Apparatus for Initiating Automatic Feed of Bale Wrapping Material

Abstract

Large cylindrical bales of hay, straw, or other forage or fodder are usually wrapped with a filament-type product, typically twine, or a sheet-type product, typically netwrap material, after a bale has reached a predetermined size. A method and apparatus are disclosed that permits the bale to continue to form during part of the wrapping process. A delay occurs between the initiation of the wrapping step and the alarm for the operator to stop the forward movement of the baler. By inserting the wrap material to an entry throat of the baler, new crop material may be added to the bale while the leading edge of the wrap material travels around the bale. The operator is notified only when the feed of additional crop material needs to be stopped for the wrapping operation to conclude. The present invention is applicable to the use of sheet or filament wrapping materials for binding round bales.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for simultaneous cylindrical bale forming and bale wrapping in a round baler, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a wrap material mechanism for inserting and feeding a wrap material onto a cylindrical bale of crop material being formed in the round baler;   (b) a controller for signaling an operator to cease a feed of the crop material into the round baler; and   (c) a timer for measuring a delay between initiating a wrapping of the cylindrical bale and the signaling of the operator, wherein the initiating of the wrapping occurs before the signaling of the operator.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  additionally comprising a sensor for measuring a size of the cylindrical bale and producing a signal relative to the size of the cylindrical bale. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  additionally comprising a comparator for comparing the size of the cylindrical bale to a predetermined size at which to initiate the wrapping of the cylindrical bale. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the controller comprises a speaker to provide an audible alarm. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the controller comprises a visual alarm. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the controller comprises a keypad for an operator to enter required data. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the controller comprises a readout. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 19  additionally comprising a bale wrap material insertion point closer, in an angular sense, to an entry point of a throat of the round baler than to an exit point of the throat of the round baler, where an angle measuring proximity of the insertion point to the entry point of the throat is the angle starting at the entry point of the throat and continuing in a direction of bale rotation. 
   
   
       27 - 32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the round baler additionally comprises:
 (a) a first mechanism to feed a sheet-type wrap material;   (b) a second mechanism positioned to feed a filament type wrap material; and   (c) a selector for varying the delay period in response to selection of either the first or second wrapping mechanisms.   
   
   
       34 . An apparatus for simultaneous cylindrical bale forming and bale wrapping in a round baler, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a sensor for sensing a physical characteristic of the cylindrical bale;   (b) a comparator for comparing the sensed physical characteristic to a first predetermined value and generating a bale signal when the sensed physical characteristic becomes equal to the first predetermined value;   (c) a wrap material mechanism for inserting and feeding a wrap material onto a cylindrical bale of crop material being formed in the round baler, said insertion being initiated when the bale signal is generated; and   (d) a controller for generating an operator signal for signaling an operator to cease a feed of the crop material into the round baler, said operator signal being generated when the physical characteristic of the cylindrical bale reaches a second predetermined value.   
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the sensor for sensing the physical characteristic of the cylindrical bale comprises a length sensor for sensing a value related to a diameter of the cylindrical bale. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the sensor for sensing the physical characteristic of the cylindrical bale comprises a weight sensor for sensing a weight of the cylindrical bale.