Bale wrapping apparatus

A bale wrapping apparatus having a longitudinal axis and being configurable between a single bale wrapping configuration and an inline bale wrapping configuration, the bale wrapping apparatus comprising:

• a bale loading support structure;
• a bale unloading support structure positioned downstream of the bale loading support structure along the longitudinal axis;
• and
• a bale wrapping mechanism positioned in a wrapping section located between the bale loading support structure and the bale unloading support structure, the bale wrapping mechanism having a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and comprising:
• a frame extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis;
• a film-carrying device operatively mounted to the frame and movable therealong to be drivable around a bale positioned in the wrapping section;
• and
• a bale wrapping support assembly extending at least partially along the wrapping section and comprising:
• support rollers extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and spaced apart from one another, the support rollers being fully engageable with the bale positioned in the wrapping section to drive the bale in rotation along the rotation axis, when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured in the single bale wrapping configuration,
• a longitudinal bale support engageable with the bale positioned in the wrapping section to support the bale above the support rollers when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured in the inline bale wrapping configuration, the longitudinal bale support being movable in an extended configuration at least partially preventing engagement between the support rollers and the bale positioned in the wrapping section when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured in the inline bale wrapping configuration and in a retracted configuration allowing full engagement between the support rollers and the bale positioned in the wrapping section when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured in the single bale wrapping configuration,
• wherein the bale loading support structure comprises a bale biasing member movable substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to push a bale towards the wrapping section, and
• wherein the bale biasing member comprises a roller extending substantially transversally with respect to the longitudinal axis, the roller being rotatable and engageable with the bale to drive the bale in rotation towards the wrapping section when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured in the single bale wrapping configuration.

A bale wrapping apparatus having a longitudinal axis and being configurable between a single bale wrapping configuration and an inline bale wrapping configuration, the bale wrapping apparatus comprising:

• a chassis;
• a bale loading support structure mounted to the chassis for receiving unwrapped bales;
• a bale wrapping mechanism positioned in a wrapping section located downstream of the bale loading support structure along the longitudinal axis and adjacent thereto, the bale wrapping mechanism comprising:
• an annular frame extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis;
• a film-carrying device operatively mounted to the annular frame and movable therealong to be drivable around a bale positioned in the wrapping section;
• and
• a bale wrapping support assembly comprising:
• support rollers extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and spaced apart from one another therealong to drive the bale in rotation along a rotation axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured in the single bale wrapping configuration;
• and
• a longitudinal bale support configurable between an extended configuration where the longitudinal bale support extends along at least a portion of the wrapping section above the support rollers and a retracted configuration wherein the longitudinal bale support extends away from the wrapping section, the longitudinal bale support being positioned in the retracted configuration when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured in the single bale wrapping configuration and being configured in the extended configuration when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured in the inline bale wrapping configuration;
• and
• a bale unloading support structure mounted to the chassis downstream of the wrapping section along the longitudinal axis and adjacent thereto for receiving wrapped bales from the bale wrapping mechanism.