JP7748720B2 - Roll baler kicker - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a roll baler that discharges roll bales into a field, and more specifically to a roll baler that discharges the roll bale diagonally backward when discharging.

Generally, a self-propelled roll baler is comprised of a harvesting section that harvests crops such as corn or rice, a shredding section that shreds the crop harvested by the harvesting section, and a roll forming chamber that forms cylindrical roll bales from the shredded crops. After the roll bale is formed in the roll forming chamber, the rear chamber of the roll forming chamber is opened and the roll bale is placed on a kicker and released into the field.

However, with such general roll balers, as shown in Figure 9, the roll bale 9 is released directly behind the roll baler 1, so when harvesting work is performed in the next adjacent work area, there is a risk that the roll bale 9 may come into contact with a roll bale 9 that has already been left in the field.

To solve this problem, Patent Document 1 below proposes a roll baler that releases roll bales diagonally backward, in the direction of the area where work has been completed.

Specifically, as shown in Figure 8, this roll baler is equipped with left and right guide devices 10, 11 that are fixed at the same height on the machine body but have different rear end heights, creating a slope that slopes left and right, and allows the roll bale 9 to be released diagonally backward along this slope. With this configuration, the roll bale 9 can be released at a location away from the next work area, preventing the machine body from coming into contact with the roll bale 9 in the field.

Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. 63-145439

However, the structure shown in Figure 8 presents the following problems:

In other words, with the structure shown in Figure 8, the guide tools 10, 11 are fixed with bolts facing downward toward the rear, so when traveling over uneven farmland, the rear ends of the guide tools 10, 11 may come into contact with the farmland. Furthermore, because the guide tools 10, 11 are fixed in an inclined position, when the roll bale 9 is released from the roll forming chamber, the roll bale 9 rolls with increased momentum, increasing its rotational speed and causing crops to spill over the sides, etc.

In addition, in the structure shown in Figure 8, the rear end of one of the guide devices 11 is raised to form a slope in the left-right direction. However, with this configuration, when the roll bale 9 is released, it falls from the high rear end of the guide device 11. As a result, the impact of the fall can cause deformation of the roll bale 9 and cause the crops to spill out.

To solve the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a roll baler that can carefully release roll bales from the roll forming chamber diagonally backward, away from the adjacent next work area.

In other words, to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a roll baler comprising a body that travels through farm fields, a roll forming chamber attached to the body that forms roll bales from chopped crops, and a kicker that tilts its rear portion downward from its initial horizontal position and that loads and rolls the roll bale released from the roll forming chamber onto the farm field. The present invention provides a tilting mechanism that tilts the kicker laterally by changing the height positions of the left and right sides of the front side when tilting the kicker's rear portion downward from its initial horizontal position.

With this configuration, when releasing a roll bale, the release speed is reduced by using a horizontal kicker, and then when rolling the roll bale, the height of the left and right sides of the front side of the kicker is changed depending on the weight of the roll bale, causing it to tilt left and right, allowing the roll bale to be released diagonally backward.

In addition, in such an invention, the kicker is configured with a left support section and a right support section on which the left and right sections of the roll bale are placed, and the tilting mechanism is configured so that the fulcrum around which the left support section or the right support section rotates is offset in the front-to-rear direction, and so that in the initial state, the plane spanning the left support section and the right support section is horizontal.

With this configuration, the pivot points on the front sides of the left and right support sections are offset in the front-to-rear direction, so when tilting the kicker, the height positions on the left and right sides of the front side can be adjusted, allowing the roll bale to be released diagonally rearward.

Furthermore, the kicker is configured with left and right support sections on which the left and right sections of the roll bale are placed, and a shaft connecting the front ends of the left and right support sections in the left-right direction. The tilting mechanism is also configured with a pivot point offset in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle body, and an arm connecting the pivot point to the end of the shaft. In the initial state, the plane spanning the left and right support sections is horizontal, and the rear of the kicker is tilted downward via the pivot point.

With this configuration, the left and right support sections are supported by the shaft, so when a heavy roll bale is placed on it, the left and right support sections supported by the shaft can support the weight of the roll bale.

Furthermore, one of the left and right rotation fulcrums is located at the front lower part, and the other is located at the rear upper part, so that the arm is initially set with the shaft in a horizontal position.

With this configuration, the pivot points are positioned not only forward and backward, but also up and down, allowing the kicker to tilt significantly left and right when tilted.

In addition, a rear connecting section is provided that diagonally connects the rear end portions of the left support section and the right support section.

This configuration allows roll bales to be released above the rear connecting section.

The pivot point is also configured as a ball joint.

With this configuration, even if the pivot points are set at positions offset forward, backward, up, or down, the left and right support parts connected to the shaft can be tilted toward the rear and lower.

According to this invention, when releasing a roll bale, the release speed is reduced by using a horizontal kicker, and then, when rolling the roll bale, the height of the left and right sides of the front side of the kicker is changed depending on the weight of the roll bale, causing it to tilt left and right, allowing the roll bale to be released diagonally backward into the field.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a roll baler according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the kicker and tilting mechanism in the same configuration. Plan view of the kicker in this configuration FIG. 10 shows the rear chamber in the same configuration when closed. FIG. 10 shows the rear chamber in the same configuration when opened. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the kicker is tilted from the initial state in the same configuration. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the kicker is tilted from the initial state in another embodiment. A diagram showing a roll bale in a diagonal direction in a conventional example. A diagram showing a comparison of releasing a round bale directly behind and diagonally behind

One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The roll baler 1 in this embodiment is capable of performing operations from harvesting crops to forming roll bales 9 while self-propelled in a field, and as shown in Figure 1, is configured to include a harvesting section 2, a shredding section 3, a roll forming chamber 6, and a kicker 7. This embodiment will be described in detail below. In the description, the direction in which the roll baler 1 moves forward will be referred to as the forward side, the opposite direction will be referred to as the "rear", the left side of the direction of travel will be referred to as the "left side", and the right side will be referred to as the "right side".

First, the reaping unit 2 is located on the front side of the machine body 1a and is configured so that the left and right disc cutters rotate inward toward each other to cut the crops, and then the cut crops can be collected between the disc cutters.

The shredding unit 3 is designed to shred the harvested crops, using fixed and rotary blades to shred the crops taken in along their length. The shredded crops are blown up through the chute 4 and released into the hopper 5 located at the top of the machine body 1a.

The crops released into this hopper 5 fall onto a conveyor 61 installed inside the machine body 1a, from where they are transported into the roll forming chamber 6.

The roll forming chamber 6 forms cylindrical roll bales 9 from crops brought in by a conveyor 61. The rotating member 62 installed inside rotates circumferentially, causing the crops to rotate on their own axis and forming the roll bale 9. A net can be unwound from the net unwinding section 63 and wrapped around the roll bale 9 before being released.

The roll bale 9 with the net wrapped around it in this way is released toward the rear of the machine body 1a by opening the rear chamber 64 of the roll forming chamber 6 (as shown in Figure 5). When releasing the roll bale 9, the roll bale 9 is placed on the kicker 7, which is held horizontally (top diagram in Figure 6). In this state, the weight of the roll bale 9 causes the kicker 7 to tilt downward and toward the rear (bottom diagram in Figure 6), releasing the roll bale 9 into the field.

The tilting mechanism 8 for the kicker 7 configured in this manner will be explained using the principle diagrams in Figures 2, 3, and 6.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the kicker 7 comprises a pipe-shaped left support section 71 and a pipe-shaped right support section 72 that support the left and right sides of a roll bale 9 (not shown), a shaft 73 that connects the left and right support sections 71 and 72 at their front ends, straddling them in the left-right direction, and a rear connector 74 that connects the left and right support sections 71 and 72 at their rear ends, straddling them in the left-right direction. In a plan view, the kicker 7 is configured to form a roughly U-shape. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the front ends of the left and right support sections 71 and 72 are initially positioned at the same height and in the same fore-and-aft position. As shown in Figure 3, the rear end of the right support section 72 is positioned slightly forward, and its rear end is connected diagonally to the rear end of the left support section 71 by the rear connector 74.

In the kicker 7 configured in this manner, the left end of the shaft 73 is connected to a left arm 83 so as to bend from the left pivot point 81 toward the front of the vehicle body 1a, as shown in Figure 3. Meanwhile, the right end of the shaft 73 is connected via a right arm 84 to a right pivot point 82 located lower and forward of the left pivot point 81. This right arm 84 is located from the right pivot point 82 toward the rear of the vehicle body 1a and then bends back forward, bypassing the vehicle body 1a, allowing the shaft 73 to be kept horizontal.

In its initial state, the kicker 7 is supported by a spring 85 (see Figures 2 and 3) so that the plane spanning the left support section 71 and the right support section 72 is horizontal. As a result, when the roll bale 9 is released from the roll forming chamber 6, the roll bale 9 is temporarily received on this plane, slowing down the release speed.

When installing the kicker 7 in this manner, placing it at a high position near the discharge portion of the roll forming chamber 6 can reduce the impact caused by the step when the roll bale 9 is discharged. However, placing the kicker 7 at a high position like this will cause interference with the rear chamber 64. Therefore, as shown in Figure 4, with the rear chamber 64 closed, the left and right pivot points 81 and 82 of the kicker 7 are lowered to lower the entire kicker 7. Then, as shown in Figure 5, the rear chamber 64 is opened, raising the left and right pivot points 81 and 82 by the same distance. To raise and lower the kicker 7 in this manner, first, a vertically extending elongated hole 65 is formed on the side of the machine body 1a, and the left and right pivot points 81 and 82 are attached to the elongated hole 65. The right arm 83, which is connected to the left pivot point 81 and the right pivot point 82, is connected to the upper side of the rear chamber 64 by a rod 66 or the like, and by opening the rear chamber 64, the kicker 7 is raised as a whole.

Next, we will explain the operation of releasing a roll bale 9 from the roll forming chamber 6 using the kicker 7 configured in this manner, using the principle diagram in Figure 6 and other information.

When the roll bale 9 is released from the roll forming chamber 6, the rear chamber 64 is opened. As a result, the rod 66 attached to the side of the rear chamber 64 is pulled upward, causing the left support part 71 and right support part 72 of the kicker 7 to rise along the elongated hole 65.

Then, by fully opening the rear chamber 64, the roll bale 9 is released onto the kicker 7. At this time, the plane spanning the left support section 71 and the right support section 72 of the kicker 7 is horizontal, and the roll bale is first received on this horizontal surface, slowing down the release speed.

When the roll bale 9 is placed on the kicker 7 in this way, the kicker 7 gradually tilts downward and rearward against the force of the spring 85.

At this time, as shown in the lower diagram of Figure 6, the left support part 71 of the kicker 7 tilts around the left pivot point 81, while the right support part 72 tilts around the right pivot point 82. As a result, the left support part 71 is higher than the right support part 72 at the same position, forming a sloped surface in the left-right direction as well. Furthermore, because the right pivot point 82 is located at the lower front and the left pivot point 81 is located at the upper rear, the kicker 7 rotates diagonally backward around the tilted line connecting the two pivot points as its axis of rotation, allowing the plane spanning the left support part 71 and the right support part 72 to be tilted more greatly. This increases the tilt angle in the left-right direction, allowing the roll bale 9 to be released diagonally backward to the right.

When the roll bale 9 is released in this manner, the roll bale 9 also rolls while resting on the rear connecting parts 74 located at the rear ends of the left support part 71 and the right support part 72.

Then, the roll bale 9 released along the inclined surface in this way is released diagonally backward, to an area where work has already been completed, as in the roll baler 1 shown at the bottom of Figure 9, and the kicker 7 is returned to its initial horizontal state by the force of the spring 85.

<Second embodiment>

In the above embodiment, a roughly U-shaped kicker 7 is provided, and the left and right pivot points are offset from each other in the front, back, up, and down directions. However, as shown in Figure 7, it is also possible to release the roll bale diagonally backward.

In the second embodiment shown in Figure 7, the right support part 72 is rotatably supported on a right pivot point 82 provided on the front side of the machine body 1a, and the left support part 71 is rotatably provided on a left pivot point 81 provided on the rear side of the machine body 1a at the same height as the right pivot point 82. The right support part 72 and the left support part 71 are each designed to tilt independently, and are initially kept horizontal by the force of a spring 85.

Under these conditions, when the roll bale 9 is released from the roll forming chamber 6, it is placed on the horizontal kicker 7, as in the first embodiment, and the release speed is temporarily reduced.

After the roll bale 9 is placed on the kicker 7, the left support part 71 and the right support part 72 are tilted by the roll bale 9's own weight.

At this time, because the right-side pivot point 82 of the right-side support part 72 is located on the forward side, when the kicker 7 tilts, the right-side support part 72 becomes lower than the left-side support part 71, as shown in the lower diagram of Figure 7. As a result, the difference in height between the left and right sides creates a slope in the left-right direction, making it possible to release the roll bale 9 diagonally backward, as in the roll baler 1 shown in the lower diagram of Figure 9.

As described above, according to the embodiment described above, the roll baler 1 comprises a vehicle body 1a that travels through the field, a roll forming chamber 6 attached to the vehicle body 1a that forms roll bales 9 from chopped crops, and a kicker 7 that can tilt downward toward the rear from an initial horizontal position and that loads and rolls the roll bale 9 released from the roll forming chamber 6 onto the field. In this case, a tilting mechanism 8 is provided that tilts the kicker 7 laterally by changing the height positions of the front left and right sides of the kicker 7 when tilting the kicker 7 downward and rearward from its initial horizontal position. This reduces the release speed of the roll bale 9 when the kicker 7 is in a horizontal position, and then, when the roll bale 9 is rolled, tilting the front left and right sides of the kicker 7 at different heights depending on the weight of the roll bale placed on the kicker 7 allows the roll bale 9 to be released diagonally backward.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be implemented in various ways.

For example, in the above embodiment, the harvesting unit 2 uses a pair of disc cutters to harvest crops, which are then blown up by the chute 4 and collected in the hopper 5. However, other types of harvesting units 2 may also be used to harvest crops. Furthermore, while the above embodiment uses a structure that harvests crops with the harvesting unit 2, this structure can also be applied to a roll baler 1 that picks up crops that have already been shredded and left in the field and forms them into roll bales 9.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the kicker 7 is provided with a pipe-shaped left support portion 71 and right support portion 72. However, the kicker 7 may be constructed from a plate, and the positions of the left and right pivot points 81 and 82 of the left-right shaft 73 provided on the front end of the plate may be shifted forward or backward to change the height position on the front side.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the kicker 7 is raised and lowered in accordance with the opening and closing of the rear chamber 64, but the kicker 7 may be fixed at a fixed height without being raised and lowered.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Roll baler 2...Harvesting section 3...Shredding section 4...Shooter 5...Hopper 6...Roll forming chamber 61...Conveyor 62...Circling member 63...Net feeding section 64...Rear chamber 65...Slotted hole 66...Rod 7...Kicker 71...Left support section 72...Right support section 73...Shaft 74...Rear connecting section 8...Tilting mechanism 81...Left pivot point 82...Right pivot point 83...Left arm 84...Right arm 85...Spring 9...Roll bale

Claims (6)

A machine traveling in a field,
a roll forming chamber provided on the machine body for forming roll bales from chopped crops;
a kicker that is tiltable from an initial horizontal state toward the rear and lower side, and that places the roll bale discharged from the roll forming chamber on the kicker and rolls it into the field;
In a round baler comprising:
This roll baler is characterized in that a tilting mechanism is provided that, when tilting the kicker rearward and downward from its initial horizontal state, changes the height positions of the left and right sides of the front side of the kicker, thereby tilting it laterally as well. The kicker is configured to include a left support portion and a right support portion on which the left and right portions of the round bale are placed,
The tilting mechanism is
The pivot points of the left support portion and the right support portion are shifted in the front-rear direction,
2. The round baler according to claim 1, wherein in an initial state, a plane spanning the left support portion and the right support portion is horizontal. The kicker is configured to include a left support portion and a right support portion on which the left and right portions of the roll bale are placed, and a shaft that connects the front ends of the left support portion and the right support portion in the left-right direction,
The tilting mechanism is
A pivot point provided at a position shifted in the front-rear direction of the aircraft;
an arm connecting the pivot point and an end of the shaft,
In an initial state, a plane spanning the left support portion and the right support portion is horizontal,
2. The round baler according to claim 1, wherein the kicker is tilted downward and rearward via the pivot point. One of the left and right rotation fulcrums is provided at the front lower part, and the other rotation fulcrum is provided at the rear upper part,
4. A round baler according to claim 3, wherein the arm is provided so that the shaft is in a horizontal position in an initial state. A round baler as described in claim 2, further comprising a rear connecting section that diagonally connects the rear end portions of the left support section and the right support section. A round baler as described in claim 3, wherein the pivot point is a ball joint.