Bale Transfer Unit With Mechanical Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bale forming systems face challenges in ensuring proper transfer of ejected bales away from the forming apparatus, leading to potential back movement towards the apparatus, which can hinder operation and cause collisions or damage.

Innovation Solution

A bale forming system incorporating a bale carrier and pusher unit with a mechanical coupling device, allowing the bale carrier to move the bale away from the forming apparatus and the pusher to prevent back movement, utilizing a bale transfer actuator and mechanical coupling for synchronized movement without additional energy sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a bale carrier is used to move the bale away from the forming apparatus, then the bale can be transferred to a depositing position, but the bale may move back towards the forming apparatus

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebale transfer capabilityVSAvoidbale position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bale pusher is positioned between the bale forming apparatus and the bale on the carrier to prevent the bale from moving back towards the forming apparatus. This counter-action is applied in advance to offset the harmful back movement tendency, ensuring reliable bale positioning during transfer operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Productivity

If additional actuators are added to control the bale pusher independently, then the bale can be pushed away more effectively, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebale transfer efficiencyVSAvoidactuator system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movement of the bale pusher is mechanically coupled to the movement of the bale carrier through a coupling device. This combines the functions of bale carrier positioning and bale pusher actuation into a single coordinated system, eliminating the need for separate actuators while maintaining effective bale transfer capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A mechanical coupling device serves as an intermediary mechanism that translates the movement of the bale carrier into corresponding movement of the bale pusher. This mediator enables coordinated operation without requiring independent actuation systems, reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3228178B1Bale forming system and method with a bale transfer unit comprising a bale pusher
Publication Date: 2020.09.02 FORAGE INNOVATIONS BV
  • EP3228178B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3228178B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3228178B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention refers to a bale forming system and to a method for forming a bale (B) from loose material. A bale forming apparatus forms a bale (B) in a bale forming chamber and ejects the bale (B). The ejected bale (B) moves onto a bale carrier (2) being in a bale receiving position. A bale transfer actuator (12.I) moves the bale carrier (2) with the bale (B) into a bale depositing position. The bale (B) moves from the bale carrier (2) away from the bale forming apparatus. A mechanical coupling device (16.I) couples the movement of the bale carrier (2) with a movement of a bale pusher (4, 5) from a parking position into a working position, e.g. towards a bale supporting device (8) of a bale wrapping apparatus (62).