Bale press

A method of operating a bale press comprising a substantially horizontal main press chamber, the main press chamber having a longitudinal axis and incorporating a main press in the form a moveable wall mounted for movement within the main press chamber between a retracted and an advanced position in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main press chamber, and a side chamber positioned along one side of the main press chamber and having a side press in the form of a moveable wall mounted for movement within the side chamber between a retracted and an advanced position and in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main press chamber so that material within the side chamber may be compressed into the main press chamber by movement of the side press between the retracted and advanced positions, and a feed hopper for material to be baled being positioned above the side chamber for delivering material into the side chamber when the side press is in its retracted position, the method comprising the steps of :

• a. Feeding material into the side chamber via the feed hopper with the side press in its retracted position;
• b. With the main press in its retracted position, advancing the side press to its advanced position to push and compress material from the side chamber into the main press chamber;
• c. With the side press in its advanced position, advancing the main press to its advanced position to form a bale in the main press chamber;
• and
• d. Once the main press moves past an opening between the side chamber and the main press chamber during movement between its retracted and advanced positions, thereby closing communication between the side chamber and the main press chamber, retracting the side press and refilling the side chamber via the feed hopper.