and compaction chamber obviously has a limited capacity wherefore, as full capacity is reached, the bale of compacted loose material must be removed before collecting any further loose material. Particularly, the ejection of bales of loose material from the compaction chamber is facilitated by special ejector means. Each bale of compacted loose material will be dropped out where the machine ejects ^' it, which involves the need of passing again through these areas to pick up the ejected bales.

It is apparent from the above that, in the field of machines for collecting and compacting loose material into bales, typically agricultural machines, the need is strongly felt of clearing the chamber for compacting and collecting the loose material to be compacted, without randomly dropping out compacted bales and without having to move every time to a predetermined collection station.

This need has been addressed by using carriages trailed by the compacting machine, on which the bales of compacted material are at least temporarily heaped up. Concerning this particular solution, the addition of a trailed cart apparently involves an increase of the longitudinal

dimension, i.e. length, which makes this solution unsuitable for use in steep soils or with small operating spaces, e.g. in narrow row planting, when moving between contiguous rows.

This invention is based on the problem of providing an accessory for receiving and storing bales of compacted loose material formed by a machine for compacting loose material into bales, which has such structural and functional characteristics as to fulfill the above need, while obviating the above prior art drawbacks.

This problem is solved by an accessory for receiving and storing bales of compacted loose material formed by a machine for compacting loose material into bales as defined in claim 1.

According to another aspect, the above problem is also solved by a machine for compacting loose material into bales as defined in claim 21.

Further features and advantages of the accessory for receiving and storing bales of compacted loose material and the machine for compacting loose material into bales according to the present invention, will be apparent upon reading of the following description of one preferred embodiment thereof, which is given by way of illustration and without limitation with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the accessory of the invention mounted to a machine for compacting loose material into bales of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a side view of the accessory and machine of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is a partially sectional view of Figure 2 with the accessory and the machine in a different configuration, particularly the accessory having its door open and the machine having its cover open,

- Figure 4 is a perspective rear view of the accessory of Figure 1 ;

- Figures 4a and 4b are enlarged views of two different details of Figure 4;

- Figure 5 is a perspective front view of the accessory of Figure 1 ; - Figure 6 is a side view of the accessory of Figure 5;

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of the accessory of Figure 5, with the door of the bale drop opening in its open state;

- Figure 8 is a side view of the accessory of Figure 7;

- Figure 9 is a side view of the accessory and machine of Figure I ₅ with the door of the drop opening in a forward position within the accumulation channel;

- Figure 10 is a rear perspective view of the machine of Figure 1, with the door of the

compaction chamber in a partially open state and

- Figure 10a is an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 10.

Referring to the accompanying figures, numeral 1 generally designates an accessory of the invention, for receiving and storing bales B of compacted loose material formed by a machine 100 for compacting loose material into bales.

As used herein, the term "loose material" is intended to define materials such as tree and bush prunings, hay, grass and the like.

Particularly, in a wholly conventional manner, the machine 100 includes means for picking up loose material from the ground and conveying it into a collection and compaction chamber 101, as well as means for ejecting the bales B of loose material from the collection and compaction chamber 101 through a special ejection opening.

The material is typically picked up from the front part of the machine 100 as the machine is moved forward, whereas the compacted bale B is ejected 101 from the opposite rear part of the machine. Particularly, for the bales B of compacted loose material to be ejected from the chamber

101, such chamber has an ejection opening at the rear side of the machine 100, which is defined as such with reference to the forward direction of the machine as it picks up loose material from the ground.

Collection of loose material is facilitated by the provision of a special comb, not shown, which is designed to engage the loose material on the soil and facilitate conveyance thereof to the collection and compaction chamber 101.

The machine 100 has a cover 102 for ensuring that the ejection opening of the collection chamber 101 is held closed during compaction by the machine 100.

It shall be noted that the cover 102 is supported by the machine to move from a lowered position in which it closes the ejection opening through which the bales B of loose material are ejected to a raised position in which it allows bales B to be dropped out from the collection chamber 101 and vice versa.

The machine 100 comprises actuator means, namely hydraulic actuators, which allow the cover 102 to be moved from the lowered position to the raised position and vice versa. It shall be noted that lifting elements 103 project backwards from the rear edge of the cover

102, to push a bale B upwards. In this embodiment, the lifting elements are embodied by forks.

The details of the machine 100 will not be further described herein as a description of such machine is contained in the international patent application WO2006/040783, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

It shall be noted that, for simplicity, the machine 100 is only shown in some of the figures, with the other figures showing the accessory 1 and possibly the bales B contained therein.

The accessory 1 for receiving and storing bales B of compacted loose material formed by the machine 100 has a frame 2 for containing and supporting the bales B of compacted loose material, which are ejected through said ejection opening of the collection and compaction chamber 101 of the machine 100. The frame 2 is equipped with fixing means 4, through which the accessory 1 may be firmly but removably secured to the machine 100.

Particularly, as shown in the figures, the accessory 1 is mounted onto the machine 100 at the rear of the machine 100, i.e. the part with the ejection opening through which the bales B are ejected from the collection and compaction chamber 101. As a result, the accessory 1 is carried by the machine 100 and requires no ground-supported rolling means. In any case, whenever this is needed, the accessory 1 may be equipped with ground-supported means, or the accessory may not be mounted directly onto the machine 100 but supported thereby.

The frame 2 defines an accumulation chamber, that is designed to hold and guide the bales B of lose material that come out of the machine 100. Such accumulation channel extends from an entry end 2a through which the bales B are introduced to a distal end 2b. hi practice, such accumulation channel acts as a magazine designed to receive a plurality of bales B of compacted loose material (in the illustrated embodiment up to seven bales), and prevent them from being dropped off along the collection path upon ejection from the collection chamber 101 of the machine 100. At the entry end 2a of the frame 2, the front side may be defined as the side facing towards the machine 100 (see Fig. 2).

The frame 2 has a load opening 5 for loading the bales B of compacted loose material, which is situated at said front side of the entry end 2a.

In order to prevent the accessory 1 from undesirably increasing the length and height of the machine 100, the above mentioned accumulation channel for the bales B, formed by the frame 2, has at least one section defining a curved accumulation channel, in which a plurality of bales B of

compacted loose material may be received in a corresponding curvilinear arrangement.

As shown in the figures, which relate to a condition in which the accessory 1 is fixed to the machine 100 for compacting loose material into bales B, the above mentioned curvilinear section extends in height, so that the entry end 2a of the frame 2 is below the level of the distal end 2b. Preferably, such curvilinear section of accumulation channel coincides with the initial section of the accumulation channel, i.e. the frame 2, extending from the entry end 2a through which the bales B are introduced.

Furthermore, the provision of such curvilinear section allows the accumulation channel for the bales B to advantageously extend beyond the front side of the entry end 2a of the frame 2, so that the distal end 2b of the accumulation channel and the frame is more advanced in position than the entry end 2a, as shown.

As a result of the above conformation, after the first curvilinear section, the frame 2 and the accumulation channel defined thereby advantageously extend above the machine 100 and even farther than the front end of the machine. This advantageously minimizes the length of the machine 100 without excessively increasing its height.

According to the preferred embodiment as shown in the figures, said first curvilinear section of the accumulation channel for the bales B is connected to a second horizontal rectilinear section which constitutes its natural continuation, to the distal end. Due to this conformation that includes a first curvilinear section and a second horizontal rectilinear section, the accumulation channel for the bales B is an accumulation channel that assumes a J shape in its longitudinal section, with the entry end 2a and the distal end 2b placed at the foot end and the head end of the J stem.

Concerning the frame 2 that forms the accumulation channel, it is found to be formed of profiled or tubular elements and to have a substantially rectangular cross section which remains substantially constant throughout its longitudinal extension. Particularly, the accumulation channel is delimited by two opposed vertical sides connected by opposed upper and lower base surfaces.

Concerning the cross section of the accumulation channel, it is of such a size as to accommodate the bales B of compacted loose material with some clearance, which size depends on the dimensions (width and diameter) of the collection and compaction chamber of the machine 100. By way of illustration, these bales have a round cylindrical shape with a diameter of about 40 cm and a width of 60 cm.

The bales B of compacted loose material are advantageously received into the accumulation

channel with their axis of rotation extending from one side to the other, i.e. transversely to the accumulation channel.

Advantageously, the accessory 1 comprises motion imparting means associated with the frame 2, for moving the bales B contained in the accumulation channel. hi accordance with a preferred embodiment, such motion imparting means comprise drive belt members 3 which are adapted to exert an adhesion and friction action on the bales B of loose material in the accumulation channel, to cause displacement thereof towards the distal end 2b or in the opposite direction towards the entry end 2a.

Namely, the drive belt members 3 are actuated by a hydraulic motor which is supplied with the hydraulic fluid of the tractor that pulls the machine 100 and are disposed along at least one side of the accumulation channel to drive the bales B contacted thereby. These drive belt members 3 include an adjustable friction device which is designed to enable or disable the belt driving feature in response to particular conditions, to prevent the structure from being excessively stressed whenever excessive forces are exerted thereupon or the bales B reach their limit stop position within the accumulation channel.

Preferably, the above mentioned motion imparting means are situated close to the distal end 2b of the frame 2. More precisely, they are situated at the center line of the upper base of the frame 2 and extend throughout said second horizontal rectilinear section of the frame 2.

It shall be noted that, in addition to the load opening 5, the frame 2 also has a drop out opening 6 through which the bales B of compacted loose material may be dropped out from the accumulation channel.

A door 7 is associated with the drop out opening 6, and is supported in a movable fashion, to move from a closed position, in which it closes the drop-out opening 6 and prevents the bales B from coming out of the accumulation channel, to an open position, in which said door 7 does not engage the drop-out opening, and the bales B can come out of the accumulation channel defined by the frame 2.

Preferably, the door 7 is moved from the closed position to the open position and vice versa by rotating the door 7 towards the exterior of the frame 2. For this purpose, the door 7 is hinged at one side to the frame 2. The accessory 1 comprises second actuator means for driving the door 7 and causing it to move from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.

Also, the accessory 1 comprises stop means 8, which are supported by the frame 2 substantially at said drop-out opening 6 in a movable fashion, to reversibly move:

- from an operating position in which they project into the accumulation channel to divide it into an upstream portion, delimited by the stop means 8 and the distal end 2b, and a downstream portion delimited by the stop means 8 and the entry end 2a, and prevent the bales B from moving from the upstream portion to the downstream portion of the accumulation channel, to

- an offset position, in which the stop means 8 do not prevent the bales B from moving from the upstream portion to the downstream portion of the accumulation channel.

Advantageously, the stop means 8 are supported by the door 7 to follow its motion from the closed position to the open position. Accordingly, when the door 7 is rotated out of the accumulation channel into said open position (see Figures 3, 7 and 8), the stop means are in a position in which they do not interfere with the motion of the bales B from the upstream portion to the downstream portion of the accumulation channel.

Conversely, when the door 7 is in said closed position, the stop means 8 are within the accumulation channel. It shall be understood that:

- the stop means 8 are supported by the door 7 to rotate between two limit stop positions, defined by said operating position and said offset position and also

- when the stop means 8 are in said operating position (see Figures 6 and 9), they operate within the accumulation channel as unidirectional stop means to only prevent the bales (B) from moving from the upstream portion to the downstream portion of the accumulation channel. The structure of the stop means 8 and their possibility of rotating from the operating position and the offset position and vice versa is such that:

- the motion of a bale B from the downstream portion to the upstream portion of the accumulation channel causes said stop means 8 to rotate into the offset position, whereas - the motion of a bale B from the upstream portion to the downstream portion of the accumulation channel causes said stop means 8 to rotate in the opposite direction, and to stick into the operating position, to prevent the bale B from being dropped down. At the entry end 2a, the frame 2 has:

- pushing means for pushing the bale B at the entry end of the accumulation channel towards the load opening 5 and

- first actuator means for actuating said pushing means.

According to the preferred embodiment, the drop out opening 6 for the bales B is situated in a position that substantially faces towards and is opposed to the entry opening 5 and the door 7 is adapted to be actuated by said second actuator means to move from said closed position (see Figures 1, 2, 4 and 6) in which it closes the drop-out opening 6 to a more advanced position within said accumulation channel (see Fig. 9). In view of the above, the pushing means are defined by the door itself, due to the ability of the door to move into the accumulation channel to push the approaching bale B towards the load opening 5.

Otherwise, special pushing means may be provided.

The accessory of the invention may include lifting means, for lifting a bale of compacted loose material in the accumulation channel from the entry end to a position beyond said stop means 8.

Nevertheless, according to the preferred embodiment, the accessory has no such lifting means, because the action of lifting the bales B from the entry end 2a of the accumulation channel and causing them to surpass said stop means 8 is conveniently assured by the presence of the lifting elements 103 which advantageously project into the accumulation channel through the load opening

5.

Particularly, as the cover 102 is opened by being moved from the lowered position (see Figure 2) to the raised position (see Fig. 3), the lifting means 103 will engage from below any bale B of compacted loose material that may be situated at the entry end 2a of the accumulation channel, thereby causing it to be lifted along the accumulation channel. The presence of the lifting elements 103 allows the bale B to be initially lifted in the first section of the accumulation channel, and then be moved beyond the stop means 8.

It shall be noted that, as the cover is opened, the bale B to be lifted is prevented from coming off said lifting elements 103, e.g. conformed as forks, by having the door 7 move into said more advanced position into the accumulation channel (see Fig. 9). In other words, the door 7 or any other pushing means shall be caused to push the bale B to be lifted towards the load opening 5, thereby maintaining it in the right position above the lifting forks 103, at least during the initial lifting step.

Conversely, as the cover 102 is lowered, in order to avoid any interference between the lifting elements 103 and any bale B at the entry end 2a of the accumulation channel, which has been ejected from the collection and compaction chamber 101, the door 7 shall be caused to move into

said closed position (see Figures 1, 2, 4 and 6) or be slightly open, to allow the bale B to move back from the load opening 5 and allow the lifting elements 103 to come down with the cover 102.

According to a preferred embodiment, the above described actuator means are hydraulic cylinders supplied by the hydraulic circuit of the machine 100. As clearly shown in the above description, the accessory of the present invention fulfills the above mentioned need and also obviates the prior art drawbacks as set out in the introduction of this disclosure.

As the bales B are ejected from the collection chamber 101 of the machine 100, they are received in the accumulation channel of the accessory 1, and are thus collected and stored therein. Also, due to the circular shape of the accumulation channel, and the possibility of forming such accumulation channel so that it can extend beyond the baler that compacts loose material into bales, the overall length dimension may be minimized, without involving an excessive height increase.

An advantage of the accessory of the invention consists in the simplicity of the structural solution in use, which ensures proper operation thereof without requiring high maintenance costs. A further advantage of the accessory of the invention is that, when moving from one row of plants to another, in small spaces, the length of the machine is not excessively increased by the presence of the accessory, thanks to the curved extension thereof.

Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the accessory as described hereinbefore, without departure from the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

Thus, for example, a drop out opening for the bales B may be also provided next to the distal end of the accumulation channel.

Also, if a lower capacity of accumulation of bales of compacted loose material is required, the frame may be arranged to only include the first curvilinear section, without any additional horizontal rectilinear section.