System and method for cleaning a cutting assembly of an agricultural baler
AssigneeCNH Industrial America LLC
InventorJohn R. McClure
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for operating a baler including an initial step of providing a cleaning system that includes a floor plate having a plurality of slots therein, at least one knife tray, at least one actuator operably connected to the at least one knife tray, and a controller operably connected to the at least one actuator. The method further includes the steps of determining whether the plurality of knives of the at least one knife tray is retracted, determining whether to conduct a knife tray cleanout procedure for cleaning the floor plate based upon at least one cleaning parameter, and conducting the knife tray cleanout procedure by actuating the at least one actuator for cycling the plurality of knives of the at least one knife tray for dislodging debris from the floor plate.
Claims18
A method for operating a baler having a cleaning system comprising a floor plate having a plurality of slots therein, at least one knife tray comprising a plurality of knives, at least one actuator operably connected to the at least one knife tray, and a controller operably connected to the at least one actuator and configured for actuating the at least one actuator for moving the at least one knife tray for inserting and retracting the plurality of knives into and out of the plurality of slots of the floor plate, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining, by the controller, whether the plurality of knives of the at least one knife tray is retracted;
- determining, by the controller, whether to conduct a knife tray cleanout procedure for cleaning the floor plate based upon at least one cleaning parameter comprising one or more of a baling procedure, a duration of baling time, a duration of time from a prior knife tray cleanout procedure, a location of the baler, and an inputted user command;
- and
- conducting, by the controller, the knife tray cleanout procedure by actuating the at least one actuator for cycling the plurality of knives of the at least one knife tray for dislodging debris from the floor plate.
An agricultural baler for baling crop material in a field, comprising:
- a frame;
- a rotor rotatably connected to the frame and comprising a plurality of blades;
- a cleaning system, comprising:
- a floor plate disposed adjacent to the rotor and comprising a plurality of slots therein;
- at least one knife tray disposed adjacent to the floor plate, the at least one knife tray comprising a plurality of knives, and each knife of the plurality of knives being associated with a respective slot of the plurality of slots;
- and
- at least one actuator operably connected to the at least one knife tray;
- and
- a controller operably connected to the at least one knife tray and configured for actuating the at least one actuator for moving the at least one knife tray for inserting and retracting the plurality of knives into and out of the plurality of slots of the floor plate, and wherein the controller is further configured for determining whether the plurality of knives of the at least one knife tray is retracted, determining whether to conduct a knife tray cleanout procedure for cleaning the floor plate based upon at least one cleaning parameter comprising one or more of a baling procedure, a duration of baling time, a duration of time from a prior knife tray cleanout procedure, a location of the baler, and an inputted user command, and conducting the knife tray cleanout procedure by actuating the at least one actuator for cycling the plurality of knives of the at least one knife tray for dislodging debris from the floor plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.