Patent Publication Number: US-2003226336-A1

Title: Forage compacting method and apparatus

Description:
[0001] This invention relates to a compactor and, more particularly, to a forage compactor which is hydraulically powered and operated and which compresses forage into optimal size bales for container transport.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The formation of hay bales is, of course, well known. Such balers are used in agricultural operations in the field to form harvested hay into bales having generally either rectangular or circular dimensions. The bales so formed allow improved handling and storage and have a weight which allows convenient manipulation following their formation. Such bales are typically stored and used in locations relatively close to the harvesting location.  
       [0003] Commercial markets have now been established for forage in locations far removed from where the forage crop is harvested and formed into bales. For example, markets in the Asian and Middle Eastern countries have opened for forage from material harvested in North America and Australia. Thus, the transportation of such forage at a reasonable cost and maintaining such forage in marketable condition during transportation has become an important focus in order to profitably sell such forage.  
       [0004] Forage compactors to recompact standard hay bales are known. Such compactors generally act to take standard hay bales, separate the material making up the bales and recompact such material at a density which is much greater than the density of the forage in a standard bale while retaining generally the same dimensions. Thus, the recompacted bale may be shipped utilizing a far more efficient volume of space with an increased quantity of forage making up the bale  
       [0005] A typical forage compactor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,974 (Gombos) entitled HAY BALE RECOMPACTING SYSTEM. Gombos teaches a compactor having an inlet allowing the crop to enter into a compression chamber where the crop is compressed. Following compression, the crop leaves the compression chamber from an outlet positioned on the opposite side of the compression chamber from the inlet. A strapping operation is disclosed in which straps encircle each bale. The strapping operation takes place following the removal of the forage. from the compression chamber.  
       [0006] The Gombos apparatus, however, suffers disadvantages. First an operator must be located on the same side of the compactor as the strapping unit since strapping units are not reliable under the severe operating conditions of the compactor. In order to properly remove twines from the incoming bales, an operator should be located on the inlet side of the compression chamber; that is, near the end of the main compression cylinder where the operator is in proximity to the highly stressed tie rods of the compression cylinder and the hydraulic hoses providing the high pressure hydraulic oil feeding the cylinder. This position is not a preferred operator location because the chances for an accident are increased. Further, being located at this point does not allow the operator to ensure that the scaling of the product is consistent. To overcome the latter problem, yet another operator is needed. The former problem relating to safety considerations remains.  
       [0007] A further disadvantage with Gombos is that the inlet and outlet locations located on opposite sides of the compression chamber necessarily dictate that the plant layout is inefficient. The forage compactor must be centrally located on the plant floor as opposed to being located against a wall, for example, where better overall utilization of floor space area can occur.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor to compress forage into bales comprising a crop inlet area, a scale, a conveyor to convey crop to said scale, an indexer to convey said crop from said scale to a compression chamber, a compress plunger to compress said crop in said compression chamber and an eject plunger to eject said compressed crop from said compression chamber, said compressed crop being ejected from a crop outlet area downstream of said compression chamber, said crop inlet area and said crop outlet area being located on the same side of said conveyor.  
       [0009] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor to compress crop within a compression chamber by a compress plunger operable within a compression cylinder, said compactor comprising a plurality of pumps to supply hydraulic fluid to said compression cylinder and being operable to move said compress plunger to a compression position, one of said pumps having a pressure compensator, said pressure compensator being operable to allow said compress plunger to exert a substantially constant pressure on said crop within said compression cylinder for a predetermined time period and a hydraulic fluid relief sensor to relieve said pressure on said crop following said predetermined time period.  
       [0010] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor for compressing crop into bales within a compression chamber, said compactor further comprising a strapping chamber downstream from said compression chamber, said strapping chamber having a moisture sensor to measure the moisture of said crop of said compressed bale within said strapping chamber.  
       [0011] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor for compacting crop into compressed bales, said compressed bales including bales exiting a crop outlet area at a first predetermined time and previous bales exiting said crop outlet area at a second predetermined time, said second predetermined time being subsequent to said first predetermined time, a container for holding a predetermined number of said compressed bales, said compactor including a scale for weighing crop, a compression chamber for compressing said weighed crop into said previous and subsequent bales, a crop outlet area downstream of said compression chamber for receiving said previous and subsequent bales and a controller for determining the individual weight of said bales comprising said total number of bales, said controller being operable to increase the weight of said subsequent bales if said previous bales are underweight.  
       [0012] According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor to compress crop into bales comprising a compression chamber defined by a compression cylinder and a compress plunger reciprocal within said compression cylinder, at least one keyway in said compress plunger, at least one keyway in said compression cylinder, and a key extending between said keyways.  
       [0013] According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor to compress crop comprising a compression chamber, a compress plunger to compress crop within said compression chamber, a strapping chamber downstream of said compression chamber to strap said compressed crop, said strapping chamber being defined by platens holding said compressed crop on opposite sides of said compressed crop, a strapping assembly mounted for reciprocal movement along said platens, said strapping assembly being operable to install at least one of a plurality of straps on said compressed crop within said platens.  
       [0014] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor for compressing crop into bales in a compression chamber, said compactor comprising a crop outlet area to receive crop ejected from said compression chamber in the form of a compressed bale, a crop holding station to hold said bale and a strapping chamber to strap said bale upon movement of said bale from said holding station to said strapping chamber, said bale ejected by said compression chamber being moved to said strapping chamber by a movement length defined by approximately two bales.  
       [0015] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor to compress crop comprising a compression chamber having a wall and an indexer to move said crop into said compression chamber through said wall, said wall and said indexer having complementary knives to sever said crop as said crop moves through said wall into said compression chamber.  
       [0016] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor to compress crop in a compression chamber comprising a compression chamber, a compression cylinder, a compress plunger movable in said compression cylinder, a plurality of hydraulic pumps to provide fluid pressure to said compression chamber and a controller to detect the power required by said pressure of said fluid within said compression chamber, said controller initiating operation of more of said plurality of hydraulic pumps during relatively low power required by said compression chamber and fewer of said plurality of hydraulic pumps during relatively high power required by said compression chamber.  
       [0017] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor to- compress crop within a compression chamber comprising a compress plunger having a compress stroke and an eject stroke, sensors to determine the position of said compress plunger during said eject stroke, and controllers operable from said sensors to initiate deceleration of said compress plunger during said eject stroke when said plunger reaches a predetermined position.  
       [0018] According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor to compress crop within a compression chamber, said compactor comprising a plurality of movable components and a controller, said components being movable manually, said controller being operable to prevent interference between said components during said manual movement of said components.  
       [0019] According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor to compress crop within a compression chamber, said compression chamber having a compression cylinder and a compress plunger movable within said cylinder, said cylinder being supplied with hydraulic fluid under pressure from a manifold, said manifold having inlet and outlet ports, said manifold being connected directly to said compression cylinder, said hydraulic fluid passing directly from at least one of said inlet or outlet ports to said compression cylinder.  
       [0020] According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor bale configuration system comprising a first elevator to receive a compressed bale, a first rotator to rotate said compressed bale, a first slider to move said compressed bale in a non-rotated position from said first elevator, a rolldown plate to receive said compressed bale and being operable to rotate said compressed bale, a second slider to move said compressed bale in a non-rotated position from said rolldown plate and a second rotator to rotate said compressed bale from said rolldown plate.  
       [0021] According to still yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a forage compactor comprising a compression chamber defined by walls, a top and a bottom, said top and bottom being connected by removable bolted connections. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0022] Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with the use of drawings in which:  
     [0023]FIG. 1A is a diagrammatic isometric view of the forage compactor according to the invention;  
     [0024]FIG. 1B is a diagrammatic plan view of the forage compactor of FIG. 1;  
     [0025] FIGS.  1 C- 1 E are diagrammatic plan views of the bale movement and compression operation;  
     [0026]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic isometric view of the product handling apparatus according to the invention;  
     [0027]FIG. 3A is a diagrammatic plan view of the compress plunger particularly illustrating one of the two keyways used to guide the plunger in the compress cylinder;  
     [0028]FIG. 3B is a diagrammatic isometric partial view of the compress plunger particular illustrating the keyway and the key extending the compress plunger and the compression cylinder;  
     [0029]FIG. 3C is a diagrammatic isometric view of the key particularly illustrating the low friction coating,  
     [0030]FIG. 4A is a partial diagrammatic side-view of the strapper assembly particularly illustrating the indexing plate used to control strap placement;  
     [0031]FIG. 4B is a diagrammatic front view of the strapping assembly installing strapping on a compressed bale held between the platens of the forage compactor and the strapping station according to the invention;  
     [0032]FIGS. 4C is a diagrammatic views of the screen used by the operator and the representation of the strapped and compressed bale obtained with each strap configuration;  
     [0033]FIG. 4D is a diagrammatic side view of the strapper assembly particularly illustrating the components used for removal and installation of the strapper assembly;  
     [0034]FIG. 5 is a graphical depiction of the pressure in the main hydraulic cylinder as a function of displacement of the main ram within the cylinder;  
     [0035]FIG. 6A is a diagrammatic side view of the compress plunger in the compressed position and illustrating the deceleration sensors;  
     [0036]FIG. 6B is a diagrammatic schematic illustrating the fluid flow from the hydraulic pumps used for the compress and eject. plungers;  
     [0037]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of the stackable hydraulic pumps used to maintain desired hydraulic pressure in the various systems used in the forage compactor according to the invention;  
     [0038]FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic plan partial sectional view of the compression chamber particularly illustrating the overkill and eject positions of the main plunger and with a wall of the compression chamber being formed by the load indexer;  
     [0039]FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic side view of a rotating knife assembly used to cut the twine binding the bales being fed to the forage compactor according to the invention;  
     [0040]FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic side sectional view of the manifold located in contact with and on the end of the compression cylinder which carries the compress plunger; and  
     [0041]FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrammatic views of the operator screen used to configure the bales for subsequent handling and the actual orientation of the bales on the floor of the operating room holding the forage compactor for movement by the row pusher. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT  
     [0042] Referring now to the drawings, a forage compactor according to the invention is generally illustrated at  100  in FIGS. 1A and 1B. It comprises a feed table generally illustrated at  105 , an inlet area generally illustrated at  101  for the uncompressed hay or forage, a “bull pen” or buffer area generally illustrated at  102  for the uncompressed detwined forage, a scale pan area generally illustrated at  103  which is located downstream from the “bull pen” area  102 , a compression chamber generally illustrated at  104  sidewise located from the scale pan area  103 , a strapping chamber generally illustrated at  110  sidewise located from the compression chamber  104  and a product handling area generally illustrated at  111 , all of which will be described and illustrated hereafter.  
     [0043] A plurality of hay bales  112  of the known generally rectangular variety are positioned on the feed table  105  by means of a variety of well known bale delivery devices. The twine (not illustrated) maintaining the bales in an assembled form is manually cut and removed from the bales  112  following the positioning of the bales  112  on the feed table  105 . The bales  112  are also tested for appropriate moisture content.  
     [0044] The crop is conveyed to the conveyor pan  120  upstream of the intake indexer  114  by feed table indexer  113 . The crop on the conveyor pan  120  is then conveyed to the bullpen area  102  located under the intake indexer  114  by the cross-conveyor indexer  126 .  
     [0045] The bales  112  comprising forage or crop are in their generally loosened, detwined configuration and are guided by the sides of the conveyor pan  120 . The intake indexer  114  includes two forage movement fingers  121  which extend downwardly from a chain drive  122  located over the crop on the conveyor  120 . The fingers  121  move the crop towards the scale pan  103  and are pivotally mounted so that they may rotate forwardly or clockwise as viewed from the side when they are moving backwards over the crop so as not to interfere with the crop on the conveyor  120  when returning from the scale pan area  103 .  
     [0046] Intake indexer  114  moves a predetermined amount of crop  112  to the scale pan area  103 . The intake indexer  114  is coordinated with the weight of the crop moved into the scale pan area  103  so that when the load cells (not illustrated) connected to the floor  130  of the scale pan  103  measure the appropriate amount of crop  112  that has entered the scale pan area  103 , movement of the crop into the scale pan area  103  by the intake indexer  114  will terminate. The movement of the reciprocating intake indexer  114  is such that it will not interfere with the load indexer  124  when the crop is moved into the compression chamber area  104 .  
     [0047] The floor  130  within the scale pan area  103  is mounted on hydraulic cylinders  131  (only one of which is illustrated). Following the weighing operation, the floor  130  is moved upwardly by the hydraulic cylinders  131  in order to compress the crop within the scale pan area  103  so as to optimize the package size of the compressed bales  141 . The floor  130  will remain in its compression position during the movement of the load indexer  124  as it moves the crop from the scale pan area  103  into the compression chamber  104 .  
     [0048] The load indexer  124  severs the crop being moved into the compression chamber  104  by way of knives  125  (only one of which is illustrated) which are located so as to sever crop material by their relative movement (FIG. 8) while the load indexer  124  moves horizontally relative to the wall of the compression chamber  104 . The load indexer  124  compresses the crop within the compression chamber  104  and maintains its position during compression by the compress plunger  132 .  
     [0049] The compression chamber  104  is expandable to increase its size, if desired, so as to increase the size of a compressed bale. A plurality of bolts  156  maintain the compression chamber  104  in its assembled position. If the compression chamber  104  is desired to be expanded so as to create a bale of greater size, the bolts  156  are removed and shims are used to enlarge the compression chamber  104 . Other components will also necessarily be required to be replaced or modified such as the compression plunger  132  and the eject plunger  150  so as to appropriately fit the enlarged compression chamber  104 .  
     [0050] Compress plunger  132  within hydraulic cylinder  133  provides the necessary force to compress the forage within the compression chamber  104 . The compress plunger  132  is hydraulically operated by a plurality of stacked hydraulic pumps generally illustrated at  135  (FIG. 7).  
     [0051] The hydraulic pumps  135  comprise a high pressure hydraulic pump  136 , two medium pressure pumps  137  and an auxiliary pump  138 , the latter being used to power the auxiliary devices and the high pressure and medium pressure pumps  136 ,  137  being used to provide fluid to the compress plunger  132  and eject plunger  150 .  
     [0052] When there is little resistance being offered to the compress plunger  132  as is the case when the stroke of the compress plunger  132  is just commencing all three pumps  136 ,  137  will be operating so the compress plunger  132  is moving relatively quickly. As the resistance within the compression chamber  104  builds, however, the pumps  137  are shifted out or terminated, pump  137  located next to the auxiliary pump  138  being the first to terminate operation. Shortly thereafter, as horsepower again reaches the setpoint, the medium pressure pump  137  located adjacent the high pressure pump  136  will be shifted out. This is done to limit the power being required to that of the rated power of motor  136  which powers the pumps  135 . Thus, the compress plunger  132  will move relatively more slowly as the pressure increases. Finally, only the high pressure pump  136  will be operating and this pump  136  includes a pressure compensator which will reduce the fluid displacement of the pump  136  to near zero at the maximum pressure position as will be described.  
     [0053] Pumps  135 , including variable displacement pump  142 , provide hydraulic fluid to the various hydraulic components of the forage compactor  100 . Variable displacement pump  142  has an adjustable swash plate (not illustrated) which allows the compress plunger  132  to maintain a predetermined pressure on the forage within the compression chamber  104  as seen in FIG. 5. When the predetermined pressure is reached during the compression stroke, the pump  136  “swashes” to almost zero fluid displacement thereby maintaining the predetermined pressure on the crop in the compression chamber  104  until a solenoid actuated hydraulic control valve  145  redirects the fluid of the pump  142  back to the reservoir  146  after a predetermined time period. A sensor  144  detects the pressure in main cylinder  133  and a timer within the programmable logic controller (“PLC”) provides an appropriate signal to the solenoid actuated hydraulic control valve  145  after the predetermined elapsed time at the predetermined pressure. This will provide pressure relief and the compress plunger  132  will fall back from the overkill position  127  (FIG. 8) to the eject position  128 .  
     [0054] A further control feature is illustrated in FIG. 6. Two sensors in the form of proximity switches  147 ,  148  are positioned adjacent the path of compress plunger  132 . These sensors  147 ,  148 , define the position of compress plunger  132  where, during retract, deceleration is desired to be initiated. When the initial sensor  147  is reached, pump  137  adjacent auxiliary pump  138  will be shifted out. After a predetermined period of time, pump  137  adjacent high pressure pump  136  will be shifted out. It is desirable to terminate operation of the two pumps  137  stepwise for smooth operation. Accordingly, when sensor  148  is reached, last pump  136  is shifted out. This operation is similar for the operation of the load indexer  124 .  
     [0055] It will be noted that the use of proximity sensors  147 ,  148  override the use of the earlier described pressure sensors which likewise produce the step down operation. This is so to prevent any damage to the machine components. Thus, although the pressure is low and not of concern to the operation of motor  136 , the pumps  137  will be shifted out to being the deceleration portion of the stroke of compress plunger  132 . Hydraulic fluid may also be used to dampen the stroke of compress plunger  132  near the end of the compression stroke.  
     [0056] The high pressure pump  136  (FIG. 6) with its adjustable swash plate allows the compress plunger  132  to compress the crop within the compression chamber  104  until a predetermined pressure level is reached, conveniently 5000 psi as is illustrated in FIG. 5. When this pressure is reached, the compress plunger  132  utilises such pressure to maintain compression on the crop for a predetermined and brief period. The compress plunger  132  then backs off to the eject position  128  (FIG. 8) wherein the eject plunger  140  can subsequently move the crop to the exit location of the compression chamber  104  without damaging the fiber being compressed. This has an advantage in that compressed bales  141  constructed by the pressure of the compress plunger  132  in compression chamber  104  have a more constant density throughout thus creating compressed bales  141  of increased uniform density. This technique has the further advantage that the “spring back” effect of the fiber making up the compressed bales  141  which is obtained with the “constant pressure” technique using the compress plunger  132  and the variable displacement pump  142  is such that the tension in the straps  153  (FIG. 4B) encircling the compressed bales  141  is quite adequate to maintain the compressed bales  141  in their compressed condition throughout the subsequent transportation operation and such tension does not contribute to strap breakage, all as will be described.  
     [0057] Provision is provided for manual operation of the compactor  100 . In the event the operator desires to manually operate the compactor  100 , the programmable logic controller (PLC)  165  provides for determination of which components are being manually operated and prohibits the operation of any other component which could interfere with the operation of the component being manually operated. For example, if the compress plunger  132  is being operated, the PLC will not allow the operation of the eject plunger  150  when interference could result even if the operator mistakenly attempts to operate the eject plunger  150  during the compression stroke of the compress plunger  132 . Likewise, the PLC determines whether a component is being moved by two elements. If that is the case, the PLC will ensure each element completes its individual movement prior to the movement of the other element. For example, in the event the crop is being compressed by both the load indexer  124  and the compress plunger  132 , the PLC will require the load indexer  124  to complete its movement prior to operation of the compress plunger  132 .  
     [0058] The PLC also provides for automatic continuation of the manual operation until the completion of a cycle in the event the operator wishes to return to automatic operation. Thus, if the operator wishes to return to automatic operation during the compression stroke of compress plunger  132 , the PLC will have monitored the manual operation. The automatic operation, suddenly enabled, will dictate that the PLC complete the compression stroke and the remaining steps in the cycle prior to commencing a new cycle. This removes the necessity of requiring the operator to manually return all operating components to their initial operating positions prior to the commencement of the next automatic cycle.  
     [0059] Reference is made to FIGS. 3A and 3B which illustrate the keyways  149  of the compress plunger  132 . The keyways  149  extend along a portion of the length of the compress plunger  132  and the top and bottom of the compression chamber  104  for a distance equal to the travel distance of the compress plunger  132 . A key  158  (FIG. 3C) of the same general length is inserted into the keyways  149 . A retaining strap  159  maintains the key  158  is coated with a low friction material such as TEFLON (Trademark) to assist smooth operation. The key  158  assists in transferring offset or sidewise directed force exerted on the compress plunger  132  to the frame of the compactor  100 , such sidewise directed force, for example, arising because of rocks or other generally non-compressible material in the compression chamber  104 .  
     [0060] The hydraulic fluid required for operation of the compress plunger  132  is directed by way of a manifold  160  mounted to the end of the compression cylinder  104  opposite from the end in which the actual crop compression takes place. Hydraulic fluid from the pumps  135  enters the manifold  160  and is directed by the manifold  160  to the cylinder  104  when the compression stroke is initiated. Upon compression of the crop by the compress plunger  132 , and when it is desired to reverse the flow of hydraulic fluid so as to retract the compress plunger  132 , the fluid flow will be reversed such that fluid in the downstream side of the compress plunger  132  will flow to the tank and fluid will be pumped into the upstream side of the compress plunger  132  thereby to assist in plunger return. The mounting of the manifold  160  on the cylinder  104  allows for the elimination of hoses, etc. which are subject to damage and high pressure and also increases the efficiency of the fluid circulation since the exit and inlet passages in both the manifold  160  and compression cylinder  104  are adjacent and in direct communication with each other.  
     [0061] An eject plunger  150  (FIG. 1B) of crop ejector  140  is used to eject the crop from. the compression chamber  104  following the removal of the main ram  132  from any interference position within the compression chamber  104 . Eject plunger  153  moves the compressed bale  141  into the strapping chamber  110 . In this position, moisture sensors  151  located on one or both sides of the strapping chamber  110  sense the moisture on the sides of the newly severed edge of the compressed bale  141  and give a good representative value for the moisture content of the bales  141  because of the severed crop newly exposed to the ambient air. In the event the sensors  1151  sense unacceptably high moisture content, it will alter the behaviour of the strapper assembly  152  as will be described.  
     [0062] A compressed bale  141  will remain within the strapping chamber  110  until moved from that position by a subsequent compressed bale  141 . The subsequent compressed bale  141 , while being moved from the compression chamber  104  to the strapping chamber  110  by eject plunger  150 , will move compressed bale  141  previously within the strapping chamber  110  to the area between the platens  162 .  
     [0063] The platens  162  are closely associated with the strapping assembly  152  which reciprocates on strapper rails  153  located above strapping chamber  110  as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4. The strapping  153  is provided at a plurality of locations on the compressed bale  141  about the platens  162  as desired by the operator.  
     [0064] With reference to FIG. 4A, a plurality of proximity sensors  163  are illustrated, conveniently five (5). Each proximity sensor  163  is mounted on the platens  162  and each is encountered by the strapping assembly  152  as it travels in the directions indicated. A screen  166  is available to the operator. The screen  166  allows the operator to select either three, four or five straps around the crop  141  between the platens  162  in the strapping chamber  110 . If, for example, the operator selects four strapping positions, only four (4) of the proximity sensors will be enabled as illustrated. The center proximity sensor will not be enabled. Thus, the strapper assembly  152  interrogates each proximity sensor  163  as it travels to determine whether it is intended to provide a strap  153  at that particular location. When it reaches the center proximity sensor, it will not install a strap  153  and the compressed bale  141  will be ejected with only four (4) straps installed, none at the center position. This particular configuration for the strapping would be useful, for example, when the compressed bales  141  are intended to be severed in half as will be described.  
     [0065] The movement of the strapping assembly  152  is intermittent as it reciprocates; that is, the strapping assembly  152  provides strapping  153  to one bale at the desired locations while travelling one direction. Strapping  153  is applied to the next bale  141  while the strapping assembly is travelling in the opposite direction.  
     [0066] The strapper assembly  152  is mounted for enhanced removal and replacement as viewed in FIG. 4D. The strapper piston  167  is rotatable about axis  168  and a pin  169  is mounted so as to be complementary to a groove  170  on the strapper assembly  152 . Quick connect connections  171  are removed from their sockets in the strapper assembly  152 , pin  169  is removed from groove  170  and the strapper assembly  152  is easily removed from the rails  155  (FIG. 1) on which the strapper assembly  152  moves. Thus, the breakdown of a strapper assembly  152  will not require extended maintenance with the compactor  100  shut down in order to perform such maintenance.  
     [0067] The strapping  153  is applied around the outside of the platens  162  within which the compressed bale  141  is held in its compressed position (FIG. 4B). As the bale  141  leaves the platens  162  by reason of a compressed bale  141  being ejected from the compression chamber  104  by the eject cylinder  140 , the straps  153  are pulled along with the bale  141  thereby stripping the straps  153  from the platens  151 . The spring-back effect of the compressed fiber when free of the restraining force of the platens  162  will provide appropriate tension to the straps  153  thereby to keep the bales  141  in secure assembled condition throughout subsequent transportation.  
     [0068] An indexing plate  154  (FIG. 4A) is mounted to the strapper assembly  152 . The indexing plate  154  has a plurality, conveniently five (5), positions  163  thereby to allow any number of straps  153 , between one and five, to be placed around the bale  141  being held within the platens  162 , the straps  153  being applied to the bale  141  outside the platens  151  as earlier described. Any of the locations  163  may be selected or eliminated thereby to allow the strapper  152  to omit the application of a strap at such location. Among the factors which dictate the number of straps  153  to be placed on the bale  141 , are type of crop and the size and density of the compressed bale  141  and whether it is intended to sever the bale into halves.  
     [0069] If the moisture within the crop is excessive as measured by the moisture sensors  151 , the strapping assembly  152  is advised by computer relayed instructions. The strapper  152  will position only a minimum number of straps  153  on the bale  141  to save strapping material and to thereby flag the particular bales  141  containing defective crop due to high moisture content. This will allow the defective bales to be more easily recognized and discarded after their exit from the strapping chamber  110 .  
     [0070] The inside area of the platens  162  may be coated with low friction material such as TEFLON (Trademark) material to reduce friction, reduce damage to the product, lower power requirements and to generally facilitate ejection of the bale  141  from the platens  162 .  
     [0071] A bagging operation utilising the platen assembly  161  is also contemplated. In the event the customer wishes the crop to be placed within a plastic enclosure or bag, the bag may automatically or manually be placed directly over the platens  162 . Thereafter, the strapping  153  may be applied as earlier described or the strapping operation may be eliminated. Likewise, the strapping may be placed around the plastic bagging rather than in direct contact with the platens  162  and the crop. Alternatively, the bag could be positioned over the platens  151  after the straps  153  are applied by the strapping assembly  152 .  
     [0072] Following the strapping/bagging operation, the ejected and compressed bale  141  is processed in the product handling area  111 . With reference to FIG. 2, the bale initially. enters .the cutter box generally illustrated at  180 . Cutter box  180  includes a removable knife  181 . If it is intended to sever the bale into halves, the knife  181  will be positioned as indicated. and the cutter box plate  182 , under the influence of piston  183 , provides pressure on the bale as it is severed on the knife  181 .  
     [0073] The bale will exit the cutter box  180  and move onto the elevator  184  which is in its elevated position. At this point, the bale orientation process will commence.  
     [0074] The bale may be oriented in any of six different positions with reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B. The operators screen  190  will have the six( 6 ) possible positions  191  of the bale illustrated at the bottom of the screen  190  by way of icons. The operator will select the configuration of the bale desired by touching the appropriate icon  191  on the screen  190 . This will transfer the desired orientation to the central area  192  of the screen  190  and will be illustrated as the first of the bales in a row which will be of the desired number of bales. The procedure proceeds for each bale illustrated in the first. row  193  until the desired number of bales in the row  193  is reached at which time the procedure will proceed for the second row  194  and so on until the desired number of rows is completed with the desired number of bales in each row. This will produce the orientation of the bales as illustrated in FIG. 11B on the floor of the operating room in which the compactor is located.  
     [0075] The desired orientation of the bale is then provided by computer input to the product handling apparatuses downstream of the cutter box  180 , namely the elevator  184 , the roll down pan  194  and the rotator  195 . For the bale to be oriented in any of the six( 6 ) possible positions, it must be allowed to rotate about any or all of three( 3 ) axes, namely the x, y and z axes as illustrated in FIG. 2. Each of the orientation processes is described below.  
     [0076] To obtain a final bale configuration where there are no rotations desired, i.e., the bale will remain in the same orientation as when it departs from the cutter box  180 , the bale is initially conveyed to elevator  184  by cutter box plate  182 . Elevator  184  lowers and slider  197  extends to move the bale into the range of slider  198 . Slider  198  extends and the bale is moved in indicated direction B to its final oriented position before subsequent movement to the bale made by the row pusher  199 .  
     [0077] If it is desired to obtain a final position for the bale in which the bale rotates about the “x” axis as viewed in FIG. 2, the elevator  184  carrying the bale will lower and slider  197  will move the bale to a position within rotator  195 . Rotator  195  will rotate the bale about the “x” axis and move it in direction B. Slider  98  will advance it to its final oriented position.  
     [0078] If it is desired to obtain a final position where the bale is rotated about the “y” axis, the bale is removed from the cutter box  180  by the cutter box plate  182 . It is then advanced by slider  197  onto roll down pan  194  which is in the horizontal position. Roll down pan  194  rotates about the “y” axis and the lowered bale is moved by slider  198  to its final oriented position.  
     [0079] If it is desired to rotate the bale about the “z” axis as viewed in FIG. 2, rotator  196  will move the bale to roll down  194  which will rotate and lower the bale. Rotator  195  will then rotate the bale and slider  198  will advance it to its final oriented position.  
     [0080] If it-is desired to-rotate the bale about both the “z” and “x” axes, the rotator  196  will rotate the bale onto the roll down pan  194  which will rotate and lower the bale. Slider  198  will move the bale into its final oriented position.  
     [0081] If it desired to have rotation about the “z” and “y” axes, slider  197  will move the bale to the roll down pan  194  where it will rotate about the “y” axis. Rotator  195  will rotate the bale. Slider  198  will advance it to its final oriented position.  
     [0082] The row pusher  199  will move each row as it is deposited from the product handling area so as to receive the next row. When the desired number of rows is formed, a forklift using a squeeze attachment will lift the rows formed and place them at a desired location for further processing such as shrink wrap fitting and the like. The bales are then deposited into a known shipping container for transport to its eventual destination.  
     [0083] Software is provided for enabling the shipping container to carry the maximum amount of weight in compressed bales. The maximum weight which can be carried by the container is entered into the PLC together with the maximum number of bales known to fit into the container. This will allow the PLC to calculate the desired weight of each bale to make up the maximum amount of weight carried by container. For example, in the event portions of the crop are difficult to compress without exceeding operating parameters of the compactor such as fluid pressure and the like, with the result that the bales formed are lighter than usual, the PLC will attempt to increase the amount of weight in subsequent bales if the crop becomes easier to compress.  
     [0084] Thus, the system will allow the operator to create a desired bale configuration with bales of varying weights to load the shipping container in the most efficient manner. OPERATION  
     [0085] In operation, a plurality of ordinary hay bales  112 , will be continuously fed into the cross conveyor pan  120  from the feed table  105  by the feed table indexer  113 . While on the feed table  105 , the bales  112  are tested for moisture content and detwined. The crop from the bales  112  is moved along the conveyor pan  120  by the cross conveyor indexer  126  to the bullpen area  102 . The crop is moved into the scale pan area  103  by the feed fingers  121  of the intake indexer  114 .  
     [0086] Within the scale pan area.  103 , the crop is weighed to ensure the appropriate quantity is present in order to form bales  141  of the desired weight of crop and to ensure the compression chamber  104  is not overloaded. When the correct quantity of hay in the scale pan area  103  is reached, the scale pan lifts and the load indexer  122  moves against the crop on the scale pan  103  and moves it into the compression area  104 . The crop is severed by knife surfaces  125  between the load indexer  122  and the housing of the compression chamber  104  while it is being moved by the load indexer  122 . The load indexer  122  reaches a furthermost position within the compression chamber  104  and forms a wall (FIG. 8) for the compression chamber  104  during the compression step.  
     [0087] As the crop is compressed within the compression chamber  104  by the compress plunger  132 , and as the power required by the compression operation reaches a predetermined set point, the hydraulic pumps will drop off until only the high pressure pump  136  remains. When the high pressure pump 0.136 reaches its own pressure set point, conveniently 5000 psi., the swash plate will swash to near zero as earlier set forth. The pressure on the crop is maintained for a predetermined time period whereupon the compress plunger  132  will retract to the eject position.  
     [0088] The compressed crop within the compression chamber  104  is ejected by crop ejector  140  into the strapping assembly  152  where it is measured for moisture by the moisture sensors  151  and where it assumes a “dead” or inactive status pending another compression operation.  
     [0089] Following a subsequent compression operation, the “dead” bale  141  is moved by a compressed bale ejected from the compression chamber  104  to the platen assembly  161  where it assumes a position between the platens  162 . The strapping assembly  152  will move on rails  155  and apply strapping  153  to the platens  162  at the desired locations on the platens  162  according to the strapping locations  163  (FIG. 4A) selected by the operator. When a second compressed bale  151  is ejected from the compression chamber  104 , the bale  141  being held between the platens  162  will be ejected with the strapping  153  being pulled off the platens  162 .  
     [0090] The compressed and strapped bale  141  moves to the cutter box  180  where it is severed into halves, if desired. It then moves to the product handling area  111  where it is oriented as desired and placed in rows, as desired. When the desired number of rows is reached, forklift squeeze will lift the bales and move them to the container or to a shrink wrap area where shrink wrap packaging is applied.  
     [0091] It is contemplated that the manual steps of introducing the ordinary bales to the feed table, breaking the twine binding the bales initially introduced to the machine and moving the bales to the scale area could be replaced with an automatic twine removing apparatus and conveyor system which would convey the crop directly to the scale area. For example and with reference to FIG. 9, a rotating knife  201  could be mounted beneath the conveyor surface  200 . As the knife  201  rotates about the pulleys  202 , the knife  201  will sever the twin  203  which binds the hay bales  204 .  
     [0092] While specific embodiments of the invention have been described, such descriptions are for the purpose of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as defined in accordance with the accompanying claims.