BALE HANDLING MACHINE

Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for collecting, stacking and transporting bales of various straws commonly found as a by product of agricultural crops. The particular features of this machine offer increased versatility and speed. Whilst handling large square bales of any size, it can cross the joints of subsequent layers (tie) and safely pick up previously made stacks and transport them. There are currently a small number of stacking machines such as one described in Patent Number GB 2273280A and while these machines have distinguishing features, they do not tie or retrieve stacks, which tends to limit their application. One such machine has an arm and tines that pick up the bales but it has 2 pivotal sections and is extendible in order to form the stack. The axis of rotation of this arm is at 90 DEG to the direction of travel. Within my invention, the arm is pivotal in one section only on an axis that is parallel to the direction of travel and is used to only pickup bales. The tines may be attached to sub frames pivotal within the lifting arm to assist attachment of the bales.

Description: Bale Handling Machine This invention relates to a machine for collecting, stacking and transporting bales of various straws commonly found as a by product of agricultural crops. The particular features of this machine offer increased versatility and speed. Whilst handling large square bales of any size, it can cross the joints of subsequent layers (tie) and safely pick up previously made stacks and transport them. There are currently a small number of stacking machines such as one described in Patent Number GB 2273280A and while these machines have distinguishing features, they do not tie or retrieve stacks, which tends to limit their application. One such machine has an arm and tines that pick up the bales but it has 2 pivotal sections and is extendible in order to form the stack. The axis of rotation of this arm is at 90° to the direction of travel. Within my invention, the arm is pivotal in one section only on an axis that is parallel to the direction of travel and is used to only pickup bales. The tines may be attached to sub frames pivotal within the lifting arm to assist attachment of the bales. Description (See Fig 1A & IB) The machine described is a trailer type being towable by a tractor. A self-propelled unit could also be considered. At the front of the chassis (1) is a guide frame (2) that can move from a transport position to a position of protrusion from the side of the trailer. As the trailer is drawn forward along side the bale (3) the guide contacts one side and one end of the bale and pushes it along the ground in a relatively fixed position to the machine. A number of (curved) tines (5) are fixed to a sub-frame(s) (6) which is pivoted on an axis (7) and permits the tines to move from a position which is inside and clear of the lift frame (4) to a position where the tines are penetrating the inner side of the bale. These tines could pivot on a different axis, eg. horizontal, or be mounted on a slide arrangement. In the preferred design the tines will penetrate the bale at opposing angles to secure the bale in position and prevent the bale sliding off the tines. When the bale is secure, the arm (4) complete with tines and bale swings through substantially 180° on an axis (14) parallel to the direction of travel. Thus swinging the bale out from the machine and off the ground. Full rotation of the arm will result . in the frame being substantially vertical and the bale at rest, inverted on the hooked table (6). Subsequent bales will be loaded and will push the first bale (15) along the hooked table until it is full. When the hooked table is full, a plurality of hooks (8) may secure the bales before the table pivots up vertically about axis (9) and positions the bales on the load platform (10). The hooked table can pivot through 90° on pivot (11) and thus cross the joints of subsequent layers. The hooked table may move forward on a substantially parallel linkage (12) or on wheels/slides and track and position the final layer of bales on the extension (13) that may slide from the front of the load platform. When the stack is complete the hooked table (6) can be left in the vertical position and in combination with the hooks will secure the last layer of bales during transport. The aforementioned linkage (12) can be used to adjust the position of the table (when used as a head frame) to accommodate different sizes of bales and stacks. Clamp arms (16) and sides (17) are pivotal at their bases to enable clamping of the load during transport and erection. Forks (See Fig II) A number of fork(s) (1) are pivoted on a carriage (2) which runs up and down the channels of the load platform (3) via wheels (4). A cylinder or cylinders (5) support the fork vertically and permit the fork to lower to a horizontal position (12). The carriages are held against the bales via pressure from a cylinder (11) pushing on pulley (10) and tensioning cable (7) against anchor (9). A hydraulic supply to cylinder(5) can be similarly routed via flexible hose (6) supplied by manifold (8). The forks can be connected at their ends by a longeron. In another example of this mechanism the cables could be replaced by a transmission chain or toothed belt and cylinder (11) replaced by a sprocket and motor arrangement. Skids (See Fig III) A number of or a skid(s) (1) are fixed to the load platform (2) to form an arc whose centre is substantially coincident with the pivot point (3). The skid(s) extends downwards such that it contacts the ground substantially as the centre of gravity of the stack moves behind the centre of the wheel/axle centre arrangement, as the stack platform tips to the vertical. Wheels (4) are positioned such that their circumference extends beyond the curved skid circumference so that at a point, when the stack is almost vertical, the wheels carry all the load and thus permit the almost erect stack to be positioned just prior to being fully erected. Further, these wheels may be mounted so that they can be retracted or extended, as required. This may be arranged to operate under load by using hydraulic pressure for example. Operation The machine is drawn onto the bales until it is located in the guide arrangement at the side )f the machine. The bales are spiked by the fined arm and swung upside down - on to the hooked table. (As the tines are withdrawn a smaller pivotal frame may be coupled to the pick up frame to slide the bale along the hooked frame as the tines return underneath in preparation for the next bale). Subsequent bales slide previous bales along the table until the table is full. The table then pivots up to the vertical position and places the bales on the load platform against slideable forks. As the table rises, it can pivot through 90° and cross the joints of adjacent layers of bales. More layers of bales push the emerging stack and supporting forks down the load platform. When the bales reach the end of the load platform they can be clamped in position, the forks lowered through 90° and drawn clear under the bales to allow erection of the stack directly onto the ground. ; Another layer of bales on the hook platform can be moved forward before being swung up onto the now extended load platform. The hooked table can be used to restrain these bales during transport. The completed stack is ejected when the load platform tips up 90° and erects the stack to its vertical position where the clamps are released. Before the stack reaches the vertical, curved skids (at the base of the platform) contact the ground and roll the stack into its final position. These curved skids prevent adverse moments lifting the tractor unit. Similarly, previously made stacks can be picked up and moved.

Claims: Claims What I claim is: 1 A self-propelled or trailed bale stacking machine that has a pickup arm that is pivoted on an axis substantially parallel to the direction of motion or to the longitudinal axis of the machine. Tines attached to this arm penetrate and thus secure the bale as the arm swings through a further substantial 180° to place the bale upside down upon a (hooked) table. 2 A bale stacking machine where the supporting fork(s) are pivoted on trolley(s) so they can be lowered and retracted under the stack prior too erection and remain retracted during moving of pre-erected stacks. 3 A bale stacking machine where the table (hooked) can be moved forward by means of a parallel linkage or by means of wheels/slides and a track to provide means to allow rotation of the table and/or provide means to readily adjust the position of the table (when erected) and used as a head support frame for varying sizes of finished stacks. 4 A machine as in (1) where the pickup arm tines attached to the pickup arm by means of hinged sub frames to facilitate movement of the tines independently of the pickup arm. 5 A machine as in (1), (2) or (3) where the table (hooked) has hooks or clamps to secure bales in position. 6 A machine as in (1), (2) or (3) where the table (hooked) can rotate through 90° to cross the joints of (tie) subsequent layers of bales in the finished stack. 7 A machine as in (1), (2) or (3) where curved skid(s) at the base of the platform contact the ground as the stack is being erected to support the weight of the stack and the machine and prevent lifting moments at the front of the machine. 8 A machine as in (1), (2), (3) or (7) where wheel(s) or roller(s) are combined with the skid(s) to permit manoeuvre of an almost erect stack. 1/4 Fig. t Q. 2/4 Fig. I b 3/4 4/4

Inventors: WALTON JOHN DAWSON, WALTON, JOHN, DAWSON
Applicants: WALTON JOHN DAWSON, WALTON, JOHN, DAWSON
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A01D90
IPC codes: A01D85, A01D87