Method and apparatus for forming bales

Abstract

Baling apparatus including a baling chamber and a compression ram mounted for reciprocal movement therein and a bale strapping chamber positioned adjacent the baling chamber. The cycle is started by positioning a strapped bale in the strapping chamber between upper and lower platform members. Bale material such as newspapers and cardboard is introduced into the baling chamber and the compression ram is reciprocated to progressively form a bale against one end of the strapped bale in the strapping chamber. During such bale forming operation the newly formed bale is gradually pushed between the upper and lower platform members to thereby force the strapped bale out from between such platform members on to a take-away conveyor. A pair of pivotally mounted gate members are mounted on opposite sides of the baling chamber at the exit thereof. The take-away conveyor can be tilted to separate the adjacent ends of the unstrapped and strapped bales. After the strapped bale has been completely pushed from the strapping chamber and separated from the unstrapped bale, the gate members are pivoted to retract position to expose all four sides of the completed but unstrapped bale in the strapping chamber. A strapping mechanism is then actuated to progressively install a series of horizontal straps tightly around the bale. When the bale has been completely strapped, the side gates are pivoted back to their closed position and the operation described above is repeated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.