Patent Publication Number: US-6708469-B2

Title: Wrapping machine

Description:
This application is a division of co-pending Application No. 09/994,854 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,276, filed on Nov. 28, 2001, which is a Division of Ser. No. 09/463,361 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,470, filed Jan. 24, 2000. Application No. 09/994,854 is the national phase of PCT International Application No. PCT/IE98/00066 filed on Jan. 24, 1998 under 35 U.S.C. §371. The entire contents of each of the above-identified applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a wrapping machine, in particular to a bale wrapping machine. The invention also concerns a combined compacting and wrapping machine for compacting material into bales and wrapping the bales with plastics film. The invention is particularly concerned with a machine for forming bales of agricultural silage, grain, hay, straw, maize, beet pulp, beet tops, and the like (hereinafter referred to as “fodder”) and wrapping the formed bales with a plastics film, which preferably is air tight and water tight. The machine of the invention may also be used for compacting and wrapping general farm and agricultural waste products, such as waste plastics and the like, and for compacting and wrapping other loose materials and objects such as comminuted peat moss, saw dust, wood shavings, wood chippings, brewery waste, bricks, blocks, cartons and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It has become conventional practice in agriculture to form harvested fodder into cylindrical-shaped bales, and square or rectangular bales, which are then wrapped in a plastics film. This is particularly suitable method of manufacturing silage because the silage is kept air-tight within the wrapped bale which, typically, is wrapped with up to six plies of plastics. The cylindrically shaped bales are commonly called “big round bales”. 
     In the present method of producing wrapped bale fodder, such as silage, at least three machines are used. Firstly the grass or other fodder for use as silage is cut, in a field, by a cutting machine. A conventional baling machine then traverses the field, picks up the cut grass, compacts it into a round bale, ties it with twine, and deposits it on the ground. A bale wrapping machine then traverses the field, picks up the compacted and tied bales, and wraps the bales with several layers of a plastics film, and drops the wrapped bales on the ground. The wrapped bales are subsequently gathered and brought to a storage area. Alternatively, the compacted and tied bales may be transported to the storage area before wrapping and are wrapped in the storage area by a bale wrapping machine. 
     A typical conventional round baling machine is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,380 B. The grass or other fodder to be harvested is lifted from the ground by a collecting device, and fed to a pressing chamber of the machine where it is wound into a cylinder by rotatable rollers, disposed in a circular array, to form a round bale. When a bale of the desired diameter or density is formed a binding cord or twine is wound around the bale to keep it intact during further handling. The bale is then discharged onto the ground. 
     Machines for wrapping the large bales, formed by the baling machine, with a plastics film are described, for example, in EP 0539549B, GB 2191984A, GB 2228246A and EP 0209034A (GB 2159489B). 
     Bale wrapping machines of the kind described comprise a wheeled chassis which may be towed by a tractor. The chassis carries a tipping platform which, in turn, supports a turntable. The turntable is rotatable about a vertical axis. The turntable carries a pair of spaced rollers each of which rotates about a horizontal axis. An endless belt is stretched between the rollers and rotates with the rollers. In order to wrap a large round bale of fodder material with plastics film, the round bale is lifted onto the turntable by means of lifting arms. The bale rests on the endless belt. The free end of a roll of plastics film is attached to the bale and the turntable is then rotated about a generally vertical axis to cause the sheet of film to be wrapped around the bale. However, if no movement of the bale about its longitudinal axis were to occur the bale would merely be wrapped with a single band having the thickness of the width of the plastics film. However, on each rotation of the turntable the endless belt is caused to move for a predetermined distance which, in turn, causes the bale to roll about its surface, i.e. about a horizontal axis. This rolling of the bale on the belt allows a new area of bale to be wrapped by the film on each rotation of the turntable, thus eventually achieving a complete covering of the bale with substantial degree of overlap of the plastics film. 
     In the bale-wrapping machines described above the bale to be wrapped is mounted on a turntable which rotates about a vertical axis, and the dispenser for the roll of plastics film is fixed. It is the rotation of the bale about the vertical axis which causes the film to be unrolled from the dispenser. However, it is also known from the prior art, for example in EP-B-0110110, DE 3642513A, and GB 2193683A, for the bale to be mounted on rollers which rotate the bale only about the horizontal axis. In this arrangement there is provided a rotary support arm for the film dispenser which rotates the film dispenser, about a vertical axis, around the bale, while the bale is being turned about a horizontal axis. 
     The conventional methods of producing wrapped bale fodder as described above suffers from a number of disadvantages. Firstly, it is an expensive operation because of the number of machines, tractors, and manpower utilised. A conventional bale wrapping machine of the kind described above is capable of wrapping about 40 large round bales of fodder per hour. To produce 40 round bales per hour requires the services of two conventional round baling machines, each of which requires a tractor and, a driver for the tractor. Because the conventional baling machines use a pressing and winding system to compact and form the bale of fodder, the density of bale obtained is not particularly high. In other words, the volume or weight of fodder contained in the formed bale is not as high as desired. Furthermore, with conventional bale wrapping machines there is a high degree of overlap of the plastics film resulting in a high cost. 
     With conventional baling machines it is necessary to tie the bales with twine, or enclose it within netting material as otherwise the bale will break apart upon ejection from the baling machine or during further handling. The necessity to tie the bales in the conventional baling machines adds to the cost of the machine because a tying mechanism must be provided in the machine. For the user there is the additional cost of providing twine or cord. 
     More particularly, the provision of twine or cord on conventional large round bales is a great inconvenience to the farmer because he must cut off the twine before feeding out the fodder. Also, because the bales are formed by winding the fodder into a cylindrical shape the bale may be unrolled during the feeding out operation, and special machines are used for this purpose, as described in GB 2158111 A. Alternatively the bale is shredded. It is almost impossible to remove all the twine from the bale without breaking or unrolling the bale in some way. 
     Another disadvantage of conventional baling machines is that they are unable to handle crops which are cut to a short length such as maize silage or short cut grass (i.e. “precision chopped” material), because it is difficult to tie such bales with twine. Also, conventional baling machines have a compaction chamber of a fixed size and are capable of producing a bale of a fixed size only. 
     Compactors for use in compacting waste products such as bulk waste and garbage by means of rollers which press down and simultaneously rotate axially within a compaction chamber are known. Such compactors are described for example in WO 93/099328 (EP 0618863 B), and EP 106268. However, such compactors are not known for use in compacting round bales of fodder for subsequent wrapping. U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,409 B discloses a silage compression apparatus for compressing forage into a compact stack comprising a plurality of rollers which rotate around the inside of a cylindrical confining ring. However, this apparatus is for use in producing pit silage and is not suitable for producing bales of silage which can be handled or wrapped in, plastics film. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to overcome certain of the disadvantages of the known apparatus and to provide an improved wrapping machine for wrapping bales of loose material. It is also an object of the invention to provide a combined compacting and wrapping machine for compacting fodder and other materials into compact bales and wrapping the bales in plastics film. It is a further object of the invention to obviate the need for tying the bale with cord or twine, or enclosing the bale in netting, or other secondary containment means before wrapping. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a wrapping machine for wrapping materials, in particular compacted bales of material, with a strip of wrapping material characterised in that it comprises a first wrapping station having wrapping means for applying a strip of wrapping around the bale to partially wrap the bale in wrapping material, a second wrapping station having wrapping means for applying a strip of wrapping material around the bale to completely wrap the bale in wrapping material, and transfer means for transferring the partially wrapped bale from the first wrapping station to the second wrapping station. 
     The first wrapping station includes a wrapping platform for supporting the bale during partial wrapping of the bale, and the second wrapping station has support means for the bale and means for rotating the bale about a substantially horizontal axis, and the transfer means is swingable, to transfer the bale, through approximately 90° from the first wrapping station to the second wrapping station. 
     The support frame for the bale at the second wrapping station is pivotable from a normally horizontal position, through approximately 90 20  , to a position in which engagement means on the support frame engage with complementary means on the wrapping platform, and the wrapping platform is pivotally mounted, such that when the support frame is returned to its original horizontal position it causes the wrapping platform to swing from a normally horizontal position, through approximately 90°, to deposit the partially wrapped bale onto the support frame at the second wrapping station 
     The first wrapping station includes wrapping means comprising a dispenser for dispensing a strip of wrapping material, such as a plastics film, and means for rotating the dispenser, about a substantially vertical axis, around the bale to partially wrap the bale, and the second wrapping station includes means, for rotating the bale about a substantially horizontal axis, and at least one dispenser, for dispensing a strip of wrapping material and means for rotating the dispenser around the bale, as the bale is turned about the horizontal axis. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a combined compacting and wrapping machine for compacting material, such as fodder, loose materials, and the like, into a bale and wrapping the bale with a wrapping material, such as plastics film comprising a compacting station including a compactor for compacting loose material into a bale and means for moving the compacted bale from the compacting station to at least one wrapping station having means for wrapping a strip of wrapping material, suitably a plastics film, around the bale. The compacting station and wrapping station are combined in a single machine by mounting them on the same chassis or platform. 
     In one embodiment, the machine includes a first wrapping station where partial wrapping of the compacted bale takes place, a second wrapping station where wrapping is completed, and means for transferring the partially wrapped bale from the first to the second wrapping station. 
     In another embodiment, the machine includes first wrapping means located at the compaction station for partially wrapping the compacted bale at the compaction station, and transfer means for transferring the bale to a second wrapping station where wrapping is completed. 
     Preferably, the compactor comprises a compaction chamber, open at the top, means for directing loose material into the chamber, a rotating compaction head including at least one roller rotatable over the loose material within the compaction chamber, and capable of moving within the compaction chamber to compact loose material accumulating within the chamber. Suitably, the compaction chamber is vertically oriented. Preferably, the rotating compaction head is carried on at least one (but optionally two) downwardly extending support arm which extends into the chamber, and the support arms is slideable in a vertical direction along a vertical support column mounted on the machine. Suitably, the compaction head, which rotates about a substantially vertical axis, carries two rollers which are rotatable about substantially horizontal axes. 
     In another embodiment, the compaction chamber is provided with doors opening in a side thereof, and is moveable along the machine from the compacting station to the first wrapping station so as to deposit a compacted bale of material at the first wrapping station. 
     The first wrapping station includes a wrapping platform for supporting the bale during wrapping, wrapping means comprising a dispenser for dispensing a strip of wrapping material, such as a plastics film, a rotary support arm for the dispenser, and means for rotating the support arm and dispenser, about a substantially vertical axis, around the bale. 
     The invention includes a second wrapping station, means for swinging the said wrapping means from the first wrapping station to the second wrapping station, and means at the second wrapping station for rotating the bale about a substantially horizontal axis while the dispenser is rotated, about a substantially vertical axis, around the bale. The means for rotating the bale about a horizontal axis may include a conveyor. 
     The invention also includes means for transferring the partly wrapped bale from the first wrapping station to the second wrapping station, including turning the bale through approximately 90°. The transferring means includes a support frame for the conveyor, which is pivotable from a normally horizontal position, through approximately 90°, to a position in which it engages the wrapping platform which is pivotably mounted on the machine, and means for swinging the wrapping platform, and any bale carried on the platform, together with the support frame, back to the normal horizontal position of the support frame to deposit the bale on the conveyor. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the compaction chamber is moveable upwardly in a vertical direction as the bale is being formed to expose a part of the partially-formed bale, and wrapping means are included to wrap an exposed part of the bale with wrapping material as the compaction chamber is raised. In particular, the top and bottom corner portions of the bale are wrapped at this location. Thus, in this embodiment the first wrapping station is coincident with the compaction station. Transfer means are provided, as described above, for transferring the partially wrapped bale to the second wrapping station. 
     The invention includes methods of forming and wrapping bales of fodder and other materials comprising the use of apparatus as described above. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Some embodiments of the invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing the prior art arrangement for baling and wrapping fodder in the field; 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 are rear and front perspective views, respectively, of a first embodiment of a combined compacting and wrapping machine of the invention; 
     FIGS. 4 to  8  are side elevations of the machine of FIG. 2, at different stages in the wrapping operation; 
     FIGS. 9 and 10. are end elevations of FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively. 
     FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the machine of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the machine showing transfer of a bale to a second wrapping station; 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevation of details of a transfer mechanism; 
     FIG. 14 is a plan view of a wrapping platform of FIG. 13; 
     FIGS. 15 and 16 are a side elevation and rear perspective view, respectively, showing the wrapping of a bale at the second wrapping station; 
     FIG. 17 is a side elevation showing details of a tipping mechanism; 
     FIG. 18 shows a detail of the drive means for a rotating compaction head; 
     FIGS. 19 and 20 show details of modifications to the rotating compaction head; 
     FIG. 21 shows a side elevation of a second embodiment of a combined baling and wrapping machine of the invention showing one method of use; 
     FIG. 22 is a view similar to that of FIG. 21 showing an alternative method of use; 
     FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of a combined agricultural baling and wrapping machine of the invention; 
     FIG. 24 is a side elevation of the machine of FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 25 is a plan view of the machine of FIG. 24; 
     FIG. 26 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 23 showing the compacting of the bale; 
     FIGS. 27 and 28 are a perspective view, and side elevation, respectively, of the machine showing the transfer of a bate from a compacting station to a first wrapping station; 
     FIG. 29 shows a detail of FIG. 28; 
     FIGS. 30 and 31 are a perspective view, and a side elevation, respectively, of the machine showing the wrapping of the bale at the first wrapping station; 
     FIGS. 32 and 33 are side elevations of the machine showing the wrapping of the top and bottom, respectively, of the bale at the first wrapping station; 
     FIGS. 34 to  36  are elevations of the machine showing the transfer of a partly wrapped bale from the first wrapping station to a second wrapping station; 
     FIGS. 37 and 38 are a perspective view and elevation, respectively, of the machine showing the wrapping of the bale at the second wrapping station; 
     FIG. 39 is an elevation of the machine showing the tipping of the fully wrapped bale from the machine; 
     FIG. 40 is a side elevation showing a modification of the operation of the transfer means for transferring a partly wrapped bale to the second wrapping station; 
     FIGS. 41 and 42 are side elevations showing a modification of the first wrapping station; 
     FIGS. 43 to  45  are perspective views of a further embodiment of the invention showing the wrapping of a bale of bricks; and 
     FIGS. 46 and 47 are perspective views of yet a further embodiment showing the wrapping of a bale of bricks. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings this shows the known conventional method of baling fodder and wrapping the formed bales in plastics film. Grass, or other fodder crop, is harvested by a conventional mowing machine (not shown) and is left on the ground to wilt. Subsequently, the wilted grass  70  is picked up from the ground by a conventional baling machine  71  which is towed by a first tractor  72 . The baling machine  71  forms the fodder into a round bale  73 , which is tied with binding twine and tipped onto the ground. The bale is then picked up, off the ground, by the loading arm of a conventional bale wrapping machine  74 , which is towed by a second tractor  75 . The bale is wrapped in plastics film by the bale wrapping machine  74 , and the wrapped bale is tipped onto the ground from where it is subsequently collected. Thus the conventional method requires the utilisation of two separate machines and two tractors, and two operators. As explained above under the background of the invention, if the full capacity of the bale wrapping machine  74  is used, there is a requirement to have two separate baling machines  71  and tractors  72 . 
     A first embodiment of a combined compacting and wrapping machine of the invention, and its method of use, is illustrated generally in FIGS. 2 to  20 . The machine, which is towed by a tractor comprises a compacting station  1 , a first wrapping station  2 , and a second wrapping and tipping station  3 . The compacting station  1  includes a vertical compactor  10 . 
     In the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the machine of the invention incorporates an integral forage harvester  84 . This is similar to that shown in FIG.  22  and comprises an array of tines  85  for picking-up the silage  70 , in well known manner. The silage is fed by an auger  86  to a chopping unit  87 , where the silage is cut into small pieces by an array of rotating blades which rotate relative to fixed blades. The precision chopped silage is blown by a fan through a chute  87  which feeds it directly to the open top of a compaction chamber  7 . Thereafter the chopped silage is baled and wrapped as hereinafter described. 
     The first embodiment of a combined compacting and wrapping machine of the invention comprises a compacting station  1 , a first wrapping station  2 , and a second wrapping station  3 . The stations  1 ,  2  and  3  and the component parts thereof as described below are all mounted on a chassis  4  having a pair of wheels  5 . The chassis has a hitch  6 , at a front end thereof, for attachment to a tractor  80  (see FIG.  22 ). In this embodiment the compacting station  1  and the first wrapping station  2  are located coincident with each other. 
     Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the compacting station  1  comprises a vertical compacting chamber  7 . The chamber  7  is substantially cylindrical in shape with an open top  8 . It is also open at the bottom. 
     A compactor  10  is positioned in the open top  8  of the compacting chamber  7 . The compactor  10  is supported on a pair of vertical support columns  11  mounted to each side of the chassis  4 . A pair of downwardly inclined support arms  12  are each mounted on a respective column  11  and each is slideable in a vertical direction along the columns  11  by means of hydraulic rams  29 . The supports arms  12  carry a rotating compaction head  15  consisting of rollers  13  formed with cleats  14  on the surface thereof (see FIGS. 18 to  20 ). 
     As shown in FIG. 18, a hydraulic motor  87  fed from a hydraulic power pack driven by the tractor or its own engine is mounted on top of a cylindrical housing  84  on the end of inclined support arms  12 . This motor drives a “T” Gearbox  85  with counter rotating output shafts onto which the rollers  13  are mounted. The housing of the gearbox  85  is attached to a hollow shaft  86  which is free to rotate in housing  84 . The shaft of motor  87  is connected to the input shaft of gearbox  85  through hollow shaft  84  by shaft  88 . Thus hydraulic motor  87  simultaneously rotates compacting head  15  and rollers  13  when rollers  13  are in contact with forage in compacting chamber  7 . 
     FIGS. 19 and 20 show details of alternative arrangements of the wheel rollers  13  of the rotating compacting head  15 . The particular roller arrangement used will depend upon the material to be compacted because it has been found that certain roller arrangements or combinations operate more satisfactorily that others for certain materials. 
     The compacting wheels or rollers  13  may be of different shapes, e.g. they may be of cylindrical or of conical shape. The number of rollers  13  may vary, e.g. the compacting head  15  may support two, three or four rollers  13 . The drive arrangement for the roller  13  may also vary. For example, the compacting head  15  may be powered for rotation while the rollers  13  are freely rotatable but not powered. Alternatively, the rollers  13  are powered for rotation while the head  15  is freely rotatable but not powered. In yet another arrangement both the head  15  and the rollers  13  are powered for rotation. 
     FIG. 19 shows an arrangement of compacting head  15  in which the head  15  is rotated by hydraulic motor  87  as described above. In this embodiment there are three freely-rotatable conical rollers  13 . 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the rotary head  15  is driven by a hydraulic motor  87  mounted on the end of the support arm  12 . The motor  87  is connected to a planetary reduction gear box  99 , which has a drive-output spigot  79 . A drive shaft  77  is detachably mounted to the spigot  79 , for example by a retaining screw. Rollers  13  are carried on the lower end of the shaft  77  by inclined stub axles  78 . A roller  13  is journalled for free rotation on the end of each axle  78 . Thus, rotation of the shaft  77  causes the compaction head  15  to rotate. In the drawing two rollers  13  are shown. However, the head  15  may easily be detached from the spigot  79  and replaced with a head  15  containing three or more rollers. The rollers  13  may be fitted with cleats where appropriate. 
     In this first embodiment the cylindrical compaction chamber  7  is moveable in a vertical plane, and the first wrapping station  2  is disposed coincident with the compaction chamber  7  to wrap the bale  20  as it is exposed by raising of the chamber  7 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cylindrical compaction chamber  7 , which is open at top and bottom, is attached to the arms  12  and is moveable vertically on the columns  11  by means of the hydraulic rams  29 . In its lowered position the chamber  7  fits over a wrapping platform  30  of the first wrapping station (see FIG.  4 ). The platform  30  is fixed, and is circular in plan and in the lowermost position of the chamber  7  it fits within the bottom of the chamber  7 . 
     In this embodiment a first bale wrapping means is provided at this location. As shown in FIG. 4, this comprises a vertically disposed support arm  93  which carries a film dispenser  94 . The support arm  93  rotates, in a circular path, around the circumference of the chamber  7 . The arm  93  is fixed to a circular ring  95  which is rotatable on rollers (not shown) attached to the outer wall of the chamber  7 , adjacent the top thereof. A belt or chain (not shown), driven by a hydraulic motor, runs around the outer circumference of the circular ring  95  causing it to rotate. The circular ring  95  thus carries the arm  93  and film dispenser  94  in a circular path around the outside of the chamber  7 . 
     In use, loose cut grass, silage, or other fodder is blown directly from a separate forage harvester  81  (see FIG.  21 ), or preferably, by an integral forage harvester  84  (see FIG. 2) of the machine of the invention, into the compaction chamber  7  where it is pressed down by the rotating compaction head  15 . The compaction head  15  rotates, about the vertical axis, around the inside perimeter of the chamber  7  with the cleated rollers  13  constantly rolling over the top surface of the grass as it is compacted and builds up in the cylinder to form a bale  20 . Simultaneously the rotating compaction head  15 , and the chamber  7 , are moved by the hydraulic rams  29  vertically upwardly along columns  11  as the grass builds up in the compaction chamber  7  (see FIGS. 9 and 10 which shows the compactor head  15  within the chamber  7 ). The vertical movement of the rotating compaction head  15  is hydraulically restricted, and acts to exert a downward force on the bale of fodder being formed so that efficient compaction of the fodder to a high density is achieved. The hydraulic ram pressure on the compaction head  15  is adjustable by either hydraulic of electro-hydraulic means. When a pre-set compaction pressure on the compaction head  15  is achieved a signal is sent to lift the hydraulic ram to raise the compaction head  15  until the hydraulic pressure on the compactor head  15  is again below the pre-set value, whereupon the ram presses the compaction head  15  downwardly again. The cleats  14  press the fibres in the grass or other fodder to extract air from the fodder and to remove the “spring back” from the bale which is a problem with some conventional balers. Thus, when the bale is fully formed and the rotating compaction head  15  is lifted off the formed bale  20  there is very little springing back of the fodder and the bale retains its high density. 
     As the chamber is filled with fodder, the compaction head  15  is operated to compact the material within the chamber  7  as described above. Simultaneously, the chamber  7  is raised vertically along the columns  11  by means of the hydraulic rams  29 . The upward travel of the chamber  7  exposes the bottom portion of the partly-compacted bale  20  which rests on platform  30 . 
     The film dispenser  94  is then rotated around the exposed cylindrical surface of the bale to wrap the bale, in well known manner, with plastics film from the dispenser and continues to operate until all of the exposed surface of the bale is wrapped, including an overlap of the bottom and top comers of the bale. 
     As already noted in FIG. 4, the bottom portion of the chamber  7  overlaps the platform  30  at the start of the compacting cycle. This enables the start of the wrapping operation to be delayed until after the chamber  7  is raised to clear the platform  30  and expose the bale for wrapping. This has the advantage of avoiding contact between the dispenser  94  and rotating dispensers at the second wrapping station. 
     FIG. 5 shows the start of the wrapping operation. The chamber  7  is shown partly raised on the columns  11  by rams  29  to expose the bottom part of the bale  20  which is shown being wrapped by film dispenser  94  with a layer of plastics film  44 . It will be noted that the film  44  overlaps the outer surface of a lower part of the chamber  7 . As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, because the dispenser  94  is mounted on the circular track  95  attached to the chamber  7 , the dispenser  94  is raised vertically in synchronisation with the chamber  7 . As the chamber  7  is raised it detaches from the overlapped portion of wrapping film which is then pressed against the sides of the bale  20 . At the end of the wrapping cycle the wrapping film is severed by a cut and start device in well known manner. A suitable cut and start device is described for example in IE S80403. 
     FIGS. 6 and 9 show the bale  20  fully formed but still partially retained within the raised chamber  7 . It will be appreciated that during compaction the rotating head  15  rises in unison with the chamber  7 , and the rotating head  15  is always spaced a short distance, above the lower edge of the chamber  7  such that a portion of the partly-formed bale  20  is within the chamber (see FIG.  9 ). 
     Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 10, these illustrate the position at the end of the compaction step. The bale  20  is fully formed, but the rotating head  15  remains on the top surface of the bale  20 . However, the chamber  7  has been lifted by a pair of hydraulic rams  105 . This reduces the risk of damage to the bale  20  as the chamber  7  is lifted clear of the bale  20 . 
     FIG. 8 shows the position when the chamber  7  and rotating head  15  are both raised above the formed and partially wrapped bale  20 . 
     All of the bale  20  has now been wrapped except for the end portions. However, the film  44  has wrapped around the top and bottom corners of the bale as shown most clearly in FIG.  13 . The partly-wrapped bale is now transferred to the second wrapping station  3 . This is achieved by transfer means  50  described below. The transfer means  50  tilts the bale  20  onto a conveyor belt  63  where wrapping of the bale is completed by a rotary film dispenser  41  as described below. 
     To reduce the height to which the chamber  7  needs to be lifted on the columns  11  to allow clearance of the bale  20  during the tilting movement (shown in FIG. 8) a top portion  88  of the chute  87  is pivoted to a lower part of the chute  87  by a pivot  92 . A hydraulic ram  98  is connected between the chute  87  and the top portion  88 . Operation of the ram  98  causes the portion  88  to tilt forwards to provide clearance for the bale, which is now transferred, by transfer means  50 , to the second wrapping station  3 . 
     The transfer means  50  is adapted to turn the partly wrapped bale  20  through approximately 90° onto a second wrapping platform where the ends of the bale  20  are wrapped in plastics film. At the first wrapping station the bale  20  stands on its end with its longitudinal axis in a vertical position. It is turned so that its longitudinal axis lies in a horizontal plane, coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the machine. A similar transfer means is utilised in the second embodiment and is illustrated e.g. in FIGS. 31 and 34 to  36 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 8,  11  and  12  the transfer means  50  comprises a normally horizontally-disposed frame  51  having an upright  52 , which carries a hook  54  pivotally connected thereto. The frame  51  carries a conveyor support frame  56  which is pivotally connected thereto by brackets  58 . A pair of spaced driven belt rollers  61 ,  62  are mounted for rotation on the support frame  56 . An endless belt  63  is mounted for rotation about the belt rollers  61 ,  62  in well known manner. The belt  63  forms a conveyor floor on which the bale  20  may be rotated about its longitudinal axis as hereinafter described. 
     The frame  51  is pivotally attached to the chassis  4  at a bracket  53 . A hydraulic ram  55  is pivotally attached at one end to a bracket  57  on the chassis  4  and at the other end is pivotally connected to a bracket  59  on the underside of the frame  51 . Extension of the ram  55  thus acts to swing the frame  51  and the conveyor frame  56 , through approximately 90°, from the position shown in FIG. 8 to the position shown in FIG. 34 where the belt  63  abuts the side of the partly wrapped bale  20 . 
     In this position the hook  54  engages with a bracket  66  on a frame  67  (see FIG.  34 ). The frame  67  supports the wrapping platform  30  and ram assembly  31 . The frame  67  is pivotally connected to the chassis  4  at pivot  53 . 
     The ram  55  is then retracted to swing the frame  51 , back, through 90°, to its original position. As it swings back the frame  67  together with the platform  30  and the partly-wrapped bale  20  are also swung, through 90°, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 35 to the second wrapping station  3 , where the bale rests on the belt  63 . In this position the ends  27  of the bale are exposed for wrapping. As shown in FIG. 36 the platform  30  and ram assembly  31  are returned to their original position under spring bias. 
     A modified arrangement for the bale support platform  3  at the first wrapping station is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. During the wrapping operation the first layer of wrapping film is caused to overlap the platform  30  (see. FIG. 13) to form a sleeve around the platform. To assist in detaching the formed bale  20  from the platform  30  during the transfer to the second wrapping station the platform  30  is adjustable in diameter. 
     FIG. 14 shows a plan view of the platform  30  and a transfer plate  106 . It consists of two overlapping parts  108  and  109 . Part  108  is crescent shaped and part  109  is near circular. Part  108  is slideable under part  109 . When the platform  30  is horizontal the parts  108 ,  109  are fully extended to form a complete circle. 
     When the partly-wrapped bale  20  is being transferred to the second wrapping station as described above, the support frame  67  for the platform  30  pivots, from a horizontal position, about pivot  53 , to the vertical position shown in FIG. 13. A strut  110  is pin-jointed to pivot  111  at one end, at its other end it is pivotally connected to the bottom of a pivot arm  107 . Arm  107  pivots, near its centre, about pivot  112  on a bracket attached to the underside of part  109 . The other (top) end of pivot arm  107  is pin-jointed to one end of a short strut  113 , The other end of the strut  113  is pin-jointed to the part  108 . 
     The pivot  111  is located rearwardly of pivot  53 . Thus when the plate  30  is moved through 90° as shown in FIG. 14, this causes the linkage struts/arms  110 ,  107  and  113  to move which, in turn, cause the part  108  to slide relative to part  109 . This reduces the diameter of the wrapping platform  30  (to the size shown in broken line in FIG.  14 ). Thus, when the arm  67  and platform  30  are retracted from the vertical position back to the horizontal, the reduction in the overall size of platform  30  enables it to detach more easily from the portions of the wrapping film  44  which overlap the corners of the bale  20  and the platform  30 . 
     As the platform  30  returns to its normal horizontal position the linkage described above operates in the opposite direction to extend the overlapping parts  108 ,  109  such that the platform  30  assumes its full size. It will be appreciated that the linkage may be replaced by hydraulic means to cause relative movement of parts  108 ,  109 . 
     FIGS. 15 and 16 show the next stage in the baling and wrapping operation. The formed bale  20  is undergoing wrapping at the second wrapping station  3 , while the compaction chamber  7  has been lowered to its lowermost position to begin compaction of a new bale. 
     The means for wrapping the bale  20  at the second wrapping station  3  comprises a wrapping dispenser  41  containing a roll of plastics film in well known manner. This is carried by a support arrangement comprising fixed struts  36  which extend rearwardly from the top of the columns  11  and support a hydraulic motor  37  which drives a rotary arm  38  in a circular path around the endless belt  63 . the rotary arm  38  is telescopically extendible in a horizontal plane. At least one vertically disposed wrapping arm  40  depends downwardly from the end of the rotary arm  38 . The dispenser  41  is mounted on the end of this arm. Optionally, as shown in FIG. 15 two film dispensers  41 , disposed at 180° to each other; may be used. These rotate in unison around the bale  20 . 
     The film dispenser  41  is of well known construction and may include a pretensioning unit through which the plastics film is fed and stretched. The film dispenser may include a cut and start device for severing the film at the end of wrapping, e.g. of the kind shown in IE S80403. 
     To commence wrapping a free end of the plastics film is attached to the bale  20 . The film dispenser  41  is then caused to rotate around the bale  20  to wrap the remainder of the bale in plastics film in well known manner. 
     Simultaneously, the endless belt  63  is operated to turn the bale  20  about its horizontal axis in well-known manner, to achieve a complete wrapping of the bale  20  with at least two layers of plastics film. 
     The second wrapping station  3  may comprise wrapping apparatus of the kind described in EP 539549, for example, where the be it  63  has a substantial sag. Alternatively, the belt  63  could be replaced by an array of rollers for turning the bale. 
     When the bale is fully wrapped it is tipped from the endless belt  63  by a tipping mechanism as illustrated in FIG.  17 . As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 39, a ram  60  causes the support frame  56  to pivot about a pivot  69  in the frame  51 . As the bale  20  is tipped rearwardly it comes in contact with a pivot platform  48  (FIG.  17 ). This is supported and held in place by two arms  45  which are pivoted to the chassis  4 . The downward movement of the arms  45  is restricted by two hydraulic accumulator rams ( 46 ). As the weight of the bale  20  comes onto the pivot platform  48  it causes the arms  45  to swing down onto the ground, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 17, against the bias of the rams. The bale  20  is thus lowered gently onto the ground. The forward movement of the machine pulls the pivot platform  48  from underneath the stationary bale  20 , and the arms  45  are then raised by the rams  47  to their upper position. The inner ends of the arms  45  are pivotally connected to brackets  46 , one on each side of the machine. The free outer ends of the arms  45  are pivotally connected to the respective ends of the pivot platform  48 . The platform  48  is pivotally connected to the arms  45  intermediate its width so that it is freely rotatable between the arms. 
     The tipping device of the invention has the advantages that it enables the wrapped bale, which is heavy, to be lowered gently onto the ground. This is important because if the bale is not gently dropped the wrapping may be punctured by stalks or stones. The tipping device is designed so that it can deposit the bale on the ground either lengthways or on its end. 
     A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 21 to  39 . This embodiment also includes a compacting station  1 , a first wrapping station  2  and a second wrapping station  3 . However, unlike the previous embodiment the first wrapping station  2  is located rearwardly of the compaction chamber  1 . 
     The compacting station  1  includes a vertical compactor  10  and a hopper  9  for feeding material to the compactor  10 . However, in this embodiment the compaction chamber  7  is not raised vertically, as in the previous embodiment, but moves horizontally as described below. 
     In a typical use of this embodiment a conventional forage harvester  81 , for example of the type marketed under the tradename “Tarup”, or model “FCT850” as sold by J. F. Farm Machinery is used in conjunction with the machine of the invention. Grass, or other suitable forage crop, is cut in the field by a mower and left to wilt for a day or so. The forage harvester  81 , which is towed by a tractor  82 , picks up the cut grass (silage), precision cuts the silage into short lengths and blows the chopped silage through a feeding chute  83  into the hopper  9  of the compacting station of the invention. The precision cut silage is then baled and wrapped as hereinafter described. With this arrangement the forage harvester  81  travels in tandem with the machine of the invention. 
     Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 22 the machine incorporates an integral forage harvester  84  as described in the previous embodiment. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 23 to  26 , as in the previous embodiment the compaction chamber  7  is vertically oriented, is cylindrical in shape, and has an open top  8 . The hopper  9  is mounted above the open top  8  and feeds cut grain, precision chopped silage, and other material to be baled into the chamber. 
     In this embodiment, a single vertical support column  11  is mounted at the front of the machine. A downwardly inclined support arm  12  is mounted on the column  11  and is slideable in vertical direction along the column by means of a hydraulic ram. The support arm  12  carries, at its lower end a compaction head  15  having two rollers  13 . The compaction head  15  operates as described above, in relation to the first embodiment, and like reference numerals denote like parts. 
     Material to be baled is directed into the compaction chamber  7  by the hopper  9  and it is compressed by the compaction head  15  as described above. 
     The hopper  9  retains a reasonable volume of loose fodder such that there is a constant feed to the compaction chamber  7 . 
     When the bale  20  is fully formed the rotating compaction head  15  is lifted clear of the top of the bale, and is so designed as to simultaneously close off the outlet from the hopper  9  to prevent further feed of fodder from the hopper during the removal of the bale  20  from the compaction chamber  7 . 
     The compaction chamber  7 , containing the compacted bale  20  is now moved horizontally to the first wrapping station  2 . 
     The compaction chamber  7  is mounted on a conveyor  21  which is driven by a chain drive  22  about rollers  23  and  24  suitably mounted for rotation on the chassis  4 . Wheels or rollers  16  are provided on the conveyor  21  (see FIG.  29 ), and these move in longitudinal channels  17 , to each side of the chassis  4 . The compaction chamber  7  may thus move longitudinally in a horizontal plane along the chassis  4  from the front end towards the rear end of the chassis  4 , as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, until it reaches a circular platform  30  on which the bale  20  is deposited. 
     The chamber  7  is then retracted to its original position at the compaction station  1  leaving the formed bale  20  resting on a platform  30  at the first wrapping station  1 , as shown in FIGS. 27 and 30. The side wall of the compaction chamber  7  is provided with a pair of doors  23  of arcuate shape. The doors  23 , open towards the first wrapping station  2 . As the chamber  7  begins to retract the doors  23 , which are unlocked at this stage, open fully due to the relative movement of the chamber  7  and the bale  20 . 
     As the chamber  7  retracts the doors  23  close automatically. The doors are provided with locks  18  (see FIG. 29) which permit operation of the compactor  10  only when the doors are fully closed and locked. The locks  18  are operated by means of a cam mechanism comprising wheels  19  on the lock which engage cams  24  on uprights  25 . The uprights  25  are joined at the top by a transverse bar  28  which help to strengthen the construction at this location which is subject to high pressure during compaction. The locks  18  comprise substantially triangular-shaped plates welded to the front of the doors  23 . The wheels  19  are journalled for rotation at the apex of the triangles. The wheels engage the cams  24  which are each in the form of an angled ramp inwardly inclined towards the front of the machine. Thus, as the wheels engage and run along the ramps  24 , the inward inclination of the ramp forces the doors to close, until the wheels  19  pass the angled part of the ramp whereupon the wheels  19  lock in position, and in turn lock the doors  23 . Filling of the compaction chamber  7  can then recommence to form a second bale  20  of fodder. 
     At the same time wrapping of the first bale  20  commences at the first wrapping station  2 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 31 and 33 the wrapping station  2  comprises a horizontally disposed wrapping platform  30  which has bevelled edges, to facilitate the wrapping of the lower edges and comers of the bale  20 . A hydraulic ram  31  is positioned below the platform  30  and is adapted to raise the platform  30  upwardly during the wrapping operation (see FIG.  33 ), again facilitating the wrapping of the bale. The diameter of the platform  30  is less than the diameter of the bale  20  so as to expose the edge of the bale for wrapping. For example, the diameter of the platform  30  may be 1.00 m. while the diameter of the bale is 1.04 m. 
     The means for wrapping the bale  20  with a plastics film comprises a vertical support member  35  positioned to one side of the machine (see FIGS. 25,  26  and  27 ) and approximately between the first wrapping station  1  and the second wrapping station  2 . A swinging arm  36  is pivotally mounted on, and extends horizontally from, the support member  35  near the top thereof. The arm  36  is swingable, through approximately 90°, from the position shown in FIG. 31 (as outlined in full lines in FIG. 25) to the position shown in FIG. 37 (as outlined in broken lines in FIG.  25 ). Thus, it can be swung, by hydraulically operable means, from the first wrapping station  2  to the second wrapping station  3 . 
     As shown more particularly in FIGS. 30 and 31, a rotatable hydraulic drive member  37  is mounted on the end of the swingable arm  36 . This carries a rotary support arm  38  which is rotatable about a vertical axis defined by the drive member  37 . A vertically disposed wrapping arm  40  depends downwardly from the end of the rotary support arm  38 . The wrapping arm  40  has a dispenser  41  of plastics film rotatably mounted on the lower end thereof. The hydraulic drive member  37  can thus cause the film dispenser  41  to rotate around the bale  20  along the circular path indicated by the line  42  in FIG.  6 . 
     The film dispenser  41  is of well known construction and may include a pretensioning unit through which the plastics film is fed and stretched. The film dispenser may include a cut and start device for severing the film at the end of wrapping. 
     To commence wrapping a free end of the plastics film is attached to the bale  20 . The film dispenser  41  is then caused to rotate around the bale  20  to wrap the remainder of the bale in plastics film in well known manner. 
     However, unlike conventional bale wrapping machines the machine of the invention is adapted to wrap only the outer circumference  26  of the bale at the first wrapping station  2 . However, the design, and raising, of the wrapping platform  30  permits the film to cover the lower corners of the bale. The wrapping of the bale is further illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33. FIG. 33 shows the platform  30  in a raised position during the wrapping of the lower part of the bale  20 , whereas FIG. 32 shows the upper part of the bale being wrapped, with the platform  30  in the lowered position. 
     The film dispenser  41 , together with the arm  36 ,  37  are automatically raised vertically along the vertical support member  35  by means of a vertically disposed ram  32 , which is attached at a lower end to the member  35  and at the other end to a slideable hinge arrangement  33  for the arm  36  (see FIG.  30 ). A horizontally disposed ram  34  effects the swinging movement of the swinging arm  36 . 
     The arm  38  is telescopic and is horizontally extendible by means of a hydraulic ram  39 . The length of the arm  38  is shortest when it is operable in the first wrapping station. When it is operating in the second wrapping station it is lengthened, as shown in FIG.  37 . The hydraulic rams  34  and  39  are operably looped through a rotary coupling and operate simultaneously such that when the arm  38  is positioned above the first wrapping station the ram  39  and the arm  38  are fully retracted, and are filly extended when over the second wrapping station. 
     Preferably, wrapping commences at the upper part of the bale, as shown in FIG. 32 because it is important to quickly secure the top of the bale which tends to be the loosest part and most liable to falling apart. The dispenser  41  moves vertically downwards as wrapping progresses. Simultaneously, the ram  31  is raised to raise the platform  30  to expose the lower corner of the bale so that the plastics film can wrap over the corner. Suitably, two layers of plastics film are wrapped on the bale at the first wrapping station. 
     It will be noted that the bale  20  has been formed without the use of twine or cord to keep it from falling apart. Because the transfer of the bale  20  from the compacting station to the first wrapping station is effected by means of the movement of the compaction chamber  7  the integrity of the bale is maintained. The first wrapping of the bale at the first wrapping station suffices to hold the bale together. However, if rotation of the bale were to be effected to achieve wrapping, as in a conventional wrapping machine, it is likely that the bale would fall apart at this stage. 
     Thus, no rotation of the bale takes place at the first wrapping station. Instead, after wrapping of the circumference of the bale at the first wrapping station  2 , the bale is transferred, by transfer means  50 , to the second wrapping station  3 . 
     The transfer means  50  turns the partly wrapped bale  20  through approximately 90° onto a second wrapping platform where the ends of the bale  20  are wrapped in plastics film. At the first wrapping station the bale stands on its end with its longitudinal axis in a vertical position. It is turned so that its longitudinal axis lies in a horizontal plane, coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the machine, on the endless belt  63 . The transfer means  50  is the same as that described above in relation to the first embodiment and it operates in the same way. Like referenced numerals in the drawings denote like parts. 
     As the bale  20  is transferred onto the endless belt  63 , simultaneously the swinging arm  36  of the wrapping means is swung over to the second wrapping station  3  as shown in FIG. 37 (illustrated by broken line in FIG.  25 ). The wrapping dispenser  41  is then operated, as before, to wrap the ends  27  of the bale  20  with plastics film. The film dispenser  41  is caused to rotate around the bale  20  along the path  43  indicated by broken lines in FIG.  25 . Simultaneously, the endless belt  63  is driven to rotate the bale  20  about its longitudinal axis to effect a full wrapping of the bale with at least two layers of film, in well known manner. 
     When the bale  20  is fully wrapped it is tipped form the machine as shown in FIG.  39 . This is achieved by means of a ram  60  which causes the support frame  56  to pivot about a pivot  69  on the frame  51 . A tipping arm  68  is optionally provided on the end of the support frame  56 . The arm  68  is slideable in a socket  65 . As the frame  56  tilts the arm  68  is caused to extend, by means of either a mechanical linkage or hydraulic ram, to partly support the bale during tilting. 
     Modifications of the machine described above are shown in FIGS. 40 to  41 , where like reference numerals denote like parts. 
     FIG. 40 illustrates a modification of the operation of the transfer means  50  for transferring the partly-wrapped bale from the first wrapping station  2  to the second wrapping station  3 . In the case of some loose materials undergoing compaction and wrapping there is a danger that a small amount of material may spill or be lost from the top of the bale as it is turned through 90° onto the belt  63 . To avoid this problem the transfer operation is interrupted by control means, after the bale has been turned through about 75° (i.e. at a position where the bale is at approximately 15° to the horizontal). While the bale  20  is in this position the rotary support arm  38  is rotated, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 40, to wrap at least one layer of the wrapping material around the uncovered end of the bale  20 . The transfer of the bale  20  then continues until it lies horizontally on the belt  63 . 
     FIGS. 41 and 42 illustrate a modification of the first wrapping station. In the embodiment described above in relation to FIGS. 31 and 33, the wrapping platform  30  may be raised by ram  31  to facilitate the wrapping of the lower corner of the bale  20 . 
     In the modified version shown in FIGS. 41 and 42, the platform  30  is fixed. Instead, the floor adjacent the first wrapping station is provided with a flap  89  which extends transversely of the floor and is hinged thereto. The flap  89  is moved by a hydraulic ram  90  and moves from a horizontal position, where it forms a part of the floor (see FIG.  42 ), through approximately 90°, to a downwardly hinged position (see FIG. 41) to provide a space between the floor and platform  30  into which the film dispenser  41  on wrapping arm  40 , may be lowered to wrap the wrapping material around the bottom corner of the bale as shown in FIG.  41 . 
     The machine of the invention may be used either as a stationary machine to which the fodder is transported for compacting, baling and wrapping. Alternatively, it may be mobile so as to move around the field picking up the cut grass or other fodder, baling and wrapping it as it moves. Thus, the machine of the invention may have a pick up and chopper system fitted to it or it may be fed by a tractor drawn silage harvester working alongside. Alternatively in the stationary position the grass may be picked up and chopped in the field with a tractor drawn silage harvester and brought to the parked machine in a bulk silage station. The machine would then require either a tractor and loader or have its own self loading arm fitted to load the loose silage and to lift off and stack the wrapped bales. 
     In the embodiments shown, the second wrapping station is located at the end of the chassis  4 . It will be appreciated that, alternatively, it could be located to the side of the machine. 
     Other modifications may be made to the machines described above. For example, he integral forage harvester may be wider than that shown in the drawings to increase output. Also, where the forage harvester is integral with the machine of the invention, it may be detachably secured to the front of the machine in well known manner. Thus, the forage harvester could be unhooked from the machine of the invention for use for other purposes. Also the machine of the invention may include a trailer connected to the rear of the machine so that the fully wrapped bales may be tipped directly onto the trailer instead of onto the ground. 
     In the above description, the compacting chamber is of cylindrical shape to produce cylindrical bales  20 . However, it will be appreciated that different shaped compacting chambers may be used, e.g. rectangular or square shaped. In that case, the second wrapping station may be adapted to wrap square bales e.g. by incorporating the invention of EP 539549 and IE S970777 
     The machine and method of the invention has a number of advantages over existing bale wrapping system, for example: 
     (1) The new machine and method handles much shorter grass than conventional machines, this is a big advantage when the silage is incorporated into a diet using a diet mixer machine. The shorter material makes a much more homogenous mix. 
     (2) The system of the invention will handle maize silage. At present maize silage can only be made in a pit as conventional balers and wrappers cannot handle it. Indeed the invention enables the baling of all fine particulate material, e.g. precision chopped material of a particle size or length or from 15 to 50 mm. Previously, it has been difficult to bale such materials. 
     (3) No twine is required on the bales and so they are much easier to feed. It is very time consuming with the conventional system to cut the twine off bales before feeding. 
     (4) The baler system of the invention produces very high density bales, for example up to twice the density of existing soft centered bales. This reduces the cost of plastic per unit weight of silage by as much as 50%. This makes bale wrapping far more cost effective so that it can compete on cost with pit silage. It is also more environmentally friendly because there is less used plastic to dispose of. 
     (5) The invention requires less plastics per bale because of the improved wrapping technique. With prior bale wrappers the ends of the bale have far more layers of film than the circumference of the bale. With the technique of the invention the circumference of the bale is wrapped first then the ends so in this way the unnecessary extra layers of plastic on the ends of the bales are reduced. 
     (6) The baling system of the invention, with its rotating cleated rotors, presses the grass much more than existing balers. This pressing or conditioning helps to hold the sugars in grass, thus maintaining its feeding value during storage. 
     (7) It is possible to make different length bales on the machine of the invention with very little adjustment. In this way a contractor can make bales to suit the requirement of the individual farmer. Most conventional balers have fixed chamber so they can only make on size of bale. 
     (8) A particularly important advantage of the machine and method of the invention is that they permit the transfer of the compacted bale from the compactor to the second wrapping station without the need for secondary containment means such as cord, twine, netting or the like. The preliminary wrapping of the bale at the first wrapping station, including the overlapping of the comers, enables the bale to be transferred without breaking up. 
     A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 43 to  47 , this is particularly suitable for wrapping bales of bricks, blocks and other discrete items in a plastics wrapping. It may also be used to wrap cartons. 
     In this embodiment, the wrapping machine is mounted on a stationary platform  140  rather than a wheeled chassis. It comprises a wrapping platform  130  which is located at a first wrapping station  2  and a second wrapping platform  121  located at a second wrapping station  3 . 
     Transfer means (not shown) are provided for pivoting the platforms  130  and  121 , through approximately 90 20  , to swing a partly-wrapped bale from platform  130  onto platform  121 . The transfer means is constructed and operates as described above in relation to the first and second embodiments, e.g. as shown in FIGS. 31 and 34 to  37 . 
     Means for wrapping the bale  20  with plastics film comprises a vertical support column  35  which carries a film dispenser  41  which may be swung from the first wrapping station  2  to the second wrapping station  3 . The wrapping means is constructed and operates as described above in relation to FIGS. 25,  26 ,  27  and like reference numerals are used to denote like parts. 
     In use an unwrapped bale  20  of bricks is placed on wrapping platform  130  as shown in FIG. 43, e.g. by means of a grab. The wrapping means is operated to wrap the side walls and corners of the bale with plastics film as previously described. The partially wrapped bale is then transferred, through 90 20  , by the transfer means  50  to the second wrapping platform  121  as shown in FIG.  44 . This exposes the bottom and top walls of the bale  20  which are then wrapped as shown in FIG.  45 . 
     In an alternative embodiment as shown in FIGS. 46 and 47, the second wrapping platform  121  is replaced by an endless belt  63  which rotates about rollers  61  and  62  . This turns the bale about its axis during the wrapping process as described above in relation to the previous embodiments. It is constructed and operates as previously described and like reference numerals denote like parts. 
     From the foregoing, it will be apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the present invention. It will be appreciated that the present disclosure is intended to set forth exemplifications of the invention which are not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. 
     Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, these reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.