Agricultural bag loading apparatus

Claim 2

An agricultural bag loading apparatus for loading material into agricultural bags, said apparatus comprising: a housing defining an intake chamber for receiving silage and an output chamber adapted to receive the mouth of an agricultural bag; means securing the mouth of an agricultural bag to said output chamber; a passageway formed between said intake chamber and said output chamber; a primary shaft; means for rotatably supporting said primary shaft in said passageway; drive means for selectively rotating said primary shaft; a plurality of teeth mounted along said primary shaft in a random pattern with said teeth being evenly distributed on the surface of said shaft, said teeth being adapted to force silage from the intake chamber through said passageway and into said output chamber when the shaft is rotated; a comb mounted on said housing and extending to within a predetermined distance from said shaft for removing silage from said teeth when the shaft is rotated; said teeth being operable when rotated to force silage from the intake chamber, through said passageway, through said output chamber and into the agricultural bag; and means for yieldably engaging the filled end of the agricultural bag to resist the movement of the loading apparatus away from the filled end of the bag as silage is forced into the agricultural bag so that silage is loaded into the bag at a predetermined pressure.

Claim 3

The loading apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a feeder mounted in said intake chamber of said housing for forcing silage in said intake chamber towards said passageway.

Claim 4

The loading apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a feeder shaft rotatably mounted in the intake chamber of said housing; a plurality of projections extending in a generally perpendicular direction from said feeder shaft; and means for selectively rotating said feeder shaft so that said projections urge silage in said intake chamber towards said passageway.

Claim 5

The loading apparatus of claim 3 wherein said primary shaft and said feeder shaft are mounted in a parallel relationship and said feeder shaft is rotated so that said projections on the lower side of said feeder shaft are moving towards said primary shaft to force silage towards said passageway.

Claim 6

The loading apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: sprockets mounted on said primary and feeder shafts; and a chain connected between said sprockets so that said feeder shaft rotates in response to the rotation of said primary shaft.

Claim 7

The loading apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for yieldably engaging the filled end of the bag comprises: at least one drum rotatably mounted on the loading apparatus; brake means for resisting the rotation of said drum with a selected brake force; a cable wrapped around said drum in a single layer to avoid excessive wear of said cable; and means for securing one end of said cable to the filled end to the end of the bag so that said cable is pulled off said drum against the brake force of said brake means as the agricultural bag is filled with silage.

Claim 8

The loading apparatus of claim 6 wherein said brake means comprises a disc brake operably connected to said drum for resisting the rotation thereof.

Claim 9

The loading apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: a drum sprocket mounted on said drum for rotation therewith; a brake sprocket mounted on said brake for rotation therewith; and a chain connecting said brake sprocket and said drum sprocket so that said brake rotates in response to rotation of said drum.

Claim 10

The loading apparatus of claim 6 wherein said brake means comprises: a disc brake mechanically connected to resist the rotation of said drum with a selected brake force; and a manually operated pump for pressurizing said disc brake, the brake force of said disc brake being proportional to the pressure of said manually operated pump.

Claim 11

The loading apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a pressure sensor and dial for indicating the pressure of said pump to indirectly indicate the degree of compression of the silage in the agricultural bag.

Claim 12

The loading apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for rotatably supporting said primary shaft comprises: first and second bushings mounted in said housing for supporting the opposite ends of said primary shaft; a first sprocket mounted on one end of said primary shaft and mechanically connected to rotatably drive said primary shaft, said first sprocket abutting said first bushing to prevent axial movement of said primary shaft towards said second bushing; and a second sprocket mounted on the other end of said primary shaft and mechanically connected to output rotational drive from said primary shaft, said second sprocket abutting said second bushing to prevent axial movement of said primary shaft towards said first bushing, so that said first and second sprockets retain said primary shaft relative to said bushings.

Claim 13

The loading apparatus of claim 1 wherein said teeth extend outwardly from said primary shaft and are curved away from the direction of travel to facilitate the removal of silage from the teeth when said teeth pass through said comb.

Claim 14

The loading apparatus of claim 1 wherein the teeth are arranged in groups, wherein each group includes at least 3 teeth, and wherein the leading edges of the teeth of each group are nonaligned with those of any other group.

Claim 15

The loading apparatus of claim 1 wherein said comb comprises a plurality of prongs extending downwardly from said housing to a predetermined position in the output chamber and adjacent to the primary shaft so that said teeth force silage under the comb and silage is removed from said teeth by said comb as the teeth pass therethrough, said prongs being curved with convex surfaces facing the output chamber of said housing to facilitate removal of said silage.

Claim 16

In an agricultural bag loading apparatus for loading silage and the like into an agricultural bag including a housing having an intake for receiving silage and an output for discharging silage into an agricultural bag, and a silage moving device for forcing silage from the intake into the output and into the agricultural bag, the improvement comprising: a feeder mounted in the intake of the housing for forcing silage towards the output of said housing and comprising: a feeder shaft rotatably mounted in said intake; a plurality of projections extending from said feeder shaft in a generally perpendicular direction relative to said feeder shaft; and means for rotating the feeder shaft for moving said projections in a circular path to precompress the silage and to urge silage in the intake towards the output.

Claim 17

In an agricultural bag loading apparatus for loading silage and the like into an agricultural bag including a housing having an intake for receiving silage and an output for discharging silage into an agricultural bag, and a silage moving device for forcing silage from the intake into the output and into the agricultural bag, the improvement comprising: a feeder mounted in the intake of the housing for forcing silage towards the output of said housing and comprising: a feeder shaft rotatably mounted in said intake; a plurality of projections extending from said feeder shaft in a generally perpendicular direction relative to said feeder shaft; and means for rotating the feeder shaft for moving said projections in a circular path to precompress the silage and to urge silage in the intake towards the output.

Claim 18

The improvement of claim 15 wherein said projections comprise angle irons attached to said feeder shaft.

Claim 19

In an agricultural bag loading apparatus having a primary shaft rotatably mounted therein in which silage and the like is forced into an agricultural bag by a plurality of teeth mounted along the primary shaft when the shaft is rotated, the improvement comprising: at least one drum rotatably mounted on the loading apparatus; brake means for resisting the rotation of said drum with a selected brake force; a cable wrapped around said drum in a single layer to prevent excessive wear of said cable; and means for securing the end of said cable to restrain the end of said bag so that the cable is pulled off the drum against the brake force of said brake means as the agricultural bag is filled with silage.

Claim 20

In an agricultural bag loading apparatus having a primary shaft rotatably mounted therein in which silage and the like is forced into an agricultural bag by a plurality of teeth mounted along the primary shaft when the shaft is rotated, the improvement comprising: at least one drum rotatably mounted on the loading apparatus; brake means for resisting the rotation of said drum with a selected brake force; a cable wrapped around said drum in a single layer to prevent excessive wear of said cable; and means for securing the end of said cable to restrain the end of said bag so that the cable is pulled off the drum against the brake force of said brake means as the agricultural bag is filled with silage.

Claim 21

The improvement of claim 17 wherein said brake means comprises a disc brake operably connected to resist the rotation of said drum.

Claim 22

The improvement of claim 18 further comprising: a brake sprocket attached for rotation with said brake; a drum sprocket attached for rotation with said drum; and a chain connected between said brake sprocket and said drive sprocket so that said brake is operable to rotate in response to rotation of said drum.

Claim 23

The improvement of claim 17 wherein said brake means comprises: a disc brake mechanically connected to resist the rotation of said drum with a selected brake force; and a manually operated pump for pressurizing said disc brake, the brake force of said disc brake being proportional to the pressure of said pump.

Claim 24

The improvement of claim 20 further comprising a pressure sensor and dial for indicating the pressure of said pump to indirectly indicate the degree of compression of the silage within the agricultural bag.

Claim 25

The improvement of claim 17 wherein said means for securing comprises a backstop configured to conform to the shape of the end of the agricultural bag, said backstop being connected to said cable and being operable to distribute the force of said cable over the end of the agricultural bag to yieldably resist the movement of the agricultural bag.

Claim 26

An agricultural bag loading apparatus for loading silage and the like into an agricultural bag, said loading apparatus comprising: a housing defining an intake chamber for receiving silage and an output chamber adapted to receive the mouth of the agricultural bag; means securing the mouth of an agricultural bag to said output chamber; a passageway formed between said intake chamber and said output chamber; a shaft mounted in said passageway; a pair of bushings mounted in said housing for rotatably supporting the two ends of said shaft; a driven sprocket mounted on one end of said shaft for rotating said shaft; a drive sprocket; a drive chain connected between said drive sprocket and said driven sprocket; drive means for rotating said drive sprocket to rotate said driven sprocket and said shaft; the plurality of teeth mounted along said shaft for forcing silage from the intake chamber into said output chamber when said shaft is rotated; a comb mounted in said housing and extending to within a predetermined distance from said shaft for removing silage from said teeth as said teeth move from the output chamber into the intake chamber; feeder means mounted in the intake chamber for precompressing the silage and forcing the silage in the intake chamber toward said passageway; at least one drum rotatably mounted on said housing; brake means for resisting the rotation of said drum with a variable selected brake force; a cable wrapped around said drum in a single layer for preventing excessive cable wear; and a backstop configured to conform to the filled end of the agricultural bag, said backstop being connected to said cable so that the brake force of said brake means is applied through said cable to said backstop for yieldably resisting the movement of the loading apparatus away from the filled end of said bag.

Claim 27

An agricultural bag loading apparatus for loading silage and the like into an agricultural bag, said loading apparatus comprising: a housing defining an intake chamber for receiving silage and an output chamber adapted to receive the mouth of the agricultural bag; means securing the mouth of an agricultural bag to said output chamber; a passageway formed between said intake chamber and said output chamber; a shaft mounted in said passageway; a pair of bushings mounted in said housing for rotatably supporting the two ends of said shaft; a driven sprocket mounted on one end of said shaft for rotating said shaft; a drive sprocket; a drive chain connected between said drive sprocket and said driven sprocket; drive means for rotating said drive sprocket to rotate said driven sprocket and said shaft; the plurality of teeth mounted along said shaft for forcing silage from the intake chamber into said output chamber when said shaft is rotated; a comb mounted in said housing and extending to within a predetermined distance from said shaft for removing silage from said teeth as said teeth move from the output chamber into the intake chamber; feeder means mounted in the intake chamber for precompressing the silage and forcing the silage in the intake chamber toward said passageway; at least one drum rotatably mounted on said housing; brake means for resisting the rotation of said drum with a variable selected brake force; a cable wrapped around said drum in a single layer for preventing excessive cable wear; and a backstop configured to conform to the filled end of the agricultural bag, said backstop being connected to said cable so that the brake force of said brake means is applied through said cable to said backstop for yieldably resisting the movement of the loading apparatus away from the filled end of said bag.

Claim 28

An agricultural bag loading apparatus for loading material into agricultural bags, said apparatus comprising: a housing defining an intake chamber for receiving silage and an output chamber adapted to receive the mouth of an agricultural bag; means securing the mouth of an agricultural bag to said output chamber; a passageway formed between said intake chamber and said output chamber; a primary shaft; means for rotatably supporting said primary shaft in said passageway; a driven sprocket mounted on one end of said primary shaft for rotating said primary shaft; a drive sprocket mounted for rotation on the agricultural bag loading apparatus; drive means for rotating said drive sprocket; a drive chain connecting said sprockets so that said drive means is operable through said two sprockets and drive chain to rotatably drive said primary shaft; a plurality of teeth mounted along said primary shaft with said teeth being evenly distributed on the surface of said primary shaft, said teeth being adapted to force silage from the intake chamber through said passageway and into said output chamber when said primary shaft is rotated; a comb mounted on said housing and extending to within a predetermined distance from said primary shaft for removing silage from said teeth when said primary shaft is rotated; said teeth being operable when rotated to force silage from the intake chamber, through said passageway, through said output chamber and into the agricultural bag; and means for yieldably engaging the filled end of the agricultural bag to resist the movement of the loading apparatus away from the filled end of the bag as silage is forced into the agricultural bag so that silage is loaded into the bag at a predetermined pressure.

Claim 29

An agricultural bag loading apparatus for loading material into agricultural bags, said apparatus comprising: a housing defining an intake chamber for receiving silage and an output chamber adapted to receive the mouth of an agricultural bag; means securing the mouth of an agricultural bag to said output chamber; a passageway formed between said intake chamber and said output chamber; a primary shaft; means for rotatably supporting said primary shaft in said passageway; a driven sprocket mounted on one end of said primary shaft for rotating said primary shaft; a drive sprocket mounted for rotation on the agricultural bag loading apparatus; drive means for rotating said drive sprocket; a drive chain connecting said sprockets so that said drive means is operable through said two sprockets and drive chain to rotatably drive said primary shaft; a plurality of teeth mounted along said primary shaft with said teeth being evenly distributed on the surface of said primary shaft, said teeth being adapted to force silage from the intake chamber through said passageway and into said output chamber when said primary shaft is rotated; a comb mounted on said housing and extending to within a predetermined distance from said primary shaft for removing silage from said teeth when said primary shaft is rotated; said teeth being operable when rotated to force silage from the intake chamber, through said passageway, through said output chamber and into the agricultural bag; and means for yieldably engaging the filled end of the agricultural bag to resist the movement of the loading apparatus away from the filled end of the bag as silage is forced into the agricultural bag so that silage is loaded into the bag at a predetermined pressure.

Claim 30

The loading apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a feeder mounted in said intake chamber of said housing for forcing silage in said intake chamber towards said passageway.

Claim 31

The loading apparatus of claim 24 wherein said means for yieldably engaging the filled end of the bag comprises: at least one drum rotatably mounted on the loading apparatus; brake means for resisting the rotation of said drum with a selected brake force; a cable wrapped around said drum; and means for securing one end of said cable to the filled end of the bag so that said cable is pulled off said drum against the brake force of said brake means as the agricultural bag is filled with silage.

Claim 32

The loading apparatus of claim 26 wherein said brake means comprises: a brake mechanically connected to the loading apparatus to resist the rotation of said drum with a selected brake force; and a manually operated pump for pressurizing said brake, the brake force of said brake being proportional to the pressure of said manually operated pump.

Claim 33

The loading apparatus of claim 27 further comprising a pressure sensor and dial for indicating the pressure of said pump to indirectly indicate the degree of compression of the silage and the agricultural bag.

Claim 34

The loading apparatus of claim 24 wherein said driven sprocket is larger than said drive sprocket to provide a mechanical reduction so that said drive sprocket rotates at a substantially greater rotational velocity than said driven sprocket.

Claim 35

The loading apparatus of claim 24 wherein said teeth extend downwardly from said primary shaft and are curved away from the direction of travel to facilitate the removal of silage from the teeth when said teeth pass through said comb.

Claim 36

The loading apparatus of claim 24 wherein said comb comprises a plurality of prongs extending downwardly from said housing to a predetermined position in the output chamber and adjacent to the primary shaft so that said teeth force silage under the comb and silage is removed from said teeth by said comb as the teeth pass therethrough, said prongs being curved with convex surfaces facing the output chamber of said housing to facilitate removal of said silage.

Claim 37

In an agricultural bag loading apparatus having a primary shaft rotatably mounted therein in which silage and the like is forced into an agricultural bag by a plurality of teeth mounted along the primary shaft when the shaft is rotated, the improvement comprising: at least one drum rotatably mounted on the loading apparatus; brake means for resisting the rotation of said drum with a selected brake force, said brake means including a brake mechanically connected to the loading apparatus to resist the rotation of said drum and a manually operated pump for pressurizing said brake, the brake force of said brake being proportional to the pressure of said pump; a cable wrapped around said drum; and means for securing the end of said cable to restrain the end of said bag so that the cable is pulled off the drum against the brake force of said brake means as the agricultural bag is filled with silage.

Claim 38

In an agricultural bag loading apparatus having a primary shaft rotatably mounted therein in which silage and the like is forced into an agricultural bag by a plurality of teeth mounted along the primary shaft when the shaft is rotated, the improvement comprising: at least one drum rotatably mounted on the loading apparatus; brake means for resisting the rotation of said drum with a selected brake force, said brake means including a brake mechanically connected to the loading apparatus to resist the rotation of said drum and a manually operated pump for pressurizing said brake, the brake force of said brake being proportional to the pressure of said pump; a cable wrapped around said drum; and means for securing the end of said cable to restrain the end of said bag so that the cable is pulled off the drum against the brake force of said brake means as the agricultural bag is filled with silage.

Claim 39

The improvement of claim 32 further comprising a pressure sensor and dial for indicating the pressure of said pump to indirectly indicate the degree of compression of the silage within the agricultural bag.

Claim 40

The improvement of claim 32 wherein said means for securing comprises a backstop configured to conform to the shape of the end of the agricultural bag, said backstop being connected to said cable and being operable to distribute the force of said cable over the end of the agricultural bag to yieldably resist the movement of the agricultural bag.

Claim 41

An agricultural bag loading apparatus for loading silage and the like into an agricultural bag, said loading apparatus comprising: a housing defining an intake chamber for receiving silage and an output chamber adapted to receive the mouth of the agricultural bag; means securing the mouth of an agricultural bag to said output chamber; a passageway formed between said intake chamber and said output chamber; a shaft mounted in said passageway for rotation; a driven sprocket mounted on one end of said shaft for rotating said shaft; a drive sprocket; a drive chain connected between said drive sprocket and said driven sprocket; drive means for rotating said drive sprocket to rotate said driven sprocket and said shaft; a plurality of teeth mounted along said shaft for forcing silage from the intake chamber into said output chamber when said shaft is rotated; a comb mounted in said housing and comprising a plurality of prongs extending downwardly from said housing to a predetermined position in the output chamber and adjacent to the shaft so that said teeth force silage under the comb and silage is removed from said teeth by said comb as the teeth pass therethrough, said prongs being curved with convex surfaces facing the output chamber of said housing to facilitate removal of said silage; feeder means mounted in the intake chamber for forcing the silage in the intake chamber towards said passageway; at least one drum rotatably mounted on said housing; brake means for resisting the rotation of said drum with a variable selected brake force; a cable wrapped around said drum; and a backstop configured to conform to the filled end of the agricultural bag, said backstop being connected to said cable so that the brake force of said brake means is applied through said cable to said backstop for a yieldably resisting the movement of the loading apparatus away from the filled end of said bag.

Claim 42

An agricultural bag loading apparatus for loading silage and the like into an agricultural bag, said loading apparatus comprising: a housing defining an intake chamber for receiving silage and an output chamber adapted to receive the mouth of the agricultural bag; means securing the mouth of an agricultural bag to said output chamber; a passageway formed between said intake chamber and said output chamber; a shaft mounted in said passageway for rotation; a driven sprocket mounted on one end of said shaft for rotating said shaft; a drive sprocket; a drive chain connected between said drive sprocket and said driven sprocket; drive means for rotating said drive sprocket to rotate said driven sprocket and said shaft; a plurality of teeth mounted along said shaft for forcing silage from the intake chamber into said output chamber when said shaft is rotated; a comb mounted in said housing and comprising a plurality of prongs extending downwardly from said housing to a predetermined position in the output chamber and adjacent to the shaft so that said teeth force silage under the comb and silage is removed from said teeth by said comb as the teeth pass therethrough, said prongs being curved with convex surfaces facing the output chamber of said housing to facilitate removal of said silage; feeder means mounted in the intake chamber for forcing the silage in the intake chamber towards said passageway; at least one drum rotatably mounted on said housing; brake means for resisting the rotation of said drum with a variable selected brake force; a cable wrapped around said drum; and a backstop configured to conform to the filled end of the agricultural bag, said backstop being connected to said cable so that the brake force of said brake means is applied through said cable to said backstop for a yieldably resisting the movement of the loading apparatus away from the filled end of said bag.