Short platen compatible guide track insertion and removal apparatus and method

A method of guide track insertion and removal for a bale binder having a guide track removal apparatus and a stand comprising;

• rotationally mounting a guide track removal frame on the stand of said bale binder, such that said guide track may rotate between an inserted position and removed position;
• pivotably mounting a guide track mount on said guide track removal frame, said guide track mount having an insertion position and a retracted position;
• pivotably mounting a removable guide track section on said guide track mount, such that said guide track section may pivot between an insertion angle and a removed angle;
• and
• attaching a first end of a linkage to the stand and a second end of said linkage to said guide track mount such that said linkage rod enables the movement of the removable guide track section to and from said insertion angle at said insertion position through a path always at or above an insertion level, wherein said linkage comprises:
• a first tie rod having a first end and a second end, said first tie rod end being pivotably attached to the stand;
• a swing arm being pivotably attached to said guide track removal frame at an intermediate position, said swing arm having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having a pivotable attachment to said second end of said first tie rod;
• and
• a second tie rod having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second tie rod being pivotably attached to said second portion of said swing arm;
• said second end of said second tie rod being pivotably attached to said guide track mount such that said guide track mount pivots as said guide track removal frame leaves said engaged position.

A guide track removal and insertion apparatus for use with a bulk material bale binder, the bulk material bale binder having a stand adjacent a baling station and being installed to bind bales compressed by an up press having a moving lower platen, the lower platen having insertion slots for guide tracks, the guide track removal and insertion apparatus comprising:

• a guide track removal frame, said guide track removal frame being hingedly mounted on the stand such that said guide track removal frame may rotate to and from an engaged position and a removed position;
• a guide track mount, said guide track pivotably mounted on said guide track removal frame, said guide track mount having an insertion position and a retracted position;
• a guide track section attached to said guide track mount, said guide track section having an insertion portion;
• a first tie rod having a first end and a second end, said first tie rod end being pivotably attached to the stand;
• a swing arm being pivotably attached to said guide track removal frame, said swing arm having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having a pivotable attachment to said second end of said first tie rod;
• and
• a second tie rod having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second tie rod being pivotably attached to said second portion of said swing arm, said second end of said second tie rod being pivotably attached to said guide track mount such that said guide track mount pivots as said guide track removal frame leaves said engaged position.