Locking mechanism for knotter assemblies
AssigneeGreat Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorJeffrey T. Hall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Shiftable lock assemblies for knotter assemblies in baling systems are provided that improve a user's accessibility of the knotter assemblies without the need for tools or by removing any components from the baling system. While in the locked position, the shiftable lock assemblies can keep the knotting mechanisms in the operating position; however, once easily moved into the unlocked position, the knotting mechanisms may be simply rotated to a passive position. Consequently, due to the shiftable lock assemblies of the present disclosure, routine maintenance on the knotter assemblies may be significantly easier to carry out.
Claims23
A baler system for forming bales comprising:
- (a) a baler frame configured to support the baler system;
- (b) one or more knotter assemblies configured to wrap and tie securement lines around a formed bale, wherein the knotter assemblies comprise a shaft and at least one knotting mechanism positioned on the shaft, wherein the at least one knotting mechanism is configured to rotatably shift on the shaft between an operating position and a passive position;
- (c) an engagement assembly extending from the at least one knotting mechanism;
- and
- (d) a shiftable lock assembly configured to selectively shift between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the shiftable lock assembly comprises a handle, at least one lock mechanism body, and a notch configured to engage the engagement assembly when in the locked position, wherein the shiftable lock assembly secures the at least one knotting mechanism in the operating position when in the locked position.
A method for accessing a knotting mechanism in a baler system for forming bales, the method comprising:
- (a) providing the baler system comprising—
- (i) a baler frame configured to support the baler system,
- (ii) one or more knotter assemblies configured to wrap and tie securement lines around a formed bale, wherein the knotter assemblies comprise a shaft and at least one knotting mechanism positioned on the shaft, wherein the at least one knotting mechanism is configured to rotatably shift on the shaft between an operating position and a passive position,
- (iii) an engagement assembly extending from the at least one knotting mechanism, and
- (iv) a shiftable lock assembly configured to selectively shift between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the shiftable lock assembly comprises a handle, at least one lock mechanism body, and a notch configured to engage the engagement assembly when in the locked position, wherein the shiftable lock assembly secures the at least one knotting mechanism in the operating position when in the locked position,
- wherein the shiftable lock assembly is in the locked position and the at least one knotting mechanism is in the operating position;
- (b) disengaging the shiftable lock assembly from the locked position and into the unlocked position;
- and
- (c) transitioning the at least one knotting mechanism from the operating position to the passive position.
A baler system for forming bales comprising:
- (a) a baler frame configured to support the baler system, wherein the baler frame comprises an upwardly-extending frame extension;
- (b) one or more knotter assemblies configured to wrap and tie securement lines around a formed bale, wherein the knotter assemblies comprise a shaft and at least one knotting mechanism positioned on the shaft, wherein the at least one knotting mechanism is configured to rotatably shift on the shaft between an operating position and a passive position;
- (c) an engagement assembly extending from the at least one knotting mechanism, wherein the engagement assembly is configured to engage with the frame extension when the at least one knotting mechanism is in the operating position;
- and
- (d) a shiftable lock assembly configured to move into a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the shiftable lock assembly comprises a handle, at least one lock mechanism body, a notch within the lock mechanism body configured to engage the engagement assembly, and a biasing mechanism configured to bias the lock mechanism body against the frame extension, wherein the shiftable lock assembly secures the at least one knotting mechanism in the operating position when in the locked position, wherein the frame extension comprises at least one lateral aperture configured to engage the lock mechanism body of the shiftable lock assembly when in the locked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.