GB2199012A

GB2199012A - Device for moving bales

Info

Publication number: GB2199012A
Application number: GB08723330A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Fitzell; Donald James Phillips
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-10-16
Filing date: 1987-10-05
Publication date: 1988-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 2007-10-05
Also published as: GB8624837D0; GB8723330D0; GB2199012B

Abstract

A loader tractor on which a bale moving device is mounted is advanced towards a cylindrical bale 24 with retaining rollers 14 on an arm 16 in a raised position. A rotatably mounted roller 26 of a lower bale support 12 is pushed partially underneath the bale 24 and the rollers 14 on the arm 16 are caused to move downwardly to grip the bale by actuation of ram 28. A post 18 to which the support 12 and arm 16 are connected is then caused to be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction about a pivot 32, and the front boom 22 of the loader tractor can then be raised to transport the bale. Release of the bale can be reversal of the above described sequence. The pivot 32 may be dispensed with, and the roller 26 be reduced in diameter to enable it to be pushed further under the bale with a lengthening of the support 12. <IMAGE>

Description

MOVING BALES.

The present invention relates to a device, and a method of for moving bales and In particular, although not exclusIvely, to a device for and method of liftIng cylindrical bales which have been surrounded by clIng film.

At present cyllndrical bales surrounded by cling film are lifted by first advancing a prong or prongs on the front loader of a tractor Into a flat end of the bale through the cling film and then lifting the prong to ralse the bale. As the cling film Is pierced by the prong or prongs It is then necessary to re seal the cling film around the pierced hole if the advantage of the bale being sealed by cling film Is to be maintained.- The sealing of the pierced hole is time consuming and may be difficult to effect, particularly if the bales are belng moved In a damp atmosphere where It may be difficult for adhesive tape to adhere to the cling film around the hole.

According to one aspect of the present Invention, a bale moving device Includes two spaced bale engaging portions movable relative to each other between a first position in which a bale may be located between the engaging portions and a second position in which a bale located between the engaging portions Is prevented from leaving through the engaging portlons. Such a bale moving device Is particularly useful when moving cylindrical bales wrapped in cilng film as the cling film need not be plerced upon engagement and lifting of the bale, and considerably less stress Is placed on the bale durlng movement as the bale Is not left extending from a spike or spikes, this being of particular advantage where the bale is loosely packed and may be prone to falling apart.

In the second position of the engaging portions when a bale is located between the engaging portions, the bale may be prevented from leaving between the engaging portions by the bale dimension in the direction between the engaging portions Increasing In the direction opposite from that In which the bale would have to move to leave through the engaging portions. At least one of the engaging portions may be arranged to engage with a bale, when a bale Is located between the engaging portions and the engaging portions are In the second position, at at least two locations around the bale. At least one of the engaging portions may be arranged to engage wlth a bale, when a bale is located between the engaging portions and the engaging portions are In the second position, In a direction extending partly around the bale.

The engaging portions may be arranged to abut with the cling film of a wrapped bale when the engaging portions are In the second positlon.

One or both of the engaging portions may Include a roller which may not only help gentle engagement wlth the bale to be engaged but may also rol I over or abut bales adJacent to that to be engaged without damaging thelr surrounding cling film. The roller or rollers may be arranged to extend across a bale to be engaged. The roller or rollers may include smooth ends.

The engaging portions may be pivotally connected whereby the relative pivotal movement between the portions effects the movement between the first and second positions. Hydraulic means may be arranged to effect the relative movement between the first and second positions of the engaging portions.

One of the engaging portions may be arranged to engage with a bale at the lower region thereof. That engaging portion may be arranged to provide support for a bale both across the bale and along an extent transverse to that direction. The other engaging portion may be arranged to be moved downwardly In order to cause the relative movement from the first to the second position.

Both of the engaging portions may be connected to the front end loader of a tractor, either pivotally or fixedly. The engaging portions may be arranged to be lifted and or pivoted when the portions are In the second position. One of the engaging portions may be arranged to support substantially the whole weight of a bale when a bale engaged by the engaging portions is being moved.

According to another aspect of the present Invention a method of moving a bale with a device Including two bale engaging portions movable relative to each other comprises causing relative movement of the bale engaging portions and a bale in order to locate the bale between the engaging portions, causing relative movement of the engaging portions from a first position to a second position in which the bale is prevented from leaving back through the engaging portions, and causing movement of the device In order to move the bale.

The present invent Ion also includes a method of moving a bale as herein defined when using a bale moving device as herein defined.

The invention may be cart led Into practlce in varlous ways, but one embodiment will now be descrlbed by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a bale holding device in a position to raise the bale from the ground, Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the bale in a raised position; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the retaining rollers of the device; Figure 4 is a schematic front view of the lower bale support, and Figure 5 shows a stack of bales which have been arranged by the holding device shown In Figures 1 to 4.

As shown In Figure 1, the holding device 10 includes a lower bale support 12 and upper retaining rollers 14 rotatably mounted at the end of an arm 16 pivotally connected to the upper end of a post 18, as indlcated at 20. The device 10 is connected to the front loader 22 of a tractor (not shown).

In use, the tractor Is advanced towards a cylindrical bale 24 wrapped In cling film, wlth the retaining rollers 14 and the arm 16 in the raised position shown in chain lines. The lower bale support 12 Includes a rotatably mounted roller 26 which Is pushed partially underneath the bale 24. The rollers 14 on the arm 16 are then caused to move downwardly into the position shown by extending a hydraulic ram 28 acting between the post 18 and an extenslon of the arm 16 extending past the pivot 20. The arm 16 IS bent so that it passes over the bale and the rollers 14 ride over the adJacent bale 30 and grip slightly the bale 24.The gap between the upper rollers 14 and the lower roller 26 is now less than the diameter of the cylindrical bale and the bale is unable to pass out between the rollers 14 and 25. The arm 16 also gently engages the bale over at least Its curved portlon to "cuddle" the bale and increase the holding force on the bale.

In order to ralse the bale, the post 18 is caused to be rotated In an anticlockwise direction about a pivot 32 by means (not shown) into the position shown In Figure 2. The front loader 22 of the tractor can then be raised to transport the bale. When the loader Is in the raised position, a dished plate 34 of the lower bale support 12 supports substantially the whole weight of the bale. Bales are released by raising the upper rol lers and reversing the tractor.

The bales can then be stacked in the configuration shown in Figure 5 wlth each of the bales 36 in an upper layer resting on a single lower bale 38 and against an adJacent bale 36 or angled wail 40. This stacking arrangement differs from prior stacks In which each upper bale rests partlally between two lower bales and tends to become Jammed between the lower bales.

The ends of all of the rollers are radlused to prevent the cling film of the bales from belng damaged or torn.

In an alternative arrangement (not shown), the post 18 is not pivotally connected to the front end loader and the dlameter of the lower roller 26 Is of smaller dlameter than shown to enable that roller to be pushed further under a bale to be lifted, and the dished plate 34 is lengthened. With this modified arrangement the bale can be ralsed simply by ralsing the front end loader of the tractor, without first pivoting the post 18.

Claims

1. A bale moving device including two spaced bale engaging portions movable relative to each other between a first position in which relative movement between a bale and the device may occur In order that a bale be located between the engaging portions, and a second position In which a bale located between the engaging portions Is prevented from leaving back through the engaging portions.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 in which the bale engaging portions are arranged to engage with the curved surface of a generally cylindrical bale.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 In which, when a bale is located between the engaging portions, with the engaging portions being In the second position, the minimum distance between the engaging portions is less than the distance across the bale which would have to pass through the engaging portions If the bale were to leave back through the engaging portions thereby preventing the bale from leaving back through the engaging portions.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 when dependent on Claim 2 In which at least one of the engaging portions Is arranged to engage wlth a bale, when a bale is located between the engaging portions and the engaging portions are In the second position, at at least two locations around the generally cylindrical bale.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 4 in which at least one of the engaging portions is arranged to engage wlth a bale, when a bale is located between the engaging portions and the engaging portions are In the second position in a direction extending partly around the bale.

6. A device as clalmed In any preceeding clalm in which at least one of the engaging portions includes a roller.

7. A device as claimed In Claim 6 In which both of the engaging portions Include a roller.

8. A device as clalmed In Clalm 5 or Q in which the roller or rollers are arranged to extend across a bale.

9. A device as clalmed In any of Claims 6 to 8 In which the roller or rollers Include at least one end which Is smooth.

10. A device as claimed In any preceding claim In which at least one of the engaging portions Is pivotally movable relative to the other engaging portlon.

11. A device as claimed in Claim 10 In which pivotal movement of one of the engaging portions Is arranged to be effected by a hydraulic means.

12. A device as claimed In any preceding clalm In which one of the engaging portions Is arranged to engage wlth a bale at the lower region thereof.

13. A device as claimed In any preceding claim In which one of the engaging portions Is arranged to move downwardly relative to the other engaging portion in order to cause the relative movement from the first to the second position.

14. A device as claimed in any preceding clalm in which both of the engaging portions are connected to the front end loader of a tractor.

15. A device as claimed In Clalm 14 In which the engaging portions are connected to the front end loader by a fixed connectlon.

16. A device as claimed in Claim 14 in which the engaging portions are connected to the front end loader by a pivotal connection.

17. A device as claimed In any preceding claim In which the engaging portions are capable of being lifted when in the second position.

18. A device as clalmed In any preceding claim in which the engaging portions are arranged to be pivoted when In the second position.

19. A device as claimed In any preceding claim in which one of the engaging portions is arranged to support substantially the whole weight of a bale when a bale engaged by the engaging portions Is belng moved.

20. A device as claimed In any preceding claim In which the engaging portions are arranged to exert a compression force on a bale when the engaging portions are In the second position.

21. A bale moving device substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying Figures 1 to 4.

22. A method of moving a bale wlth a device Including two bale engaging portions movable relative to each other comprising causing relative movement of the bale engaging portions and a bale In order to locate the bale between the engaging portions, causing relative movement of the engaging portions from a first position to a second position In which the bale is prevented from leaving back through the engaging portions, and causing movement of the device In order to move the bale.

23. A method of moving a bale substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown In the accompanying drawings.

24. A method of moving a bale as claimed in Clalm 22 or 23 using a bale moving device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 21.