Control system for baling machine

A data structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium controlling a bulk material baler comprising:

• an instruction to a moveable guide track section support strut to move from a removed position to a closed position when a compression apparatus advances a volume of bulk material to be baled into a compressed position in a baling station;
• an instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a predetermined length of bale strapping into a guide track loop when said moveable guide track section support strut reaches said closed position;
• an instruction to a strap cutter to cut a proximal end of said bale strapping length;
• an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten a proximal end portion of said length of bale strapping together with a distal end portion of said predetermined length of bale strapping;
• an instruction to said moveable guide track section support strut to move to said removed position after said strapping length end portions are fastened together;
• and
• an instruction to said compression apparatus to release from said compressed position after said moveable guide track sections are moved away from said compression apparatus;
• wherein said data structure stores press position data regarding said compression apparatus and receives said press position data from a limit switch on said compression apparatus that signals said data structure when said compression apparatus is at a compressed position and a limit switch on said compression apparatus that signals said data structure when said compression apparatus is at a clear position.

A data structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium controlling a bulk material baler comprising:

• an instruction to a moveable guide track section support strut to move from a removed position to a closed position when a compression apparatus advances a volume of bulk material to be baled into a compressed position in a baling station;
• an instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a predetermined length of bale strapping into a guide track loop when said moveable guide track section support strut reaches said closed position;
• an instruction to a strap cutter to cut a proximal end of said bale strapping length;
• an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten a proximal end portion of said length of bale strapping together with a distal end portion of said predetermined length of bale strapping;
• an instruction to said moveable guide track section support strut to move to said removed position after said strapping length end portions are fastened together;
• and
• an instruction to said compression apparatus to release from said compressed position after said moveable guide track sections are moved away from said compression apparatus;
• wherein said data structure stores strap position data regarding said bale strapping length distal end, said data structure receiving said strap position data from a limit switch placed about at the end of said guide track loop, said limit switch signaling to said data structure when said distal end of bale strapping length arrives.

A data structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium controlling a bulk material baler comprising:

• an instruction to a moveable guide track section support strut to move from a removed position to a closed position when a compression apparatus advances a volume of bulk material to be baled into a compressed position in a baling station;
• an instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a predetermined length of bale strapping into a guide track loop when said moveable guide track section support strut reaches said closed position;
• an instruction to a strap cutter to cut a proximal end of said bale strapping length;
• an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten a proximal end portion of said length of bale strapping together with a distal end portion of said predetermined length of bale strapping;
• an instruction to said moveable guide track section support strut to move to said removed position after said strapping length end portions are fastened together;
• and
• an instruction to said compression apparatus to release from said compressed position after said moveable guide track sections are moved away from said compression apparatus;
• wherein said data structure stores tie cylinder position data regarding at least one fastener tie cylinder, said data structure receiving said tie cylinder position data from a signal from an electro-servo motor engaged to propel said at least one fastener tie cylinder, said electro-servo motor having a rotation tracker, said data structure being pre-configured to correlate calibrated rotation tracker data to a registered degree of rotation of said at least one tie cylinder.

A data structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium controlling a bulk material baler comprising:

• an instruction to a moveable guide track section support strut to move from a removed position to a closed position when a compression apparatus advances a volume of bulk material to be baled into a compressed position in a baling station;
• an instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a predetermined length of bale strapping into a guide track loop when said moveable guide track section support strut reaches said closed position;
• an instruction to a strap cutter to cut a proximal end of said bale strapping length;
• an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten a proximal end portion of said length of bale strapping together with a distal end portion of said predetermined length of bale strapping;
• an instruction to said moveable guide track section support strut to move to said removed position after said strapping length end portions are fastened together;
• and
• an instruction to said compression apparatus to release from said compressed position after said moveable guide track sections are moved away from said compression apparatus;
• wherein said data structure stores strap tension data, said data structure receiving said strap tension data from a bale strapping feed drive electric servo motor, said bale strapping feed drive electric servo motor having a current monitor signaling attainment of a predetermined amperage corresponding to a torque on said feed drive, said torque corresponding to a pre-configured tension in said bale strapping length.

A data structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium controlling a bulk material baler comprising:

• an instruction to a moveable guide track section support strut to move from a removed position to a closed position when a compression apparatus advances a volume of bulk material to be baled into a compressed position in a baling station;
• an instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a predetermined length of bale strapping into a guide track loop when said moveable guide track section support strut reaches said closed position;
• an instruction to a strap cutter to cut a proximal end of said bale strapping length;
• an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten a proximal end portion of said length of bale strapping together with a distal end portion of said predetermined length of bale strapping;
• an instruction to said moveable guide track section support strut to move to said removed position after said strapping length end portions are fastened together;
• and
• an instruction to said compression apparatus to release from said compressed position after said moveable guide track sections are moved away from said compression apparatus;
• wherein said data structure stores strap speed data, said data structure receiving at least two strap position data points from a bale strapping feed drive electric servo motor and having time data in memory, said strap speed data corresponding to pre-configured speeds of bale strapping propulsion.

A data structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium controlling a bulk material baler comprising:

• an instruction to a moveable guide track section support strut to move from a removed position to a closed position when a compression apparatus advances a volume of bulk material to be baled into a compressed position in a baling station;
• an instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a predetermined length of bale strapping into a guide track loop when said moveable guide track section support strut reaches said closed position;
• an instruction to a strap cutter to cut a proximal end of said bale strapping length;
• an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten a proximal end portion of said length of bale strapping together with a distal end portion of said predetermined length of bale strapping;
• an instruction to said moveable guide track section support strut to move to said removed position after said strapping length end portions are fastened together;
• and
• an instruction to said compression apparatus to release from said compressed position after said moveable guide track sections are moved away from said compression apparatus;
• wherein said data structure stores torque data, said data structure receiving said torque data from a fastener tie cylinder propulsion electric servo motor, said fastener tie cylinder electric servo motor having a current monitor signaling maintenance of a predetermined amperage range corresponding to a predetermined torque on a fastener tie cylinder, for tying said end portions of bale strapping length together at said predetermined torque.

A data structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium controlling a bulk material baler comprising:

• an instruction to a moveable guide track section support strut to move from a removed position to a closed position when a compression apparatus advances a volume of bulk material to be baled into a compressed position in a baling station;
• an instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a predetermined length of bale strapping into a guide track loop when said moveable guide track section support strut reaches said closed position;
• an instruction to a strap cutter to cut a proximal end of said bale strapping length;
• an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten a proximal end portion of said length of bale strapping together with a distal end portion of said predetermined length of bale strapping;
• an instruction to said moveable guide track section support strut to move to said removed position after said strapping length end portions are fastened together;
• and
• an instruction to said compression apparatus to release from said compressed position after said moveable guide track sections are moved away from said compression apparatus;
• wherein said data structure contains an instruction to stop rotation of a fastener tie cylinder at a predetermined position, said instruction being sent in response to a fastener electric servo motor signal that said fastener tie cylinder has rotated to said predetermined position.

A data structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium controlling a bulk material baler comprising:

• an instruction to a moveable guide track section support strut to move from a removed position to a closed position when a compression apparatus advances a volume of bulk material to be baled into a compressed position in a baling station;
• an instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a predetermined length of bale strapping into a guide track loop when said moveable guide track section support strut reaches said closed position;
• an instruction to a strap cutter to cut a proximal end of said bale strapping length;
• an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten a proximal end portion of said length of bale strapping together with a distal end portion of said predetermined length of bale strapping;
• an instruction to said moveable guide track section support strut to move to said removed position after said strapping length end portions are fastened together;
• and
• an instruction to said compression apparatus to release from said compressed position after said moveable guide track sections are moved away from said compression apparatus;
• wherein said data structure instruction to fasten said end portions is an instruction to tie said end portions, said strap being a wire, and wherein said data structure instruction constrains current flow to a tying cylinder electric servo motor between a low amperage and a high amperage, for torque control.

A data structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium controlling a bulk material baler comprising:

• an instruction to a moveable guide track section support strut to move from a removed position to a closed position when a compression apparatus advances a volume of bulk material to be baled into a compressed position in a baling station;
• an instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a predetermined length of bale strapping into a guide track loop when said moveable guide track section support strut reaches said closed position;
• an instruction to a strap cutter to cut a proximal end of said bale strapping length;
• an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten a proximal end portion of said length of bale strapping together with a distal end portion of said predetermined length of bale strapping;
• an instruction to said moveable guide track section support strut to move to said removed position after said strapping length end portions are fastened together;
• and
• an instruction to said compression apparatus to release from said compressed position after said moveable guide track sections are moved away from said compression apparatus;
• wherein said data structure instruction to fasten said end portions is an instruction to tie said end portions, said strap being a wire, and wherein said data structure instruction constrains a tying cylinder propulsion electric servo motor speed between a low and a high speed.

A data structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium controlling a bulk material baler comprising:

• an instruction to a moveable guide track section support strut to move from a removed position to a closed position when a compression apparatus advances a volume of bulk material to be baled into a compressed position in a baling station;
• an instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a predetermined length of bale strapping into a guide track loop when said moveable guide track section support strut reaches said closed position;
• an instruction to a strap cutter to cut a proximal end of said bale strapping length;
• an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten a proximal end portion of said length of bale strapping together with a distal end portion of said predetermined length of bale strapping;
• an instruction to said moveable guide track section support strut to move to said removed position after said strapping length end portions are fastened together;
• an instruction to said compression apparatus to release from said compressed position after said moveable guide track sections are moved away from said compression apparatus;
• and
• said data structure further comprising an alarm and a shutdown signal, said alarm and said shutdown signal being responsive to a set of user programmable settings for control of said predetermined bale strapping tension.

A data structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium controlling a bulk material baler comprising:

• an instruction to a moveable guide track section support strut to move from a removed position to a closed position when a compression apparatus advances a volume of bulk material to be baled into a compressed position in a baling station;
• an instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a predetermined length of bale strapping into a guide track loop when said moveable guide track section support strut reaches said closed position;
• an instruction to a strap cutter to cut a proximal end of said bale strapping length;
• an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten a proximal end portion of said length of bale strapping together with a distal end portion of said predetermined length of bale strapping;
• an instruction to said moveable guide track section support strut to move to said removed position after said strapping length end portions are fastened together;
• and
• an instruction to said compression apparatus to release from said compressed position after said moveable guide track sections are moved away from said compression apparatus;
• and
• an instruction to an ejection apparatus to eject a bale from said baling station after said moveable guide track section support strut assembly reaches an eject position and after said compression apparatus decompresses;
• wherein said ejection apparatus has a proximity switch to signal return to a ready position after ejection of a bound bale of bulk material from said baling station.