US3816970A - Apparatus for wrapping bagging and the like about bales of fibers - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus adapted for association with the upper and lower platens of a baling press or the like and effective to wrap sheets of material about portions of a bale while under compression between the platens. The wrapping mechanism on the platen which passes into and through the fiber collection box or chamber of the press mechanism is designed to retract behind the fiber engaging surface of such platen and to lie within the vertically projected confines thereof, permitting such platen to traverse the box without interference by such mechanism. The mechanism comprises sheet engaging arms disposed when actuated to crease and fold the sheets about the ends and sides of the bale while the bale is under compression between the platens, and to hold the sheets folded, permitting the thus wrapped bale to be strapped prior to releasing the pressure therefrom.

Description

[ June 18, 1974 United States Patent 1191 Van Doorn et al.

[5 APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING BAGGING 3,721,060 3/1973 Qunito.......................... 53/124 D x AND THE LIKE ABOUT BALES OF FIBERS [75] Inventors: Donald W. Van Doorn;

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Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jennings, Carter m B lm SI 0 JmC f o m mu m 0 m c L m HJ Thompson Assignee: Lummus Industries, Inc., Columbus,

ABSTRACT Apparatus adapted for association with the upper and lower platens of a baling press or the like and effective to wrap sheets of material about portions of a bale while under compression between the platens. The wrapping mechanism on the platen which passes into and through the fiber collection box or chamber of the press mechanism is designed to retract behind the fiber engaging surface of such platen and to lie within the vertically projected confines thereof, permitting such platen to traverse the box without interference by such mechanism. The mechanism comprises sheet engaging arms disposed when actuated to crease and fold the'sheets about the ends and sides of the bale while the bale is under compression between the platens, and to hold the sheets folded, permitting the thus wrapped bale to be strapped prior to releasing the 6 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures m 0 f 6 r 6 h t 6 r u. S s e r p C CCC CXC m2fl 444MN4 4 12ZZAITV Z 2 1 ,3 HHHSiHMH 005 333 1 3 .l 555n 5/5 5 2 M a m. n QM 2 N m III W n m M C d mmm a m mm A "m. .HD nw nh N 2 m C mm"; ,Lm 7 H S uuuun o 9 3w m neom m l 5 CT. uee n m DS 4 n. A kuhne i 9 9 I mwnw mmwmw e 2, m .mSLAB GCBvD n 1 u" e u 6 7c D 'J 2 H 5890877 ..8 T0 256677 mm& [99999999 N "H NHHHHHHHHGL 79 6968 .m 1C 1 l e D. S .l p Mhk 6757243 Dr A UIIF 76455331vJJbAfiAA 1 ill] 11 7-l20o7346m4 1 218 6 Wflfio oflh i fl Q1 n ULDU U1 LL2 1 -3 3 3PATENTEDJUN 18 m4 SHEET t if 7 APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING BAGGING AND THE LIKE ABOUT BALES OF FIBERS recently, with certain types of sheet plastic material as well as relatively rigid sheets such as pre-scored kraft board. I-Ieretofore, the upper and lower platens have been dressed with the wrapping'material and then, while the bale was under pressurebetween the platens, the ends and sides of the sheet were pulled about the bale by hand. With the bagging thus in place straps have been placed about the bale either manually or by automatic machinery. Securing the wrapping about the bale manually is time consuming and hence expensive. Further, manual application of the wrapping requires that it be supported out of alignment with the strapping mechanism while the straps are being applied, this again increasing the overall time required to wrap and tie out a bale.

In view of the foregoing our invention contemplates the provision of apparatus carried by the opposed platens of a baling press which shall be effective after being dressed with the sheets of bagging or kraft board and while the bale is held compressed between the platens, to wrap the sheet about the ends and side portions of the bale and hold the same so positioned, awaiting the placement of securing straps or bands about the bale.

Our invention has for another object the provision of apparatus of the character designated so constructed and arranged that it may be associated with the one of the platens which traverses the usual fiber collection box or chamber without interfering with the normal fiber collection or bale compaction processes.

More in detail, our invention has for an object the provision of a plurality of sheet engaging fingers or arms which, in the case of the platen which traverses the fiber collection chamber, move from retracted, dressed positions to positions alongside the ends and sides of the bale, such movement resulting in placing the end and side portions of the sheet about the. bale and in folding portions of the ends of the sheet around the corners of the bale.

Another object is to provide sheet supporting, folding and holding arms and operating mechanisms therefor disposed for association with the other platen of the press and effective to place the other sheet of wrapping material about the bale after the first named sheet has been so placed, whereby the sheets may be overlapped, thus completely to cover the ends and at least the major portions of the side areas of the bale.

A further object is to provide bale wrapping apparatus which may be readily adapted to the platens of existing presses and which shall be simple of construction and reliable in operation.

Apparatus illustrating features of our invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which;

FIG. 1 is a fragmental side elevational view of our improved apparatus shown in the position that the parts occupy while holding the bale under pressure between the upper and lower platens and with theparts in the position just prior to moving upwardly and downwardly about the bale, to wrap the sheets about the bale;

FIG. 1 is an enlarged detail end elevational view of the mechanism carried by the lower platen, in the lowered position, prior to moving upwardly to wrap the sheet carried thereby around the bale, as viewed in direction of arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section and broken away and taken generally alongline 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a wholly diagrammatic side elevational view showing the positionthat the parts occupy immediately after the lower platen has removed the fiber from the fiber collection chamber, while the bale is under compression and priorto wrapping the sheets about the bale, the sheets of wrapping material being omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail fragmental view of one side of the apparatus carried by the lower platen, in slightly raised position, the sheet carried thereby being shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding: to FIG. 5 with the sheet dressed over the mechanism carried by the lower platen and showing in dotted lines the position occupied by the apparatus and assumed by the lower sheet when the mechanism moves upwardly to sheet wrapping position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, detail fragmental view of one comer of the upper wrapping mechanism in raised position; I

FIGS. 8 to 11 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the steps in securing the sheets about the bale by our improved apparatus; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view taken generally along line l2-12-of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention we illustrate the same, as best shown in FIG. 4, in association with a baling press which may include a fiber collection chamber orbox 10. In the form illustrated we show what is known as an up packing press, namely, one in which theplaten 11 is adapted to move upwardly from generally the bottom portion of thefiber collection chamber 10 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus, with theplaten 11 mounted on thepiston 12 of theram 13 and withdrawn to the bottom of the charging box, fiber may be placed in the box in the manner well understood in the art. The press also comprises theupper platen 14 which is mounted on thepiston rod 16 of anupper ram 17. The platens are adapted to be moved to the position shown in FIG. 4, whereby the relatively loosely packed fiber in thecharging chamber 10 is compacted outside of that chamber into a bale indicated generally by the letter B.

As-stated, the object of our invention is to wrap about the bale B, in the manner to be described, the overhanging sides and ends of abottom 18 of material and the similar portions of a top sheet ll9 of material thus, in effect, to wrapthe bale firmly with the said two sheets as illustrated in FIG. 11 of the drawings. Still further, and also as has been mentioned, our invention contemplates holding the bale wrapped as illustrated in FIG. 11 in that position until strapping can be placed about the bale either manually or by mechanical strapping devices such for instance as that shown, described and claimed in United States Letters Patent No. 3,521,550 dated July 21, 1970.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1 it will be seen that thelower platen 11 comprises the slottedupper fiberengaging surface 21 and the dependingend skirt sections 22.

Pivotally mounted on each vertically disposedside surface 23 of thelower platen 1 1, generally atpositions 24 are pairs ofarms 26. In view of the fact that thearms 26 themselves are identical and also because the structure carried by the opposite disposed ones of these arms, that is at each end of theplaten 11, is identical, a description of one such assembly will suffice for all.

Thearm 26, at its lower end is bifurcated and at'27 pivotally receives ablock 28. Welded to the side of theblock 28 is anupstanding arm 29. Pivotally connected at 31 to the upper end of thearm 29 is alink 32, the other end of which is pivotally mounted at 33 to the side of an upstandingsheet engaging finger 34, the latter being pivoted at 36 to the side of thearm 26. Atension spring 37 urges the upper end of thefinger 34 toward the center of the platen as viewed in FIG. 1, that is, to the left as viewed in FIGS. and 6.

Theblock 28 has anupstanding rod 38 secured nonrotatably thereto. Acollar 39 is secured to therod 38 just above theblock 28. See particularly FIG. 2. Rotatably received about the upper end of therod 38 is a tubularlower end section 41 of a lowersheet engaging finger 42.

From what has been thus far described concerning thearm 26 and its attachments, as well as thefinger 34, it will be seen that thefingers 34 and 42 are pivotally mounted on thearm 26 at thepoints 36 and 27, respectively, and the same are tied together by the tie rod orlink 32. Furthermore, thefinger 42 is capable of rotational movement about theupstanding rod 38 carried by the pivotally mountedblock 28.

Secured to thetubular portion 41, adjacent its lower end, is abracket member 43 carrying aroller 44 on its inner end. Theroller 44 is adapted to engage atrack member 46 having an outturnedlower end 47. For a purpose later to appear it will also be seen that thetrack member 46 is provided with an outwardlybent section 48 over which theroller 44 rides as thearms 26 move upwardly, to wrap the sheet dressed thereover about the lower part of the bale.

Secured to thefinger 42, intermediate its ends is an auxiliarysheet engaging finger 49, which is curved more particularly as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6.

Wrapped about the lower end of therod 38 is acoil spring 51. One end 510 of the spring is secured to thecoller 39 while theother end 51b is anchored in the lower end of thetubular section 41. Thespring 51 is wound under tension so as always to urge theroller 44 into contact with itstrack 46. When the roller rides into thesection 48 of the track,finger 42 is rotated to press theauxiliary finger 49 against the side of the bale, as will appear.

Secured to the end of the lower portion of theplaten 11 is acam member 52. Projecting from thetubular section 41 is astub shaft 53 which carries aroller 54 adapted to engage the contoured surface of thecam 52. Thus, as the parts move from the lower position of FIG. 6 to the partially raised full line position to FIG. 5 it will be seen that theroller 54 moves upwardly on the divergent surface of thecam member 52, causing thefinger 42 and of course theauxiliary finger 49 to move outwardly of the end of the platen from the position shown in full lines, FIG. 6, to the position shown in full lines, FIG. 5. That is to say, because the bale when finally compressed is slightly larger than the surface of the platen, thefinger 42 must be moved endwise of the bale in order to place the sheet which has been wrapped thereover about the bale in its subsequent upward movement.

In brief summary of the description of the mechanism so far described in the fully lowered position the upper end of thefinger 42 rests against the end of thelower platen 11, and this end preferably is undercut as indicated at 56, FIGS. 1 and 6. When thearms 26 move upwardly as presently will appear, thefingers 42 of course move upwardly, but they also move outwardly and rotate in directions to bring the auxiliary fingers closer to the sides of the bale, all as will be explained more in detail later.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3 the mechanism associated with theupper platen 14 and which is adapted to wrap the ends and. sides of theupper sheet 19 about the ends and sides of the bale will now be described. Pivotally connected as at 57 to theend surface 58 of theplaten 14 are pairs ofarms 59. In view of the fact that the pairs of arms at both ends of theplaten 14 are identical, as well as the mechanisms carried thereby, and because the mechanisms carried by thearms 59 are identical, a description of one side will suffice for all.

Secured to thearms 59 arebrackets 61 and passing loosely through these brackets is apin 62 which carrieswashers 63 at each end. A compression spring 64 between the brackets presses thearms 59 downwardly at all times, as shown in FIG. 3.

Further outwardly alongthearms 59 areoutstanding lugs 66. Secured to the lugs by a threadedbolt member 67 is aroller 68. Theroller 68 bears against thecurved section 69 of atubular arm 71. Thetubular arm 71 is welded or otherwise affixed to asleeve member 72 carried on the outer rounded end of a rod-like member 73 which is secured to the platen by means of studs or the like 74. Thetubular arm 71 thus includes the roundedsection 69 and aninner section 76 which is secured non-rotatably to the outer end of thesection 69 as by means of apin 77.

Mounted for limited rotation about theinner member 76 is an outertubular section 78. Thetubular section 78 is provided with aslot 79 through which projects a pin 81 carried by theportion 76.

As best shown in FIG. 7, thetubular member 72 is provided with theslot 82 through which projects apin 83 carried by therod 73. Theslot 82 extends for about one-fourth of the diameter of thesleeve 72 and thus limits rotation of the sleeve relative to therod 73.

Power means is employed to raise and lower thearm 71 by pivoting the tubular section thereof about thepin 73 and also for rotating thesleeve 78 about theinner section 76 of thearm 71. Secured to the outer surface of thesleeve 78 is anupstanding pin 84. Carried by the upper end of thepin 84 is anarm 86, the end secured to thepin 84 sloping somewhat downwardly when the parts are in the position of FIG. 7 and then turning outwardly as shown. At the outer end of thearm 86 is apin 87 on which the upper sheet of material is impaled, as

will appear.

Secured to the side of thearm 86 as shown in FIG. 7 is one-half 88 of a universal joint. Theother half 89 of the universal joint is carried in the forkedend 91 of atie rod 92. Thetie rod 92 carries at its upper end the ball of a ball joint 93. Passing through the ball of the joint 93 is abolt 94 which in turn passes through the upper end of'a link 96. Thelink 96 is made fast at its lower end to ashaft 97, the shaft being journaled inbearings 98 and 99. See FIG. 3. Anarm 101 is connected at 102 to thepiston rod 103 of a double actionfluid pressure cylinder 104. Pressure from any suitable source may be applied selectively to the ends of thecylinder 104 thus to move thepiston rod 103 in and out, thereby to rock theshaft 97 and to move the parts as presently will be explained.

With the parts in the position shownin FIG. 1., that isto say, with all fourofthe arms 86 in the extended position, theupper platen 14 is dressed by stretching the sheet beneath the working surface of theplaten 14 and impaling it at four points onpins 87 carried by each of thearms 86. To prevent the material from sliding up onto thearms 86stop members 106 may be provided adjacent the pins. When impaled on thepins 87 it will be seen that the sides of the sheet are hanging downwardly as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1.

With the upper platen dressed as just shown, it will be understood that thecylinder 17 is, at this time, holding the upper platen in the raised position.

With thelower platen 11 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, that is, raised with its upper portion outside of the chargingchamber 10, the lower sheet of material is dressed by laying the same over the upper, workingsurface 21 of the lower platen and by draping it over thefinger 49, behind thefinger 34 and over the upper ends of thefingers 42, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 6. The lower platen is now dressed and it will be noted that when so dressed the lower sheet as well as all of the mechanism carried by the lower platen lie well within the vertically projected confines of the working surface of the platen. Thelower platen 11 carrying the lower sheet which has been placed about it as described now is lowered into the charging box. The fiber is delivered through the open upper end of the box, enough of the same being placed therein to form a bale of the desired finished weight. Theupper platen 14 is now lowered by means of thecylinder 17 substantially to the top of the charging box.Cylinder 13 is now energized bringing thelower platen 11 upwardly through the charging box. By means of suitable pressure control mechanisms, when the pressure of the bale between the two platens exceeds a certain amount the upper platen l4 retracts until it comes chuck-a-block with theupper sills 107 of the press frame. Continued upward movement of the lower platen finally compacts the bale B to the desired density, between theplatens 11 and 14, forming thebale outside of thecharging box 10. i

After proper compaction of the bale B is achieved,

pressur3e is supplied to the lower end of ahydrualic cylinder 111 rigidly mounted on an inwardly directedbracket 112 carried by the dependingportions 22 of thelower platen 11. The upper end '113 of thepiston rod 108 of thecylinder 111 is adapted to engage across plate 114 which is connected along the bottoms of thearms 26, on opposite sides of the platen, by dependingplates 109. In view of the fact that thearms 26 are geared together by means ofgear teeth 1 16, moving the pair connected by theplate 114 also moves the other pair ofarms 26. The other said pair ofarms 26 are secured to each other by means of arod 119 connected at each end tobrackets 121 carried by said arms to facilitate unison of movement.

From what has been described it is now possible to go through a complete cycle and to explain how the two mechanisms, that is, the upper and lower mechanisms wrap the flexible sheets of materials carried "thereby about the bale, after the bale is compressed to the position shown in FIG. 4.

As before stated, after the bale is compressed it is understood that strapping or other binding material is placed about the bale, while it is held between the platens l1 and 14 as shown in FIG. 4. When this is done the lower platen is moved down very slightly, just enough to permit removal of the bale and is held in that position. While in that position thelower sheet 18 is dressed about the mechanisms'forming the lower platen folding means, namely, is draped over thefingers 42, over the inner end of thefingers 49, leaving their outer ends exposed, between the sides .of the platen and the fingers orarms 34.. This then provides the upper working surface of the lower platen with the sheet of material, the end and sides of which are now positioned to be pushed up about the ends and sides of the bale, when the lower mechanism is operated as will be explained.

With the parts positioned as just stated theupper sheet 19 is impaled at four points on thepins 87, whereby the end portions of the sheet are held substantially horizontally while the side portions simply drap or fall downwardly generally in the positionshown in FIG. 1.

Assoon as the bale is compressed to the proper extent between the platens and the platens have moved to the position shown in FIG. 4 thecylinder 111 is energized. This causes theupper end 113 of thepiston rod 108 to engage thecross plate 114 moving the sets of arms to the left as shown in FIG. 4 upwardly and correspondingly, through thegearing 116 moving the right hand set of arms upwardly. This action causes the upper ends of thefingers 42, which as will be remembered, lie between the ends of the platen and the sheet ofmaterial 18, to move upwardly. At the. same time, theroller 54 engages the surface of thecam 52 causing both of the arms to pivot outwardly, thus to move away from the ends of theplaten 11, thereby'to move out far enough thence to move upwardly, past the ends of the bale between the platens. This is illustrated particularly in FIG. 5 where the upper'end of thefinger 42 is shown pushing thesheet 18 upwardly about the end of the bale. Continued upward movement of thearm 26 brings thefinger 34 upwardly, to lie alongside the then folded side portion of thesheet 18. ,Also, due to the provision of theroller 44 andspring 51 together with thetrack 47 on which the roller travels, thefinger 49 moves outwardly, thus to clear the side of the bale, while the arm is movingupwardly. Therefore, in the final, raised position thefinger 42 has pushed the end portion of the sheet upwardly about the end of the bale; thefingers 49 and 34 are holding the same against the side of the bale, andthe entire mechanism thus is clear of automatic strapping means which may be used to place strapping about the bale.

With the lower sheet folded about the lower extent of the bale as described,cylinder 104 is actuated rockingshaft 97 and thearms 96 carried thereby to the right as shown in FIG. 7. This action causes thearms 86 to move upwardly about the bale and at the same time, these arms move inwardly of the bale to make the end fold which is illustrated and numbered in FIGS. 10 and I l as 117. In other words, downward movement of thearms 86 carrying thepins 87 on which the sheet isimpaled, causes rotational movement of theouter sleeve 78 on theinner pin portion 76, through the universal joints and thelink 92, thus not only folding the end portion of the sheet downwardly, but also folding the end portion and a part of the sides adjacent thereto inwardly about the bale. The side portions of the upper sheet simply fall by gravity to the general position shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. To aid in holding these side portions flat against the bale the outer ends of thearms 59 may carry plate-like members 118 which, when the arms are lowered, assume a position substantially in the corner of the fold about which thesection 117 itself is folded. In other words, theplate members 118 move downwardly into the corners and aid in breaking the fold which is to form the overlappingportions 117.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have devised an improved, completely self contained mechanism for placing the upper and lower sheets of wrapping material or bagging about a bale of fibers while the bale is held under compression between a pair of platens. Our apparatus is characterized by the fact that both principal portions of the same are carried by the respective platens and yet, they are so arranged that they do not interfere with the normal operation of the platens nor do they interfere with the placing of the strapping about the bale, after the bagging is wrapped about it and while it is held thereabout.

In actual practice our invention has proven to be extremely practical and satisfactory and further lends itself to installation on existing presses without undue difficulty.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What we claim is:,

1. In apparatus for wrapping the side and end portions of sheets about a bale of fibers while under compression between a pair of platens of a press,

2. Apparatus as defined inclaim 1 in which all of said sheet engaging fingers are retractable from said sheet folding position to a position to and within the vertically projected confines of the said platen, whereby the platen may be dressed with the sheet and then withdrawn into a fiber charging box or the like.

3. Apparatus as defined inclaim 1 in which said means associated with one of the platens effective to fold the side and end portions of said first named sheet about portions of the sides and ends of the bale comprises arms pivoted adjacent the sides of the platen near their inner endsv and extending outwardly and downwardly for the outer ends thereof to lie alongside the sides of the platen, generally vertically disposed sheet engaging and folding arms pivotally mounted adjacent the outer ends of said arms, means to move the a. means associated with one of the platens effective to fold the side and end portions of a first sheet about portions of the sides and ends of the bale, comprising a. 1. sheet engaging fingers adjacent the ends of the bale, I

a. 2. other sheet engaging fingers located adjacent the sides of the bale, i

a. 3. said sheet of material being disposed to be folded over said fingers located adjacent the ends of the bale prior to wrapping the bale,

a. 4. means to move all of said fingers from a position inwardly of the top of said platen to a position alongside the respective ends and sides of the bale, whereby the material is wrapped about and held against the adjacent portions of the sides and ends of the bale, and

b. means associated with the other platen effective to fold the side and end portions of a second sheet about portions of the sides and ends of the bale.

outer ends of said arms upwardly substantially in unison, whereby said pivoted arms move upwardly to press the sheet previously draped thereover about the ends of the bale, and means carried by the pivoted arms to engage and fold along the sides of the bale portions of the sheet joined to the vertically moved, bale end sections thereof.

4. Apparatus as defined inclaim 3 in which there are outstanding sheet engaging fingers carried by the pivoted arms, means to rotate the pivoted arms in directions to cause such sheet engaging fingers carried thereby to engage and fold'said sheet portions against the sides of the bale, and other generally vertically disposed sheet engaging fingers carried by the pivoted arms and located intermediate the ends thereof and disposed upon vertical movement of the pivoted arms to engage the side portions of the sheet after the same are folded vertically, thereby to hold the side portions in folded position, awaiting downfolding of the sheet associated with the other of said platens.

5. In apparatus for wrapping the side and end portions of sheets about a bale of fibers while under compression between a pair of platens of a press,

a. means associated with one of the platens effective to fold the side and end portions of a first sheet about portions of the sides and ends of the bale, and

b. means associated with the other platen effective to fold the side and end portions of a second sheet about portions of the sides and ends of the bale comprising 1. arms pivotally mounted adjacent the ends of said platen for swinging movement from generally horizontal to generally vertical positions, said arms also being mounted for rotational movement about centers offset from the longitudinal axes thereof,

2. means operable when the arms are in generally horizontal position to attach the end corner portions of a sheet of wrapping material lying between said platen and the top of the bale to the outer ends of the arms, whereby the vertical and offset pivotal movement of the arm wraps the end portions of the sheet about the ends of the bale and around portions of the side of the bale adjacent its ends.

6. Apparatus as defined inclaim 5 in which there are pairs of sheet engaging fingers associated with said other platen adjacent the comers thereof and disposed, upon vertical movement of said pairs of arms, to engage the sheet being folded, adjacent the fold lines at the corners thereof, aiding in folding the sheet alongside the sides of the bale in response to vertical and pivotal movement of said pairs of arms.

Claims (7)

1. In apparatus for wrapping the side and end portions of sheets about a bale of fibers while under compression between a pair of platens of a press, a. means associated with one of the platens effective to fold the side and end portions of a first sheet about portions of the sides and ends of the bale, comprising a. 1. sheet engaging fingers adjacent the ends of the bale, a. 2. other sheet engaging fingers located adjacent the sides of the bale, a. 3. said sheet of material being disposed to be folded over said fingers located adjacent the ends of the bale prior to wrapping the bale, a. 4. means to move all of said fingers from a position inwardly of the top of said platen to a position alongside the respective ends and sides of the bale, whereby the material is wrapped about and held against the adjacent portions of the sides and ends of the bale, and b. means associated with the other platen effective to fold the side and end portions of a second sheet about portions of the sides and ends of the bale.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which all of said sheet engaging fingers are retractable from said sheet folding position to a position to and within the vertically projected confines of the said platen, whereby the platen may be ''''dressed'''' with the sheet and then withdrawn into a fiber charging box or the like.

2. means operable when the arms are in generally horizontal position to attach the end corner portions of a sheet of wrapping material lying between said platen and the top of the bale to the outer ends of the arms, whereby the vertical and offset pivotal movement of the arm wraps the end portions of the sheet about the ends of the bale and around portions of the side of the bale adjacent its ends.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said means associated with one of the platens effective to fold the side and end portions of said first named sheet about portions of the sides and ends of the bale comprises arms pivoted adjacent the sides of the platen near their inner ends and extending outwardly and downwardly for the outer ends thereof to lie alongside the sides of the platen, generally vertically disposed sheet engaging and folding arms pivotally mounted adjacent the outer ends of said arms, means to move the outer ends of said arms upwardly substantially in unison, whereby said pivoted arms move upwardly to press the sheet previously draped thereover about the ends of the bale, and means carried by the pivoted arms to engage and fold along the sides of the bale portions of the sheet joined to the vertically moved, bale end sections thereof.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which there are outstanding sheet engaging fingers carried by the pivoted arms, means to rotate the pivoted arms in directions to cause such sheet engaging fingers carried thereby to engage and fold said sheet portions against the sides of the bale, and other generally vertically disposed sheet engaging fingers carried by the pivoted arms and located intermediate the ends thereof and disposed upon vertical movement of the pivoted arms to engage the side portions of the sheet after the same are folded vertically, thereby to hold the side portions in folded position, awaiting downfolding of the sheet associated with the other of said platens.

5. In apparatus for wrapping the side and end portions of sheets about a bale of fibers while under compression between a pair of platens of a press, a. means associated with one of the platens effective to fold the side and end portions of a first sheet about portions of the sides and ends of the bale, and b. means associated with the other platen effective to fold the side and end portions of a second sheet about portions of the sides and ends of the bale comprising

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which there are pairs of sheet engaging fingers associated with said other platen adjacent the corners thereof and disposed, upon vertical movement of said pairs of arms, to engage the sheet being folded, adjacent the fold lines at the corners thereof, aiding in folding the sheet alongside the sides of the bale in response to vertical and pivotal movement of said pairs of arms.

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