Mobile hay press and method of using the same

Abstract

A hay press configured to generally (i) receive hay bales; (ii) cut the twine holding the hay bales together; (iii) move, by weight, a pre-established amount of hay into a compression chamber; (iv) compress the pre-established amount of hay into a package of pre-established size; and (v) eject and wrap the compressed package of hay for shipping. The hay press includes a (i) loading table and destacker; (ii) twine slicer; (iii) loading compartment; (iv) loading hydraulic press and platen; (v) infeed forks; (vi) compression chamber; (vii) scale; (viii) compression chamber door; (ix) hydraulic compression ram and platen; (x) hydraulic ejection press and platen; and (xi) ejection chute. An optional conveyor system may operate in conjunction with the hay press to transport loose hay having fallen during operation of the hay press to a loose hay loading chamber.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A hay press comprising:
 infeed forks configured to force hay into said compression chamber;   a scale for weighing hay being forced into said compression chamber;   a compression chamber door which, when open, allows said infeed forks to force hay into said compression chamber and, when closed, acts as a wall of said compression chamber;   a compression press and platen for compressing said hay in said compression chamber; and   an ejection mechanism for ejecting compressed hay from said compression chamber into an ejection area.   
     
     
         2 . The hay press of  claim 1  further comprising a loading press configured to drive a platen for forcing hay bales proximate to said compression chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The hay press of  claim 1  further comprising a trailer and wheels. 
     
     
         4 . The hay press of  claim 1  further comprising a loading compartment proximate to the loading press. 
     
     
         5 . The hay press of  claim 4  further comprising a destacker configured to load hay bales into said loading compartment. 
     
     
         6 . A method of compressing hay comprising:
 forcing a weighed amount of hay into a compression chamber;   responsive to a pre-established weighed amount of hay being forced into said compression chamber, closing a compression chamber door which, when open, allows hay into said compression chamber and, when closed, acts as a wall of said compression chamber;   compressing said hay in said compression chamber; and   ejecting compressed hay from said compression chamber.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising compressing said hay in said compression chamber against said compression chamber door. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising forcing a weighed amount of hay into said compression chamber using infeed forks. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising utilizing a scale to weigh hay being forced into the compression chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising utilizing a press and platen for compressing said hay in said compression chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising forcing hay proximate to said compression chamber utilizing a press and platen. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising utilizing a conveyor to transport loose hay from proximate said compression chamber door to said press and platen. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising ejecting compressed hay from said compression chamber into an ejection chute. 
     
     
         14 . A hay press comprising:
 a loading compartment configured to accept bales of hay;   infeed forks configured to grab portions of hay from said bales of hay and force the same into a compression chamber;   a scale for weighing hay being forced into said compression chamber by said infeed forks;   a compression chamber door which, when open, allows said infeed forks to force hay into said compression chamber and, when closed, acts as a wall of said compression chamber;   a compression press and platen for compressing said hay in said compression chamber; and   an ejection mechanism for ejecting compressed hay from said compression chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The hay press of  claim 14  further comprising a loading press configured to drive a platen for forcing hay bales from said loading compartment to a position proximate to said compression chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The hay press of  claim 14  further comprising a trailer and wheels. 
     
     
         17 . The hay press of  claim 14  further comprising a destacker configured to load hay bales into said loading compartment.