Bale effect linkage and methods of use
A baler ejection system, that may be used with an agricultural harvester, such as a round baler, waste baler, combine, or cotton harvester, uses the motion of a pair of parallel arms that extend transversely from the sidewalls of a bale chamber a set of distinct pivot points. When activated the parallel arms raise to expose an outlet through which the bale may be ejected. A formed bale may become ejected by one or more conveyer belts that exert a rearward force on the bale within the bale chamber.
1. An agricultural harvester comprising:
a bale chamber comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall;
an outlet at the rear of the bale chamber;
a take-up arm positioned at a top of the baler;
at least a first serpentine system arranged for the bale chamber, the first serpentine system comprising:
a plurality of baling belt rollers in operable contact with one or more baling belts, the plurality of baling belt rollers comprising at least one baling belt roller in operable contact with the take-up arm, wherein the at least one baling belt roller in operable contact with the take-up arm is movable in a direction defined by a pivoting movement of the take-up arm, independent of movement of any other baling belt rollers in the baler; and
a belt guide assembly, the belt guide assembly movable among a closed position and one or more open positions, comprising:
a first pair of arms extending transversely from and affixed to a first pair of pivot points on the first and second sidewalls;
one or more fixed members positioned at a distance defined by the length of the first pair of arms; and
at least one roller rotatably mounted upon an axis transverse to the one or more fixed members;
wherein the belt guide assembly uncovers the outlet through which the bale becomes ejected from the bale chamber when the belt guide assembly is raised upward into a partially open or fully open position from its closed position; and
wherein the take-up arm pivots upward simultaneously or substantially simultaneously with the belt guide assembly when the belt guide assembly is raised upward into a partially open or fully open position from its closed position.
2. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the bale chamber is defined in a space between the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the belt guide assembly, and a plurality of rollers positioned between and attached to the first and second sidewalls; wherein the plurality of rollers support one or more baling belts; and wherein the at least one roller of the belt guide assembly defines the bottom of the bale chamber and supports a bale in the bale chamber when the belt guide assembly is in its fully closed position.
3. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the baler further comprises a motor and at least one tensioning actuator operatively coupled to at least one of the first pair of arms for facilitating the upward or downward movement of the belt guide assembly.
4. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the at least one baling belt roller in operable contact with the take-up arm moves above the top portion of the baler when the take-up arm pivots upward.
5. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the serpentine system further comprises at least one back wrap roller rotatably mounted about an axis transverse to the side walls of the bale chamber and positioned in the upper rear portion of the baler rearward to the other plurality of baling belt rollers.
6. The agricultural harvester of claim 5 , wherein, upon raising the belt guide assembly to an open position at least half the distance between its fully open and its fully closed position, the at least one back wrap roller engages the one or a plurality of baling belts to reduce slack in the one or plurality of baling belts.
7. The agricultural harvester of claim of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural harvester further comprises a rear door positioned in the most rear portion of the baler which is pivotally connected to a second pair of pivot points and at least partially obstructs the outlet at the rear of the bale chamber when the rear door is in a fully closed position.
8. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the serpentine system further comprises at least one serpentine arm or a pair of serpentine arms pivotally connected to one or a pair of pivot points whose ends are operably connected to a second moveable baling belt roller.
9. The agricultural harvester of claim 7 , wherein, upon moving to one or more open positions, the rear door and the belt guide assembly move at different rates of speed.
10. The agricultural harvester of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural harvester is a selected from: a round baler, cotton harvester, combine, or waste baler.