Continuous round baler chambers and conveyor system

摘要

A crop harvesting system for continuous round baling is described that comprises a first and second bale chamber and a conveyor system in operable communication with the first and second bale chambers. The crop harvesting system can comprise at least three bale carriers, at least two serpentine systems to facilitate movement of the bale into and out of the first and second bale chambers. The crop harvesting system can be integrated into an agricultural harvester such as a baler or combine.

主权项

1. A method of baling crop with a harvester comprising:
a first bale chamber and a second bale chamber operably coupled by a conveyor system; wherein the first bale chamber is positioned forward of the second bale chamber with respect to a direction of travel of the harvester, wherein each of the first and second bale chambers comprise a first sidewall and a second sidewall, an entry point at the front of the first and second bale chambers, an outlet at a rear of the first and second bale chambers, and at least one floor roller positioned at a bottom of each of the bale chambers transverse to the first and second sidewalls; wherein the conveyor system is positioned between the first and second bale chambers at a downward angle along the direction of travel of the harvester; and at least one bale carrier, each bale carrier 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;a second pair of arms extending transversely from and affixed to a second pair of pivot points on the first and second sidewalls;a pair of parallel bars affixed to the end of the first and second pair of arms positioned at the ends of first and second pair of arms distal to the first and second pair of pivot points; andone or more fixed members positioned transversely between the pair of parallel bars and the one or more fixed members defining a rotatable axis around which a roller is capable of rotation;said method comprising:
feeding crop into the first bale chamber; forming a partially formed bale in the first bale chamber to a desired size; transferring the partially formed bale from the first bale chamber to the second bale chamber by operation of the conveyor system; completing bale formation in the second bale chamber; and ejecting the completed bale from the second bale chamber contemporaneously with again initiating feeding crop into the first bale chamber in a new sequence of steps.