Method and Device for Wrapping and Tagging of Round Bales

A method for tagging round bales (61) during wrapping in plastic foil, the round bales having a generally cylindrical shape with generally circular end surfaces, comprising the steps of:

• (a) using a wrapper selected from the group consisting of an independent bale wrapper, a stationary baler-wrapper combination, a compactor and a mobile baler-wrapper combination,
• (b) positioning each round bale with the end surfaces substantially vertically oriented,
• (c) wrapping layers of plastic foil around the round bale by moveable foil wrapping arms (63),
• (d) at an intermediate point in time during the step of wrapping, attaching an identification (ID) tag (25) with an adhesive back-side surface to one of the generally circular surfaces of a round bail with an identification (ID) tag (25) having an adhesive back-side surface using a time controlled pivotal tagging arm (22) having a free end (22b) with a tag transferring member (23) arranged to transfer one tag at a time from an ID tag magazine (24);
• and
• (e) wrapping at least one additional layer of plastic foil around each round bale and the attached ID tag (25), wherein
• movement of said tagging arm (22) in step (d) is controlled by a computer unit that synchronizes said movement of the tagging arm with the movement of the foil wrapping arms (63).

A device for tagging round bales (61) during wrapping in plastic foil, the round bales having a generally cylindrical shape with generally circular end surface, the device being adapted for connection to a wrapper selected from the group consisting of a mobile bale wrapper, a stationary bale wrapper, a stationary baler-wrapper combination, a compactor and a mobile baler-wrapper combination, the wrapper being arranged to position each round bale (61) with its generally circular end surfaces substantially vertically oriented, and to wrap layers of plastic foil around the round bale (61) by moveable foil wrapping arms (63), comprising:

• a tagging arm (22) hinged at a first end (22a) and free at an opposite second end (22b), a tag transferring member (23) arranged at the tagging arm free end (22b) configured to receive ID tags (25) one at a time from an ID tag magazine (24) and to hold and release the ID tags (25), said tagging arm (22) being arranged to allow pivotal movement between a first standby position where its free end (22b) is positioned spaced from the round bail, thereby allowing the foil wrapping arms (63) to move between the free end and the bail, and a second tagging position wherein the tag transferring member (23) contacts one of the cylindrical end surfaces, and
• a control unit arranged to synchronize movement of the foil wrapping arms with movement of the tagging arm.