Package making – Apparatus for forming or partially forming receptacle and... – Forming by opening or setting up collapsed receptacle
Patent
1995-10-27
1999-01-05
Culver, Horace M.
Package making
Apparatus for forming or partially forming receptacle and...
Forming by opening or setting up collapsed receptacle
53548, 53550, B65B 915, B65B 918, B65B 2502
Patent
active
058551077
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus suitable for packaging agricultural plaint material, and in particular to such a method and apparatus for packaging animal fodder such as silage or the like.
Typically, agricultural plant material, such as silage, is packaged for storage, in bale form, by wrapping a plastics sheet around the bale and securing in place. Usually, the plastics sheet is precut to a predetermined size and shape dependent on the size and shape of the bales to be packaged. Using known techniques it is difficult to produce a silage bale wrapper machine which may be used for wrapping both cylindrical and rectanglar (or square) bales. Furthermore, the procedure for wrapping individual bales is both complicated and time consuming.
I have now devised an improved method and apparatus for packaging agricultural plant material which alleviates some of the aforementioned difficulties.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of packaging agricultural plant material, which method comprises feeding a quantity of said agricultural plant material into a sheath of flexible packaging material susceptible to thermal bonding (such as a plastics sheet material) and subsequently: package for the abovementioned quantity of plant material; from the remainder of the sheath: and effectively closed end for the remainder of the sheath.
It is preferred that the end of the sheath into which the plant material is initially fed is effectively closed prior to introduction of the plant material into the sheath.
Typically, the plant material is fed into the sheath in discrete quantities, such as bales, although it is envisaged that the plant material may, in certain circumstances be continuously fed into the sheath.
Advantageously, the feeding of the plant material into said sheath causes a length of the sheath to be pulled (or wrapped) over the plant material.
Typically, the sheath will be generally tubular, and it is preferred that a predetermined length of the sheet material is pulled over the quantity of plant material prior to steps a,b and c referred to above being effected. The tubular sheath may be of circular section, although in some embodiments, the tubular sheath may be of square or rectangular section or the like.
The use of thermal sealing, is particularly advantageous in allowing, at least two, and preferably all three, of steps a,b and c referred to above, to be carried out in a single operation. Thermal sealing is beneficial in optimising the efficiency of the process, and apparatus as hereinafter described, both in terms of speed and the reliability of the resulting seals.
Advantageously, the operation of steps a,b and c referred to above is controlled by control means actuable when a selected length of the sheath has been pulled over the quantity of plant material; such control means may include one or more stop member arranged to ensure initiation of one or more of the thermal sealing steps.
Advantageously, the sheath material will be dispensed from a store of sheath material under the action of force exerted on the effectively closed end of the sheath by the quantity of plant material being fed into the sheath.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for packaging agricultural plant material, which apparatus comprises: bonding, which flexible material is arranged to define a sheath into which the plant material can be fed; sheath together at a first position; sheath together at a second position spaced from the first position; and a position intermediate between the first and second positions.
Advantageously the dispenser includes housing means arranged to contain a dispensable length of the sheath material, which housing further defines an aperture through which agricultural plant material can be fed.
Typically, the sheath will be generally tubular, and stored in concertina or roll form in the housing.
It is preferred that the housing is provided with a continuous slit or slot through which said flexible sheath can be
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Culver Horace M.
Schindler Edwin D.
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