Auxiliary device of baler
By integrating automatic counting and weighing mechanisms on the baler, the cumbersome statistics on the number of bales on the ground at the baling airport are solved, and the automation of bales and weighing is achieved, which improves efficiency and reduces the space occupation of equipment. , easy to transport and transfer.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202420888137.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-25
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-24
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-04-25
AI Technical Summary
The number of bales on the existing bale machines is cumbersome to count, requiring manual statistics, and inefficient efficiency.
An auxiliary device for a baling machine is designed, including a baling plate and a folding drive piece, equipped with a counting mechanism and a weighing mechanism, which can automatically count the number and weigh the bales and reduce manual intervention.
It realizes automation of the number of bales and weighing, saves manual time, improves statistical convenience, and drives the bale plate to rotate when not using the bale plate, reducing the space occupied by the equipment and facilitates transportation and transfer.
Smart Images

Figure CN222216531U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of agricultural machinery and equipment, and in particular to an auxiliary device of a baler. Background Art
[0002] Balers are important agricultural machines that are commonly used to pick up and compress feed crop straw or forage into bales. Among balers, large square bale high-density balers have better working efficiency. Currently, balers are divided into two categories: one is a fixed baler, which needs to collect the materials first and then transport them to a fixed place for baling; the other is a traction square bale baler, which uses a tractor to pull and bale in the field.
[0003] The baler of the related technology includes a bale placing plate. After picking up the material and compressing and baling it, the baler continuously and uninterruptedly discharges the bales along the bale placing plate. The bale placing plate can ensure that the material is smoothly discharged to the site. Usually, the total number of bales on the site is relatively large. When the entire site operation is completed, the number of bales on the site needs to be manually counted, which is rather cumbersome. Utility Model Content
[0004] The present application provides an auxiliary device for a baler, which is used to solve the technical problem of the related art that it is cumbersome to manually count the huge number of straw bales on the site.
[0005] The present application provides an auxiliary device for a baler, comprising a bale placing plate and a folding drive component, wherein the bale placing plate is hingedly arranged on a frame of the baler, and the folding drive component is used to drive the bale placing plate to rotate at a hinge on the frame to drive the bale placing plate to be unfolded or folded, and a counting mechanism is arranged on the bale placing plate for counting the bales passing through the bale placing plate.
[0006] In some embodiments, the counting mechanism includes a plate body, a baffle and a counting piece. The plate body is arranged on the bale placing plate, the baffle is rotatably arranged on the plate body, an elastic piece is arranged between the baffle and the plate body, the elastic piece is used to reset the baffle after the baffle is crushed by the bale, and the counting piece is used to display the number of times the baffle is pressed down.
[0007] In some embodiments, the elastic member includes a torsion spring, one end of which is disposed on the plate body, and the other end of which is disposed on the baffle.
[0008] In some embodiments, the bundle placing plate includes a connecting plate and a bundle placing roller. Two connecting plates are provided. The two connecting plates are parallel to each other and spaced apart. A plurality of bundle placing rollers are rotatably provided between the two connecting plates.
[0009] In some embodiments, two mounting plates are further included, one end of the two connecting plates are respectively hingedly set on the two mounting plates, the mounting plates are used to be fixedly set on the frame, a connecting piece is provided between the mounting plate and the other end of the connecting plate, and the connecting piece is used to provide pulling force for the connecting plate when the connecting plate is unfolded.
[0010] In some embodiments, the connecting member includes a chain, one end of the chain is arranged on the mounting plate, and the other end of the chain is arranged on the connecting plate.
[0011] In some embodiments, a weighing mechanism is further included, wherein the weighing mechanism is used to weigh the bale passing through the bale placing plate.
[0012] In some embodiments, the weighing mechanism comprises a weighing plate and a weighing sensor, wherein the weighing plate is disposed between the two connecting plates, and the weighing sensor is used to weigh the bale when the bale passes through the weighing plate.
[0013] In some embodiments, the folding drive member includes a connecting rod and a driving unit, the connecting rod is used to be fixedly set on the frame, the driving unit is set on the connecting rod, and the driving unit is used to drive the bundling plate to rotate at a hinge located on the frame.
[0014] In some embodiments, the driving part includes a cylinder, a cylinder body of the cylinder is hingedly arranged on the connecting rod, and a driving end of the cylinder is hingedly arranged on the bundle placing plate.
[0015] The auxiliary device of the baler provided in the present application adopts the setting of a counting mechanism to facilitate automatic counting of the number of bales passing through the bale placing plate, without the need for manual counting of the number of bales on the site, thereby saving manpower for manual counting and improving the convenience of counting the number of bales; the setting of a folding drive member can drive the bale placing plate to rotate at the hinge when the bale placing plate is not needed, so that the bale placing plate rotates to a position close to the baler frame, reducing the overall space occupied by the baler with the bale placing plate, thereby facilitating long-distance transportation and short-distance transfer of the baler. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present application.
[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an auxiliary device of a baler provided in an embodiment of the present application;
[0018] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure from another angle;
[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the partial structure of the counting mechanism.
[0020] Description of reference numerals:
[0021] 100, bundling plate; 110, counting mechanism; 111, plate body; 112, baffle; 113, elastic member; 114, rotating shaft;
[0022] 120, connecting plate; 121, rod body; 130, bundling roller;
[0023] 140, driving plate; 141, fixing plate; 142, guide opening; 143, first strip opening; 144, second strip opening;
[0024] 200, folding driving member; 210, connecting rod; 220, driving part; 221, guide block;
[0025] 300, mounting plate; 310, connecting piece;
[0026] 400, weighing mechanism; 410, weighing plate; 420, weighing sensor.
[0027] The above drawings have shown clear embodiments of the present application, which will be described in more detail later. These drawings and text descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the present application in any way, but to illustrate the concept of the present application to those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The implementations described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the present application. Instead, they are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the appended claims.
[0029] As described in the background technology, the baler of the related technology includes a bale placing plate. After picking up the material and compressing and baling it, the baler continuously and uninterruptedly discharges the bales along the bale placing plate. The bale placing plate can ensure that the material is discharged to the site smoothly. Usually, the total number of bales on the site is relatively large. When the entire site operation is completed, the number of bales on the site needs to be counted manually. Specifically, when the number of bales is counted manually, because the site is usually large in area and the bales are distributed at various positions on the site, personnel need to patrol the large site to count the number of bales, which is relatively cumbersome.
[0030] In view of the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present application provides a baler weighing technology device. When the baler completes the compression and baling of the straw bales, the baler pushes the straw bale onto the bale placing plate. When the straw bale passes through the weighing plate between the connecting plates on both sides, the weighing sensor can weigh the straw bale, so that each straw bale passing through the weighing plate can be weighed, and there is no need to weigh multiple straw bales individually, thus saving manpower for manual weighing of the straw bales. When the straw bale is located on multiple bale placing rollers and moves, the straw bale can crush the baffle. When the baffle is pressed down, the counting member can count the number of times the baffle is pressed down, thereby realizing the counting of the number of straw bales. There is no need to manually count the number of multiple straw bales on the site, thus saving manpower for manual counting of the number of straw bales. After the baler completes the compression and baling of the straw bales, it is convenient to directly realize the weighing and number counting of the straw bales, thereby indirectly improving the use effect of the baler.
[0031] The technical solution of the present application and how the technical solution of the present application solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below with specific embodiments. The following specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be repeated in some embodiments. The embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0032] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 The present application provides an auxiliary device for a baler, including a bale placing plate 100 and a folding driving member 200. The bale placing plate 100 is used to be hingedly arranged on the frame of the baler. The folding driving member 200 is used to drive the bale placing plate 100 to rotate at the hinge on the frame to drive the bale placing plate 100 to be unfolded or folded. The bale placing plate 100 is provided with a counting mechanism 110 for counting the bales passing through the bale placing plate 100.
[0033] By adopting the above technical solution, the setting of the counting mechanism 110 is convenient for automatically counting the number of bales passing through the bale placing plate 100, and there is no need to manually count the number of bales on the site, thereby saving manpower for manual counting and improving the convenience of counting the number of bales; the setting of the folding drive member 200 can drive the bale placing plate 100 to rotate at the hinge when the bale placing plate 100 is not needed, so that the bale placing plate 100 rotates to a position close to the baler frame, reducing the overall space occupied by the baler with the bale placing plate 100, thereby facilitating the long-distance transportation and short-distance transfer of the baler.
[0034] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 3The counting mechanism 110 includes a plate body 111, a baffle 112 and a counting piece (not shown in the figure). The plate body 111 is set on the bale placing plate 100, and the baffle 112 is rotatably set on the plate body 111. An elastic piece 113 is set between the baffle 112 and the plate body 111. The elastic piece 113 is used to reset the baffle 112 after the baffle 112 is crushed by the bale. The counting piece is used to display the number of times the baffle 112 is pressed down.
[0035] In this embodiment, two plate bodies 111 are provided, and the two plate bodies 111 are parallel to each other and spaced apart. A rotating shaft 114 is fixedly provided on the baffle 112 and penetrates and is rotatably connected to the plate bodies 111 on both sides. The baffle 112 is rotatably provided between the plate bodies 111 on both sides through the rotating shaft 114. The counting member includes a display screen, and the display screen can be provided on the bale placing plate 100 or on the baler. The purpose of the display screen is mainly to display the number of straw bales. How to convert the signal of pressing the baffle 112 into a number displayed on the display screen is a technical means known to those skilled in the art and will not be elaborated here.
[0036] By adopting the above technical solution, when a bale passes along the baffle plate 100, the bale can be rolled onto the baffle 112. At this time, the counting piece records that the baffle 112 is pressed down once. When multiple bales pass through, the multiple bales roll over the baffle 112 multiple times, so that the counting piece records the total number of times the baffle 112 is pressed down, thereby realizing the statistics of the total number of bales. The arrangement of the plate body 111, the baffle 112 and the counting piece can realize automatic statistics of the number of bales, and the statistical results are accurate and correct, thereby improving the statistical effect and efficiency of the number of bales.
[0037] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 3 The elastic member 113 includes a torsion spring, one end of which is arranged on the plate body 111 , and the other end of which is arranged on the baffle 112 .
[0038] In this embodiment, two torsion springs are provided. The two torsion springs are respectively provided on both sides of the baffle 112 . The torsion springs are sleeved on the rotating shaft 114 . One end of the torsion spring is fixedly connected to the plate body 111 , and the other end is fixedly connected to the baffle 112 .
[0039] By adopting the above technical solution, when the torsion spring is in a natural state, the baffle 112 is in a state to be crushed. When the straw bale crushes the baffle 112, the torsion spring is in a deformed state. After the straw bale passes through the baffle 112, the torsion spring returns to its original state due to its own elastic force. The torsion spring has a simple structure and improves the resetting effect of the baffle 112.
[0040] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2The bundling plate 100 includes a connecting plate 120 and a bundling roller 130 . Two connecting plates 120 are provided. The two connecting plates 120 are parallel to each other and spaced apart. A plurality of bundling rollers 130 are rotatably provided between the two connecting plates 120 .
[0041] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, a rod body 121 is fixedly arranged between the connecting plates 120 on both sides, and the rod body 121 is located between two of the multiple bale placing rollers 130 away from the baler, and two plate bodies 111 are fixedly arranged on the rod body 121, and the baffle 112 partially extends between the two bale placing rollers 130, so that the baffle 112 can be pressed down when the bale passes through the baffle 112; the plate body 111 can be fixed to the rod body 121 with bolts, so as to facilitate the replacement of the plate body 111 and the baffle 112.
[0042] By adopting the above technical solution, the compressed and baled straw bale on the baler can move along the multiple bale placing rollers 130. Since the multiple bale placing rollers 130 are rotatably arranged between the two connecting plates 120, the straw bale on the multiple bale placing rollers 130 drives the multiple bale placing rollers 130 to rotate when moving, preventing the straw bale from being stagnant on the bale placing plate 100 and unable to move due to friction, thereby improving the movement effect of the straw bale on the bale placing plate 100.
[0043] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 The auxiliary device of the baler also includes two mounting plates 300. One ends of the two connecting plates 120 are hingedly set on the two mounting plates 300 respectively. The mounting plates 300 are used to be fixed on the frame. A connecting piece 310 is provided between the mounting plate 300 and the other end of the connecting plate 120. The connecting piece 310 is used to provide pulling force for the connecting plate 120 when the connecting plate 120 is unfolded.
[0044] In this embodiment, the length direction of the mounting plate 300 is perpendicular to the length direction of the connecting plate 120, and the two mounting plates 300 are located on the opposite surfaces of the two connecting plates 120. The connecting plate 120 is fixedly provided with a mounting shaft that passes through and is rotatably connected to the mounting plate 300, and the connecting plate 120 is rotatably set on the connecting plate 120 via the mounting shaft.
[0045] By adopting the above technical solution, by hingedly setting the connecting plate 120 on the mounting plate 300, the connecting plate 120 can drive the multiple bale placing rollers 130 to fold, so that when the connecting plate 120 and the bale placing rollers 130 are not needed, the connecting plate 120 and the bale placing rollers 130 are driven to move to a position close to the baler frame; the setting of the connecting piece 310 can provide a pulling force to the end of the connecting plate 120 away from the mounting plate 300, thereby preventing the multiple bale placing rollers 130 from being damaged due to the heavy bale being unable to withstand the weight of the bale, thereby further improving the movement effect of the bale on the bale placing plate 100.
[0046] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 The connecting member 310 includes a chain, one end of which is arranged on the mounting plate 300 , and the other end of which is arranged on the connecting plate 120 .
[0047] In this embodiment, one end of the chain is connected to the end of the mounting plate 300 away from the connecting plate 120, and the chain can be set on the mounting plate 300 by bolt connection. The end of the chain away from the mounting plate 300 is sleeved on the rod body 121, so that the chain provides tension to the connecting plates 120 on both sides at the same time through the rod body 121.
[0048] By adopting the above technical solution, when the connecting plate 120 drives the multiple bale releasing rollers 130 to be in the unfolded state, the chain is in a stretched state, so that the chain provides pulling force to the connecting plate 120; when the connecting plate 120 drives the multiple bale releasing rollers 130 to be in the retracted state, the chain is in an unstretched state. With the setting of the chain, the chain itself has good strength, thereby improving the effect of providing pulling force to the connecting plate 120; and when the connecting plate 120 drives the multiple bale releasing rollers 130 to be retracted, the chain will not affect the retraction of the connecting plate 120 and the multiple bale releasing rollers 130, thereby further improving the use effect of the chain.
[0049] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 The auxiliary device of the baler also includes a weighing mechanism 400 , which is used to weigh the straw bales passing through the bale placing plate 100 .
[0050] By adopting the above technical solution, the weighing mechanism 400 can weigh each bale passing through the bale placing plate 100, thereby eliminating the need for personnel to weigh each bale on site, saving manpower for individually weighing a large number of bales on site, and improving the convenience of weighing multiple bales.
[0051] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2The weighing mechanism 400 includes a weighing plate 410 and a weighing sensor 420 . The weighing plate 410 is disposed between two connecting plates 120 . The weighing sensor 420 is used to weigh the straw bale when the straw bale passes through the weighing plate 410 .
[0052] In this embodiment, the weighing plate 410 is located near the baler, and the multiple bale rollers 130 are all located on the side of the weighing plate 410 away from the baler; after the baler compresses and bales the hay bale, the hay bale first passes through the weighing plate 410 and then moves to the multiple bale rollers 130; the weighing sensor 420 is fixed by bolts on the opposite surfaces of the mounting plates 300 on both sides, and the weighing sensor 420 is also located on the mounting plate 300 close to the baler.
[0053] By adopting the above technical solution, when the straw bale passes through the weighing plate 410, the weighing sensor 420 can weigh the straw bale. The arrangement of the weighing plate 410 and the weighing sensor 420 has a simple structure and improves the weighing effect of the straw bale.
[0054] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 The folding drive member 200 includes a connecting rod 210 and a driving unit 220. The connecting rod 210 is used to be fixed on the frame, and the driving unit 220 is arranged on the connecting rod 210, and the driving unit 220 is used to drive the bale plate 100 to rotate at the hinge on the frame; in this embodiment, the connecting rod 210 is arranged parallel to the bale roller 130.
[0055] By adopting the above technical solution, the driving part 220 can be located on the connecting rod 210 to realize the driving of the bundling plate 100. The setting of the connecting rod 210 can connect the driving part 220. The setting of the connecting rod 210 and the driving part 220 has a simple structure and improves the driving effect of the bundling plate 100.
[0056] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 The driving part 220 includes a cylinder, the cylinder body of which is hinged on the connecting rod 210, a fixing plate 141 is provided on the bundling plate 100, a guide opening 142 is opened on the fixing plate 141, and a guide block 221 slidably connected to the guide opening 142 is provided on the driving end of the cylinder. When the guide block 221 moves to the two ends of the guide opening 142 respectively, it drives the bundling plate 100 to be unfolded or retracted.
[0057] In this embodiment, a driving plate 140 is fixedly arranged between the connecting plates 120 on both sides, and a fixing plate 141 is fixedly arranged on the driving plate 140. The guide opening 142 includes a first strip opening 143 and a second strip opening 144. The first strip opening 143 and the second strip opening 144 are connected and an obtuse angle is formed between the first strip opening 143 and the second strip opening 144. The angle is arranged toward the position of the baling plate 100. The first strip opening 143 is located close to the baler, and the second strip opening 144 is located away from the baler. In this embodiment, the driving end of the oil cylinder can also be hinged to the guide block 221.
[0058] When the driving end of the oil cylinder moves to the end of the first strip opening 143 away from the second strip opening 144, the connecting plates 120 on both sides are driven to fold upward, so that the connecting plates 120 drive the multiple bale releasing rollers 130 to retract. When the driving end of the oil cylinder moves to the connection position of the first strip opening 143 and the second strip opening 144, the connecting plate 120 drives the multiple bale releasing rollers 130 to tilt downward. When the driving end of the oil cylinder moves to the end of the second strip opening 144 away from the first strip opening 143, the connecting plate 120 drives the multiple bale releasing rollers 130 to tilt downward at a larger angle, so that the bale releasing plate 100 can be connected to the ground. By adjusting the angle of the bale releasing plate 100, the discharge effect of the bales is improved.
[0059] In other embodiments, the driving end of the oil cylinder may be directly hinged on the fixing plate 141 , and the connecting plate 120 may also be driven.
[0060] When the baler has completed the compression and baling of the straw bales, the baler pushes the straw bale onto the bale plate 100. When the straw bale passes through the weighing plate 410 between the connecting plates 120 on both sides, the weighing sensor 420 can weigh the straw bale, so that each straw bale passing through the weighing plate 410 can be weighed, and there is no need to weigh multiple straw bales individually manually, which saves manpower for weighing the straw bales manually. When the straw bale is located on the multiple bale rollers 130 and moves, the straw bale can crush the baffle 112. When the baffle 112 is pressed down, the counting member can count the number of times the baffle 112 is pressed down, thereby realizing the counting of the number of straw bales. There is no need to manually count the number of multiple straw bales on the site, which saves manpower for manually counting the number of straw bales. After the baler completes the compression and baling of the straw bales, it is convenient to directly realize the weighing and number counting of the straw bales, which indirectly improves the use effect of the baler.
[0061] Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments of the present application after considering the specification and practicing the utility model disclosed herein. The present application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the present application, which follow the general principles of the present application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art that are not disclosed in the present application. The specification and examples are intended to be exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the present application are indicated by the following claims.
[0062] It should be understood that the present application is not limited to the precise structures that have been described above and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present application is limited only by the appended claims.
Claims
1. An auxiliary device for a baler, characterized in that: The invention comprises a bale placing plate (100) and a folding driving member (200), wherein the bale placing plate (100) is hingedly arranged on the frame of the baler, and the folding driving member (200) is used to drive the bale placing plate (100) to rotate at a hinge on the frame to drive the bale placing plate (100) to unfold or fold, and the bale placing plate (100) is provided with a counting mechanism (110) for counting the bales passing through the bale placing plate (100).
2. The auxiliary device of the baler according to claim 1, characterized in that: The counting mechanism (110) comprises a plate body (111), a baffle (112) and a counting member, wherein the plate body (111) is arranged on the bale placing plate (100), the baffle (112) is rotatably arranged on the plate body (111), an elastic member (113) is arranged between the baffle (112) and the plate body (111), the elastic member (113) is used to reset the baffle (112) after the bale crushes the baffle (112), and the counting member is used to display the number of times the baffle (112) is pressed down.
3. The auxiliary device of the baler according to claim 2, characterized in that: The elastic member (113) comprises a torsion spring, one end of which is arranged on the plate body (111), and the other end of which is arranged on the baffle (112).
4. The auxiliary device of the baler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The bundle placing plate (100) comprises a connecting plate (120) and a bundle placing roller (130), wherein two connecting plates (120) are provided, the two connecting plates (120) are parallel to each other and are arranged at intervals, and a plurality of bundle placing rollers (130) are rotatably arranged between the two connecting plates (120).
5. The auxiliary device for the baler according to claim 4, characterized in that: The vehicle further comprises two mounting plates (300), one end of each of the two connecting plates (120) being hingedly arranged on the two mounting plates (300), the mounting plates (300) being used for being fixedly arranged on the vehicle frame, a connecting member (310) being provided between the mounting plates (300) and the other end of the connecting plates (120), the connecting member (310) being used for providing a pulling force to the connecting plates (120) when the connecting plates (120) are unfolded.
6. The auxiliary device for the baler according to claim 5, characterized in that: The connecting member (310) comprises a chain, one end of which is arranged on the mounting plate (300) and the other end of which is arranged on the connecting plate (120).
7. The auxiliary device for the baler according to claim 4, characterized in that: It also comprises a weighing mechanism (400), wherein the weighing mechanism (400) is used to weigh the straw bale passing through the bale placing plate (100).
8. The auxiliary device for the baler according to claim 7, characterized in that: The weighing mechanism (400) comprises a weighing plate (410) and a weighing sensor (420); the weighing plate (410) is arranged between the two connecting plates (120); and the weighing sensor (420) is used to weigh the bale when the bale passes through the weighing plate (410).
9. The auxiliary device of the baler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The folding drive member (200) comprises a connecting rod (210) and a driving unit (220), wherein the connecting rod (210) is used to be fixedly arranged on the vehicle frame, and the driving unit (220) is arranged on the connecting rod (210), and the driving unit (220) is used to drive the bundle placing plate (100) to rotate at a hinge located on the vehicle frame.
10. The auxiliary device for the baler according to claim 9, characterized in that: The driving part (220) comprises an oil cylinder, the cylinder body of which is hingedly arranged on the connecting rod (210), the bundling plate (100) is provided with a fixing plate (141), the fixing plate (141) is provided with a guide opening (142), and a guide block (221) slidably connected to the guide opening (142) is provided on the driving end of the oil cylinder, and when the guide block (221) moves to the two ends of the guide opening (142) respectively, it drives the bundling plate (100) to be unfolded or folded.
