Bale spreader

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bale spreader (10) comprising a cradle (12) for a straw bale (14), the cradle comprising a base(16) for supporting the straw bale, side walls (18, 20), a rear wall (17) and a forward opening (22), the forward opening comprising at least one macerator (24, 26) arranged to be moveable from a closed position, where it is in place at the forward opening and operable to macerate and project straw forwardly from a straw bale contained within the cradle, and an open position, where the at least one macerator is positioned to the side of the forward opening, allowing a fresh straw bale to enter the forward opening.

Description

[0001] Bale Spreader

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a bale spreader, particularly but not exclusively for use in preparing the ground for an interior pig habitat.

[0004] Background and Prior Art

[0005] Bale spreaders are devices that project and spread straw from a straw bale contained within a straw bale cradle. Such devices are commonly used for creating a hay or straw flooring for animals such as cows, either inside in a barn or outside.

[0006] Typically a single bale is held in the cradle, and is encouraged, e.g. by means of a conveyor belt, towards rotating macerators, which act to break up the straw from the bale and simultaneously project the straw to produce a stream of straw that can be directed to be deposited on the ground for preparation of a suitable surface for animals such as cows. They are conveniently mounted on a tractor or forklift, and are raised so that the stream of macerated straw can be so directed to form a uniform carpet of straw for the animals.

[0007] Technical issues arise in relation to loading straw bales into such a cradle, arranging for the internal mechanical elements and ensuring effective maceration and distribution functions.

[0008] EP 0944300 discloses a bale spreader that comprises a cradle for a straw bale, and horizontally mounted and vertically moveable macerators for distribution of the cradle. Typically the macerators are moved upwards to expose a front opening, into which the fresh straw bale may be inserted into the cradle.

[0009] FR 2865346 discloses a bale spreader that is of a similar design but wherein the macerators are arranged on a vertical axis but are not moveable. A fresh straw bale must be placed in the cradle from above.

[0010] WO 2013 / 108005 discloses a bale spreader wherein the cradle comprises a conveyor floor, to urge the straw bale towards the macerators, which are arranged on a vertical axis. The entire front face of the cradle, including the macerators, are lifted upwards by lifting arms, to allow the entry of a fresh straw bale into the cradle from the open front end. However, such bale spreaders have been designed primarily for use with cows that reside in cow sheds. Cow sheds tend to be large internal spaces with high ceilings. However, internal spaces for other animals, such as pigs, tend to be smaller. Known bale spreaders are impractical for use in such smaller internal spaces.

[0011] Improvements in this area would therefore be desirable.

[0012] Brief Description of the Invention

[0013] In a first aspect, the invention relates to a bale spreader comprising a cradle for a straw bale, the cradle comprising a base for supporting the straw bale, side walls, a rear wall and a forward opening, the forward opening comprising at least one macerator arranged to be moveable from a closed position, where it is in place at the forward opening and operable to macerate and project straw forwardly from a straw bale contained within the cradle, and an open position, where the at least one macerator is positioned to the side of the forward opening, allowing a fresh straw bale to enter the forward opening

[0014] Such bale spreaders can be operated in a smaller internal space, such as a barn containing pigs, without the risk of an upwardly moving macerator damaging the roof of a barn by colliding with it. Thus, preferably the at least one bale macerator does not move vertically when moving between the open position and the closed position.

[0015] The at least one macerator may be moveable to the side of the forward opening by a variety of mechanical mechanisms. However, preferably the at least one macerator is hingedly mounted, so at to rotate sidewardly between the open position and the closed position. For example, the at least one macerator may be mounted on an arm that is hingedly attached to a side wall of the cradle.

[0016] Although only one macerator is required, preferably there are two macerators, each of which is moved to opposing sides of the cradle in their open position. Thus preferably the two macerators together provide a horizontally moveable jaw.

[0017] The macerators may take a variety of forms, provided they provide the function of macerating the straw from the bale for distribution through the forward opening. Preferably the at least one macerator comprises a rotatable shaft comprising a plurality of chopping elements. The chopping elements are preferably blade-like and project perpendicularly from the shaft. In a preferred arrangement the tips of the chopping elements prescribe a helical pattern about the shaft. This ensures that the straw bale is smoothly macerated in a controlled manner.

[0018] Preferably the shaft is vertically oriented, as in this arrangement it is more convenient for the macerators to move to the side.

[0019] Preferably the at least one macerator comprises a shield, arranged to be parallel to the shaft, the shield having a portion that is spaced to the side of the shaft. The portion that is spaced to the side of the shaft is preferably parallel to the sides of the cradle when the at least one macerator is in the closed position.

[0020] A straw bale may be loaded into the cradle by any convenient means. However, preferably the straw bale enters through the forward opening. The cradle may therefore comprise a single straw bale, or a plurality of bales. The straw bales may be rectilinear, e.g. cuboid or cylindrical in shape for instance. One or two cylindrical straw bales may be conveniently rolled into the cradle through the forward opening.

[0021] The bale spreader preferably comprises a means for urging a straw bale contained within the cradle towards the macerators in use. A preferred method of achieving this is by the use of a conveyor belt, that provides all or a part of the base for supporting the straw bale. Other arrangements are also possible, such as the use of a moving rear wall or other moveable device. A conveyor belt can be additionally convenient when loading a straw bale through the front opening, as it can be arranged in reverse to assist in the movement of the straw bale into the cradle.

[0022] Thus, in a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of loading a straw bale into a bale spreader according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one macerator is moved to its open position, a straw bale is encouraged into the cradle, and the at least one macerator is moved to its closed position.

[0023] In a preferred arrangement, the macerators may be rotated to assist the loading of the bale or bales into the cradle, by operating them at a lower rotation speed than for bale spreading, and in an opposite rotational sense.

[0024] Once loaded the bale spreader can be activated to macerate the loaded straw bale. Thus, in a third aspect, the invention relates to a method of producing a straw flooring on an interior pig habitat, the method comprising a) loading at least one straw bale into the cradle of a bale spreader as described herein, b) activating the at least one bale macerator in its closed position, so as to macerate and project straw forwardly from the straw bale contained within the cradle, thereby to generate the straw flooring of the interior pig habitat.

[0025] The invention will now be illustrated, by way of example, and with reference to the following figures, in which:

[0026] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bale spreader according to the present invention, being loaded with a cuboid straw bale.

[0027] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bale spreader shown in figure 1 , just before spreading of a loaded straw bale begins.

[0028] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bale spreader shown in figures 1 and 2, being loaded with two cylindrical straw bales.

[0029] Turning to the figures, figure 1 shows a bale spreader 10 comprising a cradle 12 for a straw bale 14, the cradle 12 comprising a base 16, side walls 18, 20 a rear wall 17, and a forward opening 22. The forward opening 22 comprises two straw bale macerators 24, 26 in an open position. Macerator 24 is connected via a rigid arm 28 to a hinge 30 that is attached to side wall 18. Likewise, macerator 26 is connected via rigid arm 32 to a hinge 34 that is attached to side wall 20.

[0030] The side walls 18, 20 each comprise horizontal attachment slots 19, 21 so that they can receive the forks of a fork lift, or a telehandler attached to a tractor for instance, so that the bale spreader 10 may be moved around as desired.

[0031] The macerators 24, 26 in their open position, have been moved to the sides of the forward opening 22 by action of the hinges 30, 34 which exposes the forward opening to receive the straw bale that moves in the direction of arrow 36.

[0032] The base 16 comprises a conveyor belt arrangement 40, capable of moving towards or away from the forward opening 22, as shown by arrow 38. As the straw bale 14 is being loaded, the conveyor belt 40 can be operated to assist the loading process, by pulling the straw bale 14 from below. Once loaded into the cradle, the macerators 24, 26 are moved from their open position to their closed position, in the direction of arrows 27, as shown in figure 2. As can be seen, the rigid arm 32 is positioned in contact with side wall 20. Although not visible, rigid arm 28 is also positioned in contact with side wall 18.

[0033] The macerator 24 comprises a vertical shaft 42 that comprises six rigidly mounted chopping elements 44. Adjacent chopping elements are positioned 60° relative to their neighbours so the tips of the chopping elements 44 prescribe a helical pattern about the shaft, and that the six chopping elements 44 together prescribe the full 360° of rotation about the shaft 42. The macerator 24 also comprises a shield 46 which is attached to the rigid arm 28. The shield 46 comprises a first portion that is parallel to side wall 18 when in the closed position and a second portion that curves inward, so as to restrict the opening of the forward opening 22.

[0034] Macerator 26 is a mirror image of macerator 24 but wherein its chopping elements being orthogonal to the opposing element 44.

[0035] In use, the conveyor belt arrangement 40 urges the straw bale 14 in direction of arrow 48 and macerators 24, 26 begin to rotate in the direction of arrows 50. The chopping elements 44 macerate the straw in the bale 14 and it is projected out of the forward opening. The shields 46 direct the straw inwardly, so that the macerated straw can be directed to evenly distribute it over the target floor area to be covered.

[0036] Figure 3 shows the same bale spreader 10 being loaded with a pair of cylindrical straw bales 15. The bales 15 are easily rolled in the direction of arrow 37 so as to enter the cradle 12 via the forward opening 22.

Claims

Claims1. A bale spreader comprising a cradle for a straw bale, the cradle comprising a base for supporting the straw bale, side walls, a rear wall and a forward opening, the forward opening comprising at least one bale macerator arranged to be moveable from a closed position, where it is in place at the forward opening and operable to macerate and project straw forwardly from a straw bale contained within the cradle, and an open position, where the at least one macerator is positioned to the side of the forward opening, allowing a fresh straw bale to enter the forward opening.

2. A bale spreader according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one bale macerator does not move vertically when moving between the open position and the closed position.

3. A bale spreader according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one macerator is hingedly mounted, so at to rotate sidewardly between the open position and the closed position.

4. A bale spreader according to claim 3, wherein the at least one macerator is mounted in an arm that is hingedly attached to a side wall of the cradle.

5. A bale spreader according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises two macerators, each of which is moved to opposing sides of the cradle in their open position.

6. A bale spreader according to claim 3 and claim 5, wherein the two macerators together provide a horizontally moveable jaw.

7. A bale spreader according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one macerator comprises a rotatable shaft comprising a plurality of chopping elements.

8. A bale spreader according to claim 7, wherein the tips of the chopping elements prescribe a helical pattern about the shaft.

9. A bale spreader according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the shaft is vertically oriented.

10. A bale spreader according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the at least one macerator comprises a shield, arranged to be parallel to the shaft, the shield having a portion that is spaced to the side of the shaft.11 . A bale spreader according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base comprises a conveyor belt, that can urge a straw bale towards and / or away from the forward opening.

12. A method of loading a straw bale into a bale spreader according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one macerator is moved to its open position, a straw bale is encouraged into the cradle, and the at least one macerator is moved to its closed position.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the macerators are rotated to assist the loading of the bale or bales into the cradle, by operating them at a lower rotation speed than for bale spreading, and in an opposite rotational sense.

14. A method of producing a straw flooring on an interior pig habitat, the method comprising a) loading at least one straw bale into the cradle of a bale spreader according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , b) activating the at least one bale macerator in its closed position, so as to macerate and project straw forwardly from the straw bale contained within the cradle, thereby to generate the straw flooring of the interior pig habitat.

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