U.S. patent application number 16/089618 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-25 for method and apparatus for producing wrapped bales.
This patent application is currently assigned to Cross Wrap Oy. The applicant listed for this patent is Cross Wrap Oy. Invention is credited to Kalle KIVELA.
Application Number | 20190118986 16/089618 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59962669 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-25 |
![](/patent/app/20190118986/US20190118986A1-20190425-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20190118986/US20190118986A1-20190425-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20190118986/US20190118986A1-20190425-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20190118986/US20190118986A1-20190425-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20190118986/US20190118986A1-20190425-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20190118986/US20190118986A1-20190425-D00005.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20190118986 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIVELA; Kalle |
April 25, 2019 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WRAPPED BALES
Abstract
An apparatus for producing wrapped bales comprises first and
second wrapping material dispenser means for dispensing wrapping
material on the bales. It also comprises a wrapping means for
circulating the first and second wrapping material dispenser means
in a first plane of rotation around said bale for wrapping said web
of wrapping material around said bale. The apparatus is further
configured to emerge the first wrapping material from the first
wrapping material dispenser means and the second wrapping material
from the second wrapping material dispenser means around the bale
at least in two different areas so that the properties of the final
wrapping of at least one of said first and/or second wrapping
material provided onto the bale differs substantially at least in
the second area from the properties of the final wrapping of at
least one of said first and/or second wrapping material in said
first area in order to make the bale wrapping stronger in said
second area."
Inventors: |
KIVELA; Kalle; (Tahkovuori,
FI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cross Wrap Oy |
Siilinjarvi |
|
FI |
|
|
Assignee: |
Cross Wrap Oy
Siilinjarvi
FI
|
Family ID: |
59962669 |
Appl. No.: |
16/089618 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
March 31, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FI2017/050231 |
371 Date: |
September 28, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 2210/18 20130101;
B65B 11/008 20130101; A01F 15/071 20130101; B65B 11/045 20130101;
B65B 11/58 20130101; B65B 11/025 20130101; B65B 27/125
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65B 27/12 20060101
B65B027/12; B65B 11/02 20060101 B65B011/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 31, 2016 |
FI |
20165273 |
Claims
1. A method for producing wrapped bales, comprising steps of: in a
receiving stage for receiving a bale to be wrapped; in a first
wrapping stage moving the bale and wrapping device in relation to
each other, said wrapping device comprising at least first and
second wrapping material dispensers, said wrapping material
dispensers being arranged to rotate around said bale in a circular
path in a first plane of rotation, whereby a web of wrapping
material emerges from said first and second wrapping material
dispensers such that said web of wrapping material becomes wrapped
on the sides of said bale in a first direction of wrapping; wherein
the first wrapping stage comprises steps of emerging the first
wrapping material from the first wrapping material dispenser and
the second wrapping material from the second wrapping material
dispenser around the bale at least in two different areas of the
bale in said first plane of rotation and in the direction
perpendicular to said first plane of rotation so that the
properties of the final wrapping of at least one of said first or
second wrapping material provided onto the bale differs
substantially at least in the second area from the properties of
the final wrapping of at least one of said first or second wrapping
material in said first area in order to make the bale wrapping
stronger in said second area.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first wrapping
material is emerged from the first wrapping material dispenser with
a first tension and the second wrapping material is emerged from
the second wrapping material dispenser with a second tension, where
said first and second tensions differs from each other, or wherein
width or tension of at least one of said first or second wrapping
material is substantially less at least in the second area than
width or tension of at least one of said first or second wrapping
material in said first area in order to make the bale wrapping
stronger in said second area.
3. (canceled)
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the width or tension of
the first or second wrapping material provided onto the second area
is: the width or tension of the original wrapping material, or the
width or tension achieved from the original wrapping material by
tilting at least one of said wrapping material dispensers in
relation to the normal of said first plane of rotation in the
second area so that the surface of said web of wrapping material
differs substantially of the normal of said first plane of rotation
before wrapping, mechanically shrinking the original wrapping
material narrower before wrapping, tightening or tensioning the
original wrapping material by resisting the free emerging of the
original wrapping material from the dispenser or thermally
shrinking the original wrapping material before wrapping.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second area is
provided with more rounds of at least the second wrapping material
than said first area in order to make the bale wrapping stronger in
said second area, or wherein the moving of the base is slowed or
stopped in the position where the second wrapping material is
provided to the second area.
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first wrapping
stage comprises additionally steps of: wrapping by said wrapping
device said web of at least the first and optionally also the
second wrapping material onto a frame means, moving the frame means
and wrappings-device in relation to each other to form a tunnel
construction comprising said wrapping material, and moving the bale
in the direction perpendicular to said first plane of rotation and
at least partly into the tunnel construction comprising wrapping
material to attach the tunnel construction comprising wrapping
material to the bale.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second
wrapping material dispensers with the wrapping material are
arranged so that the second wrapping material is emerged
essentially onto the frame means and the first wrapping material is
emerged only partly onto the frame means and the proximal end of
the first wrapping material is emerged outside the frame means in
the moving direction of the bale so to form the end of the tunnel
construction.
10. (canceled)
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a second wrapping
stage comprises turning said bale in a second plane of rotation,
which is substantially normal to said first plane of rotation,
whereby the wrapping is provided onto the sides of said bale in a
second direction of wrapping substantially normal to said first
direction of wrapping, and turning said surface of said web of
wrapping material merging from said dispenser between said first
wrapping step and said second wrapping step such that said web
surface becomes substantially parallel with said first plane of
rotation so that said wrapping device remains in said first plane
of rotation thereof.
12. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method comprises
a step of cutting the second wrapping material before providing the
first wrapping material onto the sides of the bale in said second
direction.
13. An apparatus for producing wrapped bales, said apparatus being
configured to receive a bale to be wrapped, and the apparatus
comprising: at least first and second wrapping material dispensers
for dispensing a web of wrapping material, wrapping for circulating
said first and second wrapping material dispensers in a first plane
of rotation around said bale for wrapping said web of wrapping
material around said bale and moving device for moving said bale
and said wrapping device in relation to each other such that said
bale is moved past said wrapping device in a direction essentially
perpendicular to said first plane of rotation, wherein the
apparatus is configured to emerge the first wrapping material from
the first wrapping material dispenser and the second wrapping
material from the second wrapping material dispenser around the
bale at least in two different areas of the bale in said first
plane of rotation and in the direction perpendicular to said first
plane of rotation so that the properties of the final wrapping of
at least one of said first or second wrapping material provided
onto the bale differs substantially at least in the second area
from the properties of the final wrapping of at least one of said
first or second wrapping material in said first area in order to
make the bale wrapping stronger in said second area.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first wrapping material
dispenser is configured to emerge the first wrapping material with
a first tension and the second wrapping material dispenser is
configured to emerge the second wrapping material with a second
tension, where said first and second tensions differs from each
other.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a
braking or resisting device arranged in connection with at least
one of said first and second dispenser in order to control the
tension of the wrapping material during emerging.
16. (canceled)
17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of said
wrapping material dispenser is tiltable in relation to the normal
of said first plane of rotation at least in said second area so
that the surface of said web of wrapping material emerged by said
tilted wrapping material dispenser means differs substantially of
the normal of said first plane of rotation before wrapping,
whereupon the apparatus is configured to provide the wrapping
material provided onto the second area so that the width said
wrapping material is reduced in relation to the width of said
wrapping material in said first area.
18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a
mechanical shrinking device for mechanically shrinking the original
wrapping material narrower onto the second area so that the width
said wrapping material is reduced in relation to the width of said
wrapping material in said first area; or wherein the apparatus
comprises a heating device for heating the original wrapping
material narrower onto the second area so that the width said
wrapping material is reduced in relation to the width of said
wrapping material in said first area.
19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is configured
to provide the second area with more rounds of at least the second
wrapping material (5B, 5C) than said first area in order to make
the bale wrapping stronger in said second area.
20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the moving device is
configured to move the bale and slow or stop the bale in the
position where the second wrapping material is provided to the
second area.
21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said wrapping device is
configured to provide said web of at least the first and optionally
the second wrapping material onto a frame means, the frame means
and wrapping device being arranged to be movable in relation to
each other to form a tunnel construction comprising said wrapping
material, and said moving device is configured to move the bale in
the direction perpendicular to said first plane of rotation and at
least partly into the tunnel construction comprising wrapping
material to attach the tunnel construction comprising wrapping
material to the bale.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second
wrapping material dispensers of the wrapping device with the
wrapping material are arranged in relation to each other so that
the second wrapping material is emerged essentially wholly onto the
frame means and the first wrapping material is emerged only partly
onto the frame means and the proximal end of the first wrapping
material is emerged outside the frame means in the moving direction
of the bale so to form the end of the tunnel construction.
23. (canceled)
24. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the said wrapping
means comprises a substantially vertically disposed circular ring
which is rotatably assembled onto a support roller means disposed
in a framework of the apparatus which circular ring preferably
further includes a support arm extending from said circular ring
for pivotally supporting said dispenser.
25. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus
comprises a turning means for turning said surface of said web of
wrapping material emerging from said dispenser between a first
wrapping stage and a second wrapping stage such that the surface of
said web of wrapping material becomes substantially parallel with
said first plane of rotation, wherein said turning means for
turning said surface of said web of wrapping material is arranged
such said wrapping device remains in said first plane of rotation,
and by rotation means for rotating said bale in a second plane of
rotation substantially normal to said first plane of rotation.
26. The apparatus according 25, wherein the apparatus comprises a
cutting device for cutting the second wrapping material before
providing the first wrapping material onto the sides of the bale in
said second direction in the second wrapping stage.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a method and apparatus for
producing wrapped bales. Especially the invention relates to a
method and apparatus for wrapping the bales with a web-like
wrapping material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Different methods are known from prior art for wrapping an
article with a web-like wrapping material. For example
WO/1994/022717 presents a solution where an article is in one stage
moved past wrapping means while the wrapping means provided with a
dispenser means are rotated around the article along a circular
path in a first plane of rotation. In a further stage of wrapping
the article is rotated by rotating means in a second plane of
rotation substantially normal to said first plane of rotation.
Between the stages the surface of the wrapping material web is
turned about 90.degree. such that the surface of the web is always
substantially normal to said planes of rotation in both stages.
[0003] There are however some disadvantages relating to the known
prior art, such as using special wires to mechanically bound the
wrapped articles e.g. in particular points, often at the location
of supporting battens. Typically these wires are made of metal,
which causes problems when the article is opened in a final
disposing plant, like in a power plant where the contents of the
wrapped article is burned. In addition one disadvantage in the
known prior art is a consumption of the web-like wrapping material
and additionally production of certain stronger areas onto the
article to be wrapped. These areas to be stronger than another
areas includes e.g. end portions of the article or a support
portions, such as supporting structures arranged below or around
the article, which are either made of the aforementioned metal
wires.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An object of the invention is to alleviate and eliminate the
problems relating to the known prior art. Especially an object of
the invention is to provide a wrapping method and apparatus for
wrapping the bales and providing stronger supporting areas without
the need of additional wires around the bale. In addition an object
of the invention is to consume less wrapping material than the
known prior art solutions.
[0005] The object of the invention can be achieved by the features
of independent claims.
[0006] The invention relates to a method for producing wrapped
bales according to claim 1. In addition the invention relates to an
apparatus for producing wrapped bales according to claim 13.
[0007] According to an embodiment of the invention a bale to be
wrapped is receiving from a baling apparatus. The baling apparatus
may be a separate apparatus from the wrapping apparatus of the
invention. A first wrapping stage comprises moving the bale and a
wrapping means in relation to each other so that the providing of
the wrapping material onto the surface and along the bale around in
its longitudinal (moving) direction is possible. The wrapping means
comprises at least first and second wrapping material dispenser
means, which are arranged to rotate around the bale in a circular
path in a first plane of rotation. When circulating, a web of
wrapping material emerges from the first and second wrapping
material dispenser means advantageously such that said web of
wrapping material becomes wrapped on the sides of the bale in a
first direction of wrapping.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the invention the first
wrapping material is emerged from the first wrapping material
dispenser means and the second wrapping material is emerged from
the second wrapping material dispenser means around the bale at
least in two different areas of the bale in the first plane of
rotation and in the direction perpendicular to the first plane of
rotation. The emerging is advantageously arranged so that the
properties, such as a width and/or tension, of the final wrapping
of at least one of the first and/or second wrapping material, when
provided or folded on the bale, differs substantially from each
other.
[0009] For example, the first wrapping material may be emerged from
the first wrapping material dispenser means with a first tension
and the second wrapping material from the second wrapping material
dispenser means with a second tension, where said first and second
tensions differs from each other. By this a lamination or areas
with different strengths can be achieved. Especially it is to be
noted than e.g. the first wrapping material (being e.g. rigid or
non-stretchable) can be laminated to the surface of the bale or
other object by the second wrapping material (being e.g.
stretchable) when the second wrapping material is emerged from the
second wrapping material dispenser means with a second tension
being more tighter than the first tension used for the first
wrapping material, which is a clear advantage over the known prior
art.
[0010] In addition, according to an example the properties, such as
a width and/or tension, of the final wrapping of at least one of
the first and/or second wrapping material, when provided or folded
on the bale, may differ substantially at least in the second area
from the properties when of at least one of the first and/or second
wrapping material provided or folded in the first area in order to
make the bale wrapping stronger in said second area. For example
the width of the second wrapping material may be substantially less
than the width of the first wrapping material at least in the
second area than in the first area or the tensions of the wrapping
materials may vary in different areas.
[0011] As an example the only second wrapping material is narrower
in said second area than in said first area. According another
example the first or both of the wrapping materials (the first and
the second) are narrower in said second area than in said first
area.
[0012] According to an embodiment the width of the second wrapping
material provided onto the second area is originally narrower
already when being on the dispenser means so that width of the
second wrapping provided onto the second area is essentially the
same as the width of the original second wrapping material on the
dispenser means.
[0013] According to an another embodiment the width of the first
and/or second wrapping material provided onto the second area is
achieved from the original wrapping material by tilting at least
one of the wrapping material dispenser means in relation to the
normal of the first plane of rotation in the second area so that
the normal of the surface of the web of the wrapping material
differs substantially of the normal of the first plane of rotation
before wrapping so before the wrapping material web touches the
surface of the bale. In addition the narrowing of the first and/or
second wrapping material can be achieved by mechanically shrinking
the original wrapping material narrower before wrapping, and/or
thermally shrinking the original wrapping material before
wrapping.
[0014] In addition according to an embodiment the second area is
provided with more rounds of at least the second wrapping material
than said first area in order to make the bale wrapping stronger in
said second area. In addition, and especially if the first
dispenser means is also tilted so that the first wrapping material
web is also narrower in said second area than in said first area,
the second area may also be provided with more rounds of the first
wrapping material than said first area.
[0015] According to an example the width of the second wrapping
material in said second area is less than 75%, more advantageously
less than 60% and most advantageously less than 50% of the width of
the first wrapping material at least in said second area. Still
according to an example the width of the narrower (first and/or
second) wrapping material, in particularly of the second wrapping
material in said second area is less than 75%, more advantageously
less than 60% and most advantageously less than 50% of the width of
the first wrapping material at least in said first area.
[0016] According to an embodiment the moving of the bale is slowed
or stopped in the position where the second wrapping material is
provided to the second area. This allows to make more rounds of the
wrapping material to the second area and thereby to produce more
stronger wrapping to the bale in said second area.
[0017] Optionally the wrapping may also comprise additionally
wrapping the web of at least the first and optionally also the
second wrapping material onto a frame means by wrapping means. In
this stage the frame means and the wrapping means are moved in
relation to each other to form a tunnel construction, which
advantageously comprises the wrapping material. In addition the
bale (or the wrapping means) is then moved in the direction
perpendicular to the first plane of rotation and at least partly
into the tunnel construction comprising said wrapping material so
to attach the tunnel construction of the wrapping material to the
bale. By this way the wrapping material can be easily and
effectively attached to the bale surface to be wrapped.
[0018] The first and second wrapping material dispenser means with
the wrapping material are advantageously arranged, for example
tilted or providing narrower second material and aligned so that
the second wrapping material is emerged essentially onto and over
the frame means and the first wrapping material is emerged only
partly onto or over the frame means and so that the proximal end of
the first wrapping material (furthest end of the first material in
the direction of the movement of the bale) is emerged outside or
beyond the frame means in the moving direction of the bale so to
form the end of the tunnel construction.
[0019] The second area may be any area on the bale, which is or
must be done by wrapping structurally stronger than another area.
Examples of the second area are e.g. a portion of the bale having a
supporting structure, such as a batten, and the end portions of the
bale, which are exposed to higher loading e.g. during handling and
transportation of the bale. In addition the second area may be
provided by the wrapping material also onto the frame means of the
wrapping apparatus to make stronger tunnel construction, which is
then attached to the end portion of the bale.
[0020] Optionally the bale can also be wrapped in a second plane of
rotation which is substantially normal to said first plane of
rotation. For this the bale is turned after the first stage so to
provide wrapping onto the sides of said bale in a second direction
of wrapping substantially normal to said first direction of
wrapping. In this embodiment the surface of the web of wrapping
material emerging from the dispenser means is also turned between
the first wrapping step and the second wrapping step such that the
web surface becomes substantially parallel with the first plane of
rotation so that said wrapping means remains in the first plane of
rotation thereof. For the second wrapping step the second wrapping
material may be cut before providing the first wrapping material
onto the sides of the bale in said second direction.
[0021] The present invention offers advantages over the known prior
art, such as removing the need of using special wires to
mechanically bound the wrapped bales e.g. in particular points,
such as at the location of supporting battens or ends of the bales.
In addition according to embodiments of the invention the
consumption of the wrapping material can be decreased because the
second areas, so the portions of the bale which must be tied
stronger, can be produced by narrower wrapping material, which
means that these areas can be produced by less wrapping material
(mass). For example the typical wrapping apparatus can save even
300 000 kilos wrapping material when using the narrower second
wrapping material (250-300 mm) instead of "normal" first wrapping
material (750 mm).
[0022] In addition the second wrapping material may be tighter, but
also thicker and/or more inextensible than the first wrapping
material, whereupon the second area can be provided much stronger
than the first area with minimal second wrapping material. In
addition the dispensing means can carry more meters of narrower
second wrapping material than wider first wrapping material
(loading capacity is in kilos). Moreover when the properties of the
first and second wrapping material differ from each other, also
laminate structures can be achieved onto the surface of bale by the
invention. Furthermore when the wrapping materials are emerged from
different wrapping material dispenser means, for example the
tension of the different wrapping materials can be adjusted
optimally by the different dispenser means, whereupon e.g. the
lamination can be performed optimally so that e.g. more elastic
wrapping material is wrapped tightly around the bale and at the
same time the more rigid wrapping material is wrapped around the
bale for providing stronger mechanical support structure. In
addition the lamination can be done much easier and effectively
when the two different wrapping materials are tight around the bale
and thereby also coupled to each other tensions optimal for each
material.
[0023] The exemplary embodiments presented in this text are not to
be interpreted to pose limitations to the applicability of the
appended claims. The verb "to comprise" is used in this text as an
open limitation that does not exclude the existence of also
unrecited features. The features recited in depending claims are
mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated.
[0024] The novel features which are considered as characteristic of
the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.
The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its
method of operation, together with additional objects and
advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following
description of specific example embodiments when read in connection
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] Next the invention will be described in greater detail with
reference to exemplary embodiments in accordance with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0026] FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a principle of an exemplary apparatus
for producing wrapped bales (first and second stages) with a
web-like wrapping material by sequential figures according to an
advantageous embodiment of the invention,
[0027] FIGS. 7-8 illustrate a principle of exemplary parts of the
first and second stages of wrapping as seen from one end of the
apparatus according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention,
and
[0028] FIGS. 9-10 illustrate two principles of providing two
different areas of wrapping onto the bale according to advantageous
embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a principle of an exemplary apparatus
100 for producing wrapped bales 1 with a web-like wrapping material
5A, 5B, 5C by sequential figures according to an advantageous
embodiment of the invention, wherein the apparatus is configured to
receive a bale from a bale producing means 2 for producing bales 3
(raw bale without wrapping). The bale 3 can contain e.g. straw,
fodder, cotton, branch, pulp or waste, however not limiting to
those only. The apparatus comprises also at least first and second
wrapping material dispenser means 4A, 4B, 4C for dispensing a web
of wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C, as well as a wrapping means 6 for
circulating said first and second wrapping material dispenser means
4A, 4B, 4C in a first plane of rotation around the bale 3 for
wrapping the web of wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C around the bale
3.
[0030] The apparatus may also be provided with a moving means for
moving the bale 3 and the wrapping means 6 in relation to each
other such that the bale 3 is moved past said wrapping means 6 in a
direction essentially perpendicular to said first plane of rotation
(arrow on the bales 3 in Figures). The moving means comprises or is
configured to be coupled with a tunnel means 9 for receiving bales
3 from the bale producing means 2. The tunnel means 9 comprises an
open downstream end 10.
[0031] The apparatus comprises advantageously also a frame means
11. The frame means 11 and the wrapping means 6 are movable in
relation to each other such that the wrapping means 6 is capable of
applying at least of of said wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C onto the
frame means 11 to form a tunnel construction 12 comprising wrapping
material 5. The frame means 11, on which wrapping material 5A, 5B,
5C is applied to form a tunnel construction 12 or on which wrapping
material 5A, 5B, 5C is to be applied to form a tunnel construction
12, is arrangable in relation to the open downstream end 10 of the
tunnel means so that the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means
9 is or becomes situated inside a the tunnel construction 12
comprising wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C, so that a bale 3 that is
moved out of the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 is
moved into a tunnel construction 12 comprising wrapping material
5A, 5B, 5C, which tunnel construction 12 becomes part of the
wrapping or the wrapping capable of at least partly holding the
material of the bale 3 together.
[0032] The tunnel construction 12 can be formed when the frame
means 11 is arranged in such position in relation to the open
downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 so that the tunnel
construction 12 comprising wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C is formed
around the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 by applying
wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C at the frame means 11 so that the open
downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 will become situated in the
tunnel construction 12 that is formed.
[0033] Alternatively, the tunnel construction 12 may initially be
formed at a distance from the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel
means 9 and thereafter the tunnel construction 12 can be moved in
relation to the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 so
that the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 will become
situated in the tunnel construction 12.
[0034] In an apparatus as the one shown in the figures the frame
means 11 may be movable both in relation to the wrapping means 6
and in relation to the tunnel means 9 (when used) in such a way
that the frame means 11 is firstly perpendicularly movable in
relation to a first plane of rotation of the dispenser means 4A,
4B, 4C of the wrapping means 6 so that wrapping material is applied
at the sides of the frame means 11 while moving the frame means 11
in relation to the wrapping means to form the tunnel construction
12 comprising wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C onto the frame means and
in such a way that the tunnel construction 12 formed onto the frame
means 11 is thereafter movable in relation to the tunnel means 9 so
that the open downstream end 10 of the tunnel means 9 is situated
inside the tunnel construction 12 comprising wrapping material 5A,
5B, 5C.
[0035] However, according to an example the frame means 11 may also
be stationary, whereupon the wrapping material will slip off from
the frame means 11 when the bale is transferred through or from the
wrapping means 6 and/or the tunnel means 9 (when used).
[0036] According to an embodiment the first and second wrapping
material dispenser means 4A, 4B, 4C of the wrapping means 6 with
the wrapping material are arranged in relation to each other so
that the second wrapping material 5B, 5C is emerged essentially
wholly onto the frame means 11 and the first wrapping material 5A
is emerged only partly onto the frame means 11 and the proximal end
5Ap (so the furthest end of the material 5Ap in the direction of
the movement of the bale) of the first wrapping material 5A is
emerged outside or over the frame means 11 in the moving direction
of the bale so to form the end of the tunnel construction 12 (as
can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10).
[0037] The frame means 11 comprises preferably, but not
necessarily, bars, rods 18, or similar elongate elements. One
purpose of the frame means 11 is to provide such a support for the
tunnel construction 12 comprising wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C so
that when the bale 3 is at least partly moved into the tunnel
construction 12, the frame means 11 enables the wrapping material
5A, 5B, 5C of the tunnel construction 12 to be in contact with the
bale 3 so that the wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C of the tunnel
construction 12 is capable of at least partly retaining the
structure of the bale 3. This is important because the tunnel
construction 12 will become the final wrapping for the bale 3 or
part of the final wrapping for the bale 3.
[0038] In one embodiment of the invention the frame means 11
comprises four rods 18 which are arranged in relation to each other
so that wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C applied with said wrapping
means 6 onto the frame means 11 forms a tunnel construction 12
having a rectangular cross-shape and that is supported by said four
rods 18.
[0039] The apparatus may also comprise a rotation means 8 for
rotating the bale 3 in a second plane of rotation substantially
normal to said first plane of rotation.
[0040] According to an embodiment the first wrapping material
dispenser means 4A is configured to emerge the first wrapping
material 5A with a first tension and the second wrapping material
dispenser means 4B, 4C is configured to second emerge the second
wrapping material 5B, 5C with a second tension, where said first
and second tensions differs from each other, as is described
elsewhere in this document.
[0041] FIGS. 7-8 illustrate a principle of exemplary parts of the
first and second stages of wrapping as seen from one end of the
apparatus according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention.
As can be seen in FIGS. 7-8 the wrapping means 6 comprises also a
circular ring 13 which is rotatably assembled onto a support roller
means 14 disposed in a framework 15 of the apparatus which circular
ring 13 preferably further includes a support arm 16 extending from
the circular ring 13 for pivotally supporting said dispenser means
4A, 4B, 4C.
[0042] The circular ring 13, the support roller means 14, the
framework 15 and the support arm 16 correspond preferably, but not
necessarily, to the circular ring 13, the support roller means 14,
the framework 15 and the support arm presented and described in
publication WO/1994/022717 or EP2496068B1. The apparatus may also
comprise a conveyor means 17 for additionally conveying the
bale.
[0043] The apparatus 100 may comprise furthermore a turning or
tilting means 7 for turning or tilting the surface of at least one
web of wrapping material 5A, 5B, 5C emerging from the dispenser
means 4A, 4B, 4C in relation to said first plane of rotation. The
turning or tilting can be done for changing the angle of the
surface of the emerging wrapping material web so that the emerging
wrapping material web meets the bale in an angle and thus produces
narrower (and this denser) wrapping on the bale than when the
surface of the emerging wrapping material web is substantially
normal to said first plane of rotation. The turning or tilting is
also done advantageously between a first wrapping stage and a
second wrapping stage such that the surface of said web of wrapping
material 5A becomes substantially parallel with said first plane of
rotation, wherein said turning means 7 for turning said surface of
said web of wrapping material 5A is arranged such said wrapping
means 6 remains in said first plane of rotation.
[0044] It is to be noted that the apparatus advantageously
comprises a braking or resisting device 23 arranged in connection
with at least one of said first and second dispenser means 4A, 4B,
4C in order to control the tension of the wrapping material during
emerging. The braking or resisting device 23 can be implemented
e.g. by a controllable electric motor, mechanical or hydraulic or
pneumatic brakes, induction brakes or a friction braking device by
which the tension of the emerging wrapping material can be
controlled, as is described elsewhere in this document.
[0045] FIGS. 9-10 illustrates two principles of providing two
different areas of wrapping onto the bale according to advantageous
embodiments of the invention, where the wrapping apparatus 100 is
configured to emerge the first wrapping material 5A from the first
wrapping material dispenser means 4A and the second wrapping
material 5B, 5C from the second wrapping material dispenser means
4B, 4C around the bale 1 at least in two different areas 21, 22 of
the bale in said first plane of rotation and in the direction
perpendicular to said first plane of rotation so that the
properties of the final wrapping of at least one of said first
and/or second wrapping material 5B, 5C provided onto the bale are
substantially different at least in the second area 22 than the
properties of the final wrapping of at least one of said first
and/or second wrapping material 5A in said first area 21 in order
to make the bale wrapping stronger in said second area.
[0046] According to an advantageous embodiment the property of the
first wrapping material 5A is different in the first area 21 that
the property of the wrapping material 5B, 5C in the second area 22.
It is to be noted that also the first wrapping material 5A can be
provided into the second area 22 so that its properties, at least
when or after contacted and folded on the bale, differs from the
properties on the first area 21. The property is advantageously the
width of the wrapping material, but may also be another property,
such as the final density after provided onto the surface of the
bale. The width and/or density or other property of the second
wrapping material 5B, 5C may differ already in originally from the
property of the first wrapping material so before emerged. Also the
emerging process can be controlled so that the width and/or density
of the second wrapping material 5B, 5C after provided onto the
surface of the bale is different on the second area 22 as in the
first area 21. This can be done e.g. by turning or tilting
(advantageously by the turning or tilting means 7) at least one of
said wrapping material dispenser means 4C in relation to the normal
of the first plane of rotation at least in said second area 22 so
that the surface of said wrapping material web 5C emerged by said
tilted wrapping material dispenser means 4C differs substantially
of the normal of said first plane of rotation before wrapping, as
can be clearly seen in FIG. 10. In the embodiment described in FIG.
10 the apparatus is thus configured to provide the wrapping
material 5B, 5C onto the second area 22 so that the width said
wrapping material 5B, 5C is reduced in relation to the width of
said wrapping material 5B, 5C in said first area 21.
[0047] However, according to an embodiment the apparatus 100 is
configured to keep the surface of the web of at least one wrapping
material 5A substantially normal to the first plane of rotation
during.
[0048] The narrowing of at least one wrapping material web 5B, 5C
can also be done in other way than tilting the angle of emerging
web. For this the apparatus may comprise a mechanical shrinking
device for mechanically shrinking the original wrapping material
5B, 5C narrower for the second area 22 so that the width said
wrapping material 5B, 5C is reduced in relation to the width of
said wrapping material 5B, 5C in said first area. The apparatus may
also comprise a heating device for heating the original wrapping
material 5B, 5C narrower for the second area 22 (depending whether
the wrapping material is heat shrinkable) so that the width said
wrapping material 5B, 5C is reduced in relation to the width of
said wrapping material 5B, 5C in said first area 21.
[0049] According to an embodiment the apparatus may also be
configured to provide the second area 22 with more rounds of at
least the second wrapping material 5B, 5C than said first area 21
in order to make the bale wrapping stronger in said second area. If
and when the first wrapping material 5A is not cut (by a cutting
device (not shown)) or otherwise manipulated in the second area 22,
it 5A is also round as many rounds around the bale as the second
wrapping material 5B, 5C. For this the moving means is
advantageously configured to move the bale and slow or stop the
bale in the position where the second wrapping material is provided
to the second area. Other option is to speeding up the rotations of
the wrapping means 6.
[0050] Advantageously the apparatus is configured to provide the
second area onto the portion of the bale comprising a supporting
portion 19 (batten) and/or on the end portion(s) of the bale or
onto the frame means.
[0051] The invention has been explained above with reference to the
aforementioned embodiments, and several advantages of the invention
have been demonstrated. It is clear that the invention is not only
restricted to these embodiments, but comprises all possible
embodiments within the spirit and scope of the inventive thought
and the following patent claims. The features recited in dependent
claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly
stated. For example the apparatus for producing wrapped bales can
be a stationary apparatus or a movable apparatus mounted for
example on a trailer to be pulled by a tractor. In addition it can
be operated in horizontal or vertical directions.
* * * * *