BALE HANDLING APPARATUS

Abstract: A bale handling apparatus comprises a support surface, e.g. smooth elongate conveyor belt (26), for supporting a rectangular bale. The apparatus can be pivoted between a bale loading position in which the surface of the conveyor belt (26) is inclined to the horizontal and an operative, generally horizontal, position in which it can support a bale. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of pivotally mounted hooks (46) which engage and retain the bale when the apparatus is in its loading position. The apparatus is then pivoted to its operative position.

Description: DESCRIPTION BALE HANDLING APPARATUS The present invention relates to bale handling apparatus. Recently there has been a significant increase in the use of large, high density bales, e.g. of straw, silage, hay and the like which can weigh as much as 500 kg. Such bales provide advantages for merchants and hauliers, in that 25% more weight can be carried on the same vehicles, and in addition the bales may be handled mechanically under the control of one person as opposed to requiring two or three people to load and unload bales of other types. In order to utilise such large, high density bales, it is possible to use a chopper/blower which shreds the bale as it is fed into the machine and then blows the chopped material for several metres into the area where it is to be utilised. The mechanised chopper/blowers suffer from a number of disadvantages. They either require a loader or material handler to load the bale into the machine or alternatively it is necessary to present the bale individually on the ground to enable the machine to load itself. In either case, an additional piece of machinery is required to manoeuvre a bale into the correct position for loading. Also, the known machines have additional tractor units to drive them which cut and pulverise the bale at high speed, thereby generating considerable pneumatic force which blows the shredded material in the general desired direction. The resultant dust and shredded material which is generated can be a serious health hazard both to livestock and to farming personnel. An apparatus which overcomes the problems of the prior art is disclosed in WO98/15168. In particular, the apparatus disclosed in that prior art document is capable of both loading and discharging a bale without outside help. In order to load the bale with the prior art apparatus, however, it is necessary to present the apparatus end-on to a bale, which might cause problems if space is restricted. In accordance with the present invention, a bale handling apparatus comprises a bale support surface, means for pivotally mounting the bale support surface whereby it can be moved between a bale loading position in which it is inclined to the horizontal and an operative position in which it can support a bale, the apparatus further comprising means for engaging and retaining a bale when the support surface is in its loading position. In this way, the apparatus can be presented to a bale to be manoeuvred, with the support surface in its loading position, the bale can then be engaged and retained, the support surface pivoted to its operative position and the retaining means released to allow the bale to rest on the support surface. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises means for displacing the bale in a controlled manner off the bale support surface. In one embodiment, the bale support surface comprises an endless conveyor belt. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises agitating means for breaking up the bale and/or propelling portions of a bale from the apparatus. Preferably, the retaining and engaging means comprises one or more fingers or hooks which are releasably engagable with a bale to allow it to be lifted and thereafter pivoted such that the support surface lies in its operative position. The fingers or hooks may advantageously be pivotally mounted. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a wall projecting upwardly (e.g. perpendicularly) from the bale support surface and the fingers or holes are extensible and retractable through apertures in the wall. In one embodiment the support surface is elongate and lies generally transversely to the forward direction of motion of a vehicle (e.g. a fore-end loader tractor) to which it is connected. In another embodiment, the apparatus lies on one end. By way of example only, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the front, one side and above of a first embodiment of bale handling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the rear, one side and below of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view from the rear, other side and below of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 illustrating a portion of the apparatus in more detail; Fig. 4 is a series of schematic illustrations showing how the apparatus of Fig. 1 is used to load a bale; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of bale handling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig 6 is a perspective view from the front, one side and above of a third embodiment of bale handling device in accordance with the present invention, which is a modification of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of bale handling apparatus in accordance with the present invention, which is a modification of the apparatus of Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 6, shown with a bale removed. Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 4, the first embodiment of bale handling apparatus comprises an elongate, generally rectangular and planar base 10, an elongate, generally rectangular and planar rear wall 12 extending perpendicularly to the base 10 along one elongate edge of the base, a first end wall 14 at one end of the base and a dispenser 16 at the opposite end of the base for breaking up a bale and/or propelling portions of a bale away from the apparatus. The apparatus can be supported on two groups of four legs 18, 20, each group located towards a respective end of the base 10. The regions within the groups of legs 18, 20 are enclosed by walls 22, 24 interconnecting the legs. The base 10 of the apparatus is fitted with an elongate endless conveyor 26 which is powered hydraulically and which runs over a series of rollers 28. The conveyor comprises a smooth-surfaced endless plastics belt. It can be operated in either direction but in a dispensing mode the upper run of the conveyor moves to the right as illustrated in Fig.l, towards the dispenser 16 (to be described in more detail later) located at one end of the apparatus. The rear wall 12 of the apparatus is provided with a conventional linkage for releasably mounting to the arm of a fore-end loader tractor (not illustrated). It will also be observed that the apparatus is pivotedly mounted about pivot 30 extending between two locating flanges 32 secured to the rear face of the apparatus. By appropriate adjustment of a hydraulic ram 34 mounted on the fore-end loader tractor it is possible to pivot the apparatus between an operative position illustrated in Fig. 1 in which the plane of the conveyor 26 is generally horizontal, to a loading position (to be described hereinafter) in which the plane of the conveyor 26 is generally vertical. The bale dispenser 16 refeπed to previously comprises a conveyor 36 in the form of a series of toothed parallel bars 38 extending between two endless chains 40 mounted perpendicularly to the plane of the base at one end of the apparatus. A dispensing rotor 41 comprising a series of discs 42 mounted on an actuating shaft 44 is mounted beneath the dispensing conveyor 36. The discs 42 may optionally carry a plurality of knife blades 43, if it is desired to chop or shred the bale in addition to dispensing it. If it is desired to chop or shred the bale, the knife blades 43 may alternatively, or additionally, be stationary and mounted in the housing surrounding the rotor 41. The rotor 41 typically rotates at a speed from 100 rpm to 800 rpm depending upon the distance and material being spread. Lower speeds tend to be used when feed stocks are being discharged and higher speeds are used if it is desired to chop or shred the bale. Four bale-engaging hooks 46 are pivotedly mounted on the rear face of the rear wall 12. The hooks are arranged in pairs towards either end of the rear wall and each comprises a generally quarter-circle shaped pointed hook 48 connected to a radially-extending straight bar 50 at one end of the curved portion. The other end of the straight section is connected to one end of a rod 52 which is pivotally mounted to the rear face of the rear wall 12. An identical hook 46 is secured to the opposite end of the rod 52. The hooks are displaceable through associated apertures 54 in the rear wall 12 of the apparatus by means of a double-acting hydraulic ram 58 extending between the straight sections 50 of the two upper hooks 46. When the hooks 46 are displaced through the apertures 54 they arc around through about 90° towards each other in front of the rear wall 12, above the conveyor 26. The hooks 46 can be withdrawn through the apertures 54 by retracting the ram 58. The apparatus is pivotally mounted to the arm 60 of a fore-end loader tractor and is mounted transversely, i.e. the longitudinal axes of the base 10 and rear wall 12 are perpendicular to the direction of forward motion of the tractor. As illustrated in Fig. 4, when it is desired to load a bale onto the apparatus, the actuating ram of the fore-end loader tractor is operated to pivot the apparatus such that the rear wall 12 lies approximately horizontally and the base 10 lies approximately vertically. The apparatus is then manoeuvred by the tractor such that the rear wall lies against, or slightly above, a bale 60 to be handled. The actuating ram 58 on the rear face of the rear wall is then extended, which causes the hooks 46 to project through the apertures 54 in the rear wall and to hook into a bale located immediately beneath. The bale is thereby secured to the apparatus. The actuation of the ram 58 can be prioritised by a gravity-actuated device which diverts the flow of hydraulic oil into the ram 58 automatically when the apparatus is pivoted to the loading position. The tractor is then manoeuvred to remove the captured bale 60 from the stack of bales and the hydraulic ram 34 controlling pivoting of the apparatus is then extended to bring the rear wall 12 into a vertical orientation and bring the base 10 into a horizontal orientation. The hooks 46 may then be retracted (which may be automatic, if a gravity-actuated device is used), which allows the bale to rest on, and be supported by, the conveyor 26. When it is desired to dispense the bale, the main conveyor 26 is actuated and moves the bale into engagement with the dispensing conveyor 16 which "shaves off the end face of the bale and moves it towards the rotating dispensing rotor 41, whereupon the end portion of the bale is dispensed from the apparatus. The dispensing operation can then continue until the bale has been completely dispensed. Should any problems occur with the dispensing, the apparatus almost certainly will not jam, since the main conveyor 26 is formed from smooth-surfaced plastics material which has sufficient friction to displace a bale towards the dispenser in normal operation, but is sufficiently smooth to allow the conveyor surface to slide relative to the undersurface of the bale if, for example, the dispenser 16 does not operate correctly. The apparatus is operated entirely hydraulically and requires only one double- acting oil supply from a host vehicle. The hydraulic system can be totally controlled by means of priority and sequential devices actuated automatically during the normal operating cycle without the need for either additional hydraulic supplies or remote user-operated mechanical/electrical devices. A second embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 5. This is similar in general terms to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, but instead of the bale being supported on one long edge or face, the bale is instead supported on one end. The apparatus of Fig. 5 comprises a longitudinal rectangular rear wall 70 and a short rectangular base 72 inclined perpendicularly at one end to the rear wall. A series of hooks 74 similar to those for the first embodiment is pivotedly mounted on the rear face, and as for the first embodiment, the hooks can be retracted to the position illustrated in Fig. 5 where they are withdrawn but can be extended to a position in which they project through apertures 76 in the rear wall. It will also be observed that a bale dispenser 78 in the form of a dispensing rotor is located on the base wall. The bale is illustrated as resting on a conveyor 80 in the base, to feed the lower face of the bale towards the dispenser 78 but the conveyor 80 may be omitted if desired. In contrast to the first embodiment, the embodiment of Fig. 5 is mounted on a fore-end loader tractor such that the longitudinal axis of the rear wall projects generally upwardly when a bale has been loaded. In order to load a bale, the apparatus is pivoted forwardly (to the position shown in chain dot in Fig. 5) by means of a hydraulic ram (not illustrated) attached to the arm of a fore-end loader tractor such that the rear wall 70 lies approximately horizontally above a bale to be manoeuvred. The hooks 74 are then actuated to engage the bale and hold it captive. The apparatus is then pivoted back to its operative position (in which the rear wall is, in fact, leaning slightly backwardly, beyond the vertical position). The hooks 74 are then disengaged from the bale, which allows the bale to rest on the conveyor 80 on the base. In order to dispense the bale it is then merely necessary to operate the conveyor 80 and the bale dispenser 78, which removes the end face from the bale and dispenses it from the apparatus. The conveyor 80 may be omitted if desired, since the bale will tend to be fed by gravity towards the bale dispenser 78. The apparatus is operated hydraulically in a manner analogous to the first embodiment. For example, the dispenser 16 may be of a different type e.g. a series of linear, reciprocating plates with a series of teeth or serrations to enable the down stroke to displace material towards the rotor 41 and providing a free running return stroke to leave the material in position. With several mounted side-by-side, a continuous feed may be achieved. Moreover, the conveyor 26 may be replaced with other means for displacing the bale to the dispenser. For example, the base may be provided with a plain, smooth floor, which may be inclined in order to feed the bale or the base may comprise a "walking floor". The third embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 6. This is a modification of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 and like reference numerals have been used to refer to like features. The modifications are as follows. Firstly, the dispenser 16 has been omitted and replaced with a second end wall 14', substantially identical to the first end wall 14. Secondly, the conveyor belt 26' does not run the whole length of the apparatus but instead stops short of the end wall 14' such that material fed from the conveyor belt is fed directly to the dispensing rotor 41. Thirdly, instead of being supported on the conveyor belt 26', a bale rests on three rotatably driven rollers 86 which extend between the end walls 14, 14' with their longitudinal axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base 10. The rollers 86 are driven by conventional hydraulic motors (not shown) and are driven in the directions indicated by arrows in the drawing. The surface of the rollers is not smooth but instead is provided with a series of triangular teeth 88 which, as will be explained, remove portions of the undersurface of a bale positioned on the rollers when the rollers are rotated and feed it onto the conveyor belt 26' located below. The apparatus of Fig. 6 is otherwise identical to that of Figs. 1 to 4. A bale is loaded onto the apparatus of Fig. 6 in an identical manner to that of Figs. 1 to 4. However, instead of resting on the conveyor belt 26 of the first embodiment, the bale rests on a support surface or plane defined by the uppermost portions of the three rollers 86. In a dispensing mode, the rollers 86, the conveyor belt 26' and the dispensing rotor 41 are all rotated. Rotation of the bale supporting rollers 86 causes the teeth 88 to remove the undersurface of a bale positioned on the rollers onto the conveyor belt 26' positioned below. The conveyor belt 26' then displaces the removed material onto the dispensing rotor 41 which discharges the material from the apparatus. A fourth embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. This embodiment is a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 5 and like reference numerals have been used to refer to like features. The first difference from the embodiment of Fig. 5 is that instead of being supported on the conveyor 80, one end of a bale B rests on with five parallel, transversely extending rollers 90. The rollers are driven by conventional hydraulic motors (not shown) and are driven in the directions shown by arrows in Fig. 7. The conveyor of the first embodiment has also been omitted in this embodiment. The surface of the rollers is not smooth but instead is roughened (in the illustrated embodiment the rollers are hexagonal with sharp edges) such that rotation of the rollers removes the undersurface of a bale B placed on them. Secondly, the dispenser of Fig. 5 has been replaced with two impellers 92, in the form of two hydraulically driven rotating discs which can be rotated at high speed to discharge material removed from the undersurface of the bale B out of the apparatus. A cowling 94 is also provided in from of the impeller. The cowling comprises a base plate 96 extending parallel to, and located just below the level of, the plane of the impellers 92 and an upstanding wall 98 projecting perpendicularly from the free end of the base plate 96. The purpose of the cowling is to direct material discharged off the impellers 92 to both sides of the apparatus. Otherwise, the embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8 is identical to that of Fig. 5. A bale is loaded onto the apparatus of Figs. 7 and 8 in an identical manner to that of Fig. 5. However, instead of resting on the conveyor belt 80, the end of the bale rests on a support surface or plane defined by the uppermost portions of the rollers 90. In a dispensing mode, the rollers 90 and the impellers 92 are rotated. Rotation of the rollers 90 causes the undersurface of the bale to be removed from the bale. The removed material is then discharged from the apparatus by the rapidly rotating impellers 92 and, if fitted, the cowling 94 directs the material to both sides of the apparatus. The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments. For example, in the last two embodiments, the rollers may be different from those described and may be in other forms which remove the undersurface of a bale placed on the rollers.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A bale handling apparatus comprising a bale support surface, means for pivotally mounting the bale support surface whereby it can be moved between a bale loading position in which it is inclined to the horizontal and an operative position in which it can support a bale, the apparatus further comprising means for engaging and retaining a bale when the support surface is in its loading position. 2. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for displacing the bale in a controlled manner off the bale support surface. 3. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bale support surface comprises an endless conveyor belt. 4. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bale support surface is smooth. 5. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bale support surface lies substantially horizontally when in the operative position. 6. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising agitating means for breaking up the bale and/or propelling portions of a bale from the apparatus. 7. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the agitating means forms the bale support surface. 8. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the support surface comprises one or more movable portions for removing a portion of the undersurface of a bale. 9. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the or each movable portion is rotatable. 10. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the or each rotatable movable portion is elongate. 11. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10 further comprising means for discharging form the apparatus portions of the undersurface of the bale removed by the or each movable portion. 12. A bale support surface as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bale support surface is elongate and the means for breaking up the bale and/or propelling portions of the bale are located at one end of the bale support surface. 13. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining and engaging means comprises one or more fingers or hooks releasably engageable with a bale. 14. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fingers or hooks are pivotally mounted. 15. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, further comprising a wall projecting upwardly from the bale support surface, wherein the fingers or holes are extensible or retractable through apertures in the wall. 16. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the wall projects substantially perpendicularly from the bale support surface. 17. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16, wherein the wall is elongate and the longitudinal axis projects upwardly from the bale support surface. 18. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the wall projects substantially perpendicularly from the bale support surface. 19. A bale handling apparatus claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising means for releasable mounting to a lifting apparatus. 20. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the lifting apparatus forms part of a vehicle. 21. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the bale support surface is elongate and the longitudinal axis of the support surface lies generally transversely to the forward direction of a vehicle to which it is connected. 22. A bale handling apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bale support surface is generally planar.

Inventors: HUGHES MICHAEL JOHN, MEDDINS CHRISTOPHER EDWARD, HUGHES, MICHAEL, JOHN, MEDDINS, CHRISTOPHER, EDWARD
Applicants: CESTRIAN INSPIRATION LTD, HUGHES MICHAEL JOHN, MEDDINS CHRISTOPHER EDWARD, CESTRIAN INSPIRATION LIMITED, HUGHES, MICHAEL, JOHN, MEDDINS, CHRISTOPHER, EDWARD
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A01F29
IPC codes: A01D87