Baler Pivotable Floor Assembly for Automated Plug Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional balers require operator intervention to address power surges and foreign material plugs, which can lead to machine overload and potential damage, and existing unplugging devices are cumbersome and difficult for inexperienced operators to use.
Innovation Solution
A baler with a pivotable floor assembly and knife system that can be actuated from the cab, allowing for automatic pivoting between raised and lowered positions to relieve plugs and facilitate easy unplugging and maintenance, reducing operator intervention and improving accessibility for servicing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional unplugging devices are activated individually to relieve tight plugs, then the plugs can be removed, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming requiring multiple sequential steps
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple unplugging functions (floor movement, knife disengagement, rotor reversal, power feed clutch disengagement, pickup baffle positioner) are merged into a single automated sequence controlled by one plug detection signal, eliminating the need for operators to manually activate each device sequentially
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically executes the unplugging sequence without operator intervention - the controller autonomously coordinates all unplugging devices and monitors their operation, allowing the machine to service itself when a plug is detected
2Reliability
If operators manually intervene to unplug the baler by stopping the tractor and repositioning mechanisms, then plugs can be removed, but machine damage may occur and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The baler automatically detects plugs and executes unplugging operations without stopping the main drive or requiring operator intervention, maintaining continuous productivity while protecting the machine from damage
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors operating conditions to detect plug formation, then automatically responds with appropriate unplugging actions, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents machine damage before it occurs
3Ease of repair
If the floor assembly is made pivotable to facilitate unplugging and maintenance, then accessibility for servicing is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor assembly transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamically adjustable one that can pivot to multiple positions, enabling easy access to the knife system for maintenance while automatically returning to its operational position during baling
Data Source
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AI summary
A baler (100, 1400) is proposed. The baler (100, 1400), comprises: a frame (102); a pickup mechanism (158) coupled to the frame (102), the pickup mechanism (158) adapted to collect crop; a pre-compression chamber (204) coupled to the frame (102) rearward of the pickup mechanism (158); a material flow path defined at least between the pickup mechanism (158) and pre-compression chamber (204); a first feeder assembly coupled to the frame (102) along the material flow path and between the pickup mechanism and the pre-compression chamber (204), the first feeder assembly including: a feeding mechanism for transferring crop received from the pickup mechanism (158) to the pre-compression chamber (204) ; a floor assembly (214) positioned at least partially below the feeding mechanism, the floor assembly (214) being pivotably coupled to the frame (102) about a pivot (222) to move between a raised position and a lowered position; a knife system (1416) coupled to the floor assembly (214), the knife system (1416) including one or more knives oriented, at least in part, along the material flow path; wherein, the pivot (222) is located rearward of the pickup mechanism (158) and feeding mechanism such that the floor assembly (214) and knife system (1416) pivot from the raised position to the lowered position in a direction downwardly and towards a rear of the baler (100, 1400).