IE20090404U1 - Round bale silage unwrapping apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT The function of this invention is to pick up a round bale of silage from the storage area, transport it to the feeding area, open the bale and remove the plastic wrapping and net. This is done from the tractor seat using the tractor hydraulics. The round bale unwrapping apparatus has a rigid three point linkage frame (1). A pivot and hinge frame (2) is connected with a pin and bush assembly at points 6 and 7. The pivot and hinge frame (2) is rotated by a chain and sprocket assembly, and a hydraulic motor located at point 6 through an angle of approximately 200 degrees. The bale grab arms (3) are hinged on the Pivot and hinge frame (2). When a round bale is grabbed it is pivoted back towards the plastic wrappping and net cutting knife (5). After the bale has been cut the bale is pivoted by approximately 200 degrees. The weight of the bale is now down on the plastic wrapping and net grippers (4) prevent the plastic wrapping and net from sliding through the grab arms, resulting in the unwrapping of the round bale without getting out of the tractor seat.

Description

A ‘ffitnd bale unwrapping apparatus The invention relates to a round bale silage unwrapping apparatus capable of removing the plastic wrapping and net when bales are been used for feeding.

This invention is designed to be attached to a tractor by the tractors rear three point linkage.

At the moment there is no rear three point linkage bale unwrapping apparatus available which can be operated by the tractor driver from the tractor drivers seat, that can pick up a round bale of silage from the storage area, transport it to the feeding area, without getting out of the tractor, open the bale and then remove the plastic wrapping and net.

In addition the bale wrapping apparatus is capable of feeding bales into ring feeders without having to move the ring feeder what so ever. As the bale of silage is dropped into the feeder the plastic wrapping and net are removed in the same way as it would if the bale of silage was been fed in the ordinary feed passage area.

According to the invention, this round bale unwrapping W apparatus comprises of Bale grab arms - for grabbing the round bale of silage.

Pivot and hinge frame - in which the bale grab arms are hinged, and the pivot and hinge frame and grab arms pivot through an angle of approximately 200 degrees.

Plastic wrapping and net grippers- which prevent the plastic wrapping and net from going through the grab arms as the round bale of silage is been released to its feeding area.

Three point linkage frame - which connects the round bale unwrapping apparatus to the tractor and also provides pivot points for the pivot and hinge frame.

The plastic Wrapping and net cutting kr1ife— which cuts the plastic and net enough, so that as the bale is been released to the feeding area, the plastic wrapping and bale grippers which prevent the plastic wrapping and net from going through the grab arms can hold the plastic back.

Eo9o4o4 The invention will be more clearly understood from the following descriptions of some of the illustrations From Fig. A the assembly of the round bale wrapping apparatus can be seen. The three point linkage frame (1) is the outer frame which is connected to the hinge and pivot frame (2) on both sides at points 6, and 7, by a pin and bush assembly.

Also connected to the three point linkage frame (1) is the plastic wrapping and net cutting knife (5) at point 8.

From Fig. B hinged on to the hinge and pivot frame (2) at points 9, 10, 1 1, and 12, are the two grab arms (3) At the two ends of the grab arms (3) at points 13, and 14, are the two plastic wrapping and net grippers (4) The operation of the round bale unwrapping apparatus The round bale of silage is picked up in the storage area, with the round bale unwrapping apparatus in the position shown in Fig. C or fig. D depending on the position of the round bale of silage.

The grab arms (3) are in the outward position. When the round bale unwrapping apparatus is in the correct position to the round bale of silage the grab arms (3) are closed on to the bale by a hydraulic cylinder located between point 15 and 16 (Fig. C or D).

With the round bale of silage in the grabbed position, the grab arms (3) and the pivot and hinge frame (2) are pivoted back to the cut plastic wrapping and net position shown in Fig. E. The pivoting is achieved by a two way hydraulic motor with a chain and sprocket assembly. This assembly will be located at point 6 where the three point linkage frame (1) pivot point and the pivot and hinge flame (2) come together. The positioning of the pivot points 6 and 7, allows the round bale of silage as it pivots back, to drop down to a lower position and also moves closer to the plastic wrapping and net cutting knife (5).

The plastic wrapping and net cutting knife (5) is then lowered to cut the plastic wrapping and net. This is achieved by a hydraulic cylinder which will be mounted between the plastic wrapping and net cutting knife (5) and the three point linkage frame (1) at point 17 (Fig. E).

The removal of the plastic wrapping and net from the round bale of silage takes place as the bale is been dropped on the feeding area. The round bale unwrapping apparatus will be piypted by approximately 200 degrees from the cut plastic wrapping and net position shown in Fig. E, to the drop bale and remove plastic wrapping and net position, shown in Fig. F. As the bale goes from the cut plastic wrapping and net position (Fig. E) to the drop bale and remove plastic wrapping and net position (Fig. F) it increases in height and moves away from the tractor due to its pivot points (6 and 7). This gives maximum ground clearance for the bale drop off. If feeding into a ring feeder enough height is achieved to clear the ring feeder without having to move it. The plastic wrapping and net grippers will have a grip on the bale (shown in Fig. F) as the full weight of the bale is now down on the grippers. There is at this stage a cut on the bale plastic between the two plastic wrapping and net grippers (Fig.

F). As the bale grab arms are open by a hydraulic cylinder located between points 15 and 16. (Fig. C, D or F) the plastic wrapping and net will not slide through the grab arms with the bale of silage.

This result is my main obj ective of the invention of the round bale unwrapping apparatus, the round bale of wrapped silage is in the feed area with the plastic wrapping and net removed.

Claims (1)

1. Claims A round bale unwrapping apparatus comprising of Bale grab arms (3), for holding the round bale of silage in position as it goes through the operation as described above. A pivot and hinge frame (2), in which the bale grab arms (3) are hinged, and the pivot and hinge frame (2) and grab arms (3) pivot through an angle of approximately 200 degrees. As it pivots to the cut plastic wrapping and net position (