Apparatus for inline and individual bale wrapping of hay bales

A bale wrapping apparatus for both inline and individual bale wrapping, the bale wrapping apparatus comprising:

• a rolling chassis configured to move along a ground surface during inline bale wrapping;
• a bale receiving support coupled to the chassis for supporting a bale above the ground surface;
• a bale wrapping mechanism coupled to the chassis rearward of the bale receiving support, the bale wrapping mechanism configured to carry a plastic film around the bale when the bale is positioned in a bale wrapping space of the bale wrapping mechanism;
• a pair of powered rollers configured to support the bale in the bale wrapping space and rotate the bale in the bale wrapping space during individual bale wrapping;
• an inclined support coupled to the chassis rearward of the bale wrapping mechanism to transport a wrapped bale from the bale wrapping space to a ground surface;
• and
• a powered ram coupled to the chassis for advancing the bale from the bale receiving support into the bale wrapping space;
• wherein the bale wrapping mechanism comprises at least one movable tine that is configured to extend into the bale wrapping space to support the bale in the bale wrapping space when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured for inline bale wrapping and is movable out of the bale wrapping space when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured for individual bale wrapping;
• wherein the pair of powered rollers comprises a first powered roller positioned forward of the bale wrapping mechanism and a second powered roller positioned rearward of the bale wrapping mechanism, the second powered roller being movable between a first position below a top surface of the inclined support and a second position extending upwardly beyond the top surface of the inclined support.

A bale wrapping apparatus for both inline and individual bale wrapping, the bale wrapping apparatus comprising:

• a rolling chassis configured to move along a ground surface during inline bale wrapping;
• a bale receiving support coupled to the chassis for supporting a bale above the ground surface;
• a bale wrapping mechanism coupled to the chassis rearward of the bale receiving support, the bale wrapping mechanism configured to carry a plastic film around the bale when the bale is positioned in a bale wrapping space of the bale wrapping mechanism;
• a pair of powered rollers configured to support the bale in the bale wrapping space and rotate the bale in the bale wrapping space during individual bale wrapping;
• an inclined support coupled to the chassis rearward of the bale wrapping mechanism to transport a wrapped bale from the bale wrapping space to a ground surface;
• and
• a powered ram coupled to the chassis for advancing the bale from the bale receiving support into the bale wrapping space;
• wherein the bale wrapping mechanism comprises at least one movable tine that is configured to extend into the bale wrapping space to support the bale in the bale wrapping space when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured for inline bale wrapping and is movable out of the bale wrapping space when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured for individual bale wrapping;
• wherein the pair of powered rollers comprises a first powered roller positioned forward of the bale wrapping mechanism and a second powered roller positioned rearward of the bale wrapping mechanism, the second powered roller being movable between a first position below a top surface of the inclined support and a second position extending upwardly beyond the top surface of the inclined support;
• and
• wherein the second powered roller is pivotally mounted to the chassis.

A bale wrapping apparatus for both inline and individual bale wrapping, the bale wrapping apparatus comprising:

• a rolling chassis configured to move along a ground surface during inline bale wrapping;
• a bale receiving support coupled to the chassis for supporting a bale above the ground surface;
• a bale wrapping mechanism coupled to the chassis rearward of the bale receiving support, the bale wrapping mechanism configured to carry a plastic film around the bale when the bale is positioned in a bale wrapping space of the bale wrapping mechanism;
• a pair of powered rollers configured to support the bale in the bale wrapping space and rotate the bale in the bale wrapping space during individual bale wrapping;
• an inclined support coupled to the chassis rearward of the bale wrapping mechanism to transport a wrapped bale from the bale wrapping space to a ground surface;
• and
• a powered ram coupled to the chassis for advancing the bale from the bale receiving support into the bale wrapping space;
• wherein the bale wrapping mechanism comprises at least one movable tine that is configured to extend into the bale wrapping space to support the bale in the bale wrapping space when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured for inline bale wrapping and is movable out of the bale wrapping space when the bale wrapping apparatus is configured for individual bale wrapping;
• and
• wherein the pair of powered rollers comprises a first powered roller positioned forward of the bale wrapping mechanism and a second powered roller positioned rearward of the bale wrapping mechanism, the first powered roller being movable between a first position below a top surface of the bale receiving support and a second position extending upwardly beyond the top surface of the bale receiving support, and the second powered roller being movable between a first position below a top surface of the inclined support and a second position extending upwardly beyond the top surface of the inclined support.