Patent ID: 11944041
Assignee: nan
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC A  F  Y | IPC A  F

Claim 11:
12. A bale feeding apparatus for feeding bales into a bale dryer, said apparatus comprising:
a structure defining an elongated lane having a proximal end for residing adjacent the bale dryer and a distal end for residing opposite of the bale dryer, said lane having a sufficient length to support a plurality of bales thereon in queued fashion in a plurality of queuing spots residing between said proximal end distal ends;
a bale mover in co-operably installed relation to said structure and configured to advance the plurality of bales sequentially through the plurality of queuing spots toward the proximal end of the lane and into the bale dryer from said proximal end of the lane; and
at least one actuator connected to the bale mover and operable to displace the bale mover longitudinally back and forth of the structure in an advancing direction toward the proximal end of the lane and a retreating direction back toward the distal end;
wherein:
the bale mover comprises one or more bale engagement units movable between a working position protruding into the lane to displace the plurality of bales during movement in the advancing direction, and a reset position withdrawn from the lane to bypass the plurality of bales during movement in the retreating direction;
the one or more bale engagement units comprise at least one bale pusher positioned to reside between two of the queuing spots in the working position when the bale mover is in a starting position prior to movement thereof in the advancing direction; and
each bale pusher is spring biased into the working position, and arranged to be forced out of the working position by contact with one of the bales during movement of the bale mover in the retreating direction.