US Patent 7481158 Apparatus and method for baling lint cotton fibers

An apparatus and method for producing a bale of lint cotton fiber by pre-compressing each consecutive charge of fiber fed from the lint slide to a predetermined and uniform density. The apparatus includes a supply chamber predisposed with both vertical and horizontal platens driven by independent hydraulic cylinders. The movement and cycling of the platens is such that measured charges of fibers are presented to a vertical tramping device at consistent and uniform density. The tramping device, consisting of a platen driven by two hydraulic cylinders, packs each charge into a stationary box, one charge after another. This process continues until the desired bale weight is reached. The tramper cylinders are driven to a predetermined pressure setting during the tramping phase of each stroke cycle (extension) resulting in uniform compression (density). To maintain uniform density throughout the tramping phase of bale formation, the tramper stroke is varied by means of a closed loop control system and infinite position sensing.