Abstract: A machine for sheathing bales of material such as hay, straw and the like. The machine has radially adjustable posts mounted on a polygon frame to stretch a resilient sheath for the free insertion of the bales. The polygon frame is configured with vertical sides that closely conform to the width dimension of the largest sheath in its stretched condition. The machine width is dictated by the frame width, i.e., the distance between the vertical sides and accordingly the machine has a width only as needed to accommodate the designated bale size, the restricted width being desirable for shipping and towing. The movable posts are strategically positioned and individual cylinders are provided for opening and closing the posts for optimum utilization of the power source for the posts.

Abstract: A crop bagging machine is provided with a movable chassis having adjustable brakes and a grain container having a rear tunnel defining a rear opening. A pliable plastic bag is fit to the tunnel with the bag bottom closing the opening. A bin on the chassis receives grain, e.g., from a truck and an auger transports the grain from the bin to an elevated position in the container that is above the height of the filled bag. The adjustable brakes are set to establish the level of grain pile in the container to cover the opening and thereby fill the bag. The brakes are independently controlled to provide limited steering. An additional embodiment of the invention shows downsizing for reduction in cost and in dimension for compatibility with conventional shipping containers while further providing adjustability in tunnel size to accommodate variation in bag diameter. A further additional embodiment provides for a modified conveyor system for the grain that utilizes air flow.

Abstract: A machine for sheathing bales of material, such as farm crop products, into an elongate elastic bag. The machine is a portable unit and has radially adjustable fin like paddles that define a bale receiving opening. An opened ended bag into which the bales are to be sheathed is placed in a folded or bunched up condition on the paddles. A portion of the bag is pulled off the paddles and tied to define a closed end and the paddles are moved radially outward to enlarge the bale receiving opening and thereby stretch the bag. The machine has a platform for receiving bales to be sheathed, and a bale pusher pushes the bale off the platform through the bale receiving opening into the bag. The bales as they exit the machine and are deposited on the ground are encased in the bag. The bag being elastic conforms closely to the shape of the bale. The pusher is extendable to facilitate pushing the last bale through the machine.

Abstract: Baled material (4) is fed into a resilient sheath (4) through an open end thereof with at least the open end portion held in a resiliently expanded condition so that after insertion of the material the sheath can contract around the material, so expelling excess air. The sheath is held by a holding device having members (25; 124) movable on cranks between positions in which the sheath can be readily located on the members in its unstressed condition and in which at least the open end of the sheath is enlarged by stretching.

Abstract: A machine for sheathing bales of material such as hay, straw and the like. The machine has radially adjustable posts mounted on a polygon frame to stretch a resilient sheath for the free insertion of the bales. The polygon frame is configured with vertical sides that closely conform to the width dimension of the largest sheath in its stretched condition. The machine width is dictated by the frame width, i.e., the distance between the vertical sides and accordingly the machine has a width only as needed to accommodate the designated bale size, the restricted width being desirable for shipping and towing. Tandem wheels are provided on each side of the machine with the wheels strategically mounted in relation to the polygon frame to resist the tilting forces on the machine resulting from the weight of the bales.

Abstract: A machine for sheathing bales of material such as hay, straw and the like The machine has radially adjustable fingers to stretch a resilient sheath for the free insertion of the bales. The machine has elevating and guide mechanism for elevating and guiding the bales through the machine and as the bales exit the machine they are encased in the sheath. The resilient sheath will shrink to its original size to thereby fit closely to the contour of the bale. The machine has a swing away tow bar for offsetting the machine to either the left or right of the towing unit permitting the towing unit to travel on either side of the bale row. The swing away tow bar may be adjusted to a center position for ease of towing the machine from one job site to another or down a roadway. The swing away tow bar eliminates much of the side draft experienced previously.

Abstract: A field crop collection vehicle provides improved crop collection and storage. The vehicle steers through mutually orthogonal directions of travel and includes forward and reverse propulsion for accurate, quick and convenient field positioning in preparation for a bagging operation. During bagging, the vehicle is propelled by compaction force developed by placement of crop material with the storage bag and is steerable to more controllably place the storage bag upon the ground.

Abstract: A rotor arrangement for a bagging machine includes a tooth configuration providing both uniform power requirements and well directed compaction forces for uniform distribution of compacted crop material within a storage bag. The rotor arrangement includes right lead and left lead tooth groups wherein members of each right lead and left lead tooth groups sequentially enter a slot of a stripping comb beginning with the right and left, respectively, member of the group. The right lead groups occupy the same length portion of the rotor arrangement as corresponding left lead groups, but are angularly offset whereby rightward compaction forces of one group are followed by leftward compaction forces of the other group. The right and left tooth groups may be organized according to double-helix mounting patterns upon a mounting member. The net compaction force is substantially straight away from the rotor arrangement and has substantially uniform power requirements for uniform compaction within the storage bag.

Abstract: A machine is provided with a movable chassis having adjustable brakes and a grain container having a rear tunnel defining a rear opening. A pliable plastic bag is fit to the tunnel with the bag bottom closing the opening. A bin on the chassis receives grain, e.g., from a truck and an auger transports the grain from the bin to an elevated position in the container that is above the height of the filled bag. The adjustable brakes are set to establish the level of grain pile in the container to cover the opening and thereby fill the bag. The brakes are independently controlled to provide limited steering.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding agricultural storage bags (20) includes a frame (22) having an annular pad (70) mounted about the lateral periphery thereof. Pivotally mounted within and extending outwardly from the frame above the annular pad (70) are a plurality of upper arms (110). A plurality of lower arms (126) are similarly mounted below the annular pad (70) and are positioned between the upper arms (110). Mounted within the frame (22) above the upper arms (110) is a platform (26) for supporting a quantity of flexible tubular material. Mounted to the frame above the platform (26) is an advancing mechanism (50). The upper and lower arms (110 and 126) are actuated alternately to form the length of flexible tubular material into a plurality of folds each extending parallel to the annular pad (70).

Abstract: An apparatus for folding agricultural storage bags (20) includes a frame (22) having an annular pad (70) mounted about the lateral periphery thereof. Pivotally mounted within and extending outwardly from the frame above the annular pad (70) are a plurality of upper arms (110). A plurality of lower arms (126) are similarly mounted below the annular pad (70) and are positioned between the upper arms (110). Mounted within the frame (22) above the upper arms (110) is a platform (26) for supporting a quantity of flexible tubular material. Mounted to the frame above the platform (26) is an advancing mechanism (50). The upper and lower arms (110 and 126) are actuated alternately to form the length of flexible tubular material into a plurality of folds each extending parallel to the annular pad (70).

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for manufacturing two-ply agricultural storage bags, two supplies (36, 38) of flexible tubular materials are positioned on opposite sides of feed wheels (26) mounted on a generally cylindrical frame structure (24). The inner material (36a) from the first supply (36) extends through the frame (24) and outwardly around the feed wheels (26). The outer material (38a) from the second supply (38) extends around the feedwheels (26) in surrounding engagement over the inner material (36a). Actuation of the feedwheels (26) effects simultaneous advancement of the materials (36a, 38a) around the frame (24) so that a bag can be collected at the lower end of the frame.

Abstract: A silage compression machine includes a primary shaft which rotates a plurality of teeth to force material through a passageway into a tunnel. The tunnel includes an arcuate wall extending upwardly and rearwardly from a main beam to a top wall. A hydraulic fluid reservoir is supported on the main beam and includes a rear wall extending adjacent to the arcuate wall of the tunnel. Spacers maintain a predetermined gap between the rear wall of the reservoir and the arcuate wall of the tunnel.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for manufacturing two-ply agricultural storage bags, two supplies (36, 38) of flexible tubular materials are positioned on opposite sides of feed wheels (26) mounted on a generally cylindrical frame structure (24). The inner material (36a) from the first supply (36) extends through the frame (24) and outwardly around the feed wheels (26). The outer material (38a) from the second supply (38) extends around the feedwheels (26) in surrounding engagement over the inner material (36a). Actuation of the feedwheels (26) effects simultaneous advancement of the materials (36a, 38a) around the frame (24) so that a bag can be collected at the lower end of the frame.

Abstract: In an agricultural bag loading apparatus (10), a primary shaft (52) has a plurality of teeth (46). Rotation of the primary shaft (52) causes the teeth (46) to force silage into an agricultural bag (12). Silage is fed toward the shaft (52) by the rotation of a feeder shaft (60) having a plurality of angle irons (62) mounted thereon. The brake force of a brake (110) is applied through a drum (20), a cable (18), and a backstop (16) to the end of the agricultural bag (12) to control the degree of silage compression within the bag.

Abstract: In an agricultural bag loading apparatus (10) having an output chamber tunnel (32), the improvement comprising a tunnel cleanout mechanism. The tunnel cleanout plate (82) is pivotally mounted on the output chamber tunnel (32) and is pivoted from a retracted position to an extended position by means of dual hydraulic cylinders (88). Compressed silage and material entrapped within the tunnel (32) is extracted by pivotal movement of the tunnel cleanout plate (82) from the retracted position, where the plate (82) does not interfere with the loading operation, to the extended position.

Abstract: An improved brake mechanism is disclosed for use on an agricultural bag loading apparatus (10) having a pair of cable drums (20, 21) secured to the loading apparatus for deploying cables (18, 19) attached to the filled end of an agricultural bag (12). The brake mechanism comprises a disc brake rotor (23) rigidly secured to one end of a brake drum (20), a plurality of disc brake calipers (25) secured to the loading apparatus (10) and a hydraulic fluid pressurizer (29). Braking action between the rotor (23) and the calipers (25) permits control of the compression of the material packed within the agricultural bag (12).

Abstract: An improved brake mechanism is disclosed for use on an agricultural bag loading apparatus (10) having a pair of cable drums (20, 21) secured to the loading apparatus for deploying cables (18, 19) attached to the filled end of an agricultural bag (12). The brake mechanism comprises a disc brake rotor (23) rigidly secured to one end of a brake drum (20), a plurality of disc brake calipers (25) secured to the loading apparatus (10) and a hydraulic fluid pressurizer (29). Braking action between the rotor (23) and the calipers (25) permits control of the compression of the material packed within the agricultural bag (12).