Combined baler/bale wrapper

A combined baler/bale wrapper for forming and wrapping a cylindrical bale of material with wrapping material, the baler/bale wrapper comprising:

• a chassis,
• a fixed chamber baler mounted on the chassis for forming a bale, the baler having a bale forming chamber within which the bale is formed, the bale forming chamber being substantially cylindrical and of substantially fixed size defining a circumferential periphery and a main central geometrical axis, and
• a bale wrapping means mounted on the chassis for receiving the bale from the baler for wrapping thereof, wherein
• the baler comprises:
• a transfer means for transferring the bale from the baler to the bale wrapping means, the transfer means comprising a moveable lower portion of the baler, the moveable lower portion of the baler being pivotally mounted about a first pivot axis adjacent the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber and fixed in position relative to the chassis, and in a bale forming position the moveable lower portion of the baler extends circumferentially from the first pivot axis to define a lower segment of the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber and to co-operate with the baler to form the bale forming chamber, the moveable lower portion of the baler being pivotal about the first pivot axis from the bale forming position into the bale forming chamber in a generally upwardly direction for urging the bale in a generally upwardly outwardly direction from the bale forming chamber to the bale wrapping means, and
• a moveable upper portion of the baler pivotally mounted about a second pivot axis, the second pivot axis being fixed in position relative to the chassis and being located adjacent the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber spaced apart circumferentially from the first pivot axis, and in a bale forming position the moveable upper portion of the baler extends approximately 180° circumferentially from the second pivot axis to the moveable lower portion and terminates adjacent the first pivot axis to define an upper segment of the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber and to co-operate with the baler to form the bale forming chamber, the moveable upper portion of the baler being pivotal about the second pivot axis in a generally upwardly direction from the bale forming position to a discharge position defining with the moveable lower portion an open mouth to the bale forming chamber for facilitating transfer of the bale by the moveable lower portion from the bale forming chamber to the bale wrapping means.

A combined baler/bale wrapper for forming and wrapping a cylindrical bale of material with wrapping material, the baler/bale wrapper comprising:

• a chassis,
• a fixed chamber baler mounted on the chassis for forming a bale, the baler having a bale forming chamber within which the bale is formed, the bale forming chamber being substantially cylindrical and of substantially fixed size defining a circumferential periphery and a main central geometrical axis, and
• a bale wrapping means mounted on the chassis for receiving the bale from the baler for wrapping thereof, wherein
• the baler comprises:
• a transfer means for transferring the bale from the baler to the bale wrapping means, the transfer means comprising a moveable lower arcuate segment of the baler, the moveable lower arcuate segment of the baler being pivotally mounted about a first pivot axis adjacent the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber and fixed in position relative to the chassis, and in a bale forming position the moveable lower arcuate segment extends circumferentially from the first pivot axis to define a lower segment of the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber and to co-operate with the baler to form the bale forming chamber, the moveable lower arcuate segment of the baler being pivotal about the first pivot axis from the bale forming position into the bale forming chamber in a generally upwardly direction for urging the bale in a generally upwardly outwardly direction from the bale forming chamber to the bale wrapping means, and
• a moveable upper arcuate segment of the baler pivotally mounted about a second pivot axis, the second pivot axis being fixed in position relative to the chassis and being located adjacent the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber spaced apart circumferentially from the first pivot axis, and in a bale forming position the moveable upper arcuate segment of the baler extends approximately 180° circumferentially from the second pivot axis to the moveable lower arcuate segment and terminates adjacent the first pivot axis to define an upper segment of the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber and to co-operate with the baler to form the bale forming chamber, the moveable upper arcuate segment of the baler being pivotal about the second pivot axis in a generally upwardly direction from the bale forming position to a discharge position defining with the moveable lower arcuate segment an open mouth to the bale forming chamber for facilitating transfer of the bale by the moveable lower arcuate segment from the bale forming chamber to the bale wrapping means.

A combined baler/bale wrapper for forming and wrapping a cylindrical bale of material with wrapping material, the baler/bale wrapper comprising:

• a chassis,
• a fixed chamber baler mounted on the chassis for forming a bale, the baler having a bale forming chamber within which the bale is formed, the bale forming chamber being substantially cylindrical and of substantially fixed size defining a circumferential periphery and a main central geometrical axis, and
• a bale wrapping means mounted on the chassis for receiving the bale from the baler for wrapping thereof, wherein
• the baler comprises:
• a moveable lower segment,
• a moveable upper segment, and
• a stationary segment fixed in position relative to the chassis and located between the moveable lower segment and the moveable upper segment, the moveable lower segment and the moveable upper segment, when in respective bale forming positions, forming with the stationary segment the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber,
• the moveable lower segment being pivotal about a first pivot axis, the first pivot axis being fixed in position relative to the chassis and located adjacent the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber, and in the bale forming position the moveable lower segment extends from the first pivot axis towards the stationary segment to define a lower segment of the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber,
• the moveable upper segment being pivotal about a second pivot axis, the second pivot axis being located adjacent the stationary segment and adjacent the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber spaced apart circumferentially from the first pivot axis, and being fixed in position relative to the chassis, and in the bale forming position the moveable upper segment extends approximately 180° circumferentially from the second pivot axis to the moveable lower segment and terminates adjacent the first pivot axis to define an upper segment of the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber, and wherein
• the moveable lower segment forms a transfer means and is pivotal about the first pivot axis from the bale forming position into the bale forming chamber in a generally upwardly direction for urging the bale in a generally upwardly outwardly direction from the bale forming chamber to the bale wrapping means, and
• the moveable upper segment is pivotal about the second pivot axis in a generally upwardly direction from the bale forming position to a discharge position defining with the moveable lower segment an open mouth to the bale forming chamber for accommodating transfer of the bale by the moveable lower segment from the bale forming chamber to the bale wrapping means.

A combined baler/bale wrapper for forming and wrapping a cylindrical bale of material with wrapping material, the baler/bale wrapper comprising:

• a chassis,
• a baler mounted on the chassis for forming a bale, the baler having a bale forming chamber within which the bale is formed, the bale forming chamber being substantially cylindrical defining a circumferential periphery and a main central geometrical axis, and
• a bale wrapping means mounted on the chassis for receiving the bale from the baler for wrapping thereof, wherein
• the baler comprises:
• a moveable lower segment,
• a moveable upper segment, and
• a stationary segment fixed in position relative to the chassis and located between the moveable lower segment and the moveable upper segment, the moveable lower segment and the moveable upper segment when in respective bale forming positions forming with the stationary segment the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber,
• the moveable lower segment being pivotal about a first pivot axis, the first pivot axis being fixed in position relative to the chassis and located adjacent the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber, and in the bale forming position the moveable lower segment extends from the first pivot axis towards the stationary segment to define a lower segment of the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber,
• the moveable upper segment being pivotal about a second pivot axis, the second pivot axis being located adjacent the stationary segment and adjacent the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber spaced apart circumferentially from the first pivot axis, and being fixed in position relative to the chassis, and in the bale forming position the moveable upper segment extends approximately 180° circumferentially from the second pivot axis to the moveable lower segment and terminates adjacent the first pivot axis to define an upper segment of the circumferential periphery of the bale forming chamber, and wherein
• the moveable lower segment forms a transfer means and is pivotal about the first pivot axis from the bale forming position into the bale forming chamber in a generally upwardly direction for urging the bale in a generally upwardly outwardly direction from the bale forming chamber to the bale wrapping means, and
• the moveable upper segment is pivotal about the second pivot axis in a generally upwardly direction from the bale forming position to a discharge position defining with the moveable lower segment an open mouth to the bale forming chamber for accommodating transfer of the bale by the moveable lower segment from the bale forming chamber to the bale wrapping means.