Patent ID: 9456553
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: A01F

Claim Text:
1. A bale shredder apparatus comprising: a bale hopper defining a bale chamber configured to receive a bale to be shredded, the bale hopper having an upper opening into the bale chamber and a chamber bottom positioned opposite of the upper opening, the bale hopper comprising a perimeter formed of walls with a bale feed opening formed in the perimeter, and a floor positioned toward a bottom of the bale chamber; a bale shredding assembly including a shredding rotor having a plurality of flails positioned with respect to the bale chamber to contact a bale in the bale chamber through the bale feed opening; a bale flipping assembly configured to engage a bale positioned in the bale chamber of the bale hopper and flip an orientation of the bale with respect to the hopper; wherein the bale flipping assembly comprises a bale flipping arm movable between a lowered position and a raised position in the bale chamber and being configured such that movement of the flipping assembly from the lowered position to the raised position raises a first end portion of a bale rested on the flipping assembly over a second end portion of the bale to flip the bale in the hopper; and wherein the bale flipping arm includes a support member rotatably mounted on the hopper and at least one lift member mounted on the support member and pivoted by rotation of the support member, the support member extending into the bale chamber.