Soil compaction related to agricultural and construction operations

A horizontal baler for baling paper products incorporating a horizontally disposed gathering and compression chamber having an open upper portion communicating with a hopper wherein the paper to be compressed is directly introduced into the hopper and a gatherer and compression ram transfers the paper into a compression chamber to form a parcel of layered compressed material. The paper may be continuously introduced into the hopper as the gatherer ram cycles and a cover plate on the ram receives the paper when the ram is extended, wiping the paper from the cover plate as the ram retracts. Cycling of the gatherer ram continues until a parcel of predetermined compression is achieved, whereupon an ejector or transfer ram perpendicularly disposed to the gatherer ram intermittently transfers the compressed parcel in the direction of the formed compressed parcel layers through automatic strapping apparatus which straps the parcel in a direction perpendicular to the formed layers to define a bale. Gathering, compressing and transferring occurs at substantially the same horizontal orientation, and automatic control means are utilized to permit automatic operation of the apparatus cycle.