Movable Deck Channel for Round Balers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional round balers face jamming issues when encountering uneven distributions of agricultural products, leading to interruptions in feeding due to heavy localized accumulations, which often require manual and burdensome intervention to resolve.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus featuring an impeller rotor with a deck coupled to a fixed frame via movable supports, including a support pin and a crank that can rotate perpendicular to the advancement direction, allowing for the widening of the transfer channel to accommodate heavy accumulations without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the pick-up drum lifts great localized accumulations of product, then the rotor can transfer more material to the compression chamber, but the teeth cannot fully penetrate between the product causing jamming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial transfer rateVSAvoidcontinuous operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the deck movable rather than fixed. The deck can be lowered hydraulically to widen the passage opening when jamming occurs, and then raised to restore the normal channel configuration. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to varying product accumulation conditions, preventing jamming while maintaining high productivity during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the deck is lowered to widen the passage opening, then blockage removal is facilitated, but the increase in cross-section is not uniform and is practically zero at the inlet region

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblockage removalVSAvoidpassage opening cross-section

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the deck into multiple movable sections rather than treating it as a single rigid structure. By dividing the deck into segments that can be independently lowered, the system achieves uniform widening of the passage opening along its entire length, including the inlet region. This segmentation allows each section to adjust independently, ensuring consistent cross-sectional increase throughout the channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If manual intervention is used to remove blockage, then the operator can clear the jam, but the operation is burdensome and forces extended pauses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblockage clearanceVSAvoidoperational pauses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the deck to automatically lower and widen the passage opening when jamming is detected, without requiring manual intervention. The hydraulic system activates automatically to adjust the deck position, clear the blockage, and restore normal operation. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for operators to manually remove blockages, reducing both the burden on operators and the operational pauses caused by blockages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 the reliable and rapid transfer of agricultural products to the compression chamber, even in cases of heavy accumulations, by dynamically adjusting the channel's cross-section to prevent jamming and ensure continuous operation without manual intervention.

Implementation Method 1

at least one support pin (8), which is coupled to a first portion of the deck (3) and moved, in a corresponding guiding slot (9), by a corresponding actuator (10)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical movement through guiding slot:

Implementation Method 2

at least one crank (11), which is coupled to a second portion of the deck (3) and rotatable about a rotation axis (A) that is perpendicular to the advancement direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational movement about transverse axis:

Data Source

PatentUS10537068B2Apparatus and machine for transferring agricultural products, in an agricultural machine

Publication Date: 2020.01.21 KVERNELAND GRP RAVENNA

AI summary

An apparatus for transferring agricultural products, for agricultural machines designed for the formation of a bale is provided. The transfer apparatus includes at least one impeller rotor, which can be arranged between a pick-up drum of agricultural products and a chamber for the compression of the agricultural products. The rotor is facing a deck, for delimiting at least partially a channel. The deck is coupled to a fixed frame by way of at least two supports which can move on command. At least one first support includes at least one support pin, which is coupled to a first portion of the deck and moved, in a corresponding guiding slot, by a corresponding actuator. At least one second support includes at least one crank, which is coupled to a second portion of the deck and rotatable about a rotation axis that is perpendicular to the advancement direction.