Combined baler/bale wrapper

Abstract

A combined baler/bale wrapper ( 1 ) includes a chassis ( 5 ) on which a baler ( 10 ) and a bale wrapper ( 11 ) are mounted. The baler ( 10 ) includes a stationary segment ( 18 ), a lower segment ( 19 ) and an upper segment ( 20 ) which together define a bale forming chamber ( 15 ) within which a round bale ( 2 ) is formed. The lower segment ( 19 ) and the upper segment ( 20 ) are pivotal from a bale forming position (FIG. 5 ) to a discharge position (FIG. 1 ) for transferring a bale of the bale forming chamber ( 15 ) onto bale supporting rollers ( 50 ) of the bale wrapper ( 11 ). The bale supporting rollers ( 50 ) rotate the bale ( 2 ) about a first wrapping axis ( 53 ) while a carrier ring ( 55 ) simultaneously revolves a pair of wrapping material dispensers ( 54 ) about a second wrapping axis ( 56 ) for dispensing wrapping material onto the bale ( 2 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combined baler/bale wrapper for forming and wrapping a cylindrical bale of material with wrapping material, the baler/bale wrapper comprising a baler for forming a bale, the baler having a bale forming chamber within which the bale is formed, a bale wrapping means for receiving the bale from the baler for wrapping thereof, and a transfer means for transferring the bale from the baler to the bale wrapping means, characterised in that the transfer means transfers the bale in a generally upwardly outwardly direction from the bale forming chamber to the bale wrapping means. 
     
     
         2 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 1  characterised in that the transfer means transfers the bale upwardly outwardly of the bale forming chamber onto the bale wrapping means. 
     
     
         3 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 1  characterised in that the transfer means transfers the bale from the bale forming chamber along a locus of transfer extending in a general direction between a vertical direction and a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         4 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 3  characterised in that the locus of transfer along which the transfer means transfers the bale from the bale forming chamber is a generally arcuate locus. 
     
     
         5 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 1  characterised in that the baler is a fixed chamber baler. 
     
     
         6 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 1  characterised in that the transfer means comprises a portion of the baler, the said portion of the baler forming the transfer means being moveable relative to the baler for urging the bale from the bale forming chamber. 
     
     
         7 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 6  characterised in that the moveable portion of the baler which forms the transfer means is moveable from a bale forming position co-operating with the baler for defining the bale forming chamber to a discharge position for transferring the bale onto the bale wrapping means. 
     
     
         8 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 7  characterised in that the moveable portion of the baler which forms the transfer means is a moveable lower portion of the baler, the moveable lower portion of the baler which forms the transfer means being pivotally mounted about a first pivot axis and being pivotal between the bale forming position and the discharge position about the first pivot axis for tipping the bale from the bale forming chamber onto the bale wrapping means. 
     
     
         9 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 1  characterised in that the bale forming chamber is substantially cylindrical defining an inner circumferential periphery and a main central geometrical axis. 
     
     
         10 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 8  characterised in that the moveable lower portion of the baler is moveable into the bale forming chamber from the bale forming position to the discharge position. 
     
     
         11 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 8  characterised in that an upper portion of the baler is moveable from a bale forming position co-operating with the baler for forming the bale forming chamber to a discharge position defining with the baler an open mouth to the bale forming chamber for facilitating transfer of the bale from the bale forming chamber onto the bale wrapping means. 
     
     
         12 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 8  characterised in that the moveable lower portion of the baler which forms the transfer means comprises a lower arcuate segment which defines a part of the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber. 
     
     
         13 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 1  characterised in that the baler/bale wrapper comprises a chassis defining a main central longitudinal axis extending along the chassis in the general direction of forward motion of the chassis, the baler and the bale wrapping means being mounted on the chassis, with the main central axis defined by the bale forming chamber extending transversely of the main central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 1  characterised in that the bale wrapping means is a two axes bale wrapping means comprising a wrapping material dispensing means for dispensing wrapping material onto the bale for wrapping thereof, whereby the bale is rotated about a first wrapping axis, and one of the bale and the dispensing means is rotated about a second wrapping axis at an angle to the first wrapping axis for dispensing wrapping material onto the bale for wrapping thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 14  characterised in that the bale wrapping means comprises a bale support means for receiving the formed bale from the baler, and for rotating the bale about the first wrapping axis, which coincides substantially with the central geometrical axis of the bale, and which is parallel to the main central axis defined by the bale forming chamber. and one of the bale support means and the dispensing means is rotatable about the second wrapping axis simultaneously while the bale is being rotated about the first wrapping axis for causing the wrapping material to be drawn from the dispensing means and wrapped onto the bale. 
     
     
         16 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 15  characterised in that the dispensing means comprises at least one wrapping material dispenser from which wrapping material is dispensed onto the bale on the bale support means, and a carrier means for carrying each wrapping material dispenser, the carrier means defining a locus of travel extending around the second wrapping axis, and each wrapping material dispenser is moveable along the locus of travel around the second wrapping axis for dispensing the wrapping material onto the bale for wrapping thereof, the locus of travel defined by the carrier means defining the second wrapping axis about which each wrapping material dispenser is revolvable for dispensing wrapping material onto the bale. 
     
     
         17 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 16  characterised in that the locus of travel defined by the carrier means lies in a vertical plane, which extends transversely of the main central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 16  characterised in that the carrier means is rotatable about the second wrapping axis for revolving each wrapping material dispenser about the second wrapping axis along the locus of travel. 
     
     
         19 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 15  characterised in that the second wrapping axis extends perpendicularly to the first wrapping axis. 
     
     
         20 . A combined baler/bale wrapper as claimed in  claim 15  characterised in that the carrier means comprises a carrier ring. 
     
     
         21 . A combined baler/bale wrapper for forming and wrapping a cylindrical bale of material with wrapping material, the baler/bale wrapper comprising a baler for forming a bale, the baler having a bale forming chamber within which the bale is formed, a bale wrapping means located in a bale wrapping area for receiving the bale from the baler for wrapping thereof, and a transfer means for transferring the bale from the baler to the bale wrapping means, characterised in that the transfer means transfers the bale directly from the bale forming chamber to the bale wrapping area for wrapping thereof. 
     
     
         22 . A combined baler/bale wrapper for forming and wrapping a cylindrical bale of material in a wrapping material, the baler/bale wrapper comprising a baler for forming a bale, the baler having a bale forming chamber within which the bale is formed, a bale wrapping means for receiving the bale from the bale forming chamber for wrapping thereof, and a transfer means for transferring the bale from the bale forming chamber to the bale wrapping means, characterised in that the transfer means is operable to traverse into the bale forming chamber for urging the bale from the bale forming chamber. 
     
     
         23 . A combined baler/bale wrapper for forming and wrapping a cylindrical bale of material with wrapping material, the baler/bale wrapper comprising a baler for forming a bale, and a bale wrapping means for receiving the bale from the baler for wrapping thereof, characterised in that the bale wrapping means comprises a bale support means for receiving the bale from the baler and for rotating the bale about a first wrapping axis coinciding with the central geometrical axis of the bale, and a wrapping material dispensing means for dispensing the wrapping material onto the bale for wrapping thereof, one of the bale supporting means and the dispensing means being rotatable about a second wrapping axis at an angle to the first wrapping axis simultaneously while the bale is being rotated about the first wrapping axis for causing the wrapping material to be drawn from the dispensing means and wrapped onto the bale. 
     
     
         24 . A combined baler/bale wrapper for forming and wrapping a cylindrical bale of material with wrapping material, the baler/bale wrapper comprising a baler for forming a bale, the baler having a bale forming chamber within which the bale is formed, a bale wrapping means for receiving the bale from the baler for wrapping thereof, and a transfer means for transferring the bale from the baler to the bale wrapping means, characterised in that the transfer means transfers the bale directly from the bale forming chamber to the bale wrapping means for wrapping thereof.