Movable Wrapping Material Feed for Turbulence-Protected Bale Wrapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing baling apparatuses face issues with crop interference and air turbulence disrupting the entry of wrapping material into the baling chamber, leading to incomplete or failed wrapping of bales.

Innovation Solution

A wrapping material supply apparatus with a displaceable channel or conveyor units that guide the wrapping material from above the wrapper inlet, using driven rollers and actuators to control the supply unit's position, ensuring the material is directed into the baling chamber without interference from crop or air turbulence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wrapping material is supplied through a fixed channel arrangement, then the structure is simple, but crop interference and air turbulence disrupt the wrapping material entry into the baling chamber

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewrapping material entry reliabilityVSAvoidsupply apparatus structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a movable channel arrangement that can be positioned in different locations above the wrapper inlet. The channel is displaceable between a first position for guiding wrapping material and a second position for allowing crop discharge, enabling the system to adapt to different operational phases and avoid interference between crop flow and wrapping material supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The supply apparatus is divided into separate functional components: a movable channel for guiding wrapping material, a crop discharge outlet for crop removal, and a wrapping material supply unit with driven rollers. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, preventing crop interference with the wrapping material entry path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the channel is positioned to guide wrapping material from above, then wrapping material entry is protected from crop interference, but the apparatus requires more complex positioning mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrop interference with wrapping materialVSAvoidpositioning mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The channel is made displaceable between positions using a positioning mechanism that can move it along a guide structure. This dynamic positioning allows the channel to be located optimally above the wrapper inlet to protect wrapping material from crop interference while using a relatively simple actuation system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable channel acts as an intermediary element between the wrapping material supply source and the wrapper inlet. It provides a protected pathway for the wrapping material while being positioned to avoid direct interference from crop discharge, effectively mediating between these two functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the wrapping material supply unit is fixed, then the structure is stable, but it cannot accommodate different baling chamber configurations or operational phases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to baling chamber configurationVSAvoidsupply apparatus structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The supply apparatus incorporates movable components including a displaceable channel and a positioning mechanism that can adjust the channel's location. This dynamic design enables the same apparatus to adapt to different baling chamber configurations and operational phases (wrapping vs. discharge) without requiring multiple separate systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable channel serves multiple functions: guiding wrapping material during the wrapping phase, allowing crop discharge during the discharge phase, and adapting to different baling chamber positions. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single apparatus design rather than requiring separate specialized components.

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

The solution effectively protects the wrapping material from air turbulence and crop interference, ensuring complete and efficient wrapping of bales by guiding the material into the baling chamber without disruption.

Implementation Method 1

Supply rollers are arranged to draw the wrapping material from the reservoir and, under the influence of gravity, a free end of the wrapping material is introduced to a rotating feeder roller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3837962B1Wrapping material apparatus and baling apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 AGCO INT GMBH
  • EP3837962B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3837962B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3837962B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A supply apparatus is disclosed for supplying wrapping material to a wrapper inlet of a baling chamber, in which a bale is to be wrapped with the wrapping material. A reservoir supplies the wrapping material to an upper driven roller forming a lower part of the wrapper inlet. The wrapping material is guided to the wrapper inlet from above the wrapper inlet. A displaceable supply unit is located between the reservoir and the upper driven roller, the supply unit being moveable between a baling position and a wrapping position about a pivot axis located above the wrapper inlet. It is an advantage of the present invention that a free end of the wrapping material outside of the baling chamber is protected by the displaceable supply unit from air turbulence during operation of the baling apparatus.