Bale wrapper apparatus

A mobile bale wrapper apparatus which comprises:

• a frame;
• coupling means attached to the frame and operative to couple the apparatus in laterally off-set manner to a propelling vehicle whereby the propelling vehicle can run alongside a line of bales lying on the ground while the apparatus moves along its laterally off-set path of travel in which (i) it can pick-up each bale in turn, (ii) wrap the bale with stretchable plastics film wrapping and (iii) discharge the wrapped bale from the apparatus;
• a bale-lifting cradle mounted on the frame and operative to receive and to lift a bale lying on the ground to a bale-wrapping position, said cradle comprising a pair of elongate lifting devices laterally spaced apart from each other with respect to the path of travel and engageable with opposed sides of the bale to lift the bale to the bale-wrapping position;
• means for rotating the bale about a substantially horizontal axis extending generally parallel to the path of travel when the bale has been lifted to the bale-wrapping position;
• means for holding a supply reel of stretchable plastics film for wrapping the bale;
• means for causing relative angular movement between the supply reel and the bale about at least one substantially vertical axis, while the bale is being rotated about said substantially horizontal axis, whereby film can be withdrawn from the reel to apply successive overlapping windings to the bale in order to wrap the latter;
• means operative to discharge the wrapped bale from the apparatus;
• and
• an arch structure which forms part of said frame and which faces in the direction of the intended path of travel of the apparatus, said arch structure being downwardly open and of such a size and shape as to allow the wrapped bale to be discharged rearwardly through the arch structure.

A bale wrapper apparatus for applying stretchable plastics film windings around a bale of rectangular cross section in order to wrap the bale, in which the apparatus comprises:

• a frame;
• a towbar attached to and projecting forwardly of the frame to enable the apparatus to be towed behind a propelling vehicle;
• an arch structure forming part of said frame and facing in the intended direction of travel, said structure being of sufficient size to allow a bale lying on the ground to pass through the arch when the apparatus is moved forwardly;
• a bale lifting device mounted on the frame and operative to lift a bale lying on the ground to a bale-wrapping position;
• means for rotating the bale about a substantially horizontal axis extending generally parallel to the direction of travel when the bale has been lifted to the bale wrapping position;
• a rotatable arm adapted to carry a supply reel of stretchable plastics film and mounted on the frame to rotate about a substantially vertical axis and thereby cause the reel to carry out a circular orbit around the bale while the latter is rotated about the substantially horizontal axis and thereby apply overlapping windings of film around the outer surface of the bale;
• in which the bale-lifting device comprises:
• a pair of lifting assemblies mounted on the frame at laterally spaced apart positions to allow the rectangular cross section bale to be received therebetween with two opposed sides of the bale extending substantially vertically;
• a pair of rollers rotatably mounted in each assembly and extending in a direction parallel to the direction of travel and defining a clear entry path for the bale to be received between the rollers of the two assemblies;
• pivotable mountings supporting each assembly and allowing each assembly to occupy an engaging position in which the rollers of each assembly are located one above the other and able to engage the adjacent side of the bale, and when drive is applied to the rollers to cause the bale to be lifted from the ground under frictional contact with the sides of the bale and then take-up a bale-wrapping position, and said assemblies also being able to take-up a bale supporting and driving position in which the rollers of each assembly are located side by side and supporting the underside of the bale and being operative when drive is applied to all of the rollers to cause the bale to rotate about said substantially horizontal axis extending parallel to the direction of travel and thereby form said bale rotating means;
• and,
• means for laterally separating the assemblies from the bale when wrapping has been completed, whereby the wrapped bale can fall under gravity onto the ground and then be discharged rearwardly relative to the apparatus when the latter is moved forwardly by the propelling vehicle.