Round Baler Unloading Cushioning Flat Profile

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing round balers face challenges in controlling the movement of round bales during unloading, particularly when they are wrapped with net or twine, leading to damage due to extreme changes in direction and resulting mechanical stress during dynamic unloading processes.

Innovation Solution

A round baler design featuring a flat profile storage element with an elastic layer, surrounded by a cover, which provides a larger contact area and reduces surface pressure, is used in the unloading area to cushion the bale's movement, reducing kinetic energy and mechanical stress by generating angular momentum and using elastic deformation to absorb energy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a roller mounted on springs is used to absorb kinetic energy, then the round bale damage is reduced, but the device complexity and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveround bale damageVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential function of energy absorption from the complex spring-mounted roller system and implements it through a simpler flat profile storage element with elastic layer, eliminating the need for complex mounting mechanisms while retaining the protective function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The flat profile storage element is designed as a simple, replaceable component that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed, unlike the complex spring-mounted roller system that requires significant disassembly and maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Area of stationary object

If a flat profile storage element is used instead of a roller, then the contact area increases and surface pressure decreases, but the structural simplicity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact areaVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flat profile storage element is equipped with an elastic layer specifically at the contact surface to provide increased contact area and reduced surface pressure, while the rest of the structure remains simple and rigid for easy manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The storage element combines a rigid flat profile structure with an elastic layer material, creating a composite component that provides both structural simplicity and enhanced contact properties for reducing surface pressure on round bales

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If the elastic layer is surrounded by a cover, then the elastic layer is protected, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelastic layer protectionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A simple cover structure is used to surround and protect the elastic layer, providing a basic protective enclosure without complex mechanisms, allowing the elastic layer to function while being shielded from external damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 reduces damage to round bales by distributing the load over a larger surface area, minimizing tears in the wrapping material and preventing mechanical stress during unloading, while maintaining structural simplicity and reducing maintenance needs.

Implementation Method 1

The flat profile is also provided with an elastic layer, which can be elastically deformed under the action of the round bale during the unloading process. Due to the fact that the round bale acts directly or indirectly on an elastic layer during the unloading process, part of the kinetic energy can be compensated and the load on the round bale can be significantly reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the storage element can be arranged in such a way that the round bale falling onto the storage element lies with its axis of rotation in the forward direction of travel behind the storage element, so that the storage element causes a fall on the round bale angular momentum (movement momentum) acting against the forward direction is generated for the round bale

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAngular momentum: Angular Momentum

Data Source

PatentEP2550854B1Round baler
Publication Date: 2016.03.23 DEERE & CO
  • EP2550854B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2550854B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2550854B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The press has a frame and a pressing chamber formed on the frame to form a round bale between the pressing chamber and a bottom surface. A receiving element (70) is extended parallel to a rotational axis of the round bale, and supports the round bale arranged in an unloading region during discharge process, where the receiving element is designed as a flat profile (78). The receiving element is pivotally suspended and connected with a pivotal movement cushioning unit. The flat profile is provided with an elastic layer (80) made of foam material or elastomer.