Abstract:
A system for applying one or more coatings of wax to a hay bale to provide protection from moisture. Additional coatings may be applied to hold the bale together without twine or plastic wrap. A fungicide or nutrient additive may be added to enhance the effectiveness of the wax protective coating and to provide additional nutrients to livestock eating the hay.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a method and apparatus for protecting baled hay and the like from moisture and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for spraying the outer surface of a hay bale with a moisture resistant coating and a fungicide to protect the hay from deterioration when the bale is exposed to the environment, and to hold the bale together without string, twine or plastic sheeting.  
           [0002]    Harvesting hay and the like is commonly accomplished by cutting the hay and permitting it to dry at least to a limited extent, form it into windrows and then collect the windrows to form separate rectangular bales tied by wire or twine. In more recent years, formation of the windrows into roll-type bales has become popular. The bales are formed into spiral rolls and bound together with twine or a plastic sheet wrapped around the circumference of the bale. It is not uncommon for bales of this type to weigh as much as 1200 to 1500 lbs. These bales are commonly stored in the field.  
           [0003]    One problem with storing these bales wrapped with twine in the field is that they are exposed to moisture from rain and snow, and heat from the sun, which deteriorates the hay reducing its quality for animal consumption. Another problem with both the twine- and plastic-wrapped bales is the twine and plastic must be manually removed by the rancher or farmer and disposed of in order for the livestock to access the hay. The plastic and twine often litter the fields for years because they do not readily decompose or deteriorate. Protection against deterioration while stored in the field is highly desirable. As is reduction or elimination of the work necessary to untie the bales and the plastic waste.  
           [0004]    Other devices have been proposed that consist of metal or plastic panels which cover the top of a bale. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,997 to Tiberend. These devices require manual placement on the bales and storage when they are manually removed. Additionally, these devices provide no protection from ground moisture.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention provides a method and apparatus to protect a hay bale from deterioration without the necessity of a separate plastic cover. A sprayer is used to spray the hay bale with a water-resistant coating to protect it from moisture and to reduce deterioration of the hay. The thickness of the coating may be adjusted to provide an adhesive layer to hold the bale together without binding twine, string or plastic wrap. A fungicide may also be mixed with the water-resistant coating to provide additional protection against molds and various other types of fungi. A wax and fungicide coating is applied to the surface of a round hay bale, which provides not only an enhanced control of hay decay, but simultaneously provides a moisture barrier to reduce deterioration. The apparatus includes an application means for applying the fungicide and wax to the surface of the bale. The spray means may be housed within a round baler or may be portable for treating bales that have already been dropped in a field or that have been hauled to a storage location such as along a fence, for example.  
           [0006]    Other advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a baler with the sprayer of the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of FIG. 1 with the interior components of the baler removed to show the sprayer.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a portable sprayer of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bale sprayer of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . Bale sprayer  10  includes a holding tank  12 , spray lines  14 , pump  15 , spray heads  16 , return line  17  and manifold  19 . Bale sprayer  10  is mounted to a hay baler  18  such as a Vermeer round hay baler. Baler  18  is pulled behind a tractor (not shown) linked by a towing structure  21  on wheels  23  which engage ground surface  25 . Baler  18  picks up hay such as grass, clover, alfalfa or other material  20 , for example, which has been raked into a windrow. Pickup  22  directs the hay into the baler chamber  24 . The hay  20  is rolled into a bale  26  by belts or bands  28  and rollers  30 . As the bale  26  grows, hydraulic pressure is applied to the bands  28  and rollers  30  to tightly form bale  26 .  
         [0011]    During the last two to four turns, the surface of bale  26  is coated with a thin layer of a water-resistant coating  32  such as wax. In the preferred embodiment, a soybean-based paraffin wax or beeswax may be used to coat bale  26 . Other waxes such as a rice-based wax may also be used. When added to the last two to four layers of bale  26 , wax  32  holds the bale  26  together so that extra twine or plastic wrap is not necessary. Alternatively, wax  32  may be sprayed on the outside layer of bale  26  only to protect the bale  26  from moisture.  
         [0012]    Twine used to tie a bale is threaded though one or more needles (not shown), which guide the twine back and forth around the bale as it is turned. One or more sprayer heads  16  may be attached to a needle to traverse the surface of the bale as it is turned to apply the wax coating.  
         [0013]    Soy wax has several advantages over petroleum-based paraffins. First, soy wax includes proteins beneficial to livestock. Second, soy wax is water soluble and biodegradable. Over a period of two to three years, the outer layer of the wax will wash away through natural rainfall. However, the inner layers of bale  26  remain protected by the inner layers of wax  32 .  
         [0014]    Water-resistant coating  32  may also include a preservative or nutrients such as a fungicide and/or vitamins. Alternatively, a fungicide or nutrient may be separately applied throughout the layers of bale  26  for even distribution and wax  32  added only to the outer layers.  
         [0015]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, water-resistant coating  32  is applied to the outer circumferential surface of bale  26 . However, additional spray heads  16  may be directed to the sides of bale  26  to provide further protection.  
         [0016]    At room temperature wax  32  is solid. Thus, in order to spray wax  32 , it needs to be heated beyond its melting point. The melting point of the wax may vary from about 110 to 195 degrees Fahrenheit. Tank  12  may be heated using an electric heater with power supplied by the tractor electrical circuit. A recirculating pump  15  may be used to keep the spray heads  16  and tubing  14  hot enough to ensure that wax  32  is melted. Electrical heat wrap tape (not shown) may also be used to preheat the system components. Wax  32  may also be heated by the hydraulic oil from the tractor (not shown). The hydraulic oil may be circulated through tubes in the wax tank  12  to warm the wax to a liquid state.  
         [0017]    The amount of wax to apply to bale  26  may depend on the type of wax used, the high temperature expected for the area, and the average rainfall expected. In warmer dry climates, a wax with a higher melting point should be used to ensure that the wax does not melt under the hot sun and soak into the hay bale  26  to reduce protection for the outer layer. In a warm, wet environment, a soy wax may dissolve too quickly to provide long-term protection, thus a paraffin or beeswax may be more effective to protective hay bale  26 .  
         [0018]    Referring to FIG. 3, a sprayer may be attached to tank  12  to spray bales that are already formed and need protection from the elements. Tank  12  may be heated using the electrical system of a pickup truck or other vehicle (not shown) or the hydraulic heat generated by a tractor, for example. The heated wax may be delivered through spray line  38  to the spray head  40  by pressurizing tank  12  or by use of an electric or hydraulic pump or compressor, such as is used for spraying paints.  
         [0019]    It is to be understood that while certain now preferred forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims.