Patent ID: 9617021
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: B65B

Claim:
1. A bale bagging apparatus having a first end and a second end for wrapping a bag around a bale, said apparatus comprising: a base frame member having a first end and a second end; a transportation system configured to transport a bale from the first end of the bale bagging machine to the second end of the bale bagging machine, wherein said transportation system has a first gap section and a second gap section; a bale chute having an input end close to the first end of the bale bagging machine and an output end downstream of the input end closer to the second end of the bale bagging machine, wherein said bale chute comprises at least two pivotable sections configured to pivot between at least a closed position and an open position; and a bag retrieval system configured to position a bag from a first position to a second position to a third position, wherein said second position is arranged so that a closed end of a bag is positioned in the first gap section of the transportation system and wherein said third position is arranged so that an open end of the bag is positioned around the output end of the bale chute, wherein the second gap section is arranged to extend along a direction parallel to a longitudinal feed direction, the longitudinal feed direction extending from the first end to the second end, the second gap section being defined by a first longitudinal support member and a second longitudinal support member, the second gap section being between the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member, the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member being configured to contact and vertically support the bale; wherein the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member are each inclined, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal feed direction, with an inner portion of each of the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member being lower than an outer portion of each of the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member.