Square Baler Adjustable Loading Stroke for Uniform Bale Formation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The formation of uniform parallelepiped bales is challenging due to varying properties of bale materials, such as friction, elasticity, and specific mass, leading to non-uniform or oddly-shaped bales in existing square balers.

Innovation Solution

A square baler with an adjustable drive mechanism that controls the length and speed of the loading stroke through a feeding fork and steering arm crank system, allowing for precise adjustment of the loading and feeding strokes to compensate for different bale materials, ensuring correct preparation and uniform bale formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the feeding system uses a fixed loading stroke for all materials, then the device complexity is reduced, but the bale uniformity deteriorates due to varying material properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding mechanism structureVSAvoidbale shape uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the Dynamics principle by making the loading stroke adjustable rather than fixed. The feeding mechanism allows modification of the loading stroke parameters (length, speed, duration) to adapt to different bale materials with varying properties such as friction, elasticity, and specific mass. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by enabling uniform bale formation across different materials without requiring completely different feeding mechanisms for each material type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the loading stroke speed is increased to improve productivity, then the feeding efficiency is improved, but the bale shape uniformity deteriorates due to unpredictable material transfer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding rateVSAvoidbale shape consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the Parameter changes principle by allowing independent adjustment of loading stroke speed and other parameters. The system can optimize the loading stroke speed for each specific bale material, balancing productivity and bale uniformity. For materials with high friction or elasticity, slower speeds may be used to ensure uniform transfer, while for materials suitable for faster handling, higher speeds improve productivity without compromising bale shape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If the loading stroke length is extended to load more material, then the quantity of bale material in feeding duct is increased, but the bale shape uniformity deteriorates due to over-compression or material deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebale material volume in ductVSAvoidpre-compressed material shape
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the Dynamics principle by making the loading stroke length adjustable based on material properties and bale requirements. The system can optimize the stroke length to load the appropriate quantity of material without over-compression. This dynamic adjustment prevents material deformation and maintains uniform bale shapes while still loading sufficient material volume for efficient operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4331346A1Square baler
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 KUHN GELDROP
  • EP4331346A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4331346A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4331346A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A square baler comprises a compression chamber, a reciprocating plunger configured to compress bale material in the compression chamber to make a square bale, and a feeding system configured to feed bale material into the compression chamber. The feeding system comprises a feeding duct having an input end and an output end, a feeding fork configured to perform a loading stroke to pre-compress bale material in the feeding duct and a feeding stroke to transfer bale material from the feeding duct into the compression chamber. A drive mechanism is provided for driving movement of the feeding fork. The drive mechanism is adjustable to control the length and/or the speed of the loading stroke.