Abstract:
A bale bag support device, system and method that provides for placement of a bale into a bale bag by maintaining a bale bag in an opened configuration employing a bale bag support device that includes a frame adapted for advancing motion, a bag support and a bale threshold attached to the frame that define a bale aperture through which bales may be placed onto a bale receiving area located on an inner surface of the bale bag beyond the bale threshold. The bale bagging system also includes a pick and place device for placing bales into the opened bale bag and which may also be employed to advance the bale bag support device a distance sufficient to create a bale receiving area located inside the bale bag beyond the bale threshold.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for handling feed and more particularly to a device for supporting a bale storage bag and a method for bagging baled forage crops. 
         [0003]    2. Background 
         [0004]    A variety of devices and methods have been devices for handling and storing forage crops. For instance, the prior art also discloses a variety of devices and methods for placing baled hay or other baled agricultural product in a tube or sheath. U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,307 to Lucas discloses a method for sheathing a bale that includes inserting a bale through a carrier, pushing the bale onto a sheath. U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,233 to Stirling discloses an apparatus for loading bales of agricultural products into a protective sheath. U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,221 to Pronovost, et al., discloses a device upon which bales of hay are successively loaded on the frame of a wheeled vehicle. A pusher plate pushes successive bales into the open-ended portion of a long plastic flexible tube. U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,487 to Inman, et al., discloses a machine for sheathing bales of material, such as farm crop products, into an elongated elastic bag. 
         [0005]    The above devices rely on the reaction of the device that supports the carrier to the reverse motion of the member or element that pushes the bale into the sheath against the last bale placed in the sheath. Accordingly, it is the action of the loading mechanism or ram and the reaction of the device to that action that advances the device over a distance corresponding to the length of a bale as it is inserted through the carrier and into the sheath. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,772 to Koskela, et al., discloses a machine for sheathing bales of material such as hay, straw and the like. The machine has radially adjustable fingers to stretch a resilient sheath for the free insertion of the bales. As the device advances along a row of bales, a leading edge of the device picks or scoops the bales advancing them through a ring that supports an elastic sheath that contracts around the bales as the bales pass through the ring back onto the ground. The resilient sheath shrinks to fit closely to the contour of the bale. 
         [0007]    Additionally, the prior art discloses devices and methods for bagging baled feed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,754 to van der Lely discloses a sheathing device for loading bales into an elongated, flexible bag. U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,715 to Brodrecht discloses a bale bagging apparatus for bagging round bales in tubes of plastic film. U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,937 to Glenn discloses a method and apparatus for facilitating bagging large round hay bales. The apparatus has a supporting frame that supports a large ring on which a large flexible folded plastic tube is mounted. By positioning a bale inside of the ring and then moving the apparatus, the bale is covered by the plastic tube. The process is repeated until the tube is filled with bales. U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,817 to Brodrecht, et al., discloses an apparatus for loading a row of round bales into an elongated plastic bag. U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,836 to Good discloses a transportable bagging apparatus for continual, sequential loading of individual bales of agricultural products such as grass, alfalfa, corn stalks, hay, etc., into plastic tubing. 
         [0008]    In all of the above illustrations, the inventors teach devices and methods wherein a bale is set onto a ring connected to the bag support member and is then slid off the ring into the bag, pulling the bag from the ring and over the bale as the device that supports the ring is advanced. One problem with these devices and methods is found in a potential for tearing the bag as the bale slides from the ring and drops to the ground pulling the bag from the bag support member. 
         [0009]    Additionally Brodrecht, Stirling, Pronovost, et al., Inman, et al., and Koskela, et al., all proclaim the desirability of maintaining either an air tight enclosure or an enclosure that traps a minimum amount of air within the sheath to achieve a desired moisture level. 
         [0010]    Advantage may be found therefore in providing a bale bag support device and method that permits for the insertion of one or more bales through a bag support ring, setting the bales on the inside of the bag that is in contact with the ground, followed by advancing the bag support ring a distance substantially equal to a length of the bale. 
         [0011]    Additional advantage may be found in a device and method that provides a means to promote air flow through the bag providing a controlled drying of the baled forage crop. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention is directed to a bale bag support device that includes a frame that is supported by and movable on wheels, skids or the like with respect to the ground or other surface upon which a bale bagging operation might take place. The bale bag support device frame includes a bag support frame about which a bag may be placed in a folded or bunched manner such that as the frame is moved with respect to the ground or other surface upon which the bale bagging operation is taking place, the length of the deployed bag is increased behind the bagging device to accommodate placement of additional bales within the bag. A bag support tray is attached to the frame and supports the lower portion of the bag and keeps it from dragging on the ground. A bale threshold is positioned above the bag support tray. In use, baled material is placed over the bale threshold onto a bale receiving area located beyond the bale threshold on an inner surface of the bag. 
         [0013]    The present invention is also directed to a bale bagging system that employs the bale bag support device of the present invention in conjunction with a bale pick and place device, for instance a loader or lift that is adapted to pick bales for placement over the bale threshold onto a bale receiving area located beyond the bale threshold on an inner surface of the bag. The pick and place device is further adapted to provide one or more retractable bale bag support device engaging members that selectively engage and advance the bale bag support device to create a bale receiving area located beyond the bale threshold on an inner surface of the bag. 
         [0014]    The present invention is also directed to a method for facilitating placement of a bale into a bale bag for storage on a surface that includes the steps of maintaining a bale bag in an opened configuration employing a bale bag support device that includes a frame adapted for advancing motion, a bag support and a bale threshold attached to the frame and defining an aperture through which a bale may be placed into the bale bag, picking and placing the bale in the bale bag onto a bale receiving area located on an inner surface of the bale bag beyond the bale threshold. The method of the present invention may also include engaging the bale bag support device with a pick and place device and advancing the bale bag support device a distance sufficient to create a bale receiving area located on an inner surface of the bale bag beyond the bale threshold. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a representative perspective view of a bale bag support device according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a representative perspective view of a bale bag support device system according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a representative perspective view of a bale bag support device according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a representative front view of a bale bag support device according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a representative top cutaway view of a bale bagging system according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a representative top cutaway view of a bale bagging system according to the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a representative top cutaway view of a bale bagging system according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a representative top cutaway view of a bale bagging system according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a representative top cutaway view of a bale bagging system according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a representative front view showing a plurality of bales bagged according to a method of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a representative front view showing a plurality of bales bagged according to a method of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a preferred embodiment of bale bag support device  20  is shown to advantage. Frame  21  is shown supported by and movable on first rear wheel assembly  23 A, (seen in  FIGS. 1 through 3 ), connected to first cross member  30 A, second rear wheel assembly  23 B, (seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), connected to second cross member  30 B and first and second leading wheel assemblies  24 A and  24 B, (seen in  FIGS. 1 through 3 ) connected to first and second cross members  30 A and  30 B respectively. Frame  21  in turn supports bag support frame  22  about which bale bag  55 , (seen in  FIG. 3 ), may be placed. Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , bag support tray  26  is attached to frame  21  and is located below bale threshold  25 . Bag support frame  22  and bale threshold  25  define bale aperture  36  through which bale B may be introduced into bale bag  55  as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , bale bag support device  20  is configured for travel in a direction indicated generally by vector BD for bagging bales. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, leading wheel assemblies  24 A and  24 B are removably attached to frame  21  in a first leading wheel assembly orientation and rear wheel assemblies  23 A and  23 B are removably attached to frame  21  in a first rear wheel assembly orientation, as shown in  FIG. 1 . More particularly, rear wheel assembly  23 A is removably attached to first rear wheel assembly receiver  31 A, which is connected to first cross member  30 A. In similar fashion, rear wheel assembly  23 B is removably attached to second rear wheel assembly receiver  31 B that is connected to second cross member  30 B. Leading wheel assembly  24 A is removably attached at a first end of first cross member  30 A while leading wheel assembly  24 B is removably attached at a first end of second cross member  30 B. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, frame  21  includes a pair of pull bars  33  and  34  which may be engaged by a locomotion device, (not shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ), that is capable of providing a motive force to advance bale bag support device  20  in a direction indicated generally by vector BD for bagging bales. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , bale bag support device  20  is configured for travel in a direction indicated generally by vector TD for transporting bale bag support device  20  to or from locations where bagging activities may occur. Rear wheel assemblies  23 A and  23 B are removably attachable to the frame in a second rear wheel assembly orientation, as shown in  FIG. 2  to facilitate advancing motion of frame  21  along vector TD defining a transport direction. In this configuration, rear wheel assembly  23 A is removably attached at the first end of second cross member  30 B, while rear wheel assembly  23 B is removably attached at a second end of second cross member  30 B. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, leading wheel assembly  24 A is inserted in first stub receiver  32 A while leading wheel assembly  24 B is inserted in second stub receiver  32 B. In the transport configuration, shown  FIG. 2 , tow bar  28  is removably connected to tow bar receiver  29 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , bale bag support device  20  is configured for travel in a direction indicated generally by vector BD for bagging bales. Bale bag  55  is supported by bag support screen  27 , which is attached to bag support frame  22 , and bag support tray  26  which is located beneath bale threshold  25  and attached to frame  21 . Bales B are loaded into bale bag  55  by a loader, (not shown). 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows a front view of bale bag support device  20 . Bale bag support device  20  is shown including frame  21  which is shown supported by and movable on first and second rear wheel assemblies  23 A and  23 B and first and second leading wheel assemblies  24 A and  24 B. Frame  21  supports bag support frame  22  and bag support tray  26  is attached to frame  21  and is located below bale threshold  25 . Bale bag  55  is placed about and is supported by bag support frame  22  passing below bale threshold  25  being supported below by bag support tray  26 . Bale bag  55  is arranged having accordion folds  56  that unfold as bale bag support device  20  advances. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 through 9 , operation of bale bagging system  50  will be described. As shown, bale bag support device  20  includes frame  21  which is supported by and movable on first rear wheel assembly  23 A and first leading wheel assembly  24 A connected to first cross member  30 A and second rear wheel assembly  23 B and second leading wheel assembly  24 B connected second cross member  30 B. Frame  21  supports bag support frame  22  about which bale bag  55  is positioned. Bale bag  55  is arranged having accordion folds  56  that unfold as bale bag support device  20  advances. First and second pull bars  33  and  34  are connected to and extend from frame  21 . Bale bagging system  50  also includes lift  40  that in the preferred embodiment of the invention is employed to pick and place bales B over bale threshold  25  onto bale receiving area  35  located just behind bale threshold  25  and within bale bag  55 . Lift  40  includes forks  41  and  42  connected to hydraulically actuated lift arms  47  and  48 . Lift  40  also includes a pair of slide arms  45  and  46  that extend and retract laterally by action of hydraulic rams  43  and  44 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , lift  40  has picked bale B and moves between pull bars  33  and  34  to lift bale B over bale threshold  25 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , lift  40  has lifted bale B over bale threshold  25  and positioned bale B above bale receiving area  35 . Depending on the size of the bales being inserted into bale bag  55 , bales may be stacked one on top of another as seen in  FIG. 3 . Alternately round baled may be inserted endwise into bale bag  55  employing the means and methods of the present invention. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , lift  40  has reversed and hydraulic rams  43  and  44  have extended so that slide arms  45  and  46  engage first and second pull bars  33  and  34 . As lift  40  continues to reverse, bale bag support device  20  advances pulling an appropriate length of bale bag  55  from accordion folds  56  as shown in  FIG. 8  to create a new bale receiving area  35  behind bale threshold  25 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , once lift  40  has reversed far enough to create a distance between an inner edge of bale threshold  25  and the face of the forward-most bale B slightly greater than a depth of bale B, hydraulic rams  43  and  44  retract and slide arms  45  and  46  are withdrawn from first and second pull bars  33  and  34  so that lift  40  is free to move away from bale bag support device  20  to retrieve another bale. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , in the preferred embodiment of the invention, bale bag  55  is sized having a girth  59  that is ample enough such that when bales B are positioned within bale bag  55  air passages  57  and  58  are created on either side of bales B to permit passage of air through the length of the interior of bale bag  55  to aid in drying the baled material. It has been observed that when the ends of bale bag  55  are left substantially opened as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  and the bale bag  55  is sized with respect to the bales as previously discussed there is a natural tendency for a draft to be created through bale bag  55  across the exposed surfaces of the bagged bales to facilitate the removal of moisture from the baled material. Referring to  FIG. 11 , in an alternate preferred method of the invention, bales B are place on pallets  60  to further facilitate the movement of air through bale bag  55 . 
         [0035]    It should be noted that while  FIGS. 3-11  depict bales B having a rectangular configuration, bale bag support device  20  and the method of the present invention are adaptable as well to baled material having a variety of configurations, for example round or square bales. 
         [0036]    The preceding description of the illustrated embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiment(s) and implementation(s) disclosed. Numerous modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Process steps described might be interchangeable with other steps in order to achieve the same result. At least one preferred embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and a best mode of practical application, thereby to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather means “one or more.” Moreover, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the following claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, sixth paragraph unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for . . . ”