US 4,052,841 A · Mechanism for opening and closing a crop material roll forming region in a roll forming machine

Abstract

A roll forming machine picks up crop material and forms, twine wraps and discharges rolls or large round bales thereof as the machine is continuously moving across the field. The machine has a mobile frame supporting a pickup and a floor, the latter supporting a lower conveyor. A rear upper apron is movably supported on the frame above a rear portion of the lower conveyor and floor and defines a rear roll forming region therewith. A front upper apron is movably supported on the frame above a front portion of the lower conveyor and floor and defines a front roll forming region therewith having an inlet end and a discharge end. A series of generally planar ramp elements are disposed in laterally spaced apart relationship transversely across the floor at the discharge end of the front roll forming region. Each ramp element is mounted for movement between a lowered position and a raised position. Also, the front upper apron has a portion located at the discharge end of the region which is movable between a raised position and a lowered position. Means is provided for coordinating the movement of the ramp elements and the upper apron portion so as either to dispose the ramp elements and the upper apron portion at their respective raised and lowered positions to close the discharge end of the roll forming region or to dispose the same at their respective lowered and raised positions to open the discharge end of the region.

Claims20

Dependent claims

In a crop material roll forming machine, the combination comprising:

a mobile frame adapted to move across a field;
crop material delivery means supported by said frame;
upper flexible means movably mounted by said frame above said delivery means to define a roll forming region therebetween having inlet and discharge ends;
said delivery means including conveying means operable to move crop material in a predetermined direction along a path from adjacent said inlet end toward said discharge end of said region;
said upper flexible means being movable in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction for performing roll forming operation at said region;
ramp means positioned at said discharge end of said region and mounted to said frame for movement between a lowered position in which said ramp means is disposed adjacent said path and thereby facilitate the opening of said discharge end of said region and a raised position in which said ramp means extend generally into said path and thereby facilitate the closing of said discharge end of said region to the passage of crop material therethrough;
and
means being movable relative to said frame for moving said ramp means between said positions.

5 more elements

In a crop material roll forming machine, the combination comprising:

a mobile frame adapted to move across a field;
a floor supported by said frame;
means movably mounted by said frame above said floor to define a roll forming region therebetween having inlet and discharge ends;
crop material delivery means supported by said frame below said movably mounted means and having a portion being movable in a predetermined direction relative to said floor so as to convey said crop material in a path along said floor from adjacent said inlet end toward said discharge end of said region;
said movably mounted means being movable in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction for performing roll forming operation at said region;
said floor including portions positioned at said discharge end of said region and mounted for movement between a lowered position in which said floor portions are disposed adjacent said path and thereby facilitate the opening of said discharge end of said region and a raised position in which said floor portions extend generally into said path and thereby facilitate the closing of said discharge end of said region and the directing of said material into the roll forming operaton being performed at said region;
and
means on said frame being movable for moving said floor portions between said positions.

5 more elements

In a crop material roll forming machine, the combination comprising:

a mobile frame adapted to move across a field;
crop material delivery means supported by said frame;
front means movably mounted by said frame above a front portion of said delivery means to define a front region therebetween in which to initiate formation of a crop material roll, said front region having inlet and discharge ends;
rear means movably mounted by said frame above a rear portion of said delivery means to define a rear region therebetween in which to complete formation of said crop material roll after being transferred through said discharge end of said front region to said rear region when said discharge end of said front region is open;
and
means on said frame operable for moving repective portions of said front movably mounted means and said delivery means, being located at said discharge end of said front region, toward and away from each other to correspondingly close and open said discharge end of said front region.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mechanism for opening and closing a crop material roll forming region in a roll forming machine

Life of this patent

Mechanism for opening and closing a crop material roll forming region in a roll forming machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20