Continuous round baler carriers
AssigneeCNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
InventorMartin J. Roberge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A crop harvesting system for continuous round baling is described that comprises a first and second bale chamber and a conveyor system in operable communication with the first and second bale chambers. The crop harvesting system can comprise at least three bale carriers, at least two serpentine systems to facilitate movement of the bale into and out of the first and second bale chambers. The crop harvesting system can be integrated into an agricultural harvester such as a baler or combine.
Claims12
A crop collection system for use in an agricultural harvester comprising:
- a first bale chamber and a second bale chamber operably coupled by a conveyor system;
- wherein the first bale chamber is positioned at a front of the baler and the second bale chamber is positioned at a rear of the baler, wherein each of the first and second bale chambers comprise a first sidewall and a second sidewall, an entry point at the front of the first and second bale chambers, an outlet at a rear of the first and second bale chambers, and at least one floor roller positioned at a bottom of each of the bale chambers transverse to the first and second sidewalls;
- wherein the conveyor system is positioned between the first and second bale chambers at a downward angle from the front of the baler to the rear of the baler;
- a crop harvesting arrangement positioned in the front of the baler and in operable connection to the first bale chamber;
- and
- at least one bale carrier, each bale carrier movable among a closed position and one or more open positions, comprising:
- a first pair of arms extending transversely from and affixed to a first pair of pivot points on the first and second sidewalls;
- a second pair of arms extending transversely from and affixed to a second pair of pivot points on the first and second sidewalls;
- one or more fixed members positioned at a distance defined by the length of the first and second pair of arms;
- and
- a pair of parallel bars affixed to the one or more fixed members.
The crop collection system 10, wherein the crop collection system comprises three bale carriers, each bale carrier comprising:
- one or more baling belts to convey rotation of a bale in the bale chamber in contact with a roller positioned above the at least one bale carrier that imparts tension to the one or more baling belts;
- wherein the first roller of the at least one bale carrier takes up slack in the one or more baling belts when the retractable bale carrier pivots upward at any angle from its closed position and provides slack in the one or more baling belts when the at least one bale carrier pivots downward from an open position;
- wherein the second roller of the at least one bale carrier deflects contact between the bale and the one or more baling belts;
- and
- wherein the third roller of the at least one bale carrier conveys tension to the one or more baling belts whereby it positions the one or more baling belts in operable contact with the bale when the at least one bale carrier is in its closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.