US 6,021,622 AGranted

Round bale wrapping apparatus

AssigneeNew Holland North America, Inc.

InventorKenneth R. Underhill

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Abstract

A round baler having a tailgate, pivotally connected to a main frame, operative between a closed position during which a bale is being formed, and an open position during which a formed bale is being discharged. A sledge assembly, mounted on the main frame for movement between a bale starting position and a full bale position, has at least two transverse cylindrical rolls mounted in spaced relationship along an arcuate path. An apron, supported along a continuous path on the main frame and tailgate by a plurality of rotatable guide members, includes an inner course that cooperates with the transverse rolls on the sledge assembly to define a bale forming chamber. The apron is driven along a continuous path in the same direction as the outer surfaces of the transverse rolls. A dispensing assembly dispenses wrapping material into the bale forming chamber between the adjacent outer surfaces of the transverse rolls for wrapping the cylindrical package of crop material. Resilient transverse flaps extending from one of the transverse rolls intermittently contact the wrapping material as it is being dispensed into the chamber.

Claims18

Dependent claims

In a round baler for forming crop material into cylindrical bales, said baler having

a main frame,
a tailgate pivotally connected to said main frame, said tailgate operative between a closed position during which a bale is being formed, and an open position during which a formed bale is being discharged,
a sledge assembly mounted on said main frame for movement between a bale starting position and a full bale position, said sledge assembly including conveying means having a crop engaging surface extending transversely of said main frame,
said conveying means comprising two transverse rolls,
means for mounting said two transverse rolls in spaced adjacent relationship, said rolls each having a generally cylindrical outer surface defining a transverse slot therebetween,
an apron supported along a continuous path on said main frame and on said tailgate by a plurality of rotatable guide members, said apron path having an inner course that cooperates with said conveying means on said sledge assembly to define a bale forming chamber,
drive means for moving said apron along said continuous path,
means for rotating said two transverse rolls such that the outer surfaces thereof move in the same direction of travel as said apron,
a supply of wrapping material,
a dispensing assembly including means for dispensing wrapping material from said supply of wrapping material into said chamber through said slot between said two transverse rolls for wrapping the outer surface of said cylindrical package of crop material to form a round bale of crop material, and
a pickup for feeding crop material into said chamber, the improvement comprising
feed assist means extending from one of said two transverse rolls for intermittent contact with said wrapping material for urging it toward said bale forming chamber as it is being dispensed through said slot.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.