Dual-Ramp Bale Ejection System for Sequential Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural balers with square bale ejection systems often eject two bales simultaneously, resulting in them landing side by side, which complicates the alignment of bales for efficient collection.
Innovation Solution
An improved ejection system that ensures simultaneously ejected bales are positioned consecutively along the same path by using a dual-ramp mechanism, where the first bale is ejected directly and the second bale is delayed to align with the first bale's path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two bales are ejected simultaneously from the bale-forming chamber, then the ejection speed and productivity are improved, but the bales land side by side which worsens the alignment and increases collection complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The chute is divided into two separate half portions, each with its own ejection ramp. The first half portion has a first ejection ramp that directs the first bale along a first path, while the second half portion has a second ejection ramp that directs the second bale along a second path. This segmentation allows simultaneous ejection while achieving sequential landing positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejection system uses spatial separation by creating two different ejection paths at different angles. The first ejection ramp is angled at a first angle relative to the horizontal, while the second ejection ramp is angled at a second angle relative to the horizontal. This dimensional change in ejection trajectory transforms simultaneous side-by-side landing into sequential aligned landing.
2Device complexity
If a single ejection ramp is used for both bales, then the device complexity is reduced, but the bales cannot be positioned consecutively which worsens collection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection system is segmented into two independent ejection ramps: a first ejection ramp for the first bale and a second ejection ramp for the second bale. Each ramp is configured with specific angles to achieve the desired ejection paths, allowing consecutive positioning while maintaining relatively simple individual ramp structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Each half portion of the chute has a locally optimized ejection ramp configuration. The first ejection ramp has a first angle suitable for directing the first bale, while the second ejection ramp has a second angle suitable for directing the second bale. This local quality optimization achieves consecutive positioning without requiring a complex unified system.
3Ease of manufacture
If bales are ejected side by side, then the ejection mechanism is simplified, but the operator must swerve back and forth which increases time loss and reduces operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection ramps are configured to change the dimensional trajectory of bale ejection. Instead of both bales following the same horizontal path, the first ejection ramp angles the first bale at a first angle while the second ejection ramp angles the second bale at a second angle, creating consecutive landing positions that eliminate the need for operator swerving.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejection ramp angles are pre-configured to anticipate the collection path. The first angle and second angle are designed in advance to direct bales along predictable consecutive paths, allowing the operator to follow a straight line without reactive swerving, thus reducing time loss before collection even begins.
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
The system effectively aligns two simultaneously ejected bales consecutively along the same path, facilitating efficient collection by allowing operators to drive in a straight line, thus improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a short first ejection ramp that is angled downward... cause a downward sliding movement of the second bale onto the ground surface of the field
Implementation Method 2
a first ramp portion that extends outwardly from the end of the bale chamber in the direction of the bale axis to raise the second bale above the plane of the first bale
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural baler includes a bale chamber and a bale ejection system that includes a chute with a first half portion extending along a first bale axis and a second half portion extending along a second bale axis that is parallel and spaced apart from the first bale axis. The chute receives a first bale and a second bale in the first half portion and the second half portion, respectively. The bale ejection system includes a first ejection ramp aligned with the first half portion of the chute that discharges the first bale along the first bale axis and a second ejection ramp extending from the second half portion of the chute that guides the second bale from the second bale axis to the first bale axis such that the first bale and the second bale are discharged in a single line onto the ground surface of the field.