Method of finishing the wrapping of a bale
View Patent ↗The apparatus is a rear extension on a conventional round baler that already produces round bales partially wrapped with plastic around only their cylindrical surface. The additional structure includes a table to receive the bale and rotate the bale so that the unwrapped surfaces face forward and back, after which pivoting arms aligned with the sides of the baler clamp the bale, lift it off the table, and rotate it end over end to continue the wrapping process around the previously uncovered ends. When the bale is completely wrapped, the baler's knife cuts the plastic sheet, and the arms continue pivoting rearward before releasing the bale onto the ground.
1. A method of finishing the wrapping of a bale discharged from a bale forming baler comprising:
discharging a bale with some wrapped surfaces and some unwrapped surfaces from a baler onto a table, with the wrapping material still attached between a wrapped surface of the bale and a supply roll within the baler;
rotating the table and the bale so that an unwrapped surface of the bale is facing the baler;
lifting the bale off the table;
rotating the bale in a vertical plane so that the unwrapped surfaces are covered by the wrapping material; and
cutting the wrapping material between the bale and the supply roll when all the surfaces are wrapped.
2. The method of claim 1 further including discharging the fully wrapped bale onto the ground.
3. The method of claim 1 further including discharging the fully wrapped bale onto the ground with a flat surface in contact with the ground.
4. The method of claim 1 further including stretching the wrapping material in its full width dimension to better utilize its width in the wrapping process.