Baler Slider Frame Rotor Assembly for Crop Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Baler pickup systems face challenges with uneven crop flow, particularly with stiff stalk crops like corn stalks, leading to plugging, reduced baling efficiency, and premature wear, due to limitations in how quickly and evenly crop materials can be moved from the ground to the baling chamber.
Innovation Solution
A rotor assembly with evenly spaced rotor plates mounted on a shaft, positioned to assist the baler pickup by urging crop material against the tines while preventing contact, and a wind guard that adjusts to optimize crop flow, ensuring consistent delivery to the baling chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pickup speed is increased to improve baling efficiency, then productivity increases, but crop plugging occurs and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotor assembly with rotor plates as an intermediary device between the pickup and the baling chamber. The rotor plates rotate to actively move crop material forward, mediating the transfer of crop from the pickup to the baling chamber and preventing plugging that would occur at higher speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor assembly is designed to rotate dynamically, with the rotor plates spinning to continuously engage and move crop material. This dynamic motion allows the system to handle higher pickup speeds while maintaining reliable crop flow into the baling chamber
2Productivity
If the pickup moves crop material faster to the baling chamber, then productivity improves, but crop flow uniformity deteriorates causing uneven bale formation
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor plates act as an intermediary that receives crop from the pickup and systematically distributes it into the baling chamber. The rotation of the rotor plates ensures uniform distribution of crop material, maintaining flow consistency even at higher pickup speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The continuously rotating rotor plates provide uninterrupted action in moving and distributing crop material. This continuous rotational motion ensures steady, uniform crop flow into the baling chamber, preventing the uneven flow that would result from faster pickup speeds alone
3Reliability
If operators use traditional methods to clear pickup plugging, then the plugging is removed, but equipment damage occurs and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor assembly performs preliminary action by continuously moving crop material forward before plugging can occur. The rotating rotor plates proactively prevent crop accumulation that would lead to plugging, eliminating the need for clearance operations
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor assembly is self-service in that it automatically and continuously moves crop material through the system without operator intervention. The rotating plates self-regulate crop flow, preventing plugging without requiring operators to stop and clear the pickup
Data Source
AI summary
A slide frame for a baler is provided for mounting one or more accessories such as a wind guard and/or a rotor, powered or non-powered, for assisting a pickup on a baler to pick up cut crops from the ground and deliver such crops to the inlet of a baling chamber. The slide frame is mounted in such a way as to automatically space each respective accessory a predetermined place with respect to the crop pickup device.