Patent ID: 7594374

Claim:
A bagging machine for bagging agricultural, compost, or other material for storage or composting, the bagging machine comprising: a rotary packing apparatus adapted to move loose material into a material forming enclosure; a hooper adapted to receive loose material and direct the loose material to the rotary packing apparatus; a first tunnel member having forward and rearward ends; a second tunnel member having forward and rearward ends; and at least one auxiliary tunnel member operatively coupled to the first and second tunnel members and dispose therebetween; wherein the forward ends of the first and second tunnel members are operatively coupled in a fixed, spaced-apart relationship; wherein the rearward end of at least one of the first and second tunnel members is selectively movable toward and away from the other; and wherein the first tunnel member, the second tunnel member, and the at least one auxiliary tunnel member form the material forming enclosure when the rearward end of at least one of the first and second tunnel members is moved away from the other; wherein the at least one auxiliary tunnel member is operatively coupled to the first and second tunnel members to at least substantially close at least one opening between the first and second tunnel members when the rearward end of at least one of the first and second tunnel members is moved away from the other; wherein the at least one auxiliary tunnel member includes at least one flexible member and at least one tongue member; and wherein the at least one flexible member is disposed adjacent the rearward ends of the first and second tunnel members and extends forwardly for a distance less than a distance between the forward ends and the rearward ends of the first and second tunnel members leaving a portion of the opening unclosed.