Adjustable density controller for a bagging machine

A density controller for use in cooperation with a packing machine that is adapted to move forwardly as it packs material into a container, the density controller comprising:

• a material-forming enclosure having an intake end configured to couple to a packing machine and configured to receive material to be packed, and an output end extending rearwardly away from the packing machine above a around surface and configured to receive a container;
• and
• at least one drag member operatively coupled to the material-forming enclosure configured to extend rearwardly from the coupling to the material-forming enclosure to resist forward movement of the packing machine;
• wherein the at least one drag member is at least substantially flat having an adjustable operative surface area and having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface is in contact with at least one of the container and the packed material;
• and wherein at least a portion the lower surface is in contact with a ground surface on which the packed material rests.

A method of packing material into a container, comprising:

• providing a packing machine adapted to move forwardly as material is packed into a container, the packing machine including a movable frame having a rearward end and a forward end, a material-forming enclosure having an intake end coupled to the rearward end of the movable frame which receives the material to be packed, and an output end extending rearwardly from the movable frame which receives the container, a material-filling apparatus coupled to the movable frame and configured to move the material into and through the material-forming enclosure and to pack the material into the container, and at least one substantially flat drag member operatively coupled to the packing machine and extending rearwardly with respect to said frame to resist forward movement of the packing machine, wherein the at least one drag member has an operative surface area and has an upper surface and a lower surface;
• operating said material-filling apparatus to move material through said material-forming enclosure into said container, wherein the upper surface of the at least one drag member is in contact with at least one of the container and the packed material and is facing substantially all of the packed material disposed alone the operative length thereof, and wherein the lower surface of the least one drag member contacts a ground surface on which the packed material rests;
• and
• controlling the density of the material packed into said container by varying the surface area of the at least one drag member beneath the packed material.

A packing machine for packing material into a container, comprising:

• a movable frame having a rearward end and a forward end;
• a material-forming enclosure having an intake end coupled to the rearward end of the movable frame and configured to receive the material to be packed and an output end extending rearwardly away from the movable frame and configured to receive the container;
• a material-filling apparatus coupled to the movable frame and configured to move the material to be packed rearwardly into the material-forming enclosure and to pack the material into the container, wherein the packing machine is adapted to move forwardly as the material is packed into the container;
• and
• drag means extending rearwardly from the frame for resisting forward movement of the packing machine, wherein the drag means is at least substantially flat having an adjustable operative surface area and having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface is in contact with at least one of the container and the packed material, and wherein the lower surface contacts a ground surface on which the packed material rests.

A packing machine for packing material into a container, comprising:

• a movable frame having a rearward end and a forward end;
• a material-forming enclosure having an intake end coupled to the rearward end of the movable frame and configured to receive the material to be packed and an output end extending rearwardly away from the movable frame and configured to receive the container;
• a material-filling apparatus coupled to the movable frame and configured to move the material to be packed rearwardly into the material-forming enclosure and to pack the material into the container, wherein the packing machine is adapted to move forwardly as the material is packed into the container;
• and
• drag means extending downwardly and rearwardly from the frame for resisting forward movement of the packing machine, wherein the drag means has an adjustable operative surface area is at least substantially flat and that has an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface is in frictional communication with at least one of the container and the packed material and is facing substantially all of the packed material disposed along the operative length thereof, and wherein the lower surface contacts a ground surface on which the packed material rests.

A bagging machine for bagging material into a bag having a fixed end and an open mouth, comprising:

• a movable frame having rearward and forward ends;
• a material forming enclosure having an intake end which receives the material to be bagged and an output end which receives the open mouth of the bag, said material forming enclosure having an upper end and a lower end;
• a material filling apparatus on said frame said material filling apparatus moving the material to be bagged rearwardly into said material forming enclosure and into the bag;
• and a flexible sheet member having one end operatively secured to said frame and an unattached free end extending rearwardly with respect to said frame beneath the bag between the filled bag and the ground to resist the movement of the bagging machine away from the fixed end of the bag.

A bagging machine for packing material into a container having a closed fixed end and an open end, comprising:

• a movable frame having rearward and forward ends;
• a material forming enclosure having an intake end which receives the material to be packed and an output end which receives the open mouth of the container;
• said material forming enclosure having an upper end and a lower end;
• a material packing apparatus on said frame;
• said material packing apparatus moving the material to be packed rearwardly into said material forming enclosure and into the container;
• and a flexible member having one end operatively secured to said frame and an unattached free end extending rearwardly with respect to said frame beneath the container between the packed container and the ground to resist the movement of the machine away from the fixed end of the container.