APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAKING A SQUARE BALE OF HAY FROM A ROUND BALE AND FOR COMPACTING IT

APPAREIL ET METHODE DE FORMAGE D'UN BALLOT DE FOIN CARRE A PARTIR D'UN BALLOT ROND, ET DE TASSEMENT

English Abstract

ABSTRACT
A method and apparatus is provided for progressively
separating the outer layer of hay from a round bale of hay,
cutting the separated layer into flakes of a size appropriate to
a square bale and stacking the flakes face to face to give a
square bale. Preferably the square bale is compacted under
pressure applied perpendicularly to the faces of the flakes.

Claims

CLAIMS
1. A method of producing square bales of hay from a round
bale of hay comprising rotating the bale and progressively
separating successive peripheral layers of hay from the round
bale until substantially none is left, cutting the separated
layer to provide elongated flakes having a width the same as a
side of a square bale and having a length which is the same as
the width of the round bale, cutting the elongated flakes to give
flakes having lengths substantially the same as a side of a
square bale, and stacking said flakes face to face in layers to
provide a square bale.
2. A method of producing compacted square bales from a
round bale of hay comprising progressively separating successive
peripheral layers of hay from the round bale until substantially
none is left, cutting the separated layer to provide elongated
flakes having a width the same as a side of a square bale and
having a length which is the same as the width of the round bale,
cutting the elongated flakes to give flakes having lengths
substantially the same as a side of a square bale, and stacking
said flakes face to face in layers to provide a square bale, and
then compacting the square bale by applying pressure in a
direction substantially perpendicular to the faces of said flakes
to give a compacted square bale.
3. A method as in claims 1 or 2, in which sufficient
compression is applied to almost the entire curved surface of the
round bale during the separation of the peripheral layer of hay
to prevent the round bale from breaking apart.
4. A method as in claims 1 or 2, in which the separated
layer is compressed to form a mat prior to cutting to provide
elongated flakes.
5. A method as in claims 1 or 2, in which the elongated
flakes are about 1? feet wide and about four to five feet long
and in which the flakes are about 1? feet square.
6. A method as in claim 5, in which the flakes are stacked
to provide a square bale of a depth of about 1? feet.

7. A method as in claim 2, in which the elongated flakes
are about 1? feet wide and about four to five feet long, in which
the flakes are about 1? feet square, the flakes are stacked to
provide a square bale of a depth of about 1? feet and in which
the compacted square bale has a depth of not more than one foot.
8. A method as in claim 7, in which the compacted square
bale has a depth of not more than about 3/4 foot.
9. A method of producing square bales of hay from a round
bale of hay comprising separating successive peripheral layers
of hay from the round bale while applying sufficient compression
to the curved surface of the round bale during the separation of
the peripheral layers to prevent the round bale from breaking
apart, cutting the separated peripheral layers into flakes having
the dimensions of a square bale and stacking said flakes in
layers to provide a square bale.
10. A method of producing compacted square bales of hay
from a round bale comprising separating successive peripheral
layers of hay from the round bale while applying sufficient
compression to the curved surface of the round bale during the
separation of the peripheral layers to prevent the round bale
from breaking apart, cutting the separated peripheral layers into
flakes having the dimensions of a square bale and stacking said
flakes in layers to provide a square bale and compacting the
square bale by applying pressure in a direction substantially
perpendicular to the faces of said flakes to give a compacted
square bale.
11. A method as in claims 1, 2, 9 or 10, in which the
square bale has a weight not in excess of 120 lbs.
12. A method as in claims 1, 2, 9 or 10, in which the
square bale has a weight of about 60 lbs.
13. An apparatus for producing square bales of hay from a
round bale of hay comprising a cradle to receive a round bale of
hay, an endless belt in said cradle to receive and apply
sufficient pressure to the round bale during a reduction of the
size of the round bale to prevent the round bale from breaking
apart, an accumulator for absorbing slack in the belt as the
round bale is reduced in size, a motor for driving the belt to
cause the round bale to rotate about its axis, a separator for
peeling successive peripheral layers from the round bale as the

bale is rotated, conveyors for transporting the separated
peripheral layers to a cutting station, said cutting station
having provision for cutting the separated peripheral layers into
flakes of a size appropriate to a square bale, and provision for
stacking the flakes face to face in layers to give a square bale.
14. An apparatus for producing compacted square bales of
hay from a round bale of hay comprising a cradle to receive a
round bale of hay, an endless belt in said cradle to receive and
apply sufficient pressure to the round bale during a reduction
of the size of the round bale to prevent the round bale from
breaking apart, an accumulator for absorbing slack in the belt
as the round bale is reduced in size, a motor for driving the
belt to cause the round bale to rotate about its axis, a
separator for peeling successive peripheral layers from the round
bale as the bale is rotated, conveyors for transporting the
separated peripheral layers to a cutting station, said cutting
station having provision for cutting the separated peripheral
layers into flakes of a size appropriate to a square bale, and
provision for stacking the flakes face to face in layers to give
a square bale and a compressor for applying compression in a
direction substantially perpendicular to the faces of said flakes
to give a compacted square bale.
15. An apparatus as in claims 13 or 14, in which the
separator is a splined wheel rotatable to move splines in a
direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the round bale
to cause a peripheral layer of the round bale to be peeled off
and deposited on one of said conveyors for transporting the
separated peripheral layers.
16. An apparatus as in claims 13 or 14, in which said
conveyors include a first conveyor for transporting the separated
peripheral layer from the separator to a first cutter forming
part of said cutting station in which the separated peripheral
layer is cut to give elongated flakes the length of the width of
the round bale and of a width appropriate to a square bale, and
the conveyors include a second conveyor for transporting the
elongated flakes, a second cutter forming part of said cutting
station in which the elongated flakes are cut along their length
to give flakes of a size appropriate to a square bale.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16, in which a series of
spaced conveyor belts receive the flakes cut by the second cutter
and stacking fingers are adapted to pass between the spaces
between the spaced conveyor belts, successively to lift the
flakes and stack the flakes face to face in layers to provide a
square bale.
18. An apparatus as in claim 14, in which the compressor
comprises a compartment having a ram plate and a receiving hopper
to receive a square bale and deposit the bale with its flakes
oriented to be parallel to the ram plate, a hydraulic ram which
presses the ram plate against the square bale to compact it and
a removable door that can be opened for the ejection of a
compacted square bale.
19. An apparatus as in claim 18, in which the compressor
comprises a first storage compartment and a second compaction
compartment, the storage compartment being located below the
receiving hopper to receive the square bale and the compaction
compartment being located so that the ram can be operated to
press the ram plate against the square bale to compact it, and
a movable mounting for the first and second compartments so that
when the storage compartment has received a square bale and the
compaction in the compaction compartment has been completed the
compartments can be interchanged so that the ram will be
positioned to press the ram plate of what was previously the
storage compartment and the receiving hopper will be above what
was previously the compaction compartment.
20. A compressor for compressing a square bale of hay into
a compressed square bale comprising a first storage compartment
and a second compaction compartment, each of said compartments
having a ram plate, a receiving hopper above the first storage
compartment to receive a square bale and deposit the bale with
its flakes oriented parallel to the ram plate, a ram to press the
ram plate of the compaction compartment to press such ram plate
against a square bale in the compaction compartment to compact
it, said compaction compartment having a movable door that can
be opened for the ejection of a compacted square bale and a
movable mounting for the first and second compartments so that
when the storage compartment has received a square bale and the
compaction in the compaction compartment has been completed, the

compartment can be interchanged so that the ram will be
positioned to press the ram plate of what was previously the
storage compartment and the receiving hopper will be above what
was previously the compaction compartment.
21. An apparatus as in claims 19 or 20, in which the
movable mounting is a turntable.
22. An apparatus as in claims 13 or 14, in which said
cradle has an arcuate top that can be pivoted open for the
reception of the round bale and can be closed for the processing
of the round bale.
23. An apparatus as in claims 13 or 14, in which the
conveyors for transporting the separated peripheral layers to a
cutting station include upper and lower belts that press against
the separated layer to compact it.
24. An apparatus for producing square bales of hay from
round bales comprising a movable support for a round bale that
causes the round bale to rotate about its axis, a separator to
separate an outer layer from the round bale as it rotates,
conveyors and cutters to cut the outer layer that has been
separated into flakes and stacking means for stacking the flakes
face to face to form a square bale.
25. An apparatus for producing compressed square bales of
hay from round bales comprising a movable support for a round
bale that causes the round bale to rotate about its axis, a
separator to separate an outer layer from the round bale as it
rotates, conveyors and cutters to cut the outer layer that has
been separated into flakes and stacking means for stacking the
flakes face to face to form a square bale and a compressor for
compacting the square bale to a smaller size with disrupting its
layered flake structure.
26. In an apparatus for producing square bales of hay from
round bales, a chamber, having rollers around its periphery, for
receiving and encircling a round bale, an accumulator, a
separator and an endless belt to rotate the round bale to cause
the outside layer to be peeled from the round bale progressively
to reduce the round bale in size and to provide a mat to be cut
into flakes and stacked into a square bale, said endless belt
passing from above the separator around the round bale and then
around some of the rollers in the periphery of the chamber and

then through the accumulator and around at least one roller in
the periphery of the chamber below the separator and then beck
to the round bale, said accumulator being adapted to reduce the
length of the part of the endless belt passing around the round
bale as the round bale is reduced in size, so as to prevent the
round bale from breaking up as it is rotated and reduced.
27. An apparatus as in claim 26, in which the chamber
comprises an arcuate cradle to receive the round bale and an
arcuate top hinged to the cradle and means for swinging the top
about its hinge to extend the endless belt and to make an opening
to receive a round bale, said means for swinging the top being
adapted to return the top to close the opening and to position
the endless belt so that it substantially surrounds the round
bale.

Description

210~2

This invention is concerned with an apparatus for
producing square bales of hay from round bales. The preferred
apparatus also compacts the square bales.
Back~round and Ob~ectives
Most of the hay now being harvested is in the form of
large round bales weighing about eight hundred pounds. This is
because the production costs are much lower than those for
producing square bales weighing about sixty pounds. A
disadvantage of the round bales is that transportation costs are
high, because of their bulk, particularly when the hay is to be
shipped to another country. Also the round bales are too large
and heavy to be handled manually by the end user.
Square bales are costly to produce but are more compact
for transportation or storage because their square shape results
in less waste space between bales that are packed together. The
size and weight of the square bales is convenient for the end
user. Another advantage of square bales is that the hay is
layered into convenient flakes.
An object of this invention is to convert hay that is
in round bales into hay that is in square bales of convenient
size having a layered flake structure.
A further ob~ect of the invention in its preferred form
is to convert round bales into square bales which are then
compressed to compact the bales and reduce transportation costs.
The Invention
In accordance with one aspect of this invention a
method is provided of producing square bales of hay from a round
bale of hay comprising rotating the bale and progressively
separating successive peripheral layers of hay from the round
bale until substantially none is left, cutting the separated
layer to provide elongated flakes having a width the same~as a
side of a square bale and having a length which is the same as
the width of the round bale, cutting the elongated flakes to give
flakes having lengths substantially the same as a side of a
square bale, and stacking said flakes face to face in layers to
provide a square bale.
In accordance with another aspect a method is provided
of producing square bales of hay from a round bale of hay

~ 210~482
- 2 -
comprising separating successive peripheral layers of hay from
the round bale while applying sufficient compression to the
curved surface of the round bale during the separation of the
peripheral layers to prevent the round bale from breaking apart,
cutting the separated peripheral layers into flakes having the
dimensions of a square bale and stacking said flakes in layers
to provide a square bale.
Preferably the square bale is compacted by applying
pressure in a direction substantially perpendicular to the faces
of the flakes to give a compacted bale.
The invention also provides an apparatus for producing
square bales of hay from a round bale of hay comprising a cradle
to receive a round bale of hay, an endless belt in said cradle
to receive and apply sufficient pressure to the round bale during
a reduction of the size of the round bale to prevent the round
bale from breaking apart, an accumulator for absorbing slack in
the belt as the round bale is reduced in size, a motor for
driving the belt to cause the round bale to rotate about its
axis, a separator for peeling successive peripheral layers from
the round bale as the bale is rotated, conveyors for transporting
the separated peripheral layers to a cutting station, said
cutting station having provision for cutting the separated
peripheral layers into flakes of a size appropriate to a square
bale, and provision for stacking the flakes face to face in
layers to give a square bale.
A compressor for compressing a square bale of hay into
a compressed square is also included as part of this invention
in a preferred aspect. The compressor can be used in conjunction
with the apparatus for making square bales from round bales or
may be used to compact square bales made differently. The
compressor comprises a first storage compartment and a second
compaction compartment, each of said compartments having a ram
plate, a receiving hopper above the first storage compartment to
receive a square bale and deposit the bale with its flakes
oriented parallel to the ram plate, a ram to press the ram plate
of the compaction compartment to press such ram plate against a
sguare bale in the compaction compartment to compact it, said


...~: -



-` 2104~82 ~:
- 3 -
compaction compartment having a movable door that can be opened
for the ejection of a compacted square bale and a movable
mounting for the first and sec~nd compartments so that when the
storage compartment has received a square bale and the compaction
in the compaction compartment has been completed, the
compartments can be interchanged so that the ram will be
positioned to press the ram plate of what was previously the
storage compartment and the receiving hopper will be above what
was previously the compaction compartment.
Other inventive concepts are developed in the appended
claims.
Brief DescriDtion of the Drawinas
Figure 1 is a perspective side view, partly in section
of an apparatus for converting a round bale of hay into square
bales.
Figure 2 is a side view of part of Figure 1 but showing
the cover of a cradle for the round bale in an open position.
Figure 3 is a side perspective view of part of the
apparatus of Figure 1 showing the separator for removing a layer
of hay from the round bale.
Pigure 4 is a detail side view of a splined roll which
acts as a separator.
Figure 5 is a end view of the shaft in Figure 4.
Figure 6 is an end elevation view of the apparatus of
Figure 1 partly in section.
Figure 7 is a detail view of a guillotine forming part
of the apparatus of Figure 1 for cutting the separated layer into
flakes.
Figure 8 is a detail section view of part of the
apparatus of Figure 6 showing the side wall of the shaft leading
up to the spout.
Figure 9 is a detail side elevation view of the spout
sh~wn in Figure 6.
Figure 10 is a side elevation view of a compressor
which is another apparatus of this invention for use in
conjunction with that shown in Figures 1 to 9.

210~4~2
-- 4 --
Figure 11 is a side elevation view of the other side
of the compressor of Figure lo.
Figure 12 is an end elevation view of the compactor of
Figures 10 and 11. Figure 12 also illustrates the apparatus of
Figures 1 to 9 used in conjunction with that of Figures 10 to 12.
Detailed Description of the Drawinqs
Figure 1 is a perspective side view of an apparatus in
accordance with this invention for unwinding round bales and
forming square bales which can readily be compressed. In Figure
1 a supporting platform 10 is preferably mounted on wheels 11 and
has a hitch 12.
An arcuate cradle 13 for receiving a round bale is
mounted on platform lo by upright frame members 14, 15, 16 and
17. Frame members 15 and 16 are connected by transverse frame
member 18.
An arcuate top 19 is hinged to cradle 13 by hinge 20
so that it can be caused to pivot open by hydraulic cylinder 21
as illustrated in Figure 2. Cylinder 21 is pivotally mounted
on lug 22 which is on frame member 18 and is also pivotally
mounted by bracket 23 on arcuate top 19.
When top 19 i8 pivoted open to receive a round bale as
shown in Figure 2, an endless belt 25 is extended and receives
the round bale. Belt 25 passes between rollers 26 and 27 in top
19 and is then guided around the outside of top 19 by rollers
28a, 28b and 28c, and then around the outside of cradle 13 by
rollers 29a, 29b and 29c, and from there goes to an accumulator
30 for taking up the slack during the operation of the device.
Belt 25 passes backwards and forwards between cradle 25 and block
31 and eventually goes over rolls 32 and 33 of cradle 13. Block
31 is moved by take up cylinder 34 and is guided by rails 35 and
36 so as to permit a desired amount of pressure on the round
bale. As the round bale is reduced in size because of the
progressive removal of hay, the slack in belt 25 is taken up by
the accumulator until finally there is no more room as
illustrated in Figure 3 where belt 25 faces roll 39. As a result
belt 25 surrounds the round bale as it is reduced in size to
apply enough pressure to keep it compact and prevent the
~:


~' ;''`='~ ;~

- 2~0~482
-- 5
remainder of the bale from coming apart as the bale is rotated
and reduced in size.
After the round bale has been deposited on the free
portion 25a of belt 25, the cover is closed to the position
illustrated in Figure 1. The belt 25 is then driven clockwise
with respect to Figures 1 and 2 by motor 38 shown in Figure 3
which drives rollers 32 and 33. Motor 38 is also connected by
suitable gearing 43 to a splined cylinder 39 which is also driven
clockwise. Splined cylinder 39, which functions as a separator,
is illustrated in detail in side view in Figure 4 and in end view
in Figure 5. It has splines 41 symmetrically arranged. In
Figure 5 four such splines 41 are illustrated. Splines 41 act
to separate a layer of hay from the outside of the round bale and
deposit the separated hay on a belt 42 which passes over roll 37.
It has been found that the splined roll is better than
a spiked roll as a spiked roll tends to break up the hay.
Another possibility might be to use a deflector blade.
A compressor belt 42a faces belt 42 to compact any hay
fluffed up by the action of separating the hay from the round
roll and to compact the hay into a mat suitable for cutting.
The hay travelling on belt 42 is periodically chopped
into suitable lengths such as 181' by a guillotine cutter 44 and
is deposited on a transverse conveyor 45.
Figure 6 is a front end view illustrating transverse
conveyor 45 which transports the layer of hay deposited on belt
45 to a position where it is periodically cut by guillotine
cutter 46. Guillotine cutter 46 is shown in detail in Figure 7
which shows side frame members 50 and 51 which guide cutter blade
52. Hydraulic cylinder 53 is on cross piece 54 which is in turn
mounted on frame members 50 and 51. Blade 52 periodically cuts
the hay on belt 45 into 16" lengths in the case of a 4 foot wide
round bale and 20" lengths in the case of a 5 foot wide bale.
Previously mentioned guillotine cutter 44 may be similar in
design to guillotine cutter 46.
The resulting flakes which are now 18" by 16" or 18"
by 20" are then deposited on belt 55. Belt 55 is actually a
series of spaced belts 55a~ 55b and 55c mounted on roller 56 as

21 0 ~ 482
-- 6 --
shown in Figure 7. The other ends of belts 55a, 55b and 55c pass
over separate rollers 57a, 57b and 57c as shown in Figure 8. ~
flakes deposited on belts 55 are raised and elevated by flipper
fingers 60 to be deposited in vertically stacked arrangement as
indicated at 61 in an outlet spout 62. Spout 62 is at the top
of an upright shaft 63 defined by side walls 64 and 65. As
illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, side wall 64 has vertical slots
66a and 66b. Flipper fingers can therefore travel between belts
55a, 55b and 55c and through slots 66a and 66b to lift the flakes
into the stacked position as shown at 61. Slots 66a and 66b
extend up into the lower surface 62a of spout 62.
As best illustrated in Figures 6 and 9 the fingers 60
are on collars 67 on shafts 69 which are carried on sprocket
chains 68. Fingers 60 are resilient so that the fingers will
flip the hay, but will bend when the fingers meet with pressure
as the stack builds up. The resiliency also facilitates
withdrawal of the fingers by the sprocket chain 68 from slots 66.
The fingers 60 are progressively rotated so that they will
elevate the flakeq such as 70, lift them from belts 55 and turn
them from a horizontal orientation on belts 55 to a vertical
orientation as shown at 61.
The vertical orientation of the flakes is convenient
for a compressor as shown in Figure 10.
Control flaps 71 are located at the outlet of spout 62
to permit the layers of flakes to build up. Flaps 71 then pivot
outwards about a vertical axis to permit sufficient hay to form
a bale to be ejected into the compressor by the pressure from
fingers 60 on vertically stacked flakes 61.
Figures 1 to 9 illustrate the preferred top loading
configuration, best shown in Figure 3. However an alternative
would be to load the round bale axially from the side of the
apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 3. This would involve a
mechanism for moving belt 25 to the right as viewed in Figures
1 and 3 to provide room for the round bale to be fed in axially
and then surrounded by belt 25.
The compressor shown in Figure 10 includes a turntable
80 on a platform 81. This provides two compartments, one of

-` 21~4482
-- 7 --
which is a storage compartment in which the hay is placed in
position and in the second compaction compartment the hay is
compressed. On the left hand side therefore of Figure 10 there
is a receiving hopper 82 to receive vertically stacked flakes 61
from spout 62 of Figure 6.
The stacked flakes are received on horizontal ~lide
plate 94 which can be opened when there are sufficient flakes for
a square bale to permit the bale to drop down into storage
compartment 84 which has provision for a horizontally slidable
ram plate 83. The ram plate is not however employed while
compartment 84 is used for storage. Slide plate 94 is operated
by piston 95 which is supported by frame 96. A vertically acting
ram 85 can be used to push the hay from hopper 82 down to storage
compartment 84 and to make sure it is ready for compaction.
Turntable 80 is then rotated to bring the storage compartment
into position for compaction.
Figures 11 and 12 show compaction compartment 86. Door
87 closes off the compaction compartment. A vertically acting
member 91 permits adjustment of the height in compaction
compartment 86 and is lowered to provide an upper ceiling for the
compaction compartment during compaction to avoid spreading of
the hay. Hydraulic cylinder 88 drives ram 89 to compact the
flakes in compaction compartment 86 to about half of its original
dimension. Door 87 is then opened and ram 89 pushes the
compacted square bale into a conventional nodder 90 where the
bale is tied in the customary manner.
Figure 12 also illustrates the apparatus of Figures 1
to 9, generally designated as 92, facing the apparatus of Figures
10-12, generally designated as 93. It will be noted that both
apparatus 92 and 93 are illustrated as mounted for convenience
o~ transportation on wheeled vehicles. Both could, as an
alternative, be on the ground or on a single vehicle but, for
convenience of mobility it is preferred that they be separately
mounted so that they can be parked side by side. Vehicle 92
accomplishes the functions of unwinding a round bale and
converting it into square flakes typical of what is referred to
in the art as a square bale. It will however be appreciated that

-~- 2~044~2
-- 8
the term square is used loosely. 18'l x 16" or 18" by 20" is still
considered to be a square bale. The term square bale, in
reference to hay, is used in the art to indicate a structure of
layered flakes and substantially right angle corners, rather than
being limited to precise dimensions.
When the apparatus of Figures 10-12 is used in
conjunction with that of Figures 1-9, the end result is what is
still regarded as a square bale, though it is compacted to be
half a bale in size, but the weight remains at about 60 lbs
typical of a conventional square bale. If desired, additional
flakes can be compressed to give a compressed square bale of
conventional dimensions of approximately 1~ ft. by 1~ feet by 1~
feet instead of what is half a bale in size measuring 1~ feet by
1~ feet by 3/4 feet. However, the weight will then be about 120
lbs. which is heavy for girls or many other end users. It is
preferred to maintain the weight at about 60 lbs. and in any
event, not exceed about 120 lbs.
It is significant to note that the apparatus of Figures
10-12 will compact the bale so that the layered flakes are
vertical. The apparatus of Figures 10-12 will compact the bale
by pressure applied substantially perpendicularly to the plane
of the layers of the flakes of the square bale, so as to provide
compaction for convenience of transport without disrupting the
layer structure.
Apparatus 92 can be used without a compactor to convert
round bales into so-called square bales. In this case the bales
are fed from spout 62 into a conventional nodder. Apparatus 92
could also be used with compactors different in design from unit
93.
It will be understood that a method is provided in
which square bales of hay are produced from round bales by
rotating the bale and progressively separating with separator 39
successive peripheral layers of hay from the round bale until
substantially none is left. Compression is applied by endless
belt 25 to almost the entire curved surface of the round bale
during this separation to prevent the round bale from breaking
apart. ~he separated layer is preferably compacted between

~ 210~482

belts 42 and 42a and is conveyed to a location where it is cut
to provide elongated flakes having a width the same as a side of
a square bale and having a length which is the same as the width
of the round bale. The elongated flakes are then cut to give
flakes having dimensions substantially the same as a side of a
~quare bale. These flakes are stacked face to face in layers
to provide a square bale.
If it is desired to make a compacted square bale then
the square bale produced as described above is fed into a
compactor which will compact the bale using pressure applied
perpendicularly to the faces of the flakes so as not to disrupt
the layered flaked structure. Compression should be applied to
reduce the square bale at least to 2/3 of its previous size and
preferably to about half its original size. If therefore the
lS thickness of the bale is 1~ feet, it will be reduced to at least
1 foot and preferably 3/4 foot.

Representative Drawing