HANDLING AND CUTTING APPLIANCE
The handling and cutting device addresses the need for multiple tools by integrating a rotating upper jaw, cutting blade, and teeth for handling and cutting wrapped bales and transporting bulk products, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MAGSI
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-26
AI Technical Summary
Farmers need separate tools for handling wrapped bales and transporting loose straw or manure, leading to increased purchase and maintenance costs.
A handling and cutting device with a vertical median plane, comprising a skip, an upper jaw that rotates between open and closed positions, a cutting blade with a sharpened edge, and teeth, allowing multiple operations with a single device.
Enables simultaneous handling and cutting of wrapped bales and transporting bulk products like straw or manure, reducing the need for multiple tools and enhancing operational efficiency.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: HANDLING AND CUTTING APPARATUS technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to a handling and cutting device which can be used with a wrapped bale, for example of hay or dry straw, to collect silage or to handle manure. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART
[0002] A bale cutter is a device used in agriculture for transporting bales, particularly wrapped hay bales. Such a bale cutter generally comprises a frame to which tines are attached. The tines are oriented horizontally to pierce the bale. The bale cutter also includes a frame that is mounted to rotate on the frame above the tines around a horizontal axis and that alternately assumes an open or closed position. In the open position, the frame is raised to allow access to the tines and thus enable them to pierce the bale, and when it moves to the closed position, the frame covers the bale and moves closer to the tines.
[0003] The frame carries a cutting blade which comes above the bale and when the frame passes into the closed position, the cutting blade cuts the silage of the bale to release the hay.
[0004] When the farmer wishes to transport loose straw or manure, he must then use a claw trailer.
[0005] Although these tools are efficient, a farmer generally needs both, resulting in significant purchase and maintenance costs. Description of the invention
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a handling and cutting device which can be used with a wrapped bale, for example of hay, to collect silage or to transport bulk products such as straw or manure, for example.
[0007] To this end, a handling and cutting device is proposed, having a vertical median plane and comprising:
[0008] - a skip with a blade,
[0009] - an upper jaw mounted movably to rotate on the skip around a first axis of rotation perpendicular to the vertical median plane between an open position and a closed position,
[0010] - actuating means arranged to move the upper jaw of the from open position to closed position and vice versa.
[0011] - a cutting blade having a sharpened edge, where the cutting blade is fixed to the upper jaw so that the sharpened edge comes close to the blade in the closed position, and
[0012] - on either side of the cutting blade, at least one tooth, where said at least one The tooth has a proximal end and a pointed distal end, where the proximal end is fixed to the upper jaw so that the distal end comes close to the blade in the closed position.
[0013] With such an arrangement, it is therefore possible to perform several operations with the same device.
[0014] Advantageously, in the closed position, the distal end is at a distance of 0 to 20 cm from the blade.
[0015] Advantageously, the sharpened edge consists of a succession of portions in an arc of a circle open towards the blade.
[0016] Advantageously, the sharpened edge consists of a succession of beveled portions.
[0017] Advantageously, the sharpened edge is recessed relative to the distal ends.
[0018] Advantageously, the withdrawal is in the order of 5 to 20cm.
[0019] Advantageously, the upper jaw has at each end of the cutting blade a stop which protrudes downwards from the sharpened edge.
[0020] Advantageously, the stops and the distal end of the tooth or each tooth are at the same distance from the blade.
[0021] Advantageously, the handling and cutting device includes a hooking system comprising:
[0022] - hooks, where each is movable between a hooking position in which It overflows into a storage volume of the skip and a retracted position in which it is outside the storage volume of the skip, and
[0023] - an actuation system arranged to pass each of the hooks from the position retracted to the hooked position and vice versa. Brief description of the drawings
[0024] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clearer upon reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment and its variants, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which:
[0025] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a handling and cutting device according to the invention,
[0026] [Fig.2] is a side view and a view in the closed position of the handling and cutting device according to the invention,
[0027] [Fig.3] is a side view and a partially closed position view of the handling and cutting device according to the invention, and
[0028] [Fig.4] is a top view of a detail of an embodiment of the handling and cutting device according to the invention.
[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN IMPLEMENTATION EXAMPLE
[0030] Fig. 1 shows a handling and cutting device 100 according to the invention and hereafter referred to as "the device". The device 100 has a vertical median plane P which divides the device 100 in two at its midpoint and the device 100 is globally symmetrical with respect to the plane P.
[0031] In the following description, terms relating to a position are taken with reference to a handling and cutting device 100 in the working position, i.e. as shown in [Fig. 1]. Arrow F indicates the forward direction when the device 100 is in use.
[0032] The device 100 comprises a bucket 102 which has a blade 102a for scraping the ground, among other things, and the blade 102a is oriented forward. The bucket 102 is here a bucket that can be removably attached to a carrier vehicle and, for this purpose, it has attachment means 120, here inverted U-shaped fasteners. Of course, any other attachment means can be used.
[0033] The skip 102 forms a lower jaw.
[0034] The skip 102 has, in plane P, a generally U-shaped cross-section and consists of a lower wall 122a, which is horizontal and carries the blade 102a, and an upper wall 122b, generally perpendicular to the lower wall 122a and extending upwards. The walls 122a-b form a single unit.
[0035] At each end of the skip 102, it has a side 124 attached to the walls 122a-b to close the skip 102 laterally.
[0036] The walls 122a-b of the skip 102 are solid to allow small items such as loose silage, straw, etc. to be carried without risk of losing them.
[0037] The skip 102 thus delimits a storage volume to store all kinds of products in particular silage, bulk products such as straw or manure for example, or a wrapped bale.
[0038] The device 100 also includes an upper jaw 104 which is movably mounted for rotation on the bucket 102 about a first axis of rotation XI which is perpendicular to the vertical median plane P between an open position and a closed position. The first axis of rotation XI is horizontal and the upper jaw 104 is mounted at the level of the upper part of the upper wall 122b by means of two hinges 126.
[0039] Fig.2 shows the closed position and Fig.3 shows an intermediate position between the closed position and the open position with a boot 50 placed between the bucket 102 and the jaw 104.
[0040] The device 100 also includes actuation means 106 arranged to move the upper jaw 104 from the open position to the closed position and vice versa. The actuation means 106 are controlled, for example, from the cab of the carrier vehicle by any suitable control means, thus avoiding the need for the operator to leave the cab, thereby providing greater safety.
[0041] As shown in [Fig. 2], the actuation means 106 are cylinders, which can be hydraulic or electric. Each cylinder 106 comprises a cylinder 106a and a piston 106b mounted to slide at a distal end of the cylinder 106. A proximal end of the cylinder 106 is mounted to rotate freely on the bucket 102 about a second axis of rotation X2, and the free end of the piston 106b is mounted to rotate freely on the upper jaw 104 about a third axis of rotation X3. The second X2 and third X3 axes of rotation are perpendicular to the vertical median plane P.
[0042] The device 100 also includes a cutting blade 108 having a sharpened edge 108a, and the cutting blade 108 is fixed to the upper jaw 104. The cutting blade 108 is positioned so that the sharpened edge 108a is in close proximity to the blade 102a in the closed position. The sharpened edge 108a and the blade 102a are said to be in close proximity to each other when they are at a distance between 0 cm and 20 cm.
[0043] The cutting blade 108 and the sharpened edge 108a are perpendicular to the vertical median plane P.
[0044] The cutting blade 108 can consist of a single element or, as shown in [Fig.1], of several elements arranged next to each other to facilitate the replacement of one of the elements when it is damaged or when it is necessary to sharpen it.
[0045] The sharpened edge 108a is thus above the blade 102a and slightly recessed relative to the front edge of the blade 102a.
[0046] The device 100 also includes on either side of the cutting blade 108 and therefore of the vertical median plane P, at least one tooth 110. Preferably and depending on the width of the skip 102, there is thus one, two or three teeth 110 at each end of the cutting blade 108.
[0047] Each tooth 110 has a proximal end 110a and a pointed distal end 110b. Each tooth 110 is fixed to the upper jaw 104 by its proximal end 110a, and each tooth 110 is fixed so that the distal end 110b comes into contact with the blade 102a in the closed position. The distal end 110b and the blade 102a are said to be in contact with each other when they are at a distance between 0 cm and 20 cm.
[0048] The distal end 110b is thus above the blade 102a and slightly recessed relative to the front edge of the blade 102a.
[0049] In the embodiment shown here, the sharpened edge 108a is recessed relative to the distal ends 110b to prevent it from striking the blade 102 and potentially damaging the sharpened edge 108a. The recess is on the order of 5 to 20 cm. To complete this protection, the upper jaw 104 has, at each end of the cutting blade 108, a stop 128 that extends downwards from the sharpened edge 108a and is designed to abut against the blade 102a before the cutting blade 108 reaches the blade 102a.
[0050] The stops 128 and the distal ends 110b of the teeth 110 are at the same distance from the blade 102a.
[0051] The operation of device 100 is then as follows:
[0052] When a bale 50 is to be loaded, the upper jaw 104 is placed in the open position and the bale 50 is loaded into the hopper 102. The upper jaw 104 is slightly closed ([Fig.3]) so that the cutting blade 108 penetrates the bale 50 by cutting the wrapping film covering the bale 50. The upper jaw 104 can then continue to the closed position ([Fig.2]), thereby separating the bale 50 in two on either side of the cutting blade 108.
[0053] Such a device 100 also allows silage to be taken from a pile. The cutting blade 108 ensures the cutting of the pile and the retention of the silage taken from the pile in the hopper 102 when the upper jaw 104 is in the closed position.
[0054] Finally, the teeth 110 ensure gripping when the skip 102 is loaded with bulk products such as straw or manure, for example.
[0055] Device 100 thus performs several complementary functions, which allows the operator to limit the number of tools.
[0056] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the sharpened edge 108a consists of a succession of portions in an arc of a circle open towards the blade 102a. Such an arrangement facilitates the penetration of the corners between two arcs of a circle into the wrapping film.
[0057] In another embodiment not shown, the sharpened edge 108a consists of a succession of beveled portions.
[0058] Fig. 4 shows a top view of a hooking system 400 which ensures that the wrapping film is hooked when it is cut so that it remains in the bin 102 when the hay is emptied from the bin 102.
[0059] In the embodiment of the invention shown here, the hooking system 400 comprises hooks 402, where each is movable between a hooking position and a retracted position and vice versa.
[0060] The hooks 402 in solid lines are in the retracted position and the hooks 402 in ghost lines are in the hooked position.
[0061] The hooking system 400 also includes an actuation system 404 which ensures the passage of each hook 402 from the retracted position to the hooking position and vice versa.
[0062] Each hook 402 has a proximal end mounted movable in rotation on the bin 102 around a vertical axis and a distal end which ensures the attachment of the wrapping film.
[0063] In the retracted position, the hooks 402 are entirely at the rear of the upper wall 122b and are therefore not in the storage volume delimited by the bin 102. In the hooked position, the distal ends of the hooks 402 are at the front of the upper wall 122b by passing through windows 406 ([Fig.1]) provided for this purpose in the upper wall 122b and the distal ends are therefore in the storage volume delimited by the bin 102, where they can hook the wrapping film.
[0064] In the hooked position, the hooks 402 therefore protrude into the storage volume of the skip 102 and in the retracted position, they are outside the storage volume of the skip 102.
[0065] The actuation system 404 here comprises a connecting rod 404a and a cylinder 404b. The cylinder 404b has a cylinder hinged to the bucket 102 and a piston hinged to the connecting rod 404a. The proximal end of each hook 402 is also hinged to the connecting rod 404a.
[0066] Thus, when the cylinder 404b extends or retracts its piston, the connecting rod 404a moves in translation and simultaneously moves all the proximal ends, which causes each hook 402 to rotate from the retracted position to the hooked position or vice versa.
Claims
Demands
1. A handling and cutting apparatus (100) having a vertical median plane (P) and comprising: - a bucket (102) with a blade (102a), - an upper jaw (104) movably mounted for rotation on the bucket (102) about a first axis of rotation (XI) perpendicular to the vertical median plane (P) between an open position and a closed position, - actuation means (106) arranged to move the upper jaw (104) from the open position to the closed position and vice versa, - a cutting blade (108) having a sharpened edge (108a), wherein the cutting blade (108) is fixed to the upper jaw (104) such that the sharpened edge (108a) comes into the vicinity of the blade (102a) in the closed position, and - on either side of the cutting blade (108), at least one tooth (110), where said at least a tooth (110) has a proximal end (110a) and a pointed distal end (110b),where the proximal end (110a) is fixed to the upper jaw (104) so that the distal end (110b) comes into the vicinity of the blade (102a) in the closed position.
2. Handling and cutting device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the closed position, the distal end (110b) is at a distance of 0 to 20 cm from the blade (102a).
3. Handling and cutting apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the sharpened edge (108a) consists of a succession of portions in an arc of a circle open towards the blade (102a).
4. Handling and cutting apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the sharpened edge (108a) is made up of a succession of beveled portions.
5. Handling and cutting apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sharpened edge (108a) is recessed relative to the distal ends (110b).
6. Handling and cutting apparatus (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the withdrawal is in the order of 5 to 20 cm.
7. Handling and cutting device (100) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the upper jaw (104) has at each end of the cutting blade (108) a stop (128) which protrudes downwards from the sharpened edge (108a).
8. Handling and cutting device (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the stops (128) and the distal end (110b) of the tooth or teeth (110) are at the same distance from the blade (102a).
9. Handling and cutting apparatus (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a hooking system (400) comprising: - hooks (402), where each is movable between a hooking position in which it protrudes into a storage volume of the bin (102) and a retracted position in which it is outside the storage volume of the bin (102), and - an actuation system (404) arranged to move each of the hooks (402) from the retracted position to the hooking position and vice versa.