Bale packing assembly and method
AssigneeBorder Valley LLC
InventorsWalker Brown, Marius Lipan, Joshuah Tait
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fully automated system and methods for individually packaging double-compressed bales of hay, straw or the like is disclosed, together with unique apparatus for facilitating the same. Compressed bales are presented to a conveyor from which bales are isolated and maneuvered to a scale for inspection. Bags are positioned and opened using a bag handler system and presented to receive bales that pass inspection. The individually bagged bales are then deposited upside down along a sealing line here the bag bottom is automatically closed and sealed. The bale position is corrected and bales are assembled into logs and banded. The logs are then palletized and wrapped for shipping.
Claims20
An automated bale packing assembly comprising:
- a destacking elevator for separating a first bale from other bales;
- a bale bagging station comprising a plurality of holders positioned to hold open a first end of a container bag;
- a bale handler tool configured to lift the first bale and insert it into the first end of the container bag;
- a closing assembly configured to close the first end of the container bag;
- and
- a heat sealer to seal the first end of the container bag;
- wherein each of the destacking elevator, the bale bagging station, the bale handler tool, the closing assembly, and the heat sealer cooperate to seal the first bale into the container bag without human intervention.
An automated method for preparing bales of hay or the like for shipment comprising the steps of:
- retrieving a container bag and positioning it over a bagging platform, the container bag having an unsealed first end opposite a closed second end;
- opening the unsealed first end of the container bag and holding the unsealed first end open using a plurality holders;
- inserting a bale into the unsealed first end of the container bag using a bale handler tool;
- depositing the bale inside the container bag to create a filled container bag;
- sliding the filled container bag down a chute onto a sealing conveyor such that the closed second end is facing down and the unsealed first end is facing up;
- closing the unsealed first end of the filled container bag;
- and
- sealing the unsealed first end of the filled container bag with a heat sealer, thereby forming a sealed first end;
- wherein each of the foregoing steps are performed automatically without human intervention.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.