# US 11,439,071 B2 · Bagging assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,071 B2 - Document ID: US11439071B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/910,636 - Filed: 2020-06-24 - Published: 2020-11-26 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-03 - Assignees: H.W.J. Designs for Agribusiness, Inc. - Applicants: H.W.J. Designs for Agribusiness, Inc. - Inventors: Bradley P. Actis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439071B2 ## CPC - A01F 25/14: Containers specially adapted for storing - B65B 5/045: {in bags} - B65B 7/08: and folding - B65B 35/10: Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles - B65B 43/18: by suction-operated grippers - B65B 43/465: {for bags} - B65B 63/02: for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles - B65B 65/00: Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details - A01F: PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE (devices for topping or skinning onions or flower bulbs A23N15/08) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract A bagging assembly for bagging bales of fibrous material is disclosed. The bagging assembly incorporates a chute defining a channel for receiving a bale, which is pushed there between by a stuffing assembly. Aspects of the bagging assembly include raising a bale using a bale elevator to a higher elevation position so that the bale could be stuffed by the stuffing assembly and using a bag retrieving mechanism for retrieving a bag from a bag location for use in bagging the bale. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bagging assembly for bagging a pressed bale comprising: a frame having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal length measured therebetween, the longitudinal length of the frame being generally parallel with a floor, a slab, or a foundation; a chute having a receiving end, an outlet end, two spaced apart side sections defining a gap therebetween, and a longitudinal length aligned with the longitudinal length of the frame; said receiving end of the chute being sized and shaped to receive a pressed bale; a pusher plate with a generally planar end surface that is rigid and movable along the longitudinal length of the frame to push a pressed bale through the receiving end of the chute; and a first bale sampler and a second bale sampler spaced from one another for accommodating a pressed bale therebetween, each of the first bale sampler and the second bale sampler comprising movable edges located upstream of the chute and movable radially of the longitudinal length of the frame to remove a pre-cut bale sample from a side of the pressed bale before the pressed bale moves out of the chute. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bagging assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pressed bale supported on the frame, the pressed bale comprising a plurality of straps strapping the pressed bale such that a lengthwise axis of the pressed bale extends through centers of the plurality of straps. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bagging assembly of claim 2, wherein an opening at the receiving end of the chute is flared to receive the pressed bale. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The bagging assembly of claim 3, further comprising a closing mechanism having closing edges located downstream of the chute for folding at least two different sections of a bag material around the pressed bale. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bagging assembly of claim 1, further comprising rotatable elements downstream of the chute for moving a bagged bale away from the chute. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bagging assembly of claim 5, further comprising rotatable elements upstream of the chute for moving a bagged bale towards the chute. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bagging assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bale sampler comprises a base portion and an arcuate portion extending from the base portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bagging assembly of claim 7, wherein the base portion is pivotable about an axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The bagging assembly of claim 7, wherein the base portion is a first base portion and wherein the first bale sampler comprises a second base portion having an arcuate portion extending from the second base portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bagging assembly of claim 9, further comprising a sample bay and the arcuate portions of the first bale sampler and the second bale sampler are rotatable around a side of the sample bay. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bagging assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bale guide comprising a side surface configured to align a pressed bale before the pressed bale enters the chute. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The bagging assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bag retrieval assembly and a bag positioning assembly, said bag retrieval assembly comprising an arm for moving a bag material towards the chute and the bag positioning assembly comprising an arm for placing the bag material around the chute. ### Claim 13 A bagging assembly for bagging a pressed bale comprising: a frame having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal length between the first and second ends; a chute comprising a body comprising a length and side walls defining a chute cavity for receiving a pressed bale a bale stuffing assembly attached to the frame and movable along the longitudinal length of the frame, the bale stuffing assembly comprising a planar end surface sized and shaped to push a pressed bale into the chute for bagging; a bale sampling device comprising spaced apart edges located upstream of the chute movable radially of the longitudinal length of the frame towards a pressed bale having a side with a pre-cut sample protruding from the side to separate the pre-cut sample from the pressed bale; and a bale transfer assembly having a support surface for supporting a pressed bale and transferring the pressed bale from a first location to a second location towards the chute for bagging or away from the chute for removal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The bagging assembly of claim 13, further comprising a bale guide comprising a side surface configured to align a pressed bale before the pressed bale enters the chute. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The bagging assembly of claim 14, further comprising a pressed bale supported on the frame and contacting the bale guide, said pressed bale comprising a plurality of straps strapped around a lengthwise axis of the pressed bale. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The bagging assembly of claim 13, wherein the bale sampling device is a first bale sampling device and further comprising a second bale sampling device spaced from the first bale sampling device for accommodating a pressed bale therebetween. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The bagging assembly of claim 16, wherein the second bale sampling device comprises spaced apart edges that are movable radially of the longitudinal length of the frame towards a pressed bale having a second pre-cut sample protruding therefrom. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The bagging assembly of claim 13, further comprising rotatable elements downstream of the chute for moving a bagged bale away from the chute. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The bagging assembly of claim 18, further comprising rotatable elements upstream of the chute for moving a bagged bale towards the chute. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The bagging assembly of claim 13, further comprising a bag retrieval assembly and a bag positioning assembly, said bag retrieval assembly comprising an arm for moving a bag material towards the chute and the bag positioning assembly comprising an arm for placing the bag material around the chute.