Apparatus for processing metal material into bales

A baling machine comprising

• a frame defining a first baling chamber having an open top and an opening formed in one end, and a second baling chamber communicating with the first baling chamber and including an upper chamber portion extending horizontally beyond said opening of said first baling chamber and a lower chamber portion extending vertically below said upper chamber portion;
• a cover member pivotally mounted on said frame and movable between an open position permitting access into said first baling chamber through said open top and a closed position covering said open top and sealing said first baling chamber;
• a feed hopper member pivotally mounted adjacent to said first baling chamber and movable between a generally horizontal position adjacent to the ground, whereby the material to be baled may be loaded into said feed hopper member, and an upraised position off the ground located substantially over said open top, whereby the material carried by said feed hopper member slides from said feed hopper member into said first baling chamber when said cover member is in said open position;
• first compression ram means mounted adjacent to said first baling chamber and including a first baling head movable into said first baling chamber in a direction transverse said opening and underneath said cover member when said cover member is in said closed position for compressing the material in said first baling chamber and for forming the material into a block with one end section of said block aligned with said opening when said first baling head is located by said first compression ram means in its full compression position;
• feed ram means mounted adjacent to said first baling chamber and including a head member movable into said first baling chamber underneath said cover member when said cover member is in said closed position and in a direction at right angles to the direction of said baling head and toward said opening for moving said block end section into said second baling chamber through said opening;
• a shear head member having a bottom edge constructed as a cutting edge and operatively movable in said upper chamber portion of said second baling chamber between a raised position in which said cutting edge is located above the upper peripheral edge of said opening and an lowered position in which said cutting edge is located below the lower peripheral edge of said opening and said shear head member occupies said upper chamber portion and blocks said opening, and a cutting edge formed along the lower peripheral edge of said opening for cooperation with said cutting edge of said shear head member to sever said block end section from said block in response to the movement of said shear head member from said raised position to said lowered position;
• and
• second compression ram means mounted adjacent to said second baling chamber and including a second baling head movable into said lower chamber portion of said second baling chamber in a direction parallel to the movement of said first baling head underneath said shear head member when said shear head member is in said lowered position for compressing said severed block end section and for forming said severed block end section into a completed bale.