System, method, and apparatus for packaging bales of hay
US5433058A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 22, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65B2220/22
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system for packaging hay bales includes a press for compressing hay to small, compact bales and a wrapping machine which applies multiple sheets of a thin material to form a package of an effective strength that maintains the form and integrity of the hay bales, and prevents them from expanding back to their pre-compressed size. The wrapping machine applies the thin film to successive compressed hay bales such that the material extends therebetween to integrate multiple hay bales into a common bundle. A partial cutting machine positioned downstream of the wrapping machine cuts a portion of the material between adjacent hay bales to provide a detachable seam. A full cutting machine positioned downstream of the partial cutting machine completely cuts the material between selected pairs of adjacent wrapped hay bales to define sets of multiple wrapped hay bales. A method for packaging hay bales, and the resulting packaged set of multiple hay bales, are also described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.