Machine for forming a compact stack of crop material

Claim 2

In a machine for forming a stack of crop material such as hay or the like, the combination comprising: a mobile stack forming chamber adapted to move across a field; means coupled with said chamber for continuously delivering crop material from the field into said chamber through a first end of said chamber to adjacent an opposite second end of said chamber; and a baffle member mounted to said chamber for movement back and forth between said ends of said chamber so as to at least partially obstruct said delivery of crop material to adjacent said opposite second end of said chamber from time to time and distribute said crop material within said chamber between said ends thereof and thereby progressively form a stack of said crop material in said chamber.

Claim 3

The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said baffle member is operable for generally allowing delivery of said crop material to adjacent said opposite second end of said chamber when said member is positioned both adjacent said first end and said opposite end of said chamber and operable for generally at least partially preventing said delivery as said member moves between said ends of said chamber.

Claim 4

In a machine for forming a compact stack of crop material such as hay or the like, the combination comprising: a mobile chassis adapted to move across a field; a stack forming chamber mouNted upon said chassis; means mounted upon said chassis adjacent said chamber for continuously picking up crop material from the field and propelling said crop material into said chamber through a first end of said chamber toward an opposite second end of said chamber with sufficient velocity to substantially reach said opposite second end of said chamber; means mounted in said chamber for movement back and forth between said ends of said chamber so as to at least partially deflect said propelling crop material from time to time and distribute said crop material within said chamber between said ends thereof and thereby progressively form a stack of said crop material in said chamber; packing means extending across and mounted to said chamber so as to be movable between said ends of said chamber to compact said distributed crop material as said stack is progressively formed in said chamber; and means coupled to said packing means for continuously moving said packing means between said ends of said chamber.

Claim 5

In a machine for forming a compact stack of crop material such as hay or the like, the combination comprising: a mobile chassis adapted to move across a field; a stack forming chamber mouNted upon said chassis; means mounted upon said chassis adjacent said chamber for continuously picking up crop material from the field and propelling said crop material into said chamber through a first end of said chamber toward an opposite second end of said chamber with sufficient velocity to substantially reach said opposite second end of said chamber; means mounted in said chamber for movement back and forth between said ends of said chamber so as to at least partially deflect said propelling crop material from time to time and distribute said crop material within said chamber between said ends thereof and thereby progressively form a stack of said crop material in said chamber; packing means extending across and mounted to said chamber so as to be movable between said ends of said chamber to compact said distributed crop material as said stack is progressively formed in said chamber; and means coupled to said packing means for continuously moving said packing means between said ends of said chamber.

Claim 6

The combination as recited in claim 3, wherein said deflecting means is positioned generally above said packing means, coupled to said means for moving said packing means, and is movable between said first end and said opposite second end of said chamber as said packing means is correspondingly moved between said ends of said chamber.

Claim 7

The combination as recited in claim 3, wherein said deflecting means comprises: carriage means extending across and mounted to said chamber so as to be movable between said first end and said opposite second end of said chamber; and a baffle member mounted on said carriage means and movable between first and second positions relative to said carriage means during movement of said carriage means between said first and second ends of said chamber, said baffle member generally allowing said propelling crop material to reach said opposite second end of said chamber both when said baffle member is disposed in its first position and said carriage means is correspondingly positioned adjacent said first end of said chamber and when said baffle member is disposed in its second position and said carriage means is correspondingly positioned adjacent said second end of said chamber, said baffle member generally at least partially preventing said propelling crop material from reaching said opposite second end of said chamber both as said baffle member moves from its first position to its second position during movement of said carriage means from said first end to said second end of said chamber and as said baffle member moves from its second position to its first position during movement of said carriage means from said second end to said first end of said chamber.

Claim 8

The combination as recited in claim 5, wherein: said carriage means is coupled to said means for moving said packing means, extends generally above said packing means, and is movable between said first end and said opposite second end of said chamber as said packing means is correspondingly moved between said ends of said chamber; and said baffle member is mounted to said carriage means generally above said packing means and extends in a spaced relationship generally remotely therefrom when in its said first position such that said propelling crop material may pass between said packing means and said baffle member and in an adjacent relationship thereto when in its second position such that said propelling crop material is prevented from passing therebetween.

Claim 9

In a machine for forming a compact stack of crop material such as hay or the like, the combination comprising: a mobile chassis adapted to move across a field; a crop material receiving platform mounted on said chassis; means mounted upon said chassis adjacent said platform for continuously delivering crop material from the field to said platform; means for continuously distributing said crop material between opposite ends of said platform so as to pRogressively form a stack of said crop material on said platform; packing means movable between opposite ends of said platform along an upper portion of said stack being formed thereon to compact said distributed crop material as said stack is progressively formed and grows in height on said platform; means coupled to said packing means for continuously moving said packing means between said opposite ends of said platform; an enclosure for continuously laterally supporting said upper portion of said stack during its formation and compaction as said compact stack progressively grows in height on said platform; and said distributing means extending across and being mounted to said enclosure for movement back and forth between said ends of said platform so as to at least partially obstruct said delivery of crop material to said platform and thereby distribute the same between said ends of said platform; and mounting means coupled to said chassis for positioning said distributing means and said enclosure above said platform and for vertically displacing said distributing means and said enclosure from said platform as said compact stack grows in height on said platform.

Claim 10

In a machine for forming a compact stack of crop material such as hay or the like, the combination comprising: a mobile chassis adapted to move across a field; a crop material receiving platform mounted on said chassis; means mounted upon said chassis adjacent said platform for continuously delivering crop material from the field to said platform; means for continuously distributing said crop material between opposite ends of said platform so as to pRogressively form a stack of said crop material on said platform; packing means movable between opposite ends of said platform along an upper portion of said stack being formed thereon to compact said distributed crop material as said stack is progressively formed and grows in height on said platform; means coupled to said packing means for continuously moving said packing means between said opposite ends of said platform; an enclosure for continuously laterally supporting said upper portion of said stack during its formation and compaction as said compact stack progressively grows in height on said platform; and said distributing means extending across and being mounted to said enclosure for movement back and forth between said ends of said platform so as to at least partially obstruct said delivery of crop material to said platform and thereby distribute the same between said ends of said platform; and mounting means coupled to said chassis for positioning said distributing means and said enclosure above said platform and for vertically displacing said distributing means and said enclosure from said platform as said compact stack grows in height on said platform.

Claim 11

The combination as recited in claim 7, wherein: said enclosure is generally rectangular and has a pair of spaced apart opposing sidewalls and a pair of endwalls respectively extending between corresponding opposite ends of said sidewalls; and said packing means extends across said enclosure between said sidewalls and is mountably coupled thereto at its opposite ends for movement between said ends of said platform.

Claim 12

The combination as recited in claim 8, wherein said enclosure further has a roof structure positioned above said platform with said spaced apart opposing sidewalls depending respectively from opposite lateral sides of said roof structure and one of said endwalls being spaced from said roof structure so as to provide an opening therebetween through which said crop material may be delivered from the field to said platform.

Claim 13

The combination as recited in claim 9, wherein: said delivering means comprises a delivery tube mounted on said chassis, extending generally upright adjacent said opening defined between said one endwall and said roof structure of said enclosure and having an upper opening defined therein which faces toward said enclosure opening, a crop pickup means mounted at a lower end of said delivery tube adjacent the field for picking up crop material from the field and propelling the crop material upwardly through said tube and said upper tube opening, and a deflector movably mounted to said tube adjacent said tube opening for deflecting said propelling crop material emanating from said tube opening into said chamber through said enclosure opening along a desired path; and means interconnecting said tube opening deflector with said one of said endwalls of said enclosure for moving said deflector as said compact stack being formed in said chamber grows in height and said enclosure is vertically displaced from said platform so as to continue to deflect said propelling crop material emanating from said tube opening into said chamber through said enclosure opening along said desired path.

Claim 14

The combination as recited in claim 8, wherein: one of said endwalls of said enclosure is movable for removing support from about said upper portion at one end of said compact stack at a corresponding one end of said platform when said compact stack has reached its desired height; means are provided for causing tilting of said platform so as to lower said corresponding one end of said platform adjacent the field; and said platform has conveyor means operably mounted thereon for unloading said stack from said platform at its one end as said machine is moved away from said stack.

Claim 15

The combination as recited in claim 8, wherein: each of said enclosure sidewalls has formed thereon one of a pair of guide tracks which face toward eacH other and correspondingly extend between opposing ends of said respective sidewalls; and said packing means includes a packing roll and a carriage disposed at each opposite end of said roll, said carriages rotatably mounting respective opposite ends of said roll and being respectively coupled to said guide tracks for movement along said tracks between said opposing ends of said respective sidewalls as said packing roll is moved between said opposite end of said platform.

Claim 16

The combination as recited in claim 12 wherein: each of said enclosure sidewalls has formed thereon one of a pair of track surfaces which extend in corresponding relationship to each other and to said guide tracks between said opposing ends of said respective sidewalls; and said packing roll has a rotatable member fixed at each of its opposite ends adjacent each of said carriages, said rotatable members being respectively supported on said track surfaces and rollable therealong so as to provide positive rotation of said packing roll as said packing roll is moved between said opposite ends of said platform.

Claim 17

The combination as recited in claim 13, wherein said moving means comprises: a telescopeable arm disposed adjacent to, and outwardly of, each of said enclosure sidewalls and being pivotally coupled at one end to said chassis and rotatably coupled at an opposite end to one of said opposite ends of said packing roll adjacent one of said carriages and said rotatable members; and power means for pivotally swinging each of said telescopeable arms in corresponding fashion such that said respective opposite ends of said arms are moved back and forth between said opposing ends of said respective sidewalls which causes corresponding movement of said carriages along said respective guide tracks, of said packing roll which also rotates and moves between said opposite ends of said platform, and of said rotatable members rolling along said respective track surfaces.

Claim 18

The combination as recited in claim 13, wherein said guide tracks and said track surfaces have correspondingly arched profiles whereby said packing roll moves along an arcuate path between said opposite ends of said platform and tends to provide said compact stack with a similarly profiled top.

Claim 19

In a machine for forming a compact stack of crop material such as hay or the like, the combination comprising: a mobile chassis adapted to move across a field; a stack forming chamber including a crop material receiving platform mounted on said chassis and a generally rectangular enclosure positioned above said platform, said enclosure including a roof structure spaced above said platform, a pair of spaced apart opposing sidewalls depending from said roof structure toward said platform and a pair of endwalls respectively extending between corresponding opposite ends of said sidewalls, one of said endwalls at a first end of said chamber being spaced below said roof structure so as to define an opening therebetween, said enclosure being open at its bottom; means mounted to said chassis adjacent said first end of said chaamber for continuously picking up crop material from the field and propelling said crop material into said chamber through said opening at said first end of said chamber toward an opposite second end of said chamber with sufficient velocity to substantially reach said opposite second end of said chamber; means for at least partially deflecting said propelling crop material from time to time to distribute said crop material within said chamber between said ends thereof and thereby progressively form a stack of crop material in said chamber; packing means extending across said enclosure between said sidewalls and mountably coupled thereto at its opposite ends for movement between said ends of said chamber to compact said distributed crop material as said stack is progressively formed in said chamber, said deflecting means extending across said chamber generally above said packing meaNs, moveably coupled to said roof structure at its upper end and coupled to said opposite ends of said packing means at its lower end, and moveable between said first end and said opposite second end of said chamber as said packing means is correspondingly moved between said ends of said chamber; and means for continuously moving said packing means and said deflecting means between said ends of said chamber.

Claim 20

In a machine for forming a compact stack of crop material such as hay or the like, the combination comprising: a mobile chassis adapted to move across a field; a stack forming chamber including a crop material receiving platform mounted on said chassis and a generally rectangular enclosure positioned above said platform, said enclosure including a roof structure spaced above said platform, a pair of spaced apart opposing sidewalls depending from said roof structure toward said platform and a pair of endwalls respectively extending between corresponding opposite ends of said sidewalls, one of said endwalls at a first end of said chamber being spaced below said roof structure so as to define an opening therebetween, said enclosure being open at its bottom; means mounted to said chassis adjacent said first end of said chaamber for continuously picking up crop material from the field and propelling said crop material into said chamber through said opening at said first end of said chamber toward an opposite second end of said chamber with sufficient velocity to substantially reach said opposite second end of said chamber; means for at least partially deflecting said propelling crop material from time to time to distribute said crop material within said chamber between said ends thereof and thereby progressively form a stack of crop material in said chamber; packing means extending across said enclosure between said sidewalls and mountably coupled thereto at its opposite ends for movement between said ends of said chamber to compact said distributed crop material as said stack is progressively formed in said chamber, said deflecting means extending across said chamber generally above said packing meaNs, moveably coupled to said roof structure at its upper end and coupled to said opposite ends of said packing means at its lower end, and moveable between said first end and said opposite second end of said chamber as said packing means is correspondingly moved between said ends of said chamber; and means for continuously moving said packing means and said deflecting means between said ends of said chamber.

Claim 21

The combination as recited in claim 16, wherein: said roof structure has a guide channel formed therein and extending generally between said ends of said chamber; and said deflecting means includes a carriage frame being coupled at its lower end to said opposite ends of said packing means and at its upper end to said guide channel for movement along said guide channel between said ends of said chamber as said packing means is correspondingly moved between said ends of said chamber and a baffle member moveably mounted to said carriage frame generally above said packing means and extending in a spaced relationship generally remotely therefrom when in a first position such that said propelling crop material may pass between said packing means and said baffle means and in an adjacent relationship thereto when in a second position such that said propelling crop material is substantially prevented from passing therebetween.

Claim 22

The combination as recited in claim 17, wherein said baffle member is pivotally mounted on said carriage frame for pivotal movement between said first and second positions during movement of said carriage frame between said first and second ends of said chamber, said baffle member generally allowing said propelling crop material to reach said opposite second end of said chamber both when said baffle member is disposed in its first position and said carriage frame is correspondingly positioned adjacent said first end of said chamber and when said baffle member is disposed in its second position and said carriage frame is correspondingly positioned adjacent said second end of said chamber, said baffle member generally at least partially preventing said propelling crop material from reaching said opposite second end of said chamber both as said second member pivotally moves from its first position to its secnd position during movement of said carriage frame from said first end to said second end of said chamber and as said baffle member pivotally moves from its second position to its first position during movement of said carriage frame from said second end to said first end of said chamber.

Claim 23

The combination as recited in claim 1, further comprising: packing means extending across said chamber and movable between said ends of said chamber to compact said distributed crop material as said stack is progressively formed in said chamber; and means coupled to said packing means for continuously moving said packing means between said ends of said chamber.

Claim 24

The combination as recited in claim 1, further comprising: means movably mounted to said chamber for continuously compacting said distributed crop material in a progressive manner back and forth between said ends of said chamber as said stack is being progressively formed in said chamber.