Apparatus for forming a bale of hay

Rotary baling apparatus comprising, in combination:

• a wheeled frame which is adapted to span a windrow of hay and be moved forwardly therealong;
• means defining a baling chamber on said frame which receives the windrow as the apparatus is moved therealong;
• a pair of rotatable disks at the sides of the baling chamber which confine the sides of a forming bale, the diameter of said disks being a major fraction of the diameter of a finished bale;
• means in said chamber for forming the windrow into a spiral bale as the apparatus is moved forwardly, said means including
• endless means which has a lower bale rolling run that may contact hay in the chamber and roll it forwardly, said endless means in said lower run having its sides supported on said disks, and
• means which permits at least a part of said lower run to move upwardly as a bale enlarges;
• means for driving said endless means so the lower run moves forwardly;
• and means for elevating the rearward portion of the chamber defining means to release a finished bale from the chamber,
• whereby a bale formed in said apparatus has a relatively loose core and a firmly packed exterior, and the sides of the bale are relatively smooth and even.