Abstract: In a tubular system for hydroponic culture,the improvement consisting in that the channel structure comprises a central core of a comparatively stiff plastics material and the sidewalls are made of a comparatively pliable plastics material, the upper edges of the sidewalls being capable of being at least partially juxtaposed. A further important improvement consists in that the surface of the bottom wall of the central core is lined with a fibrous material which offers a grasp for the seedling roots.

Abstract: A container of stabilized media with a growing plant therein comprising a fluid-tight container open at the upper end, a body of soil mix in the container with a growing plant having the roots thereof in the body of soil mix and having the stalk thereof extending outwardly from the upper surface, and a quantity of synthetic organic plastic resin distributed throughout the body of soil mix and around the roots in an acetone solution, the resin being reacted in situ to form an open-celled hydrophilic polymer binding the body of soil mix into a cohesive mass and to the adjacent inner surfaces of the container and binding the roots in the cohesive mass, the roots being disposed substantially uniformly throughout the adjacent portions of the cohesive mass and the stalk being intimately surrounded by the cohesive mass and extending through the upper surface thereof; there also is disclosed a container wherein the growing plant is disposed in a soil plug that is stabilized by an open-celled hydrophilic polymer; ther

Abstract: A louvered window lock which comprises an elongated bar having a plurality of spaced apart brackets thereon. Each bracket is to be in contact with the upper edge of a glass panel of a louvered window with at least one of the brackets having a forward overhanging lip to be in contact with the outside surface of its respective glass panel. The lower end of the bar is fixedly secured to the lower windowsill with the upper end of the bar to be located flush against the upper windowsill.

Abstract: A hinge and pivot arrangement for a movable member such as a window sash, and a co-operating frame, comprises two hinges arranged at opposite ends of one member of the frame to permit the movable member to be hinged thereabout when an operating handle which moves an operating rod and carries a locking member is moved to a second position from a first position in which the locking member engages a striker plate on another member of the frame, opposite to the said one frame member, to secure the movable member to the frame against opening, and in a third position of the operating handle, the locking member is disengaged from the striker plate and a bolt co-operating with means for releasably connecting one of said hinges to the movable member disconnect the hinge from the movable member and a pin carried by the operating rod is engaged in the channel of a stay pivoted at one end to said another frame member to permit the movable member to tilt within the limit imposed by the stay relative to a further member of

Abstract: Garage door assemblies having a frame for receiving a door mounted for over head swinging movement and a spring element as an energy storing member which compensates for at least a part of the weight of the door. For the transfer of the force of the spring element to the door, there is provided a lever system including a lever capable of pivoting between a first position in which the spring force has a low leverage and a second position in which the spring force has an increased leverage sufficient to provide a turning moment capable of swinging the door. The lever is retained in its first position by a releasable locking device.

Abstract: A boom gate comprises a first-class lever counterweighted at one end adjacent to which is the lever fulcrum. The fulcrum is displaceable lengthwise of the lever through a short distance sufficient to cross the center of gravity of the lever. This movement is controlled by a mechanism and the boom lifts automatically under its own weight when the center of gravity is passed. The advantage of such a system is that the effort required to raise the boom is very little and the use of high-torque equipment is unnecessary so that the boom gate can be cheaply made. Ways of displacing the fulcrum using pneumatic pressure, a handle or an electric motor are described. Also a double-sided boom gate is described.

Abstract: A driving and locking mechanism which employs pivoted links for coupling and transmitting motion between driving and driven members. During motion, the links are constrained to a particular mutual position for transmission of driving forces, but at one end of the range of movement, the constraint is removed and the links pivot so that one link comes into normal or over-normal contact with an abutment and so locks the driven member in position. Forces on the driven member will not move it (except in the case where the abutment is resilient to allow limited movement of the driven member in the "locked" position) and movement of the driven member can only be accomplished by movement of the driving member. Thus a separate locking or latching mechanism is not required. The mechanism is particularly applicable to sliding doors, such as those of railway vehicles, where the door needs to be locked or latched in the closed position against forces applied to the door to tend to open it.

Abstract: The invention concerns an entrance- or passage door, especially for shower stalls, with frame and door plate, whereby the frame designed from rustproof material for width adjustability on the upper- and bottom surfaces consists of telescoping profile portions adjustable telescopically and then lockable and at least one longitudinal side has holders for mounting a fixed door panel, and installation arrangements are provided on the upper and bottom surfaces of the frame for suitable pivots adjustable on a hinged door panel portion.

Abstract: A mobile floor cleaning and polishing machine comprising a wheel-supported chassis having thereon a turntable rotatable about a normally vertical axis. The turntable supports abrasive-ejecting mechanism including a generally rectangular nozzle from which granular, pelleted or pulverous abrasive may be discharged at high velocity, downwardly against the floor or other surface to be cleaned. By adjusting the angle of the rectangular nozzle with respect to the direction of advance of the machine, the width of the area treated in a single pass of the machine, may be controlled as desired. Spent abrasive is automatically recovered, cleaned and stored for re-use. Means are disclosed for oscillating the ejector means back and forth relatively to the chassis, in the direction of travel of the machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically controlling the operations of a machine tool such as a honing machine or the like, which apparatus sets in motion apparatus which controls and maintains the operating cycle of the machine automatically and without requiring further operator attention once the machine cycle is started and until the operation has been completed whereupon the machine operation is automatically terminated.

Abstract: A machine for finishing parts, having part-isolating means such as vertical partitions or dividers, defining one or more compartments, disposed at least partially within the finishing chamber, each compartment designed to accept a part or parts to be finished and to maintain parts isolated from other parts. The finishing chamber and the part-isolating means are movable with respect to each other. As a result, as the part moves along the finishing chamber during the course of the finishing process, the compartment defined by the part-isolating means, e.g., partitions, moves longitudinally with the part and isolates it from other parts.

Abstract: A woven heat stretched fabric of polyester fiber yarns is provided which offers an improved, dimensionally stable backing member for the manufacture of coated abrasive material. Coated abrasive material incorporating this backing member is characterized by suitably controlled elongation characteristics.

Abstract: The treatment of hard surfaces by impacts of fine hard granules continually bombarded against them, as for peening, brightening, texturizing, compacting, reforming and/or cleaning adhesions from plates and other articles of steel, aluminum, or hard plastics, is accomplished with extraordinary effectiveness, yet with minimal loss of the blasting material due to breakdown, by providing and utilizing for the treatments selectively sized fractions having grain sizes limited to the ranges of -100/+200 mesh, -100/+140 mesh, -140/+200 mesh and -200/+325 mesh grain sizes, of the rounded oblong grains, having a specific gravity of about 4.7, of a mass of refined zircon sand.

Abstract: A method of forming a pair of identical spherical mirrors having their centers of curvature separated in space. A blank having substantially parallel planar front and rear surfaces is provided. The front surface is scored to divide it into two surface segments. The entire front surface is then ground to a spherical shape. The blank is then bent along the scored region to separate in space the centers of curvatures of each of the surface segments.The foregoing abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the present invention. In order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be had to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings as well as to the claims.

Abstract: A foldable shed or enclosure consisting of a rear wall, a front wall including a door, centrally foldable side walls hinged at their front and rear edges to the side edges of the front and rear walls, a floor hinged to the bottom margin of the rear wall and a roof connected at rear side edge portions thereof to the upper side edge portions of the rear wall by link bars. A foldable strut bar is pivotally and swivelly connected to the top marginal portions of the front sections of the foldable side walls, the strut bar having a locking mechanism which locks its segments in horizontal positions when the side walls are unfolded to their planar positions. By raising the floor against the rear wall, unlocking the strut bar, folding the side walls inwardly and folding the roof downwardly, the shed can be folded to a compact flat condition with the roof and link bars acting to clamp the parts together.

Abstract: A structure which can be easily and readily converted between a solid vertical structure, functioning as a fence, and a structure enclosing a space and fuctioning as a shed, vehicle garage or the like whereby a rear wall engages a pair of parallel rails for effecting movement of the wall along the rails to any desired position. A roof is pivotably connected to the rear wall along the upper edge and a side wall and front wall are pivotably connected to the roof. The other side wall is slidably connected for permitting the enclosure to receive a vehicle or the like.

Abstract: A structure comprising a plurality of self-supporting frame parts. Each frame part comprises interconnected vertical and horizontal strips. The elements composing the strips are all bound together by pull ropes. The frame parts are aligned and bound together with tension wires so that the aligned vertical strips form bearing walls and the aligned horizontal strips form ceilings. The lowermost aligned horizontal strips may form the foundation floor of the structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to raised flooring panels which have excellent fire resistance. The panels of the invention comprise wooden panels whose undersides and side edges are covered with a metal sheet, and the panels being strengthened by downwardly projecting metal flanges. Such a panel can have better fire resisting properties than a metal panel which is liable to warp when there is a fire and which conducts heat to its upper surface so that floor coverings rapidly reach their flash point or than a wooden panel whose underside but not side edges are covered with a metal sheet.

Abstract: A demountable building structure comprises a plurality of arches pivoted at their lower ends for vertical swinging movement between raised and lowered positions, and a plurality of flexible transparent plastic sheets extending between and supported by the arches and rendering the space beneath the arches weathertight. The sheets have tension cables along at least one edge thereof, the cables being secured at their opposite ends adjacent the lower ends of the arches. Various embodiments of securement of the sheets to the arches are disclosed.

Abstract: Telescopic columns for making foundations including in reciprocal coordination and cooperation a motor group comprising at least two guide pulleys having a proportion to each other of one to two; inner and outer movable columns; axially immovable canoe guide means surrounding said columns; a chain secured to the two ends of the outer movable column and driven by the smaller of said pulleys; a chain secured to the lower part of the inner movable column and to the upper part of the axially immovable guide canoe means and driven by the larger pulley; a cable connecting the upper part of the inner movable column to the lower part of the axially immovable guide canoe means and a transmission sheave solidly fixed to the lower part of the outer movable column through which passes said cable.

Abstract: A double helical earthquake and fire escape structure for multiple story buildings formed mainly of a plurality of prefabricated section of precast concrete. Two identically formed upper sectional units and two identically formed lower units are arranged in facing relationship to each other for each floor of the building. Complementary portions of the assembled units combine to form a pair of oppositely disposed entrances on each floor leading to two separate helical slides arranged about a separately formed central circular smokestack. The units are provided with steel members adjacent their edges which are connected together and secured to a surrounding supporting steel framework. Two additional smokestacks formed within the corners of the assembled units may also be used as shoe drops.

Abstract: A construction system for buildings of the one-story or multi-story type which includes prefabricated elements comprising preformed panels for outside walls, floors, roofs and partitions together with metallic angle members for supporting floor and roof panels from the said wall panels, the system including pre-drilled holes in the panels and angle members for the reception of fastening devices, to the end that the erection of a building structure may be effected with the use of the foregoing preformed components in a simple, efficient and convenient manner and with a minimum of skilled labor.

Abstract: Thin, planar panels are joined at their edges by an arrangement which includes a hollow, slotted spacing member which seats within grooves in the opposite facing portions of the panel edges to separate the panel edges by a selected distance. Each panel is provided with a bottom connecting member mounted on the bottom of the panel and extending outwardly and upwardly and into the open bottom end of the spacing member. A top connecting member has opposite ends thereof secured to the tops of the panels so as to extend between the panels and over the top of the spacing member. Corners are formed by permanently attaching a pair of spacing members to the right angle edges of a corner post and then positioning the open bottom ends of the spacing members over the up turned ends of bottom connecting members extending from facing portions of a pair of panels to be joined to the corner post.

Abstract: A bisectional architectural structure, suitable for residential, commercial or megastructural use, divides interfloor space into separate functional zones, and systematically orients major floor levels according to the axii of two separate structural grid systems which bisect each other in every dimension. As an apartment building or the like, it may comprise a plurality of vertical modules arranged one on top of the other about a common vertical utility core. Each module includes four floors which are accessible from the utility core by a corkscrew-shaped walkway surrounding the utility core. The utility core is provided with at least two elevators, a first of which has a plurality of door openings for servicing each floor. One or more additional elevators in the core have one door per verticle module.The bisectional architectural structure is supported by a plurality of columns arranged at the intersecting points of a number of square grids in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A pressure tank construction for nuclear reactors includes a steel tank which is inserted into a concrete enclosure. A clearance is provided between the steel tank and concrete enclosure when the steel tank is unpressurized and at ambient temperature. Under operating conditions, the steel tank expands and bears against the concrete enclosure. A support and insulatory means is also provided between the steel tank and the concrete enclosure.

Abstract: A wall of building blocks, each block being in the form of a parallelepipedon having corrugated or sawtooth shaped upper and lower surfaces, the corrugations or teeth of one surface extending perpendicular to the corrugations or teeth of the other. Two opposite ends of the block may be provided with parallel ribs and slots in asymmetric relation so that when two such blocks are arranged end-to-end a slot in each block accommodates a rib of the other block. Some blocks may have one flat end and a slot in one of its sides to accommodate the rib of another block when the two blocks are arranged to form a corner. All the blocks have cavities extending completely through them. A plurality of such blocks can be arranged end-to-end and one above the other, with the corrugations or sawteeth of each block meshing with the corrugations or sawteeth of another, to form a wall, and mortar or concrete is then poured into all the aligned cavities of the blocks.

Abstract: A sleeving assembly or form for forming voids in masonry comprises concentric tubular telescoping members. The members are formed from distinct density resinous materials which permit the inner member or core to be readily separated from the outer core.

Abstract: A structural element includes a body having a square or rectangular cross-sectional configuration. The body, which has four sides and a pair of oppositely directed lateral or end faces, is provided with connecting means which enables a pair of structural elements to be connected with one another. The connecting means includes undercut grooves and a groove of this type is provided in each of the sides of the body and in one of the lateral faces thereof. The connecting means further includes an undercut lug which is provided at the other lateral face of the body. The lug and grooves are configurated such that the lug of one structural element can be slidably received in the grooves of another structural element thereby joining the elements. The connecting means also includes a pair of slots and one slot is provided in the vicinity of each lateral face of the body. The slots are open at the outer circumferential surface of the body and also at the respective lateral faces of the body.

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a tubular article or cover adapted to enclose a bar, spindle or baluster, the article or cover comprising longitudinal mating hollow sections provided with projections and recesses, the mating sections, in assembly, enclosing a bar, spindle or baluster, the projections being received in the recesses, the dimensions of the projections and recesses providing interengagement effective to retain the sections together, the sections having interior configurations engageable with a bar, spindle or baluster to resist movement of the tubular article or cover relative to the bar, spindle or baluster.

Abstract: An extruded rail comprises a body having a longitudinally extending flat side surface, an L-sectioned channel extending longitudinally through the rail and having one limb parallel to said side surface, and another limb extending from a junction with an end region of said one limb, at an angle to said side surface and to that side of said one limb remote from said side surface, various elements for connecting such rails are also illustrated.

Abstract: The method of providing a new finish innerface on an existing vertical interior wall of a building or room which consists of the steps of securing mounting members along the upper and lower edges of the wall innerface and mounting one or more facing panels of solid free standing, substantial rigid material including securing its upper and lower edges with respect to the mounting members so as to firmly hold the rigid panel snugly against the wall face.

Abstract: A method of aseptically packaging pre-sterilized foodstuffs is described. The method used `dry` radiation methods for sterilizing packaging material in an aseptic workspace either before or after construction of the container as such. The internal surfaces of the packaging material supplied to the workspace are coated with a radiation resistant lacquer. After sterilization the containers are filled with food such as milk or yoghurt and heat sealed.

Abstract: A bag filling and sealing mechanism having vertical tubes over which elongated sleeve-like bags are positioned to receive a stack of similar patty-type products, a composite plunger unit movable into the upper end of a bag containing a guantity of said products, vacuum mechanism operable to apply vacuum to the interior of said bag while said plunger unit is withdrawn from the open upper end of said bag, a plunger coaxial with said plunger unit positioned with the lower end against the top of the stack of products in said bag while vacuum is still applied to contract the upper end of the bag around said plunger, transfer mechanism to move the evacuated bag to clipping mechanism to apply clips to the contracted end of the bag after said plunger has been fully withdrawn, heat-shrinking mechanism extending around said clipped bag, while supported at the upper end, and movable vertically between opposite ends of said bag to shrink it tightly around the contents thereof, and additional transfer mechanism operable t

Abstract: An automatic L-sealer is arranged to pass product, including fragile items and loose piles of stacked paper, tiles or similar flat articles, through the machine without abrupt drops or changes in support level for the product to avoid breakage or upsetting of the pile. In the case of stacked loose flat articles an infeed conveyor deposits a package on an air table and an insertion arm progresses the package through the overwrap station to a sealing area where the L-seal completes and separates the overwrapped package. The sealing area includes a discharge conveyor pivoted at its discharge end and elevated at the end adjacent the air table to transfer the overwrapped package without an abrupt drop but is thereafter lowered during the sealing cycle to permit the seals to be made midway of the height of the package. The insertion arm retracts out of the path of package flow during its return stroke permitting infeeding of the next package to be initiated prior to the completion of the return stroke.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging a twin row of articles in a web of wrapping material by moving longitudinally and transversely spaced pairs of articles along two rows onto a moving web of wrapping material which is then folded over the articles to form two parallel tubes of articles with the longitudinal edge portions and a central portion of the web disposed between the tubes. The edge portions are longitudinally sealed to the central portion, the central portion may then be longitudinally severed, and if severed the tubes of articles are thereafter transversely sealed and severed between entubed articles to form article filled packages at a rate in excess of about 400 packaged articles per minute.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping goods in a sheet of a stretchable film material comprises a resiliently deformable pad above a wrapping station, a gripping device for holding fast edge portions of the sheet so that the sheet extends horizontally beneath the pad, a mechanism for upwardly stretching a central portion of the sheet to form a bubble until the top of the bubble reaches the pad, a mechanism for lifting goods to be wrapped into the bubble until the top of the goods is urged against the inner surface of the top of the bubble and two pairs of tucking plates disposed to form a rectangle around the lower part of the bubble and movable inwardly to tuck the marginal portions of the bubbled sheet against the bottom of the goods. The goods are not brought into frictional engagement with the sheet during the stretching whereby the sheet is stretched uniformly throughout the bubbled central portion thereof.

Abstract: A universal head for a drop type case packer, for enabling the packer to handle a range of article sizes and arrays. Lane dividers mounted from the head define parallel lanes, the number, spacing and effective length of which can be set for desired packing conditions. Flags for signaling filling of the lanes are mounted to an adjustable end plate, and can be centered laterally according to lane width and article shape. The flags intercept a light beam between a light emitter and sensor, the alignment of which is maintained regardless of changes in lane number or dimensions.A universal intermediate grid is also provided, having article guide flaps which can be positioned longitudinally to accommodate various arrays and sizes. The flaps are mounted diagonally with respect to transversely positionable bars, and cross bars are obviated.

Abstract: The apparatus for sealing the heads of containers comprises means for cutting out from a continuous plastic film a sealing sheet, means for folding the peripheral portion of the sealing sheet toward the outer peripheral surface of the container and means for applying hot air against the folded peripheral portion of the sheet to heat-shrink the same.

Abstract: A rotating turrent equipped with a plurality of spring-biased, reciprocating vacuum nozzles is employed in conjunction with a packaging machine which forms packages from strip stock. The reciprocating nozzles are rotated about a stationary cam which sequentially thrusts the nozzles out into engagement with the outer sidewall of a strip of U-shaped stock material which has been formed into a series of longitudinally-spaced pockets and which strip is positively secured to a filling station at its other sidewall by suction means. The spring-biased vacuum nozzle is then retracted in order to effect separation of the top edges of the sidewalls and permit filling of the pocket with a granular material.

Abstract: A machine for erecting, filling and closing rectangular cartons, comprises a magazine for storing a plurality of flat folded cartons in a stack which has a bottom discharge opening for individual removal of each carton. A support bar located below the discharge opening defines a first station to which each carton in succession is moved past deflection means which effect a preliminary erection of the carton by deflecting side walls upwardly from the bottom. The shifting member is movable backwardly and forwardly over the support bar and has means for maintaining the carton in an upright erected condition while moving it and while it is being filled.

Abstract: A wrapping machine for wrapping articles in stretchable material utilizes a lifting platform to lift articles into a sheet of the material. While holding the edges of the sheet, the wrapping operation takes place to stretch the sheet around the article and fold the edges under the article. During the wrapping operation, the article is held in place by arms gripping the sides of the article and, after wrapping, the article is discharged by movement of the article gripper. In addition the lifting platform is of special three part construction for maximum support to the article during wrapping, and the sheets are fed from a roll of material resting on a driven roller.

Abstract: A device for mowing and subsequently crushing crop comprises cutting members and a pair of relatively deflectable crushing rollers, at least one of which rollers is driven through a pivotable driving shaft, which passes through an ample opening in one side face and into the hollow roller.

Abstract: A hay harvesting machine comprises a movable support; a drum supported on the support for rotation about a horizontal axis transversal to the direction of motion of the machine; driving means for rotating the drum; conveying members for the cut mass provided on the periphery of said drum; and a plurality of rollers each supported on said chassis for freewheeling about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum, said rollers being arranged concentrically about the periphery of the drum and being closely spaced peripherally from each other and from the drum, whereby the cut mass is moved by said conveyor means upon rotation of the drum into the space between the rollers and the drum where it is broken up before being discharged to the ground.

Abstract: Vacuum device moves seeds and debris from an orchard floor to a troughed screen where flexible rotating fingers vibrate screen which separates the seeds from the debris and rotating rigid fingers move debris to a point of discharge. An auger may also be provided beneath the screen for moving separated seeds and fines to a cleaner for removing fine particles from the separated seeds, if desired.

Abstract: Mounting and control apparatus for a driven element such as a lawn mower blade mounted coaxially on an engine drive shaft, in an arrangement in which, under control of a deadman lever, the driven element is normally de-clutched from the shaft and stopped by a brake, as when the driving engine is idled, and for operation is released by the brake and clutched by a centrifugal clutch to the drive shaft, as when the engine is speeded up. The compact nested assembly includes a driven drum element having an outer cylindrical brake and clutch drum and an inner bearing ring which lies within the axial length of the drum and is mounted on the outer race of a ball bearing carried by a reduced-diameter bearing sleeve on a main hub fixed to the motor shaft. A clutch carrier plate on the hub carries centrifugal shoes engageable with the inside of the drum and partially nested between it and the bearing ring. The hub carries a flywheel when the engine is designed to depend on the mower blade for flywheel mass.

Abstract: For detaching and attaching a lawnmower cutter unit to a frame having an engine driven pulley without requiring belt adjustment, a telescopically adjustable rod has one part secured to the frame and the other part to the cutter. This rod permits relative axial movement limited by the belt tension in one direction and in the other direction by an eccentrically mounted latching member engaging the rod parts. Limited rotational movement of the rod parts is permitted. The belt may be removed by movement of the cutter unit when the detent is unlatched. An adjustable spacing member engages the latch.

Abstract: A harvester combine in which a frame is pivotally mounted on the chassis of a self-propelled vehicle so as to be at least partially suspended beyond the front of the chassis. A plurality of cutter mechanisms, one of which is movable with respect to the ground, are provided for cutting the crop to be harvested. A conveyor transports the cut harvested crop and extraneous material rearwardly to a cleaning chamber in which the cut harvested crop is separated from the extraneous material and is separately recovered.

Abstract: A device for the automatic adjustment of the position of the cutting platm of a grain-harvesting machine has a hydraulic cylinder attached both to a harvester body and to the cutting platform, the cylinder being supplied with oil under pressure from a pump by means of a differential distributor driven by feelers (sensors) mounted at the ends of the cutting platform.The differential distributor of the device, according to the invention is made up of a body provided with holes by means of which the distributor is connected to the pump to an oil tank and to the cylinder; inside the body, a casing and a plug are mounted. The casing is provided with holes which when the cutting platform is parallel with the soil register with holes in the plug which has a diametral channel, and with peripheral channels through which the oil passes when the cutting platform is not parallel to the soil.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tobacco harvesting implement comprising a frame assembly for mounting on a tractor, the frame assembly carrying a defoliation assembly constituted by contra-rotating pairs of rectangular flapper elements having plural slots along the lateral edges thereof and kicker to the rear of the flapper means operated in association with the defoliation assembly for insuring the deposit of tobacco leaves on a pair of longitudinally running conveyors. The kicker elements are greater in length than the defoliating flapper elements and include at least a pair in line with the defoliating flapper elements and a pair of 90.degree. relative thereto, and means are provided for adjusting the spacing between the pair of contra-rotating tobacco leaf defoliators.

Abstract: A roll forming machine picks up crop material and forms, twine wraps and discharges rolls or large round bales thereof as the machine is continuously moving across the field. The machine has front and rear roll forming chambers. Crop material is being continuously delivered either through the front chamber to the rear chamber of the machine wherein formation of a roll is being completed or to the front chamber of the machine wherein formation of a roll is being initiated as the completely formed roll located in the rear chamber is being twine wrapped and then discharged from the machine. Once the rear roll has been wrapped and discharged from the rear chamber and when the roll in the front chamber reaches a predetermined diameter size, the partially formed roll in the front chamber is then transferred to the rear chamber where formation thereof is continued.