Press Roller Surface Design for Round Baler Unloading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural round balers face issues with maintaining the rotation of round bales during unloading due to the deviation of press rollers from a cylindrical shape, leading to a premature break-off of the rotation-generating engagement effect, especially with dry crops, and existing solutions like conveyor belt systems can compromise baling properties in wet conditions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of press rollers with a stronger engagement effect immediately behind and in front of the opening, featuring a higher number of elevations, different elevation designs, or coatings that increase adhesion and friction, and larger diameters to maintain the rotation of the round bale as the housing opens, compensating for the decreasing rotational drive effect of other rollers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the housing is opened to unload the round bale, then the unloading process is enabled, but the press rollers deviate from cylindrical shape causing premature break-off of rotation-generating engagement effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunloading capabilityVSAvoidrotation maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The press roller is designed with non-uniform surface properties: the arc section corresponding to the opening region has increased elevation height or different surface structure compared to other sections. This local quality enhancement ensures that the press roller maintains effective engagement with the round bale during housing opening, preventing premature break-off of the rotation-generating effect while allowing smooth unloading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If conveyor belt system is combined with press rollers to increase engagement strength, then the rotation maintenance is improved for dry crops, but the baling properties deteriorate in wetter harvesting conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation maintenanceVSAvoidperformance across harvesting conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The press roller surface parameters (elevation height, surface structure) are varied along the circumference, with the opening region having enhanced parameters for stronger engagement. This parameter change allows the same press roller to adapt to different operational phases: providing strong engagement during housing opening while maintaining appropriate characteristics for normal baling operations in various moisture conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Ensures the round bale is kept rotating for a sufficient duration by enhancing the engagement and frictional connection with the press rollers, even as the other rollers move away, effectively addressing the issue of premature rotation loss and maintaining baling efficiency across varying harvesting conditions.

Implementation Method 1

press rollers arranged on an underside of the baling chamber immediately behind the opening and immediately in front of the opening, which have a quality with a stronger engagement effect on the bale than the other press rollers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3097770B1Agricultural round baler
Publication Date: 2018.06.06 DEERE & CO
  • EP3097770B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3097770B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3097770B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An agricultural round baler (10) is disclosed. The agricultural round baler (10) comprises a baling chamber (20) consisting of several driven press rollers (26, 26', 26") arranged around the circumference of the baling chamber (20), by which a rotation-generating or rotation-maintaining engagement effect can be generated on a round bale located in the baling chamber (20), wherein the baling chamber (20) has an opening (25) through which the pressed round bale can be unloaded. In order to improve the engagement effect of the press rollers (26, 26', 26") during an unloading process for the round bale, it is proposed that the press roller (26', 26") located immediately behind and immediately in front of the opening on an underside of the baling chamber (10) have a design with a stronger engagement effect on the round bale than the other press rollers (26).