Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]

US20060168913A1 - Agricultural bagger with dual rotor and/or variable-taper tunnel - Google Patents

Agricultural bagger with dual rotor and/or variable-taper tunnel Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20060168913A1
US20060168913A1 US11/345,059 US34505906A US2006168913A1 US 20060168913 A1 US20060168913 A1 US 20060168913A1 US 34505906 A US34505906 A US 34505906A US 2006168913 A1 US2006168913 A1 US 2006168913A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
feed
tunnel
hopper
wall
bag
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/345,059
Inventor
Paul Wingert
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US11/345,059 priority Critical patent/US20060168913A1/en
Publication of US20060168913A1 publication Critical patent/US20060168913A1/en
Priority to US12/141,044 priority patent/US8065859B1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01FPROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
    • A01F25/00Storing agricultural or horticultural produce; Hanging-up harvested fruit
    • A01F25/16Arrangements in forage silos
    • A01F25/18Loading or distributing arrangements
    • A01F25/183Loading arrangements
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B30PRESSES
    • B30BPRESSES IN GENERAL
    • B30B9/00Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
    • B30B9/30Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for baling; Compression boxes therefor
    • B30B9/3003Details
    • B30B9/301Feed means
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01FPROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
    • A01F25/00Storing agricultural or horticultural produce; Hanging-up harvested fruit
    • A01F25/14Containers specially adapted for storing
    • A01F2025/145Bagging machines for loose materials making some kind of "sausage" on the field

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the field of agricultural baggers, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for more efficiently compacting feed into the tunnel using two or more rotors, and providing a variable taper to the extrusion tunnel.
  • silage storage bags are commonly used as an alternative to permanent feed storage structures such as barns and silos. From an economic standpoint, an expandable plastic storage bag is preferable to a more elaborate, permanent structure. Further, the expandable bags are more easily loaded with feed than permanent structure and the silage stored therein is readily accessible for use, for example using a small tractor with a front bucket to unload the feed.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,552 (which patent is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference), to Paul R. Wingert, the present applicant.
  • a tractor-powered bag-loading apparatus is disclosed in association with an expandable bag.
  • a backstop is located at the filled end of the bag and has attached thereto laterally spaced cables, which extend forward to rotatable cable drums on the bagger machine.
  • the drums are yieldably braked and, under a predetermined force applied to the cables, release the cable to allow movement of the bag-loading apparatus and tractor away from the filled end of the bag as it is filled.
  • the bag is filled by a toothed rotor, which propels silage through a tapered tunnel and into the bag inlet.
  • the tapered tunnel described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,552 provides a smooth, more evenly filled bag.
  • the bag for use with such bagging machines is manufactured and delivered in a pleated shape, i.e., folded into an accordion-bellows-type shape.
  • a bag having a nominal ten-foot-diameter (approximately 3 meters diameter, or 9.6 meters circumference) and a 300-foot length (approximately 90 meters length) will be folded to a 10-foot-diameter (about 3 meters) ring about one foot (about 0.3 meter) long and 1 foot (about 0.3 meter) thick.
  • this bag-ring is pre-loaded around the tunnel, and the pleats are unfolded one at a time as the bag is deployed and filled with feedstock. Once any portion of the bag fills with feed, that portion becomes very heavy, and does not move.
  • the bagger machine itself is propelled along the ground in front of the bag being filled.
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/721,268 filed on Nov. 22, 2000, entitled “Improved Agricultural Feed Bagger and Method” by Paul R. Wingert, the inventor of the present application.
  • U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/721,268 is incorporated in its entirety by reference.
  • a large conveyer-belt bed as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/721,268, is provided for loading voluminous quantities of agricultural material into its hopper.
  • one way to help prevent bridging is to churn or move the feed in hopper, for example using an arm that moves in a curvical motion, since it is connected to arm that moves in a circular motion driven by motor (e.g., a hydraulic motor, in some embodiments), and arm is also connected to arm that moves in a wiper-blade motion.
  • motor e.g., a hydraulic motor, in some embodiments
  • the curvical motion of arm helps prevent feed from bridging against sloping wall by moving feed towards rotor.
  • Sloping shield wall provided additional safety by enclosing much of the moving part of the arm, and much or all of arms and.
  • bridging could occur against the stationary sloping shield wall, although this was further from rotor and at a portion of chute that was larger in cross sectional area, so the bridging problem was reduced.
  • Conventional baggers also suffer from an inability to adequately compact feed in the upper and lower portions of the tunnel, thus leaving the feed in the lower bag highly compacted and the feed in the upper bag only moderately compacted.
  • Conventional baggers also suffer from inability to efficiently force large amounts of feed into the bag while providing a variable control on the tunnel opening to control the amount of feed compaction.
  • the invention provides an agricultural bagger apparatus for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag.
  • the apparatus includes a primary compression mechanism and an input hopper that receives agricultural feed.
  • the hopper has a sloping wall and a lower-end exit chute located to transfer the agricultural feed into the primary compression mechanism.
  • the apparatus also includes a moving wall as at least part of the sloping inside wall of the input hopper to move the agricultural feed that was adjacent to the sloping wall toward the primary compression mechanism in order to prevent feed bridging in the hopper before the primary compression mechanism.
  • One aspect of the invention includes an adjustable tunnel with the ability to vary the area of the feed-output extrusion end of the tunnel, and thus control the amount of compaction of the feed (i.e., by changing the amount of backpressure exerted by the walls of the tunnel.
  • Another aspect of the invention is a method that improves the flow of agricultural feed in an agricultural feed stock bagging machine having a tunnel and a primary compression mechanism fed by a hopper with a sloping wall.
  • the feed is deposited into a hopper and pressure within the feed along the sloping wall is displaced and feed is swept along by the moving wall to reduce the tendency for the feed to bridge in the hopper in order that the feed continuously flows toward the primary compression mechanism.
  • Yet another aspect of the invention provides a method for extruding into a feedbag connected to a feed tunnel.
  • the method includes deploying the bag from a position substantially at the back edge of the primary compression such that the lower portion of the feed drops substantially to ground level within the bag as soon as it leaves the primary compression stage.
  • the exit surface between the exit end of the tunnel under the hopper and the ground is substantially vertical. This further compresses the feed in the lower bag, since it does not need to be pushed across a sloping lower exit surface after leaving the primary compression stage.
  • Some embodiment also include compacting feed from the upper portion of the tunnel toward the upper central portion of the tunnel, and displacing pressure from the mid-level portion of the tunnel just above the primary compression stage and into the upper portion of the tunnel.
  • the compacting feed from the upper portion of the tunnel further includes reciprocating a piston connected to a hinged apparatus above the primary compression mechanism to displace pressure inside the feed tunnel above the primary compression mechanism. This increases the compaction on the top portion of the tunnel without unduly juicing the feed.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a bagging machine 100 .
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of a bagging machine 200 , according to an embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of a bagging machine 300 , according to an embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of a bagging machine 400 , according to another embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a top view of a bagging machine 500 , according to still another embodiment of this invention, with the sidewalls in the wide position.
  • FIG. 6 is a top view of a bagging machine 500 , showing the sidewalls in a narrowed position.
  • FIG. 7 is a bag-end view of a bagging machine 500 .
  • FIG. 8 is a top view of a bagging machine 800 , according to still another embodiment of this invention, with the fold-down hopper 860 in the upright position.
  • FIG. 9 is a top view of a bagging machine 800 , according to still another embodiment of this invention, with the fold-down hopper 860 in the folded-down position.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a bagger 100 (also called feed-bagging machine 100 ).
  • the feed bagger 100 is not pulled, rather, the pressure from the feed 98 filling the bag 99 pushes the bagger 100 and the tractor (not shown) that is powering bagger 100 ahead at a rate equal to the filling rate of bag 99 .
  • a steel cable between bagger 100 and a backstop (not shown, but which is to the right of the apparatus and bag shown in FIG. 1 ) is yieldably held by a disk-brake mechanism. This ensures the feed is compacted before the bagger is allowed to advance.
  • the primary compression mechanism includes a rotor 130 having multiple teeth 131 , and powered by a power-take-off (PTO) shaft 133 from the tractor that powers bagger 100 , forces feed 98 up and back into a tunnel 150 .
  • tunnel 150 is a long tapered tunnel such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,552 by the inventor of the present invention, hereby incorporated by its entirety by reference.
  • tunnel 150 is a variable-orifice tunnel as described in FIGS. 4 and 5 A below.
  • Movable upper bag bracket 125 is used to lift the folded bag 99 into place on the outside of tunnel 150 , and supports/holds the folded bag 99 at the front end of the top of tunnel 150 as it unfolds from the inside of the folded bag.
  • Lower bag tray 120 is tilted up at its trailing edge 129 , supported at its front edge by brackets 121 connected to one of a plurality of rungs 122 (for adjustability), and yieldably supported at its back edge by spring-and-chain 123 (which can have its force adjusted by setting various chain links of the chain onto a fixed hook at the top).
  • the input feed 98 is dropped into hopper 160 .
  • Such a bagger 100 has a tunnel 150 that provides some support for bag 99 as it unfolds, but which has side walls along which the bag unfolds that are ovoid or tapered inward at the back such that the bag is stretched slightly and then released as it passes over tunnel 150 that moves in the direction of travel of the bagger 100 .
  • the bag 99 once deployed and filled with feed does not move relative to ground 90 .
  • the bagger tunnel 150 provides some backpressure to the feed, which thus extrudes into the bag rearward at a substantially constant pressure.
  • the agricultural feed 98 which is input to the hopper 160 , falls toward the primary compression mechanism 130 .
  • the primary compression mechanism 130 includes a series or a plurality of teeth 131 .
  • the teeth force the feed in the upper portion of the hopper 160 to an outlet or exit end 198 .
  • As the bagger mechanism 100 also includes a comb 132 , tines of which are positioned between the teeth 131 of the rotor 130 .
  • the comb 132 removes material or feed 98 from between various teeth 131 on the rotor 130 , and compacts the feed into the tunnel 150 .
  • the comb 132 prevents the clogging of the rotor and specifically the jamming of agricultural material between the teeth 131 of the rotor 130 .
  • the rotor 130 turns in a counterclockwise direction (in this FIG. 1 ) and outputs feed at an output end 198 .
  • the output feed 98 as depicted by a variety of arrows near the output end 198 of the rotor mechanism forces the feed into the tunnel 150 .
  • At the bottom of the output end 198 is an exit surface 175 .
  • the exit surface 175 slopes from the output end 198 of the rotor to the tunnel 150 .
  • the exit surface 175 fits inside the tunnel 150 .
  • tapered hopper 160 has a sloping front wall 139 , which can cause bridging of the feed in hopper 160 , leaving a small gap 137 between the bottom of the feed and the compression rotor 130 .
  • the bagger 100 also includes an upper bag compression mechanism 180 .
  • compression mechanism 180 is a toothed cylinder with teeth 181 and comb 182 , similar to cylinder 130 and comb 132 .
  • a reciprocating piston such as described in FIG. 1 of patent application Ser. No. 10/818,239 filed May 16, 2004, which application is incorporated herein by reference. It should be noted that the term “piston” is defined as any mechanism that reciprocates between a compressed position and a withdrawn position.
  • Such a piston is typically plate steel fabricated to a solid external shape that can be extended into a body of feed to compact the feed and then withdrawn to a position that allows additional feed into the volume that the wedge used to occupy.
  • wedge piston is defined as any hinged mechanism that reciprocates between a compressed position and a withdrawn position.
  • Such a wedge piston is typically plate steel fabricated to a solid external shape that can be extended into a body of feed to compact the feed and then withdrawn to a position that allows additional feed into the volume that the wedge used to occupy.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of a bagging machine 200 , according to an embodiment of this invention.
  • a hydraulic cylinder 205 is provided to vary the width of tunnel 250 .
  • the operation of the hydraulic cylinders 205 is varied and controlled in order to adjust and/or maintain the desired compaction factor.
  • the two halves of the tunnel slide towards and away from each other, in order to control the backpressure on the feed 98 in the tunnel.
  • the width of the tunnel resulting from sliding the two halves back or forth is varied and controlled in order to adjust and/or maintain the desired compaction factor.
  • the bagging machine 200 includes a hopper 160 having a reciprocating hopper wall 267 and a fixed back wall 169 .
  • the moving sloped wall 267 moves with respect to a fixed sloped wall 161 of the hopper 160 .
  • the moving sloped wall 267 is an inverted J-shaped wall having ridges 266 . Substantially the entire wall or a major portion of the moving sloped wall 267 moves (i.e., the portion that contacts the input feed 98 ).
  • the moving sloped wall 267 is moved by a wall moving mechanism 260 .
  • the J-shaped moving sloped wall 267 includes an end wall 268 and an outside wall 269 .
  • the end wall 268 forms the top of the inverted J-shape, while the outside wall 269 forms the shorter down turned end of the J-shape.
  • Affixed to the fixed wall 161 of the hopper 160 is a plastic bearing surface 365 .
  • the moving sloped wall 267 moves or oscillates along a path depicted by arrows 320 and 321 .
  • the motor 166 is rotated to move wall 267 up and down.
  • safety enclosure 280 is placed over the wall moving mechanism 260 .
  • One purpose of the safety enclosure 280 is to prevent exposure of the operator to the rotating parts of the wall moving mechanism 260 .
  • Yet another purpose of the safety enclosure is to isolate the wall moving mechanism 260 from feed and other debris that may result from placing feed 98 into the input end of the hopper 160 . Therefore, the safety enclosure 280 is not only for safety but also is for reducing the number of contaminants to which the wall moving mechanism 260 is exposed.
  • the hopper 160 has an output end 198 which forces feed into the tunnel 150 .
  • the bagging machine 200 also includes an upper bag compression mechanism 180 .
  • the rotor 130 includes teeth 131 .
  • the bagging mechanism 200 includes a comb 132 , which cleans feed 98 that is passing from the input end of the hopper 160 to the output end 198 of the rotor 130 from teeth 131 and forces the feed into tunnel 250 .
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of a bagging machine 300 , according to some embodiments of the invention.
  • the bagging machine 300 includes a feed-deposit table 203 having a moving conveyor 202 that conveys feed towards input hopper 160 .
  • feed-deposit table 203 is the truck bed of a truck 310 , to which the bagger machine is attached, while in other embodiments, feed-deposit table is a trailer that is independently moved into position in front of (to the left in the Figure) the bagger machine.
  • truck 310 and feed-deposit table 203 are combined with other bagger configurations described herein.
  • Other aspects of machine 300 are as described in FIG. 2 .
  • Feed deposit table 203 allows a large amount of feed to be dumped and fed into input hopper 160 , thus reducing the amount of labor needed to fill the hopper 160 .
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of a bagging machine 400 , according to another embodiment of this invention. Many aspects of the bagging machine 400 are similar to the aspects of the bagging machine 200 of FIG. 2 .
  • the bagging mechanism 400 includes a reciprocating moving sloped wall 267 .
  • the moving sloping wall 267 helps to prevent a bridge or bridging 95 of the feed 98 in the hopper 160 .
  • the elongated wall of the moving sloping wall 267 is provided with a plurality of ridges 266 .
  • the ridges 266 form a plurality of additional ledges or pushing surfaces that compact the feed or push the feed in the hopper 160 toward the primary rotor compression device 430 , which rotor is rotating in a clockwise direction relative to the FIG. 4 .
  • a second rotor 440 is situated above rotor 430 but rotates in a counter clockwise direction. This forces feed 98 between the rotors 430 and 440 and into tunnel 250 at a much faster rate than is possible with a single rotor.
  • rotors 430 and 440 are placed far enough apart such that there is clearance (e.g., about one to three centimeters, or about one-half to one inch, or so) between the teeth 431 of rotor 430 and teeth 441 of rotor 440 regardless of the relative angles of the rotors or their motions.
  • FIG. 5 is a top view of a bagging machine 500 , according to still another embodiment of this invention.
  • the exit opening 256 of the tunnel 250 i.e., the end farthest from compressor 430
  • Hydraulic cylinders 205 are shown in their retracted or non-extended positions, and thus side walls 251 are in their outward most positions, providing the least amount of backpressure and compaction to feed 98 . As hydraulic cylinders 205 are extended, they rotate sidewalls 251 inward, as shown in FIG. 6 .
  • FIG. 6 is a top view of a bagging machine 500 of FIG. 5 .
  • cylinders 205 are shown in their extended position, and thus the exit opening 256 is reduced in area.
  • the dotted line 251 ′ shows the position of sidewalls in their outwardly extended positions.
  • the exit opening 256 ′ has a smaller area as compared to the exit area 256 of FIG. 5 . This provides greater backpressure on the feed, thus increasing the degree of compaction of the feed 98 in the tunnel 250 .
  • hydraulic cylinders 205 As hydraulic cylinders 205 are extended, they have rotated sidewalls 251 inward.
  • the amount of cylinder extension and thus the amount of tunnel exit area reduction is continuously variable, in order to provide a smooth variability in the amount of compaction.
  • the position of the sidewalls 251 is kept constant for the entire length of the bag filling. In other embodiments, the position of the sidewalls is varied along the length of the bag in order to provide the desired amount of compaction at each position along the bag 99 .
  • FIG. 7 is a bag-end view of a bagging machine 500 of FIG. 5 .
  • a vertical stiffening plate 571 is welded or otherwise attached at right angles to top wall 257 of tunnel 250 .
  • a horizontal stiffening bar 572 and bolts 573 provide an additional stiffening mechanism 253 that works in concert with stiffening wall 571 to keep top wall 257 in place as the high-pressure feed is extruded from the tunnel 250 .
  • FIG. 7 also shows cable spools 581 that limit the rate of movement of mechanism 500 as feed 98 is pushed into the bag 99 .
  • FIG. 8 is a top view of a bagging machine 800 , according to still another embodiment of this invention, with the fold-down hopper 860 in the upright position.
  • machine 800 is substantially similar to machine 400 of FIG. 4 , but with compressor rotor 840 (which replaces compressor rotor 440 of FIG. 4 ) being more exposed on top, and with compressor rotor 830 (which replaces compressor rotor 430 of FIG. 4 ) being moved forward (to the left in the FIG. 8 ) and upward.
  • compressor rotor 830 is positioned about as high as compressor rotor 840 , with both being positioned such that the top reach of their teeth 831 and 841 are about as high as the top of tunnel 250 , in order to efficiently empty hopper 860 and to provide additional compaction of feed (i.e., a higher compaction factor) at the top of the filled bag 99 .
  • a generally vertical feed-director plate 850 is mounted transverse (from the far side to the near side of hopper 860 in FIG. 8 ) that functions to keep feed being pushed into bag 99 from escaping around the ends of teeth 831 of the front rotor 830 and teeth 841 of back rotor 840 .
  • plate 850 is curved in a generally concave cylinder shape (facing forward) along part of its height (e.g., the upper half in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 ) to generally conform to the path of the tips of teeth 831 , and a generally concave cylinder shape (facing backward) along part of its height (e.g., the lower half in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 ) to generally conform to the path of the tips of teeth 841 .
  • the centers of rotation of compressor rotor 830 and of compressor rotor 840 are configured, when operating, to both be above 42 inches (109 cm) above the ground 90 . In other embodiments, they are both above 48 inches (121 cm) above the ground 90 . In other embodiments, they are both above 54 inches (137 cm) above the ground 90 . In other embodiments, they are both above 60 inches (152 cm) above the ground 90 . In other embodiments, they are both above 66 inches (167 cm) above the ground 90 . In other embodiments, they are both above 72 inches (182 cm) above the ground 90 . In other embodiments, they are both above 78 inches (198 cm) above the ground 90 .
  • the rotational axis of compressor rotor 830 and the rotational axis of compressor rotor 840 when operating, are configured to both be above about 55% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 . In other embodiments, they are both about above 60% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 65% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 70% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 75% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 80% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating.
  • they are both about above 85% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 90% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 95% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 100% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating.
  • compressor rotor 830 and of compressor rotor 840 are mounted so high that hopper 860 , when operating, that hopper 860 must also be quite high when operating.
  • hopper 860 is configured to be folded or otherwise manipulated to provide a compact shape when not operating and a functional tall shape when operating.
  • hopper 860 has a back wall 869 and two sidewalls 868 that are configured to swing around hinge 865 into a temporarily fixed upright position as shown in FIG. 8 , or into a temporarily fixed folded position as shown in FIG. 9 .
  • front wall 864 is also configured to swing around hinge 866 into a temporarily fixed upright position as shown in FIG. 8 , or into a temporarily fixed folded position as shown in FIG. 9 .
  • front wall 864 (e.g., as shown) is of the moving-wall configuration described in FIG. 3 , and having a conveyor belt system 202 for lifting feed from a loading bed (e.g., 203 of FIG. 3 ) into hopper 860 , where conveyor-belt system 202 also folds down.
  • FIG. 9 is a top view of a bagging machine 800 , according to still another embodiment of this invention, with the fold-down hopper 860 in the folded-down position.
  • This compact configuration makes bagger machine 800 more suitable for moving or storage.
  • bagger 800 can be folded and then loaded into the truck bed of a truck (such as truck 310 of FIG. 3 ) for highway transport. If the bagger is too high (e.g., with a high hopper) such transport is infeasible.
  • One aspect of the invention includes an agricultural bagger apparatus for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag, wherein the tunnel exit opening has a variably sized cross-sectional area opening 256 and/or a plurality of toothed compression mechanisms 430 and 440 .
  • the counter rotating toothed compression mechanisms force a larger amount of feed with a higher pressure into tunnel 250 , thus preventing stalling of the mechanism that typically occurs with a single input compression mechanism (e.g., compressor 130 of FIG. 1 ).
  • the variable width tunnel 250 compensates for variability in feed pressure that otherwise occurs when using a plurality of compression mechanisms 430 and 440 .
  • One aspect of the invention includes an agricultural bagger apparatus for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag.
  • This apparatus includes a primary compression mechanism, and a hopper that receives agricultural feed, the hopper further including: an input hopper portion that includes a first hopper wall, and a lower end exit chute connected to the primary compression mechanism, wherein a major portion of the hopper wall moves relative to the rest of the hopper to urge feed towards the primary compression mechanism.
  • the first hopper wall is a sloped wall that moves in an oscillating motion.
  • the first hopper wall includes a first ridge, and a second ridge wherein the first and second ridges are configured to push the agricultural feed in the hopper toward the primary compression mechanism as the first hopper wall moves.
  • the first hopper wall is a sloped wall that moves in an oscillating up-and-down motion.
  • the first hopper wall further includes an inner wall plate, an outer wall plate, an end wall connecting the inner wall to the outer wall plate, a linkage point attached to a portion of at least one of the inner wall, the outer wall and the end wall, and a wall moving mechanism attached to the linkage point to move the first hopper wall.
  • the linkage point is attached to a surface of the first hopper wall isolated from a surface of the first hopper wall that contacts feed.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include a safety enclosure attached to the first hopper to enclose a portion of the first hopper wall, the linkage point and the wall-moving mechanism.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include at least one grease path having a first end on an exterior surface of the safety enclosure and a second end connect to a moving joint of the wall-moving mechanism.
  • the wall moving mechanism further include a sprocket, and a rotating linkage arm attached between the sprocket and the linkage point.
  • the wall moving mechanism further includes: a sprocket, a first linkage arm attached to the sprocket, and a second linkage arm attached to the first linkage arm and the linkage point.
  • the wall moving mechanism further includes a chain, the chain attached to drive power between the sprocket and the primary compression mechanism.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include a secondary compression mechanism located near the primary compression mechanism.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include an output tunnel, and a secondary compression means for further compacting feed primarily in an upper portion of the tunnel.
  • the primary compression mechanism rotates in a first direction and the secondary compression mechanism rotates in a second direction different from the first direction.
  • the primary compression mechanism further comprises a first set of teeth and wherein the secondary compression mechanism includes a second set of teeth, the first set of teeth interdigitated with the second set of teeth as the primary compression mechanism rotates and the second compression mechanism rotates.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include a tunnel, wherein the primary compression mechanism is located near a first portion of the tunnel, and an upper compression mechanism located near a second portion of the tunnel, the upper compression mechanism connected to the tunnel to further compress feed at a distance above the primary compression mechanism and toward an upper portion of the tunnel cavity.
  • the first hopper wall includes a plastic end portion and wherein the apparatus further comprises a plastic bearing plate associated with at least a portion of the hopper, the plastic end portion of the hopper wall contacting the plastic bearing plate as the hopper wall moves.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include a tunnel, wherein the primary compression mechanism is located near a first portion of the tunnel, and an exit surface positioned between an exit end of the primary compression mechanism and the tunnel, wherein the exit surface is substantially vertically orientated.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include a tunnel, wherein the primary compression mechanism is located near a first portion of the tunnel, and an exit surface positioned between an exit end of the primary compression mechanism and the tunnel, wherein the exit surface is sloped over a distance less than the diameter of the primary compression mechanism.
  • An aspect of some embodiments of the invention includes a method for improving the flow of agricultural feed in an agricultural feedstock-bagging machine having a tunnel and a primary compression mechanism fed by a hopper.
  • This method includes providing the hopper with at least two walls, and moving a major portion of at least one of the two walls of the hopper relative to the other wall.
  • Some embodiments of the method further include sloping the major portion of at least one of the two walls of the hopper toward the primary compression mechanism.
  • Some embodiments of the method further include covering a mechanism for moving a major portion of at least one of the two walls of the hopper.
  • Some embodiments of the method further include conducting grease to a moving major portion of at least one of the two walls of the hopper from a connector at a position remote from the mechanism.
  • An aspect of some embodiments of the invention includes an apparatus for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag, the apparatus including an input hopper, and means, as described herein and equivalents thereto, and means for moving a major portion of at least one wall of the hopper.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include means, as described herein and equivalents thereto, for placing grease on a sliding interface of the at least one wall of the hopper.
  • the present invention includes embodiments having combinations and subcombinations of the various embodiments and features that are individually described herein including those described in the patents and applications incorporated by reference (i.e., some of the features from one embodiment combined with some of the features of another embodiment). Further, some embodiments include fewer than all the components described as part of any one of the embodiments described herein.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Abstract

An agricultural bagger apparatus and method for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag including a moving hopper wall and mechanism for moving the wall at an input end of hopper. The wall moving mechanism and the moving wall of the hopper sweeps the feed adjacent to the sloping wall to prevent feed bridging. A safety enclosure isolates the wall moving mechanism from contaminants and prevents exposure to the wall moving mechanism. Some embodiments also compact feed in the upper portion of a tunnel, for example, by reciprocating a hinged piston above a primary compression mechanism. A tunnel-adjustment mechanism varies a cross-section area of the tunnel exit in order to control the amount of compaction on the feed as it leaves the tunnel and enters the bag. In some embodiments, dual counter-rotating toothed compression mechanism force feed between the rotors and into the tunnel at a rate and pressure greater than what is possible with only one multiple-toothed compressor rotor.

Description

    CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
  • This invention claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/648,833 filed Jan. 31, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
  • This invention also is related to the following six patent applications:
  • U.S. Ser. No. 08/904,160 filed Jul. 31, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,552 issued Mar. 9, 1999 to Paul R. Wingert;
  • U.S. Ser. No. 09/175,821 filed Oct. 20, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,999 issued May 16, 2000 to Paul R. Wingert;
  • U.S. Ser. No. 09/571,424 filed May 15, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,586 issued Feb. 11, 2003 to Paul R. Wingert;
  • U.S. Ser. No. 09/721,268 filed Nov. 22, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,034 issued Jan. 6, 2004 to Paul R. Wingert;
  • U.S. Ser. No. 09/977,036 filed Oct. 11, 2001 by Paul R. Wingert;
  • U.S. Ser. No. 10/848,239 filed May 16, 2004 by Paul R. Wingert;
  • each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
  • FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • This invention relates to the field of agricultural baggers, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for more efficiently compacting feed into the tunnel using two or more rotors, and providing a variable taper to the extrusion tunnel.
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • Horizontally expandable, silage storage bags are commonly used as an alternative to permanent feed storage structures such as barns and silos. From an economic standpoint, an expandable plastic storage bag is preferable to a more elaborate, permanent structure. Further, the expandable bags are more easily loaded with feed than permanent structure and the silage stored therein is readily accessible for use, for example using a small tractor with a front bucket to unload the feed.
  • An exemplary prior art bagger is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,552 (which patent is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference), to Paul R. Wingert, the present applicant. A tractor-powered bag-loading apparatus is disclosed in association with an expandable bag. A backstop is located at the filled end of the bag and has attached thereto laterally spaced cables, which extend forward to rotatable cable drums on the bagger machine. The drums are yieldably braked and, under a predetermined force applied to the cables, release the cable to allow movement of the bag-loading apparatus and tractor away from the filled end of the bag as it is filled. The bag is filled by a toothed rotor, which propels silage through a tapered tunnel and into the bag inlet. The tapered tunnel described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,552 provides a smooth, more evenly filled bag.
  • The bag for use with such bagging machines is manufactured and delivered in a pleated shape, i.e., folded into an accordion-bellows-type shape. Typically, a bag having a nominal ten-foot-diameter (approximately 3 meters diameter, or 9.6 meters circumference) and a 300-foot length (approximately 90 meters length) will be folded to a 10-foot-diameter (about 3 meters) ring about one foot (about 0.3 meter) long and 1 foot (about 0.3 meter) thick. To start the loading operation, this bag-ring is pre-loaded around the tunnel, and the pleats are unfolded one at a time as the bag is deployed and filled with feedstock. Once any portion of the bag fills with feed, that portion becomes very heavy, and does not move. Thus the bagger machine itself is propelled along the ground in front of the bag being filled.
  • One exemplary bagging machine is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/721,268 filed on Nov. 22, 2000, entitled “Improved Agricultural Feed Bagger and Method” by Paul R. Wingert, the inventor of the present application. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/721,268 is incorporated in its entirety by reference. In some embodiments of the present invention, a large conveyer-belt bed, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/721,268, is provided for loading voluminous quantities of agricultural material into its hopper.
  • One contends with numerous problems in using previous bagging structures. For example, there is a safety problem caused by feed that bridges within the tapered input hopper. Persons may be tempted to unclog the hopper by stomping or otherwise inserting an arm or a leg thus risking being sucked through and shredded by the primary compression mechanism. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/977,036 (incorporated herein by reference) filed Oct. 11, 2001 by Paul R. Wingert, the inventor of the present invention, provided several embodiments that churned the feed to prevent bridging of feed in the input hopper, and that had fixed safety shields over portions of the moving parts. Apparatus and methods for increasing compaction in the upper tunnel were also described.
  • As more fully described in patent application Ser. No. 09/977,036, one way to help prevent bridging is to churn or move the feed in hopper, for example using an arm that moves in a curvical motion, since it is connected to arm that moves in a circular motion driven by motor (e.g., a hydraulic motor, in some embodiments), and arm is also connected to arm that moves in a wiper-blade motion. Thus the curvical motion of arm helps prevent feed from bridging against sloping wall by moving feed towards rotor. Sloping shield wall provided additional safety by enclosing much of the moving part of the arm, and much or all of arms and. However, now bridging could occur against the stationary sloping shield wall, although this was further from rotor and at a portion of chute that was larger in cross sectional area, so the bridging problem was reduced.
  • Conventional baggers also suffer from an inability to adequately compact feed in the upper and lower portions of the tunnel, thus leaving the feed in the lower bag highly compacted and the feed in the upper bag only moderately compacted. Conventional baggers also suffer from inability to efficiently force large amounts of feed into the bag while providing a variable control on the tunnel opening to control the amount of feed compaction.
  • BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The invention provides an agricultural bagger apparatus for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag. The apparatus includes a primary compression mechanism and an input hopper that receives agricultural feed. The hopper has a sloping wall and a lower-end exit chute located to transfer the agricultural feed into the primary compression mechanism. The apparatus also includes a moving wall as at least part of the sloping inside wall of the input hopper to move the agricultural feed that was adjacent to the sloping wall toward the primary compression mechanism in order to prevent feed bridging in the hopper before the primary compression mechanism.
  • One aspect of the invention includes an adjustable tunnel with the ability to vary the area of the feed-output extrusion end of the tunnel, and thus control the amount of compaction of the feed (i.e., by changing the amount of backpressure exerted by the walls of the tunnel.
  • Another aspect of the invention is a method that improves the flow of agricultural feed in an agricultural feed stock bagging machine having a tunnel and a primary compression mechanism fed by a hopper with a sloping wall. The feed is deposited into a hopper and pressure within the feed along the sloping wall is displaced and feed is swept along by the moving wall to reduce the tendency for the feed to bridge in the hopper in order that the feed continuously flows toward the primary compression mechanism. This is a further safety innovation to prevent a situation where a bagger machine operator might otherwise climb into the input hopper in a dangerous attempt to free the bridged feed and restart the flow of feed through the hopper. By preventing the clogged feed, there is even less motivation for a person to foolishly insert an arm or foot into the hopper.
  • Yet another aspect of the invention provides a method for extruding into a feedbag connected to a feed tunnel. The method includes deploying the bag from a position substantially at the back edge of the primary compression such that the lower portion of the feed drops substantially to ground level within the bag as soon as it leaves the primary compression stage. The exit surface between the exit end of the tunnel under the hopper and the ground is substantially vertical. This further compresses the feed in the lower bag, since it does not need to be pushed across a sloping lower exit surface after leaving the primary compression stage. Some embodiment also include compacting feed from the upper portion of the tunnel toward the upper central portion of the tunnel, and displacing pressure from the mid-level portion of the tunnel just above the primary compression stage and into the upper portion of the tunnel. In some embodiments, the compacting feed from the upper portion of the tunnel further includes reciprocating a piston connected to a hinged apparatus above the primary compression mechanism to displace pressure inside the feed tunnel above the primary compression mechanism. This increases the compaction on the top portion of the tunnel without unduly juicing the feed.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a bagging machine 100.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of a bagging machine 200, according to an embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of a bagging machine 300, according to an embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of a bagging machine 400, according to another embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a top view of a bagging machine 500, according to still another embodiment of this invention, with the sidewalls in the wide position.
  • FIG. 6 is a top view of a bagging machine 500, showing the sidewalls in a narrowed position.
  • FIG. 7 is a bag-end view of a bagging machine 500.
  • FIG. 8 is a top view of a bagging machine 800, according to still another embodiment of this invention, with the fold-down hopper 860 in the upright position.
  • FIG. 9 is a top view of a bagging machine 800, according to still another embodiment of this invention, with the fold-down hopper 860 in the folded-down position.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purpose of illustration, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon the claimed invention.
  • In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
  • The leading digit(s) of reference numbers appearing in the Figures generally corresponds to the Figure number in which that component is first introduced, such that the same reference number is used throughout to refer to an identical component, which appears in multiple Figures. Signals and connections may be referred to by the same reference number or label, and the actual meaning will be clear from its use in the context of the description.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a bagger 100 (also called feed-bagging machine 100). The feed bagger 100 is not pulled, rather, the pressure from the feed 98 filling the bag 99 pushes the bagger 100 and the tractor (not shown) that is powering bagger 100 ahead at a rate equal to the filling rate of bag 99. A steel cable between bagger 100 and a backstop (not shown, but which is to the right of the apparatus and bag shown in FIG. 1) is yieldably held by a disk-brake mechanism. This ensures the feed is compacted before the bagger is allowed to advance. The primary compression mechanism includes a rotor 130 having multiple teeth 131, and powered by a power-take-off (PTO) shaft 133 from the tractor that powers bagger 100, forces feed 98 up and back into a tunnel 150. In some embodiments, tunnel 150 is a long tapered tunnel such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,552 by the inventor of the present invention, hereby incorporated by its entirety by reference. In other embodiments, tunnel 150 is a variable-orifice tunnel as described in FIGS. 4 and 5A below.
  • Movable upper bag bracket 125 is used to lift the folded bag 99 into place on the outside of tunnel 150, and supports/holds the folded bag 99 at the front end of the top of tunnel 150 as it unfolds from the inside of the folded bag. Lower bag tray 120 is tilted up at its trailing edge 129, supported at its front edge by brackets 121 connected to one of a plurality of rungs 122 (for adjustability), and yieldably supported at its back edge by spring-and-chain 123 (which can have its force adjusted by setting various chain links of the chain onto a fixed hook at the top). The input feed 98 is dropped into hopper 160. Such a bagger 100 has a tunnel 150 that provides some support for bag 99 as it unfolds, but which has side walls along which the bag unfolds that are ovoid or tapered inward at the back such that the bag is stretched slightly and then released as it passes over tunnel 150 that moves in the direction of travel of the bagger 100. The bag 99, once deployed and filled with feed does not move relative to ground 90. The bagger tunnel 150 provides some backpressure to the feed, which thus extrudes into the bag rearward at a substantially constant pressure.
  • The agricultural feed 98, which is input to the hopper 160, falls toward the primary compression mechanism 130. The primary compression mechanism 130 includes a series or a plurality of teeth 131. The teeth force the feed in the upper portion of the hopper 160 to an outlet or exit end 198. As the bagger mechanism 100 also includes a comb 132, tines of which are positioned between the teeth 131 of the rotor 130. The comb 132 removes material or feed 98 from between various teeth 131 on the rotor 130, and compacts the feed into the tunnel 150. Thus, the comb 132 prevents the clogging of the rotor and specifically the jamming of agricultural material between the teeth 131 of the rotor 130. The rotor 130 turns in a counterclockwise direction (in this FIG. 1) and outputs feed at an output end 198. The output feed 98 as depicted by a variety of arrows near the output end 198 of the rotor mechanism forces the feed into the tunnel 150. At the bottom of the output end 198 is an exit surface 175. As shown in FIG. 1, the exit surface 175 slopes from the output end 198 of the rotor to the tunnel 150. The exit surface 175 fits inside the tunnel 150. In some embodiments, tapered hopper 160 has a sloping front wall 139, which can cause bridging of the feed in hopper 160, leaving a small gap 137 between the bottom of the feed and the compression rotor 130. Some embodiments
  • In some embodiments, the bagger 100 also includes an upper bag compression mechanism 180. In some embodiments, compression mechanism 180 is a toothed cylinder with teeth 181 and comb 182, similar to cylinder 130 and comb 132. In other embodiments, a reciprocating piston such as described in FIG. 1 of patent application Ser. No. 10/818,239 filed May 16, 2004, which application is incorporated herein by reference. It should be noted that the term “piston” is defined as any mechanism that reciprocates between a compressed position and a withdrawn position. Such a piston is typically plate steel fabricated to a solid external shape that can be extended into a body of feed to compact the feed and then withdrawn to a position that allows additional feed into the volume that the wedge used to occupy. In this description, the term “wedge piston” is defined as any hinged mechanism that reciprocates between a compressed position and a withdrawn position. Such a wedge piston is typically plate steel fabricated to a solid external shape that can be extended into a body of feed to compact the feed and then withdrawn to a position that allows additional feed into the volume that the wedge used to occupy.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of a bagging machine 200, according to an embodiment of this invention. In some embodiments, a hydraulic cylinder 205 is provided to vary the width of tunnel 250. In some embodiments, as hydraulic cylinder 205 extends it forces backward the outer point of the tunnel, which pivots on hinge 255, force the back edge 256 of the sidewall of 251 of tunnel 250 to pivot inward, rather than slide together. This reduces the area of the back end of tunnel 250, thus increasing the backpressure on the feed 98 and increasing the compaction factor on the feed 98. It also keeps the slight stretch of the bag 99 over the widest dimension of the tunnel. In some embodiments, the operation of the hydraulic cylinders 205 is varied and controlled in order to adjust and/or maintain the desired compaction factor. In other embodiments, the two halves of the tunnel slide towards and away from each other, in order to control the backpressure on the feed 98 in the tunnel. In some embodiments, the width of the tunnel resulting from sliding the two halves back or forth is varied and controlled in order to adjust and/or maintain the desired compaction factor. Several aspects of the bagging machine 200 are the same as the description of the elements of bagging machine 100. Rather than repeat the description of the similar elements, the differences between bagging machine 200 and bagging machine 100 will be stressed.
  • The bagging machine 200 includes a hopper 160 having a reciprocating hopper wall 267 and a fixed back wall 169. The moving sloped wall 267 moves with respect to a fixed sloped wall 161 of the hopper 160. The moving sloped wall 267 is an inverted J-shaped wall having ridges 266. Substantially the entire wall or a major portion of the moving sloped wall 267 moves (i.e., the portion that contacts the input feed 98). The moving sloped wall 267 is moved by a wall moving mechanism 260. The J-shaped moving sloped wall 267 includes an end wall 268 and an outside wall 269. The end wall 268 forms the top of the inverted J-shape, while the outside wall 269 forms the shorter down turned end of the J-shape. Affixed to the fixed wall 161 of the hopper 160 is a plastic bearing surface 365. The moving sloped wall 267 moves or oscillates along a path depicted by arrows 320 and 321. The motor 166 is rotated to move wall 267 up and down.
  • In some embodiments, safety enclosure 280 is placed over the wall moving mechanism 260. One purpose of the safety enclosure 280 is to prevent exposure of the operator to the rotating parts of the wall moving mechanism 260. Yet another purpose of the safety enclosure is to isolate the wall moving mechanism 260 from feed and other debris that may result from placing feed 98 into the input end of the hopper 160. Therefore, the safety enclosure 280 is not only for safety but also is for reducing the number of contaminants to which the wall moving mechanism 260 is exposed.
  • Similar to the bagger mechanism 100 of FIG. 1, the hopper 160 has an output end 198 which forces feed into the tunnel 150. The bagging machine 200 also includes an upper bag compression mechanism 180. The rotor 130 includes teeth 131. The bagging mechanism 200 includes a comb 132, which cleans feed 98 that is passing from the input end of the hopper 160 to the output end 198 of the rotor 130 from teeth 131 and forces the feed into tunnel 250.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of a bagging machine 300, according to some embodiments of the invention. The bagging machine 300 includes a feed-deposit table 203 having a moving conveyor 202 that conveys feed towards input hopper 160. For example, in some embodiments, feed-deposit table 203 is the truck bed of a truck 310, to which the bagger machine is attached, while in other embodiments, feed-deposit table is a trailer that is independently moved into position in front of (to the left in the Figure) the bagger machine. In some embodiments, truck 310 and feed-deposit table 203 are combined with other bagger configurations described herein. Other aspects of machine 300 are as described in FIG. 2. Feed deposit table 203 allows a large amount of feed to be dumped and fed into input hopper 160, thus reducing the amount of labor needed to fill the hopper 160.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of a bagging machine 400, according to another embodiment of this invention. Many aspects of the bagging machine 400 are similar to the aspects of the bagging machine 200 of FIG. 2. The bagging mechanism 400 includes a reciprocating moving sloped wall 267. The moving sloping wall 267 helps to prevent a bridge or bridging 95 of the feed 98 in the hopper 160. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the elongated wall of the moving sloping wall 267 is provided with a plurality of ridges 266. The ridges 266 form a plurality of additional ledges or pushing surfaces that compact the feed or push the feed in the hopper 160 toward the primary rotor compression device 430, which rotor is rotating in a clockwise direction relative to the FIG. 4. A second rotor 440 is situated above rotor 430 but rotates in a counter clockwise direction. This forces feed 98 between the rotors 430 and 440 and into tunnel 250 at a much faster rate than is possible with a single rotor. In some embodiments, rotors 430 and 440 are placed far enough apart such that there is clearance (e.g., about one to three centimeters, or about one-half to one inch, or so) between the teeth 431 of rotor 430 and teeth 441 of rotor 440 regardless of the relative angles of the rotors or their motions.
  • FIG. 5 is a top view of a bagging machine 500, according to still another embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, the exit opening 256 of the tunnel 250 (i.e., the end farthest from compressor 430) has an adjustable cross sectional area or opening. Hydraulic cylinders 205 are shown in their retracted or non-extended positions, and thus side walls 251 are in their outward most positions, providing the least amount of backpressure and compaction to feed 98. As hydraulic cylinders 205 are extended, they rotate sidewalls 251 inward, as shown in FIG. 6.
  • FIG. 6 is a top view of a bagging machine 500 of FIG. 5. In this view, cylinders 205 are shown in their extended position, and thus the exit opening 256 is reduced in area. The dotted line 251′ shows the position of sidewalls in their outwardly extended positions. The exit opening 256′ has a smaller area as compared to the exit area 256 of FIG. 5. This provides greater backpressure on the feed, thus increasing the degree of compaction of the feed 98 in the tunnel 250. As hydraulic cylinders 205 are extended, they have rotated sidewalls 251 inward. In some embodiments, the amount of cylinder extension and thus the amount of tunnel exit area reduction, is continuously variable, in order to provide a smooth variability in the amount of compaction. In some embodiments, the position of the sidewalls 251 is kept constant for the entire length of the bag filling. In other embodiments, the position of the sidewalls is varied along the length of the bag in order to provide the desired amount of compaction at each position along the bag 99.
  • FIG. 7 is a bag-end view of a bagging machine 500 of FIG. 5. In some embodiments, a vertical stiffening plate 571 is welded or otherwise attached at right angles to top wall 257 of tunnel 250. In some embodiments, a horizontal stiffening bar 572 and bolts 573 provide an additional stiffening mechanism 253 that works in concert with stiffening wall 571 to keep top wall 257 in place as the high-pressure feed is extruded from the tunnel 250. FIG. 7 also shows cable spools 581 that limit the rate of movement of mechanism 500 as feed 98 is pushed into the bag 99.
  • FIG. 8 is a top view of a bagging machine 800, according to still another embodiment of this invention, with the fold-down hopper 860 in the upright position. In some embodiments, machine 800 is substantially similar to machine 400 of FIG. 4, but with compressor rotor 840 (which replaces compressor rotor 440 of FIG. 4) being more exposed on top, and with compressor rotor 830 (which replaces compressor rotor 430 of FIG. 4) being moved forward (to the left in the FIG. 8) and upward. This forces feed 98 by its own weight into both compressor rotor 830 and compressor rotor 840 In some embodiments, compressor rotor 830 is positioned about as high as compressor rotor 840, with both being positioned such that the top reach of their teeth 831 and 841 are about as high as the top of tunnel 250, in order to efficiently empty hopper 860 and to provide additional compaction of feed (i.e., a higher compaction factor) at the top of the filled bag 99.
  • In some embodiments, a generally vertical feed-director plate 850 is mounted transverse (from the far side to the near side of hopper 860 in FIG. 8) that functions to keep feed being pushed into bag 99 from escaping around the ends of teeth 831 of the front rotor 830 and teeth 841 of back rotor 840. In some embodiments, plate 850 is curved in a generally concave cylinder shape (facing forward) along part of its height (e.g., the upper half in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8) to generally conform to the path of the tips of teeth 831, and a generally concave cylinder shape (facing backward) along part of its height (e.g., the lower half in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8) to generally conform to the path of the tips of teeth 841.
  • In some embodiments, in order to improve the compaction factor in the upper regions of the filled bag, the centers of rotation of compressor rotor 830 and of compressor rotor 840 are configured, when operating, to both be above 42 inches (109 cm) above the ground 90. In other embodiments, they are both above 48 inches (121 cm) above the ground 90. In other embodiments, they are both above 54 inches (137 cm) above the ground 90. In other embodiments, they are both above 60 inches (152 cm) above the ground 90. In other embodiments, they are both above 66 inches (167 cm) above the ground 90. In other embodiments, they are both above 72 inches (182 cm) above the ground 90. In other embodiments, they are both above 78 inches (198 cm) above the ground 90. In other embodiments, they are both above 84 inches (213 cm) above the ground 90. In some embodiments, the plastic bag 99 top of bag 99 into which the feed is compressed is up to seven feet (84 inches=213 cm) high or more when filled, so with in conventional baggers with the compressor rotor below the midpoint of bag height, the compressor must not only compress the feed, but push it upward in the bag to obtain a good compression factor (and thus better feed preservation) for the feed in the upper bag.
  • In some embodiments, the rotational axis of compressor rotor 830 and the rotational axis of compressor rotor 840, when operating, are configured to both be above about 55% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90. In other embodiments, they are both about above 60% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 65% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 70% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 75% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 80% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 85% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 90% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 95% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating. In other embodiments, they are both about above 100% of the filled-bag height above the ground 90 when operating.
  • In some embodiments, compressor rotor 830 and of compressor rotor 840 are mounted so high that hopper 860, when operating, that hopper 860 must also be quite high when operating. In order to provide a more compact shape for traveling on highways or for storing bagger 800 in a shed, in some embodiments, hopper 860 is configured to be folded or otherwise manipulated to provide a compact shape when not operating and a functional tall shape when operating. In some embodiments, hopper 860 has a back wall 869 and two sidewalls 868 that are configured to swing around hinge 865 into a temporarily fixed upright position as shown in FIG. 8, or into a temporarily fixed folded position as shown in FIG. 9. In some embodiments, front wall 864 is also configured to swing around hinge 866 into a temporarily fixed upright position as shown in FIG. 8, or into a temporarily fixed folded position as shown in FIG. 9. In some embodiments, front wall 864 (e.g., as shown) is of the moving-wall configuration described in FIG. 3, and having a conveyor belt system 202 for lifting feed from a loading bed (e.g., 203 of FIG. 3) into hopper 860, where conveyor-belt system 202 also folds down.
  • FIG. 9 is a top view of a bagging machine 800, according to still another embodiment of this invention, with the fold-down hopper 860 in the folded-down position. This compact configuration makes bagger machine 800 more suitable for moving or storage. For example, in some embodiments, bagger 800 can be folded and then loaded into the truck bed of a truck (such as truck 310 of FIG. 3) for highway transport. If the bagger is too high (e.g., with a high hopper) such transport is infeasible.
  • One aspect of the invention, in some embodiments, includes an agricultural bagger apparatus for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag, wherein the tunnel exit opening has a variably sized cross-sectional area opening 256 and/or a plurality of toothed compression mechanisms 430 and 440. The counter rotating toothed compression mechanisms force a larger amount of feed with a higher pressure into tunnel 250, thus preventing stalling of the mechanism that typically occurs with a single input compression mechanism (e.g., compressor 130 of FIG. 1). The variable width tunnel 250 compensates for variability in feed pressure that otherwise occurs when using a plurality of compression mechanisms 430 and 440.
  • One aspect of the invention, in some embodiments, includes an agricultural bagger apparatus for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag. This apparatus includes a primary compression mechanism, and a hopper that receives agricultural feed, the hopper further including: an input hopper portion that includes a first hopper wall, and a lower end exit chute connected to the primary compression mechanism, wherein a major portion of the hopper wall moves relative to the rest of the hopper to urge feed towards the primary compression mechanism.
  • In some embodiments of the apparatus, the first hopper wall is a sloped wall that moves in an oscillating motion.
  • In some embodiments of the apparatus, the first hopper wall includes a first ridge, and a second ridge wherein the first and second ridges are configured to push the agricultural feed in the hopper toward the primary compression mechanism as the first hopper wall moves.
  • In some embodiments of the apparatus, the first hopper wall is a sloped wall that moves in an oscillating up-and-down motion.
  • In some embodiments of the apparatus, the first hopper wall further includes an inner wall plate, an outer wall plate, an end wall connecting the inner wall to the outer wall plate, a linkage point attached to a portion of at least one of the inner wall, the outer wall and the end wall, and a wall moving mechanism attached to the linkage point to move the first hopper wall.
  • In some embodiments of the apparatus, the linkage point is attached to a surface of the first hopper wall isolated from a surface of the first hopper wall that contacts feed.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include a safety enclosure attached to the first hopper to enclose a portion of the first hopper wall, the linkage point and the wall-moving mechanism.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include at least one grease path having a first end on an exterior surface of the safety enclosure and a second end connect to a moving joint of the wall-moving mechanism.
  • In some embodiments of the apparatus, the wall moving mechanism further include a sprocket, and a rotating linkage arm attached between the sprocket and the linkage point.
  • In some embodiments of the apparatus, the wall moving mechanism further includes: a sprocket, a first linkage arm attached to the sprocket, and a second linkage arm attached to the first linkage arm and the linkage point.
  • In some embodiments of the apparatus, the wall moving mechanism further includes a chain, the chain attached to drive power between the sprocket and the primary compression mechanism.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include a secondary compression mechanism located near the primary compression mechanism.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include an output tunnel, and a secondary compression means for further compacting feed primarily in an upper portion of the tunnel.
  • In some embodiments of the apparatus, the primary compression mechanism rotates in a first direction and the secondary compression mechanism rotates in a second direction different from the first direction.
  • In some embodiments of the apparatus, the primary compression mechanism further comprises a first set of teeth and wherein the secondary compression mechanism includes a second set of teeth, the first set of teeth interdigitated with the second set of teeth as the primary compression mechanism rotates and the second compression mechanism rotates.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include a tunnel, wherein the primary compression mechanism is located near a first portion of the tunnel, and an upper compression mechanism located near a second portion of the tunnel, the upper compression mechanism connected to the tunnel to further compress feed at a distance above the primary compression mechanism and toward an upper portion of the tunnel cavity.
  • In some embodiments of the apparatus, the first hopper wall includes a plastic end portion and wherein the apparatus further comprises a plastic bearing plate associated with at least a portion of the hopper, the plastic end portion of the hopper wall contacting the plastic bearing plate as the hopper wall moves.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include a tunnel, wherein the primary compression mechanism is located near a first portion of the tunnel, and an exit surface positioned between an exit end of the primary compression mechanism and the tunnel, wherein the exit surface is substantially vertically orientated.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include a tunnel, wherein the primary compression mechanism is located near a first portion of the tunnel, and an exit surface positioned between an exit end of the primary compression mechanism and the tunnel, wherein the exit surface is sloped over a distance less than the diameter of the primary compression mechanism.
  • An aspect of some embodiments of the invention includes a method for improving the flow of agricultural feed in an agricultural feedstock-bagging machine having a tunnel and a primary compression mechanism fed by a hopper. This method includes providing the hopper with at least two walls, and moving a major portion of at least one of the two walls of the hopper relative to the other wall.
  • Some embodiments of the method further include sloping the major portion of at least one of the two walls of the hopper toward the primary compression mechanism.
  • Some embodiments of the method further include covering a mechanism for moving a major portion of at least one of the two walls of the hopper.
  • Some embodiments of the method further include conducting grease to a moving major portion of at least one of the two walls of the hopper from a connector at a position remote from the mechanism.
  • An aspect of some embodiments of the invention includes an apparatus for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag, the apparatus including an input hopper, and means, as described herein and equivalents thereto, and means for moving a major portion of at least one wall of the hopper.
  • Some embodiments of the apparatus further include means, as described herein and equivalents thereto, for placing grease on a sliding interface of the at least one wall of the hopper.
  • It is specifically contemplated that the present invention includes embodiments having combinations and subcombinations of the various embodiments and features that are individually described herein including those described in the patents and applications incorporated by reference (i.e., some of the features from one embodiment combined with some of the features of another embodiment). Further, some embodiments include fewer than all the components described as part of any one of the embodiments described herein.
  • It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Although numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments as described herein have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments, many other embodiments and changes to details will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should be, therefore, determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein,” respectively. Moreover, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc., are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.

Claims (20)

1. An agricultural bagger apparatus for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag, the apparatus comprising:
an extrusion tunnel;
a primary compression mechanism having two or more toothed rotors operable to rotate in opposite directions in order to force feed between the rotors and into the tunnel.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a hopper that receives agricultural feed, the hopper further including:
an input hopper portion that includes a first hopper wall; and
a lower end exit chute connected to the primary compression mechanism, wherein a major portion of the first hopper wall moves relative to other portions of the hopper to urge feed towards the primary compression mechanism.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first hopper wall is a sloped wall that moves in an oscillating motion.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first hopper wall includes:
a first ridge; and
a second ridge wherein the first and second ridges are configured to push the agricultural feed in the hopper toward the primary compression mechanism as the first hopper wall moves.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extrusion tunnel has a mechanism to vary a cross sectional area of the tunnel in order to control a compaction factor of the feed.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the extrusion tunnel includes a top wall and one or more movable sidewalls hingedly attached to the bagger apparatus.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising one or more hydraulic cylinders attach to each movable sidewall and operable to vary a lateral position of the cylinder's sidewall.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the rotors, when operating, are configured to have their rotational axis above about 60% of the filled-bag height above the ground.
9. A method for improving the flow of agricultural feed in an agricultural feed stock bagging machine having an output tunnel and a primary compression mechanism, the method comprising:
forcing feed into the tunnel;
varying a cross-sectional area of the tunnel to control a compression factor of the feed.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the varying of the cross-sectional area includes moving side walls of the tunnel inwardly in order to reduce the extrusion opening of the tunnel.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the sidewalls is accomplished by extending a hydraulic cylinder.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the forcing of feed into the tunnel is accomplished by forcing the feed between counter rotating toothed compression mechanisms.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the forcing of feed into the tunnel is accomplished by forcing the feed between the counter rotating toothed compression mechanisms having their rotational axis located above about 60% of the filled-bag height above the ground.
14. An agricultural bagger apparatus for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag, the apparatus comprising:
an input hopper;
an extrusion tunnel; and
a multi-rotor primary-compression means for forcing feed from the hopper into the extrusion tunnel.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising moving wall means on the hopper for moving feed through the hopper toward the primary compressor.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising tunnel-size adjusting means for adjusting a compression factor of feed in the tunnel.
17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a means for adjusting a cross sectional area of the extrusion tunnel's exit port.
18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a plurality of the rotors, when operating, are configured to have their rotational axis above about 60% of the filled-bag height above the ground.
19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a plurality of the rotors, when operating, are configured to have their rotational axis above about 80% of the filled-bag height above the ground.
20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a plurality of the rotors, when operating, are configured to have their rotational axis above about 90% of the filled-bag height above the ground.
US11/345,059 2005-01-31 2006-01-31 Agricultural bagger with dual rotor and/or variable-taper tunnel Abandoned US20060168913A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/345,059 US20060168913A1 (en) 2005-01-31 2006-01-31 Agricultural bagger with dual rotor and/or variable-taper tunnel
US12/141,044 US8065859B1 (en) 2005-01-31 2008-06-17 Agricultural bagger with dual rotor and/or variable-taper tunnel

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US64883305P 2005-01-31 2005-01-31
US11/345,059 US20060168913A1 (en) 2005-01-31 2006-01-31 Agricultural bagger with dual rotor and/or variable-taper tunnel

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US94459907A Continuation 2005-01-31 2007-11-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20060168913A1 true US20060168913A1 (en) 2006-08-03

Family

ID=36755016

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/345,059 Abandoned US20060168913A1 (en) 2005-01-31 2006-01-31 Agricultural bagger with dual rotor and/or variable-taper tunnel
US12/141,044 Expired - Fee Related US8065859B1 (en) 2005-01-31 2008-06-17 Agricultural bagger with dual rotor and/or variable-taper tunnel

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/141,044 Expired - Fee Related US8065859B1 (en) 2005-01-31 2008-06-17 Agricultural bagger with dual rotor and/or variable-taper tunnel

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (2) US20060168913A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
PT2407023E (en) * 2010-07-12 2013-09-03 Trioplast Ab Apparatus and method for forming and wrapping material
ES2804775T3 (en) * 2014-02-10 2021-02-09 Steven R Cullen Adjustable baling tunnel
US10398087B2 (en) * 2015-05-04 2019-09-03 Src Innovations, Llc Rotor for bagging machine
US10575469B2 (en) 2016-07-14 2020-03-03 Cnh Industrial America Llc Net wrapping system
US11208228B2 (en) 2016-07-14 2021-12-28 Cnh Industrial America Llc Net wrapping system
US11155424B2 (en) * 2019-11-07 2021-10-26 Cnh Industrial America Llc Pneumatically inflated pillow for grain bin unload

Citations (87)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3022723A (en) * 1960-03-21 1962-02-27 William E Templeton Hay baler
US3070006A (en) * 1960-03-08 1962-12-25 Avco Corp Crop wafering mechanism
US3179131A (en) * 1962-08-27 1965-04-20 A C Kissling Co Method and machine for packaging shredded, compressible material
US3479950A (en) * 1967-12-18 1969-11-25 Percy F Freeman Baler for cotton motes and other materials
US3613926A (en) * 1969-10-20 1971-10-19 Haskell C Scroggins Material-conveying machine
US3757501A (en) * 1971-10-29 1973-09-11 Sperry Rand Corp Static magnetic field metal detector
US3771733A (en) * 1972-07-03 1973-11-13 Deere & Co Feed grinding apparatus
US3783578A (en) * 1972-03-07 1974-01-08 Msl Ind Inc Material guide members for a compressing and conveying apparatus
US3876055A (en) * 1973-02-23 1975-04-08 Henry N Tyznik Farm waste material handler
US3881407A (en) * 1973-07-16 1975-05-06 James D Goar Waste reduction equipment
US3884395A (en) * 1974-03-14 1975-05-20 R E Corp Asphalt spreader
US4033101A (en) * 1975-08-13 1977-07-05 Hesston Corporation Continuous load stack-forming method and machine
US4046068A (en) * 1971-07-10 1977-09-06 Gebruder Eberhard Apparatus for forming mats or strands of fodder feed material for flat storage thereof
US4072273A (en) * 1974-01-07 1978-02-07 Southeast Sbic, Inc. Process for dry recovery of materials from solid refuse
US4095604A (en) * 1972-11-15 1978-06-20 Molins Limited Cigarette-making machines
US4100023A (en) * 1977-04-08 1978-07-11 Mcdonald Byron A Digester and process for converting organic matter to methane and fertilizer
US4241562A (en) * 1978-05-06 1980-12-30 Alfons Meyer Method and apparatus for automatic filling of bags
US4310036A (en) * 1980-01-21 1982-01-12 Ag-Bag Corporation Tunnel clean out mechanism for an agricultural bag loading apparatus
US4337805A (en) * 1979-04-24 1982-07-06 Ag-Bag Corporation Agricultural bag loading apparatus
US4344580A (en) * 1980-04-14 1982-08-17 Hoshall Thomas C Fibrous material apparatus
US4489648A (en) * 1984-01-18 1984-12-25 Sperry Corporation Baler density control mechanism
US4501382A (en) * 1982-11-23 1985-02-26 Robert Van Twuyver Apparatus for dispensing mollusks
US4502378A (en) * 1983-09-12 1985-03-05 Ag-Bag Corporation Hydraulic reservoir for silage compression machines
US4548131A (en) * 1982-08-25 1985-10-22 Williams John L Mobile apparatus for the infield handling of fibrous material
US4584790A (en) * 1984-11-06 1986-04-29 Gaughen Thomas P Seed mat and method and apparatus for manufacturing it
US4611642A (en) * 1984-08-10 1986-09-16 General Feeds, Inc. Bag loading device for flowable substances
US4621666A (en) * 1984-04-02 1986-11-11 Kelly Ryan Equipment Co. Two wheel agricultural feed bagger
US4672794A (en) * 1985-07-29 1987-06-16 Good Maynard L Apparatus and method for packing bulk material in plastic bags
US4686817A (en) * 1986-04-01 1987-08-18 Brodrecht Gerald L C Bale bagging apparatus
US4688480A (en) * 1985-12-16 1987-08-25 Ryco Enterprises Incorporated Agricultural feed bagger
US4712362A (en) * 1985-03-06 1987-12-15 Institut Technique Des Cereales Et Des Fourrages Harvester for experimental plots of ground
US4721503A (en) * 1985-03-05 1988-01-26 Ag-Bag Corporation Agricultural storage bag folding apparatus and method
US4724876A (en) * 1984-04-02 1988-02-16 Ryco Enterprises Incorporated Two wheel agricultural feed bagger
US4766717A (en) * 1986-08-22 1988-08-30 Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz Ag Agricultural apparatus for making round bales
US4803832A (en) * 1981-06-22 1989-02-14 Massey-Ferguson Inc. Method and apparatus for forming bales
US4829895A (en) * 1983-06-17 1989-05-16 Hakushin Kogyo Co., Ltd. Refuse compaction unit having interdigitating rotor and stator blader
US4867736A (en) * 1985-03-05 1989-09-19 Ag-Bag Corporation Agricultural storage bag folding apparatus and method
US4896593A (en) * 1988-03-28 1990-01-30 Sebright Products, Incorporated Vertical trash compactor
US4899967A (en) * 1989-01-17 1990-02-13 Johnson Austin E Portable flexible bag holder
US4907503A (en) * 1989-02-24 1990-03-13 Ryan Kelly P Removable tooth cap for use on the rotor of an agricultural feed bagger
US4949633A (en) * 1989-01-30 1990-08-21 Rand Farm Systems Inc. Animal feed bagging apparatus
US4955188A (en) * 1988-05-11 1990-09-11 Greenland Gmbh & Co. Kg Round baler
US5113917A (en) * 1988-11-14 1992-05-19 Mcgregor Harold R Vertical bottom-fill auger assembly
US5123338A (en) * 1989-03-03 1992-06-23 Hesston Braud Apparatus for regulating the density of fodder bales
US5140802A (en) * 1991-03-19 1992-08-25 Ag-Bag Corporation Grain bagging machine and method
US5149102A (en) * 1991-09-23 1992-09-22 Bernard W. McGowan Apparatus and method of playing a math game
US5151000A (en) * 1991-06-24 1992-09-29 Rod Geraghty Pellet stove feeder
US5178061A (en) * 1990-11-30 1993-01-12 Sistema De Desarrollo Y Communications, C.A. Forage compaction apparatus with constant angle rotor
US5197682A (en) * 1991-12-31 1993-03-30 Del Zotto William M Portable hydraulic shredder
US5213143A (en) * 1991-06-06 1993-05-25 Ag-Bag Corporation Steering and propulsion mechanism for agricultural field vehicle
US5215228A (en) * 1991-04-05 1993-06-01 Hyer Industries, Inc. Volumetric dry material feeder
US5220772A (en) * 1991-09-16 1993-06-22 Ag-Bag Corporation Bale sheathing method and apparatus
US5253570A (en) * 1983-09-30 1993-10-19 Hay & Forage Industries Baler with load sensor
US5295554A (en) * 1991-12-31 1994-03-22 Cullen Steven R Steering system for an agricultural bagging machine
US5297377A (en) * 1992-07-13 1994-03-29 Cullen Steven R Density control means for an agricultural feed bagging machine
US5313768A (en) * 1991-12-30 1994-05-24 Cullen Steven R Agricultural bagging machine
US5345744A (en) * 1992-09-22 1994-09-13 Cullen Steven R Means for creating air channels in bagged compost material
US5355659A (en) * 1994-02-23 1994-10-18 Cullen Steven R Agricultural feed bagging machine having a length adjustable tunnel
US5367860A (en) * 1994-02-23 1994-11-29 Versa Corporation Agricultural feed bagging machine having an improved auger conveyor mounted thereon
US5396753A (en) * 1991-12-30 1995-03-14 Cullen; Steven R. Agricultural bagging machine
US5398736A (en) * 1994-02-23 1995-03-21 Versa Corporation Agricultural feed bagging machine having a tunnel grader edge
US5408809A (en) * 1994-02-23 1995-04-25 Versa Corporation Agricultural feed bagging machine having an improved bag pan support
US5408810A (en) * 1994-02-23 1995-04-25 Versa Corporation Agricultural feed bagging machine having bag retainers thereon
US5413155A (en) * 1988-02-11 1995-05-09 Ryan; Kelly P. Agricultural feed bagger
US5421142A (en) * 1994-05-20 1995-06-06 Versa Corporation Agricultural bagging machine
US5425220A (en) * 1992-07-13 1995-06-20 Versa Corporation Density control means for an agricultural feed bagging machine
US5452562A (en) * 1992-09-22 1995-09-26 Versa Corporation Method and means for composting organic material
US5461843A (en) * 1993-10-12 1995-10-31 Ag-Bag International Method for treatment of bagged organic materials
US5463849A (en) * 1992-07-13 1995-11-07 Versa Corporation Agricultural feed bagging machine
US5464049A (en) * 1994-03-10 1995-11-07 Versa Corporation Agricultural feed bagging machine including a rotor winch
US5469693A (en) * 1993-05-27 1995-11-28 Brodrecht; Gerald Bale bagging apparatus
US5519990A (en) * 1993-11-26 1996-05-28 Welger Gmbh Round baling press
US5566532A (en) * 1996-01-11 1996-10-22 Ag-Bag International Limited Bagger for organic material
US5570565A (en) * 1993-03-12 1996-11-05 International Packaging Incorporated Hay recompression and netting machine
US5724793A (en) * 1995-08-02 1998-03-10 Ag-Bag International, Ltd. Materials bagger and system
US5735199A (en) * 1996-10-04 1998-04-07 Hay & Forage Industries Four-side squeeze mechanism for extrusion-type square baler
US5799472A (en) * 1997-06-13 1998-09-01 Versa Corp. Bag pan for an agricultural feed bagging machine
US5819643A (en) * 1997-12-18 1998-10-13 New Holland North America, Inc. Baler density control system
US5860271A (en) * 1997-11-18 1999-01-19 Ag-Bag International, Ltd. Device and method for compacting agricultural material in a storage bag
US5878552A (en) * 1997-07-31 1999-03-09 Wingert; Paul R. Apparatus and method for bagging agricultural feed
US5894713A (en) * 1992-07-13 1999-04-20 Cullen; Steven R. Density control means for an agricultural feed bagging machine
US6026741A (en) * 1997-10-07 2000-02-22 New Holland North America, Inc. Bale density control system for agricultural balers
US6379086B1 (en) * 1999-03-18 2002-04-30 Mann & Hummel Protec Gmbh Apparatus for conveying granular plastic material
US6430897B1 (en) * 1999-11-10 2002-08-13 Feedbagger Enterprises Ltd. Method and apparatus for braking an agricultural feed bagger
US6516590B2 (en) * 2001-05-08 2003-02-11 Ag-Bag International Limited Bagging machine having feed control
US20030070399A1 (en) * 2001-10-11 2003-04-17 Paul Wingert Agricultural bagger with upper tunnel compaction and chute agitation
US6708851B2 (en) * 2001-08-01 2004-03-23 Mould-Tek Industries, Inc. Material activator for material dispensing bin

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2552888A (en) 1946-01-19 1951-05-15 Druetta Miguel Baling machine
DE3619251A1 (en) 1986-06-07 1987-12-10 Bahlmann Hans Hermann Process and apparatus for the production of uniformly highly compacted silage
US4899867A (en) 1988-01-25 1990-02-13 Ryan Kelly P Rotor for an agricultural feed bagger
US5419102A (en) 1991-03-19 1995-05-30 Ag-Bag Corporation Grain bagging machine
CA2043006C (en) 1991-05-22 1996-03-19 James Tansley Knowler Shredder/compactor assembly for recycling waste material
US5398487A (en) * 1993-11-26 1995-03-21 Ag-Bag Corporation Bale bagging machine

Patent Citations (92)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3070006A (en) * 1960-03-08 1962-12-25 Avco Corp Crop wafering mechanism
US3022723A (en) * 1960-03-21 1962-02-27 William E Templeton Hay baler
US3179131A (en) * 1962-08-27 1965-04-20 A C Kissling Co Method and machine for packaging shredded, compressible material
US3479950A (en) * 1967-12-18 1969-11-25 Percy F Freeman Baler for cotton motes and other materials
US3613926A (en) * 1969-10-20 1971-10-19 Haskell C Scroggins Material-conveying machine
US4046068A (en) * 1971-07-10 1977-09-06 Gebruder Eberhard Apparatus for forming mats or strands of fodder feed material for flat storage thereof
US3757501A (en) * 1971-10-29 1973-09-11 Sperry Rand Corp Static magnetic field metal detector
US3783578A (en) * 1972-03-07 1974-01-08 Msl Ind Inc Material guide members for a compressing and conveying apparatus
US3771733A (en) * 1972-07-03 1973-11-13 Deere & Co Feed grinding apparatus
US4095604A (en) * 1972-11-15 1978-06-20 Molins Limited Cigarette-making machines
US3876055A (en) * 1973-02-23 1975-04-08 Henry N Tyznik Farm waste material handler
US3881407A (en) * 1973-07-16 1975-05-06 James D Goar Waste reduction equipment
US4072273A (en) * 1974-01-07 1978-02-07 Southeast Sbic, Inc. Process for dry recovery of materials from solid refuse
US3884395A (en) * 1974-03-14 1975-05-20 R E Corp Asphalt spreader
US4033101A (en) * 1975-08-13 1977-07-05 Hesston Corporation Continuous load stack-forming method and machine
US4100023A (en) * 1977-04-08 1978-07-11 Mcdonald Byron A Digester and process for converting organic matter to methane and fertilizer
US4241562A (en) * 1978-05-06 1980-12-30 Alfons Meyer Method and apparatus for automatic filling of bags
US4337805A (en) * 1979-04-24 1982-07-06 Ag-Bag Corporation Agricultural bag loading apparatus
US4337805B1 (en) * 1979-04-24 1987-10-20
US4310036A (en) * 1980-01-21 1982-01-12 Ag-Bag Corporation Tunnel clean out mechanism for an agricultural bag loading apparatus
US4344580A (en) * 1980-04-14 1982-08-17 Hoshall Thomas C Fibrous material apparatus
US4803832A (en) * 1981-06-22 1989-02-14 Massey-Ferguson Inc. Method and apparatus for forming bales
US4548131A (en) * 1982-08-25 1985-10-22 Williams John L Mobile apparatus for the infield handling of fibrous material
US4501382A (en) * 1982-11-23 1985-02-26 Robert Van Twuyver Apparatus for dispensing mollusks
US4829895A (en) * 1983-06-17 1989-05-16 Hakushin Kogyo Co., Ltd. Refuse compaction unit having interdigitating rotor and stator blader
US4502378A (en) * 1983-09-12 1985-03-05 Ag-Bag Corporation Hydraulic reservoir for silage compression machines
US5253570A (en) * 1983-09-30 1993-10-19 Hay & Forage Industries Baler with load sensor
US4489648A (en) * 1984-01-18 1984-12-25 Sperry Corporation Baler density control mechanism
US4621666A (en) * 1984-04-02 1986-11-11 Kelly Ryan Equipment Co. Two wheel agricultural feed bagger
US4724876A (en) * 1984-04-02 1988-02-16 Ryco Enterprises Incorporated Two wheel agricultural feed bagger
US4611642A (en) * 1984-08-10 1986-09-16 General Feeds, Inc. Bag loading device for flowable substances
US4584790A (en) * 1984-11-06 1986-04-29 Gaughen Thomas P Seed mat and method and apparatus for manufacturing it
US4867736A (en) * 1985-03-05 1989-09-19 Ag-Bag Corporation Agricultural storage bag folding apparatus and method
US4721503A (en) * 1985-03-05 1988-01-26 Ag-Bag Corporation Agricultural storage bag folding apparatus and method
US4712362A (en) * 1985-03-06 1987-12-15 Institut Technique Des Cereales Et Des Fourrages Harvester for experimental plots of ground
US4672794A (en) * 1985-07-29 1987-06-16 Good Maynard L Apparatus and method for packing bulk material in plastic bags
US4688480A (en) * 1985-12-16 1987-08-25 Ryco Enterprises Incorporated Agricultural feed bagger
US4686817A (en) * 1986-04-01 1987-08-18 Brodrecht Gerald L C Bale bagging apparatus
US4766717A (en) * 1986-08-22 1988-08-30 Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz Ag Agricultural apparatus for making round bales
US5413155A (en) * 1988-02-11 1995-05-09 Ryan; Kelly P. Agricultural feed bagger
US4896593A (en) * 1988-03-28 1990-01-30 Sebright Products, Incorporated Vertical trash compactor
US4955188A (en) * 1988-05-11 1990-09-11 Greenland Gmbh & Co. Kg Round baler
US5113917A (en) * 1988-11-14 1992-05-19 Mcgregor Harold R Vertical bottom-fill auger assembly
US4899967A (en) * 1989-01-17 1990-02-13 Johnson Austin E Portable flexible bag holder
US4949633A (en) * 1989-01-30 1990-08-21 Rand Farm Systems Inc. Animal feed bagging apparatus
US4907503A (en) * 1989-02-24 1990-03-13 Ryan Kelly P Removable tooth cap for use on the rotor of an agricultural feed bagger
US5123338A (en) * 1989-03-03 1992-06-23 Hesston Braud Apparatus for regulating the density of fodder bales
US5178061A (en) * 1990-11-30 1993-01-12 Sistema De Desarrollo Y Communications, C.A. Forage compaction apparatus with constant angle rotor
US5140802A (en) * 1991-03-19 1992-08-25 Ag-Bag Corporation Grain bagging machine and method
US5215228A (en) * 1991-04-05 1993-06-01 Hyer Industries, Inc. Volumetric dry material feeder
US5213143A (en) * 1991-06-06 1993-05-25 Ag-Bag Corporation Steering and propulsion mechanism for agricultural field vehicle
US5151000A (en) * 1991-06-24 1992-09-29 Rod Geraghty Pellet stove feeder
US5220772A (en) * 1991-09-16 1993-06-22 Ag-Bag Corporation Bale sheathing method and apparatus
US5149102A (en) * 1991-09-23 1992-09-22 Bernard W. McGowan Apparatus and method of playing a math game
US5313768A (en) * 1991-12-30 1994-05-24 Cullen Steven R Agricultural bagging machine
US5396753A (en) * 1991-12-30 1995-03-14 Cullen; Steven R. Agricultural bagging machine
US5197682A (en) * 1991-12-31 1993-03-30 Del Zotto William M Portable hydraulic shredder
US5295554A (en) * 1991-12-31 1994-03-22 Cullen Steven R Steering system for an agricultural bagging machine
US5894713A (en) * 1992-07-13 1999-04-20 Cullen; Steven R. Density control means for an agricultural feed bagging machine
US5297377A (en) * 1992-07-13 1994-03-29 Cullen Steven R Density control means for an agricultural feed bagging machine
US5517806A (en) * 1992-07-13 1996-05-21 Versa Corporation Agricultural feed bagging machine
US5463849A (en) * 1992-07-13 1995-11-07 Versa Corporation Agricultural feed bagging machine
US5425220A (en) * 1992-07-13 1995-06-20 Versa Corporation Density control means for an agricultural feed bagging machine
US5345744A (en) * 1992-09-22 1994-09-13 Cullen Steven R Means for creating air channels in bagged compost material
US5426910A (en) * 1992-09-22 1995-06-27 Versa Corp. Means for creating air channels in bagged compost material
US5452562A (en) * 1992-09-22 1995-09-26 Versa Corporation Method and means for composting organic material
US5570565A (en) * 1993-03-12 1996-11-05 International Packaging Incorporated Hay recompression and netting machine
US5469693A (en) * 1993-05-27 1995-11-28 Brodrecht; Gerald Bale bagging apparatus
US5461843A (en) * 1993-10-12 1995-10-31 Ag-Bag International Method for treatment of bagged organic materials
US5519990A (en) * 1993-11-26 1996-05-28 Welger Gmbh Round baling press
US5408809A (en) * 1994-02-23 1995-04-25 Versa Corporation Agricultural feed bagging machine having an improved bag pan support
US5408810A (en) * 1994-02-23 1995-04-25 Versa Corporation Agricultural feed bagging machine having bag retainers thereon
US5398736A (en) * 1994-02-23 1995-03-21 Versa Corporation Agricultural feed bagging machine having a tunnel grader edge
US5355659A (en) * 1994-02-23 1994-10-18 Cullen Steven R Agricultural feed bagging machine having a length adjustable tunnel
US5367860A (en) * 1994-02-23 1994-11-29 Versa Corporation Agricultural feed bagging machine having an improved auger conveyor mounted thereon
US5464049A (en) * 1994-03-10 1995-11-07 Versa Corporation Agricultural feed bagging machine including a rotor winch
US5421142A (en) * 1994-05-20 1995-06-06 Versa Corporation Agricultural bagging machine
US5724793A (en) * 1995-08-02 1998-03-10 Ag-Bag International, Ltd. Materials bagger and system
US5566532A (en) * 1996-01-11 1996-10-22 Ag-Bag International Limited Bagger for organic material
US5735199A (en) * 1996-10-04 1998-04-07 Hay & Forage Industries Four-side squeeze mechanism for extrusion-type square baler
US5799472A (en) * 1997-06-13 1998-09-01 Versa Corp. Bag pan for an agricultural feed bagging machine
US6061999A (en) * 1997-07-31 2000-05-16 Wingert; Paul R. Apparatus and method for bagging agricultural feed
US5878552A (en) * 1997-07-31 1999-03-09 Wingert; Paul R. Apparatus and method for bagging agricultural feed
US6026741A (en) * 1997-10-07 2000-02-22 New Holland North America, Inc. Bale density control system for agricultural balers
US5860271A (en) * 1997-11-18 1999-01-19 Ag-Bag International, Ltd. Device and method for compacting agricultural material in a storage bag
US5819643A (en) * 1997-12-18 1998-10-13 New Holland North America, Inc. Baler density control system
US6379086B1 (en) * 1999-03-18 2002-04-30 Mann & Hummel Protec Gmbh Apparatus for conveying granular plastic material
US6430897B1 (en) * 1999-11-10 2002-08-13 Feedbagger Enterprises Ltd. Method and apparatus for braking an agricultural feed bagger
US6516590B2 (en) * 2001-05-08 2003-02-11 Ag-Bag International Limited Bagging machine having feed control
US6708851B2 (en) * 2001-08-01 2004-03-23 Mould-Tek Industries, Inc. Material activator for material dispensing bin
US20030070399A1 (en) * 2001-10-11 2003-04-17 Paul Wingert Agricultural bagger with upper tunnel compaction and chute agitation
US7024839B2 (en) * 2001-10-11 2006-04-11 Paul Wingert Agricultural bagger with upper tunnel compaction and chute agitation

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US8065859B1 (en) 2011-11-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7866124B2 (en) Method and agricultural bagger with upper tunnel compaction
US8065859B1 (en) Agricultural bagger with dual rotor and/or variable-taper tunnel
US4949633A (en) Animal feed bagging apparatus
US4653553A (en) Agricultural bag loading machine
US6516586B1 (en) Apparatus and method for bagging agricultural feed
CA1200137A (en) Bag filling machine for agricultural material
US5419102A (en) Grain bagging machine
AU2002302039B2 (en) Method For Building a Cotton Module on a Mobile Cotton Harvester
EP2106687B1 (en) Mobile bagging machine
US20060180238A1 (en) Machine for loading silage bag
US6536197B1 (en) Mobile cotton harvester with cotton module building capability
US7266936B2 (en) Agricultural bagger with shielded hopper agitation and method
CN112298637A (en) Pet tortoise is fodder sack filling device for feed processing
US5822957A (en) Equipment for sheathing hay bales in plastic
EP1596652B1 (en) Machine for mixing and distributing products, in particular products used to feed livestock
US7048017B2 (en) Silage bag filling machine
EP0046718B1 (en) Trailer for loading, mixing and delivering silage
WO1998026651A1 (en) Shredding apparatus with tiltable loading mechanism
US20050202860A1 (en) Basket door extension for a cotton harvester
USRE33491E (en) Agricultural bag loading machine
US4141288A (en) Machine and method for stacking hay
JPS61119126A (en) Unwinding and distribution apparatus of round feed bale
NL1023481C2 (en) Discharge system for moving crops, such as potatoes, from digging machine to container placed near to system
SU1662454A1 (en) Self-charging feeder
US4182097A (en) Machine and method for stacking hay

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION