Agricultural Baler Bale Chute Pivoting Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural square balers experience discontinuous bale lowering, leading to decreased capacity due to the existing bale chute mechanism, which requires cumbersome components and results in inefficient bale placement on the field.
Innovation Solution
An electric controller is used to pivot the bale chute from a raised position to a lower position after sensing a completed bale, allowing for continuous bale lowering and eliminating the need for components that move bales across the baler's travel direction, with a sloping chute design and roller-based sensing system for efficient bale deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the bale chute is lowered discontinuously to deposit bales, then the bale placement is achieved, but the baler capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bale chute is designed to lower continuously rather than discontinuously, allowing the bale to slide along the chute under gravity while the chute itself pivots continuously from the horizontal to the vertical position. This continuous motion eliminates idle time between bale depositions and increases overall baler capacity.
2Ease of operation
If the bale chute is lowered discontinuously, then the bale placement is achieved, but the components for moving bales across the travel direction are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the complex mechanism required to move bales laterally across the baler's travel direction. Instead, the bale chute itself performs the deposition function by pivoting from horizontal to vertical, eliminating the need for separate lateral movement components and simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The bale chute serves multiple functions: it receives completed bales from the baling chamber, transports them rearwardly, and deposits them onto the field by pivoting to a vertical position. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components dedicated to each function, reducing device complexity.
3Productivity
If the bale chute is in the horizontal position for bale deposition, then the bale can be placed on the field, but the traveling distance between positions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bale chute pivots from a horizontal position to a vertical position, changing the dimension of motion from lateral to vertical. This allows the bale to be deposited directly downward onto the field, reducing the horizontal traveling distance and increasing deposition speed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables continuous and rapid bale placement on the field, increasing the baler's capacity and reducing the complexity of components needed for bale movement, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced travel distance for bale deposition.
Implementation Method 1
the bale chute has a leading end connected to the outlet of the baling chamber for pivoting movement about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the baler between a raised first position in which bales from the baling chamber can be received onto the bale chute and a lower second position which is sufficiently inclined to the horizontal to cause a completed bale to slide under the action of gravity along the bale chute
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural baler (10) comprising a controller, sensor means (96) and an actuator (74) being interconnected such that in a first position of a bale chute (36) upon sensing of the movement of a completed bale ready to be lowered by the sensor means (96), a signal indicative of said movement is fed to the controller by the sensor means (96) upon which the controller controls an actuator such that the bale chute (36) is pivoted to the second position which is sufficiently inclined to the horizontal such that the trailing end is sufficiently lowered to prevent a completed bale from toppling or being damaged, characterized in that the controller is configured to control the actuator (74) such that the bale chute (36) is pivoted from the first position to the second position after receiving the signal indicative of movement from the sensor means (96).