Bale eject 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. A bale ejection system for use in 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 the top of the agricultural harvester;
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 and 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 agricultural harvester; and
at least one serpentine arm on which at least one of the plurality of belt rollers is mounted in operable contact with the one or more baling belts, the serpentine arm extending transversely from a serpentine pivot point; and
a belt guide assembly, the belt guide assembly-movable between a closed position that covers the outlet of the bale chamber and one or more open positions, comprising:
first and second support arms extending transversely from and affixed to support arm pivot points on the first and second sidewalls;
at least one support arm roller connected to and extending between the first and second support arms, wherein the support arm roller is in operable contact with the one or more baling belts
wherein serpentine arm pivot point is positioned higher than the support arm pivot points.
2. The bale ejection system of claim 1 , wherein the belt guide assembly uncovers the outlet when the belt guide assembly is raised into a partially open or fully open position from its closed position; and wherein a take-up arm pivots upward to impart tension upon the one or plurality of baling belts when there is excess slack in the one or plurality of baling belts due to the upward movement of the belt guide assembly and the at least one serpentine arm when the belt guide assembly is raised upward into a partially open or fully open position from its closed position.
3. The bale ejection system of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural harvester is a round baler, cotton harvester, waste baler, or combine.
4. The bale ejection system of claim 1 , wherein the belt guide assembly further comprises two fixed members parallel to one another and the at least one support arm roller comprises at least three rollers rotatably mounted upon an axis transverse to and between the two fixed members.
5. The bale ejection system of claim 1 , wherein the support arms of the belt guide assembly are operably coupled to a hydraulic system for facilitating upward movement of the support arms around the first pair of pivot points.
6. The bale ejection system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one serpentine arm raises upward when the belt guide assembly is moved toward the open position.
7. The bale ejection system of claim 1 , wherein the belt guide assembly uncovers the outlet of the bale chamber through which the bale becomes ejected when the belt guide assembly is raised upward from its closed position.
8. A bale ejection system for use in an agricultural harvester comprising:
a bale chamber comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall;
an outlet at the rear of the bale chamber;
at least a first serpentine system arranged for the bale chamber, the first serpentine system comprising:
a plurality of rollers in operable contact with one or more baling belts, and
at least one serpentine arm extending transversely from and affixed to a serpentine pivot point wherein at least one first roller of the plurality of rollers is attached to the serpentine arm; and
a belt guide assembly, the belt guide assembly movable among a closed position and one or more open positions, comprising:
first and second support arms extending transversely from and pivotally connected to a first pair of pivot points on the first and second sidewalls;
at least one second roller of the plurality of rollers is supported by and extends between the first and second support arms, the at least one second roller is positioned to exact tension on the one or more baling belts when the belt guide assembly is raised toward the open position; and
an assembly assistance roll positioned above and rearward from the first pair of pivot points of the belt guide assembly such that, when the belt guide assembly is in one or more open positions and slack is in the one or more baling belts, the assembly assistance roll contacts the one or more baling belts to prevent slack from disrupting movement of the one or more baling belts, wherein the one or more baling belts are removed from contact with the assembly assistance roll when the belt guide assembly is in the closed position,
wherein the at least one serpentine arm raises upward when the belt guide assembly is moved toward the open position.
9. The bale ejection system of claim 8 , 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.
10. The bale ejection system of claim 8 , wherein the agricultural harvester is a round baler, cotton harvester, waste baler, or combine.
11. The bale ejection system of claim 8 , wherein the belt guide assembly further comprises two fixed members parallel to one another and the at least one second roller comprises at least three rollers rotatably mounted upon an axis transverse to and between the two fixed members.
12. The bale ejection system of claim 8 , wherein the support arms of the belt guide assembly are operably coupled to a hydraulic system for facilitating upward movement of the support arms around the first pair of pivot points.
13. The bale ejection system of claim 8 , wherein the bale guide assembly uncovers the outlet of the bale chamber through which the bale becomes ejected when the belt guide assembly is raised upward from its closed position.
14. An agricultural harvester comprising:
a bale chamber comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall;
an outlet at the rear of the bale chamber;
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; and
at least one serpentine arm extending transversely from and affixed to a serpentine pivot point; and
a belt guide assembly, the belt guide assembly movable among a closed position and one or more open positions, comprising:
first and second support arms extending transversely from and pivotally connected to the first and second sidewalls for rotation about a first pivot axis; and
at least one roller rotatably supported by and spanning between the first and second support arms; and
an assembly assistance roll positioned above and rearward with respect to a direction of intended travel of the harvester from the first pivot axis such that, when the belt guide assembly is moved to a fully open position, the one or more baling belts are bought into contact with the assembly assistance roll to prevent slack from disrupting movement of the one or more baling belts wherein the one or more baling belts are removed from contact with the assembly assistance roll when the belt guide assembly is in the closed position.
15. The agricultural harvester of claim 14 , 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.
16. The agricultural harvester of claim 14 , wherein the agricultural harvester is a round baler, cotton harvester, waste baler, or combine.
17. The agricultural harvester of claim 14 , wherein the belt guide assembly comprises two fixed members parallel to one another and at least three rollers rotatably mounted upon an axis transverse to and between the two fixed members.
18. The agricultural harvester of claim 14 , wherein the first and second support arms are operably coupled to a hydraulic system for facilitating upward movement of the first and second support arms.
19. The bale ejection system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one serpentine arm raises upward when the belt guide assembly is moved toward the open position.
20. The agricultural harvester of claim 14 , wherein the bale guide assembly uncovers the outlet of the bale chamber through which the bale becomes ejected when the belt guide assembly is raised upward from its closed position.