Wrapped Bale Tunnel Construction and Dual-Plane Wrapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for wrapping bales require a separate binding step before wrapping to hold the bale structure, which is unnecessary after the wrapping process, as the wrapping material can perform this function.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that form a tunnel construction using wrapping material, where the bale exits a tunnel with the wrapping material forming a part of the final wrapping, capable of holding the bale together, followed by a second wrapping stage with the bale rotated in a plane normal to the first, ensuring the wrapping material is applied in a direction perpendicular to the initial wrapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a separate binding step is performed before wrapping to hold the bale structure, then the bale structure is retained during production, but the process complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the separate binding step from the traditional two-stage process (binding then wrapping). The binding function is extracted and integrated into the wrapping process itself, where the wrapping material performs both wrapping and binding functions simultaneously, thereby reducing process complexity while maintaining bale structure stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the binding function with the wrapping function into a single integrated process. The wrapping material is applied in such a way that it simultaneously secures the bale structure and provides the final wrapping, merging two previously separate operations into one unified process that reduces complexity and time
2Stability of the object's composition
If a separate binding step is performed before wrapping, then the bale structure is held together, but the production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the binding operation with the wrapping operation into a single continuous process. The wrapping material is applied while the bale is being formed or immediately thereafter, performing both structural securing and final wrapping in one operation, thereby eliminating the time loss associated with sequential binding and wrapping steps
Solution Approach 2:
The wrapping material is applied in advance or during the bale formation process rather than as a separate subsequent step. This preliminary application of wrapping material ensures the bale structure is held together from the outset, eliminating the need for a separate post-formation binding step and reducing total production time
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for producing wrapped bales comprises a wrapping device for circulating a web dispensing device in a first plane of rotation around a bale during a first wrapping stage. The surface of the web of wrapping material is kept substantially normal to the first plane of rotation. During a second wrapping stage, the bale may further be rotated by a rotating device in a second plane of rotation substantially normal to the first plane of rotation. Between the first and the second stages, the surface of the wrapping material web may be turned about 90° such that the surface of the web is always substantially normal to the planes of rotation in both stages. The first wrapping stage includes using a tunnel device, which makes it possible to produce both unbound wrapped bales and bound wrapped bales.