Bale Splitter with Pivoting Clamps for Film Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bale splitters require manual intervention to separate forage material from plastic wrapping film, as the clamps used to grip and release the film are unreliable, leading to inefficiencies in the bale splitting process.
Innovation Solution
A bale splitter design featuring a support element with moveable tines and engagement/disengagement mechanisms that allow for automatic separation of the wrapping material from the baled material, using primary and disengagement means to grip and release the film during and after splitting, respectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clamp is provided to grip and hold the wrapping film during bale discharge, then the wrapping material can be retained, but the clamp is unreliable and may fail to grip or release the film properly
Solution Approach 1:
The single clamp is divided into two separate clamps (first clamp and second clamp), each with independent gripping and releasing mechanisms. This segmentation allows each clamp to focus on specific functions, improving reliability while maintaining automated operation without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamps are designed with movable elements including first and second arms that can pivot between engaged and disengaged positions. The dynamic design allows the clamps to automatically grip the wrapping film during bale discharge and then release it afterward, eliminating the need for manual intervention while ensuring reliable operation.
2Ease of operation
If manual intervention is used to separate forage material from wrapping film, then complete separation is achieved, but the process becomes labour intensive and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the weight of the baled material itself to assist in the separation process. As the material is discharged from the bale splitter, it naturally pulls away from the wrapping film, and the clamps automatically release the film at the appropriate moment. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual labor while ensuring complete separation, thereby maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamps grip the wrapping film in advance before the bale material is fully discharged. This preliminary action ensures that the film is held securely during the critical discharge phase, allowing complete separation to occur automatically as the material exits, without requiring subsequent manual intervention and thus preserving productivity.
3Reliability
If the clamp grips the wrapping film tightly, then the film is retained during discharge, but the clamp may fail to release the film when material has been discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp design incorporates movable arms that can dynamically transition between gripping and releasing states. The first and second arms pivot to engage the wrapping film during discharge, providing reliable retention, then automatically pivot to disengage and release the film afterward, achieving both tight gripping and automatic release without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the discharge of baled material as feedback to trigger the release mechanism. As the material exits the bale splitter, it signals the clamps to release the wrapping film, ensuring the film is held tightly during discharge but automatically released when the discharge is complete, maintaining both retention reliability and automated operation.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2~11
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A bale splitter (1) comprises a support element (5) with four tines (20) extending from the support element (5) and defining a gap (26) therebetween. A knife (21) is pivotally coupled to the support element (5), and is pivotal downwardly from a first position through the bale (2) and in turn through the gap (26) for splitting the bale (2). A pair of pivotally mounted carrier elements (30) carry respective carrier members (29) and release members (33). Primary piercing elements (31) on the carrier members (29) engage wrapping film (4) as the bale (2) is being split in two halves (43), so that the silage (3) of the bale (2) can be separated from the wrapping film 4 by orienting the bale splitter (1) with the tines (20) extending downwardly from the support element (5). The release members (33) on the support elements (30) disengage the wrapping film (4) from the primary piercing elements (31) as the carrier element (30) are being pivoted from a first state with the carrier members (29) and the release members (33) lying in a common plane (18) with the tines (20) to a second state with second planes (39) defined by the carrier members (29) and the release members (33) extending perpendicularly to the plane (18) defined by the tines (20).