How to wind a spool and net for a round baler.

Abstract

A spool for a round baler is provided, which has a net wrapped around a support core so that the net is optimally positioned on the bale. [Solution] The net includes a plurality of first chains, each defined by at least a first thread, and a plurality of weft threads, each defined by at least a second thread positioned between two first chains. The first chains of each spool winding are spaced a certain distance axially from the first chains of at least one preceding and / or succeeding winding, such that when the net is wound onto a bale, the first chains of each bale winding are spaced apart from the first chains of at least one preceding and / or succeeding bale winding along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bale.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for winding a spool for a round baler and a net for a round baler. The net is used in a machine for a round baler for collecting and compressing agricultural products such as feed and straw.

Background Art

[0002] A net for a round baler is well-known in the prior art. A well-known type of net includes a plurality of first chains that are parallel to each other and oriented in the winding direction of the net. The net further includes a second chain, i.e., a weft, connected to the first chain.

[0003] A well-known type of net is provided on a spool wound around respective support cores by a net winding process. An example of the winding process is shown in European Patent No. 1369516.

[0004] A well-known winding process, also known as zetting in the prior art, results in a two-directional movement in which the core of the spool is rotated along the winding direction of the net and simultaneously translated at a constant speed in a reciprocating motion along a translational direction transverse to the winding direction. In this way, the first chains of the net are continuously arranged along the spool, reducing their overlap.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the conventional zetting process cannot achieve satisfactory results. In fact, known spools around which the net is wound by conventional zetting may cause a problem of surface non-uniformity on the bale due to the concentration of the pressure applied to the bale of material by the first chain resulting from the overlap of the first chain of the preceding winding and the first chain of the subsequent winding.

[0006] More specifically, conventional zetting processes have insufficient control over the position of the net chains on the spool core, and depending on the spool's outer diameter, the chains may overlap each other to some extent, which can ultimately lead to surface inconsistencies in bales of material wound from the same spool.

[0007] Such non-uniformity affects the material stored in silos using the aforementioned nets. In fact, the known arrangement of net chains on the core of a spool causes localized thickening of the material collected within the bale, i.e., surface non-uniformity, following the overlap of the first chains, as the net is unwound from the core and wrapped around the bale of material. Corresponding to this thickening, air pockets are formed, which are detrimental to the quality of the material itself. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In this regard, the fundamental technical problem of the present invention is to propose a method for winding a spool and net for a round baler that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art described above.

[0009] In particular, the scope of the present invention is to provide a spool for a round baler, which has a net wound around a support core such that the net is optimally positioned on the bale when the net is unwound from the core and wound around the bale of material.

[0010] A further scope of the present invention is to provide a method for winding a net for a round baler onto a support core, which enables better control over the arrangement of the net on the support core, and as a result enables better uniformity of the arrangement of the net on the bale of material when the net is unwound from the core and wound onto the bale.

[0011] The specific technical challenges and scope are achieved by a method for winding a spool and net for a round baler, which includes the technical features described in one or more of the attached patent claims. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The round baler spool described below has the advantage of more uniformly distributing the round baler net on the support core, resulting in a more uniform distribution of the net on the bale when it is wrapped around the material, thus preserving the quality of the silo storage material. In particular, the first chain of the net is positioned on the core at an optimal distance from the first chain of preceding and / or succeeding windings, so as to prevent overlapping of the same first chain after the net has been wrapped around the bale.

[0013] The winding method of the present invention enables effective control of winding parameters to optimally position the round baler net on the core of the spool. In particular, this winding method involves bidirectional motion of the core of the spool. Specifically, the method of the present invention controls the translational speed so that the translational speed is variable with respect to the winding speed along the winding direction in order to define the position of the first chain along the translational direction. In this way, it is advantageously possible to position the first chain of net on the bale in an accurate and repeatable manner during the net unwinding on the bale of material and the subsequent winding of the net on the bale according to a predetermined shape.

[0014] More specifically, the winding method of the present invention produces the effect that, to an observer of the material bale, the bale appears to be wrapped by a net in a substantially similar manner to a bale wrapped by a conventional net, whereas a conventional net requires a net length equal to three times the net length required for a spool according to the description of the present invention. More specifically, the present invention provides a zetting profile with transverse movement of the net equal to a transverse distance repeated at a predetermined pitch corresponding to approximately 130% of the bale's circumference. Thus, by wrapping the net three times around the material bale, the effect of spacing the first chain by approximately one-third of the width of the material bale is achieved.

[0015] Therefore, this allows for better control over the arrangement of the net within the spool, and as a result, the outer surface of the net has virtually no protrusions and / or recesses that could create air pockets in the silo-stored product when the net is unwound from the core and wrapped around the bale.

[0016] It should be noted that the spacing of the first chain between the preceding winding and the succeeding winding may result in surface non-uniformity of the spool of the present invention when the transverse distance is large. To prevent the formation of this surface defect, embodiments of the present invention alternately translate the net by the first and second translation distances.

[0017] In any case, it is worth noting that the spool for the round baler of the present invention is distinguishable from known spools by the reproducibility of the arrangement of the first chain of the net during winding.

[0018] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the implicit and non-limiting description of preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of the round baler spool shown in the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a round baler spool with the round baler net partially wrapped around the support core. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic top view of one segment of the network. [Figure 3a] This is a schematic side view of a spool for a round baler according to the present invention. [Figure 3b] This is a schematic side view of a round baler spool having surface non-uniformity. [Figure 4a] This is a schematic diagram of the details of the net of a spool for a round baler according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4b]It is a schematic diagram of the details of the net of the round bale spool according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a figure which shows the round bale spool which concerns on this invention in the state which is partially unwound and wound around the bale of a material.

Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates the round bale spool of the present invention.

[0021] The spool 1 includes a support core 2 having a rotation axis R-R. The core 2 preferably has a tubular shape, extends along the axial direction A-A, is substantially parallel to the rotation axis R-R, and has the rotation axis R-R as its symmetry axis.

[0022] Preferably, the core 2 is made of a recyclable material, more preferably paper or cardboard.

[0023] The spool 1 further includes a round bale net 3 wound around the core 2 and defining a plurality of spool windings each coaxial with the core 2. The net 3 is unwoundable from the core 2 and is wound around a bale 100 of a material (for example, feed or straw) having a longitudinal axis Z-Z, defining a plurality of bale windings each coaxial with the bale 100.

[0024] Preferably, the plurality of bale windings includes 2 to 5 windings, more preferably 2.5 to 4.5 windings (of which 2 to 4 windings are complete windings).

[0025] For the sake of explanation, when referring to the net 3 wound around the bale 100 hereinafter, it should be noted that a reference system defined with respect to the bale 100, particularly, each bale axial direction substantially parallel to the bale longitudinal axis Z-Z and the bale radial direction orthogonal to the bale longitudinal axis Z-Z is used.

[0026] According to the present invention, the net 3 includes a plurality of first chains 4 and a plurality of second chains or weft threads 5.

[0027] Each first chain 4 includes two first threads extending along the longitudinal direction XX, and each weft 5 includes at least one second thread positioned between two first chains 4. More specifically, each weft 5 is configured to connect two adjacent first chains 4.

[0028] According to one aspect of the present invention, each weft yarn 5 is defined by a plurality of segments that connect two adjacent first chains 4, as shown in Figure 2, for example, and the plurality of segments extend alternately along their respective directions inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction XX. More specifically, each segment of the weft yarn 5 extends between its ends, and each end is connected to the respective first chains 4 by weaving.

[0029] Preferably, the first chain 4 is defined by one first thread. Always preferably, the weft threads 5 are sequentially defined by one second thread. Alternatively, the first chain 4 may be defined by two or more first threads. Similarly, the weft threads 5 may be defined by two or more second threads. Optionally, the first and second threads are identical.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the first and second yarns is made from a mixture of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), additives, and stabilizers. Preferably, the high-density polyethylene is polyethylene for textile applications. Always preferably, the amounts of additives and stabilizers are selected according to the geographical area in which the net 3 will be used.

[0031] It should be noted that the mixtures for the first and second threads are prepared so that the net 3 for the round baler can preferably maintain the density of the feed for at least one year, thereby obtaining a certain degree of toughness and UV resistance in the threads.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the net 3 has a length of 1,000 meters to 5,000 meters, preferably 2,000 meters to 4,500 meters, depending on specific requirements.

[0033] For example, according to one embodiment shown in Figure 1, the net 3 preferably extends along a transverse direction YY perpendicular to the longitudinal direction XX over a net width L. Preferably, the net width L is 100 cm to 200 cm, more preferably 120 cm to 170 cm.

[0034] According to the same embodiment, the core 2 extends along the axial direction AA over a nominal core width O that is greater than the net width L by a predetermined transverse distance T.

[0035] The net 3 is preferably wrapped around the core 2 and surrounded by two or more subsequent spool windings along the entire nominal core width O. In other words, the core 2 is covered by the net 3 over a width equal to the nominal core width O.

[0036] Optionally, core 2 may have an overall width greater than the nominal core width O along axial AA.

[0037] According to the present invention, the first chain 4 of each spool winding is spaced a certain distance along the axial direction AA from the first chain 4 of at least one preceding and / or succeeding winding, so that when the net 3 is wound onto the bale 100 of material, the first chain 4 of each bale winding is spaced apart from the first chain 4 of at least one preceding and / or succeeding bale winding along the bale axis.

[0038] It is worth noting that the arrangement of the first chain 4 described above avoids overlapping of the chain 4 both on the core 2 and on the bale 100, so as the net 3 is wrapped around the bale 100 of material, localized thickening that would create air pockets detrimental to the quality of the silo storage material is prevented. Therefore, the spool of the present invention has the advantageous effect of maintaining the quality of the material for a longer period of time.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, the net 3 includes a first spool winding closer to the core 2 and a second spool winding further away from the core 2, wherein the first spool winding is spaced apart from the second spool winding along the radial direction BB which is axial AA and preferably perpendicular to the axial direction AA, and the distance between the first and second windings is substantially constant along the axial direction AA over the entire nominal core width O.

[0040] In other words, the second spool winding has a uniform outer surface with a certain tubular shape.

[0041] Therefore, according to the always preferred embodiment, the spool 1 has a substantially constant cross-sectional profile with no convex and / or concave parts, as shown in Figure 3a.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3b, it is noteworthy that, in contrast to the conventional technology, after the net 3 is wrapped around the bale 100, there are no air pockets between the net 3 and the silo storage material, and there are no protrusions or recesses.

[0043] Therefore, more specifically, when net 3 is wrapped around the bale 100 of material, net 3 surrounds the bale over a predetermined width along the bale axis by one or more bale wraps. The required number of bale wraps varies depending on the diameter of the bale of material. The distance along the bale radius between the first bale wrap closer to the bale 100 and the second bale wrap further away from the bale 100 is substantially constant along the bale axis over the entire width of the bale of material wrapped around net 3.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, it should be noted that the entire width of the bale 100 along the axial direction is wrapped around the net.

[0045] It is worth noting that this arrangement of net 3 is made possible by the distance between the first chains 4 of the spool winding on core 2. This distance is defined as a function of specific process parameters used during the winding of net 3 on core 2, as will be described in more detail below.

[0046] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the net 3 is wrapped around the core 2 by a winding method that includes the steps of rotating the core 2 around the rotation axis RR at a winding speed along the winding direction D1, and simultaneously translating the core 2 in a reciprocating motion at a translational speed along a translational direction D2 that is transverse to the winding direction D1. The translational direction D2 substantially coincides with the axial direction AA.

[0047] According to the present invention, the winding method includes bidirectional motion of the core 2 to wind the net 3 onto the core 2, and the translational speed of the core 2 is variable as a function of the winding speed. This makes it possible to optimize the control of the distance of the first chain 4 between various spool windings, making the arrangement of the net 3 on the bale 100 of material predictable and controllable.

[0048] According to a preferred embodiment, the translational velocity and the wrapping velocity are linearly related. More specifically, the two velocities have the following relationship:

number

[0049] More specifically, the constant k is defined such that for every length P meters of net wound along the winding direction D1, a displacement of the core 2 along the translational direction D2 equal to the transverse distance T is obtained. Thus, the net 3 is positioned on the core 2 so as to be inclined with respect to the winding direction D1. That is, the longitudinal direction XX of the first chain 4 wound around the core 2 is transverse with respect to the winding direction D1. This allows the entire nominal core width O to be covered by two or more subsequent spool windings.

[0050] It is worth noting that this constant k allows us to take into account the diameter of the core 2 and the diameter of the material bale 100. In this way, it is possible to adapt the arrangement of the net 3 on the core 2 to specific requirements.

[0051] According to one aspect of the present invention, when the net is wrapped around the bale 100, the first chain 4 of the net extends, i.e., is positioned on the bale 100 along the winding direction and along the bale axis direction at at least one predetermined pitch, preferably a multiple of the above pitch.

[0052] In this way, the distance between the first chain 4 of the two subsequent bale windings is a value that falls within 1 / 4 to 3 / 4 of a predetermined pitch (preferably equal to 1 / 3 of a predetermined pitch).

[0053] In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined pitch is equal to the length of the net wound along the winding direction when the core 2 is displaced along the translational direction D2, which is equal to the transverse distance T.

[0054] In the always preferred embodiment, the pitch corresponds substantially to 130% of the circumference of the bale 100.

[0055] For example, in a preferred embodiment, the core 2 winds up a net of a length of preferably equal to 7 meters, which is included in 5 to 10 meters, in order to translate the core 2 in one direction by a transverse distance T. In other words, a given pitch corresponds to a net length of preferably equal to 7 meters. In this way, when winding about 3 turns of net onto the bale 100, the first chains 4 are spaced apart from each other by a distance equal to 1 / 3 of the pitch.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the net 3 is wrapped around the core 2 by a variation of the method described above. In fact, to further enhance the uniformity of the arrangement of the net 3 on the core 2 and thus on the bale, this wrapping method periodically moves the core 2 along the translational direction D2 by a first translational distance T1 equal to the transverse distance T for a first number of cycles, and by a second translational distance T2 less than the first translational distance T1 for a second number of cycles. The first and second number of cycles are preferably equal to 1. Alternatively, the first and second number of cycles may be greater than 1 and can be changed according to requirements.

[0057] Note that the differences in the translation of core 2, and therefore the differences in the arrangement of the first chain 4 on core 2, in the two methods described above are schematically shown in Figures 4a and 4b.

[0058] Advantageously, this compensates for the wave-like tendencies of the first chain 4 on core 2 and avoids overlaps caused by the aforementioned tendencies.

[0059] A further object of the present invention is a method for winding a round baler net 3 onto a support core 2 of a spool 1 according to this specification.

[0060] This method includes the step of joining the end of the net 3 to the end of the net 3 (preferably by mechanical joining) so that the end of the net 3 can be wrapped around the core 2.

[0061] Therefore, this method involves rotating the core 2 around the rotation axis RR, moving the core 2 along the winding direction D1 at the winding speed, and winding the net 3 onto the core 2.

[0062] This method includes the step of translating the core 2 along a translational direction D2 that is perpendicular to the winding direction D1 by reciprocating motion simultaneously with the rotation of the core 2, that is, periodically moving the core 2 along the translational direction D2 in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction at a translational velocity.

[0063] The translational velocity preferably follows a linear relationship, more preferably the relationship described above.

number

[0064] In this way, the method allows the first chain 4 of the net 3 to be positioned on the core 2 such that it is spaced a predetermined distance apart from adjacent spool windings, thereby separating the first chain 4 from the first chain 4 of preceding and / or succeeding bale windings when the net 3 is placed on the bale 100 of material.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the step of translating the core 2 includes a periodic repetition of a substep in which the core 2 is translated along the translation direction D2 in a first direction and a second direction of a first translation distance T1 for a first number of cycles, and a substep in which the core 2 is translated along the translation direction D2 in a first direction and a second direction of a second translation distance T2 for a second number of cycles.

[0066] According to this embodiment, the second translational distance T2 is shorter than the first translational distance T1.

[0067] Preferably, the first cycle number and the second cycle number are equal to 1. Alternatively, the first cycle number and the second cycle number may be greater than 1, depending on the requirements.

[0068] In practice, it is worth noting that the combination of the first and second cycle counts can be defined according to the diameter of the core 2, taking into account the wave-like tendency that net 3 takes in order to obtain the optimal arrangement of the first chain 4 of net 3.

Claims

1. A support core (2) having a rotation axis (R-R), A net (3) for a round baler that is wound around the core (2) and defines multiple spool windings, and a net (3) that can be unwound from the core (2) so as to be wound around a bale (100) of material that defines multiple bale windings, A plurality of first chains (4), each defined by at least one first thread extending along the longitudinal direction (X-X), Multiple weft threads (5) each defined by at least a second thread placed between two first chains (4) Net (3) including A spool (1) for a round bailer, equipped with the following features: The spool (1) for a round baler is such that, when the net (3) is wound onto the bail (100), the first chain (4) of each spool winding is spaced apart from the first chain (4) of at least one preceding and / or succeeding winding along an axial direction (A-A) substantially parallel to the rotation axis (R-R) of the core (2), and the distance between the first chains (4) of each spool winding is such that, when the net (3) is wound onto the bail (100), the first chain (4) of each bail winding is spaced apart from the first chain (4) of at least one preceding and / or succeeding bail winding along a bail axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (Z-Z), A spool (1) for a round baler, characterized in that when the net is wound around the bale (100), the first chain (4) extends on the bale (100) at least along the bale axis direction at least at a predetermined pitch, and the distance between the first chains (4) for two subsequent bale windings is a value that falls within 1 / 4 to 3 / 4 of the predetermined pitch.

2. The spool (1) for a round baler according to claim 1, wherein when the net is wound around the bale (100), the distance between the first chain (4) of the two subsequent bale windings is 1 / 3 of the predetermined pitch.

3. The spool (1) for a round baler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the net (3) has a net width (L) along a transverse direction (Y-Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X-X), the core (2) has a nominal core width (O) along the axial direction (A-A) that is greater than the net width (L) by a predetermined transverse distance (T), and the net (3) surrounds the core (2) along the entire nominal core width (O) by two or more subsequent spool windings.

4. The spool (1) for a round baler according to claim 3, wherein the net (3) includes a first spool winding closer to the core (2) and a second spool winding further away from the core (2), the first spool winding being spaced apart from the second spool winding along a radial direction (B-B) traversing the axial direction (A-A), and the distance between the first winding and the second winding being substantially constant along the axial direction (A-A) over the entire nominal core width (O).

5. The spool (1) for a round baler according to claim 4, wherein when the net (3) is wound around the bale (100), one or more bale windings surround the bale (100) along the bale axis direction over a predetermined width, and the distance along the bale radius direction between a first bale winding closer to the bale (100) and a second bale winding further away from the bale (100) is substantially constant along the bale axis direction over the predetermined width.

6. A spool (1) for a round baler according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a transverse profile that is substantially constant and has no convex and / or concave portions.

7. The net (3) is wound in the direction (D １ The steps of rotating the core (2) around the rotation axis (R-R) at a winding speed along the winding direction (D １ Translational direction (D) that crosses ) ２ A winding method is used, which includes the simultaneous step of translating the core (2) in a reciprocating motion at a translational speed along the ) and winding the core (2) around it. The spool (1) for a round baler according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the translational speed varies as a function of the winding speed.

8. The spool (1) for a round baler according to claim 7, wherein the translational speed and the winding speed are in a linear relationship.

9. The translational speed and the winding speed have the following relationship: [Math 1] Here, V Ｔ V is the aforementioned translational velocity, Ｒ k is the winding speed, k is the length of the net wound by rotating the core (2), and the translational direction (D) during the rotation of the core (2) over the length of the net. ２ The spool (1) for a round baler according to claim 8, which is a constant defined in accordance with the translational distance over which the core (2) moves along the )

10. A method for winding a round baler net (3) onto a support core (2) of a spool (1), wherein the net (3) includes a plurality of first chains (4) each defined by at least a first thread extending along the longitudinal direction (X-X), and a plurality of weft threads (5) each defined by at least a second thread positioned between two first chains (4), and the winding method is as follows: The steps include connecting the core (2) to the end of the net (3), The core (2) is rotated around the axis of rotation (R-R) and the core (2) is wound in the winding direction (D １ The steps include moving the net (3) along the core (2) at a winding speed, During rotation of the core (2), in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, a translational direction (D １ ), transverse to the winding direction (D ２ ), the step of translating the core (2) by reciprocating motion at a translational speed along A wrapping method including, The translational speed is characterized by changing as a function of the winding speed. The aforementioned translation step is, During the first number of cycles, the first translational distance (T １ The first and second directions of the translation direction (D ２ A substep of translating the core (2) along the line, During the second cycle, the second translational distance (T) ２ The first and second directions of the translation direction (D ２ The process includes repeating a substep of translating the core (2) along the ) The second translational distance (T ２ ) is the first translational distance (T １ A wrapping method characterized by being shorter than ).

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