Baling System Rotary Feeder and Vertical Screed Belt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing forage baling systems face challenges in forming robust and dense bales, leading to handling and storage issues, and often experience interruptions and plugging during the harvesting process.
Innovation Solution
The proposed baling system incorporates a rotary feeder with lateral movers and a wider conveyance system that conveys forage into a baling chamber, along with a vertical screed belt between the accumulation and baling chambers to lift excess forage, ensuring continuous operation and increased bale density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional conveyance system width is used (matching baling chamber width), then the system structure is compact and simple, but the bale shoulder density is insufficient and bales are not robust
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the conveyance system width beyond the baling chamber width, adding lateral dimension to the forage delivery path. This allows forage to be conveyed from wider areas and deposited more effectively into the baling chamber, creating denser shoulder regions through increased forage volume and distribution control.
2Productivity
If forage is continuously conveyed into the baling chamber, then harvesting efficiency is high, but plugging occurs and operation is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a forage accumulation chamber positioned ahead of the baling chamber that temporarily stores forage before it enters the baling process. This preliminary accumulation allows the system to maintain continuous conveyance operation while providing a buffer that prevents plugging by decoupling the continuous intake from the periodic baling cycle.
3Reliability
If forage is accumulated in a chamber before baling, then continuous operation is enabled, but forage may plug and block the baling chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical screed belt as an intermediary mechanism between the accumulation chamber and baling chamber. This screed belt actively manages forage flow by scraping and directing material, preventing accumulation and plugging in the accumulation chamber while maintaining continuous supply to the baling chamber.
4Strength
If lateral forage movers extend beyond side walls, then forage distribution and bale density are improved, but the system complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the lateral forage movers to serve multiple functions: they convey forage laterally from the wider conveyance system, distribute forage across the baling chamber width, and compact forage into the shoulder regions. This multi-functionality justifies the additional complexity by achieving superior bale density and robustness through a single integrated mechanism.
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 configuration results in more robust bales with higher shoulder density, facilitating easier handling and storage, and allows for continuous harvesting with reduced interruptions and plugging, enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a vertical screed belt between the forage accumulation chamber and the baling chamber, the vertical screed belt turning about an end directly opposite to and spaced from the conveyance system by an uninterrupted gap at least 10,16 cm, wherein the vertical screed belt is to lift forage in the forage accumulation chamber
Implementation Method 2
A rotary feeder to lift forage into the baling chamber
Implementation Method 3
At least one conveyance system to convey forage to the rotary feeder, the first lateral forage mover and the second lateral forage mover
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 6~7
AI summary
A baling system (20) may convey forage with at least one conveyance system (36, 236, 536) through an uninterrupted gap (241) extending from the at least one conveyance system (36, 236, 536) to a vertical screed belt (238, 538) such that the forage is conveyed from an accumulation chamber (226, 526) into a baling chamber (24, 224, 524). The baling system (20) may further or alternatively convey a mat of the forage having a first width to a rotary feeder (28, 528) having a second width less than the first width. Sides of the mat may be inwardly conveyed to the rotary feeder (28, 528), wherein the rotary feeder (28, 528) lifts the forage into the baling chamber (24, 224, 524).