Wrapper for wrapping bales of crop material

Abstract

A wrapper for wrapping bales of crop material includes a frame, a wrapping table, a wrapping device, and a loading device. The loading device includes a pivotable loading structure, and at least one actuator to move the loading structure between a pick-up position and a release position, wherein the loading structure comprises two loading arms between which the bale can be arranged. A pivotable grip arm is mounted on each loading arm. The pivotable grip arms are pivotable with respect to the loading arms between a closed position and an open position, and the at least one actuator is arranged to also move at least one of the grip arms between the open and the closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile bale wrapper for wrapping bales, comprising:
 a frame,   a towbar mounted on the frame extending, at least partially, alongside the frame, wherein the towbar is provided with a coupling mechanism on a distal end thereof, the coupling mechanism being arranged to be coupled to a towing vehicle for towing the wrapper in a transport direction, wherein the towbar is hingedly mounted on the frame so as to be moveable between a operable position so as to couple the wrapper in a laterally off-set manner to the towing vehicle, and a transport position so as to couple the wrapper in an in-line manner to the towing vehicle,   a wrapping table mounted on the frame to support the bale during wrapping,   a wrapping device mounted on the frame to wrap wrapping material about the bale, and a loading device to load a bale to be wrapped on the wrapping table, wherein the loading device comprises a pivotable loading structure, and at least one actuator to move the loading structure between a pick-up position, in which a bale can be picked up from a ground surface, and a release position, in which the bale can be released on the wrapping table, wherein the loading structure comprises two loading arms between which the bale can be arranged, and which, at least in the pick-up position, enclose a loading area that is located upstream of the wrapping table in the transport direction,
 wherein the towbar comprises a first substantially straight section that is mounted on the frame and a second substantially straight section that supports the coupling mechanism, wherein said sections are angled with respect to each other in a plane that is substantially parallel to said loading area and wherein, in the transport position of the towbar, the first section extends substantially parallel to the transport direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the towbar extends at a first angle with respect to the direction of transport, wherein the first angle lies in a range between 0 to 20 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein the second section of the towbar extends at a second angle with respect to the direction of transport, wherein the second angle lies in a range between 30 to 60 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the towbar extends beyond the two loading arms, between which the bale can be arranged in at least in the pick-up position thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The wrapper of  claim 1 , wherein the wrapper further comprises a set of wheels each arranged at a side of the wrapper and on a mutual axis that is positioned at non-right angles with respect to the direction of transport. 
     
     
         6 . The wrapper of  claim 5 , wherein the first section of the towbar in the operable position thereof extends substantially at right angles to the axis of the set of wheels.