Material or article handling – With weighing
Patent
1982-09-27
1985-06-04
Paperner, Leslie J.
Material or article handling
With weighing
414 95, 414111, 414458, A01D 8712
Patent
active
045211493
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a machine for picking up bales from the ground and transporting them to a location spaced from the pick-up location. It has particular, but not exclusive, application to the handling of agricultural bales, especially hay or straw bales.
In the operation of a conventional pick-up baler, hay or straw is picked up from the field and compressed into compact layers which are tied together to form bales. Usually, these bales are of an oblong rectangular shape of, for example, 18 inch width by 14 to 16 inch height by 20 to 26 inch or 36 to 44 inch length. The bales are dumped behind the baler, often arranged in a flat layer of 6 or 8 bales aligned in two rows. These bales are subsequently picked up by specialized tractor-mounted loaders and built up into a stack on a trailer.
It is known to provide a bale stacking machine which is drawn behind the baling machine to receive and stack bales as they leave the baler. Usually, these bale handling machines elevate two bales at a time to build the stack in which alternate layers are mutually perpendicularly arranged. When the required stack has been built up, it is released from the machine to await collection. Bale handling machines of this kind are described in, for example, UK Patent Specifications Nos. 1375042, 1495218 and 1504888. Such machines are relatively complicated in that they are required to automatically angularly displace alternate groups of bales and build and release the required stack.
It is an object to the present invention to provide a bale handling machine of relatively simple construction to facilitate the handling of bales. In particular, it is an object to provide a machine which, in its preferred embodiment, is capable of forming and transporting a stack of bale.
According to the present invention, there is provided a bale handling machine comprising;
a chassis frame defining a bale-receiving zone which is open from below;
ground engaging transport means for translational movement of the frame over the ground; and
bale engaging means carried by or incorporated in the frame for supporting one or more bales in the bale-receiving zone for movement with the frame,
characterised in that
the ground engaging transport means is movable relative to the frame to lower and raise the frame between a lowered bale receiving position, in which the bale engaging means can engage one or more bales standing on the ground below the bale-receiving zone, and a raised bale transport position, in which the bale engaging means supports said one or more bales above the ground.
It will be appreciated that it is a simple matter to design a bale handling machine of the invention in which the ground engaging transport means can raise the frame from its lowered position to a height greater than the individual height of the bales. The machine can then pick-up a first bale or group of bales, place it on a second bale or group of bales, and then pick-up the resultant stack. This procedure can be repeated until the desired stack height has been reached.
It is preferred that the ground engaging transport means is articulated to the frame for arcuate movement to move the frame between its lowered and raised positions. However, said means can be mounted on the frame and moved in other ways. For example, said means can be movable vertically by jacks mounted on the frame. Usually, the ground engaging transport means will comprise two or more wheels although other means, for example skids, can be used as desired.
The machine can be self-propelled, attached to a tractor or other powered vehicle or, more usually, towed by a tractor or other towing vehicle. In order to facilitate manoeuvring of the machine, it is preferred that, in its towed embodiment, the draw bar is laterally offset relative to the centre line of the frame so that, at least during approach to the bale(s) the frame is offset from the towing vehicle. Conveniently, a stay extends between the frame and the draw bar to maintain the offset position. The stay can be adjustable in order to al
REFERENCES:
patent: 3949886 (1976-04-01), Harber et al.
patent: 4076137 (1978-02-01), Kucera
patent: 4193728 (1980-03-01), Steketee
patent: 4204790 (1980-05-01), Baxter
Hunter Patrick F.
Redding John R.
Paperner Leslie J.
Redding John Robert
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