IP Library Granted Patent US 12690506
Granted Patent B2
US 12690506 · App. 18/340,634 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Bale pickup device for picking up of round bales of a round baler

Inventors: Gerwin De Vree (CV Emmer-compascuum, NL); Nils Bruhn (Spelle, DE)
Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Bernard Krone GmbH & Co. KG
A01B59/04A01D90/083A01F15/07
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12690506
App. No.
18/340,634
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bale pickup device for picking up of at least one round bale from a round baler is disclosed that can also include a vehicle and a rounder baler. This includes a coupling device with at least one coupling frame element on a machine frame of the round baler and at least one drawbar element extending in a pickup direction at least partially between the coupling frame element and a machine frame of the bale pickup device and mounted on the coupling device that it is pivotably movable relative to the coupling frame element, wherein a transfer element mounted on the coupling device and pivotably movable relative to the drawbar element at least about the vertical axis and extending in the pickup direction in such a way that the drawbar element is arranged at least partially between the transfer element and the contact surface in a side view.

Claims (20)

1 . A bale pickup device ( 2 ) for picking up of at least one round bale from a round baler ( 4 ), comprising:

a coupling device ( 6 ) with at least one coupling frame element ( 8 ) to be fixedly arranged on a machine frame ( 10 ) of the round baler ( 4 );

at least one drawbar element ( 14 ) extending in a pickup direction (AR) at least partially between the coupling frame element ( 8 ) and a machine frame ( 12 ) of the bale pickup device ( 2 ) and mounted in such a way on the coupling device ( 6 ) that the drawbar element ( 14 ) is pivotably movable relative to the coupling frame element ( 8 ) at least about a vertical axis (VA) perpendicular to a contact surface (AF) of the bale pickup device ( 2 ) at least in a first position of the coupling device ( 6 );

a transfer element ( 16 ) mounted to the coupling device ( 6 ) and extending therefrom in a pickup direction (AR), the transfer element pivotably movable relative to the drawbar element ( 14 ) at least about the vertical axis (VA) and wherein the drawbar element ( 14 ) is arranged at least partially between the transfer element ( 16 ) and the contact surface (AF) in a side view; and

wherein the transfer element ( 16 ) is mounted on the coupling device ( 6 ) in such a way that said transfer element ( 16 ) is pivotably movable relative to the coupling frame element ( 8 ) about a transverse axis (HA) parallel to the contact surface (AF).

2 . The bale pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the drawbar element ( 14 ) is mounted on the coupling device ( 6 ) in such a way that said drawbar element ( 14 ) is pivotably movable relative to the coupling frame element ( 8 ) about the transverse axis (HA).

3 . The bale pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer element ( 16 ) is mounted on the coupling device ( 6 ) in such a way that said transfer element ( 16 ) is pivotably movable relative to the drawbar element ( 14 ) about the transverse axis (HA).

4 . The bale pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling device ( 6 ) comprises an intermediate coupling element ( 18 ) that is mounted on the coupling frame element ( 8 ) so as to be exclusively pivotably movable about the transverse axis (HA) and is mounted on the drawbar element ( 14 ) so as to be exclusively pivotably movable about the vertical axis (VA), and wherein the intermediate coupling element ( 18 ) extends transverse the drawbar element in the pickup direction (AR).

5 . The bale pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer element ( 16 ) is mounted on the intermediate coupling element ( 18 ) spaced apart from the coupling frame element ( 8 ).

6 . The bale pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer element ( 16 ) comprises a radial extension (A) relative to the transverse axis (HA), which extension, at least in a straight-ahead position of the bale pickup device, corresponds to at least half, at least two thirds, or at least three quarters, of a clearance (B) of the machine frame ( 12 ) of the bale pickup device ( 2 ) from the transverse axis (HA).

7 . The bale pickup device according to claim 1 , further comprising a clearance (C) of the vertical axis (VA) to the machine frame ( 12 ) from the bale pickup device ( 2 ) is at least as large, at least twice as large, or at least five times as large, as a clearance (D) of the vertical axis (VA) from the transverse axis (HA).

8 . The bale pickup device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one drawbar adjustment element ( 20 ) configured for a pivoting of the drawbar element ( 14 ) relative to the machine frame ( 12 ) of the bale pickup device ( 2 ) about a drawbar pivot axis (DA) arranged parallel to the transverse axis (HA) in a straight-ahead position of the bale pickup device ( 2 ).

9 . The bale pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer element ( 16 ) includes a support segment ( 22 ) for supporting the transfer element ( 16 ) on the drawbar element ( 14 ).

10 . The bale pickup device according to claim 9 , wherein the support segment ( 22 ) extends in a circular arc shape about the vertical axis (VA).

11 . The bale pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein a ball bearing or a slide bearing ( 28 ), is arranged between the drawbar element ( 14 ) and the transfer element ( 16 ).

12 . The bale pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer element ( 16 ) comprises at least two transfer segments ( 24 ) extending longitudinally in the pickup direction (AR), between which the drawbar element ( 14 ) extends at least partially, in a plan view, at least when in a straight-ahead position of the bale pickup device ( 2 ).

13 . A vehicle combination ( 26 ) comprising:

a round baler ( 4 ); and

a bale pickup device ( 2 ) according to claim 1 that is coupled to the round baler ( 4 ), wherein the at least one coupling frame element ( 8 ) is fixedly arranged on a machine frame ( 10 ) of the round baler ( 4 ).

14 . The vehicle combination according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one coupling frame element ( 8 ) is arranged on an undercarriage vehicle axle ( 32 ) encompassed by the machine frame ( 10 ) of the round baler ( 4 ).