Apparatus for controlling the movement of crop material in a roll forming machine

Claim 2

Apparatus for controlling the movement of crop material in a roll forming machine comprising: a. a frame adapted to travel across a field, b. a floor mounted to the frame adapted to receive a swath of crop material, c. means associated with the floor for conveying the material longitudinally across said floor, d. an upper apron assembly mounted to said frame above the conveying means, e. means for moving said upper apron in a direction opposite to the direction of said conveying means for forming the roll by rotating the crop material, and f. means operably associated with said floor to direct said material into contact with the upper apron for reducing the forces exerted by said material on said upper apron assembly during the roll forming operation.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the directing means is further adapted to compress the material prior to its initial contact with said upper apron assembly.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said directing means comprises a plurality of leaf springs each having an arcuate shape with one end mounted in the vicinity of the rear end of said floor and the other end extending from said floor and adjacent said upper apron assembly thereby directing said material conveyed longitudinally across said floor into contact with said upper apron assembly.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set out in claim 2 wherein said conveying means includes a plurality of endless chains rotatably mounted to said frame, said chains being positioned above said floor and extending along said floor, and means connected to said chains and extending from said chains to engage and convey said material to the rear of said floor.

Claim 6

Apparatus for controlling the movement of crop material in a roll forming machine which comprises: a. a frame adapted to travel across a field, b. a floor mounted to the frame adapted to receive a swath of crop material, c. a plurality of channels mounted in the vicinity of said floor and transversely spaced across said floor, d. means positioned on the channels for conveying the material longitudinally across said floor, e. an upper apron assembly moveably mounted to said frame above said conveying means and moveable in a direction opposite to the conveying means, and f. means operably associated with said floor to direct said material into contact with said upper apron assembly to reduce the forces exerted by said material on said assembly during the roll forming operation.

Claim 7

Apparatus for controlling the movement of crop material in a roll forming machine which comprises: a. a frame adapted to travel across a field, b. a floor mounted to the frame adapted to receive a swath of crop material, c. a plurality of channels mounted in the vicinity of said floor and transversely spaced across said floor, d. means positioned on the channels for conveying the material longitudinally across said floor, e. an upper apron assembly moveably mounted to said frame above said conveying means and moveable in a direction opposite to the conveying means, and f. means operably associated with said floor to direct said material into contact with said upper apron assembly to reduce the forces exerted by said material on said assembly during the roll forming operation.

Claim 8

An apparatus as set out in claim 5 wherein said directing means comprises a plurality of leaf springs each having an arcuate shape with one end mounted in the vicinity of the rear end of said floor and the other end extending from said floor and adjacent said upper apron assembly thereby directing said material conveyed longitudinally across said floor into contact with said upper apron assembly.

Claim 9

An apparatus as set out in claim 6 wherein the arcuate shape of the leaf springs allows said material to be compressed prior to said material contacting said upper apron assembly.

Claim 10

An improved hay roll forming machine having a wheeled frame, a floor mounted to the frame adapted to receive a swath of crop material, means associated with the floor for conveying the material to the rear of said floor, an upper apron assembly mounted to said frame above the conveying means and moveable in a direction opposite to the direction of said conveying means, wherein the improvement comprises, means operably associated with said floor to compress said material and to direct said material into contact with said upper apron.

Claim 11

An improved hay roll forming machine having a wheeled frame, a floor mounted to the frame adapted to receive a swath of crop material, means associated with the floor for conveying the material to the rear of said floor, an upper apron assembly mounted to said frame above the conveying means and moveable in a direction opposite to the direction of said conveying means, wherein the improvement comprises, means operably associated with said floor to compress said material and to direct said material into contact with said upper apron.