Abstract:
Bag installation for bagging machines may include bag installation systems and/or methods that provide efficient, convenient, safe, and/or simplified means and/or steps for installing a bag on, and/or maintaining bag on, a bagging machine.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application relates to the following co-pending patent applications, which are commonly-assigned to SRC Innovations LLC, include the common inventor Steven Cullen, and were filed on Apr. 1, 2008: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/060,424, entitled “Mobile Bagging Machine”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/060,461, entitled, “Mobile Bagging Machine Rotor Assembly and Transmission”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/060,464, entitled “Mobile Bagging Machine Tunnel”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/060,474, entitled “Movable Feed Table and Radiators”. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to bagging machine systems and methods for bagging organic and other materials such as silage, compost, grain, sawdust, dirt, sand, and other materials. 
     Agricultural feed bagging machines have been employed for several years to pack or bag silage or the like into elongated plastic bags. In recent years, the bagging machines have also been used to pack or bag compost material and grain into the elongated plastic bags. Two of the earliest bagging machines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,687,061 and 4,046,068, the complete disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. In these bagging machines, silage or the like is supplied to the forward or intake end of the bagging machine and is fed to a rotor or other compression means, which conveys the silage into a tunnel on which the bag is positioned so that the bag is filled. The bagging machine moves forward at a controlled rate leaving the packed bag behind. The packing density of the material packed in the bag is determined and controlled by a number of factors including the rate at which the bagging machine moves forward and the rate at which the silage material is packed into the bag. 
     Bags used in conjunction with bagging machines are often very large, long, and heavy making installation of the bags onto bag machines often awkward, difficult, and hazardous. Over the years, techniques and methods have been developed to install bags onto bag machines. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,408,810 and 5,799,472, the complete disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, disclose bag retainers and bag pans for installing and holding bags installed on bagging machines. However, additional improvements in bag installation systems and methods will serve to provide more convenient, safe, and simplified systems and methods for installing bags onto bagging machines. Therefore, a need exists for systems and methods that address one or more of the issues discussed above. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention has been developed in response to problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully resolved by currently available systems and methods. Thus, these developed systems and methods provide bag installation systems and methods for providing efficient, convenient, safe, and/or simplified means for installing a bag on, and/or maintaining bag on, a bagging machine. 
     A bag installation and/or deployment system may include a support structure, a movable frame secured to the support structure, at least one bag attachment retractably connected to the movable frame, and/or an inferior bag support structure. A method of installing a bag on a bagging machine may include securing at least one bag attachment to the bag, retracting the at least one bag attachment toward a movable frame, securing a portion of the bag to an inferior bag support structure, and/or moving the movable frame upon a bag installation support structure. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure may be incorporated into certain embodiments of the invention and will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the principles in this disclosure as set forth hereinafter. The claimed invention does not require that all the advantageous features and all the advantages described herein be incorporated into every embodiment of the claimed invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other features and advantages of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description will be rendered by reference to specific examples of embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. These drawings depict only typical examples of embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to limit the scope of the claimed invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the side and rear portions of a bagging machine with a conveyor in a first position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the side and rear portions of a bagging machine with a conveyor in a second position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the side and front portions of a bagging machine with a conveyor in a second position. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a bagging machine and an unloading vehicle. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a rotor. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective rear view of an expanded tunnel. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective rear view of a retracted tunnel. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective front view of a tunnel. 
         FIG. 9  is a rear view of a bagging machine. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a bag installation and/or deployment system. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective top view of a bag attachment and a winch. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a bag attachment. 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of a bag installation and/or deployment system. 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of a bag installation and/or deployment system. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a bag support structure. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a bag support structure. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective rear view of a bag support structure secured to a bagging machine. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective rear view of a bag installation system and bag during installation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The presently preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. It will be readily understood that the components of the present disclosure, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of the claimed invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 4  simultaneously, an example of a bagging machine is identified generally with the numeral  10 . Bagging machine  10  is intended to bag organic and other material such as silage, grain, sawdust, compost, garbage, or sand within a bag. Bagging machine  10  may be configured for use with a conventional pre-folded bag, a bag that is folded as it is installed on the bagging machine such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/350,973, filed Jan. 23, 2003, entitled “Material Bagging Machine Having a Bag Folder Mounted Thereon,” or a bag that is formed from a roll of plastic material disposed on the bagging machine such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/334,484, filed Dec. 30, 2002, entitled “A Method and Means for Bagging Organic and Other Material.” The entire disclosures of the above-mentioned patent applications are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     Machine  10  may include a mobile frame  12 , such as a chassis. Mobile frame  12  may include wheels to facilitate movement and control. In some embodiments, the wheels may be omitted. Additionally, bagging machine  10  and associated frame  12  may be truck-mounted, such as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,865, or may be self-propelled, such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,472. The complete disclosures of both of these patents are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     For purposes of description, bagging machine  10  will be described as having a front or forward portion or end  14  and a rear or rearward portion or end  16 . Machine  10  is provided with one or more material receiving assemblies or conveyors  18  at its forward end and one or more material receiving assemblies or conveyors  20  between the forward end and the rearward end. Conveyors  18  and  20  may be in the form of: (1) a feed table such as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,377; (2) a hopper such as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,736; (3) a feed mechanism such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,753; (4) a feed mechanism such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,860; or (5) a hopper such as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,140,802; 5,419,102; and 5,724,793. The complete disclosures of the above-mentioned patents are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     Material receiving assemblies  18  and  20  are configured to receive the material to be bagged and to deliver the same to a material packing assembly  22 , which may be positioned at the forward end or portion of a tunnel  24 . Material packing assembly  22  may be: (1) a rotor such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,396,753; 5,297,377; 5,799,472; 5,295,554; (2) a screw conveyor such as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,140,802 or 5,419,102; (3) a plunger as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,793; or (4) the packing fingers described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,061. The complete disclosures of the above-mentioned patents are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     While not required, bagging machines  10  of the present disclosure may also include a density control assembly. A density control assembly as used herein refers to structures or devices that are coupled to the bagging machine and used to control or adjust the packing density of the material being packed into the bag. A variety of density control assemblies and methods may be implemented with the bagging machine of the present disclosure some examples of which include backstop control systems, internal control systems, and drag resistance control systems. 
     In early bagging machines, a backstop structure yieldably engaged the closed end of the agricultural bag to resist the movement of the bagging machine away from the filled end of the agricultural bag as silage is forced into the bag. These machines included a pair of drums rotatably mounted on the bagging machine with a brake associated therewith for braking or resisting the rotation of the drum with a selected brake force. A cable is wrapped around the drum and is connected to the backstop. Examples of such bagging machines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,687,061 and 4,046,068, previously incorporated by reference. 
     In more recent bagging machines, an internal density control assembly including one or more cables was positioned in the flow of the agricultural material being bagged. In order to vary the packing density of the material in the machine, more or less cables would be employed based on the material being packed. In other embodiments, a single cable is employed in an arched configuration and the width of the arch is varied to vary the packing density. In still other embodiments, one or more cables are used with an anchor attached to the rearward ends thereof with the anchor being adjustable and/or the length of the cable being adjustable to control the packing density. Examples of these and other alternative configurations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,297,377; 5,425,220; 5,463,849; 5,464,049; 5,517,806; 5,671,594; 5,775,069; 5,671,594; 5,857,313; 6,443,194; 6,655,116; 6,694,711; and RE38,020, the complete disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     More recently, drag resistance density control assemblies have been developed using belts or straps disposed between the bagged material and the ground. In these embodiments, a drag member, such as one or more belts or straps, is attached to the bagging machine or the tunnel and extends rearwardly behind the tunnel. The drag member is positioned between the bagged material and the ground and may be disposed inside the bag or outside the bag. The weight of the bagged material on the drag member slows the advance of the bagging machine and increases the packing density of the agricultural material in the bag. The packing density of the material in the bag may be established prior to beginning the bagging operation or may be adjusted as the bag is being filled. The packing density is established or adjusted, at least in part, by controlling the amount of drag member surface area disposed under the weight of the bagged material. Density control assemblies for agricultural bagging machines that include drag members are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,748,724 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/867,593. The complete disclosures of the above-identified patent and patent application are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     Tunnel  24  may be semi-circular, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or it may be square, rectangular, circular, oblong, or other such configurations. Tunnel  24  may be open at the bottom, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or may be at least partially closed at the bottom, as will be discussed below. As used herein, the term “tunnel” should be understood to signify a horizontal passageway open at both the forward end or portion thereof and the rearward end or portion thereof. The size of the tunnel, measured by either longitudinal length or cross-sectional area, at any particular time may be dependent on a number of factors including the diameter of the bag being filled, the type of material being bagged, the configuration of the tunnel such as semi-circular or circular, and whether bagging machine  1   0  is configured to be transported on a highway where machine width is a limiting factor. Various tunnels are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,899,247; 5,396,753; 5,297,377; 5,799,472; 5,398,736; 5,355,659; 5,295,554; 5,140,802; 5,419,102; 5,421,142; 5,724,793; 5,894,713, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the material packing assembly  22  of the bagging machine  10  may include a rotor  26 . Rotor  26  may process material received by the conveyors  18  and/or  20 . The bagging machine  10  may also include a cab  28 , such as an operator cab for operating the bagging machine  10 . The cab  28  may be attached to the frame or chassis  12 . 
     In addition, the bagging machine  10  may include one or more radiators  30  located behind the cab. The conveyor  18  is shown in a first position in  FIG. 1  located substantially above and behind the cab  28 . The conveyor  18  is shown, with reference to  FIG. 2 , in a second position, substantially slopping from above the cab toward the ground in front of the cab. In the second position, the conveyor  18  is capable of receiving material from an unloading vehicle  32  ( FIG. 4 ) and transferring the material up the slope of the conveyor  18  toward the material packing assembly  22 . As material is emptied from an unloading truck  32  onto the conveyor  18 , debris such as dry particulants, chaff, and/or other wind-blown materials cloud the area near the front of the cab  28 . The one or more radiators  30  are preferably placed behind the cab  28  in order to protect and/or isolate the one or more radiators  30  from the debris near the front of the cab  28 . Failure to properly isolate the one or more radiators  30  may result in clogging the coils of the radiator such that the one or more radiators  30  become incapable of properly performing their function of cooling the engine and motor systems of the bagging machine  10 . 
     With continued focus on  FIG. 2 , the conveyor  18  may include one or more side panels  34 . The side panels  34  may run along the length of the conveyor  18  and may decrease in height and/or width between the two side panels  34  as the side panels  34  run along the length of the conveyor  18  from a front portion  36  of the conveyor  18  toward a rear portion  38  of the conveyor  18 . The increased width between the two side panels  34  at the front portion  36  of the conveyor  18  permits a relatively wide unloading vehicle  32  and its doors or gates  40  to properly dock within the two side panels  34 . As material is removed from the unloading vehicle  32  onto the front portion  36  of the conveyor  18 , the relatively wide distance between the two side panels  34  will ensure that substantially all of the material is received by the conveyor  18 . Further, one or more funneling slides  42  of the side panels  34  direct the material toward the center of the conveyor  18 . At the center of the conveyor  18 , a conveyor belt or other mechanism along the length of the conveyor  18  moves the materials from the front portion  36  toward the rear portion  38 . 
     The conveyor  18  may be angled at an incline or slope greater than thirty degrees, for example, thirty-two degrees. At thirty-two degrees, most material loaded onto the conveyor  18  will, as it moves up the incline toward the rear portion  38 , tumble downwards toward the front portion  36 . Such tumbling may serve to process the material as the material is moved toward the material packing assembly  22 . As the material is tumbled along the conveyor  18 , an increased amount of material may, as it tumbles downward, reside at or near the front portion  36  of the conveyor  18 . Because the side panels  34  increase in height and width at the front portion  36  of the conveyor  18 , the front portion  36  forms a reservoir of the conveyor  18  which is larger than the reservoir formed at the rear portion  38  of the conveyor  18 . 
     The side panels  34  may also be folded along a hinge and/or pivot toward each other and the center of the length of the conveyor  18 . Side panels  34  are illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a folded position and in  FIGS. 2 through 4  in an open position. 
     Conveyor  18  may also include a bottom skid  44  at the front portion  36  of the conveyor  18 . The bottom skid  44  may be substantially horizontal or parallel with the ground when the conveyor  18  is placed in the second position. The bottom skid  44  may receive any material which is unloaded directly below the rear most edge of an unloading vehicle  32 . A conveyor belt  46  along the length of the conveyor  18  may travel through and/or around at least a portion of the bottom skid  44 . Conveyor  18  may also include a wheel and/or vehicle obstruction  48  located at the front-most portion of the conveyor  18 . The obstruction  48  may operate as a wheel block or stop for the wheels  50  of an unloading vehicle  32 . When the rear-most wheel  50 , or other structure, of the unloading vehicle  32  comes into contact with the obstruction  48 , the operator of the unloading vehicle  32  will sense resistance and will understand that the unloading vehicle  32  is likely at the proper unloading position at the front portion  36  of the conveyor  18 . 
     The obstruction  48  also resides near the conveyor belt  46  and bottom skid  44 . By residing between an unloading vehicle  32  and the conveyor belt  46 , bottom skid  44 , and remainder of the bagging machine  10 , the obstruction  48  serves as an additional protection to the structure of the bagging machine  1   0 . Thus, a rear wheel  50  of an unloading vehicle  32  that is in contact with the obstruction  48  may be effectively obstructed from contact with the bottom skid  44  and/or conveyor belt  46 , permitting the conveyor belt  46  and the bottom skid  44  to function properly. 
     The obstruction  48  may also be formed in a rounded, circular, and/or wheel-like shape which, if placed in contact with the ground, is capable of being moved in a forward and/or rearward direction while the conveyor  18  is in the second position. The conveyor  18  may also include one or more support structures  52  in contact with the ground. The support structures may be capable of providing a foundation and/or platform between the ground and the remaining components of the conveyor  18  such that the conveyor  18  may rest upon the ground. The support structures  52  may be wheels and/or other structures capable of, similar to certain embodiments of the obstruction  48 , moving in forward and/or rearward directions when the conveyor  18  is in the second position. 
     The conveyor  18  may include one or more bottom braces  54 . A bottom brace  54  may secure the front portion  36  of the conveyor  18  to the forward end  14  and/or chassis  12  of the bagging machine  10 . A bottom brace  54  may serve to stabilize the front portion  36  of the conveyor  18  and/or maintain a substantially fixed distance between the front portion  36  of the conveyor  18  and the front portion and/or forward end  14  of the bagging machine vehicle  10 . One or more of the bottom braces may be removably attached to the conveyor  18  and/or the forward end  14  or any other portion of the bagging machine  10 . Thus, the braces  54  may be attached when the conveyor  18  is in the second position and in use and detached when a conveyor  18  is not in use, needs to be moved between the second position and/or the first position, and/or resides in the first position. 
     Similar to the bottom braces  54 , the bagging machine  10  may include a top brace  56 . The top brace  56  may be located at or near the rear portion  38  of the conveyor  18 . The top brace  56  may be secured to the rear portion  38  of the conveyor  18  and the remaining structure of the bagging machine  10 . For example, the top brace  56  may be directly and/or indirectly secured to the chassis  12 . The top brace  56  may be formed, at least partially, as a slide having a ramp  58  and/or one or more side panels  60 . The ramp  58  and/or side panel  60  may form a slide, chute, channel, or other structure capable of conveying material from the rear portion  38  of the conveyor  18  toward another portion of the bagging machine  10 . Further, the top brace  56  may serve to stabilize the rear portion  38  of the conveyor  18  when the conveyor  18  is in the second position. When the conveyor  18  is in the first position as shown in  FIG. 1 , the top brace  56  may fold downward toward the cab  28  of the bagging machine  10  to provide a path and/or space for the conveyor  18  to reside above and/or behind the cab  28 . 
     The bagging machine  10  may include at least one fulcrum  62 . The bagging machine  10  includes a very large number of moving parts, many of which are of significant weight and/or structure capable of damaging the other parts of the bagging machine  10  if such parts were permitted to come into contact with each other during movement. One of the advantages of a fulcrum  62  is to provide a pivot point on which certain portions of a bagging machine  10  may slide, pivot, and/or move without coming into potentially damaging contact with other portions of the bagging machine  10 . For example, the fulcrum  62  discussed with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3  may provide a pivot point for the conveyor  18  as the conveyor  18  moves between the first position and the second position. 
     The conveyor  18  may include one or more rails  64  along the length of the bottom surface of the conveyor  18 . As the conveyor  18  is moved between the first and second positions, the rail  64  may come into contact with and/or slide along the pivot point of the fulcrum  62  in order to gracefully guide, direct, and/or provide a support for the weight of the relatively long conveyor  18 . The fulcrum  62  is optimally positioned at a location above the cab  28  (and/or other structure of the bagging machine  10 ) requiring protection from the conveyor  18  as it is moved. Thus, the fulcrum  62  permits the conveyor  18  to slide along the fulcrum  62  along the first and second positions without coming into contact with the cab  28 . 
     The conveyor  20  may include many of the same features as the conveyor  18 . For example, the conveyor  20  may form a reservoir for receiving the material at a front portion  66  of the conveyor  20  and transferring the material along an upward incline using a conveyor belt  68  toward a rear portion  70  of the conveyor  20 . The conveyor belts  68  and  46  discussed herein, may include any belt, escalator, track system, and/or other structure formed of rubber, metal, metal alloy, and/or other material capable of transferring a material from location to another location. 
     The conveyor  20  may also include one or more side panels  72  along the length of the conveyor  20 . The side panels  72  may be foldable, similar to the side panels  34  of the conveyor  18 . The conveyor  20  may be aligned along the length of the bagging machine  10  with the chassis  12 , conveyor  18 , top brace  56 , and/or material packing assembly  22  in order to transport and/or process materials received from an unloading vehicle  32  from the front end  14  of the bagging machine  10  to the rear end  16  of the bagging machine  10 . The conveyor  20  may be set at an upward incline capable of tumbling the material as the material is moved upward along the slope toward the packing assembly  22 . 
     The conveyor  20  forms a large reservoir for the material which effectively doubles, or otherwise significantly increases, or the material reservoir capacity of the bagging machine  10 . The increased reservoir capacity and material tumbling abilities of the bagging machine  10  adapt the bagging machine to receive the material from at least two unloading vehicles and to convey the material from the two separate unloading vehicles  32  continuously toward the material packing assembly  22  without interruption between an exchange of the unloading vehicle  32 . 
     In other words, as a first unloading vehicle  32  empties, the loading vehicle  32  is removed from its position at the front portion  36  of the conveyor  18 . For a brief period, the conveyor  18  does not receive any materials from any unloading vehicle  32 . However, during this time, the conveyor  18  and conveyor  20  continue to tumble, process, and/or convey the material from the first unloading vehicle  32  toward the material packing assembly  22 . 
     Later, a second unloading vehicle is docked and placed directly in front of the front portion  36  of the conveyor  18 . The material from the second unloading vehicle  32  is then loaded onto the conveyor  18 , providing additional material to the bagging machine  10 . This additional material from the second unloading vehicle  32  combines with the material of the first unloading vehicle  32  which is currently tumbled, processed, and/or conveyed along conveyors  18  and/or  20 . The combination of the two groups of materials provides a continuous, uninterrupted flow of material into the material packing assembly  22 . In this manner, the conveyors  18  and/or  20  operate as staging reservoirs for the material as loading of the material on the conveyor  18  is interrupted between the exchange of unloading vehicles  32 . 
     As discussed previously, and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the material packing assembly  22  may include a rotor  26 . The rotor  26  may be powered by two differential-driven belts  74  applying torque to two planetary gear boxes  76  housed within the central cavity of the rotor. The two differential-driven planetary gear boxes  76  are capable of providing a conversion of torque to speed using a variety of separate gears and gear ratios. By converting torque into various speeds, the two planetary gear boxes  76  are capable of driving the rotational speed of the rotor  26  at different revolutions-per-minute. For example, in one embodiment, one or more planetary gear boxes  76  may drive the rotor  26  speed as slow as fifteen revolutions-per-minute and as fast as sixty revolutions-per-minute. 
     The cab  28  may include operator controls such as a rotor operation control, a first conveyor operation control, and a second conveyor operation control. The conveyor operation controls may operate the speed and/or power of the conveyors  18  and/or  20 . Likewise, the rotor operation control may control the power, torque, and/or speed applied to the rotor  26 . The transmission and planetary gear boxes  76 , also referred to herein as gear assemblies, may be adapted to process a maximum amount of material through the rotor  26  using a minimum amount of torque and minimum revolutions-per-minute of the rotor. A transmission employed by the bagging machine  10  may be, for example, automatic and/or manual. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , and with additional reference to  FIG. 5 , the rotor  26  may be a relatively large diameter rotor capable of housing one or more planetary gear boxes  76  or other gear assemblies within the cavity of the rotor. The rotor may also be relatively large in diameter in order to minimize the width of the rotor  26  while maximizing the total effective surface area of the rotor  26  capable of processing the material through the material packing assembly  22  and into the tube  24 . For example, conventional rotors are typically approximately 132 inches wide and 22 inches in diameter when measuring the outside diameter of the swing of the teeth. By contrast, the rotor of the present invention may be approximately 100 inches wide and 30 to 50 inches in diameter. For example, the rotor  26  may be approximately 40 inches in diameter when measured from the outside diameter of the teeth  78  attached to the rotor  26 . The teeth  78  of the rotor may reside on a rotor pipe that is approximately 26 inches in diameter with a ½ inch thick wall. In order to maximize material processing, the relatively large diameter rotor  26  provides a surface area for three symmetrical patterns of tines or teeth  78  arranged along the outer surface of the rotor  26 . 
     In embodiments where the transmission system of the bagging machine  10  is automatic, the transmission may automatically shift from one gear into another gear when the material in contact with the rotor  26  causes an increase in resistance against the rotating direction of the rotor  26 . This shift from one gear to another may slow the rotational speed of the rotor  26  under the same amount of torque, increasing the power of rotor  26  to enable it to process the material having an increased resistance to the rotor  26 . Likewise, an automatic transmission may automatically shift from one gear to another gear when the material in contact with the rotor  26  causes a decrease in resistance against the rotating direction of the rotor  26 . In this example, the rotational speed of the rotor  26  may increase until a desired amount of resistance between the material and the rotational direction of the rotor is reached. Similarly, an operator within the cab  28  or operating a transmission control located elsewhere on the bagging machine  10  may manually shift the transmission from one gear to another gear in order to adjust the rotational speed of the rotor  26 . In the examples above, the transmission may be powered by the motor of the bagging machine  10  to convert torque from the motor to different rotational speeds of the rotor  26 . 
     Various auxiliary systems and structures may provide the necessary operational support to any system or component of the bagging machine  10 . For example, fuel tanks  80  may provide reservoirs for one or more motors or engines of the bagging machine  10 . Additionally, hydraulic power systems may exist in order to move and/or control the movement of various components of the bagging machine  10 , such as the conveyor  18  from between the first position and the second position, the operation of the material packing assembly  22  and/or the size, movement, and/or operation of the tunnel  24 . 
     After the material is processed, mashed, and/or shredded into small fibers by the teeth  78  of the rotor  26  from the material packing assembly  22 , the material enters into the central chamber or cavity of the tunnel  24 . As previously discussed, a tunnel of the bagging machine  10  will optimally be capable of resizing between larger and smaller diameters. Thus, the tunnel  24  is capable of moving, for example, from a diameter of approximately 14 feet to a diameter of approximately 12 feet and further to an even narrower diameter of approximately 118 inches (or less than 10 feet) for transportation within a single lane of freeways and/or highways on American, European and/or other roads.  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the three different positions of a 14-foot width  82 , a 12-foot width  84 , and a 118-inch width  86 . Thus, the bagging machine  10  includes and inline conveyor system of conveyor  18  and conveyor  20 , a narrow rotor  26  with internal planetary gear boxes  76 , and/or an expandable and collapsible tunnel  24  which provide a relatively narrow width of the bagging machine  10 . In one embodiment, the mobile bagging machine  10  is less than about 118 inches wide at its widest point. 
     The expandable, collapsible, and/or retractable tunnel  24  will now be discussed in greater detail and with simultaneous reference to  FIGS. 6 through 8 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , a tunnel  24  expanded to a width  82  of 14 feet is shown. The tunnel  24  is an expandable, collapsible, and/or retractable tunnel. The tunnel  24  may include an expandable base  88  and an expandable tunnel portion secured to the base  88 . The expandable base  88  may include a first telescoping member  90  and a second telescoping member  92 . The first telescoping member  90  may reside at least partially in movable communication with the second telescoping member  92 . For example, the first telescoping member  90  may slide at least partially within the second telescoping member  92  in a manner that changes the overall combined length of the first telescoping member  90  and second telescoping member  92  forming the expandable base  88 . 
     The expandable base  88  serves to provide structural support for the remaining portion of the tunnel  24 . In addition, the expandable base  88  may provide a downward sloping ramp for receiving and/or transferring the material received from the rotor  26  and packing assembly  22  of the bagging machine  10 . As the material slides down the downward slopping ramp of the expandable base  88 , the material advances to a rearward end of the tunnel  24  and into a bag or other receptacle for the material. 
     Referring simultaneously to  FIGS. 6 and 8 , each of the telescoping members  90  and  92  of the base  88  may require one or more support structures  94  within the base  88 . The one or more support structures  94  may be formed within either of the telescoping members  90  and/or  92 . The support structures  94  are capable of maintaining the shape of the downward slopping ramp of the base  88  under the weight and pressure of material processed by the packing assembly  22 . The support structures should be configured to enable interlocking material of either of the telescoping members  90  and/or  92  to interlock with material of the other telescoping member in a manner that ensures smooth telescoping movement between the first telescoping member  90  and the second telescoping member  92 . 
     Referring primarily to  FIG. 6 , the expandable tunnel may also include a first expandable portion  96  and a second expandable portion  98 . The first expandable portion  96  and/or second expandable portion  98  may include structure capable of modifying, collapsing and/or retracting the overall internal width, diameter, and/or volume of the tunnel  24 . 
     The entire outer arch of the tunnel  24  may be formed of a first end  100 , the first expandable portion  96 , a central portion  102 , the second expandable portion  98 , and/or a second end  104 . The first expandable portion  96  may include a first intermediate portion  106 . The first intermediate portion may be connected to the first end  100 , and the central portion  102 . The second expandable portion  98  may include a second intermediate portion  108 . The second intermediate portion may be connected to the second end  104  and central portion  102 . 
     The central portion  102  of the tunnel  24  may be formed of a flexible and/or pliable material such as a thin sheet of aluminum. The first and/or second ends  100  and/or  104  may be formed of a material such as a metal that is more rigid and/or less flexible or pliable than the material of the central portion  102 . The first intermediate portion  106  and second intermediate portion  108  may both be secured to the central portion  102  by means of a hinge or similar movable connection. Similarly, the intermediate portion  106  may secure by means of a hinge or similar connection to the first end  100 , and the second intermediate portion  108  may be hinged or otherwise secured to the second end  104 . The first end  100  and/or second end  104  may include a first movement stop  110  and/or a second movement stop  112 , respectively. The movement stops  110  and  112  may include any structure near and/or integrated with the hinge between the first and second intermediate portions  106  and  108  and their corresponding first and second ends  100  and  104 . The first end and/or second movement stops  110  and/or  112  may for example be a hinge stop. The hinge stop, in this particular embodiment discussed with reference to  FIG. 6 , is a flap of material overlapping on the outside surface of the bottom portion of either the first intermediate portion  106  and/or second intermediate portion  108 . 
     The hinge stops prevent the first and/or second intermediate portions  106  and/or  108  from rotating away from the inner cavity of the tunnel  24  beyond a substantially coplanar relationship with the first and/or second ends  100  and/or  104  when the first and/or second expandable portions  106  and/or  108  are in an expanded state. As shown in  FIG. 6 , with the width  82  of 14 feet, the first and/or second intermediate portions  106  and/or  108  are shown in their expanded state. Similarly, the first and second telescoping members  90  and  92  are shown in  FIG. 6  as expanded and telescoped outwards enabling the width  82  of the tunnel  24  to be approximately 14 feet. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the tunnel  24  may move from its expanded state as shown in  FIG. 6  to a collapsed or retracted state as shown in  FIG. 7 . In the collapsed or retracted state, the first intermediate portion  106  and/or second intermediate portion  108  have rotated toward the inner cavity of the tunnel  24  along substantially parallel hinges between the central portion  102  and the first and/or second ends  100  and/or  104  respectively. The first and/or second intermediate portions  106  and/or  108  have rotated inward along the parallel hinges to form one or more folds between the central portion  102  and the first end  100  and/or second end  104 . 
     When one or more folds are formed by the intermediate portions  106  and/or  108 , the central portion  102  overlaps with the first end  100  and/or second end  104  toward the inner cavity of the tunnel  24 . When the central portion  102  is overlapped toward the inner cavity of the tunnel  24 , the first end and/or second expandable portions  96  and/or  98  are placed in a retracted state. 
     In the retracted or collapsed state, the tunnel  24  may include an internal width and/or diameter  84  of approximately 12 feet. When the expandable tunnel  24  is in its expanded state as shown in  FIG. 6 , a large organic material packing bag may be used in connection with the tunnel  24 . When the expandable tunnel  24  is in its collapsed or retracted state as shown in  FIG. 7 , the expandable tunnel  24  may be used in connection with a small organic material packing bag. Organic material packing bags larger than 14 feet and smaller than 12 feet in diameter may be used in connection with the expandable tunnel  24 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 7 , the expandable tunnel  24  in its retracted state may include one or more folds along the first expandable portion  96  and/or second expandable portion  98 . Further, the expandable base  88  may be collapsed and/or retracted by sliding the first telescoping member  90  and second telescoping member  92  together such that, in this particular example embodiment, the total overall length of the first and second telescoping members  90  and  92  of the expandable base  88  are approximately 12 feet in length. 
     When the first and/or second expandable portions  96  and/or  98  are placed in a folded and/or retracted or collapsed state, the material within the inner chamber of the tunnel  24  may force the central portion  102  against the first and/or second intermediate portions  106  and/or  108 . The first and/or second intermediate portions  106  and/or  108  are then in turn forced against the respective inner surfaces of the first end  100  and the second end  104 . In this manner, densely-packed material residing within the inner chamber of the expandable tunnel  24  in its collapsed state will cause the tunnel  24  to remain in its collapsed state until the material is removed from the inner chamber of the tunnel  24 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a rear view of the bagging machine  10  is illustrated showing the tunnel  24  in three example positions: the expanded state having a width  82  of approximately 14 feet, the retracted state having a width  84  of approximately 12 feet, and a further retracted state having a width  86  of approximately 118 inches. The rear view of the bagging machine  10  further illustrates the rotor  26  seen through the central cavity of the tunnel  24 . 
     In addition, the bagging machine  10  and/or tunnel assembly may include one or more panels such as a central panel  114 , a first side panel  116 , and/or a second side panel  118 . The panels  114 ,  116 , and  118  may form part of the material bagging assembly and/or packing assembly  22  or may form part of the tunnel  24 . The central panel  114  is in a corresponding shape with the central portion  102  of the tunnel  24 . The central panel  114  may at least partially enclose the inner cavity of the expandable tunnel  24  near the central portion  102  at a forward end  120  ( FIG. 7 ) of the expandable tunnel  24 . The expandable tunnel  24  may also include a rearward end  122  ( FIG. 7 ). The central panel  114  may be secured to any portion of the bagging machine  10  by means of a hinge or other pivoting connection capable of rotating and/or otherwise moving or adjusting the central panel  114  in relation to the forward end  120  of the tunnel  24 . The position of the central panel  114  may need to be adjusted as the expandable tunnel  24  is expanded and/or collapsed. To facilitate movement control of the central panel  114 , a hydraulic cylinder may also be secured to a portion of the central panel  114 . 
     The first and/or second side panels  116  and/or  118  may respectively include first and/or second expandable side panels  124  and/or  126 . The first and/or second side panels  124  and/or  126  may be raised and/or lowered in order in increase and/or decrease the overall surface area of the first and/or second side panels  116  and/or  118 . The first and/or second side panels  116  and/or  118  operate similar to the central panel  114  in that they are used to at least partially enclose the inner cavity of the tunnel  24 . The first and/or second side panels may be hinged to any portion of the mobile bagging machine  10  such that the first and/or second side panels  116  and/or  118  may rotate upon an axis or otherwise adjust their location and/or position with respect to either side of the front portion  120  of the tunnel  24 . Thus, the first and/or second side panels  116  and/or  118  may be used and/or moved to accommodate various widths of the tunnel  24  as it expands and retracts. 
     The panels  114 ,  116 , and/or  118  operate to further enclose the chamber of the tunnel  24  in order to prevent the material from escaping the tunnel  24  at the forward end  120 . Panels  114 , 116 , and/or  118  and expandable side panels  124  and/or  126  may be formed of any material, for example, sheet metal, a metal alloy, a polymer, rubber, and/or another material capable of enclosing a space. A pliable, flexible, and/or malleable material with sufficient strength and/or rigidity to contain the material within the chamber of tunnel  24  may be preferable. Such material may move to accommodate the expanding and/or retracting of the tunnel  24  yet maintain sufficient enclosure for the material. 
     The bagging machine  10 , or any other mobile or immobile bagging machine, may be operated in conjunction with bag installation and/or deployment systems and/or methods. Example bag installation and deployment systems and methods are described with reference to  FIGS. 10 through 18 . Referring to  FIG. 10 , a bag system  128  may be secured to the rearward portion or end  16  of a bagging machine  10  near a tunnel  24 . The bag system  128  may include a support structure  130  (for example, a trolley conveyor frame), a movable winch or crane frame  132  (for example, a movable trolley crane), at least one bag attachment  134  (for example, a bag spoon), and/or at least one bag support structure  136  (for example, a bag pan, belt, grid, grate, bars, or similar structure). 
     The structure  130  may be secured to the rearward portion or end  16  of a bagging machine  10  and be situated above the top of and extend beyond the rear of a tunnel  24 . The structure  130  should be sufficiently strong to at least partially bear the weight of the frame  132 , attachment(s)  134 , and a bag installed thereon and deployed therewith. The structure  130  may include at least one brace  138  and/or at least one rail  140 . The brace(s)  138  may serve to stabilize and support the rail(s)  140 . The rail(s)  140  may be situated parallel to each other. The rail(s)  140  may serve to provide a path upon which the movable frame  132  may travel. 
     The frame  132  may be secured to the rail(s)  140  such that the frame  132  may move between and along the length of the rail(s) from a front end  142  of the structure  130  to the rear end  144  of the structure  130 . The frame  132  may include at least one retraction structure such as a crane and/or winch  146  and at least one cable guide  148 , such as a roller. The winch  146  may rotate under the force generated by a motor secured to the frame  132 , structure  130 , and/or bagging machine  10 . When rotated, the winch  146  may wind or unwind cable  150  around the shaft of the winch  146 , depending upon the direction of rotation of the winch  146  shaft. The term “cable” as used herein and in the claims is defined broadly to include any cord, rope, chain, or other elongated structure capable of attaching to and/or pulling another structure. The cable guide(s)  148  serve to direct the cable  150  outwards towards the ends and away from the center of the winch  146  shaft in order to ensure that the cable  150  remains at the ends of the winch  146  shaft, thus drawing the remaining portions of the cable  150  towards opposite ends of the winch  146  shaft. The ends of the cable  150  opposite the winding ends of the cable may be attached to the bag attachment(s)  134 . Thus, as the cable  150  winds upon the winch  146  shaft, the cable  150  and bag attachment(s)  134  are drawn towards the ends of the winch  146  shaft and separate cable guides  148 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the bag attachment(s)  134  may include two bag attachments  134  or a single bag attachment  134  that includes at least two bag attachment points capable of moving away from each other and of actively spreading and opening two separate sections of a bag. The two bag attachments  134  or single bag attachment  134  with two bag attachment points is a significant improvement over prior art bag cradles, which operate as single, unified structures incapable of spreading or separating in relation to itself and incapable of actively spreading or separating two separate sections of a bag during installation. Each of the two bag attachments  134  may be secured to separate cables  150 , which cables  150  are in turn secured to opposite ends of the winch  146  shaft. The cables  150  may each be crimped, tied, locked, or otherwise secured at one end of the cables  150  to each end of the winch  146  shaft through holes in the center of the shaft, and at the other end of the cables  150  to holes in a cable termination  152  at each bag attachment  134 . Each cable termination  152  may be include a rounded and/or tubular external surface. Each cable guide  148  may likewise include a rounded and/or tubular external surface. In one embodiment, both the terminations  152  and the guides  148  include rounded tubular external surfaces substantially parallel to each other. In such embodiment, when the winch  146  rotates the cables  150  around the winch, the cables  150 , bag attachments  134 , and terminations  152  are drawn towards the winch  146  and guides  148 . As the terminations  152  reach and are pulled towards the guides  148 , the rounded tubular external surfaces of the terminations  152  align with the rounded tubular external surfaces of the guides  148 , such that the terminations  152 , attachments  134 , and guides  148  become parallel with each other. Even after the terminations  152  contact and become parallel with the guides  148 , the tubular external surfaces of the terminations  152  may roll and rotate upon the tubular external surfaces of the guides  148 , enabling the attachments  134  to sway towards and away from each other. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , a bag attachment  134  may include a cable termination  152 . The cable termination  152  may be any structure capable of securing attachment  134  to another portion of a bag machine. Bag attachment  134  may also include bag carry portion  154  and a bag retainer portion  156 . The bag carry portion  154  may include any structure capable of at least partially bearing the weight of a bag. In this example, the bag carry portion  154  includes a rounded top surface with a thin, yet strong profile and a relatively large surface area capable of both easily engaging with a folded bag when it sits in a shipping box and suspending the bag in the air when the attachment  134  and it associated cable  150  are retracted by a winch  146 . A rounded, smooth, and slick surface of the bag carry portion  154  engage with an underside of a top portion of a folded bag in a manner that permits the bag carry portion  154  to slide along the inner circumference of the folded bag. 
     The bag retainer portion  156  may be formed to permit a space between the bag retainer portion  156  and the bag carry portion  154  sufficiently large to receive, install, and/or deploy at least a portion of a folded bag. The bag retainer portion  156  may include a fixed retainer  158  and/or a movable retainer  160 . The fixed retainer  158  may secure the termination  152  and the bag carry portion  154 . The fixed retainer  158  may also be pivotally or movably secured to the movable retainer  160  upon a hinge  162 . The hinge  162  may permit the movable retainer  160  to pivot upon the fixed retainer  158  and away from the bag carry portion  154 , causing the space between the bag carry portion  154  and bag retainer portion  156  to open and increase. 
     When the movable retainer  160  is pivoted away from the bag carry portion  154  and in open position, a portion of a folded bag may be easily inserted into the space between the bag retainer portion  156  and the bag carry portion  154 . Upon full or partial insertion of the bag into the space between the bag retainer portion  156  and the bag carry portion  154 , the movable retainer  160  may be moved back into closed position by pivoting the movable retainer  160  upon the hinge  162  towards the bag carry portion  154 , until the opening in the space between the movable retainer  160  and the bag carry portion  154  is substantially closed. At least a portion of the bag may remain in the substantially closed space between the movable retainer  160  and the bag carry portion  154 . 
     The movable retainer  160  may include an angled wedge  164 . The angled wedge  164  may be located at the end of the movable retainer  160  opposite the hinge  162 . The angled wedge  164  may be formed at an angle less than ninety degrees from the body of the movable retainer  160 . When at least a portion of a folded bag is inserted in the space between the bag retainer portion  154  and the bag carry portion  154 , and depending upon the orientation of the attachment  134 , the angled wedge  164  may bear the weight of at least a portion of the folded bag, causing the angled wedge  164  and movable retainer  160  to be directed towards the bag carry portion  154 . Further, during operation of a bagging machine and deployment of a bag from the bag system, the bag may be drawn and metered from between the substantially closed space between the bag carry portion  154  and the angled wedge  164  and away from the space formed between the bag carry portion  154  and the bag retainer portion  156 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13 through 15 , a bag support structure  136  may be secured to a rearward or back end  16  of a bagging machine  10  beneath a tunnel  24 . The bag support structure  136  may be lowered ( FIG. 13 ) and raised ( FIG. 14 ). The bag support structure  136  may include a hinged retaining lip  166  at the rear end of the structure  136 . The hinged retaining lip  166  may be lowered ( FIG. 13 ) and raised ( FIG. 14 ) under the control of a chain, cable, or other structure connected to a power source, such as a motor. The bag support structure  136  and hinged retaining lip  166  may be lowered in order to receive the bottom portion of a folded bag when the top portion of the folded bag is installed on at least one bag attachment  134 . After at least a portion of the bag is received upon the top surface of the bag support structure  136 , the bag support structure  136  and/or hinged retaining lip  166  may be raised. In the raised position, both the bag support structure  136  and retaining lip  166  serve to retain at least a portion of the bag during operation of a bagging machine as the bag is deployed by the bag system. Similar to the angled wedge  164 , the retaining lip  166  permits the bag to be slowly drawn and metered away from the retaining lip  166  and bag support structure  136  as the bag is filled with material during operation of the bagging machine. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 15 through 17 , the retaining lip  166  may be lowered ( FIG. 15 ) and raised ( FIG. 16 ) while pivoting upon a hinge  168  as a chain  170 , cable, or other structure connected to a power source, such as a motor, pulley, or hydraulic piston, is extended or retracted. Likewise, the bag support structure  136  may be raised and lowered when powered by a hydraulic cylinder, piston  172 , or similar structure. The extension and retraction of the bag support structure  136  and retaining lip  166  may share the same or coordinated mechanism(s) such that both extend and retract simultaneously under the influence of a shared or coordinated structure(s). For example, the chain  170  may extend to cause the bag support structure  136  to drop to its lowest level. When the bag support structure  136  rests upon the ground or other inferior structure, the chain  170  may continue to extend causing the retaining lip  166  to relax and drop into open position. Conversely, the hydraulic piston  172  may retract, causing the chain  170  to retract. As the chain  170  retracts, the retaining lip  166  is pulled up into closed position until it reaches, e.g., a ninety degree angle with the plane of the bag support structure  136 . The hinge  168  may then prevent further rotation of the retaining lip  166  which remains locked into position with the bag support structure  136 . The chain  170  may then continue to retract, causing the bag support structure to retract towards the piston  172 . In another embodiment, the chain  170  retracts and/or extends the hinge  168  while the hydraulic piston  172  retracts and/or extends the bag support structure  136 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 18 , and generally to  FIGS. 10 through 17 , a method of installing a bag on a bagging machine is described. The winch  146  unwinds as cables  150  unravel away from the winch  146 , allowing attachments  134  to reach a bag  174  within a box  176 . The attachments  134  are slipped into position around the pre-folded upper portion of the bag  174 . Attachments are small enough to easily fit around the upper portion of the bag  174  yet large and strong enough to bear the weight of the bag  174  during bagging machine operation and bag deployment. The small, portable nature of the attachments  134  is a significant improvement upon prior systems, such as bag cradles, that require operators to lift the top portion of the bag and place it upon the cradle. Since some bags can be very heavy, e.g., 1200 pounds, requiring operators to lift or manipulate the bag without the leverage, power, or assistance of machinery is inconvenient, awkward, and often unsafe. 
     After the bag attachments  134  are attached to the bag  174 , the winch  146  winds the cables  150  towards the winch  146 , the cable guides  148  spread the cables  150 , attachments  134 , and top bag portion. The tunnel  24  is preferably retracted to its narrowest position to permit the opening of the bag  174  to fit over and around the tunnel  24  as the bag  174  is raised off of the ground towards the support structure  130 . The angled wedge  164  and retainer portion  156  on the attachments  134  hold the bag  174  from falling off during installation and from premature deployment during operation of the bagging machine and filling or packing of the bag  174 . 
     As the bag  174  is lifted from the ground and later moved from the rear end  144  of the support structure  1   30  towards the front end  142  of the support structure, the bottom portion of the bag  174  drags upon the ground towards the direction of the bag support structure  136 . The bag support structure  136  and retaining lip  166  are lowered and moved towards toward the bag  174 , e.g., approximately two feet. An operator may then slide the bottom portion of the bag  174  onto the bag support structure  136 , and the bag support structure  136  and retaining lip  166  are retracted into closed position. The frame  132  is also moved to its forward-most position on the support  130 . The bag  174  is then fully installed around the tunnel  24  and prepared for deployment to be filled by material from the tunnel  24  during operation of the bagging machine  10 . 
     The claimed invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.