Twine wrapping mechanism for a roll forming machine

A roll forming machine for crop materials comprising:

• a. a mobile frame;
• b. means on said frame defining a roll forming region;
• c. a dispensing mechanism for feeding wrapping material in a predetermined path across said roll forming region, said dispensing mechanism including an elongated dispensing tube having a first end and a second end;
• d. a support means rigidly fixed to said frame;
• e. mounting means selectively movably connecting said dispensing mechanism to said support means, said mounting means including a gear segmented plate rotatably mounted on said support means;
• f. said first end of said elongated dispensing tube fixed to said gear segmented plate such that upon rotation of said segmented plate said second end of said elongated tube travels along a predetermined path to dispense wrapping material across said roll forming region;
• and
• g. said gear segmented plate being rotated upon said support means by the force transmitted through a manually actuated handle having a gear segment that drivably mates with said gear segmented plate or through a power motor component that is operably coupled to said plate.

An improved twine dispensing mechanism for a roll forming machine comprising:

• a. an upright support member mounted on the frame of said machine;
• b. an elongated dispensing tube for dispensing a wrapping material;
• c. a shaft rotatively mounted on said support member;
• and
• d. a plate having an outer peripheral gear segment, said elongated tube having one end mounted on said plate, said plate being mounted on one end of said shaft and adapted to be connected to a manually actuatable handle having a drive gear supported on one end thereof which upon manual actuation of said handle driveably mates with the outer peripheral gear segment of said plate causing the same to rotate with said shaft about said support member whereby said free end of said elongated dispensing tube is moved in a predetermined path across said roll forming machine;
• e. said other end of said shaft being adapted to be connected to a power motor means such as a hydraulic cylinder whereby upon actuation of said hydraulic cylinder said shaft is rotated causing said elongated dispensing tube to pivot along a predetermined path across said roll forming machine.