The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 13, 1997
Filed:
Jan. 11, 1995
Larry R Inman, Astoria, OR (US);
Michael H Koskela, Astoria, OR (US);
Ag-Bag International Limited, Warrenton, OR (US);
Abstract
A machine for sheathing bales of material, such as farm crop products and/or organic material, into an elongate elastic bag. The machine is a portable unit and has radially adjustable fin like paddles that define a bale receiving opening. An opened ended bag into which the bales are to be sheathed is placed in a folded or bunched up condition on the paddles. A portion of the bag is pulled off the paddles and tied to define a closed end and the paddles are moved radially outward to enlarge the bale receiving opening and thereby stretch the bag. The machine has a cradle for receiving bales to be sheathed, and a bale pusher pushes the bale along the cradle through the bale receiving opening into the bag. The cradle is arranged to accommodate bales having either a circular or rectangular cross section. The bale pusher has a low profile to facilitate loading bales onto the cradle from the front and either side of the machine. The pusher is extendable to facilitate pushing the last bale through the machine. The bales as they exit the machine and are deposited on the ground are encased in the bag. The bag being elastic conforms closely to the shape of the bale. The machine may be powered by a self contained power unit or from a remote power source. A remote control power unit and remote control permit operating the machine unattended from a remote source.