Floating Rotor And Auger Arrangement for Agricultural Baler Plug Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional agricultural balers face issues with crop material plugging in the feeder system, which inhibits the flow of material into the bale chamber, necessitating improvements in the feeder system design.

Innovation Solution

A rotor and auger arrangement in the feeder system that moves between two positions, increasing the spacing between the rotor and auger arrangement and the floor in the second position to allow for the passage of crop plugs, without requiring the floor to move.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the floor is made variable position (drop) to remove plugs, then the ability to remove crop plugs is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanical components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to remove crop plugsVSAvoidmechanical components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor and auger arrangement is made movable between a first position (normal operation) and a second position (plug removal), allowing the system to dynamically adjust its configuration. This eliminates the need for a variable floor by moving the feeding mechanism itself to create clearance space for plug removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of moving the floor vertically to create space for plug removal, the invention inverts the approach by moving the rotor and auger arrangement vertically. This reversal of the traditional approach achieves the same functional outcome (creating space) with simpler mechanics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If the rotor and auger arrangement is moved to create space for plug removal, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplug removal operationVSAvoidfeeder system mechanics

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable rotor and auger arrangement serves multiple functions: normal crop material feeding in the first position and plug removal in the second position. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mechanisms for each operation, improving ease of operation while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If a variable position floor is used, then the productivity is improved by enabling plug removal, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operation capabilityVSAvoidfeeder system construction

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements a dynamic rotor and auger arrangement that can shift between positions to enable continuous operation. By moving the feeding mechanism rather than the floor, the design achieves productivity improvement with simpler manufacturing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12453314B2Floating rotor and auger arrangement of agricultural baler

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

An agricultural baler includes: a frame; a feeder system coupled with the frame and including: a floor; and a rotor and auger arrangement configured for moving between a first position and a second position, the rotor and auger arrangement being spaced farther apart from the floor in the second position relative to the first position.