Method and apparatus for forming selected size and weight bales of hay and binding a plurality of bales into a selected size and weight unit
AssigneeA.C.X., Inc.
InventorsJohn M. Gombos, Moshe Leashno
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of unitizing a cargo of multiple substantially identical high density hay bales into a multiple non-palletized units capable of being handled by a forklift truck or the like and fitted into shipping containers and utility vehicle cargo spaces comprises the steps of selecting a plurality of substantially identical high density bales of hay, arranging the plurality of bales of hay into selected size stacks of at least one layer of multiple horizontal rows, and wrapping multiple layers of an elongated continuous sheet of pre-stretched polymeric film having a memory horizontally around the plurality of bales of hay.
Claims20
A hay bale recompacting system for recompacting previously compacted hay to a higher density predetermined weight bale comprising in combination:
- an elongated compression chamber having a generally rectangular cross-section defined by top, bottom side walls, and end walls;
- said compression chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, an inlet opening at said inlet end in one side of said chamber, and an outlet at said outlet end in the other side of said chamber;
- a horizontal ram at said inlet end of said chamber for compressing bales therein;
- a strapping chamber at said outlet disposed at right angle to said compression chamber for receiving compressed bales;
- a horizontal extruder ram for extruding bales from said compression chamber into and from said strapping chamber;
- strapping means associated with said strapping chamber for strapping bales in said strapping chamber;
- and
- feeding means for selectively feeding a predetermined weight charge of previously compacted hay into said compression chamber comprising first platform means for receiving and weighing a charge of hay to be introduced into said bale compression chamber, conveyor means for feeding previously compacted hay onto said first platform means, and means responsive to a predetermined weight of a charge on said first platform means for interrupting the feeding of said hay onto said first platform, second platform means positioned laterally adjacent said first platform means and laterally upstream of said inlet opening, means for moving said predetermined charge to said second platform means from said first platform means, and means for moving said charge from said second platform means into said compression chamber.
A hay bale compacting system for compacting hay to high density bales of a predetermined selected weight and size comprising in combination:
- an elongated compression chamber having a generally rectangular cross-section defined by top, bottom side walls, and end walls;
- said compression chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, an inlet opening at said inlet end in one side of said chamber, and an outlet at said outlet end in the other side of said chamber;
- a horizontal ram at said inlet end of said chamber for compressing bales therein;
- a strapping chamber at said outlet disposed at right angle to said compression chamber for receiving compressed bales;
- a horizontal ram for extruding bales from said compression chamber into and from said strapping chamber;
- strapping means associated with said strapping chamber for strapping bales in said strapping chamber;
- and
- feeding means for selectively feeding a predetermined weight charge of previously hay into said compression chamber comprising a first platform for receiving and weighing a charge of hay to be introduced into said bale compression chamber, a second platform positioned laterally adjacent said first platform and laterally upstream of said inlet opening, conveyor means for feeding hay onto said first platform, and a combination gate and pusher means pivotally mounted above said conveyor and normally disposed in a non-interrupting position above said conveyor and moveable to an interrupting position in response to a predetermined weight of a charge on said first platform for for said gate interrupting the feeding of said hay onto said first platform, and for said pusher means moving said predetermined charge from said first platform to said second platform, and means for moving said charge from said second platform means into said compression chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.