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  Netting material with reflective or luminescent markerUSPTO Application #: 20070021018Title: Netting material with reflective or luminescent marker Abstract: A netting material includes reflective and/or luminescent markers that make the netting visible in low light or reduced light situations, and in certain embodiments also marks the roll end in a manner visible in low light situations. The strip reflects a source of light even from a distance and even at a sharp angle, or alternatively emits light itself. The reflective or luminescent strip may be incorporated into the net in addition to and optionally alongside colored roll-end markers that are easily visible in daylight. (end of abstract) Agent: Morgan & Finnegan, L.L.P. - New York, NY, US Inventors: Ronen Lin, Tsafir Lior, Ohad Peled USPTO Applicaton #: 20070021018 - Class: 442003000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Fabric (woven, Knitted, Or Nonwoven Textile Or Cloth, Etc.), Scrim (e.g., Open Net Or Mesh, Gauze, Loose Or Open Weave Or Knit, Etc.), Woven Scrim, Including A Multifilament Fiber Precoated With Other Than Free Metal Or Alloy Prior To Weaving The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070021018. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of packaging, and more particularly, to netting for baling agricultural produce. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The use of balers for baling agricultural crops into round (cylindrical) bales has become increasingly common in recent years, replacing the old system of baling square bales which were secured by different types of twine or metal wire. The first round-balers also used various types of twines to secure the bale, however, over the years other types of netting have been used. The use of knitted Raschel nets has become more and more common. Raschel netting is a knitted netting and is made from polymeric material. Raschel netting includes a plurality of equally spaced longitudinal ribbons known as "franzes" and a plurality of intervening zigzag ribbons known as "schusses." [0003] Information regarding Raschel netting, including details on its production, materials, and other aspects, can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,439, U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,714 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,551. U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,439 to Freye et al. describes netting for wrapping a round bale of agricultural blade crops. The Freye netting eliminates prior measures for fastening of the wrapping which were previously necessary. U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,714 to Lieber et al. describes an elastic netting and a method for making the same, wherein linear low density polyethylene ribbons are knitted into a Raschel net. U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,551 to Mass et al. describes a knitted netting that includes longitudinal polyolefin ribbons and lateral polyolefm ribbons knitted with the longitudinal polyolefin ribbons to form knitted netting. The lateral polyolefm ribbons of the knitted netting have an actual schuss length more than 110% of a calculated schuss length for the knitted netting, which prevents transverse shrinkage of the netting. [0004] Nets for use in round baling machines are normally supplied in rolls of various diameters, typically up to 30 cm. The net is used to wrap crops with the required number of wraps around the circumference of the bale, typically two to four times. The number of bales that can be wrapped by one roll of net varies, and is determined by the length of net on the roll, the diameter of the wrapped bales, and the type of crop. Typically, about 12 linear meters of net are required to wrap one bale. Different balers and different conditions require different measurements of net, but generally, a standard roll of net will wrap 150-300 bales. [0005] One limitation with balers and net wrap is that only a limited amount of netting can be loaded into the designated compartment on the baler. As a result, the operator must reload the baler with a new roll of netting every time a roll is exhausted. Ideally, an operator should receive a warning well in advance, to avoid a situation where the remaining net will not be sufficient to wrap the crop being baled. In such a situation, the bale may leave the baler unwrapped or wrapped insufficiently, such that the bale may break apart and the crop be wasted. [0006] Some balers are equipped with an electronic metering device that measures the amount of net applied to the bale. The metering device includes an electronic sensor that is associated with a free turning roller, over which the net is passed enroute to the bale. The sensing device is calibrated to give an approximation of the amount of the net that passes over it, in order to calculate when to stop feeding the net into the baler, i.e., depending upon how much net is required per bale (number of net layers on the bale). Thus the device is used as an indicator of the amount of net applied, and it can also indicate the total amount of net that has been passed over the free-turing roller. However, since this free-turning roller is exposed to the weather, and is generally dirty and/or includes debris in its bearing that can impede its free-turning ability, the existing metering may not be very reliable. Thus, the bale operator is not automatically warned that the end of the roll is approaching. Instead, the bale operator can only estimate or speculate when the end of the roll is near. Therefore, a visual indicator is still necessary. [0007] In addition, the electronic metering is not very accurate since the length of net on each roll and the length of net used to wrap a single bale often vary. This is because the amount of material on a roll can deviate slightly from the stated manufacturer's specifications, and because the diameter of the bale itself can vary from bale to bale, requiring more or less netting than anticipated. When relying on an electronic metering device, the operator still must visually verify the quantity of net remaining for wrapping. [0008] In light of the above problems, the market has demanded that the operator be visually warned when the roll of net is nearly exhausted. Such a solution would allow the operator to replace the exhausted roll in time, and avoid the danger of wasting crop. Some solutions have been developed, all based on the principle of a variation in the color of the net towards the end of roll. [0009] However, the existing roll-end markers are useful only in daylight conditions. They cannot meet the requirements of baling during reduced lighting conditions, e.g., the evening or nighttime, as they are typically difficult to see in low light situations. Night baling is often done in areas with hot, dry weather, in order to ensure the presence of a minimum required percentage of humidity in the crop being baled. Also, in rainy areas, farmers may bale their crops around the clock in an attempt to bale all the available crop before expected showers that would render baling impossible. [0010] An additional problem encountered when baling at night, is that as the farmer works through the field, the bales made earlier become invisible and difficult to locate in order to bring them in to cover. [0011] Heretofore, a satisfactory solution to the above described problems has not been proposed. Accordingly, described below and in the appended claims is netting incorporating markers suitable for enhancing visibility of wrapped bales in low light situations, as well as for indicating an approaching roll end when used in balers or other wrapping devices. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] The present invention deals with the use of a reflective or luminescent strip with netting that makes the netting visible in low light or reduced light situations, and in certain embodiments extends the entire length of the netting, or marks the roll end, or both, in a manner visible in low light situations. The strip reflects a source of light even from a distance and even at a sharp angle, or alternatively emits light itself, depending on the specific embodiment. The reflective or luminescent strip may be incorporated into the net in addition to and optionally alongside colored roll-end markers that are easily visible in daylight. [0013] An object of the invention is to provide a netting material with improved visibility during low light or reduced light conditions. [0014] Another object of the present inventions is to provide a netting in which longitudinal and/or substantially lateral netting ribbons have been replaced and/or supplemented with reflective or luminescent strip. [0015] A still further object of the present invention is to provide a netting that includes two or more substantially longitudinal netting ribbons, arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the netting material, the longitudinal netting ribbons traversing a length of the netting material, one or more substantially transverse netting ribbons arranged substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the netting material, and a reflective or luminescent strip indicator arranged longitudinally on the netting material continuously from one end of the netting material to the other end or to a point located at a predetermined distance from that one end, the reflective indicator acting as a visual signal to user that an end of the netting material is approaching. [0016] A further object is to provide a netting in which at least one or more of the longitudinal ribbons or lateral ribbons has been replaced or supplemented with the reflective or luminescent strip marker. [0017] A still further object of the invention is to provide methods for providing a reflective netting and methods for wrapping a bale including supplying a baler with a netting material with reflective markings to provide low light or reduced light visibility, and wrapping the bale in the same netting using a baling machine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a first embodiment of the present invention; [0019] FIG. 2 illustrates in detail, one option for forming loops in the longitudinal franzes of Raschel netting; [0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a first embodiment of the present invention; Continue reading... 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