Bale Accumulator Between Wheels for Unobstructed Unloading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bale accumulators for round balers obstruct the working process of the baler during bale deposition, requiring increased power consumption and inefficient bale collection due to their long design and active conveying mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A bale accumulator with a carrying device mounted between or below the wheel axis of two wheels, allowing for quick adjustment between loading, transport, and unloading positions, utilizing hydraulic actuators and a compact design to minimize power requirements and interference with the baler's tailgate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a bale accumulator with active conveying device is used to transport bales, then bales can be transported to a depositing location, but the device requires increased power consumption and has a long design that obstructs the baler's tailgate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebale transport capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the active conveying device from the bale accumulator system. Instead of using powered conveyors to transport bales, the system relies on passive gravitational flow and manual positioning, eliminating the power consumption issue while maintaining bale transport capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using active mechanical conveying to move bales forward, the invention inverts the approach by using passive gravitational flow and allowing bales to roll or slide naturally to the depositing location, reversing the conventional active conveying method

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If a bale accumulator with active conveying device is used to transport bales, then bales can be transported to a depositing location, but the device has a long design that obstructs the baler's tailgate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebale transport capabilityVSAvoiddevice length

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the long active conveying mechanism from the system, replacing it with a compact passive structure that does not extend the device length and does not obstruct the baler's tailgate operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of extending the conveying mechanism forward to reach the depositing location, the invention inverts the approach by positioning the depositing location closer to the baler and using gravitational flow to move bales backward or laterally, reducing the required device length

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If bales are deposited at distributed locations over the entire field, then all bales can be collected, but the effort and time required for collecting bales is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebale collection completenessVSAvoidbale collection time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple bale depositing locations into a single concentrated location adjacent to the baler. By combining what would otherwise be distributed depositing points into one location, bales are stacked vertically or in close proximity, dramatically reducing the time and effort required for collection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bale accumulator serves multiple functions: it acts as a transport device, a stacking device, and a collection point all in one location. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate collection operations, reducing overall collection time while maintaining complete bale recovery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables rapid and efficient bale deposition without obstructing the baler's operation, reducing fuel consumption and collection time by allowing bales to be placed closely together, facilitating faster harvesting and lower energy use.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing hydraulic actuators and a compact design to minimize power requirements and interference with the baler's tailgate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic actuator: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentUS12439855B2Bale retriever for transporting a bale, work train comprising a round baler and a bale retriever, and method of discharging bales from a round baler of such work train

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 MASCHINENFABRIK BERNARD KRONE GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A bale accumulator for attaching to a round baler and for transporting a bale, with a carrying device for carrying the bale, which is adjustable into a loading position to pick up the bale, into a transport position to transport the bale, and into an unloading position to discharge the bale onto the ground, wherein the bale accumulator has two wheels, wherein the carrying device is mounted, as seen in a first spatial direction, at the height of or below a wheel axis of a wheel of the bale accumulator and/or that the carrying device is arranged between the two wheels of the bale accumulator. The present disclosure furthermore relates to a work train comprising a round baler and such a bale accumulator as well as a method for unloading a first and a second bale from a round baler of such a work train onto the ground.