NZ212195A

NZ212195A - Air-tight plastics wrapping of hay bales for silage production

Info

Publication number: NZ212195A
Application number: NZ21219585A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: K Williamson
Original assignee: Eight Milieu Nominees Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1984-05-25
Filing date: 1985-05-24
Publication date: 1987-07-31
Also published as: AU4302785A; AU571087B2

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> s i NEW ZEALAND The Patenta Act. 1953 • COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE WRAPPING OF HAY BALES" <-g.n Australian company WE, EIGHT MILIEU NOMINEES PT Y. LTETTI of 10 Hawker Street, Airport West, in the State of Victoria, Australia, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement s- > ■ '.V «, • - , • "--V I 212195 W-* - 2 - ;IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE WRAPPING OF HAY BALES. ;This invention relates to the wrapping of hay bales, ;particularly, round bales. Large round hay bales lend themselves to the production of silage because of their relative bulkiness, however, difficulties have been experienced in the effective and 5 quick wrapping of such bales when the bales are still in the field. ;Wrapping of hay bales in preformed plastic bags or by wrapping using a single axis turntable is known to applicants. However there are difficulties with such methods in forming an airtight seal to prevent ingress of air which will spoil the silage forming process. 10 Furthermore, the operation is limited to specific bag sizes which do not necessarily form a tight fit around the bale. If this occurs a small hole formed in the bag will mean large scale spoilage of the bag for a wide area around the hole, and possibly spoilage of all the material within the bag. ;15 The present invention has as its main objective to provide a method and apparatus for wrapping hay bales for forming ensilage such that the spoilage effects of atmosphere on the hay when lying in the field are minimised. ;There is provided according to the present invention a method of 20 forming hay silage comprising the steps of supporting a hay bale on a support, applying a sheet of impervious plastic film material to said bale by wrapping the plastic film material around the bale in overlapping close fitting fashion, wherein the plastic is self adhering to s J form a close fitting air tight package completely enveloping the hay ;25 bale, the haybeing substantially sealed from atmosphere for sufficient period of time, whereby the formation of silage within the package occurs. _ ;::''^r off m i9c, ;JitCElVED ;212195 ;-i- ;The invention will be described having reference to the accompanying sketches in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the silage making and wrapping apparatus. ;Figure 2a is a rear perspective view of a bale wrapper during a bale pick-up action. ;Figures 2(b), (c) and (d) show various steps in a bale pick-up. ;Figures 3(a), ^b), (c) and (d) show the actual wrapping procedure. ;Figure 4 shows the off-loading procedure. ;The apparatus includes a mobile support frame 10 upon which is mounted a turntable 11 supported upon wheels 12. A circular bale 30 positioned on the ground is initially loaded by moving the support frame forward in the direction of arrow A such that fork arms 31, 32 of a pivotal outrigger arm construction 20 engage under the bale. As shown in phantom outline at 30' in Figure 1, the bale 30 engages against a locating stop bar 33 and is thereby in position for subsequent loading. The fork arm 31 ;2 12 195 ;- 4 - ;is adjustably movable to allow for differing sizes of the bales 30. The bale 30 is loaded by moving pivotal outrigger arm 20 upward by actuation of hydraulic ram 21 such that the bale rolls onto rollers 13 arranged on the turntable 5 11. The Beries of movements in this regard are illustrated successively in Figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d. The turntable includes rotatable rollers 13 for supporting the round hay bale 30. The turntable 11 and rollers 13 are preferably driven by hydraulic motors e.g 17, whereby when a round bale is supported on the rollers 13 there is simultaneous rotation of the bale about two substantially perpendicular axes. ;Conveniently one roller 13 is driven by a suitable hydraulic motor 17 and the second roller may be driven by '*5 belts 15 which interconnect the two rollers. The belts 15 thus serve the dual purpose of supporting the bale 30 as well as driving one of the rollers 13. Moreover, the turntable 11 is itself rotated about a substantially vertical axis by a suitable hydraulic motor (not shown). In 20 consequence when a hay bale 30 Is supported on the rollers 13 and belts 15, it may be rotated about its own essentially horizontally disposed axis while simultaneously being rotated about the substantially vertical axis of rotation of the "turntable 11. 25 A stand £0 is provided supporting a roll of plastic film such as sheet 16. The film or sheet 16 might be any ' air impervious material having adhesive qualities on at least one face or be such as to be able to adhere to itself. In the operation see Figures Z(a), (b),(c) and (d) 30 of the invention the film or sheet is attached to the bale and rotation of "the bale is commenced. The sheet preferably has a sticky backing whereby it is unreeled by movement of the bale end the bale is very quickly completely enveloped by the sheet such that a substantially close fit-ting air tight package for the bale is formed. The plastic sheet may be of soft composition so as to be self-adhesing as it is wrapped onto the bale. This hermetic sealing of the bale enables the bale to undergo chemical change and form silage. As is demonstrated in Figures 3a to 3d, an operator first secures the end of the plastic film or sheet to the 5 bale as it is supported on the rollers and belts 13, 15. The film roll support stand 40 may include means to ensure tensioning of the film. Preferably the amount of tensioning might be adjustable. Subsequently the turntable 11, and therefore the 10 bale 30 is rotated about a vertical axis and[single strip of plastic film 16 is wrapped around the bale 30 after one complete rotation (Figures 3a, 3b). The rollers 13 rotate the bale about its own horizontal axis, preferably by a distance equivalent to half the width of the plastic film. 15 The table is rotated a second time and^second plastic strip (overlapping the first plastic strip) is wrapped around the bale. The process of course continues in this manner with the movement about the respective axes occurring preferably simultaneously with the end result of substantially two 20 layers of the plastic film 16 enveloping the bale 30 as seen in Figure 3c. It is generally preferred to repeat the process to provide effectively four layers of plastic film, over the bale. The close fitting nature of the package ensures that 25 small punctures will not unduly influence the formation of silage because atmospheric air cannot penetrate beyond the immediate location of the puncture. With reference to Figure 4 the turntable is hydraulically tiltable to enable off-loading of the wrapped 30 bale after turning of the turntable through 90° to allow unloading from the rear. The roller- stand for the plastic sheet 16 is adapted to pay out sheet during a wrapping operation. The tension of the sheet may be controlled by the operator to achieve 35 an optimum wrapping tension. </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of forming hay silage comprisng the steps of supporting a hay bale on a support, applying a sheet of impervious plastic film material to said bale by wrapping the plastic film material around the bale in overlapping close fitting fashion, wherein the plastic is self adhering to form a close fitting air tight package completely enveloping the hay bale, the hay being substantially sealed from atmosphere for sufficient period of time whereby the formation of silage within the package occurs.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said support is capable of rotation about two axes which are mutually perpendicular.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said rotation occurs simultaneously about both said axes. A. A method of wrapping a hay bale as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described. EIGHT MILIEU NOMINEES PTY. LTD. By their Attorney DON HOPKINS Registered Patent Attorney </div>