Patent ID: 7178315

Claim:
A packing machine for packing material into a container, comprising: a movable frame having a rearward end and a forward end; a material-forming enclosure having an intake end coupled to the rearward end of the movable frame and configured to receive the material to be packed and an output end extending rearwardly away from the movable frame and configured to receive the container; a material-filling apparatus coupled to the movable frame and configured to move the material to be packed rearwardly into the material-forming enclosure and into the container, wherein the packing machine is adapted to move forwardly with respect to a ground surface as the material is packed into the container; and at least one drag member including a first and a second drag strap operatively coupled to the material-forming enclosure and configured to extend rearwardly beneath at least a portion of the container to resist forward movement of the packing machine; wherein the at least one drag member has an upper surface and a lower surface; wherein one or more of the at least one drag members includes a plurality of protuberances disposed on at least a portion of the upper surface; wherein at least a portion of the upper surface is in contact with at least a portion of the container; wherein at least a portion of the lower surface is in contact with a ground surface on which the packed material rests; wherein the container includes an elongate covering having first and second opposing side edges; wherein during operation of the packing machine the elongate covering is formed into an at least substantially semi-cylindrical shape by disposing the first opposing side edge between the packed material and at least the first drag strap and by disposing the second opposing side edge between the packed material and at least the second drag strap; and wherein the plurality of protuberances disposed on the upper surface of the one or more drag members are configured to guide the opposing side edges inwardly to tuck the opposing side edges under the packed material to retain the at least substantially semi-cylindrical shape of the elongate covering forming the container as the packing machine moves forward.