Bale wrapping apparatus
AssigneeFront Machinery Limited
InventorJohn Johnston
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bale wrapping apparatus includes a bale engager to engage an end of a bale and a bale engager mover to move the bale engager between a bale engaging position in which the bale engager faces in a first direction and a bale releasing position in which the bale engager faces in a second direction such that a bale can be engaged and disengaged by the bale engager while the bale engaging apparatus is propelled in one direction.
Claims29
A bale wrapping apparatus to wrap a bale that has a first end and a second end disposed opposite said first end, said bale wrapping apparatus comprising:
- a bale engager comprising at least one elongate bale engaging member to be inserted in said first end of said bale;
- and
- a bale engager mover to move the bale engager,
- wherein said bale engager mover is operable to move said bale engager between a bale engaging position in which said bale engager faces in a first direction to permit said at least one elongate bale engaging member to be inserted in said first end and a bale releasing position in which said bale engager faces in a second direction such that a said bale can be engaged and disengaged by said bale engager while said bale engaging apparatus is propelled in one direction, and
- wherein said second end of said bale is disposed forwardly of said first end when said bale engager faces in said first direction and said at least one elongate bale en a in member is inserted into said first end and rearwardly of said first end when said bale engager is in said bale releasing position.
A method of wrapping a bale having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end disposed opposite said first end, said method comprising:
- providing a bale wrapping apparatus having a bale engager comprising at least one elongate bale engaging member to be inserted in said first end of said bale and a bale engager mover that is operable to move said bale engager;
- disposing said bale engager in a bale engaging position in which it faces in a first direction;
- propelling said bale engager in said first direction to insert said at least one elongate bale engaging member in said first end of said bale;
- moving said bale engager to a bale releasing position in which said bale engager faces in a second direction and said bale has been moved from a position in which said second end is disposed forwardly of said first end to a position in which said second end is disposed rearwardly of said first end;
- and
- propelling said bale engager in said first direction to release said bale from said bale engager.
A bale wrapping apparatus to wrap a bale having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending between said first and second ends, said bale wrapping apparatus comprising:
- a bale engager comprising a plurality of elongate engaging members to be inserted into said first end of said bale with said bale orientated such that said longitudinal axis is disposed generally parallel to a ground surface on which said bale rests;
- a bale engager mover operable to move said bale engager to a bale wrapping position at which said longitudinal axis is disposed generally upright;
- and
- a rotary actuator operable to cause rotation of said bale carried by said bale engager when in said bale wrapping position about said longitudinal axis,
- wherein said bale engager mover is operable to move said bale engager through substantially 90° to move said bale engager from said bale engaging position to said bale wrapping position and through substantially a further 90° from said bale wrapping position to a bale releasing position.
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A method of wrapping a bale having a first end, a second ends disposed opposite said first end and a longitudinal axis extending between said first and second ends, said method comprising:
- providing a bale wrapping apparatus having a bale engager and a bale engager mover operable to move said bale engager;
- engaging an elongate bale engaging member of said bale engager in said first end of said bale by propelling said bale engager in a first direction to insert said elongate bale engaging member into said end;
- operating said bale engager mover to move said bale engager through substantially 90° to move said bale to a position in which said longitudinal axis is disposed upright and applying a wrapping material to said bale while rotating said bale engager to rotate said bale about said longitudinal axis;
- and
- operating said bale engager mover to move said bale engager through substantially a further 90° to a bale releasing position.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.