A tagging apparatus for hay bales

Abstract

An improved tagging apparatus for hay bales comprising a body portion mounted to a wall of a bale chamber of a baler, a plurality of tags housed within the body portion, a feeding mechanism having an opening to receive a tag from the plurality of tags, a feeding slot to enable the tag to pass therethrough and move the tag into position ready to be inserted into a bale by a pneumatic plunger, wherein the tagging apparatus is designed to automatically tag a formed hay bale upon exiting the bale chamber.

Description

[0001] TITLE

[0002] A TAGGING APPARATUS FOR HAY BALES

[0003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to hay baling apparatus. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to an improved tagging apparatus for automatically tagging hay bales.

[0005] BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0006] Conventionally, a bale of hay or like is formed using a baler machine. The baler machine comprises a baler chamber wherein material is intermittently fed and compacted by a ram in layers. The formed bales are tied at particular lengths by a tying machine which wraps tie wires around the bale.

[0007] Individual hay or straw bales are required to be tagged in order to be sold to the export market. Tags include identification and information such as the grower, paddock, paddock section, crop year and details or the like. Tags are ideally applied to bales in the paddock as they are being made, or directly thereafter, to ensure complete product traceability throughout its transportation, storage, processing and exportation process.

[0008] It is common practice for tags to be applied to bales by removing an individual tag from a perforated strip and press-fitting the tag into the side of a bale using a tool, such as a screwdriver or the like. However, this process can be extremely tedious and time-consuming, with growers producing 20,000 plus bales per season. While there have been various apparatus proposed in the past for inserting a tag into bales of hay, these have been found to be unsatisfactory and unreliable in their performance, often becoming easily jammed. Therefore, there is a need for an improved tagging apparatus which is simple and reliable.

[0009] In this specification, the terms “comprises”, “comprising” or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an improved tagging apparatus for hay bales that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed.

[0010] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for tagging bales that aims to address or at least ameliorate one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art and / or provide consumers with a useful or commercial choice.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Generally, embodiments of the present invention relate to an improved tagging apparatus for hay bales.

[0014] According to one aspect, although not necessarily the broadest aspect, the present invention resides in an improved tagging apparatus for hay bales comprising: a body portion having at least one mounting bracket affixed thereto to secure the body portion to a wall of a bale chamber of a baler; a plurality of tags housed within the body portion; a feeding mechanism having an opening to receive a tag from the plurality of tags, a feeding slot to enable the tag to pass therethrough, and a gear box in communication with a photosensor to move the tag into position ready to be inserted into a bale; and a pneumatic plunger rotatably mounted to the body portion for inserting the individual tag into a hay bale; wherein the tagging apparatus is designed to automatically tag a formed hay bale upon exiting the bale chamber.

[0015] Preferably, the tagging apparatus is activated by a sensor on the baler.

[0016] Preferably, the body portion has an opening to provide access to the feeding mechanism and enable the plurality of tags to be refilled.

[0017] Suitably, the opening is concealed via a cover plate pivotably attached to the body portion via at least one hinge.

[0018] Preferably, the plurality of tags is in the form of a continuous concertina strip of tags.

[0019] Preferably, the tags are separated by perforations to facilitate tearing.

[0020] Preferably, the plurality of tags is held in place via a retaining member which is substantially L-shaped, the retaining member configured to maintain the plurality of tags in a substantially U-shape and enable them to be self-supported. Preferably, the gear box has at least one feeding gear rotatably fixed therein and positioned on either side of the feeding slot to engage and positively feed the individual tag therethrough to a desired length.

[0021] Preferably, the feeding gears have a thickness or height of between 3-10 millimetres, and preferably a thickness or height of 6 millimetres.

[0022] Preferably, the feeding slot is in the form of a curved slot.

[0023] Preferably, the thickness of the feeding slot is between 0.5-3 millimetres, with a preferred thickness of 1.8mm.

[0024] Preferably, the feeding slot has radii of 22.66mm.

[0025] Preferably, the tagging apparatus further comprises a plurality of air lines operatively connected to a pneumatic valve at one end and a respective component and / or the body portion at a second end via a suitable air fitting, whereby compressed air is received via a compressed air inlet valve into a first air line connected to the pneumatic valve.

[0026] Preferably, as compressed air enters into one side of a pneumatic cylinder of the pneumatic plunger via a second air line to extend a pneumatic ram or piston outwardly, exhaust gasses from this motion are expelled via the pneumatic valve and fed through a third air line into the feeding mechanism to blow any chaff / debris through and out of the feeding mechanism.

[0027] Preferably, as compressed air enters into an opposing side of the pneumatic cylinder via a fourth air line retracting the pneumatic ram, exhaust gasses from this motion are released into the body portion enclosure to pressurise the enclosure and minimise any chaff / debris from entering.

[0028] Preferably, the tagging apparatus further comprises a safety mechanism whereby in the event of a system failure or slow retraction of pneumatic ram as the tag is being inserted into the bale, the safety mechanism allows a probe of the pneumatic plunger to remain in the bale as it moves along the bale chute and the pneumatic plunger to pivot at its rear end to move in sync with the bale outwardly from a first position within the body portion of the tagging apparatus to a second position free from the bale.

[0029] Preferably, the safety mechanism has a gas strut or spring operatively connected to the pneumatic plunger to push the pneumatic plunger back into its natural first position, ready for the next tag to be inserted.

[0030] Further features and forms of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

[0031] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to identical elements. The drawings are provided by way of example only, wherein: FIG 1 shows a side perspective view of an improved tagging apparatus for hay bales attached to a baler according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] FIG 2 shows a side view of the improved tagging apparatus for hay bales of FIG 1 ;

[0034] FIG 3 shows a partial top perspective view of the tagging apparatus for hay bales of FIG 1 , showing an opening in a body portion;

[0035] FIG 4 shows a partial top perspective view of the tagging apparatus for hay bales of FIG 1, showing components housed within the body portion;

[0036] FIG 5 shows a top cross-sectional perspective view of the tagging apparatus for hay bales of FIG 1, showing components housed within the body portion;

[0037] FIG 6 shows a side cross-sectional perspective view of a feeding mechanism of the tagging apparatus for hay bales of FIG 1 ;

[0038] FIG 7 shows an exploded view of the feeding mechanism of the tagging apparatus for hay bales of FIG 1;

[0039] FIG 8 shows an exploded view of the tagging apparatus for hay bales of FIG 1 ;

[0040] FIG 9 shows a partial top cross-sectional perspective view of the tagging apparatus for hay bales of FIG 1, showing components housed within the body portion; FIG 10 shows a top view of the improved tagging apparatus for hay bales of FIG 1, having a pneumatic plunger in a first position with the body portion; and

[0041] FIG 11 shows a top view of the improved tagging apparatus for hay bales of FIG 1, having a pneumatic plunger in a second position rotated away from the body portion.

[0042] Skilled addressees will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the relative dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be distorted to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

[0043] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to an improved tagging apparatus. For convenience sake, the present invention shall be described herein for use in the tagging of hay bales. In particular, the tagging apparatus will be described with reference to being used with horizontal hay balers. However, it is envisaged that the present invention and its principles can be applied to other balers and / or any other suitable bales such as cotton or the like. It will be acknowledged that the materials, colour, size and dimensions of the components of the tagging apparatus may be varied as desired and / or to suit different types of bales or balers whilst adhering to the same design principles.

[0045] Referring to FIGS 1 and 2, the present invention provides an improved tagging apparatus for automatically tagging hay bales 100. The apparatus 100 comprises a body portion 110 for housing the components of the apparatus 100. The body portion 110 is substantially flat and suitably sized to accommodate the thickness of tags housed therein. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100 is designed to automatically tag a hay bale 200 once the hay bale 200 has been formed. At least one mounting bracket 111 affixed to a top surface 112 and / or a bottom surface 113 of the body portion 110 of the apparatus 100, enables the apparatus 100 to be mounted to a wall at the rear end 301 of a bale chamber 310 of a baler 300, suitably positioned such that a tag can be inserted into a formed bale 200 upon exiting the bale chamber 310. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a sensor 321 located on a bale chute 320 of the baler 300 is triggered as the bale 200 slides over the bale chute 320 to activate the tagging apparatus 100. Alternatively, it is envisaged that the sensor 321 can be located on a knotter linkage of the baler 300 to be triggered as the baler 300 is tying the bale 200 to activate the tagging apparatus 100. It is envisaged that the mounting bracket 111 can be secured to the body portion 110 and bale chamber via at least one bolt or screw 114 or any other suitable fixing means. It is envisaged that the apparatus 100 will be positioned to enable the insertion of a tag (shown in FIG 10) through an opening 302 at the rear of the bale chamber 310 into a bale 200, once the bale 200 has been made.

[0046] A cover plate 116 is pivotably attached to the body portion 110 via at least one hinge 117 to enclose the internal components. A latch or the like is receivable within an aperture 119 provided on the cover plate 116, the latch being moveable between a first locked position to close the cover plate 116 and a second unlocked position to enable the cover plate 116 to be opened. An opening 115 is provided on the body portion 110 to provide access to a feeding mechanism 120 and enable the apparatus 100 to be filled with tags held within a retaining member 130, as illustrated in FIG 4.

[0047] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of tags 131 is provided in the form of a continuous concertina strip of individual tags. The individual tags 132 are separated by perforations 133 to facilitate tearing. As shown in FIG 4, a plurality of tags 131 is positioned within the body portion 110 and held in place via a retaining member 130 which is substantially L-shaped to retain one end of the tags 131 and orient and maintain the concertina strip of tags 131 in a substantially U- shape, to enable them to be self-supported without the need for a spool or reel or the like, other than the retaining member 130. This eliminates the need for tags to be manually wound or otherwise mechanically manipulated thus, enabling the tags to be fed into the feeding mechanism 120 via an opening 121 more reliably. It is envisaged that alternative embodiments of the present invention may have a spool or reel to accept a roll of tags.

[0048] Referring to FIGS 5 and 6, the individual tag 132 of the strip of tags

[0049] 131 is fed through the opening 121 of the feeding mechanism 120. It is envisaged that the tags 132 can be manually loaded into the feeding mechanism 120 utilising a manual jog toggle switch (not shown) provided on the exterior of the body portion 110. A gear box 150 provided within the body portion 110 has at least one feeding gear 151 rotatably fixed therein and positioned on either side of a feeding slot 122 of the feeding mechanism 120 to engage and positively feed the tag 132 therethrough to a desired length. A pneumatic plunger 140 is then activated to push the tag 132 into the bale 200. The feeding slot 122 of the present invention, is preferably in the form of a curved slot so as to give the tag 132 strength to be pushed through the feeding mechanism without becoming jammed, as illustrated in FIG 6.

[0050] Referring to FIG 6, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the feeding slot 122 is between 0.5-3 millimeters, with a preferred thickness of 1.8mm. If the feeding slot 122 is too thick the tag 132 shape will not form properly and if the feeding slot 122 is too thin, the tags 132 will bind together, both resulting in a jam within the feeding mechanism 120. The curved feeding slot 122 is shown having a radii of 22.66mm. However, it will be acknowledged that the radii can fall within a preferred range of 15-50 millimeters, while still achieving the desired objective of the invention. The risk of jamming within the feeding mechanism 120 is further minimised through the use of slim feeding gears 151 having a thickness or height of between 3-10 millimeters, and preferably a thickness or height of 6 millimeters, so as to not flatten the tags or disrupt the curved shape of the tag 132 which would result in a jam. A drive gear 152 is mounted operatively turns the drive gear 152, and in turn feeding gears 151 , calculated to advance the strip of tags 131 one tag length. A gear box cover 155 and motor cover 156 enclose and protect the gears 151 , 152 and motor 154 within the feeding mechanism, as shown in FIG 7.

[0051] Referring to FIG 7, a photosensor 123 mounted within an aperture 124 provided on the feeding mechanism 120 in communication with the gearbox 150, to provide tag length calibration and move the tag 132 into position ready to be inserted into the bale 200. The tagging apparatus 100 of the present invention comprises a plurality of air lines 160 operatively connected to a pneumatic valve 161 at one end and respective component and / or body portion 110 at a second end via a suitable air fitting 162, which form an air cleaning and pressurisation system to blow out any chaff or debris and ensure the photosensor 123 and feeding mechanism 120 are kept clean.

[0052] Air is received via a compressed air inlet valve 163 into a first air line 160a connected to the pneumatic valve 161 , as illustrated in FIGS 8 and 9. As the sensor 321 on the bale chute 320 or knotter linkage of the baler 300 activates the tagging apparatus 100, the pneumatic valve 161 of the air cleaning and pressurisation system opens. This allows compressed air to enter into one side of a cylinder 141 of the pneumatic plunger 140 via a second air line 160b, creating high pressure in the cylinder 141 to extend a pneumatic ram or piston 142 outwardly. Exhaust gasses 165 from this motion are expelled via the pneumatic valve 161 and fed through a third air line 160c into the feeding mechanism 120 which ultimately leads to the exterior of the tagging apparatus via an exit end of the feeding slot 122 of the feeding mechanism 120. This blows any chaff / debris through and out of the feeding mechanism 120, ensuring it, and most importantly, the photosensor 123 is kept clean. Once the pneumatic ram 142 has been fully extended, the pneumatic valve 161 is turned off, allowing compressed air into an opposing side of the pneumatic cylinder 141 via a fourth air line 160d, retracting the pneumatic ram 142. Exhaust gasses 166 of this motion are released into the body portion 110 enclosure. As the body portion 110 is sealed to the outside, it pressurises the enclosure to prevent any chaff / debris from entering. Pressurised air ultimately flows through the exit end of the feeding slot 122 of the feeding mechanism 120 of the tagging apparatus 100.

[0053] The tagging apparatus 100 includes a safety mechanism whereby in the event of a system failure or slow retraction of pneumatic ram 142 as the tag 132 is being inserted into the bale, the tagging apparatus 100 is equipped with a breakout mechanism that allows a probe 143 of the pneumatic ram 140 to remain in the bale 200 as it moves along the bale chute 320. With the tag 132 in the bale 200, the pneumatic cylinder 141 pivots at its rear to allow the pneumatic plunger 140 to move in sync with the bale 200 outwardly from a first position within the body portion 110 of the tagging apparatus 100, shown in FIG 10, to a second position when it is free from the bale 200, shown in FIG 11 , resulting in no damage to the tagging apparatus 100. Once the system has recovered or the pneumatic ram 142 has retracted, a gas strut 144 or spring pushes the pneumatic plunger 140 back into its natural first position, ready for the next tag 132 to be inserted.

[0054] The tagging apparatus of the present invention is preferably connected to a conventional control box (not shown). It is envisaged that the control box can be used to provide a tag count in addition to any other suitable metrics and / or alarms for the tagging apparatus. It is envisaged that further embodiments of the present invention may also include the use of GPS and / or have internet capabilities.

[0055] In use, the tagging apparatus 100 is activated by a sensor 321 on the bale chute 320 as the formed bale 200 slides over the bale chute 320 to trigger the sensor 321. The pneumatic ram 142 of the pneumatic plunger 140 pushes the extended tag 132 into the bale 200. During this motion, the tag 132 breaks away from the next adjacent tag via the perforations provided on the strip of tags 131. The next tag 132 is then moved through the feeding slot 122 of the feeding mechanism 120 into position ready to be inserted into the next bale, with the photosensor 123 providing a tag length calibration. The control box will count down one tag.

[0056] Hence, the improved tagging apparatus for hay bales provides a solution to the aforementioned problems of the prior art by providing a tagging apparatus that improves performance, is simple to use and minimises the risk of jamming. The present invention thus increases productivity and reliability. The present invention also provides a safety mechanism to avoid damage to the tagging apparatus and / or baler.

[0057] The reference to any prior art in this specification is and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or any form or suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0058] Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. Persons skilled in the relevant art may realize variations from the specific embodiments that will nonetheless fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . An improved tagging apparatus for hay bales comprising: a body portion having at least one mounting bracket affixed thereto to secure the body portion to a wall of a bale chamber of a baler; a plurality of tags housed within the body portion; a feeding mechanism having an opening to receive a tag from the plurality of tags, a feeding slot to enable the tag to pass therethrough, and a gear box in communication with a photosensor to move the tag into position ready to be inserted into a bale; and a pneumatic plunger rotatably mounted to the body portion for inserting the individual tag into a hay bale; wherein the tagging apparatus is designed to automatically tag a formed hay bale upon exiting the bale chamber.

2. The improved tagging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tagging apparatus is activated by a sensor on the baler.

3. The improved tagging apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the body portion has an opening to provide access to the feeding mechanism and enable the plurality of tags to be refilled.

4. The improved tagging apparatus of claim 3, wherein the opening is concealed via a cover plate pivotably attached to the body portion via at least one hinge.

5. The improved tagging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tags is in the form of a continuous concertina strip of tags.

6. The improved tagging apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the tags are separated by perforations to facilitate tearing.

7. The improved tagging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tags is held in place via a retaining member which is substantially L- shaped, the retaining member configured to maintain the plurality of tags in a substantially U-shape and enable them to be self-supported.

8. The improved tagging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gear box has at least one feeding gear rotatably fixed therein and positioned on either side of the feeding slot to engage and positively feed the individual tag therethrough to a desired length.

9. The improved tagging apparatus of claim 9, wherein the feeding gears have a thickness or height of between 3-10 millimeters, and preferably a thickness or height of 6 millimeters.

10. The improved tagging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the feeding slot is in the form of a curved slot.11 . The improved tagging apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the thickness of the feeding slot is between 0.5-3 millimeters, with a preferred thickness of 1 ,8mm.

12. The improved tagging apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the feeding slot has radii of 22.66mm.

13. The improved tagging apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the tagging apparatus further comprises a plurality of air lines operatively connected to a pneumatic valve at one end and a respective component and / or body portion at a second end via a suitable air fitting, wherebycompressed air is received via a compressed air inlet valve into a first air line connected to the pneumatic valve.

14. The improved tagging apparatus of claim 14, wherein as compressed air enters into one side of a pneumatic cylinder of the pneumatic plunger via a second air line to extend a pneumatic ram or piston outwardly, exhaust gasses from this motion are expelled via the pneumatic valve and fed through a third air line into the feeding mechanism to blow any chaff / debris through and out of the feeding mechanism.

15. The improved tagging apparatus of claim 15, wherein as compressed air enters into an opposing side of the pneumatic cylinder via a fourth air line retracting the pneumatic ram, exhaust gasses from this motion are released into the body portion enclosure to pressurise the enclosure and minimise any chaff / debris from entering.

16. The improved tagging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tagging apparatus further comprises a safety mechanism whereby in the event of a system failure or slow retraction of pneumatic ram as the tag is being inserted into the bale, the safety mechanism allows a probe of the pneumatic plunger to remain in the bale as it moves along the bale chute and the pneumatic plunger to pivot at its rear end to move in sync with the bale outwardly from a first position within the body portion of the tagging apparatus to a second position free from the bale.

17. The improved tagging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the safety mechanism has a gas strut or spring operatively connected to thepneumatic plunger to push the pneumatic plunger back into its natural first position, ready for the next tag to be inserted.

Images