Patent Abstract:
A baler for making compacted bales of a cellulosic biomass material, the baler comprising: a housing defining a compaction chamber therein, wherein the housing comprises a top wall, an infeed opening defined in the top wall for introducing the material into the compaction chamber, and wherein a cutting device is mounted on the housing alongside the infeed opening.

Full Description:
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT LICENSE RIGHTS 
     This invention was made with government support by the CSREES Small Business Innovation Research program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, grant numbers 2005-33610-15483 and 2006-33610-17595. The government has certain rights in the invention. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Our invention relates to harvesters, particularly balers, and provides a top infeed hopper system engineered to receive and direct cellulosic and particularly woody biomass materials into a baling chamber. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In 1978 forestry researchers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) conducted field tests using a hay baler powered by the hydraulics of a knuckle-boom loader and concluded that baling offers considerable cost and operational advantages as a method of recovering forest residues for either fiber or fuel (1; see the appended Citations). 
     The VPI researchers then built and tested a prototype in-woods logging residue baler (2-7). Following testing of the VPI prototype baler in the North Western U.S.A. in the early 1980′s, several design modifications were suggested for a “second generation” baler (8-9), including the need for a top infeed to allow processing of small size material (See (8) at pp. 29-30). 
     Various biomass bundlers and balers have been proposed in the patent literature (10). Presently the only commercial systems are a bundler, the John Deere 1490D Energy Wood Harvester (11), and a round baler, the SuperTrak WB55 Biobaler™ (12). 
     Particularly relevant to the present invention are the open top finger baler disclosures of Risoda Pty. Limited (13). 
     The present inventors have reported their progress under a federal contract from the USDA CSREES SBIR program to develop better methods to collect and transport woody biomass (14-20). Our goal has been to engineer more efficient recovery and transport of woody biomass to second-generation bioenergy and biofuel plants. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Here we describe an infeed hopper system suitable for receiving and directing cellulosic biomass materials into a baling chamber situated below the hopper. Our invention provides a baler for making compacted bales of a cellulosic and preferably woody biomass material, the baler comprising: a housing defining a compaction chamber therein, wherein the housing comprises a top wall, an infeed opening defined in the top wall for introducing the material into the compaction chamber, and a hopper system comprising: first and second doors pivotably attached to the housing in opposing array over the infeed opening, wherein each door comprises a pivot having a plurality of fingers extending in planar array therefrom and defining a plurality of recesses disposed therebetween, and wherein the fingers of the first and second doors are staggered such that the fingers of each door are positioned opposite to and receivable by the recesses of the other door, and actuator means for pivoting the doors upwardly to form a chute for directing the material toward the infeed opening, and downwardly to intermesh and preferably interlock the fingers and substantially cover the infeed opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevated view of a representative biomass baler with open hopper doors; 
         FIG. 2  shows the baler of  FIG. 1  with closed hopper doors; 
         FIG. 3  is an isolated view of the front hopper door; 
         FIG. 4  is an isolated view of the rear hopper door; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the baler of  FIG. 1  with open hopper doors; 
         FIG. 6  shows the baler of  FIG. 5  with closed hopper doors; 
         FIGS. 7A-7D  depict a representative sequence for closing the hopper doors; 
         FIG. 8  shows a side-mounted cutting device configured as a chain-type saw; 
         FIG. 9  shows a side-mounted cutting device with opposing shear bars; 
         FIG. 10  shows a side-mounted cutting device with a shear bar and bypass anvil; 
         FIG. 11  shows a side-mounted cutting device configured as a sliding wedge; and 
         FIG. 12  is a pressure ratio graph. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     We have applied engineering design principles to the long-felt need of providing a top infeed system for cellulosic and particularly woody biomass balers. 
     The term “cellulosic biomass” as used herein refers generally to encompass all plant materials harvested by baling for use as industrial feedstocks, including woody biomass, energy crops like switchgrass, miscanthus, and hemp, and agricultural crop residues including corn stover. 
     The term “woody biomass” as used herein refers to all parts of trees, shrubs and woody plants useable as industrial feedstocks for fiber, bioenergy, and biofuels, including timber harvest residues and land clearing debris, small-diameter trees, shrubs and brush, dedicated energy crops like willow and poplar, tree service prunings, and residential green waste. 
     The following Table lists the reference numerals used in the description of the currently preferred embodiment that is shown in the FIGURES. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 baler 
               
               
                 12 
                 platen assembly 
               
               
                 14 
                 infeed chamber assembly 
               
               
                 16 
                 compaction chamber assembly 
               
               
                 18 
                 connector 
               
               
                 20 
                 baling chamber 
               
               
                 22 
                 foot 
               
               
                 24 
                 framework, platen assembly 
               
               
                 26 
                 hydraulic cylinder, compression 
               
               
                 28 
                 platen, compression 
               
               
                 30 
                 framework, upper infeed 
               
               
                   
                 chamber assembly 
               
               
                 32 
                 infeed opening 
               
               
                 34 
                 hopper door, front 
               
               
                 36 
                 hopper door, rear 
               
               
                 38 
                 hinge pin 
               
               
                 40 
                 side wall, infeed chamber 
               
               
                   
                 assembly 
               
               
                 42 
                 floor plate, infeed chamber 
               
               
                   
                 assembly 
               
               
                 44 
                 cylinder, front hopper door 
               
               
                 46 
                 cylinder, rear hopper door 
               
               
                 48 
                 upper wall, compression 
               
               
                   
                 chamber assembly 
               
               
                 50 
                 lower wall, compression 
               
               
                   
                 chamber assembly 
               
               
                 52 
                 door, contingency 
               
               
                 54 
                 hinge 
               
               
                 56 
                 platen, ejection 
               
               
                 58 
                 door, discharge 
               
               
                 60 
                 hydraulic cylinder, ejection 
               
               
                 62 
                 hydraulic cylinder, discharge 
               
               
                 64 
                 door latch 
               
               
                 66 
                 hydraulic cylinder, door latch 
               
               
                 68 
                 finger, front door 
               
               
                 70 
                 pivot, front door 
               
               
                 72 
                 recess, front door 
               
               
                 74 
                 bracket, front door 
               
               
                 76 
                 gusset, front door 
               
               
                 78 
                 latch bar, front door 
               
               
                 80 
                 pivot, rear door 
               
               
                 82 
                 finger, rear door 
               
               
                 84 
                 recess, rear door 
               
               
                 86 
                 latch finger, rear door 
               
               
                 88 
                 notch 
               
               
                 90 
                 internal stop 
               
               
                 92 
                 external stop 
               
               
                 94 
                 bracket, rear door 
               
               
                 96 
                 gusset, rear door 
               
               
                 98 
                 shear bar 
               
               
                 100 
                 gap 
               
               
                 102 
                 cutting device 
               
               
                 104 
                 chain-type saw 
               
               
                 106 
                 tooth 
               
               
                 108 
                 tool bar 
               
               
                 110 
                 housing 
               
               
                 112 
                 actuator 
               
               
                 114 
                 drive motor 
               
               
                 116 
                 shear bar 
               
               
                 118 
                 shear bar 
               
               
                 120 
                 pivot 
               
               
                 122 
                 mounting block 
               
               
                 124 
                 actuator 
               
               
                 126 
                 actuator 
               
               
                 128 
                 shear bar 
               
               
                 130 
                 mounting block 
               
               
                 132 
                 track 
               
               
                 136 
                 anvil 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       FIG. 1  shows a representative biomass baler  10  that we designed and constructed under the aforementioned Department of Agriculture grant. The baler  10  receives woody and other cellulosic biomass materials, compacts the biomass materials into parallelepiped bales, and discharges the bales. The baler  10  is preferably constructed of three separate modules, a platen assembly  12 , an infeed chamber assembly  14 , and a compaction chamber assembly  16 , that are bolted together by metal connectors  18 . The infeed chamber assembly  14  is in open communication with the compaction chamber assembly  16  and together house a baling chamber  20 . Modular construction makes it convenient to repair or replace failed components, or replace the compaction chamber assembly  16  with alternative modules configured to produce shorter or longer bales. Also shown is one of four steel feet  22  by which the baler  10  can be bolted to, e.g., a trailer bed (not shown) or framework for stationary use. 
     Nomenclature with respect to the baler  10  shown in the FIGURES: toward the platen assembly  12  is referred to herein for illustrative purposes as “front”, and toward the compaction chamber assembly  16  as “rear”. 
     The platen assembly  12  has a welded steel framework  24  that anchors and supports two telescoping hydraulic cylinders  26  (three-stage: 6, 5, and 4 inches) that attach to and move a compression platen  28  reciprocally through the baling chamber  20 . 
     When fully retracted (as shown in this view) the compression platen  28  forms the front wall of the infeed chamber assembly  14 . The infeed chamber assembly  14  has an upper framework  30  that demarcates a large rectangular infeed opening  32 . A pair of closeable hopper doors  34 ,  36  is mounted in opposing array over the infeed opening  32 . Each of the doors  34 ,  36  is pivotally connected to the framework  30  by a hinge pin  38 . When raised (as shown here), the hopper doors  34 ,  36  create an open chute through which a grapple loader (not shown) can drop and push biomass materials through the infeed opening  32  into the baling chamber  20 . When closed (see  FIGS. 2 and 6 ), the hopper doors  34 ,  36  intermesh and preferably interlock together in horizontal planar array so as to substantially close the infeed opening  32  and thereby form an upper wall of the infeed chamber assembly  14  without obstructing transit of the compression platen  28 . 
     The infeed chamber assembly  14  also has two side walls  40  and a floor plate  42  that, together with the retracted compression platen  28  and the upper framework  30  with closed hopper doors  34 ,  36  define the front end or infeed compartment of the baling chamber  20 . Construction and operation of the hopper doors  34 ,  36  is discussed in detail below. Shown here is a single 2″ hydraulic cylinder  44  that moves the front hopper door  34 , and two 2″ hydraulic cylinders  46  that move the rear hopper door  36 . 
     The compaction chamber assembly  16  houses the rear end or compression compartment of the baling chamber  20 . The compaction chamber assembly  16  has fixed upper and lower walls  48 ,  50 . The rear wall or end cap is configured as a contingency door  52  (shown open) that is mounted on lateral hinges  54 . The contingency door  52  is bolted shut during the baling process but can be manually opened, if need be, to remove defective bales from the baling chamber  20 ; and for this purpose the compression hydraulic cylinders  26  are configured to push the compression platen  28  at least the entire length of the compaction chamber assembly  16 . 
     An ejection platen  56  and a discharge door  58  form the sidewalls of the compaction chamber assembly  16 . When bale formation is completed, the discharge door  58  is cantilevered downward into a horizontal platform (as shown in this view). Two pairs of telescopic hydraulic cylinders  60  (two stage: 4 and 3 inches) then move the ejection platen  56  to push the bale across the compaction chamber assembly  16  and onto the opened discharge door  58 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the baler  10  with the hopper doors  34 ,  36 , contingency door  52 , and side discharge door  58  in the closed positions. Shown also is a 2″ hydraulic cylinder  62  that lowers and raises the discharge door  58 , which is secured closed by a hinged upper door latch  64  that is controlled by a 2″ hydraulic cylinder  66 . 
       FIG. 3  is an isolated view of the front hopper door  34 . In this illustrative embodiment, seven fingers  68  of rectangular steel tube are welded in parallel array to a pivot  70  of rounded steel tube, which houses one of the hinge pins  38 . The fingers  68  are positioned along the pivot  70  to create a plurality of recesses  72  therebetween. A bracket  74  with supporting gusset  76  on the upper surface of one of the fingers  68  provides an attachment point for the hydraulic cylinder  44 . A pair of latch bars  78  is welded to the pivot  70  in the same plane as the fingers  68  and near the outermost ends of the pivot  70 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the corresponding rear hopper door  36 , which also has a pivot  80  with in this embodiment six tubular fingers  82  forming a planar array of interposed recesses  84 . Notably, these fingers  82  are staggered in position with respect to the fingers  68  of the opposing front hopper door  34  such that the fingers of each door are positioned opposite to and receivable by the recesses of the other door (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). Preferably the pivot  80  is provided with an outermost pair of latch fingers  86  that are sized and positioned to receive and contain the latch bars  78  on the opposing front hopper door  34 , in order to interlock the doors  34 ,  36  in a horizontal closed position over the infeed opening  32 . For that purpose the latch fingers  86  are provided with a notch  88  and an internal stop  90 . The notch  88  receives the pivoting latch bar  78  against the internal stop  90  as the doors  34 ,  36  approach and reach the fully closed position. The outer sides of the latch fingers  86  are provided with external stop bars  92  that help position the rear hopper door  36  (and the closed, intermeshed doors  34 ,  36 ) within the framework  30  surrounding the infeed opening  32 . The rear hopper door  36  also has a pair of brackets  94 , with supporting gussets  96 , which serve as attachment sites for the hydraulic cylinders  46 . Preferably the rear hopper door  36  is also provided with shear bars  98  that are mounted on the pivot  80  within the recesses  84  between the fingers  68 ,  86 . 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the baler  10  showing the hopper doors  34 ,  36  in the raised and chute-forming positions to guide biomass materials through the uncovered infeed opening  32  into the baling chamber  20 . The hopper door pivots  70 ,  80  are preferably aligned parallel to the compression platen  28 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the baler  10  showing the hopper doors  34 ,  36  in the closed and locked position. 
       FIGS. 7A-7D  are side views of the baler  10  showing a representative sequence for closing the hopper doors  34 ,  36 .  FIG. 7A  shows the hopper doors  34 ,  36  in the raised positions. We have found that for loading woody biomass or switchgrass the front and rear hopper doors  34 ,  36  are preferably pivoted to positions about 120° and 105°, respectively, above the framework  30 . When the infeed chamber assembly  14  has been loaded with biomass materials, the front hopper door  34  is partially closed to a position about 55° above the framework  30 , as shown in  FIG. 7B . This pivoting movement of the front hopper door  34  sweeps any overflowing biomass material toward the rear hopper door  36 . The rear hopper door  36  is pivoted to a position about 45° closed, which sweeps the material against the front hopper door  34  and entraps the material under the arched hopper doors  34 ,  36 , as shown  FIG. 7C . These pivoting movements may be coordinated to be concurrent, at appropriate cylinder velocities, or sequenced stepwise. 
     The hopper doors  34 ,  36  are then pivoted concurrently into full horizontal closure ( FIG. 7D ). These closing movements are coordinated so that the rear hopper door  36  reaches horizontal first, thereby presenting its notched latch fingers  86  for engagement by the door latches  64  on the first hopper door  34 . 
     As the overlapping hopper doors  34 ,  36  press the overflowing biomass material downward through the infeed opening  32 , there is an opportunity for some of the material to become entrapped between the fingers  68 ,  82 ,  86  and within the closing recesses  72 ,  84 . We have found that configuring the hopper doors  34 ,  36  so that about a one inch gap  100  of recess space  72 ,  84  remains between the fully intermeshed fingers  68 ,  82 ,  86  is suitable for woody biomass materials like arborist tree trimmings. Any such materials that become entrapped between the framework  30  and the outer latch bars  78  or the rear pivot  80  tend to be pulled into the baling chamber  20  as the compression platen  28  advances, and any materials entrapped between the front pivot  70  and the frame  30  are pushed and broken off against the rear shear bars  98 . For forestry applications the latch fingers  86  can additionally be provided with edged shear bars, knives, or slashing saws (not shown), as can any of the fingers  68 ,  82 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, a cutting device  102  such as a saw or shear is mounted on one (or both) of the upper frameworks  30  of the infeed chamber assembly  14 , alongside the infeed opening  32 . The cutting device  102  is used to sever and cut off the ends of bunched biomass, e.g., as held and positioned by a grapple claw (not shown) and/or hopper doors (as described below), in order to shorten the bundle and thereby facilitate loading through the infeed opening  32 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an exemplary cutting device  102  configured as a chain-type saw  104  with spaced projecting teeth  106  moveably carried along the periphery of a tool bar  108 . The tool bar  108  is pivotally mounted on housing  110  that acts as a bypass anvil when the bar  108  and saw  104  are pivoted by a hydraulic or electric actuator  112  from an activated upright position to a through-cut horizontal position. In use, the distal ends of a grapple-load of biomass are positioned on the housing  110  and across the infeed opening  32 , and held there by pivoting the hopper doors  34 ,  36  to about 45° closed (as shown in FIGURE &amp;C). The saw  104  is then activated by a drive motor  114  and pivoted downward to cut the biomass so that the cut ends fall through the infeed opening  32 . The hopper doors  34 ,  36  can then be opened, and the grapple claw lifted and spun around to present the other end of the bundle to the cutting sequence. In this manner the residual bundle has been sized for convenient and efficient loading. 
       FIG. 9  shows an alternative embodiment wherein the cutting device  102  has two opposing shear bars  116 ,  118  that are connected by pivots  120  to an underling shear mount block  122 . Actuators  124 ,  126  pivot the bars  116 ,  118  downward in overlapping arcs to shear entrapped biomass much as described above.  FIG. 10  shows a related embodiment having a single shear bar  128  with a mount block  130  configured as a bypass anvil. 
     In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 11 , the cutting device  102  is configured as a wedge  132  that slides along a mount track  134  against a fixed (or moveable) anvil  136 . 
     EXAMPLE 
     Following bill of materials is for the hopper door assembly shown in the FIGURES, sized for an infeed opening  32  measuring 48″ wide×30″ long. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 REF # 
                 PART NAME 
                 DESCRIPTION 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 34 
                 Front hopper door 
               
             
          
           
               
                 70 
                 Pivot 
                 3.25″ × 0.375″ × 48″ tube 
               
               
                 68 
                 Fingers (7) 
                 2″ × 3″ × 3/16″ × 24″ tube 
               
               
                 74 
                 Bracket (1) 
                 1″ × 2″ × 5.125″ bar, 1″ radius 
               
               
                 76 
                 Gusset (1) 
                 ¼″ × 3″ × 5.2″ plate 
               
               
                 78 
                 Latch bars (2) 
                 1″ × 1.25″ × 2″ bar 
               
               
                 44 
                 Hydraulic (1) 
                 2″ dual acting cylinder × 16″; 3000 psi 
               
             
          
           
               
                 36 
                 Rear hopper door 
               
             
          
           
               
                 80 
                 Pivot (1) 
                 3.25″ × 0.375″ × 48″ tube 
               
               
                 82 
                 Fingers (6) 
                 2″ × 3″ × 3/16″ × 25″ tube 
               
               
                 86 
                 Latch fingers (2) 
                 3″ × 4″ × ¼″ × 25″ tube 
               
               
                 94 
                 Brackets (2) 
                 1″ × 2.5″ × 4.25″ bar 
               
               
                 96 
                 Gussets (2) 
                 ¼″ × 3″ × 5.2″ plate 
               
               
                 98 
                 Shear bars (6) 
                 2″ × 2″ × ¼″ × 4″ angle 
               
               
                 90 
                 Internal stops (2) 
                 1″ × 1.625″ × 2.5″ bar 
               
               
                 92 
                 External stops (2) 
                 ¾″ × 1″ × 1″ bar 
               
               
                 46 
                 Hydraulics (2) 
                 2″ dual acting cylinder × 16″; 3000 psi 
               
               
                 38 
                 Hinge pins (2) 
                 2″ schedule 80 steel pipe × 55″ 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       FIG. 12  is a pressure ratio graph. Each data point represents a peak pressure reached while making a single flake of a bale of WoodStraw® in a bench top baler. This is a compellation of 13 bales made at different compression pressures. From the axial pressure to side pressure ratio trend observed in those experiments we estimate v=0.11 (the pressure ratio coefficient analogous to Poisson&#39;s ratio for homogeneous solids). 
     CITATIONS 
     The contents of each of the following publications are incorporated in their entireties by reference herein.
     (1) Stuart, W. B. and T. A. Walbridge, A new approach to harvesting, transporting, and storing logging residues, in: Hardwood Symposium Proceedings, 6 th  Annual Proceedings, The Business of Growing and Aging Hardwoods, Madison, Wis. Forest Products Society, pp. 74-83, 1978.   (2) Stuart, W. B, et al., Economics of modifying harvesting systems to recover energy wood, Forest Products Journal 31(8):37-42, 1981.   (3) Walbridge, T. A., and W. B. Stuart. 1981. An alternative to whole tree chipping for the recovery of logging residues. In Proceedings of the International Conference “Harvesting and Utilization of Wood for Energy Purposes” at Elmia, Jonkoping, Sweden. Sep. 20-30, 1980. Garpenberg, Sweden: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.   (4) Schiess, P., and K. Yonaka. 1982. Evaluation of new concepts in biomass fiber transport. In Progress in Biomass Conversion, Vol. III., edited by K. V. Sarkanen, D. A. Tillman and E. C. Jahn. New York: Academic Press.   (5) Schiess, P., and K. Yonaka; Baling—a new concept in residue handling; Proceedings, First Technical conference on Timber Harvesting in Central Rockies, Ft. Collins, 29 pages, Jan. 4-6, 1983; pp. i-iii and 1-26.   (6) Schiess, P., and W. E. Stuart; Baling of whole trees and/or residue as an alternative to in-woods chipping and/or residue treatment; Final Report submitted to Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experimental Station, Seattle, Wash., Jun. 1, 1983; pp. i-iii and 1-87.   (7) Schiess, P., and K. Yonaka; Evaluation of industrial baling techniques for forest residue; Final Report to Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, Wash., Jun. 30, 1983; pp. i-iv and 1-67.   (8) Guimier, D. Y. 1985. Evaluation of forest biomass compaction systems. Special Report No. SR-30. ENFOR Project P-313. Pointe Claire, Canada: Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada.   (9) Pottie, M. A., and D. L. Guimier, Harvesting and transport of logging residuals and residues, FERIC Special Report No. SR-33, IEA Cooperative Project No. CPC6, pp. i-vii and 1-62, May 1986.   (10) U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,353 entitled CHRISTMAS TREE BALING MACHINE; U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,519 entitled LEAF COLLECTOR AND BALER; U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,362 entitled DEVICE FOR BUNDLING FIREWOOD; U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,667 entitled LOG BUNDLING APPARATUS; U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,712 entitled WOOD BALER; U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,064 entitled BRUSH BUNDLING SYSTEM; U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,498 entitled LEAF BALER; U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,901 entitled FIREWOOD BANDING MACHINE; U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,443 B1 entitled PRUNING BALER; U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,585 B1 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE LENGTH OF A WASTE LOG AND/OR WEIGHT OF WASTE LOG WHILE COMPACTING AND TRANSFERRING THE WASTE LOG FOR TRANSPORT; U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,570 B2 entitled WOOD GATHERING AND COMPACTION VEHICLE; U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,542 B1 entitled LEAF COMPACTOR AND BALER; US 2005/0132667 A1 entitled COLLECTION AND STACKING OF LUMBER PIECES FROM THE GROUND; US 2006/0086419 A1 entitled MOBILE HIGH-SPEED BIOMASS PROCESSOR FOR CHUNKWOOD WITH INTEGRAL CHUNKWOOD BALER; US 2007/0157825 A1 entitled FOLIAGE COMPACTOR; WO 2007/138165 A1 entitled METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR HARVESTING; and particularly US 2005/0145115 A1 entitled MACHINE FOR THE RECOVERY OF FOREST, AGRICULTURAL AND/OR URBAN WASTE.   (11) www.deere.com/en_US/cfd/forestry/deere_forestry/harvesters/wheel/1490d_general.html Accessed 23 Feb. 2009.   (12) https://www.timberbuysell.com/Community/DisplayAd.asp?id=2686   Accessed 7 Nov. 2008; see also US 2009/0007537 entitled DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HARVESTING WOODY CROPS.   (13) WO 03/031167 A1 entitled OPEN TOP FINGER BALER; WO 99/37474 entitled IMPROVED BALING PRESS; and WO 89/10836 entitled BALING PRESS.   (14) Dooley, J. H., M. S. DeTray, and D. N. Lanning. March 2006. Technology to enable utilization of biomass from wildland-urban interface fuels reduction projects. Phase II: Field evaluation of baling vs. chipping. Auburn, Wash.: Forest Concepts, LLC.   (15) Dooley, J. H., M. S. DeTray, D. N. Lanning, J. L. Fridley; Utilization of biomass from WUI fuels reduction: Biomass collection and handling from wildland-urban intermix projects on residential and suburban properties; Poster presented at SmallWood 2006, Richmond, Va., May 16, 2006.   (16) Dooley, J. H., J. L. Fridley, D. N. Lanning. M. S. DeTray; Large rectangular bales for woody biomass; Paper No. 068054, presented at the 2007 ASABE Annual International Meeting, Portland, Oreg., Jul. 9-12, 2006.   (17) Dooley, J. H., D. N. Lanning, C. Lanning, and M. S. DeTray; Transportation of biomass from wildland urban intermix (WUI): Biomass preprocessing and handling to reduce cost of transportation and add value; poster presented at Intermountain Roundwood Association Annual Meeting, Missoula, Mont., 2007.   (18) Lanning, D. N., J. H. Dooley, M. C. DeTray, and C. J. Lanning; Engineering factors for biomass baler design; ASABE Paper No. 078047, presented at the 2007 ASABE Annual International Meeting, Minneapolis, Minn., Jun. 17-20, 2007.   (19) Lanning, D., C. Lanning, J. Dooley, M. DeTray, T. Aristidou; Baling to improve transport of biomass from urban areas; poster presented at the Forest Innovation Conference, Missoula, Mont., Apr. 25, 2008.   (20) Dooley, J. H., D. Lanning, C. Lanning, J. Fridley; Biomass baling into large square bales for efficient transport, storage, and handling; paper presented at the Council on Forest Engineering 2008: 31st Annual Meeting, Charleston, S.C., Jun. 22-25, 2008.   

     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1