Patent ID: 6328520
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: A01D,Y10S

Abstract:
Apparatus for use with a transport vehicle to load, transfer, and unload bales, said vehicle including a vehicle support frame, said apparatus comprising;a longitudinally extending conveyor system supported on said frame for moving bales longitudinally on said vehicle,a bale engaging tine structure supported on said frame and located along the extent of said longitudinally extending conveyor system on both sides thereof,each said tine structure including a plurality of bale engaging tines spaced along the extent of said longitudinally extending conveyor system and movable between a retracted position and a bale engaging position,means for selectively moving said tine structures between a horizontal position on said vehicle support frame and a vertical bale stack engaging position, andmeans for selectively moving said tines between the retracted position and the bale engaging position,whereby said tine structures may be moved to a substantially vertical position against a stack of a plurality of bales, said tines then moved into engagement with the bales to secure the bales, the bales then moved to a horizontal position and the tines retracted, allowing said bales to be conveyed longitudinally by said conveyor system.