Abstract:
A simple agricultural big bale loader, retriever, and transporter provides an efficient tool that should save time and labor costs over other existing loaders. The invention permits a novel lifting, rotating, and depositing of a big bale from the ground in the field onto and across an elevating and flipping receiving table, consolidating of a plurality of the lifted bales into two-high or three-high layers of bales on a stack carriage bed, transporting of the bales to a storage location, tilting of the carriage bed downward at the rear and upward at the front approximately 90 degrees, and depositing of the stack at the storage location.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     The present invention relates to bale loading of a transport vehicle in an agricultural setting. The invention enables the lifting, rotating, and depositing of a big bale from the ground in the field onto a modified truck or vehicle for consolidation into a load with other bales for transport from the field over highways at highway speeds. The invention in the preferred embodiment serves as a useful modification of a ten wheel truck having a longitudinal two channel main frame into an autonomous big bale loader, retriever, and transporter for picking up serially individual big bales in a field and assembling the resulting group of big bales into a double or triple layer stack of bales on a stack carriage bed mounted to the main frame in place of a conventional truck bed for transport to a consolidated bale storage location and autonomous depositing of the stack at that location. The stack carriage bed is pivotally mounted on the main frame to allow tilting up of the front end of the carriage bed and tilting down of the back end of the carriage bed to the ground and return. The transporter can also be used to retrieve a stack of bales and move them to another location.  
         [0006]     A bale pickup assembly and a swing gate assembly of the invention have a field deployment position for picking up individual bales in the field and a stowed over-the-road transport position for when the transporter is coming or going from the field.  
         [0007]     The invention in its preferred embodiment allows for improved handling of individual big bales in the field and for improved handling of consolidated stacks of bales both in the field and at storage locations.  
         [0008]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0009]     A number of big bale loading devices exist that can aid a person in loading wagons and other transport vehicles in the field. The prior devices are generally more cumbersome, bulky, and complex than the present invention. The present invention provides for a less complex big bale loader, retriever, and transporter and provides an efficient tool that should save time and labor costs over other existing equipment.  
         [0010]     The present invention, a loader, retriever, and transporter permits a novel lifting, rotating, and depositing of a bale from the ground in the field onto and across an elevating and flipping receiving table assembly mounted to the main frame of the transporter, consolidating of a plurality of lifted bales into a two-high, three-high, or four-high consolidated stack of bales on a stack carriage bed pivotally mounted to the main frame of the transporter, transporting of the consolidated stack to a storage location, tilting of the carriage bed to the rear, and depositing of the consolidated stack at the storage location.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     A principal objective of this invention is to provide a novel and improved big bale loader, retriever, and transporter that is simple, low-maintenance, and reliable. An existing vehicle having a main frame is reversibly modified into a big bale pickup and transport vehicle, a more efficient agricultural tool. In the preferred embodiment, the vehicle to be modified into the transporter is a common ten wheel truck. In the preferred embodiment, the modification of the vehicle involves the use of nuts and bolts to attach the assemblies of the invention to a preexisting main frame.  
         [0012]     Another object of this invention is to provide a versatile transporter that selectively will lift, rotate, and deposit a bale lengthwise across an elevating and flipping receiving table; will flip the bale rearward onto a stack carriage bed to be stopped by a left front squeezer and a right front squeezer when both the squeezers are in a closed position (as shown for example in  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  17 ) or will elevate and flip the bale onto a previously flipped bale on the bed; will when the squeezers are in an open position (see  FIGS. 8 and 12 ) move the flipped bale, set of two, three, or four flipped bales, or sets of flipped bales rearward on the bed and towards and when there are sufficient intervening sets of flipped bales up against a left rear grapple bar and a right rear grapple bar that each have a plurality of grapple hooks that when the grapple bars are both in closed positions (see  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  12 ,  17 ,  18 , and  19 ) stop the bales from going backwards beyond the grapple bars; will anchor the second set of bales from the front of the bed between a left squeezer spike and a right squeezer spike that will embed in a bale of the set; will repeat the foregoing steps selectively until a consolidated stack of a selected size is formed on the bed; will selectively grip bales located on the bed between a left front squeezer and a right front squeezer with the spikes embedded in any bales adjacent to the spikes (see  FIG. 17 ); will then transport the consolidated stack to a chosen location; will then rotate the consolidated stack and the bed upwards at the front of the bed and downwards at the rear of the bed (from a horizontal to a vertical position); will then open the left rear grapple bar (see  FIG. 8 ), open the right rear grapple bar (see  FIG. 8 ), will open the left front squeezer (see  FIGS. 8 and 12 ), and open the right front squeezer (see  FIGS. 8 and 12 ) thereby depositing and releasing the consolidated stack onto the surface of the chosen location; will then drive forward away from the deposited stack; will then rotate the bed back from the vertical to the horizontal position; or will then be free to selectively stop right there, be used otherwise right there, return to the field for another load, drive elsewhere to retrieve a load, or back up and retrieve the just deposited load.  
         [0013]     The present invention overcomes a significant problem that is encountered by many other loading devices. This significant problem is complex attachment to the wagon or vehicle. The present invention uses simple nuts and bolts and quick connect hydraulic lines to facilitate easy and reversible conversion of a preexisting vehicle such as a ten wheel truck into a big bale loader, retriever, and transporter.  
         [0014]     Use of the big bale loader, retriever, and transporter in the field allows an operator to approach a big bale from its end, the same orientation as the bale obtained when deposited on the ground by the baler that formed the bale as the baler progressed along a similar track to that now taken by the transporter. A pickup arm assembly first receives each bale with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the transporter (along the course of advance of the transporter in the field); then the pickup arm assembly together with a swing gate assembly lifts and rotates the bale about three axis, and deposits the bale onto an elevating and flipping receiving table assembly of the transporter with the longitudinal axis of the bale after loading then being oriented perpendicular to and across the longitudinal axis of the transporter and parallel to the plane of the receiving table assembly.  
         [0015]     With a ten wheel truck or similar vehicle that has been modified into the present invention, bales lying on their strings or on their edges in a field can be retrieved from the field and thereafter deposited in stable stacks again resting on their strings or again resting on their edges in a storage area. After deposit, the bales in the consolidated stack can be approached with the transporter from the same side accessed by the transporter when it deposited the bales and picked up as a consolidated stack and moved to another location.  
         [0016]     The transporter in its preferred embodiment is mounted to the main frame of a preexisting ten wheel truck or other suitable vehicle. Preferably the invention is attached to the main frame using nuts and bolts.  
         [0017]     The transporter in the preferred embodiment uses an electrically controlled, pressurized hydraulic system to selectively power and control fifteen hydraulic actuators connected to the hydraulic system by quick connect hydraulic lines. Each actuator requires the hook up of two hydraulic lines to the pressurized hydraulic system. Preferably, the hydraulic system is pressurized by a direct drive hydraulic pump mounted to the preexisting motor of the vehicle or truck. Alternatively, an auxiliary power unit could be used to power the hydraulic system. Preferably, the control of the invention&#39;s actuators is accomplished by use of conventional electric controls such as used on other agricultural equipment.  
         [0018]     While the preferred embodiment uses hydraulic actuators, other comparable devices including pneumatic actuators could be used.  
         [0019]     Additional and various other objects and advantages attained by the invention will become more apparent as the specification is read and the accompanying figures are reviewed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective partially exploded view of a transporter in a bale receiving position showing the orientation of a pickup arm assembly to a swing gate assembly, to a mounting tube assembly, to a receiving tube assembly, to an elevating and flipping receiving table assembly, and to a stack carriage bed assembly and without showing the cab forward portions and without showing the drive line and associated drive line components and without showing the wheels and other wheel components and without showing electrical components and without showing hydraulic lines;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the transporter shown in  FIG. 1  in a bale receiving position;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective partially exploded view of a receiving tube assembly, an elevating and flipping receiving table assembly, a mounting tube assembly, a swing gate assembly, and a pickup arm assembly, with the pickup arm assembly in a deployed bale receiving position;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective partially exploded view of the swing gate assembly of the transporter;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a perspective partially exploded view of the pickup arm assembly of the transporter;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the swing gate assembly assembled together with the pickup arm assembly of the transporter;  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a front plan view of the pickup arm assembly in a raised position in relationship to the swing gate assembly of the transporter and showing the swing gate assembly pivotally connected to the mounting tube assembly by a swing gate pivot pin;  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the preferred embodiment of a stack carriage bed assembly of the transporter and showing a left rear grapple bar in an open position, a right rear grapple bar in an open position, a left front squeezer in an open position, and a right front squeezer in an open position;  
         [0028]      FIG. 9  is a partially cutaway perspective view of a portion of the carriage bed assembly showing a bale pullback blade in an erect position with a pullback actuator partially retracted;  
         [0029]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a portion of the carriage bed assembly showing a bale pullback blade in a downward recessed position (below the level of a stack carriage bed) with a pullback actuator fully extended;  
         [0030]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a cable anchor receiving tube, a cable anchor bar, and immediately associated features but not showing an attached anchor cable;  
         [0031]      FIG. 12  is a perspective partial view of the transporter showing the carriage bed assembly in a transitional position about half way towards a fully raised position and here raised approximately 45 degrees from its horizontal resting position and showing a bed boost actuator partially extended upwards;  
         [0032]      FIG. 13  is a partial front plan view showing the transporter and portions of the mounting tube assembly, the swing gate assembly, and the pickup arm assembly with the swing gate assembly and the pickup arm in a position rotated about 90 degrees about a swing gate pivot pin;  
         [0033]      FIG. 14  is a partial front plan view showing the transporter and portions of the mounting tube assembly, the swing gate assembly, and the pickup arm assembly with the swing gate assembly and the pickup arm in a position rotated about 90 degrees about a swing gate pivot pin and the pickup arm assembly lifted up about 100 degrees in transition towards a bale depositing position from its bale receiving position;  
         [0034]      FIG. 15  is a partial front plan view showing the transporter and portions of the mounting tube assembly, the swing gate assembly, and the pickup arm assembly with the swing gate assembly and the pickup arm in a position rotated about 90 degrees about a swing gate pivot pin and the pickup arm assembly lifted up about 185 degrees to a bale depositing position from its bale receiving position;  
         [0035]      FIG. 16  is a partial front plan view showing the transporter and portions of the swing gate assembly, and the pickup arm assembly with the swing gate assembly and the pickup arm in a position rotated about 90 degrees about a swing gate pivot pin and the pickup arm assembly lifted up about 185 degrees to a bale depositing position from its bale receiving position; and with the swing gate assembly and the pickup arm assembly retracted to a stowed position by the receiving tube assembly and the mounting tube assembly not shown;  
         [0036]      FIG. 17  is a perspective partial view of the transporter showing portions of the receiving and flipping table assembly in the process of elevating and flipping a bale  4  for flipping up onto a bale  3  (the first bale in a second set of two bales) adjacent to a first set of bales  1  and  2  on the carriage bed, showing the left squeezer in a closed position against the bales  1  and  2  and behind the bale  3 , and showing the pickup arm assembly in a bale receiving position;  
         [0037]      FIG. 18  is a perspective partial view of the transporter showing an alternative mounting tube assembly with the alternative mounting tube assembly extended outward by the receiving tube assembly extension actuator;  
         [0038]      FIG. 19  is a perspective partial view of the transporter showing the alternative mounting tube assembly shown in  FIG. 18  with the alternative mounting tube assembly retracted inward by the receiving tube assembly extension actuator; and  
         [0039]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the alternative mounting tube assembly and showing a wheel extension assembly mounted to the receiving tube assembly. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0040]     Referring to FIGS.  1  to  20 , the present invention is novel and provides a big bale loader, retriever, and transporter  6 . A method of using the transporter  6  provides for lifting, rotating, and depositing a bale on a receiving table of said transporter, consolidating of the bale with other bales into a consolidated stack of bales on a stack carriage bed of the transporter, transporting of the consolidated stack to a chosen location, and the depositing of the consolidated stack at the chosen location.  
         [0041]     The transporter  6  in its preferred embodiment is a modified ten wheel truck having a cab  8  mounted forward on a longitudinal main frame  10 . The main frame  10  has a longitudinal right frame channel  12  having a rearward open end spaced from and generally parallel to a left frame channel  14  also having a rearward open end. The channels  12  and  14  are connected to one another by a plurality of spaced frame cross members including a rearmost frame cross member  16  spaced away from the rearward open ends, a second rearmost frame cross member  18 , and a third rearmost frame cross member  20 .  
         [0042]     Reinforcing gloves can be used to strengthen the channels  12  and  14  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Preferably, a right reinforcing glove  22  having a plurality of right reinforcing glove bolt holes  24  is attached to the right frame channel  12  using nuts and bolts through a plurality of right reinforcing glove cooperating bolt holes  30  in the right frame channel. Preferably, a left reinforcing glove  26  having a plurality of left reinforcing glove bolt holes  28  is attached to the left frame channel  14  using a plurality of nuts and a plurality of left reinforcing glove bolts  29  through a plurality of left reinforcing glove cooperating bolt holes  32  in the left frame channel.  
         [0043]     A stack carriage bed mounting  44  is an integral H-shaped member attached between the rearward open ends of the channels  12  and  14  spaced rearward from the rearmost frame cross member  16  and preferably attached with nuts and bolts. Preferably, the stack carriage bed mounting  44  has a right lower leg  46  with at least one right lower leg bolt hole  48 , a right upper leg  50  with a transverse stack carriage bed right main pivot pin hole  52 , a connecting member  54 , a left upper leg  60  with a stack carriage bed left main pivot pin hole  62 , and a left lower leg  56  with at least one left lower leg bolt hole  58 . Preferably, the bed mounting  44  is inserted between and attached to the right frame channel  12  and the left frame channel  14  at their rearward ends with nuts and at least one right lower leg cooperating bolt and at least one left lower leg cooperating bolt  67  through at least one right lower leg cooperating bolt hole  64  in the right frame channel and at least one left lower leg cooperating bolt hole  66  in the left frame channel. Preferably, the right main pivot pin hole  52  is spaced from and coaxial to the left main pivot pin hole  62 .  
         [0044]     A stack carriage bed main actuators frame mounting  80  is attached to the main frame  10  preferably using nuts and bolts. Preferably, the main actuators frame mounting  80  is attached to the rearmost frame cross member  16  and the second rearmost frame cross member  18  as best seen in  FIG. 1 . The frame mounting  80  has a right main actuator mounting plate  82  with a right main actuator mounting ear  84  attached to the rearward side of the right main actuator mounting plate and has at least one right main actuator mounting plate bolt hole  86 . Preferably, the right main actuator mounting plate  82  is attached to the rearmost frame cross member  16  through at least one main actuator mounting plate cooperating bolt hole  102  in the rearmost frame cross member using nuts and bolts. A right strut  88  is attached between the forward side of the right main actuator mounting plate  82  and the rearward side of a hip plate  90 . Preferably, the hip plate  90  has at least one hip plate bolt hole  92  and the hip plate is attached to the second rearmost frame cross member  18  through at least one hip plate cooperating bolt hole  104  in the second rearmost frame cross member using nuts and bolts. A left strut  94  is attached between the forward side of the hip plate  90  and the rearward side of a left main actuator mounting plate  96 . The left main actuator mounting plate  96  has a left main actuator mounting ear  98  attached to the rearward side of the left main actuator mounting plate and preferably has at least one left main actuator mounting plate bolt hole  100 . Preferably, the left actuator mounting plate  96  is attached to the rearmost frame cross member  16  through at least one main actuator mounting plate cooperating bolt hole  102  in the rearmost frame cross member using nuts and bolts.  
         [0045]     A right main actuator  106  is connected between the right main actuator mounting ear  84  and a bed actuator mounting ear  738  and a left main actuator  108  is connected between the left main actuator mounting ear  98  and a second bed actuator mounting ear  738  by use of appropriate pins and clips.  
         [0046]     A boost bed actuator hanger  110  has at least one right hanger bolt hole  112 , a boost bed actuator ear  116  on its upper surface, and at least one left hanger bolt hole  118 . The boost bed actuator hanger  110  is attached below and between the channels  12  and  14  and near the third rearmost frame cross member  20  using nuts and bolts with at least one right hanger cooperating bolt hole  114  in the right frame channel, at least one right hanger cooperating bolt, at least one left hanger cooperating bolt hole  120  in the left frame channel, and at least one left hanger cooperating bolt  121  as best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 12 .  
         [0047]     A boost bed actuator  122  with a lower boost bed actuator connector  124  and having an upper boost bed actuator lift pad  126  is connected to the boost bed actuator ear  116  by use of an appropriate pin and clip and is oriented generally vertically upward and through a boost bed actuator restraining collar  128  having at least one restraining collar mounting flange  130  or  132  with each mounting flange having at least one mounting flange bolt hole  134  or  136  transverse through each for attachment using nuts and bolts with at least one mounting flange cooperating bolt hole  138  in the third rearmost frame cross member  20 . Preferably, the boost bed actuator  122  is mounted so that the actuator lift pad  126  is located near or above the upper plane of the frame channels  12  and  14  when the actuator is retracted and located well above the upper plane when the actuator is extended.  
         [0048]     A receiving tube assembly  200  is attached to the main frame  10  spaced forward away from the rearmost frame cross member  16  using nuts and bolts. Preferably, the receiving tube assembly  200  is mounted across the right frame channel  12  and the left frame channel  14  behind the cab  8  using nuts and bolts. The receiving tube assembly  200  has a main receiving tube  202  attached preferably by welding at its right end to a right mounting plate  204 . The right mounting plate  204  depends downward along the outward side surface of the right channel  12  and the right mounting plate has at least one right mounting plate bolt hole  206  used with nuts and bolts to attach the right mounting plate to the right frame channel  12  through at least one right mounting plate cooperating bolt hole  34  in the right frame channel. If a right reinforcing glove  22  is incorporated into the transporter  6 , then the right mounting plate  204  is also attached through at least one right mounting plate cooperating bolt hole  38  in the right reinforcing glove.  
         [0049]     A left mounting plate  208  preferably has a slot  210  for receiving the main receiving tube  202  and the left mounting plate is attached preferably by welding to a portion of the main receiving tube spaced from and parallel to the right mounting plate  204 . The main receiving tube  202  preferably extends outward beyond the left channel  14  and the main receiving tube has a receiving tube assembly extension actuator ear  220  attached to its front side preferably outboard from the left channel  14 . A receiving tube assembly extension actuator  222  is attached to the extension actuator ear  220 .  
         [0050]     The left mounting plate  208  has at least one left mounting plate bolt hole  212  used with nuts and at least one left mounting plate bolt  213  to attach the left mounting plate to the left frame channel  14  through at least one left mounting plate cooperating bolt hole  36  in the left frame channel. If a left reinforcing glove  26  is incorporated into the transporter  6 , then the left mounting plate  208  is also attached through at least one left mounting plate cooperating bolt hole  40  in the left reinforcing glove. The left mounting plate  208  preferably depends downward along the outside of the left channel  14  and has a portion that extends below the left channel and in that portion is an aperture  214  for receiving and mounting preferably by welding a secondary receiving tube  216 . The secondary receiving tube  216  is preferably spaced from, parallel to and below the main receiving tube  202  and extends outward away from the left channel  14 . Preferably a receiving tube connecting brace  217  is attached between a portion of the main receiving tube  202  and a portion of the secondary receiving tube  216  with both the portions located outward away and separated from the left mounting plate  208 .  
         [0051]     Preferably, two spacer blocks  218  are spaced from one another and each block is attached to the forward surface of the main receiving tube  202  preferably by welding. Preferably, the spacer blocks  218  rest on the top surfaces of the channels  12  and  14 .  
         [0052]     An elevating and flipping receiving table assembly  300  is attached to the spacer blocks  218  preferably by welding. In the best embodiment, the table assembly  300  is attached to the spacer blocks  218 , but alternatively, the table assembly can be attached to the forward surface of the main receiving tube  202  in the vicinity and above the frame channels  12  and  14 .  
         [0053]     The table assembly  300  includes a right mast channel  302  spaced from and parallel to a left mast channel  304  that both depend upward vertically and preferably with the right mast channel overlying the right frame channel  12  and the left mast channel overlying the left frame channel  14 . The mast channels  302  and  304  preferably are attached to a respective spacer block  218  by welding and the mast channels are connected at their lower ends by a mast base  306  that spans between the lower ends. Preferably near the upper ends of the mast channels  302  and  304  is a mast cross brace  308  attached between the mast channels.  
         [0054]     The table assembly  300  further comprises a mast carriage assembly  314  that rides up and down in the space between the mast channels  302  and  304  and portions of the mast carriage assembly extend to the rear beyond the rear sides of the mast channels. As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the mast carriage assembly  314  comprises a mast carriage frame  316  located between the mast channels  302  and  304 . The mast carriage frame  316  preferably includes three walls: an upper wall connected to two spaced and parallel side walls with a portion of each side wall extending beyond the rear sides of the mast channels  302  and  304 . A mast carriage frame actuator ear  318  is attached to the lower surface of the upper wall of the carriage frame  316  at a point vertically above the mast base actuator ear  310 .  
         [0055]     A mast base actuator ear  310  is attached to the upper surface of the mast base  306  near its midpoint and a receiving table elevating actuator  312  is connected to the mast base actuator ear and the mast carriage frame actuator ear  318 . Preferably, an actuator pivot pin  320  is used to connect the upper connection of the receiving table elevating actuator  312  to the mast carriage frame actuator ear  318 .  
         [0056]     The mast carriage frame  316  further preferably includes a plurality of mast carriage rollers  322  mounted to the outer surfaces of the side walls of the carriage frame and the rollers are sized and arranged and distributed to freely roll against and interact with the inside walls of the mast channels  302  and  304  to facilitate and control the mast carriage frame movement up and down along the vertical line of the mast channels. Preferably, an upper mast carriage frame cross brace  324  above and a lower mast carriage frame cross brace  326  below are each connected between the two side walls to reinforce the carriage frame  316 .  
         [0057]     The mast carriage assembly  314  further comprises a right fork  328  attached preferably by welding to the mast carriage frame  316  with the right fork overlying and generally parallel to the right channel  12  and extending towards the rear of the transporter  6 , a pair of right fork hinge ears  330  attached to the outer end of the right fork  328  and each hinge ear having a right fork hinge ear aperture  332  coaxial to the hinge ear aperture in the other hinge ear, and a right fork pivot sleeve  334  having a right fork pivot sleeve bore  336  sized to be rotatably received and retained between the right fork hinge ears  330  and retained there by a right fork pivot pin  338  inserted into and through the right fork hinge ear apertures and the right fork pivot sleeve bore.  
         [0058]     The mast carriage assembly  314  further comprises a left fork  340  attached preferably by welding to the mast carriage frame  316  with the left fork overlying and generally parallel to the left channel  14  and extending towards the rear of the transporter  6 , a pair of left fork hinge ears  342  attached to the outer end of the left fork  340  and each hinge ear having a left fork hinge ear aperture  344  coaxial to the hinge ear aperture in the other hinge ear, and a left fork pivot sleeve  346  having a left fork pivot sleeve bore  348  sized to be rotatably received and retained between the left fork hinge ears  342  and retained there by a left fork pivot pin  350  inserted into and through the left fork hinge ear apertures and the left fork pivot sleeve bore.  
         [0059]     The mast carriage assembly  314  further comprises a table tilting actuator mounting frame  352  preferably X-shaped attached to and between the forks  328  and  340 , an actuator mounting frame actuator ear  354  attached to the actuator mounting frame  352  at a point on the mounting frame below and preferably equidistant from each fork and preferably closer to the carriage frame  316  than to the hinge ears  330  and  342  and preferably along the vertical plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the transporter  6 .  
         [0060]     The mast carriage assembly  314  further comprises a receiving table frame  358  hinged along its rearward edge and attached along that rearward edge to the two fork pivot sleeves  334  and  346 , a receiving table actuator ear  360  attached to the table frame  358  at a point of the table frame separated away from the hinged edge and above the level of the frame actuator ear  354  as shown in  FIG. 3 , a receiving table top surface skin  362  attached to the upper surface of the table frame  354  and preferably the table top surface skin having a plurality of spaced and parallel receiving table bale guiding ridges  364  extending above the table top surface skin and aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the transporter  6 .  
         [0061]     The mast carriage assembly  314  further comprises a table tilting actuator  356  is connected between the frame actuator ear  354  and the table actuator ear  360  by use of appropriate pins and clips with the tilting actuator aligned along the longitudinal axis of the transporter  6  and angled to extend at an upward angle from the horizontal plane of the transporter. Preferably, the table frame  358  can be raised from a horizontal bale receiving position to a flipping position beyond vertical (greater than 90 degrees) and returned to the bale receiving position by using the tilting actuator  356 .  
         [0062]     A mounting tube assembly  400  is adjustably and slidingly received and retained within the receiving tube assembly  200 . In the best embodiment, the mounting tube assembly  400  comprises a main nesting tube  402  at one end attached to a mounting tube connecting plate  404  and the connecting plate attached on that same side to a secondary nesting tube  410  spaced from and parallel to the main nesting tube. The free end of the main nesting tube  402  is adjustably and slidingly received and retained within the main receiving tube  202  and the free end of the secondary nesting tube  410  is adjustably and slidingly received and retained within the secondary receiving tube  216 . Preferably, the mounting tube assembly  400  further comprises a mounting tube connecting plate actuator ear  406  attached to the connecting plate  404  and the connecting plate has a plurality of connecting plate bolt holes  408 .  
         [0063]     In the best embodiment, the receiving tube assembly extension actuator  222  is connected between the extension actuator ear  220  and the mounting tube connecting plate actuator ear  406  by appropriate pins and clips to allow lateral adjustment of the mounting tube assembly  400  in and out of the receiving tube assembly  200 . As shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , in an alternative embodiment, the extension actuator  222  can be connected between the extension actuator ear  220  and a vertical swing gate tube actuator ear  406 ′ attached to the front surface of an alternative vertical swing gate tube  420 ′.  
         [0064]     Preferably, the mounting tube assembly  400  further comprises a vertical adjustment plate  412  is sized and shaped similarly to the connecting plate  404  and having a plurality of connecting plate cooperating bolt holes  414  and attached to the connecting plate by a plurality of connecting plate bolts  416  and a plurality of connecting plate nuts  418 , a vertical swing gate bracket tube  420  attached to the side of the vertical adjustment plate  412  away from the connecting plate  404 ; an upper swing gate bracket  422  having an upper swing gate bracket bore  424  attached to the side of the bracket tube away from the transporter  6  and a lower swing gate bracket  426  having a lower swing gate bracket bore  428  attached to the bracket tube spaced below and parallel to the upper swing gate bracket and a swing gate bracket tube actuator ear  430  attached to the back surface of the bracket tube  420 .  
         [0065]     A swing gate pivot pin  432  is sized to be received and retained in the bracket bores  424  and  428  and is threaded at its bottom end to receive a swing gate pivot pin retaining nut  434 .  
         [0066]     A swing gate assembly  500  is pivotally connected to the mounting tube assembly  400 . Preferably, a vertical bearing pipe  502  of the swing gate assembly  500  is pivotally connected and retained by the swing gate pivot pin  432  within and between the swing gate brackets  422  and  426  and preferably secured by the swing gate pivot pin retaining nut  434 .  
         [0067]     The swing gate assembly  500  comprises a vertical bearing pipe  502  having a vertical bearing pipe bore  504 , a horizontal gate member  506  attached preferably by welding to the lower portion of the vertical bearing pipe and preferably the horizontal gate member is perpendicular to the vertical bearing pipe, an outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member  508  attached to the outer end of the horizontal gate member and depending upwardly, a swing gate actuator ear  509  attached preferably to the back surface of the horizontal gate member and preferably near the outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member, a second outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member  510  attached to the horizontal gate member and depending upwardly and spaced from and parallel to the outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member, a third outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member  512  attached to the horizontal gate member and depending upwardly and spaced from and parallel to the second outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member, and a fourth outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member  514  having an upper portion  516  spaced from and parallel to the third outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member and a lower portion angled toward the vertical bearing pipe attached to the horizontal gate member near the vertical bearing pipe.  
         [0068]     A swing gate assembly actuator  436  is connected between the bracket tube actuator ear  430  and the swing gate actuator ear  509  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) by use of appropriate pins and clips. In an alternative embodiment, the swing gate assembly actuator  436  can be connected between an alternative bracket tube actuator ear  430 ′ and the swing gate actuator ear  509 .  
         [0069]     Preferably, the swing gate assembly  500  further comprises an upper horizontal brace  518  attached between the upper end of the vertical bearing pipe  502  and the fourth outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member  514 . Preferably, bronze bushings are used in the bearing pipe bore  504 .  
         [0070]     Preferably, the swing gate assembly  500  further comprises four coaxial shoulder pivot pin bores  520  with one shoulder pivot support bore in each pivot support member  508 ,  510 ,  512 , and  514  and preferably spaced and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the horizontal gate member  506  and four shoulder pivot pin collars  522  attached one to each vertical shoulder pivot support member coaxial with the adjacent shoulder pivot pin bore with one collar on the inboard side of the fourth outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member closest to the vertical bearing pipe  502 , with one collar on the outboard side of the outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member, with one collar on the side of the third outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member closest to the second outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member, and with one collar on the side of the second outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member closest to the third outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member.  
         [0071]     Preferably, the swing gate assembly  500  further comprises a shoulder pivot pin collar transverse bore  524  in each shoulder pivot pin collar  522  and two shoulder pivot pins  526  with each shoulder pivot pin preferably having a threaded shoulder pivot pin transverse bore  528  near each end of each shoulder pivot pin, and a shoulder pivot pin retention bolt  530  received and retained in each shoulder pivot pin transverse bore.  
         [0072]     The swing gate assembly  500  further comprises two extending lower portions  532  and  534  of the second and third outermost vertical shoulder pivot support members  510  and  512  preferably extending forward in the same vertical planes as their respective support member and perpendicularly through a vertical plane located along the right side of the horizontal gate member  506  when viewed from the vertical axis of the vertical bearing pipe  502  and viewing outward along the length of the horizontal gate member.  
         [0073]     The swing gate assembly  500  further comprises two coaxial ankle pivot pin bores  535  with one in each extending lower portion  532  and  534  and spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the horizontal gate member  506 ; two intersecting bores  536  with one respectively formed up vertically through each lower edge of the respective extending lower portions  532  and  534  and intersecting respective ankle pivot pin bores; and an ankle pivot pin  538  with the ankle pivot pin received and retained in the ankle pivot pint bores and with the ankle pivot pin having preferably two ankle pivot pin transverse bores  540  (preferably threaded) with one near each end of the ankle pivot pin  538  with each receiving and retaining a cooperating ankle pivot pin retention bolt  542  threaded through the respective intersecting bore  536 .  
         [0074]     Preferably, the swing gate assembly  500  further comprises a first connecting brace  544  attached between a portion of the third outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member  512  and a portion of the fourth outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member  514  with both the portions located away and below the shoulder pivot pin bore  520  in each respective support member.  
         [0075]     Preferably, the swing gate assembly  500  further comprises a second connecting brace  546  attached between a portion of the outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member  508  and a portion of the second outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member  510  with both the portions located away and below the shoulder pivot pin bore  520  in each respective support member.  
         [0076]     The pickup arm assembly  600  comprises a horizontal crossbeam tube  602 , two first lower ends  604  and  606  of two inverted, spaced, parallel, and identically L-shaped arm supports  608  and  610  with each first lower end attached to the horizontal crossbeam tube and spaced about the mid-length point of the horizontal crossbeam tube preferably to enable the extending portions  532  and  534  to be received there between, two upper ends of the arm supports attached each respectively to a separate shoulder pivot pin bearing pipe  616  and  618  with the shoulder pivot pin bearing pipes spaced from and coaxial to one another and preferably with each pin bearing pipe having within a shoulder pivot pin bronze bushing  620  with each said shoulder pivot pin bearing pipe and bushing sized to receive and rotatably retain within one shoulder pivot pin  526 .  
         [0077]     Preferably, the pickup arm assembly  600  further comprises an inwardly disposed angled pickup arm brace  622  attached between the horizontal crossbeam tube  602  near its inward end and the upper elbow portion of the inwardly disposed arm support  608  and preferably attached to the shoulder pivot pin bearing pipe  616 .  
         [0078]     Preferably, the pickup arm assembly  600  further comprises an outwardly disposed angled pickup arm brace  624  attached between the horizontal crossbeam tube  602  near its outward end and the upper elbow portion of the outwardly disposed arm support  610  and preferably attached to the shoulder pivot pin bearing pipe  618 .  
         [0079]     The pickup arm assembly  600  further comprises two coaxial elbow pivot pin bores  626  with one elbow pivot pin bore in and through each said arm support  608  and  610  and in and through the adjacent respective pickup arm braces  622  and  624 .  
         [0080]     Preferably, the pickup arm assembly  600  further comprises two elbow pin collars  628  attached one elbow pin collar to each pickup arm brace  622  and  624  respectively away from the respective arm supports  608  and  610  and with each elbow pin collar coaxial to the elbow pivot pin bores  626 . Preferably, each elbow pin collar  628  has an elbow pin collar transverse bore  630 .  
         [0081]     The pickup arm assembly  600  further comprises an elbow pivot pin  632 , with said elbow pivot pin received and retained in the elbow pivot pin bores  626 . Preferably the elbow pivot pin  632  has two elbow pivot pin transverse bores  634  (preferably threaded) with one near each end of the elbow pivot pin to receive and retain a cooperating elbow pivot pin retention bolt  636  and is retained in the elbow pivot pin bores  626  by the threading of the elbow retention bolts through the respective elbow pin collars  628  through the respective elbow pin collar transverse bore  630  and into the respective elbow pivot pin transverse bore.  
         [0082]     The pickup arm assembly  600  further comprises an inwardly disposed clamping arm  640  attached preferably by welding to the inward end of said horizontal crossbeam tube  602  and an outwardly disposed clamping arm  642  is pivotally connected to said horizontal cross beam tube by use of a clamping arm pivot pin  644 . A clamping actuator  646  is connected between the horizontal cross beam tube  602  and the outwardly disposed clamping arm  642  as best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7  by use of pins and clips as well known in the art.  
         [0083]     Preferably the two shoulder pivot pin bearing pipes  616  and  618  are received into cooperating and rotatable relationships with the swing gate assembly  400  with one shoulder pivot pin bearing pipe  616  rotatably mounted between the fourth outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member  514  and the third outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member  512  and retained there by one of the shoulder pivot pins  526  inserted into the shoulder pivot pin bores  520  of the fourth outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member and the third outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member and into the shoulder pivot pin bearing pipe  616  and with the other shoulder pivot pin bearing pipe  618  rotatably mounted between the outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member  508  and the second outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member  510  and retained there by one of the shoulder pivot pins  526  inserted into the shoulder pivot pin bores  520  of the outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member and the second outermost vertical shoulder pivot support member and into the shoulder pivot pin bearing pipe  618  and preferably with each shoulder pivot pin retained by use of shoulder pivot pin retention bolts  530  received and retained in each shoulder pivot pin transverse bore  528 .  
         [0084]     A pickup arm assembly  600  is pivotally connected to the swing gate assembly  500 . Preferably, the pickup arm assembly  600  is pivotally connected to the swing gate assembly  500  by two shoulder pivot pins  526 , the ankle pivot pin  538 , and the elbow pivot pin  632 . A pick up arm lifting actuator  550  having an upper connector and a lower connector is connected between the ankle pivot pin  538  and the elbow pivot pin  632  of the pickup arm assembly  600  by threading the elbow pivot pin through the upper connector before the elbow pivot pin is received and retained in the elbow pivot pin bores and by threading the ankle pivot pin through the lower connector before the ankle pivot pin is received and retained in the ankle pivot pin bores.  
         [0085]     A stack carriage bed assembly  700  is pivotally connected to the stack carriage bed mounting  44  by two bed pivot pins  754  inserted in the main pivot pin holes  52  and  62 . See  FIGS. 1, 8 , and  12 . The stack carriage bed assembly  700  comprises a stack carriage bed frame  702  comprising a left main longitudinal frame member  704  spaced from and generally parallel to a right main longitudinal frame member  706  with the main longitudinal members preferably overlaying the right and left frame channels  12  and  14 , a plurality of central cross members  730  attached between the left and right main longitudinal frame members and distributed from the front to the rear of the bed frame, a left outboard longitudinal frame member  708  spaced from and generally parallel to the left main longitudinal frame member, a plurality of left outboard cross members  732  attached between the left main longitudinal frame member  704  and the left outboard longitudinal frame member  708  and distributed from the front to the rear of the bed frame  702 , a right outboard longitudinal frame member  710  spaced from and generally parallel to the right main longitudinal frame member, a plurality of right outboard cross members  734  attached between the right main longitudinal frame member  706  and the right outboard longitudinal frame member  710  and distributed from the front to the rear of the bed frame  702 , a left front outboard cross member  712  attached at one end to the front end of the left outboard longitudinal frame member and at the other end to a left pullback notch member  720 , the left pullback notch member is attached to a central front outboard cross member  714  that preferably crosses the longitudinal centerline of the bed frame, the central front outboard cross member is preferably attached across the front ends of the left main longitudinal frame member and the right main longitudinal frame member and attached to a right pullback notch member  722 , the right pullback notch member is attached to a right front outboard cross member  716 , the right front outboard cross member is attached to the front end of the right outboard longitudinal frame member, and a rear outboard cross member  724  is preferably attached to the rearward ends of the longitudinal frame members  704 ,  706 ,  708 , and  710 .  
         [0086]     Preferably, the bed frame  702  further comprises a boost bed action pad cross member  726  attached between the left and right main longitudinal frame members  704  and  706  and preferably located about one third of the way back from the front boundary to the rear boundary of the bed frame and a boost bed action pad  728  attached to the pad cross member and aligned to interact in a jacking relationship with the boost bed actuator lift pad  122 .  
         [0087]     The bed frame  702  further comprises a bed actuator mounting  736  preferably having two bed actuator mounting ears  738  attached to the underside of the bed assembly  700  and attached between the left and right main longitudinal frame members  704  and  706  and preferably located about one quarter of the way forward from the back boundary to the front boundary of the bed frame.  
         [0088]     Preferably, the bed frame  702  further comprises a left diagonal brace  740  attached between the left main longitudinal frame member  704  and the left outboard longitudinal frame member  708  and located towards the rear of the bed frame and a right diagonal brace  742  attached between the right main longitudinal frame member  706  and the right outboard longitudinal frame member  710  and located towards the rear of the bed frame.  
         [0089]     The bed frame  702  further comprises a left outer bed pivot mount  744  having a bed pivot pin bore  752  attached to the outboard side of left main longitudinal frame member  704 ; a left inner bed pivot mount  746  having a bed pivot pin bore  752  is attached to inboard side of left main longitudinal frame member  704 ; a right inner bed pivot mount  748  having a bed pivot pin bore  752  is attached to inboard side of right main longitudinal frame member  706 ; and a right outer bed pivot mount  750  having a bed pivot pin bore  752  is attached to outboard side of right main longitudinal frame member  706 . Preferably, each bed pivot mount  744 ,  746 ,  748 , and  750  is located about one eighth of the way forward from the back boundary to the front boundary of the bed frame.  
         [0090]     Preferably, the four bed pivot pin bores  752  are coaxial and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bed frame  702  and in a plane spaced from and parallel to the plane of the surface on which the transporter  6  rests and the bed pivot pin bores are sized to receive and rotatably retain a bed pivot pin  754  in the left pivot mounts  744  and  746  and a bed pivot pin in the right pivot mounts  748  and  750 .  
         [0091]     Referring to  FIGS. 8, 9 , and  10 , the bed frame  702  further comprises a pullback notch  718  defined in the front perimeter of the stack carriage bed assembly  700  by the left pullback notch member  720 , the central front outboard cross member  714 , and the right pullback notch member  722 , a bale pullback open channel track  756  attached to the central front outboard cross member  714  near the mid length of the central front outboard cross member and also preferably attached to another portion of the bed frame  702  located about one third of the way rearward from the front edge of the central front outboard cross member and with the open channel track generally aligned along the longitudinal centerline of the bed frame and with the channel track generally open through the top surfaces of the bed frame a bale pullback blade  758  having generally an el shape attached preferably near its mid length to a bale pullback block  760  sized to be received and to slide fore and aft within and along the length of the open channel track  756 , said block  760  having a rearward block mounting ear  762  pivotally connected to a bale pullback link  764  and the link pivotally connected between the block mounting ear and a bale pullback actuator  766 . The bale pullback actuator  766  is pivotally connected between the bale pullback link  764  and a bale pullback actuator mounting ear  768  that is attached to the bed frame  702  (preferably to an appropriate central cross member  730  about one third of the way towards the rear of the bed frame as shown in  FIG. 8 ) and the pullback actuator is aligned with the pullback open channel track  756  so that the actuator ram extends and retracts within and along the length of the track.  
         [0092]     As best seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the bale pullback block  760  and the bale pullback blade  758  move forward and rotate downward below the level of bed frame  702  when the pullback actuator  766  extends the blade and block forward and beyond the central front outboard cross member  714  and the block and blade rotate upward and the pullback blade extends upward above the level of the bed frame when the actuator retracts and pulls the block and blade back behind the front outboard cross member and then along the open channel track  756 .  
         [0093]     Preferably, the track  756  depends downward forward of the front edge of the central front outboard cross member  714  to cradle the block  760  and the blade  758  when the block and blade are forward of the front edge and downward which occurs when the linkage between the block mounting ear  762  and the bale pullback link  764  extends over and beyond the front edge of the cross member and away from the bed frame.  
         [0094]     Preferably, the stack carriage bed assembly  700  further comprises a left front load squeezer  770  pivotally mounted to the left outboard longitudinal frame member  708  by a left front load squeezer pivot pin  772  and located about one eighth of the way rearward from the front boundary to the rear boundary of the bed frame  702  and preferably extending upward above the bed frame. Preferably, the left front load squeezer  770  rotates in towards and out away from the longitudinal axis of the bed assembly  700  by a left front load squeezer actuator  778  connected between the left front load squeezer and a left front load squeezer actuator mounting ear  776  that is attached to the bed frame  702  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 12 . Preferably, the left front load squeezer  770  further comprises a left front load squeezer spike  774  attached to an upper portion of the load squeezer with the spike facing inwardly as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  8 .  
         [0095]     Preferably, the stack carriage bed assembly  700  further comprises a right front load squeezer  780  pivotally mounted to the right outboard longitudinal frame member  710  by a right front load squeezer pivot pin  782  and located about one eighth of the way rearward from the front boundary to the rear boundary of the bed frame  702  and preferably extending upward above the bed frame. Preferably, the right front load squeezer  780  rotates in towards and out away from the longitudinal axis of the bed assembly  700  by a right front load squeezer actuator  788  connected between the right front load squeezer and a right front load squeezer actuator mounting ear  786  that is attached to the bed frame  702  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 12 . Preferably, the right front load squeezer  780  further comprises a right front load squeezer spike  784  attached to an upper portion of the load squeezer with the spike facing inwardly as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  8 .  
         [0096]     Preferably, the stack carriage bed assembly  700  further comprises two guy cable anchor receiving tubes  790  with one anchor receiving tube mounted on the left outboard longitudinal frame member  708  and with one anchor receiving tube mounted on the right outboard longitudinal frame member  710  and preferably each anchor receiving tube respectively located about one third of the way rearward from the front boundary to the rear boundary of the bed frame  702  as shown in  FIG. 8  and with each anchor receiving tube having an anchor receiving tube transverse adjusting bore  792  and adjustably and slidingly receiving and retaining within the anchor receiving tube a guy cable anchor bar  794 . Preferably, each guy cable anchor bar  794  has a guy cable anchor attachment bore  796  and a plurality of transverse adjusting bores  798  spaced and parallel to one another in said cable anchor bar for use and cooperation with the anchor receiving tube transverse adjusting bore and an anchor adjustment pin  800  to adjust the distance that each anchor bar extends outward beyond the respective outboard longitudinal member  708  and  710 , an anchor safety clip  802  to secure the adjustment pin, and a guy cable  804  attached to the anchor bar through the respective attachment bore.  
         [0097]     An alternative nonadjustable guy cable anchor bar  794 ′ with an alternative guy cable anchor attachment bore  796 ′ could be used as shown in  FIGS. 12, 17 ,  18 , and  19  with one alternative nonadjustablle anchor bar attached to each outboard longitudinal frame member  708  and  710  in place of the cable anchor receiving tubes  790  of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0098]     Preferably, the stack carriage bed assembly  700  further comprises a left rear grapple bar  806  extending upward above the bed frame and pivotally mounted to the left outboard longitudinal frame member  708  by a left rear grapple bar pivot pin  812  and with the left rear grapple bar located near the rear boundary of the bed frame  702  and preferably with the left rear grapple bar having a plurality of left grapple hooks  808  distributed along the vertical length of the grapple bar with the grapple hooks curving inward towards a line perpendicular both to the center line and to the horizontal plane of the bed frame  702  and at or near the rear boundary of the bed frame. Preferably, the left rear grapple bar  806  rotates in towards and out away from the longitudinal axis of the bed assembly  700  by a left rear grapple bar actuator  816  connected between the left rear grapple bar and a left rear grapple bar actuator mounting ear  814  that is attached to the rear outboard cross member  724  of the bed frame  702  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Preferably, the left rear grapple bar  806  further comprises a left rear grapple bar cable anchor  810  attached between an upper portion of the left rear grapple bar and the guy cable  804  that is connected to the cable anchor bar  794  that is connected to the left outboard longitudinal member  708 .  
         [0099]     Preferably, the stack carriage bed assembly  700  further comprises a right rear grapple bar  818  extending upward above the bed frame and pivotally mounted to the right outboard longitudinal frame member  710  by a right rear grapple bar pivot pin  824  and with the right rear grapple bar located near the rear boundary of the bed frame  702  and preferably with the right rear grapple bar having a plurality of right grapple hooks  820  distributed along the vertical length of the grapple bar with the grapple hooks curving inward towards a line perpendicular both to the center line and to the horizontal plane of the bed frame  702  and at or near the rear boundary of the bed frame. Preferably, the right rear grapple bar  818  rotates in towards and out away from the longitudinal axis of the bed assembly  700  by a right rear grapple bar actuator  828  connected between the right rear grapple bar and a right rear grapple bar actuator mounting ear  826  that is attached to the rear outboard cross member  724  of the bed frame  702  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Preferably, the right rear grapple bar  818  further comprises a right rear grapple bar cable anchor  822  attached between an upper portion of the right rear grapple bar and the guy cable  804  that is connected to the cable anchor bar  794  that is connected to the right outboard longitudinal member  710 .  
         [0100]     Preferably, the stack carriage bed assembly  700  further comprises a stack carriage bed top surface skin  830  attached to the upper portions of the bed frame  702  and preferably with said bed top surface skin having a plurality of spaced and parallel stack carriage bed bale guiding ridges  832  extending above the bed top surface skin and distributed across the bed top surface skin and aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed frame.  
         [0101]      FIGS. 18, 19 , and  20  show an alternative mounting tube assembly received into the receiving tubes  202  and  216  of the receiving tube assembly  200  that does not incorporate the vertical adjustment feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0102]     The alternative mounting tube assembly comprises a main nesting tube  402  attached at one end to an alternative vertical swing gate bracket tube  420 ′ and the alternative vertical swing gate bracket tube is attached on that same side to a secondary nesting tube  410  that is spaced from and parallel to the main nesting tube. The free end of the main nesting tube  402  is adjustably and slidingly received and retained in the main receiving tube  202  and the free end of the secondary nesting tube  410  is adjustably and slidingly received and retained in the secondary receiving tube  216 . Preferably, an alternative actuator ear  406 ′ is attached to the alternative vertical swing gate bracket tube  420 ′. In this alternative embodiment, the alternative actuator ear  406 ′ is connected to the receiving tube assembly extension actuator  222  in the place of the mounting tube connecting plate actuator ear  406  used in the preferred embodiment. As seen in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the receiving tube assembly extension actuator  222  is connected between the extension actuator ear  220  and the alternative actuator ear  406 ′ to allow lateral adjustment of the alternative mounting tube assembly in and out of the receiving tube assembly  200 .  
         [0103]     In the alternative embodiment of the mounting tube assembly, an upper swing gate bracket  422  having a upper swing gate bracket bore  424  is preferably attached to the side of the alternative vertical swing gate bracket tube  420 ′ away from the transporter  6  and a lower swing gate bracket  426  having a lower swing gate bracket bore  428  is attached to the alternative vertical swing gate bracket tube spaced below and parallel to the upper swing gate bracket. An alternative swing gate bracket tube actuator ear  430 ′ is attached preferably to the back surface of the bracket tube  420 ′.  
         [0104]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the alternative mounting tube assembly and shows a wheel extension assembly  900  mounted to the receiving tube assembly  200 . The wheel extension assembly  900  comprises a main receiving tube wheel assembly actuator ear  902  attached to the backward surface of the main receiving tube  202  at a point about halfway outward from the left mounting plate  208  along the main receiving tube towards the free end of the main receiving tube, a secondary receiving tube wheel assembly pivot mounting  904  having a central strut receiving gap  906  attached to the backward surface of the secondary receiving tube  216  and aligned generally vertically below the wheel assembly actuator ear, and said wheel assembly pivot mounting having two coaxial pivot mounting bores spaced about the strut receiving gap, a main wheel assembly strut  908  having a strut transverse bore at one end for rotatable mounting in the strut receiving gap  906  by a strut pivot pin  910  inserted into the pivot mounting bores and having a stub axle socket  912  at the other end, said stub axle socket receiving and retaining a stub axle strut  914 , a main wheel assembly strut actuator ear  916  attached to the upper surface of said wheel assembly strut near the stub axle socket and away from the strut transverse bore, a wheel  918  rotatably attached to the stub axle strut, and a wheel assembly actuator  920  connected between the wheel assembly actuator ear and the strut actuator ear by use of pins and clips as well known in the art.  
         [0105]     The wheel assembly actuator  920  can be selectively extended to first lower the wheel  918  into contact with the ground beneath the transporter  6  and then force can be applied against the ground through the wheel to counteract the downward force imposed on the transporter when the pickup arm assembly  600  lifts a big bale from the ground.  
         [0106]     In the preferred embodiment, the transporter  6  can be adjusted to accommodate variations in the dimensions of the big bales to be handled: the swing gate assembly  500  and the pickup arm assembly  600  can be raised or lowered by changing the vertical position of the vertical adjustment plate  412  relative to the mounting tube connecting plate  404  to accommodate variations in the vertical dimension of big bales; the mounting tube assembly  400  can be laterally adjusted by using the receiving tube assembly extension actuator  222  to selectively adjust the placement position of a bale deposited onto the elevating and flipping table assembly  300  and relative to the longitudinal axis of the stack carriage bed assembly  700  to accommodate variations in the length of big bales; and the cable anchor bars  794  can be adjusted inwardly or outwardly in the cable anchor receiving tubes  790  to accommodate variations in the length of big bales.  
         [0107]     From the preceding, it should be apparent that the present invention provides a useful new big bale, retriever, and transporter and methods that allow for convenient, easy modification of a vehicle or truck to permit the lifting, rotating, and depositing of a bale from the ground in the field onto and across a receiving table of the transporter, the consolidating of multiple bales into a consolidated stack on a stack carriage bed of the transporter, the transporting of the consolidated stack to a chosen location, and the depositing of the consolidated stack at the location and to permit the retrieving of a consolidated stack of bales by the transporter and the transporting of the retrieved consolidated stack to another location.  
         [0108]     Preferably, moving parts of the invention are adequately lubricated by use of devices well known in the art including the use of zerk fittings.  
         [0109]     The preceding description and exposition of a preferred embodiment of the invention is presented for purposes of illustration and enabling disclosure. It is neither intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications or variations in the invention in light of the above teachings that are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are considered within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted to the breath to which they are fairly, legitimately and equitably entitled.