Bale Wrapper Transfer Roller Dynamics for Headroom and Alignment

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bale wrappers face challenges in wrapping bales of varying diameters due to limited headroom and misalignment of wrapping film, which restricts their ability to handle bales of increasing diameter and maintain central geometrical axis alignment during wrapping.

Innovation Solution

A bale wrapper design featuring rotatably mounted parallel bale support rollers with a transfer mechanism that adjusts to minimize headroom requirements and a carrier system for wrapping film dispensers to ensure central alignment, allowing for bales of different diameters to be wrapped efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the bale wrapper uses fixed position bale support rollers, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate bales of varying diameters and maintains poor headroom

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to wrap bales of varying diametersVSAvoidcomplexity of roller positioning mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bale support rollers are made movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be positioned at different locations along the bale length and at different heights. This dynamic positioning capability enables the wrapper to accommodate bales of varying diameters while maintaining adequate headroom for the wrapping mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bale support rollers serve multiple functions: they support the bale during wrapping, enable rotation of the bale, and can be repositioned to accommodate different bale sizes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate adjustment mechanisms while improving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If the carrier ring is positioned closer to the forward bale support roller, then the wrapping process is efficient, but the headroom for bale transfer is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewrapping speed and efficiencyVSAvoidheadroom available for bale transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bale support rollers are made movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be positioned at different locations along the bale length and at different heights. This dynamic positioning capability enables the wrapper to accommodate bales of varying diameters while maintaining adequate headroom for the wrapping mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The wrapping system is divided into distinct functional zones: a transfer zone with increased headroom for bale reception and positioning, and a wrapping zone where the carrier ring operates efficiently. This segmentation allows optimization of both transfer capability and wrapping speed in different spatial regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If the bale support rollers are fixed in position, then the device structure is simple, but misalignment of wrapping film with the bale's central axis occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment of wrapping film with central axisVSAvoidcomplexity of roller adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates sensors and control mechanisms that monitor the bale's position and dimensions, automatically adjusting the bale support roller positions to maintain proper alignment between the wrapping film and the bale's central axis, ensuring precise wrapping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The bale support rollers are made movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be positioned at different locations along the bale length and at different heights. This dynamic positioning capability enables the wrapper to accommodate bales of varying diameters while maintaining adequate headroom for the wrapping mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3338535A1A bale wrapper and a combined baler/bale wrapper

Publication Date: 2018.06.27 MCHALE ENG

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AI summary

A bale wrapper (14) comprises a chassis (5) and a pair of rotatably mounted first and second bale support rollers (50,51) for supporting and rotating a bale about a first wrapping axis (56). A pair of wrapping film dispensers (60) are carried on a carrier ring (58) which is rotated about a second wrapping axis (61) for dispensing wrapping film onto the bale as the bale is being rotated by the first and second bale support rollers (50,51). A transfer element (16) is pivotally coupled to the chassis (5) about a transfer pivot axis (17), and is pivotal from a first state to a second state for transferring a bale onto the bale support rollers (50,51). The first bale support roller (50) is carried on the transfer element (16) so that as the transfer element (16) is being pivoted about the transfer pivot axis (17) from the first state to the second state the first bale support roller (50) is urged in a downwardly direction (F) in order to maximise the headroom available to the bale as the bale is being transferred by the transfer element (16) to the bale support rollers (50,51). A baler may also be mounted on the chassis (5) with the bale wrapper (14) located rearwardly of the baler (10), so that a bale formed in the baler (10) is received on the transfer element (16) in the first state for transferring to the bale wrapper (14) as the transfer element (16) is pivoted from the first state to the second state.