Twine restrictor
AssigneeVermeer Manufacturing Company
InventorJerry Bandstra
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A twine restrictor is disclosed having the advantages of simplicity and reliability. The twine restrictor is generally formed from solid or hollow stock. It is left free floating while being restrained sufficiently to avoid loss. Twine is passed over a substantially horizontal surface of a twine arm assembly and the twine restrictor is simply placed on the twine, providing a force up to a value equal to its weight on the twine. The twine restrictor is unaffixed and no springs are required.
Claims17
A large round baler having a bale forming chamber, where crop material is rotated and compressed to form a cylindrical bale, and a twine arm assembly to guide a strand of twine to the rotating bale and to move the twine strand longitudinally as the bale is rotated in order to apply the strand in a spiral pattern wherein the twine arm assembly comprises:
- a first end with a twine guide;
- a second end with a twine guide;
- a middle section including a flat, generally horizontal surface, first second and third sides;
- a twine restrictor that is guided by the sides of the middle section such that the twine restrictor is retained, but not restrained;
- and
- where the twine restrictor is supported by the flat surface of the middle section such that its weight will be supported by twine that passes from the first end to the second end and under the twine restrictor.
A method of restricting twine in a large round baler being generally used to form crop material into a cylindrical bale such as used for livestock feed and bedding, said large round baler comprising a twine restrictor having a weight, a horizontal surface, and at least one strand of twine, said method comprising:
- (a) placing the at least one strand of twine on the horizontal surface of the large round baler;
- (b) placing the twine restrictor on the at least one strand of twine;
- (c) applying a force to the at least one strand of twine due only to the weight of the twine restrictor;
- and
- (d) permitting said twine restrictor to be free floating.
An apparatus for restricting twine in a large round baler for rolling crop material into cylindrical bales, said bales being bound with the twine, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a substantially horizontal upper surface;
- (b) at least one strand of twine for wrapping the cylindrical bale in the large round baler;
- and
- (c) a free floating twine restrictor, operatively supported by the substantially horizontal surface and oriented to bear on the at least one strand of twine with a weight of the twine restrictor.
A large round baler having a bale forming chamber, where crop material is rotated and compressed to form a cylindrical bale, and a twine arm assembly to guide a strand of twine to the rotating bale and to move the twine strand longitudinally as the bale is rotated in order to apply the strand in a spiral pattern wherein the twine arm assembly comprises:
- a first end with a twine guide;
- a second end with a twine guide;
- a middle section including a flat, generally horizontal surface, first second and third sides;
- a twine restrictor disposed between the sides of the middle section such that the twine restrictor is retained, but not restrained;
- and
- the twine restrictor being supported by the flat surface of the middle section whereby the weight of the twine restrictor will be supported by twine that passes from the first end to the second end and under the twine restrictor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.