An agriculture baler and a straw feeding knife assembly thereof
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an agricultural baler, especially relates to a
baler and its straw feeding knife assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Agricultural harvesters, such as balers, are used to compress and pack crop
materials to facilitate storage and transportation for later use. In the case of
hay, a hay mower is usually used to cut and adjust crop material for drying
them to hay in the sun. In the case of straw, a combine harvester discharges
non-grain crop material from its back to qualify the straw (such as wheat or oat
straw), which will be picked up by a baler. The cut crop material is usually
treated with a rake and dried, and the baler, such as a square baler or a round
baler, moves across and along the hay row to pick up the crop material and
form the crop material into bales.
CN105594365 discloses a baler and an anti-accumulation device, wherein the
anti-accumulation device includes a grass pushing mechanism which includes
a dial fork and a rocker. One end of a crank is connected to a drive shaft, and
one end of a connecting rod is connected to one end of the rocker, and the
other end of the rocker is fixed on the frame. This invention provides a plurality
of dial forks on the connecting rod, and the dial fork includes a main dial fork
and a secondary dial fork. The main fork is a vertical rod, the secondary fork is
a curved rod and is fixed in the front position of the lower half of the main dial
fork, and the opening of the secondary dial fork is downward. The grass
pushing mechanism of this invention is arranged inside the material channel.
The material channel is arranged between a threshing drum and a baling
device, located below the baling device. The material channel is also provided
with a feeding wheel. When the baler is working, the feeding wheel can push
the straw discharged by the threshing drum to the material channel for a
certain distance, so as to avoid the accumulation of straw at the connection
between the threshing drum and the material channel. At the same time, the
main dial fork pushes most of the straw in the material channel to the straw
entrance of the baling device, and the secondary dial fork pushes the
accumulated straw at the straw entrance of the baling device. Through the
cooperation of the feeding wheel and the straw pushing mechanism, the straw
can be transported to the baling device in a timely and smooth manner.
Therefore, in this invention, the main dial fork and the secondary dial fork of
the straw pushing mechanism are set in parallel, whose main function is to
work together with the feeding wheel to push straw from the material channel
into the baling device to avoid accumulation and blockage.
WO2011032980 disclosed another baler including a packing apparatus that is
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used to push crops into a pre-compression chamber. In this invention, the
packing apparatus has two forks, and both forks can rotate along a fixed axis,
thus pushing the crop forward continuously. Therefore, the packaging
apparatus of the invention is similar to the dial forks of CN105594365, which is
installed near the material channel and pushes the crops in the material
channel. In addition, a mechanism composed of a cam and a lever is installed
near the material channel together with a hook. These two components work
together with the packing apparatus to push crops through the material
channel.
In both patents above, for example, the fork of prior art implements a feeding
function to move materials between different components. However, for
conventional balers, straw is often piled up in the area of feeding chamber
where the forks are working during the working of the baler. The area is mainly
located at upper part of the feeding chamber and the baling chamber, which
creates a straw blockage in the area. With the continuous running of the baler,
such blockage cannot be discharged normally and can easily cause damage to
components of the baler.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the technical problems existing in the prior art, the invention
discloses a straw feeding knife assembly for a baler, which comprises an
elongated fork, a crankshaft and a paddle. The fork comprises a top and a
distal end, wherein the top is movably connected to a chassis of the baler via a
connecting rod, and the distal end is positioned in a feeding chamber of the
baler. The crankshaft coupled to the fork for driving the fork which pushes
straw from the feeding chamber to the baling chamber of the baler. The paddle
is mounted near intermediate position of the fork for removing straw
accumulated in upper portion of a junction area between the feeding chamber
and the baling chamber, wherein the paddle extends laterally to the side of the
fork and sweeps through the junction area of the feeding chamber and the
baling chamber.
As a plurality of embodiments of the present invention, the paddle may be in
many different shapes. In a first embodiment, the paddle is approximately
triangular, which comprises an apex extending towards the junction area of the
feeding chamber and the baling chamber. In a second embodiment, the paddle
is approximately rectangular, which comprises a plane side extending towards
the junction area of the feeding chamber and the baling chamber. In a third
embodiment, the paddle is approximately hooked, which comprises an apex
extending towards the junction area of the feeding chamber and the baling
chamber. In other embodiments, the paddle may also present other possible
shapes.
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The paddle not only has a variety of possible shapes, but also has various
embodiments with the positional relationship of the fork. In a first embodiment,
the paddle is vertical to the fork. In a second embodiment, the paddle forms an
acute angle with the distal end of the fork. In a third embodiment, the paddle
forms an acute angle with the top of the fork. The position relationship between
the paddle and the fork is independent to the shape of the paddle, that is,
whether the paddle itself is triangular, rectangular, hooked, or other possible
shape, the paddle may be vertical to the fork, forms an acute angle with the
distal end of the fork, or forms an acute angle with the top of the fork.
As other embodiments of the invention, the crankshaft is coupled to the
sprocket and driven by the sprocket, wherein the sprocket is driven by a power
take-off (PTO) of the baler. The crankshaft drives the fork, which further drives
the paddle from the inlet of the baling chamber to the upper part of the feeding
chamber.
The invention also discloses a baler having the straw feeding knife assembly,
including: a chassis, a power take-off (PTO) for taking power from a working
vehicle, a pickup for picking straw from a field, and a baling assembly. The
baling assembly includes a baling chamber for baling straw into bales, a
feeding chamber for transferring straw from the pickup to the baling chamber,
and a straw feeding knife assembly for feeding straw from the feeding
chamber to the baling chamber. Wherein, the straw feeding knife assembly
further includes an elongated fork, a crankshaft and a paddle. The fork
comprises a top and a distal end, wherein the top is movably connected to the
chassis of the baler via a connecting rod, and the distal end is positioned in the
feeding chamber of the baler. The crankshaft is coupled to the fork for driving
the fork which pushes straw from the feeding chamber to the baling chamber
of the baler. The paddle is mounted near intermediate position of the fork for
removing straw accumulated in upper portion of a junction area between the
feeding chamber and the baling chamber. The paddle extends laterally to the
side of the fork and sweeps through the junction area of the feeding chamber
and the baling chamber.
The advantage of the present invention is that the straw/stalk can be
prevented from accumulating in the moving area of the moving parts such as
the fork of the baler, thereby effectively avoiding damage of baler parts caused
by straw/stalk accumulation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is the overall schematic diagram of the baler of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of FIG. 1 after partial structure is removed;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the front side of the baler;
FIG. 4 is the structural diagram of the side of the baler;
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FIG. 5a and 5b are schematic drawings of different embodiments of the straw
feeding knife assembly;
FIG. 6a and 6b are schematic drawings of different embodiments of the straw
feeding knife assembly;
FIG. 7a, 7b and 7c are the motion diagram of the fork.
FIG. 8a, 8b and 8c are motion diagrams of the straw feeding knife assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
One or more specific embodiments of the invention will be described below. In
order to provide a concise description of these embodiments, the specification
may not describe all the features of the actual mode of implementation. It
should be understood that in the development of any such practical
embodiment, as in any engineering or design project, many specific
implementation decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific
goals, such as meeting system-related and business-related constraints,
which may vary according to the specific implementation. In addition, it should
be understood that such development may be complex and time consuming,
but will be routine tasks of design, manufacture and preparation for the
average technician in the field who understands the advantages of the
invention.
When introducing elements of each embodiment of the invention, the articles
"one", "the" and "said" mean having one or more such elements. The terms
"include", "include", and "have" are inclusive and refer to the possibility of
additional elements in addition to those listed. Examples of operating
parameters and/or environmental conditions do not exclude other
parameters/conditions of embodiments disclosed by the invention.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a baler applying the straw feeding knife assembly of
the present invention, which is arranged to form and bale rectangular material
bales (for example, crop materials, such as hay, straw, grass, silage, corn
stalks, tobacco, cotton, plant materials, etc.). The main structure of the baler
includes a chassis 1, a power output unit (PTO) 2, a baling assembly 3, a
pickup 4, etc. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the chassis 1 supports and limits
all other components. Chassis 1 has one tire on each side of the bottom of the
baler, and the pickup 4 and the PTO 2 are arranged side by side in the area
facing the front of the chassis 1.
The baler implements the pickup 4 to lift the crop material from the pile to the
baling assembly 3. The pickup 4 is a box structure with a approximately
trapezoidal section. There is a large opening on the outward side and a smaller
opening on the inward side. The larger opening is the entrance of straw/stalk,
and the smaller opening is the exit of straw/stalk treated by the pickup 4.
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Continuing with FIGS. 1 and 2, the PTO 2 is arranged on one side of the
pickup 4, which includes a universal coupling 21, a flywheel 22 and a gearbox
23. The universal coupling 21 is a long shaft with a connector at the top that is
connected to the power output shaft of a towing vehicle, such as a tractor. In
this way, the baler can be connected to a towing vehicle (such as a tractor) and
pulled through the field, collecting and baling crop materials as the baler runs
through the field. The baler may also be included in a self-propelled chassis or
may be part of a self-owned vehicle. The end of the universal coupling 21 is
connected to the flywheel 22, which is turned and changed through the belt
and the gearbox 23 to transfer power to the pickup 4 so that drives the rotation
axis of pickup 4 to move. The PTO 2 further includes a drive shaft 24, one end
of which is connected to the flywheel 22 by a sprocket chain and the other end
to the drive chain of the baling assembly 3.
As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the rear of the pickup 4 is connected to
the baling assembly 3, which includes a baling chamber 31, a feeding chamber
32 on the side of baling chamber 31, a straw finger 34 and a piston 39, etc.
The baling chamber 31 is a rectangular cavity, one end of which is provided
with an inlet 32a facing the feeding chamber 32, and the other end of which is
provided with an outlet facing the back of the baler. The inlet and outlet are
approximately relative to the driving direction of the baler. The lower part of the
feeding chamber 32 is connected to the exit of the pickup 4, i.e. the smaller
opening on the inwards side, to receive the straw/stalk treated by the pickup 4
and delivered by the pickup 4. The upper half of the feeding chamber 32 is
approximately rectangular cavity, and a straw feeding knife assembly 33 and
straw finger 34 are set in the cavity of the upper half of the feeding chamber 32
to stir the straw/stalk at the bottom of the feeding chamber 32, so as to
transport the straw from the feeding chamber 32 to the baling chamber 31. The
side of the upper half of the feeding chamber 32 is provided with a sprocket 25
and 26, wherein the sprocket 25 is the driving wheel of the straw feeding knife
assembly 33, and the sprocket 26 is the driving wheel of the straw finger 34.
The flywheel 22 transmits power to the drive shaft 24 via the sprocket chain,
and the drive shaft 24 transmits power to the drive sprocket 25 of the straw
feeding knife assembly 33 via the sprocket chain. The sprocket 25 rotates
counterclockwise and further transmits power to the sprocket 26 of the straw
finger 34 through the sprocket chain.
Continuing with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the upper part of the feeding chamber 32
has an opening at the location where the straw feeding knife assembly 33 is
disposed, the opening being located on the upper surface of the feeding
chamber 32 for receiving the straw feeding knife assembly 33 and allowing the
straw feeding knife assembly 33 to be able to move back and forth within a
certain range. The straw feeding knife assembly 33 includes a fork 33a, a
paddle 33b and a crankshaft 33c. The fork 33a is an elongated component
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with a sharp distal end and a flat top. The top of the fork 33a is hinged to a
connecting rod 38 by a pin, and the other end of the connecting rod 38 is
hinged to a chassis connection 11 by a pin. The paddle 33b extends laterally to
the side of the fork 33a for removing straw accumulated in the feeding
chamber 32, particularly in the upper portion of the junction area A of the
feeding chamber 32 and the baling chamber 31, that is, straw near the outlet of
the feeding chamber 32 and/or near the inlet of the baling chamber 31. This
area may also be referred to stacking area A. Therefore, during the movement
of the straw feeding knife assembly 33, the paddle 33b can be passed/swept
across the junction area A and the upper portion of the junction area A of the
feed chamber 32 and the baling chamber 31. That is, the movement path of
the paddle 33b sweeps through the junction area A (stacking area A) and its
upper portion of the feeding chamber 32 and the baling chamber 31. The
intermediate position of the fork 33a is coupled to the crankshaft 33c through a
bearing, and the crankshaft 33c is further coupled to the sprocket 25 of the
straw feeding knife assembly 33 through a spline, thereby causing the straw
feeding knife assembly 33 forming a crank linkage.
As a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fork 33a is composed of two
elongated components having the same structure and arranged in parallel,
both of which have sharp distal ends and flat tops. The connecting rod 38 is
held in the middle of the top of the two elongated components which are
hinged to the connecting rod 38 by a pin. In other embodiments, the top of the
fork 33a can be coupled to the connecting rod 38 by other means, such as bolt
connection, etc. Similarly, the connecting rod 38 and chassis connection 11
can also be connected in other ways. In other embodiments, the intermediate
position of the fork 33a may be coupled to the crankshaft 33c by any movable
connection, such as pin connection, etc.
According to FIG. 4, flywheel 22 is installed on the rotating shaft of a gear box
26 and rotates synchronously with the rotating shaft. The gear box 26 drives a
piston 25 through a crank slider mechanism to perform a reciprocating
compression motion within the baling chamber 31. The function of the piston
25 is to compress the straw that are dialed into the baling chamber 31 by the
straw feeding knife assembly 33, compressing the crop mass into pieces to
form a bale, while the bales are gradually moving forward to the outlet of the
baling chamber 31. When the bales are compressed to a predetermined length,
a knotter 37 starts to run, and the bales are tied with baling ropes.
Continuing with FIG. 4, a fan 41 is installed on the back side of the upper part
of the feeding chamber 32. The fan 41 generates windblown toward the knotter
37, which is helpful to keep knotter 37 clean and improve knot formation rate. A
fan shield 42 is provided on the outside of the fan 41, which is a metal cover
with flow guide grooves or holes on the surface. The fan shield 42 covers the
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fan 41 from all sides to effectively prevent straw from being blown to the
knotter 37 through the fan 41.
FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment of the paddle 33b. The paddle 33b is fixedly
disposed at the side of the fork 33a, near the intermediate position of the fork
33a and opposite to the crankshaft 33c. As shown in FIG. 3, the paddle 33b is
approximately triangular, the bottom edge of which is fixed near the
intermediate position of the fork 33a, and the apex angle of the triangle
extends outwardly until it approaches the junction area A (stacking area A) of
the feeding chamber 32 and the baling chamber 31.
As shown in FIG. 5a, as a second embodiment of the paddle 33b, the shape of
which is approximately rectangular. A short side of the rectangle is fixed near
the intermediate position of the fork 33a, and the long side of the rectangle
extends outward until it approaches the junction area A (stacking area A) of the
feeding chamber 32 and the baling chamber 31. In addition, the top of the
rectangle extending outwards can be not only a flat surface, but also a top with
a sharp apex, or a top with a curved surface, so that facilitates the paddle 33b
to agitate the straw in the junction area A of the feed chamber 32 and the
baling chamber 31.
As shown in FIG. 5b, as a third embodiment of the paddle 33b, the shape of
which is approximately a hooked shape, the bottom edge of which is fixed near
the intermediate position of the fork 33a, and the end of the hook extends
outward until it approaches the junction area A (stacking area A) of the feeding
chamber 32 and the baling chamber 31. In addition, the end of the hook can be
pointed upwardly or downwardly. The upwardly curved hook facilitates the
discharge of the straw from the opening at the top of the feeding chamber 32,
while the downwardly curved hook facilitates agitation of the straw at the
bottom of the junction area A (stacking area A).
As alternative embodiments of the paddle 33b, the shape of which could be a
strip, a slice or any other reasonable shapes.
As a manufacturing process of the paddle 33b, during the manufacturing of the
fork 33a, the paddle 33b is cut directly on the fork 33a by cutting and forming.
As another manufacturing process of the paddle 33b, the paddle 33b and the
fork 33a are shaped respectively, and the paddle 33b is fixed on the fork 33a
by means of welding. Since the paddle 33b is fixed on the fork 33a, the paddle
33b moves together with the fork 33a, and the movement of the paddle 33b is
also driven by the sprocket 25, that is, the sprocket 25 drives the fork 33a and
further causes the paddle 33b to move together.
The outwardly extending ends of the paddle 33b can be of various shapes,
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such as a flat end, a rounded end or a pointed end, preferably a pointed end,
which has best effect of agitating the straw.
As shown in FIG. 3, as an embodiment of the invention, the paddle 33b
extends laterally in a direction approximately perpendicular to the fork 33a.
The paddle 33b is approximately triangular, the bottom edge of which is fixed
near the intermediate position of the fork 33a, and the apex angle of the
triangle extends outwardly until it approaches the junction area A of the feeding
chamber 32 and the baling chamber 31. In this embodiment, the shape of the
paddle 33b could also be rectangular, hooked shape, other strip or sheet
structure.
Referring to FIG. 6a, as another embodiment of the invention, the paddle 33b
extends laterally from the side of the fork 33a, and the angle between the
paddle 33b and the distal end of the fork 33 is an acute angle. As shown in FIG.
6a, the paddle 33b is approximately triangular, the bottom edge of which is
fixed near the intermediate position of the fork 33a. The top angle of the
triangle extends toward the lower right until it approaches the junction area A
(stacking area A) of the feeding chamber 32 and the baling chamber 31,
besides the paddle 33b and the distal end of the fork 33a form an angle α,
which is an acute angle. In this embodiment, since the paddle 33b forms an
acute angle with the distal end of the fork 33a, the end of the paddle 33b faces
downward. This shape facilitates to clearing the straw remaining at the bottom
of junction area A (stacking area A) of the feeding chamber 32 and the baling
chamber 31. In this embodiment, the shape of the paddle 33b could also be
rectangular, hooked shape, other strip or sheet structure, all of which forming
the acute angle α with the distal end of the fork 33a.
Referring to FIG. 6b, as another embodiment of the invention, the paddle 33b
extends laterally from the side of the fork 33a, and the angle between the
paddle 33b and the top of the fork 33 is an acute angle. As shown in FIG. 6b,
the paddle 33b is approximately triangular, the bottom edge of which is fixed
near the intermediate position of the fork 33a. The top angle of the triangle
extends toward the upper right until it approaches the junction area A (stacking
area A) of the feeding chamber 32 and the baling chamber 31, besides the
paddle 33b and the top of the fork 33a form an angle β, which is an acute
angle. In this embodiment, since the paddle 33b forms an acute angle with the
top of the fork 33a, the end of the paddle 33b faces upward. This shape
facilitates discharge the straw in the junction area A and in the upper portion of
the junction area A from the opening at the top of the feeding chamber 32. In
this embodiment, the shape of the paddle 33b could also be rectangular,
hooked shape, other strip or sheet structure, all of which forming the acute
angle β with the top of the fork 33a.
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Refer to FIG. 7A, 7B and 7C, the crankshaft 33c rotates counterclockwise, the
fork 33a rotates and reciprocates to push the straw under the drive of the
crankshaft 33c. At the first moment of motion, as shown in FIG. 7a, the entirety
of the fork 33a is driven by the crankshaft 33c to the left side of the sprocket 25,
and the distal end of the fork 33a is located near the middle of the feeding
chamber 32. At this moment, the fork 33a is ready to move the straw. At the
second moment of motion, as shown in FIG. 7b, the lower half of the fork 33a
is driven below the sprocket 25 by the crankshaft 33c, and the distal end of the
fork 33a is located near the bottom of the feeding chamber 32. At this moment,
the fork 33a pushes the straw. At the third moment of motion, as shown in FIG.
7c, the entirety of the fork 33a is driven by the crankshaft 33c to the right side
of the sprocket 25, and the distal end of the fork 33a is located near the baffle
36 of the feeding chamber 32. At this moment, the fork 33a completes to move
the straw. After the third moment of motion, the crankshaft 33c continues to
drive the fork 33a to the position of the first moment of motion, and so on.
As shown in the motion state in FIG. 7a-7c, the straw entering the feeding
chamber 32 is pushed by the straw finger 34 to the working area of the fork
33a, and the straw is further pushed into the baling chamber by the fork 33a.
The fork 33a of the prior art does not have the paddle 33b, so that during the
movement of the fork 33a, straw will be accumulated in the junction area A
(stacking area A) between the baffle 36 and the intermediate position of the
fork 33a due to the wind action of the pickup 4 and the pushing action of the
fork 33a.With the accumulating of straw and squeezing of the fork 33a, the
density of straw in this area will increase and eventually case damage of
components.
In contrast, the present invention provides an additional paddle 33b on the fork
33a to form the straw feeding knife assembly 33 together with the crankshaft
33c. Under the joint action of the fork 33a and the paddle 33b, part of the straw
is pushed into the lower part of the feeding chamber 32, and the other part of
the straw is pushed out of the junction area A (stacking area A), and then
further pushed out of the baler.
As shown in FIG. 8a, 8b and 8c, the crankshaft 33c rotates counterclockwise,
and the fork 33a and the paddle 33b are driven by the crankshaft 33c to
perform a rotary reciprocating movement to push the straw. At the first moment
of motion, as shown in FIG. 8a, the entirety of the fork 33a is driven to the left
of the sprocket 25 by the crankshaft 33c. At this moment, the end of the fork
33a is located near the middle of the feeding chamber 32, and the paddle 33b
is located to the right of the fork 33a. At this moment, the straw feeding knife
assembly 33 is ready to move the straw. At the second moment of motion, as
shown in FIG. 8b, the lower half of the fork 33a is driven below the sprocket 25
by the crankshaft 33c. At this moment, the distal end of the fork 33a is located
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near the bottom of the feeding chamber 32, and the paddle 33b is located near
the baffle 36 of the feeding chamber 32. At this moment, the fork 33a moves
the straw, and the fork 33b pushes part of the straw that is moved by the fork
33a and enters the junction area A. At the third moment of motion, as shown in
FIG. 8c, the entirety of the fork 33a is driven to the right side of the sprocket 25
by the crankshaft 33c. At this moment, the distal end of the fork 33a is located
near the position of the baffle 36 of the feeding chamber 32. The paddle 33b is
located between the fork 33a and the right sidewall of the feeding chamber 32,
and is located near the opening of the upper surface of the feeding chamber
32. At this moment, fork 33a completes the action of moving the straw, and the
paddle 33b moves from bottom to top, from near the bottom of the junction
area A to near the opening of the upper surface of the feeding chamber. The
straw accumulated in the junction area A and its upper portion is thereby driven
to the opening of upper surface of the feeding chamber 32, so that the straw
leaves the feeding chamber 32 from the opening. After the third moment of
motion, the crankshaft 33c continues to drive the fork 33a to the position of the
first moment of motion, and so on.
Although the invention has been described by reference to preferred
embodiments, it shall be understood by a people in the art that changes may
be made, without falling outside the scope of the invention, and that the
elements of the invention may be substituted in an equivalent form. In addition,
without breaking away from the basic scope of the invention, many
modifications may be made to suit the specific circumstances or materials
taught by the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to specific
embodiments described as embodiments of the best mode imaginable of the
invention, but the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope
of the attached claims.

CLAIMS
1. A straw-feeding knife assembly (33) for a baler, comprising:
an elongated fork (33a) comprising a top and a distal end, wherein the top
is movably connected to a chassis (1) of the baler via a connecting rod (38),
and the distal end is positioned in a feeding chamber (32) of the baler;
a crankshaft (33c) coupled to the fork (33a) for driving the fork (33a),
wherein the fork (33a) pushes straw from the feeding chamber (32) to a baling
chamber (31) of the baler;
characterized by:
a paddle (33b) mounted near intermediate position of the fork (33a) for
removing straw accumulated in upper portion of a junction area (A) of the
feeding chamber (32) and the baling chamber, wherein the paddle (33b)
extends laterally to the side of the fork (33a) and sweeps through the junction
area (A) of the feeding chamber (32) and the baling chamber (31).
2. The straw-feeding knife assembly (33) of claim 1, wherein the paddle (33b)
is approximately triangular which comprises an apex extending toward the
junction area (A) of the feeding chamber (32) and the baling chamber (31).
3. The straw-feeding knife assembly (33) of claim 1, wherein the paddle (33b)
is approximately rectangular which comprises a plane side extending toward
the junction area (A) of the feeding chamber (32) and the baling chamber (31).
4. The straw-feeding knife assembly (33) of claim 1, wherein the paddle (33b)
is approximately hooked which comprises an apex extending toward the
junction area (A) of the feeding chamber (32) and the baling chamber (31).
5. The straw-feeding knife assembly (33) of claim 2-4, wherein the paddle (33b)
is vertical to the fork (33a).
6. The straw-feeding knife assembly (33) of claim 2-4, wherein the paddle (33b)
and the distal end of the fork (33a) have an acute angle.
7. The straw-feeding knife assembly (33) of claim 2-4, wherein the paddle (33b)
and the top of the fork (33a) have an acute angle.
8. The straw-feeding knife assembly (33) of claim 1, wherein the paddle (33b)
sweeps from the inlet of the baling chamber (31) to the upper part of the
feeding chamber (32).
9. The straw-feeding knife assembly (33) of claim 1, wherein the crankshaft
(33c) is coupled to and driven by a sprocket (25), wherein the sprocket (25) is
driven by a power take-off (2) of the baler.
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10. A baler comprising:
a chassis (1);
a power take-off (2) for taking power from a working vehicle;
a pickup (4) for picking straw from a field;
a baling assembly (3) comprising:
a baling chamber (31) for baling straw into bales;
a feeding chamber (32) for transferring straw from the pickup (4) to
the baling chamber (31);
a straw-feeding knife assembly (33) for feeding straw from the
feeding chamber (32) to the baling chamber (31), characterized in that
the straw-feeding knife assembly (33) comprises:
an elongated fork (33a) comprising a top and a distal end, wherein
the top is movably connected to the chassis (1) of the baler via a
connecting rod (38), and the distal end is positioned in the feeding
chamber (32) of the baler;
a crankshaft (33c) coupled to the fork (33a) for driving the fork
(33a), wherein the fork (33a) pushes straw from the feeding chamber
(32) to the baling chamber (31) of the baler;
a paddle (33b) mounted near intermediate position of the fork (33a)
for removing straw accumulated in upper portion of a junction area (A)
of the feeding chamber (32) and the baling chamber, wherein the
paddle (33b) extends laterally to the side of the fork (33a) and sweeps
through the junction area (A) of the feeding chamber (32) and the
baling chamber (31).