Patent ID: 7370573

Claim:
A module builder comprising: a wheeled frame adapted for towing behind a harvester; a compaction chamber comprising: at least two compaction side walls; and a compaction surface oriented between and substantially perpendicular to the compaction sidewalls, nominally vertical, and translatable in a substantially horizontal direction between a leading edge of the compaction chamber and a trailing edge of the compaction chamber at various vertical and near-vertical orientations; the compaction chamber coupled to the wheeled frame as to receive material from a harvester delivery system through the compaction chamber top with the compaction surface at the leading edge of the compaction chamber; compaction means attached to the wheeled frame, coupled to the compaction surface, and operative to translate the compaction surface in a substantially horizontal direction between the compaction chamber leading edge and the compaction chamber trailing edge at various vertical and near-vertical orientations; a forming chamber coupled to the wheeled frame, having a forming chamber leading edge and a forming chamber trailing edge defined therein, the forming chamber leading edge substantially adjoining and aligned with the trailing edge of the compaction chamber, and a forming chamber door assembly comprising: a substantially vertical forming chamber door frame at least spanning the forming chamber trailing edge, coupled to the wheeled frame, and movable toward and away from the forming chamber trailing edge along the wheeled frame, and at least one substantially vertical forming chamber door mounted on the forming chamber door frame and movable between open and closed states across the forming chamber trailing edge opening; and forming chamber door assembly translation means attached to the wheeled frame, coupled to the forming chamber door frame, and operative to translate the forming chamber door frame in a substantially horizontal direction toward and away from the forming chamber trailing edge.