GB2187430A

GB2187430A - Bale wrapping

Info

Publication number: GB2187430A
Application number: GB08604994A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Samuel James Loughridge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-02-28
Filing date: 1986-02-28
Publication date: 1987-09-09
Also published as: GB2187430B; GB8604994D0

Abstract

A tractor is reversed until a roller 36 on mobile wrapping apparatus abuts the cylindrical surface of a bale. The free end of a roll of film mounted on a spool carrier 32 of the apparatus is then trapped with the bale by tucking it into the string binding the bale. The tractor is then reversed slowly to cause the roller to push and roll the bale rearwardly and at the same time a rotor arm assembly 20 which carries the spool carrier 32 is rotated about a bearing 22 to cause the roll of film to move around the bale and wrap the bale. As the bale is rolling slowly, each successive pass of the rotor arm assembly causes the strips of film to overlap each other to a considerable extent until the bale is completely wrapped. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bale wrapping The present invention relates to a bale wrapper and to a method of wrapping bales, and is particularly, although not exclusively applicable to the wrapping of cylindrical bales.

In a known arrangement for wrapping cylindrical bales in stretch plastic film, the bale is mechanically lifted onto a platform. That platform is comprised by a succession of bands which pass around two spaced driven rollers. Rotation ofthe rollers causes the cylindrical bale to rotate about its longitudinal axis. At the same time as the bale rotates about its longitudinal axis the platform itself is able to rotate about a vertical axis. The plastic film is taken off a roll offilm rotatably mounted about a fixed shaft.

Rotation of the platform is arranged to cause the film to be wrapped around the bale, and rotation ofthe rollers controls the portion of the bale around which the film passes.

Such a known arrangement is expensive to manufacture and complicated in structure. In addition to the driven rollers and rotational platform having to be provided, it is also necessary to provide a lifting mechanism to transfer each bale on and off the platform, thus providing more expense and complication in the manufacture of the machinery and prolonging the time taken to wrap a bale.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method ofwrapping a bale in sheet material comprises moving the bale, and moving sheet material around the bale to wrap the bale in the sheet material. The bale may be moved simultaneousiy with the sheet material being passed around the bale. The bale may be arranged to be moved by being pushed. The bale may roll when it is caused to move.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a bale wrapping apparatus comprises bale moving means arranged to move a bale and sheet moving means arranged to move sheet material around a bale.

The bale moving means may include an abutment portion arranged to abut and push a bale. The abutment portion may be provided on a roller which roller may befreely rotatably mounted.

The sheet moving means may include a carrierfor a roll of sheet, which carrier may be arranged to support a roll of sheet whereby the longitudinal axis ofthe roll extends substantially perpendicularly to the intended direction of movement of the sheet material around a bale. The roll may be arranged to move overthe bale moving means as the sheet moving means moves around a bale.

The sheet moving means may be rotatably mounted on the apparatus. The rotatable mounting may be located above the area arranged to be occupied by a bale being wrapped.

The height of the sheet moving means and orthe bale moving means may be adjustable. The adjustment of that height may be afforded by mounting a portion ofthe apparatus eccentrically relative to the rotational axes of a pair of wheels supporting the apparatus.

The apparatus may comprise an attachment, which attachment may be adapted to be connected to a vehicle.

The present invention also includes bale wrapping apparatus when used in a bale wrapping method.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view of a bale wrapper; Figure2isa plan viewof Figure 1,and Figure3 is a rear view of Figure 1.

As shown in the drawings, a bale wrapper is supported on a pair of spaced wheels 10, and linkage mounting points 12 are provided on a solid frame 14 for connecting the apparatus to a three-point linkage of a tractor (not shown).

The frame 14 includes a rearwardly extending arm 16from its upper region. Towardsthefree end ofthat arm 16, a rotor arm assembly 20 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 22. Also mounted on the arm 16 is a hyd a u isa hydraulismotor 18 providedwith hydraulic power fro the tractor and connected via a chain 24 to a sprocket 26 fastwith the rotor arm assembly wherebythe motor can cause the rotor arm assembly to rotate.

The motor arm assembly includes a first arm 28 extending outwardly from the bearing 22 and a second arm 30 extending downwardly from the outer end ofthe arm 28. At the lower end of the arm 30 an upwardly extending spool carrier 32 is provided. A roll of stretch plastic film (not shown) is mounted on that carrier and, although the carrier is able to rotate to allow the film to betaken offthe roll, there is some resistance to that rotation to ensure that the film comes off undertension.

Beneath the spool carrier 32 a pair of arms 34 extend rearwardly a nd carry a free runn ing roller 36 between them.

In use, the tractor is reversed until the roller 36 abuts the cylindrical surface of a bale which is resting on that cylindrical surface. The free end of the film is then trapped with the bale by tucking it into the string binding the bale. The tractor is then reversed slowly to cause the rollerto push and roll the bale rearwardly, and at the same time the rotor arm assembly is rotated in its bearing to cause the film to be wrapped around the bale.

As the bale is rolling slowly, each successive pass of the rotor arm assembly causes the strips offilm to overlap each other to a considerable extent. Ideally, each layer should only have about a quarter of its width covering a new area of bale in order to end up with a wrapped bale having at least for layers of film over any one area. When the bale has been sufficiently completely covered, the tractor and rotor arm are stopped. The film is then detached from the roll and stretched and stuck onto the wrapped bale.

The bale wrapper is provided with a means of adjusting the height of the roller and frame 14 by a cross-member 38 on the frame being offset from the axles 40 of the wheels (as shown in Figure 3).The cross member 38 can be pivoted relative to the axles and locked into place to afford an adjustment in height of about six inches. This adjustment allows theapparatusto be ableto cope with bales varying in size. The cross-member 38 includes telescopically mounted portions 42 at both ends.

Claims

1. A method of wrapping a bale in sheet material comprising moving the bale, and moving sheet material around the baletowrapthe bale inthesheet material.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 in which the bale is moved simultaneously with the sheet material being passed around the bale.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the bale is moved by being pushed.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the bale rolls when it is caused to move.

5. A method of wrapping a bale in sheet material substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in Figures, 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

6. Bale wrapping apparatus comprising bale moving means arranged to move a bale, and sheet moving means arranged to move-sheet material around a bale.

7. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 in which the bale moving means includes an abutment portion arranged to abut and push a bale.

8. Balewrappingapparatusasclaimedin Claim7 in which the abutment portion is provided on a roller.

9. Balewrapping apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 in which the roller is freely rotatably mounted.

10. Balewrapping apparatus as claimed in anyof Claims 6 to 9 in which the sheet moving means includes a carrier for a roll of sheet, the carrier being arranged to support a roll of sheet whereby the longitudinal axis ofthe roll extends substantially perpendicularly to the intended direction of movement of the sheet material around a bale.

11. Balewrapping apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 in which the roll is arranged to move overthe bale moving means as the sheet moving means moves around a bale.

12. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 6to 11 in which the sheet moving means is rotatably mounted on the apparatus.

13. Balewrapping apparatusasclaimed in Claim 12 in which the rotatable mounting of the sheet moving means may be located above the area arranged to be occupied bya bale being wrapped.

14. Balewrapping apparatus as claimed in anyof Claims 6to 13 in which the height of the sheet moving means is adjustable.

15. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in any of Claims6to 14 in which the heightofthe bale moving means is adjustable.

16. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in Claim 14 or 15 in which the height adjustment is afforded by mounting a portion ofthe apparatus eccentrically relative to the rotational axis of a pair of wheels supporting the apparatus.

17. Bale wrapping apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 16 comprising an attachment adapted to be connected to a vehicle.

18. Balewrapping apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 1,2 and 3 ofthe accompanying drawings.

19. Balewrapping apparatus as claimed in anyof Claims 6two 18 when used in a method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5.