A CRANK-OPERATED PACKER MECHANISM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL BALER

• Main Authors: Van Hullebusch, Bart G.L, Devroe, Jeroen, Gryson, Ruben
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 21.02.2024
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; BEARINGS; BLASTING; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FISHING; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; FORESTRY; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; HEATING; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HUNTING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; SHAFTS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRAPPING; WEAPONS

In a crank-operated packer mechanism (6) according to the invention, the crank shaft (12) comprises crank pins (11) and crank arms (A1-A5) assembled by a tapered spline connection. The connection comprises tapered spline features (29) on the outer ends of the pins and in openings (40) provided at the outer ends of the crank arms, which interlock when the pins are inserted in the openings. The connection further comprises a locking feature for locking the connection, such as a locking nut (52) screwed onto a threaded outer end (35) of the pin (11) when the latter is inserted into an opening (40). According to preferred embodiments, fixing of rotary bearings (62) onto the pins is done by a fixing nut (66) which at the same time serves as a disassembling aid for the spline connection. According to a further embodiment, the crank arms (A1-A5) are shaped in a way that deviates from a straight shape to such an extent that the crank shaft (12) is statically balanced about its central rotation axis (100). The invention is also related to a baler comprising a packer mechanism according to the invention.