Device for deploying tubular sheet material, and methods of utilization thereof

A device for bagging a plurality of bales of forage, comprising:

• (a) a rigid framework, and
• (b) ground-engaging means connected to said framework to mount the same for travel along the ground,
• (c) said framework being arch-shaped transversely of its direction of travel and having a forward portion for receiving a compressed assembly of tubular sheet material and a further portion located rearwardly of said forward portion for deploying said material in the form of an extended tube upon forward travel of the device, said framework defining a loading area in which a lower portion of the tube rests on the ground, said loading area being for receiving a plurality of bales in a side-by-side, stacked triangular array,
• (d) said further portion having the shape of a downwardly open arch forming a rearwardly extending overhang, said overhang supporting upper portions of the extended tube above the loading area and extending rearwardly at least as far as a most rearward edge of a said bale in the loading area whereby to retain said upper portions of the tube out of contact with each of said plurality of bales as they are inserted into the loading area.

A method of bagging a plurality of bales of forage using a device comprising, a rigid framework, and ground-engaging means connected to said framework to mount the same for travel along the ground, said framework being arch-shaped transversely of its direction of travel and having a forward portion for receiving a compressed assembly of tubular sheet material and a further portion located rearwardly of said forward portion and having the shape of a downwardly open arch forming a rearwardly extending overhang for deploying said material in the form of an extended tube upon forward travel of the device, said overhang supporting upper portions of such tube above a loading area within the tube, at which loading area the lower portion of the tube rests on the ground, said method comprising

• (a) loading the device with said compressed assembly of tubular sheet material,
• (b) drawing an end of said sheet material rearwardly off the device and closing and anchoring said end, and
• (c) moving the device forward away from the anchored end to deploy the material as an extended tube while inserting said bales from the front of the device through the framework and into the extended tube in said loading area, said bales being arranged in such loading area in a triangular array with two bales side-by-side on the lower portion of the tube and a third bale resting on and between said two bales with said upper portions of the tube held out of contact with said third bale by said overhang.