| US 7,594,374 B2 | ||
| Bagging machines having a collapsible tunnel | ||
| Steven R. Cullen, Astoria, Oreg. (US) | ||
| Assigned to S.R.C. Innovations, LLC, Chinook, Wash. (US) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 19, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/313,073. | ||
| Application 11/313073 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/022043, filed on Dec. 22, 2004, abandoned. | ||
| Application 11/022043 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/350680, filed on Jan. 23, 2003, granted, now 6,834,479. | ||
| Application 10/350680 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/264161, filed on Oct. 03, 2002, granted, now 6,907,714. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0096253 A1, May 11, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. B65B 1/24 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 53—530 [53/567; 141/74] | 3 Claims |
| 1. A bagging machine for bagging agricultural, compost, or other material for storage or composting, the bagging machine comprising:
a rotary packing apparatus adapted to move loose material into a material forming enclosure;
a hooper adapted to receive loose material and direct the loose material to the rotary packing apparatus;
a first tunnel member having forward and rearward ends;
a second tunnel member having forward and rearward ends; and
at least one auxiliary tunnel member operatively coupled to the first and second tunnel members and dispose therebetween;
wherein the forward ends of the first and second tunnel members are operatively coupled in a fixed, spaced-apart relationship;
wherein the rearward end of at least one of the first and second tunnel members is selectively movable toward and away from
the other; and wherein the first tunnel member, the second tunnel member, and the at least one auxiliary tunnel member form
the material forming enclosure when the rearward end of at least one of the first and second tunnel members is moved away
from the other;
wherein the at least one auxiliary tunnel member is operatively coupled to the first and second tunnel members to at least
substantially close at least one opening between the first and second tunnel members when the rearward end of at least one
of the first and second tunnel members is moved away from the other;
wherein the at least one auxiliary tunnel member includes at least one flexible member and at least one tongue member; and
wherein the at least one flexible member is disposed adjacent the rearward ends of the first and second tunnel members and
extends forwardly for a distance less than a distance between the forward ends and the rearward ends of the first and second
tunnel members leaving a portion of the opening unclosed.
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