Patent Application
20180200979
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
This invention relates generally to material balers and in particular to a system and machine for allowing a baler to eject a bale at full speed and continue baling without time impediment through the use of a walking walls ejector.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the walking walls bale ejector comprises one stationary floor wall, one horizontally and laterally moveable side wall, one horizontally moveable side wall as well as an upper horizontally moveable wall.
In some embodiments of the present invention, during operation, a bale enters the rear of the walking walls bale ejector. The side wall keeps the bale in a compressed position because the adjustable side wall is placed in the correct position to ensure that the space between the walls in the walking walls bale ejector corresponds to the size of the bale. The upper wall does not move up and down. In several preferred embodiments, the nonadjustable side wall does not move. Additional cylinders on the side walls and the upper wall can then advance the bale forward through the walking walls bale ejector in a horizontal movement.
In several embodiments of the present invention, a wire tier machine can be placed on the walking walls bale ejector distal to the actual baler. In several embodiments of the present invention, the walking walls bale ejector can be constructed with a wire tier attachment on the front side of walking walls bale ejector.
In some embodiments, one of the side walls can move on a track, or moveable mechanism, therein allowing for bales to be extruded into the walking walls bale ejector from a baler. In several embodiments side walls that can move on a track can electronically coordinate with a baler to ensure proper adjustable wall movement and positioning to accommodate the size of the bale and the timing of the bale leaving the baler and entering the walking walls bale ejector.
For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings describing specific embodiments of the disclosure, wherein:
One or more illustrative embodiments incorporating the invention disclosed herein are presented below. Applicant has created a revolutionary walking walls bale ejector.
In the following description, certain details are set forth such as specific quantities, sizes, etc. so as to provide a thorough understanding of the present embodiments disclosed herein. However, it will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without such specific details. In many cases, details concerning such considerations and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present disclosure and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
Referring to the drawings in general, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to be limiting thereto. Drawings are not necessarily to scale and arrangements of specific units in the drawings can vary.
While most of the terms used herein will be recognizable to those of ordinary skill in the art, it should be understood, however, that when not explicitly defined, terms should be interpreted as adopting a meaning presently accepted by those of ordinary skill in the art. In cases where the construction of a term would render it meaningless or essentially meaningless, the definition should be taken from Webster's Dictionary, 11th Edition, 2008. Definitions and/or interpretations should not be incorporated from other patent applications, patents, or publications, related or not, unless specifically stated in this specification or if the incorporation is necessary for maintaining validity.
Certain terms are used in the following description and claims to refer to particular system components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form, and some details of conventional elements may not be shown, all in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
Although several preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein, the invention is not limited hereto. It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without materially departing from the novel and advantageous teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein are by way of example. It is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited thereby.
“Piston” or “cylinder” as used herein is “any mechanical device used to derive motion, or in a pump to impart motion.” The two terms “piston” and “cylinder” may be used interchangeably throughout this application. The terms “bottom”, “top”, and “side” as used herein are relative to each other, in that “bottom” is parallel to “top” and a “side” is parallel to another “side”. In several embodiments of the present invention a “bottom” can be perpendicular to the ground, or even located a further distance from the ground than a “top”. “Bar” or “Bars” as defined herein can include any variety of three-dimensional shape whether as a single unit, or assembled units capable of performing the requirements of a “bar” as outlined below. “Horizontal movement” or variants thereof, is defined as a movement away from fixed point and substantially parallel to the ground upon which the frame is stationed.
Referring to the drawings in more detail, and in particular to
As shown in several embodiments, walking walls ejector 1000 is comprised of a substantially rectangular hollow frame 100. Hollow frame 100 can be of variant geometric shapes provided that the shape allows for the maintenance of a compressed bale shape and bale movement capabilities as are required by further aspects of the invention. Hollow frame 100 is preferably constructed with a solid industrial metal or alloy as is known in the art of baling ejectors.
Hollow frame 100 is constructed, in many embodiments, with two side frames 40 and 10. Frames 40 and 10 are preferably constructed in a rectangular shape with top bars 17 and 12 respectively and bottom bars 11 and 11a. In many embodiments, forming the sides of frame 40 and 10 are hollow square legs 14 and 13. In several embodiments, frames 40 and 10 also mechanically attach to frame bars 30, 31, 60 and 61 in a manner known in the art for a frame utilized in baling work. All frame bars and legs are preferably constructed of a durable metal or alloy material. Attached to the front of bars 60 and 61 and distal to back bars 30 and 31 are two wire tier handle holders 50 designed to engage and hold a wire tier mechanism in several embodiments of the present invention (See
In several embodiments of the present invention, bars 12 and 11a are constructed with orifices 115 running through bars 12 and 11a which can engage threaded rods 25 and 26 as well as securing rigs 15. In several embodiments of the present invention, securing rigs 15 are designed to fixedly engage threaded rods 25 and 26 to bars 11a and 12 respectively.
Rigidly located between frames 40 and 10 and in direct perpendicular mechanical attachment to rods or bars or back bars 30 and 60 and rods or bars or bars 31 and 61 are support beams 42 and 43 respectively. Support beams 42 and 43 are preferably designed to withstand the stresses of standard bale movement activities. Attached to support beam 42 through engagement faces 27, are threaded rods or bars 26. Attached to support beam 43 through engagement faces 27 are threaded rods 25. Attached between threaded rods or bars 26 and 25 are adjustable support columns 20. Adjustable support columns 20 can mechanically vary in distance between side frames 10 and supports beams 42 and 43 by rotation of threaded rods 25 and 26 respectively. In several embodiments, threaded rods 25 and 26 are mechanically secured to frame 10 via securing rigs 15.
Attached to rods or bars or back bars 30 and front bar 60 and distal to frame 10 are baffles 35 which house roller bearings 32 and 33 allow the upper and side walls to extend and retract on rails 132 and 133. Baffles 35 are preferably constructed with a strong metal or alloy. House roller bearings 32 and 33 are preferably constructed, as known in the art, to move a cube of baled material in a horizontal manner relative to the ground.
Also illustrated is horizontal movement cylinder 34, which in some embodiments is capable of moving top wall 110 horizontally in relation to rods or back bars 30 and front bar 60. In several embodiments of the present invention, top wall 110 is preferably designed of a durable metal material capable of being used in baling applications. Horizontal compression cylinder 34 is preferably constructed, as known in the art, to maintain the compression on a baled bale.
Attached to frame 40 are side baffles 137 which engage tubes 28 and 29 that are welded into the movable wall structure 20. These tube structures are to resist the torsional stress within the movable wall structure 20.
Also illustrated is horizontal cylinder 150A, which is in some embodiments is capable of moving side wall 130 away or towards frame 40. In several embodiments of the present invention, side wall 130 is preferably designed of a durable metal material capable of being used in bale movement applications. Placement of tubes 28 and 29 and cylinder 150A can vary as is known in the art.
Attached to adjustable support columns 20 are side baffles 137 which engage tubes 28 and 29. Also illustrated is horizontal cylinder 150B, which is some embodiments is capable of moving side wall 120 away or towards frame 100. Horizontal cylinder 150B is preferably constructed, as known in the art, to move a bale out or into an ejector. In several embodiments of the present invention, side wall 120 is preferably designed of a durable metal material capable of being used in baling applications. Cylinders 150A and 150B and can collectively be referenced as cylinder group or cylinders 150.
Attached to frame bars 61 and 31 is stationary floor wall 140. In several embodiments of the present invention, floor wall 140 is moveable or repositionable in relationship to the frame 100. In several embodiments of the present invention, floor wall 140 is preferably designed of a durable metal material capable of being used in baling applications. It is envisioned, that in several embodiments of the present invention, pistons and cylinders of variable size can be utilized and is known in the art for baling such that the pistons and cylinders have enough strength to move a bale. It is envisioned that side walls 120 and 130, top wall 110 and/or bottom wall 140 can be rotated in 90 degree increments relative to frame 40, such that in varying embodiments, any of side walls 120 and 130, top wall 110 and/or bottom wall 140 could be closest to the ground on which frame 100 rests.
As also shown in
In several embodiments, the present invention operates in the following manner: A bale 3000 is moved into the walking ejector 1000 (
In some embodiments the present invention is a walking walls bale ejector 1000 comprising: a frame 100 with back bars 30 and front bars 30 forming an interior comprising; a laterally and horizontally moveable first side wall 130 capable of movement in relation to said back bars 30; a horizontally moveable second side wall 120 capable of movement in relation to said back bars 30; a horizontally moveable top wall 110 capable of movement in relation to said back bars 30; a bottom floor 140 which is stationary in relation to said back bars 30.
In some embodiment of the present invention, the walking walls bale ejector 1000 has first side wall 130, said second side wall 120 and said top walls 110 that are capable of horizontal movement away from said back bar 30. In some embodiment of the present invention, the walking walls bale ejector 1000 has first side wall 130, said second side wall 120 and said top wall 110 that are capable of horizontal movement towards said back bar 30.
In some embodiments, said horizontal movement of said first side wall 130, said second side wall 120 and top wall 110 occurs through simultaneous actuation of said first side wall 130, said second side wall 120 and said top wall 110. In some embodiments, a moveable or adjustable column assembly 20 located in said frame 1000 and is attached in mechanical communication to said first side wall 130. In some embodiments, the moveable column 20 is attached and in electronic communication with a baler to ensure bale 3000 size compatibility. In some embodiments, said front bars 60 are in mechanically attached to a wire tier 2000. In several embodiments, said side wall 130 capable of movement in relation to said back bars 30 is actuated by a first horizontal cylinder 150A for horizontal motion; second side wall 120 capable of movement relation to said back bars is actuated by a second horizontal cylinder 150B for horizontal motion; top wall 110 capable of movement in relation to said back bars is actuated by a third horizontal cylinder 34 for horizontal motion.
In several embodiments, the present invention is a method for moving a bale 3000 through a walking walls bale ejector 1000 comprising: ejecting a bale 3000 into a walking walls bale ejector 1000 which comprises: a frame 100 with an interior comprising; a moveable first side wall 130 capable of movement in relation to said frame 100; a moveable second side wall 120 capable of movement in relation to said frame 100; a moveable top wall 110 capable of movement horizontally in relation to said frame 100; a bottom floor 140 which is stationary in relation to said frame 100; and horizontally moving a bale 3000 through actuation of said first side wall 130, said second side wall 120 and said top wall 110. In several embodiments, there is an additional step of providing a walking walls bale ejector 1000 which further comprises an adjustable column assembly 20 located in said frame 1000 and attached in mechanical communication to said first side wall 130. In several embodiments, the method further comprises the step of attaching a wire tier to said front bars of said frame; and wire tying a bale as it exits the walking walls ejector.
In several embodiments, the present invention is a walking walls bale ejector 1000 comprising: a frame 100 with an interior comprising; a moveable first side wall 130 with a horizontal first side wall horizontal movement cylinder 150A and lateral moveable first side wall 130, wherein said moveable first side wall 130 is capable of movement horizontally and laterally in relation to said frame 100; a horizontal moveable second side wall 120 with a horizontal second side wall movement cylinder 150B, wherein said horizontal moveable second side wall 120 is capable of movement horizontally in relation to said frame 100; a horizontal moveable top wall 110 with a top wall horizontal movement cylinder 34, wherein said horizontal moveable top wall 110 is capable of movement horizontally in relation to said frame 100; and a bottom floor 140 which is stationary in relation to said frame 100, wherein said first side wall 130 with a lateral first side wall and a first side wall horizontal movement cylinder 150A is capable of horizontal and lateral movement when actuated relative to said bottom floor 140; said second side wall 120 with horizontal second side wall movement cylinder 150B is capable of horizontal movement when actuated relative to said bottom floor 140; and said top wall 110 with top wall horizontal movement cylinder 34 is capable of horizontal movement when actuated relative to said bottom floor 140.
In several embodiments, said first side wall 130 with a first side wall horizontal movement cylinder 150A, said second side wall 120 with a second side wall horizontal movement cylinder 150B, and said top wall 110 with a top wall horizontal movement cylinder 34 are capable of horizontally moving a bale 3000 through actuation of said first side wall horizontal movement cylinder 150A, said second side wall horizontal movement cylinder 150B, and said top wall horizontal movement cylinder 34. In several embodiments, actuation of said first side wall horizontal movement cylinder 150A, said second side wall horizontal movement cylinder 1503 and said top wall horizontal movement cylinder 34 occurs through simultaneous actuation of said first side wall horizontal movement cylinder 150A, said second side wall movement cylinder 150B and said top wall movement cylinder 34.
While preferred embodiments have been shown, and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or teaching herein. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the system and apparatus are possible and will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. For example, the relative dimensions of various parts, the materials from which the various parts are made, and other parameters can be varied.
