Round Bale Pickup Coupling With Pivoting Transfer Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bale receiving devices for round balers have limited pivoting capability, leading to collisions and bale displacement during operation, and a gap that allows bales to fall sideways while being picked up.

Innovation Solution

A bale receiving device with a transfer element that can pivot relative to the drawbar element about a vertical axis, combined with a drawbar element that can pivot about a transverse axis, ensuring the bale is securely picked up and preventing lateral displacement, and a support section to distribute the bale's weight effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the coupling device and drawbar element are designed to taper towards the vertical axis to enable slight pivoting, then the pivoting capability is improved, but a gap is created on the side of the vertical axis into which the round bale can fall sideways

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepivoting capabilityVSAvoidbale retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A transfer element is introduced as an intermediary component between the drawbar element and the contact surface. This transfer element bridges the gap created by the tapered design, preventing the round bale from falling into the gap while still allowing the necessary pivoting movement. The transfer element acts as a mediator that maintains both the pivoting capability and the bale retention simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the drawbar element is designed with limited pivoting range to prevent collisions, then the collision risk is reduced, but the curve radius that can be achieved during operation is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision preventionVSAvoidcurve radius capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling device is segmented into multiple independently movable components: the drawbar element that can pivot about a first axis, and the transfer element that can pivot about a second axis. This segmentation allows each component to move independently within its own range, enabling the system to achieve larger overall pivoting ranges and curve radii while each individual component remains within safe collision-free limits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If the drawbar element is made longer to improve bale pickup stability, then the stability is improved, but the device complexity and risk of bale falling into the gap increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebale pickup stabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of simply extending the drawbar element in one dimension, the solution introduces a transfer element that adds movement in another dimension (a second axis of rotation). This dimensional change allows the system to achieve improved bale pickup stability through the coordinated movement of multiple elements, rather than relying on a single long drawbar element, thereby managing structural complexity more effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4295663A1Bale pick-up device for holding round bales of a round baler
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 MASCHINENFABRIK BERNARD KRONE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4295663A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4295663A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4a
  • EP4295663A1 patent drawingFigure 4b~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a bale receiving device for receiving at least one round bale from a round baler, comprising a coupling device with at least one coupling frame element for stationary arrangement on a machine frame of the round baler and at least one drawbar element extending at least partially in a receiving direction between the coupling frame element and a machine frame of the bale receiving device and mounted on the coupling device in such a way that it is pivotably movable relative to the coupling frame element at least about a vertical axis that is perpendicular to a contact surface of the bale receiving device at least in a first position of the coupling device, wherein a transition element mounted on the coupling device, pivotable relative to the drawbar element at least about the vertical axis and extending in the receiving direction,that the drawbar element is arranged at least partially between the transition element and the contact surface in a side view. The present invention further relates to a vehicle combination with a round baler and such a bale receiving device.