US 4,052,011 A · Combination stack mover and processor

Abstract

A machine for handling large crop masses and the like is presented which permits completely automatic processing of these masses and requires only a single operator to effectively manipulate the machine to perform this function. A tiltable bed having a fore-and-aft conveyor is arranged behind a bank of shredding rolls for engaging ground-supported crop masses, loading the latter to a horizontally support position and then feeding the same horizontally into the rolls. Swingable structure is provided between the rolls and the bed for positive feeding of remnant portions of the masses presented at the end of the feeding cycle. The bed and the processor are releasably connected such that they effectively cooperate as a single machine, yet at the same time may be used individually to perform other unrelated farm tasks.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method of reducing a large mass of crop material including the steps of:

engaging an upstanding crop mass from beneath the latter with a horizontally moving conveying force to advance the mass in the direction of movement of said conveying force;
continuing said advancement of the mass using said conveying force only as the mass is progressively delivered into the mechanism for shredding the same;
passing said mass over a standby source of swingable lifting force on the way to said mechanism;
and
after shredding most of the original mass using said conveying force only, restraining the remaining portion of the upstanding mass against tipover and feeding the same into the mechanism using said swingable lifting force only.

2 more elements

A machine for handling large crop masses including:

an elongate, horizontally disposed flat bed adapted to carry said crop masses;
an upright crop processor adjacent one end of the bed for progressively shredding a mass of crop material presented thereto,
said bed having a plurality of laterally spaced, load-supporting rails extending between the opposite ends of the bed;
an endless conveying element looped longitudinally around each of said rails, respectively, each element presenting an upper working stretch movable toward said processor from the opposite end of the bed in unison with corresponding stretches of the other elements for the purpose of delivering a mass along the rails into the processor;
and
a lift at said one end of the bed held against longitudinal displacement relative to the latter during operation in disposition for a mass to pass over the same during its delivery by said elements to the processor,
said lift including a plurality of longitudinally extending tines interdigitated between said rails and said elements in a manner to avoid interference with a mass moving along said beams above the tines,
said lift further including means for selectively operating said tines to swing the same in unison from said interdigitated position to a raised, feeding position for lifting a final portion of the mass off the bed and into the processor.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,548 words

Summary619 words

#Machines for disintegrating and feeding hay stacks to livestock are known in the art as evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,269, issued Nov. 20, 1973, and entitled "Continuous Stack Feeder and Method." The machine of this patent includes rotary mechanism for continuously disintegrating a large stack or other mass fed horizontally into the mechanism by a supporting conveyor.

#A problem with a machine of this type is a difficulty in automatically processing the entirety of a given crop mass. In this connection, there is a tendency for the last remaining portion of these crop masses to resist further horizontal feeding into the disintegrating mechanism by tipping over rearwardly as the mechanism is encountered. Rearward tipping is caused because the base or supported area of the remaining portion is progressively decreased while the center of gravity remains substantially the same distance from the base, resulting in an increasingly unstable condition. In many instances, the final feeding of the last portion of the crop mass must be accomplished by the operator manually advancing this portion into the disintegrating mechanism.

#Tip-over is not a problem in the feeding machines illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,741,051 and 3,830,438 even though they use horizontal conveying beds, because there the haystacks are intermittently advanced by the beds into position beneath mechanism that takes successively end slices from the stacks. On the other hand, these machines are not truly continuous in operation.

Brief description of the drawings5 figures

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention and capable of carrying the novel method, portions of the machine being shown diagrammatically for clarity;

#FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional diagrammatic view of the machine showing the processor and swinging structure;

Detailed description1,827 words

#A stack moving and processing machine broadly designated by the numeral 10 has a forwardly extending tongue 12 for connection with a towing vehicle (not shown) as well as a drive shaft 14 adapted for interconnection with a power takeoff such as commonly found in conventional towing vehicles. Although the machine 10 as shown in the preferred embodiment is adapted to be trailed behind a towing vehicle, it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in a self-propelled machine, as well as a machine adapted for stationary use.

#The forward end of machine 10 is provided with a processor 16 having a frame 18 secured to tongue 12 and supporting a bank of conventional processing rolls 20. Frame 18 is rendered mobile by a pair of spaced ground-engaging wheels 22 mounted on frame 18 for rotation about a transverse axis.

#The bank of processing rolls 20 extends upwardly and forwardly with each roll 20 being supported upon its own transversely extending axle 24 for rotation respectively in the directions shown by the arrows in FIG. 1. A transversely extending auger 26 is disposed generally forwardly and below the bank of rolls 20 for receiving material shredded by the latter and conveying the material transversely.

Facts

Application

05/653,146Filed 28 Jan 1976

Granted

4 Oct 1977

Term ended

4 Oct 1994

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification4 codes

A01F 29/005
Cutting apparatus specially adapted for cutting hay, straw or the like: for disintegrating and cutting up bales of hay, straw or fodder
A23N 17/02
Apparatus specially adapted for preparing animal feeding-stuffs: fodder mashers
A01F
Processing of harvested produce
A23N
Machines or apparatus for treating harvested fruit, vegetables or flower bulbs in

Description2,548 words

Summary619 words

Brief description of the drawings5 figures

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional diagrammatic view of the machine showing the processor and swinging structure;

Detailed description1,827 words

Combination stack mover and processor

Life of this patent

Combination stack mover and processor

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims9

Description2,548 words

Drawings

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description2,548 words