US20040177597A1

US20040177597A1 - Bale wrapping method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20040177597A1
Application number: US10/389,702
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip Dougherty
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-14
Filing date: 2003-03-14
Publication date: 2004-09-16

Abstract

A method and apparatus for wrapping a protective cover about a bale. The bale is supported stationary on a tined lift of a vehicle and provided within a frame having a roll of a protective cover rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis. The roll of protective cover orbits about the bale for at least one complete revolution and protective covering is withdrawn from the roll onto the bale during the revolution. Thereafter, the protective cover is severed, and the wrapped bale is withdrawn from the frame. The time required to load and unload the bale from the wrapping machine is minimized since the bale is engaged by the tined lift of the tractor throughout the entire operation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for efficiently wrapping a bale of hay with a protective covering, such as a plastic wrap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous patent documents disclose methods and apparatus for wrapping hay bales with a plastic wrap. For example, U.S. Pat, No. 4,606,172 issued to Miller discloses a tractor having a fork lift that is used to penetrate the end wall of a formed hay bale and lift and position the hay bale adjacent a stationary roll of plastic wrap suspended from the tractor. The fork of the tractor is formed as part of a turntable so that, when the bale is lifted from the ground by the fork lift, the bale of hay can be rotated by the fork. Plastic wrap is drawn onto the hay bale from the roll by rotation of the hay bale relative to the stationary roll.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,971 issued to Sampson discloses a portable bale wrapper for wrapping bales of hay seated upright on an underlying ground surface. The portable wrapper includes a fork which is inserted downwardly into the top end wall of the hay bale and is connected to an arm which extends outwardly and downwardly from the fork to position a roll of plastic wrap adjacent the sidewalls of the hay bale. The arm is pivotally connected to the fork so that the roll is manually rotated about the hay bale to apply the wrap to the hay bale.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,484 issued to Popelka discloses a hay bale wrapping machine having a horizontally disposed turntable on which a single hay bale is loaded and supported. The wrapping machine has a roll of plastic wrap disposed in an upright position adjacent the turntable so that, as the turntable rotates the hay bale, plastic wrap is drawn from the roll onto the hay bale.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,271 issued to Walton and U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,532 issued to Orpen disclose bale wrapping machines provided on wheeled frames. A single bale of hay can be supported and slowly rotated on the wrapping machine while a roll of plastic wrap orbits about the bale via the pivoting movement of a wrapping arm to apply the wrap to the hay bale.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,934 issued to Scherer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,023 issued to Kivela, U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,076 issued to Anderson, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,466 issued to Underhill disclose other bale wrapping machines for wrapping individual hay bales. Also see U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,061 issued to Peterson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,864 issued to Reeves, U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,956 issued to Tardif, U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,631 issued to Hostetler et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,124 issued to Anderson, and U.S. Pat No. 6,070,400 issued to Peeters et al. that disclose bale wrapping machines for continuously wrapping multiple bales of hay positioned in an end-to-end relationship. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,898 issued to Springs et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,059 issued to Kluver et al., U.S. Pat No. 5,930,980 issued to Madsen, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,812 issued to Busse et al. and U.S. patent application Publication No. 2001/0047640 of Schaefer disclose machines in which hay bales are formed and wrapped.

Although the bale wrapping methods and apparatus disclosed in the above referenced patents and published patent application may function satisfactorily for their intended purposes, there remains a need for an improved hay bale wrapping method and apparatus that minimizes time spent loading and unloading hay bales within a wrapping machine. The method should also be capable of use for wrapping hay bales with a protective cover in an efficient manner requiring only a minimum of skill and labor. The apparatus should be inexpensive to manufacture and should be provided in a mobile form permitting efficient storage and transportation between work sites.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

With the foregoing in mind, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for the efficient wrapping of bales with a protective cover.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel bale wrapping method and apparatus that minimize time required to load and unload hay bales relative to a bale wrapping machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

More specifically, the present invention is a method of wrapping a protective cover about a bale in which a bale is penetrated by a tined lift of a vehicle and provided to a frame having a receiver for a protective cover roll rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis. The bale is positioned in proximity with the axis of rotation of the rotatable receiver by the vehicle, and the protective cover roll receiver is caused to move in a path about the axis with the protective cover engaged with the bale for at least one complete revolution. Thereafter, the protective cover is severed, and the wrapped bale is withdrawn from the frame. The time required to load and unload the bale from the wrapping machine is minimized since the bale is engaged by the tined lift of the tractor throughout the entire operation. After the bale is wrapped, the tractor simply locates the wrapped bale at a desired location.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for wrapping a protective cover around a bale is provided. The apparatus has a mobile frame for receiving a bale held stationary in an elevated position above a supporting surface of the frame. The apparatus also has a receiver for a roll of protective material carried on the frame for rotation in a path of movement about the bale. The receiver is rotated by a motor, or the like, about the bale to cause the protective material contained by the receiver to be withdrawn from the receiver and wrapped onto the bale. The apparatus also includes a severing mechanism that severs the protective material after a desired amount has been wrapped onto the bale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0012]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bale wrapping apparatus according to the present invention; [0013]
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the bale wrapping apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1; [0014]
FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the bale wrapping apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1; [0015]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the bale wrapping apparatus taken along line [0016] 4-4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the bale wrapping apparatus taken along line [0017] 5-5 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bale wrapping apparatus taken along line [0018] 6-6 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6A is a magnified and partial cut-away view of a portion of FIG. 6; [0019]
FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along [0020] line 6B-6B of FIG. 6A;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a plastic wrap severing mechanism of the bale wrapping apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 in which the blades of the mechanism are positioned in an open configuration; [0021]
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the plastic wrap severing mechanism illustrated in FIG. 7 in which the blades of the mechanism are positioned in a closed configuration; [0022]
FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the initial position of the wrap, bale and wrapping apparatus according to the method of the present invention; [0023]
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the position of the wrap, bale and wrapping apparatus after initiation of the wrapping operation according to the method of the present intention; [0024]
FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the position of the wrap, bale and wrapping apparatus after almost one full wrap of the bale according to the method of the present intention; and [0025]
FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the position of the wrap, bale and wrapping apparatus shortly after one full wrap of the bale according to the method of the present intention.[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile [0027] bale wrapping apparatus 10 according to the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes a mobile frame 12 that supports an orbiting roll 16 a of protective covering 16 and a severing mechanism 18 and is utilized in a method according to the present invention in which loading and unloading of bales is preferably accomplished by a separate tractor having tined lifts 20 (shown in phantom in FIG. 3). To this end, the tractor positions and supports the bale, or bales, within the bale wrapping apparatus 10 and removes the wrapped bale(s) from the apparatus 10 without ever releasing the bales during the wrapping operation. Thus, loading and unloading of the bales is greatly simplified, and the wrapping operation is performed efficiently within a minimum of time requiring only a minimum of skill and labor.
The structure of the [0028] apparatus 10 includes a rigid frame 12 that is preferably made of metal or the like and that is mobile and supports a roll 16 a of protective covering 16 that can be orbited about a stationary bale of hay or like material. The frame 12 includes base framing 22 having a hitch 24 located at a front end and a pair of wheels 26 located at a rear of the frame 12. Thus, the apparatus 10 is readily moved between work sites by being pulled by a powered vehicle (not shown) to which hitch 24 is connected. The frame 12 has an adjustable vertically-extending support post 28 adjacent the front of the frame 12 so that the frame 12 can be leveled when unhitched from the powered vehicle.
[0029] Frame 12 includes various vertically-extending framing elements that support the roll 16 a of protective covering 16, that aid proper positioning of a bale within the frame 12, and that mount a severing mechanism 18 to the frame 12. To this end, frame 12 includes first upright framing 30 that supports an elongate arm 32 having a receiver 14 at one end and a counterbalance 34 at an opposite end. The receiver 14 contains and supports the roll 16 a of protective covering 16. Frame 12 also includes second upright framing 36, opposite framing 30, having a cross arm 38 that aids positioning of bales within the frame 12, and third upright framing 40, adjacent to framing 36, to which the severing mechanism 18 is mounted.
The [0030] arm 32 is connected to upright framing 30 such that the arm 32 can be spun in a propeller-like motion about an axis of rotation “A” that extends substantially parallel to the horizontal. The receiver 14 is connected to an end of the arm 32 such that it extends substantially perpendicular from the elongate arm 32 and substantially parallel to the axis “A”. Thus, when the arm 32 is pivoted about axis “A”, the receiver 14 follows a circular path of travel that orbits a spaced distance about axis “A”. This path of movement permits a protective covering 16 carried by the receiver 14 to be applied to a bale positioned within frame 12. The counterbalance 34 located opposite the receiver 14 permits smooth and controlled rotation of the arm 34, and a motor 42, as best illustrated in FIG. 4, powers the rotation of the arm 32 via a chain 44 supported on a pair of sprocket wheels, 46 and 48. The motor, for example, can be an electric motor powered by a portable generator or the like.
The [0031] receiver 14, as best illustrated in FIG. 5, includes a housing 54 in which an industrial-sized roll 16 a of protective covering 16 is supported for rotation about roll support bar 56. As an example, the roll 16 a can be about 5 feet wide and supply a sufficient amount of protective covering material to wrap a large quantity of substantially rectangular four-by-eight feet bales of hay, individually or within stacks of two or more. The receiver 14 also includes a pair of rollers, 58 and 60, that provide an “S” shaped path of travel for the web of protective covering 16 as it unwinds from the receiver 14. For instance, the protective covering 16 follows a path of travel within the housing 54 from the roll 16a around the outer roller 60 and back around the inner roller 58 before exiting the receiver 14. Preferably, as illustrated, the rollers, 58 and 60, have sprockets or the like, 62 and 64, connected via a belt, chain or the like 66 to ensure that both rotate at the same, or desired, speed of rotation.
The [0032] severing mechanism 18 is utilized to: (a) grip the free end 16 b of the protective covering 16 during a first revolution of the receiver 14 about a bale; (b) release the free end 16 b before additional revolutions of the receiver 14 about the bale; and (c) sever the protective covering 16 after the final revolution of the receiver 14 about the bale. Upon severing the protective covering 16, the mechanism 18 grips the newly formed free end 16 b of the protective covering to automatically place the apparatus 10 in condition ready to receive and wrap the next bale.
The [0033] severing mechanism 18 includes a pair of horizontally-extending blades, or bars, 50 and 52, that are each capable of pivoting between a first position away from the orbiting path of the receiver 14 (see FIGS. 1-3, 6 and 9) and a second position within the orbiting path of the receiver 14 (see FIG. 10). The bars, 50 and 52 are mounted on upright framing 40 in a manner that permits them to pivot away from the receiver 14 such that they extend in a plane spaced from and substantially parallel to the revolving arm 32 and transverse to the axis of rotation “A” of the arm 32. In this position, the arm 32 and receiver 14 are permitted to apply protective wrap 16 to a bale without the severing mechanism 18 being within the path of travel of the receiver 14. As best illustrated in FIG. 10, the bars 50 and 52 of the severing mechanism 18 can be swung into a position in which the bars extend substantially parallel with the axis of rotation “A” of the arm 32 and within the path of travel of the receiver 14 adjacent to a bale. In this position, the bars, 50 and 52, support the free end 16 b of the protective covering 16 adjacent the bale and aid in the application of the first layer of the protective covering 16 to the bale. Alternatively, this position is utilized to sever the protective covering 16 after the final layer of protective covering 16 has been applied to the bale.
The relative movement of [0034] bars 50 and 52 are best illustrated in FIGS. 6-12. In a starting position, the arm 32 is stationary and the bars 50 and 52 are positioned transversely and away from the receiver 14. See FIGS. 6 and 9. In this position, the bars 50 and 52 grip the free end 16 b of the protective covering 16 therebetween, and the receiver 14 is located a spaced distance below the bars 50 and 52. When a bale is located within the frame 12 of the apparatus 10, the arm 32 rotates in a clockwise direction as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, and both bars, 50 and 52, are pivoted such that they extend substantially parallel to the axis of rotation “A” of the arm 32 adjacent the bales. See FIGS. 8 and 10. Slightly before one complete rotation of the receiver 14 about the bale, the bars 50 and 52 open to release the free end 16 b of the protective covering 16 and pivot out of the path of travel of the receiver 14. See FIG. 11. The receiver 14 then makes a desired number of orbits about the bale to wrap the bale in one or more layers of protective wrap 16.
The [0035] bars 50 and 52 also function to sever the protective covering 16 after a bale has been wrapped. Slightly before the end of the last revolution of the receiver 14 about the bale, bar 50 is rotated within the path of travel of the receiver 14 adjacent the bale so that the outer layer of protective covering 16 extends over bar 50. Thereafter, rotation of the receiver 14 is halted, and bar 52 rotates into engagement with bar 50 to sever the protective covering 16 and grip the newly formed free end 16 b to place the apparatus 10 in a condition ready to wrap the next bale. The protective covering 16 can be severed by a blade or the like carried by bar 50 or 52 or by stretching the protective covering 16 by pivoting the bars 50 and 52 away from the bale. Alternatively, the protective covering 16 can be severed manually by an operator.
Movement of the [0036] bars 50 and 52 can be accomplished by the operation of a pair of cylinders, such as pneumatic cylinders, 68 and 70. As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the piston 68 a is extended from the first cylinder 68 and the piston 70 a is retracted within the second cylinder 70, the bars 50 and 52 are engaged and positioned away from the bale and out of the path of travel of the receiver 14. However, when piston 68 a is retracted within the first cylinder 68 as illustrated in FIG. 8, it causes the bars 50 and 52 to pivot into a position adjacent the bails within the path of travel of the receiver 14. Thus, movement of the bars 50 and 52 together in an engaged condition is controlled solely by the positioning of the piston 68 a relative to the first cylinder 68.
The [0037] second cylinder 70 pivots along with the bars 50 and 52 when piston 68 a is retracted or extended from the first cylinder 68. As best illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the second cylinder 70 is connected via a slot 72 formed in upright framing 40 to an internal rotating element 74 that can be rotated to cause the bars 50 and 52 to open and close. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, piston 70 a is retracted within second cylinder 70 which urges bars 50 and 52 into engagement. However, as best illustrated in FIG. 7, when piston 70 a is extended from second cylinder 70, the bars 50 and 52 are in an open condition. In this way, the bars, 50 and 52, can be positioned open as shown in FIG. 7 and closed as shown in FIG. 8 to sever the protective covering 16 and grip the newly-formed free end 16 b thereof.
The method of the present invention includes supporting a bale or bales of hay or like material within a [0038] wrapping apparatus 10. The bales may be circular or rectangular, and more than one bale can be stacked together. For instance, FIGS. 9-12 illustrate a pair of bales, 76 and 78, vertically stacked and wrapped together. The illustrated bales, 76 and 78, are rectangular and together, for instance, can produce a bale about eight feet in length by about eight feet in height by about slightly less than five feet in width. Preferably, the bales 76 and 78 are supported by a separate vehicle, such as a tractor, having a tined lift 20. See the phantom lines in FIG. 3.
The [0039] bales 76 and 78 are aligned in the apparatus 10 such that the center of the bales, 76 and 78, are substantially aligned with the axis of rotation “A”. As illustrated in FIGS. 9-12, the cross arm 38 of upright framing 36 aids in positioning the bales, 76 and 78, such that an operator simply needs to lift the bales high enough to extend over the cross arm 38 to be properly aligned with the axis of rotation “A”. The bales are supported at all times in this position on the tines 20 of the tractor and not by the apparatus 10.
After the tractor positions and supports the bales within the [0040] apparatus 10, an operator causes the arm 32 to spin such that the roll 16 a of protective covering 16 is orbited about the bales. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, mechanism 18 grips the free end 16 b of the protective covering and locates the free end 16 b adjacent the bales. Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the mechanism 18 releases the free end 16 b of the protective covering 16 and moves out of the path of travel of the receiver 14 and roll 16a of protective covering 16. Preferably, the covering 16 is a plastic wrap material that is tacky on one or both sides thereof and clings to the bales as the plastic wrap unwinds onto the bails.
The [0041] receiver 14 is orbited around the bales to provide as many layers of protective covering 16 to the bales as desired. Slightly before the end of the final revolution of the bales, one of the bars 50 of mechanism 18 is positioned adjacent to the bales so that the final layer of protective covering 16 extends over bar 50. Thereafter, revolution of the receiver 14 is terminated and bar 52 of the mechanism 18 pivots into engagement with bar 50 to grip protective covering 16 so that it can be severed. For instance, the bars 50 and 52 may have a blade that automatically severs the protective covering upon engagement, or the protective covering may become severed upon being stretched when the mechanism 18 pivots away from the bail. Another alternative is for the operator to manually sever the protective covering. Preferably, the free end 16 b of the protective covering 16 is gripped by the mechanism 18 so that the apparatus 10 is in condition to wrap the next bale.
After the protective covering is severed, the tractor removes the bales from the [0042] apparatus 10 and unloads the wrapped bales in a desired location. Thus, since the bales are never removed from the tines 20 of the tractor, loading and unloading of the into and out of the apparatus 10 is simplified and the time required to wrap the bales is thus minimized.
Thus, the above-described [0043] wrapping apparatus 10 and method of wrapping bales according to the present invention provides a cost effective and efficient means for wrapping large quantities of bales in a short period of time requiring only a minimum of labor and skill. Preferably, an operator utilizes the controls 80 illustrated in the drawings to control the operation of the arm 32 and severing mechanism 18. One contemplated alternative is to construct apparatus 10 integral with a tractor so that the same tractor that supports the bales also supports frame 12, orbiting arm 32, and severing mechanism 18.
While a preferred bale wrapping apparatus and method of wrapping bales have been described in detail, various modifications, alterations, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the apparatus and method according to the present invention as defined in the appended claims. [0044]

Claims

1. A method of wrapping a protective cover about a bale, comprising the steps of:

penetrating a bale with a vehicle having a tined lift;

providing adjacent said bale a frame having a receiver for a protective cover roll rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis;

positioning the penetrated bale in proximity with the axis of rotation of the rotatable receiver;

causing the protective cover roll receiver to move in a path about the axis with the protective cover engaged with the bale for at least one complete revolution;

severing the protective cover; and

withdrawing the protective covered bale from the frame.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of positively holding the free end of the protective cover adjacent the bale during at least half of said complete revolution of said receiver about the bale.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of releasing the free end of the protective cover before said complete revolution of said receiver about the bale.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein a mechanism having a pair of coacting bars is utilized to positively hold and release said free end of said protective covering during said holding and releasing steps.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said mechanism also is utilized to sever said protective covering during said severing step.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said mechanism is pivoted within said path of said receiver during said holding step, is pivoted outside of said path of said receiver during said releasing step, and is pivoted within said path of said receiver during said severing step.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein one of said bars is pivoted adjacent the bale during a final revolution of said receiver about the bail so that a final layer of said protective covering extends between said bars.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said bars are pivoted by the action of a pair of cylinders.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of positioning the bale is accomplished by lifting the bale to a height slightly above a stationary cross arm of said frame.

10. Apparatus for wrapping a protective cover around a bale, comprising:

a mobile frame for receiving a bale held stationary in an elevated position above a frame supporting surface;

a receiver for a roll of protective material carried in said frame for rotation in a path of movement about the bale;

means for rotating said receiver about the bale to cause said protective material contained by said receiver to be withdrawn from said receiver and wrapped onto the bale; and

means for severing said protective material after a desired amount has been wrapped onto the bale.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for severing said protective material is provided by a pair of coacting bars each being pivotable relative to said frame between a position adjacent said bale within said path of movement of said receiver and a position distal from said bale external of said path of movement of said receiver.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said bars are positionable in a closed condition adjacent the bale to hold the free end of the protective material adjacent the bale.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said bars are positionable in an open configuration with said bars extending on opposite sides of said path of movement of the said receiver.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a pair of cylinders connected to said frame for use in pivoting said bars.

15. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for rotating said receiver includes an elongate arm that is connected to said frame such that said arm is permitted to spin about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, said receiver being connected to an end of said arm for rotation therewith.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said receiver extends substantially parallel to said axis of rotation and perpendicular to said elongate arm.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said receiver has a pair of rollers that cause said protective material to follow an “S”-shaped path before being unwound from said receiver.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a motor attached to said frame for powering rotation of said arm about said axis of rotation.

19. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said frame includes a cross arm for use in aiding the positioning of a bale within said frame.

20. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said frame has wheels and a hitch.