Patent ID: 6685120
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: A01F

Abstract:
An improved hale bale separating apparatus, of the type having: a horizontal main frame defining a substantially flat support surface with a front edge, a rear edge, and a first and second side; a biasing means for moving a bale placed on the support surface towards the first side; a separation means on the first side for separating the bale into smaller portions; and a transportation means for moving the apparatus and the bale thereon to a place where the bale is to be separated; wherein the improvement comprises: the separation means comprised of a flaking shaft on substantially the same plane as the support surface, the shaft having at least one flaking sprocket mounted thereon, each sprocket bearing at least one tooth with a concave leading edge and a convex trailing edge, the two edges meeting at a tip, the shaft driven to rotate slowly so that the concave leading edge engages the bale on the up stroke thereby gently separating the bale into flaked portions and discharging the flaked portions up and away from the separation means so that the flaked portions remain relatively large and unbroken.