Patent ID: 6425235
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
An agricultural bale accumulator comprising:a base module including: a load bed which is substantially planar for receiving and accumulating thereon a plurality of bales; and a main frame for supporting the load bed above a ground surface; and a load bed extension module including: a first extension table which is substantially planar; a first extension table attachment mechanism connected to the first extension table and the base module to permit the first extension table to be moveable relative to the base module between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein the first extension table is substantially co-planar with the load bed and adjacent to a first side of the load bed when the first extension table is in the unstowed position to permit the first extension table to accumulate thereon at least one of the plurality of bales, wherein the bale accumulator has a first lateral width dimension when the first extension table is in the stowed position to provide a first bale accumulating capacity, and wherein the bale accumulator has a second lateral width dimension, longer than the first lateral width dimension, when the first extension table is in the unstowed position to provide a second bale accumulating capacity, greater than the first bale accumulating capacity; and a first extension table support system connected to at least one of the base module and the first extension table, wherein the first extension table support system contacts the first extension table at a location beyond the first extension table attachment mechanism at the first side of the load bed and contacts at least one of the base module and the ground surface to support the first extension table from at least one of the base module and the ground surface, respectively, when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.