Partial Bale Ejection System for Agricultural Baler Wear Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural balers face challenges in efficiently ejecting the rearmost bale without causing excessive wear on components, which can lead to unintentional bale dislodgement during transport.

Innovation Solution

A partial bale ejection system integrated into the baler's floor, featuring an actuator and tines that push the rearmost bale out of the chamber, minimizing component wear and ensuring smooth passage of unbound crop material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a full bale ejection system is used to move bales throughout the main bale chamber, then bales can be effectively transported, but component wear increases when ejecting the rearmost bale

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebale ejection reliabilityVSAvoidcomponent service life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bale ejection function is segmented into two systems: a main bale ejection system for transporting bales throughout the chamber, and a partial bale ejection system specifically for ejecting the rearmost bale. This segmentation allows each system to be optimized for its specific function, reducing unnecessary wear on the main system components when only the rearmost bale needs ejection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partial bale ejection system extracts the specific function of ejecting the rearmost bale from the main bale ejection system. By separating this function into a dedicated subsystem with its own actuator and tines, the main system avoids the wear and stress associated with frequent rearmost bale ejection operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If the baler carries multiple bales, then productivity increases, but the risk of unintentional bale dislodgement during transport increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebale production capacityVSAvoidbale security during transport

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The partial bale ejection system enables the baler to automatically eject the rearmost bale when needed, without requiring external intervention or manual operation. This self-service capability ensures that excess bales are promptly removed, preventing unintentional dislodgement during transport while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If an actuator pushes the rearward bale directly without tines, then the ejection mechanism is simpler, but component wear increases on the actuator

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection mechanism complexityVSAvoidactuator service life

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Tines are introduced as intermediary elements between the actuator and the rearward bale. These tines transfer the pushing force from the actuator to the bale, distributing the mechanical stress and reducing direct wear on the actuator components. The tines act as a mediator that enables effective force transmission while protecting the actuator from excessive wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10743476B2Agricultural baler with partial bale eject

Publication Date: 2020.08.18 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

An agricultural baler includes a main bale chamber, a bale ejection system and a partial bale ejection system. The partial bale ejection system, incorporated in the floor of the main bale chamber, is arranged to move and eject a rearward bale proximate to the outlet of the main bale chamber. The partial bale ejection system having an actuator for moving the rearward bale and at least one tine that is pushed into the rearward bale prior to the actuator pushing the rearward bale alone toward and out the outlet.