Patent Publication Number: US-10757862-B2

Title: Bale depositor

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to farm machinery. 
     More particularly, the present invention relates to group balers for baling groups of bales of compressed crop material. 
     In a further and more specific aspect, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for accumulating and packing bales into a group baler. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A baler is a piece of farm equipment used to compress cut cropped material, such as hay, straw, cotton, etc., into compact bales for handling, transport, and storage. A variety of balers are commonly available for producing cylindrical or rectangular bales of various sizes bound with twine, strapping, netting, or wire. 
     Round balers are commonly used in industrialized countries. In the operation of a round baler, crop material is rolled up inside the baler into a roll of predetermined size, which is bound by twin or netting and then deposited from the rear of the baler onto the ground for further handling. Round bales require specific treatment for transport and handling because of their ability to roll. In the operation of a rectangular baler, crop material is gathered up inside the baler into a rectangle of predetermined size, which is bound by twine or netting and then deposited from the rear of the baler onto the ground for further handling. 
     Rectangular bales are easier to handle and transport compared to round bales because they inherently resist rolling and can be easily stacked for transport and storage, and group baled by a group baler. In the use of a group baler, which is often referred to as a bundler or a grouper, bales are packed into the group baler in a predetermined pattern. After a predetermined number of bales are packed into the group baler, the bales are bound together, such as by twine, netting, wire, plastic strapping, or steel strapping, into a group bale, which is then deposited onto the field. Although group balers are useful for creating groups of bound bales that are safe to transport and easy to store, loading a group baler is difficult and cumbersome, often requiring specialized equipment and manpower at substantial cost to the farmer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the principle of the invention, a bale accumulator for grouping bales for group baling includes a platform, a depositor mounted adjacent to the platform for sequentially depositing bale sets onto the platform, each bale set when deposited onto the platform includes a pair of bales positioned upright and side-by-side in a packing orientation so that their corresponding long sides are axially juxtaposed, and a packer apparatus mounted adjacent to the platform for packing one bale set at a time from the platform into a group baler trailing the platform each time a bale set is deposited onto the platform from the depositor without changing the packing orientation of the bales of each bale set. The packer apparatus includes a ram for ramming a bale set along a linear drive path from the platform into the group baler each time the ram actuates, and a sensor apparatus operatively coupled to the ram and to the platform, wherein the ram actuates each time the sensor apparatus senses a bale set deposited onto the platform. The ram includes a drive assembly drivenly coupled to a frame. The frame is driven by the drive assembly from a starting position to a ramming position, for engaging and ramming a bale set from the platform into the group baler along the linear drive path, and back to the starting position from the ramming position, each time the drive assembly actuates. The drive assembly is a cylinder assembly including a cylinder and an operating rod. The frame is mounted on the operating rod, the operating rod is mounted partially within the cylinder for movement in reciprocal directions, and the frame moves in reciprocal directions between the starting and ramming positions upon actuation of the operating rod in reciprocal directions. The depositor is upright relative to the platform for sequentially gravity depositing bale sets onto the platform. 
     According to the principle of the invention, a bale accumulator for grouping bales for group baling includes a platform, a frame mounted adjacent to the platform, and a packer apparatus mounted adjacent to the platform. The frame includes a pair of bale-receiving areas for alternately depositing bales onto the platform into bale sets, each bale set when deposited onto the platform includes a pair of bales positioned upright and side-by-side in a packing orientation so that their corresponding long sides are juxtaposed, and a gate, the gate is movable between alternate positions for alternately directing bales into the bale-receiving areas, and the gate moves alternately from one to the other of the alternate positions each time a bale passes the gate. The packer apparatus is for packing one bale set at a time from the platform into a group baler trailing the platform each time a bale set is deposited onto the platform from the bale-receiving areas of the frame without changing the packing orientation of the bales of each bale set. The packer apparatus includes a ram for ramming a bale set along a linear drive path from the platform into the group baler each time the ram actuates, and a sensor apparatus operatively coupled to the ram and to the platform, wherein the ram actuates each time the sensor apparatus senses a bale set deposited onto the platform. The ram includes a drive assembly drivenly coupled to a frame. The frame is driven by the drive assembly from a starting position to a ramming position, for engaging and ramming a bale set from the platform into the group baler along the linear drive path, and back to the starting position from the ramming position, each time the drive assembly actuates. The drive assembly is a cylinder assembly including a cylinder and an operating rod. The frame is mounted on the operating rod, the operating rod is mounted partially within the cylinder for movement in reciprocal directions, and the frame moves in reciprocal directions between the starting and ramming positions upon actuation of the operating rod in reciprocal directions. The bale-receiving areas of the frame are upright relative to the platform for gravity depositing bale sets onto the platform. 
     According to the principle of the invention, a bale-accumulation method includes providing a platform, associated with a ram, and a group baler trailing the platform, sequentially depositing bale sets onto the platform between the ram and the group baler, each one of the bale sets when deposited onto the platform includes a pair of bales positioned upright and side-by-side in a packing orientation so that their corresponding long sides are juxtaposed, and actuating the ram packing one bale set at a time from the platform into the group baler each time a bale set is deposited onto the platform without changing the packing orientation of the bales of each bale set. The step of sequentially depositing bale sets onto the platform between the ram and the group baler further includes providing a frame including bale-receiving areas for alternately depositing bales onto the platform between the ram and the group baler when bales are applied alternately to the bale-receiving areas, and applying bales alternately to the bale-receiving areas. The step of applying bales alternately to the bale-receiving areas further includes gravity feeding bales alternately to the bale-receiving areas. The step of actuating the ram packing one bale set at a time from the platform into the group baler each time a bale set is deposited onto the platform without changing the packing orientation of the bales of each bale set further includes providing a sensor apparatus operatively coupled to the ram and to the platform via a control unit, and the control unit automatically actuating the ram each time the sensor apparatus senses a bale set deposited onto the platform. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring to the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a baler, towed behind a tractor, shown partially, for gathering and compressing cut cropped material from a field into compact bales, an accumulator, towed behind the baler, for receiving the bales from the baler, grouping the bales into bale sets ahead of a group baler towed behind the accumulator, and packing the bale sets, one bale set at a time as each one is formed, into the group baler for group baling a predetermined number of bale sets  25  into a compact group bale that is deposited from the rear of the group baler onto the field; 
         FIGS. 2-8  illustrate a sequence of steps of accumulating bales into a bale set via the accumulator of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIGS. 9-12  illustrate a sequence of steps of packing bale sets into a group baler via the accumulator of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to  FIG. 1 , in which there is seen a side elevation view of a baler  20 , towed behind a tractor  21 , shown partially, for gathering and compressing cut cropped material from field  22  into compact bales  23 , an accumulator  24 , towed behind baler  20 , for receiving bales  23  from baler  20 , grouping or otherwise accumulating bales  23  into bale sets  25 , one bale set  25  at a time, ahead of a group baler  26  towed behind accumulator  24 , and packing bale sets  25 , one bale set  25  at a time as each one is formed, into group baler  26  for group baling a predetermined number of bale sets  25  into a compact group bale  28  that is deposited from the rear of group baler  26  onto field  22  for further handling. Baler  20 , tractor  21 , and group baler  26  are conventional and well known to the skilled farmer. Skilled farmers routinely refer to group baler  26  as bundlers or groupers. 
     Baler  20  is hitched to and trails tractor  21 , accumulator  24  is hitched to and trails baler  20 , and group baler  26  is hitched to and trails accumulator  24 . Baler  20 , accumulator  24 , and group baler  26  are wheeled machines, which enables them to roll in series across the field when advanced by tractor  21 . In use, the entire machine implement assembly of baler  20 , accumulator  24 , and group baler  26  is towed by tractor  21  forwardly in the direction of arrowed line A across field  22  for gathering and baling the cut cropped material from field into bales  23  via baler  20 , grouping/accumulating bales  23  into bale sets  25  via accumulator  24  and packing group baler  26  with bale sets  25  one-by-one via accumulator  24  as each bale set  25  is formed, and, after filling group baler  26  with its inherent, selected, or predetermined capacity of bale sets  25 , group baling baler bales sets  25  into group bale  28  via group baler  26  and depositing group bale  28  via group baler  26  from the rear of group baler  26  onto field  22  for further handling. Each bale set  25  includes a pair of upright bales  23  positioned side-by side, and group bale  28  includes seven bale sets packed together in a row, namely in-line from front to back. The bales  23  of each bale set  25  are not baled together individually. Rather, bale sets  25  are packed un-baled into group baler  26 , which then group bales bale sets  25  together into group bale  28  and deposits group bale  28  onto field  22 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 2 , accumulator  24  includes elongate platform  40 , conveyor  50 , depositor  51 , and packer apparatus  52 . Platform  40 , a heavy-duty decked frame, is mounted atop a wheeled chassis  41  for enabling wheeled movement of accumulator  24  across field  22 . Conveyor  50 , depositor  51 , and packer apparatus  52  are carried or otherwise supported by platform  40 . 
     Platform  40  includes leading end  44  hitched to the rear of baler  20  via hitch  45 , and trailing end  46  hitched to the front of group baler  26  via hitch  47 . Conveyor  50  and depositor  51  are mounted atop platform  40  between leading end  44  and trailing end  46 . Conveyor  50  is between baler  20  and depositor  51 , and depositor  51  is between conveyor  50  and group baler  26 . Conveyor  50  is for picking up bales one-by-one from baler  20  and conveying them one-by-one to depositor  51  and applying them one-by-one into depositor  51 , depositor  51  is for accepting bales  23  from conveyor  50  one-by-one and sequentially depositing bales  23  one-by-one onto platform  40  in bale sets  25  ahead of group baler  26 , each bale set  25  when deposited onto platform  54  from depositor  51  being a pair of bales  23  positioned upright and side-by-side in a packing orientation without being baled together so that their corresponding long sides are axially juxtaposed, and packer apparatus  52  is for packing each bale set  25 , one at a time as each bale set  25  is formed, from platform  40  into group baler  26  trailing platform  40  each time a bale set  25  is deposited onto platform  40  from depositor  50  without changing the packing orientation of the bales  23  of each bale set  25 . Packing bale sets  25  into group baler  26  from accumulator  24  without changing the packing orientation of the bales  23  after depositing them onto platform  40  is cost-efficient and expeditious, eliminating the need for complex and costly auxiliary bale-reorienting equipment. 
     Conveyor  50  is for conveying bales  23 , one-by-one, from baler  20  to depositor  51 . Conveyor  50  is a well-known and conventional motor-driven belt conveyor having an inlet end  60  and an opposed outlet end  61 . Inlet end  60  is mounted, such as with mechanical fasteners, welding, or the like, atop platform  40  adjacent to leading end  44  to the rear of baler  20 , and inclines upwardly and forwardly in the direction of arrowed line B at an inclined angle of from 40-50 degrees toward depositor  51  from inlet end  60  to outlet end  61 . An upright support  64  connected to platform  40  and to conveyor  50  between its inlet and outlet ends  60  and  61  supports conveyor  50  in its inclined orientation. Conveyor  50  rotates a belt  65  when conveyor  50  is actuated. Belt  65  is a part of conveyor  50 . Bales  23  formed one-by-one by baler  20  exit the rear of baler  20  one-by-one, and are applied one-by-one onto rotating belt  65  at inlet end  60 , and rotating belt  65 , in turn, conveys bales  23 , one behind the other, upwardly and forwardly in the direction of arrowed line B from inlet end  60  of conveyer  50  to elevated outlet end  61  of conveyor  50 , where they are deposited, one after the other, into depositor  51  for accumulation into bale sets  25  on platform  40 . Depositor  51  gravity feeds bales  23  one-by-one from elevated outlet end  61  of conveyor  50  into bale sets  25  on platform  40 . 
     Bales  23  are rectangular. Accordingly, baler  20  is a conventional type that produces rectangular bales of a preselected size. In this example, bales  23  formed one-by-one by baler  20  exit the rear of baler  20  one-by-one end first and resting on one of their long sides in what is a resting orientation, and are applied one-by-one in this resting orientation, namely, end  25 A first resting on the one of its long sides  23 B, onto rotating belt  65  at inlet end  60 . Rotating belt  65  takes up and conveys bales  23 , one behind the other, upwardly and forwardly in the direction of arrowed line B from inlet end  60  of conveyer  50  to elevated outlet end  61  of conveyor  50 , where they are dropped end  23 A first, one after the other, into depositor  51 . Each bale  23  drops and slides through depositor in the resting orientation, which is end  23 A first sliding downwardly on depositor  51  on the one of its long sides  23 B. Depositor  51  accumulates bales  23  one-by-one and gravity deposits bale sets  25  onto platform  40 . Bales  23  can be small rectangular bales, bales that are light enough for one person to handle, about 45 to 60 pounds, or comparatively larger bales depending on the type of baler employed. 
     Depositor  51  includes a frame  70  having an elevated inlet end  71  proximate to outlet end  61  of conveyor  50  and an opposed outlet end  72  lowered toward platform  40  ahead of the entrance to group baler  26 . Inlet end  71  is mounted to outlet end  61  of conveyor  50 , such as with mechanical fasteners, welding, or the like, and inclines downwardly in the direction of arrowed line C at an inclined angle of from 50-60 degrees toward group baler  26  from inlet end  71  to outlet end  72 . An upright support  74  connected to platform  40  and to frame  70  between its inlet and outlet ends  71  and  72  supports frame  70  in its inclined orientation. Elevated inlet end  71  accepts bales  23  one-by-one from outlet end  61  of conveyor  50 . Bales  23  drop one-by-one downwardly through depositor  51  via gravity from inlet end  71  to outlet end  72  and are deposited one-by-one onto platform  40  from outlet end  72  into bale sets  25 , which are formed by depositor  51  sequentially. Depositor  51  accumulates bales  23  sequentially into bale sets  25  for depositing into group baler  26 . In other words, depositor  51  gravity feeds/delivers bales  23  onto platform  40  sequentially into bale sets  25 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-8 , frame  70  is an open chute consisting of opposite sidewalls  80  and  81  joined to either side of a flat base or floor  82 , which together define inlet and outlet ends  71  and  72  and which concurrently extend from inlet end  71  to outlet end  72 . Frame  70  is narrow at inlet end  71 , and widens downwardly therefrom to a widened area to outlet end  72  so as to define a pair of opposite, side-by-side bale-receiving areas  83 A and  83 B on either side of a central divider  84  of frame  70  at the widened area defined by frame  70 . Divider  84  extends outwardly from floor  92  between sidewalls  80  and  81 , and extends upwardly from a lower end  85  at outlet end  72  of frame  70  to an upper end  86  at the middle of the widened area defined by frame  70  between inlet end  71  and outlet end  72 . A bale director or gate  90  is positioned centrally in the frame  70  widened area and is mounted rotationally via hinge  100  to upper end  86  of divider  94 . Gate  90  includes a pair of diverting arms  91  and  92  and a trigger arm  93  that radiate outwardly from hinge  100 . Arms  91 ,  92 , and  93  are angularly offset. Hinge  100  enables gate  90  to rotate between an initial position in  FIG. 2  and an alternate position in  FIG. 5 . Hinge  100  is a conventional and well-known stop hinge, which disables gate from rotating beyond its initial position in  FIG. 2  for diverting bales into bale-receiving area  83 B and at the same time obstructing bales from passing into bale-receiving area  83 A from inlet end  71 , and its alternate position in  FIG. 5  for diverting bales into bale-receiving area  83 A and at the same time obstructing bales from passing into bale-receiving area  83 B from inlet end  71 . 
     Diverting arm  91  is angled downwardly from hinge  100  into bale-receiving area  83 A, diverting arm  92  is angled upwardly from hinge  100  toward sidewall  80  toward one side of inlet end  71  closing entrance  95  into bale-receiving area  83 A from inlet end  71  while at the same time opening entrance  96  into bale-receiving area  83 B from inlet end  71 , and trigger arm  93  is angled downwardly from hinge  100  into bale-receiving area  83 B in the path of bales through bale-receiving area  83 B, when gate  90  is in its initial position in  FIG. 2 . In operation from this initial position of gate  90 , a bale  23 ′ is dropped end first into inlet end  71  of frame  70  from outlet end  61  of conveyor  50  of  FIG. 1 . Bale  23 ′ falls slidingly by gravity end  23 A first through inlet end  71  and strikes diverting arm  92  closing entrance  95  to bale-receiving area  83 A, which diverts the bale  23 ′ end  23 A first into bale-receiving area  83 B through entrance  96  thereto. The end  23 A of bale  23 ′ strikes trigger arm  93  in the path of bale  23 ′ through bale-receiving area  83 B when bale  23 ′ falls slidingly by gravity through bale-receiving area  83 B, which rotates gate  90  in the direction of arcuate arrowed line D in  FIG. 2  in response from its initial position in  FIG. 2  toward its alternate position in  FIG. 5 . As bale  23 ′ drops slidingly downward through bale-receiving area  83 B in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and gate  90  rotates from its initial position in the direction of arrowed line D in response toward its alternate position in  FIG. 5 , trigger arm  93  rotates out of the way of the path of bale  23 ′ through bale-receiving area  83 B from bale-receiving area  83 B into bale-receiving area  83 A through an opening  102  between divider  84 , hinge  100 , and floor  82  so as to extend downwardly from hinge  100  into bale-receiving area  83 A in the path of bales through bale-receiving area  83 A enabling bale  23 ′ to drop end  23 A down through outlet end  72  from bale-receiving area  83 B upright onto a landing area  110  of platform  40  in  FIG. 5  under outlet end  72 . At the same time, diverting arm  92  rotates downwardly into bale-receiving area  83 B and diverting arm  91  rotates upwardly toward sidewall  81  to the opposite side of inlet end  71  obstructing the path of bales into bale-receiving area  83 B through entrance  96  thereto from inlet end  71 . Hinge  100  arrests gate  100  from rotating beyond its alternate position in  FIG. 5 . 
     Diverting arm  92  is angled downwardly from hinge  100  into bale-receiving area  83 B, diverting arm  91  is angled upwardly from hinge  100  to the opposite side of inlet end  71  toward sidewall  81  closing entrance  96  into bale-receiving area  83 B from inlet end  71  while at the same time opening entrance  95  into bale-receiving area  83 A from inlet end  71 , and trigger arm  93  is angled downwardly from hinge  100  into bale-receiving area  83 A in the path of bales through bale-receiving area  83 A, when gate  90  is in its alternate position in  FIG. 5 . In operation from this alternate position of gate  90 , the next bale  23 ″ is dropped end  23 A first into inlet end  71  of frame  70  from outlet end  61  of conveyor  50  of  FIG. 1 . Bale  23 ″ falls slidingly by gravity end  23 A first through inlet end  71  and strikes diverting arm  91  closing entrance  96  to bale-receiving area  83 B in  FIG. 5  which diverts the bale  23 ″ end first into bale-receiving area  83 A through entrance  95  thereto. The end  23 A of bale  23 ″ strikes trigger arm  93  in the path of bale  23 ″ through bale-receiving area  83 A when bale  23 ″ falls slidingly by gravity through bale-receiving area  83 A, which rotates gate  90  in the direction of arcuate arrowed line E in  FIG. 5  in response from its alternate position in  FIG. 5  toward its initial position in  FIGS. 2 and 7 . As bale  23 ″ drops slidingly downward through bale-receiving area  83 A in  FIGS. 6 and 7  and gate  90  rotates from its initial position in the direction of arrowed line E in response toward its initial position in  FIG. 7 , trigger arm  93  rotates out of the way of the path of bale  23 ″ through bale-receiving area  83 A from bale-receiving area  83 A into bale-receiving area  83 B through opening  102  between divider  84 , hinge  100 , and floor  82  so as to extend downwardly from hinge  100  into bale-receiving area  83 B in the path of bales through bale-receiving area  83 B enabling bale  23 ″ to drop end  23 A down through outlet end  72  from bale-receiving area  83 A upright onto landing area  110  of platform  40  in  FIG. 8  under outlet end  72  alongside bale  23 ′ so as to form a bale set  25 . At the same time, diverting arm  91  rotates downwardly into bale-receiving area  83 A and diverting arm  92  rotates upwardly toward sidewall  80  to the one side of inlet end  71  obstructing the path of bales into bale-receiving area  83 A through entrance  95  thereto from inlet end  71 . Hinge  100  arrests gate  100  from rotating beyond its initial position in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , bale set  25  when deposited onto landing area  110  of platform  40  includes a pair of bales  23 ′ and  23 ″ positioned upright on their respective ends  23 A on landing area  110  side-by-side in a packing orientation so that their corresponding or opposite long sides S 1  and S 2 , respectively, are juxtaposed. Each bale set  25  is deposited onto landing area  110  of platform  40  from depositor  51  in this way, in which gate  90  is movable rotationally between alternate positions, an initial position in  FIG. 2  and an alternate position in  FIG. 5 , for alternately directing bales  23  into the bale-receiving areas  83 A and  83 B, and wherein gate  90  moves alternately from one to the other of the alternate positions each time a bale  23  passes gate  90 , for alternately dropping the bales  23 , one beside the other, being in-line or otherwise axially-aligned from side-to-side and not from front-to-rear, onto landing area  110  of platform  40  ahead of the entrance to group baler  26 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , packer apparatus  52  includes a ram  120  for ramming bale sets  25  ( FIG. 1 ), one at a time as each is deposited on landing area  110  ahead of the entrance to group baler  26 , along a horizontal linear drive path F from landing area  110  of platform  40  into group baler  26  through the entrance thereof trailing landing area  110  each time ram  120  actuates. Packer apparatus  52  further includes a sensor apparatus  121  operatively coupled to ram  120  and to landing area  110  of platform  40 , wherein ram  120  actuates for ramming one bale set  25  from landing area  110  into group baler  26  each time sensor apparatus  121  senses a bale set  25  deposited onto landing area  110  of platform  40 . 
     Ram  120  is mounted rigidly to a stanchion  130  mounted atop platform  40  to the rear of landing area  110 . Ram  120  is mounted rigidly to stanchion  13  with mechanical fasteners, welding, or the like, and stanchion  130  is mounted atop platform  40  with mechanical fasteners, welding, or the like. Ram  120  is positioned at an elevated location relative to platform  40  to the rear of landing area  110  and includes a drive assembly  135  coupled drivenly to a frame  136  sized to concurrently engage the back sides of each pair of bales  23  of each bale set  25  deposited onto landing area  110 . Drive assembly  135  extends forwardly from stanchion  130  to frame  136  located immediately to the rear of landing area  110 . Frame  136  is driven by drive assembly  135  in reciprocal directions indicated by the double arrowed line G in  FIGS. 2 and 10  along linear drive path F from a starting position in  FIGS. 1-8 and 10  to a ramming position in  FIGS. 9, 11, and 12 , for engaging and ramming a bale set  25  from landing area  110  of platform  40  into group baler  26  along linear drive path F in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , and back to the starting position in  FIGS. 1-8 and 10  from the ramming position in  FIGS. 9, 11, and 12 , each time ram  120  drive assembly  135  actuates. 
     In this example, drive assembly  135  is a cylinder assembly  140 . Cylinder assembly  140  is a hydraulic cylinder assembly that includes a cylinder  141  and an operating rod  150 . Cylinder  141  has an inner end  142  mounted rigidly to stanchion  130 , and extends forward from inner end  142  to outer end  143 . Frame  136  is mounted on outer end  151  of operating rod  150 , such as with mechanical fasteners, welding, or the like, that is, in turn, mounted partially within cylinder  141  through outer end  142  for movement in reciprocal directions indicated by double arrowed line G along linear drive path F. Each time ram  120  actuates, operating rod  151  is actuated reciprocally by cylinder  141 . Frame  136  moves reciprocally in the directions of double arrowed line G along linear drive path F in  FIGS. 2 and 10  between the starting position in  FIGS. 1-8 and 10  and the ramming position in  FIGS. 9, 11, and 12  when operating rod  150  actuates, namely, upon actuation of operating rod  150  in reciprocal directions along double arrowed line G via cylinder  141 . Frame  136  is in its starting position when operating rod  150  is in a retracted position in cylinder  141  in  FIGS. 1-8 and 10 . Frame  136  is in its ramming position when operating rod  150  is in an extended from cylinder  141  in  FIGS. 9, 11, and 12 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , sensor apparatus  121  includes a control unit  160  operatively coupled to sensors  161  and  162  for receiving and responding to output signals from sensors  161  and  162 , and is operatively coupled to ram  120  for actuating ram  120  in response to output signals from sensors  161  and  162  sensing a bale set  25  deposited onto landing area  110  of platform  40 . Control unit  53  is a processor, and is operatively coupled to sensors  161  and  162  and to ram  120  drive assembly  135  with conventional electrical wiring  165 . Control unit  160  provides an operative coupling between drive assembly  135  and sensors  161  and  162 . 
     Sensor  161  is under and is registered with outlet end  72  of bale-receiving area  83 B, and sensor  162  is under and is registered with outlet end  72  of bale-receiving area  83 A. Sensor  161  is for sensing the presence of a bale  23  deposited onto landing area  110  from bale-receiving area  83 B. Sensor  162  is for sensing the presence of a bale  23  deposited onto landing area  110  from bale-receiving area  83 A. Sensors  161  and  162  are pressure sensors each for sensing the pressure exerted by a deposited bale  23  on landing area  110 . Sensor  161  is installed on landing area  110  beneath inlet end  72  of bale-receiving area  83 B of depositor  51 , and sensor  162  is installed on landing area  110  beneath inlet end  72  of bale-receiving area  83 A. Electrical wiring  165  electrically connects sensors  161  and  162  to control unit  160  and control unit  160  to drive assembly  135 , and is formed in platform  40  and stanchion  130 . Electrical wiring  165  extends along platform from sensors  161  and  162  to stanchion  130 , upwardly through stanchion  130  to control unit  160  and from control unit  160  through stanchion  130  to drive assembly  135 , all of which are powered by conventional onboard power systems or from power systems of tractor  21  in  FIG. 1 . 
     The end  23 A of a bale  23  is applied onto landing area  110  atop sensor  161  when the bale  23  is applied to landing area  120  from bale-receiving area  83 B. Sensor  161  pressure senses a bale  23  when it is applied end  23 A first onto landing area  110  atop sensor  161  from bale-receiving area  83 B and issues a signal to control unit  160  in response. The end  23 A of a bale  23  is applied onto landing area  120  atop sensor  162  when the bale  23  is applied to landing area  110  from bale-receiving area  83 A. Sensor  162  pressure senses a bale  23  when it is applied end  23 A first onto landing area  110  atop sensor  162  from bale-receiving area  83 A and issues a signal to control unit  160  in response. 
     In the operation of accumulator  24  from the initial position of gate  90  in  FIG. 2 , bale  23 ′ is dropped end first into inlet end  71  of frame  70  from outlet end  61  of conveyor  50  of  FIG. 1 . Bale  23 ′ falls slidingly by gravity end  23 A first on its side  23 B on floor  82  through inlet end  71  and strikes diverting arm  92  closing entrance  95  to bale-receiving area  83 A, which diverts the bale  23 ′ end  23 A first into bale-receiving area  83 B through entrance  96  thereto. The end  23 A of bale  23 ′ strikes trigger arm  93  in the path of bale  23 ′ through bale-receiving area  83 B when bale  23 ′ falls slidingly by gravity on its side  23 B on floor  82  through bale-receiving area  83 B, which rotates gate  90  in the direction of arcuate arrowed line D in  FIG. 2  in response from its initial position in  FIG. 2  toward its alternate position in  FIG. 5 . As bale  23 ′ drops slidingly downward end  23 A first on its side  23 B on floor  82  through bale-receiving area  83 B in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and gate  90  rotates from its initial position in the direction of arrowed line D in response toward its alternate position in  FIG. 5 , trigger arm  93  rotates out of the way of the path of bale  23 ′ through bale-receiving area  83 B from bale-receiving area  83 B into bale-receiving area  83 A through opening  102  so as to extend downwardly from hinge  100  into bale-receiving area  83 A in the path of bales through bale-receiving area  83 A enabling bale  23 ′ to drop end  23 A down through outlet end  72  from bale-receiving area  83 B upright onto landing area  110  of platform  40  in  FIG. 5  atop sensor  161  immediately in front of one side of frame  136 , and at the same time diverting arm  92  rotates downwardly into bale-receiving area  83 B and diverting arm  91  rotates upwardly toward sidewall  81  to the opposite side of inlet end  71  obstructing the path of bales into bale-receiving area  83 B through entrance  96  thereto from inlet end  71 . Sensor  161  pressure senses bale  23 ′ when it is applied end  23 A first onto landing area  110  atop sensor  161  from bale-receiving area  83 B and issues a signal to control unit  160  in response. Again, hinge  100  arrests gate  100  from rotating beyond its alternate position in  FIG. 5 . 
     Now with gate  90  in the alternate position in  FIG. 5 , the next bale  23 ″ is dropped end  23 A first into inlet end  71  of frame  70  from outlet end  61  of conveyor  50  of  FIG. 1 . Bale  23 ″ falls slidingly by gravity end  23 A first on its side  23 B on floor  82  through inlet end  71  and strikes diverting arm  91  closing the entrance to bale-receiving area  83 B in  FIG. 5 , which diverts the bale  23 ″ end  23 A first into bale-receiving area  83 A through the entrance thereof. The end of bale  23 ″ strikes trigger arm  93  in the path of bale  23 ″ through bale-receiving area  83 A when bale  23 ″ falls slidingly by gravity through bale-receiving area  83 A on its side  23 B on floor  82 , which rotates gate  90  in the direction of arcuate arrowed line E in  FIG. 5  in response from its alternate position in  FIG. 5  toward its initial position in  FIGS. 2 and 7 . As bale  23 ″ drops slidingly downward through bale-receiving area  83 A in  FIGS. 6 and 7  end  23 A first on its side  23 B on floor  82  and gate  90  rotates from its initial position in the direction of arrowed line E in response toward its initial position in  FIG. 7 , trigger arm  93  rotates out of the way of the path of bale  23 ″ through bale-receiving area  83 A from bale-receiving area  83 A into bale-receiving area  83 B through opening  102  between divider  84 , hinge  100 , and floor  82  so as to extend downwardly from hinge  100  into bale-receiving area  83 B in the path of bales through bale-receiving area  83 B enabling bale  23 ″ to drop end  23 A down through outlet end  72  from bale-receiving area  83 A upright onto landing area  110  of platform  40  in  FIG. 8  atop sensor  162  immediately in front of the opposing side of frame  136  alongside bale  23 ′ so as to form bale set  25 , and at the same time diverting arm  91  rotates downwardly into bale-receiving area  83 A and diverting arm  92  rotates upwardly toward sidewall  80  to the one side of inlet end  71  obstructing the path of bales into bale-receiving area  83 A through entrance  95  thereto from inlet end  71 . Again, hinge  100  arrests gate  100  from rotating beyond its initial position in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Sensor  162  pressure senses bale  23 ″ when it is applied end  23 A first onto landing area  110  atop sensor  162  from bale-receiving area  83 A and issues a signal to control unit  160  in response, which actuates ram  120  in response ramming bale set  25  in  FIGS. 8 and 10  along linear drive path F from landing area  110  of platform  40  into group baler  26  in  FIG. 11 . 
     Drive assembly  135  actuates when ram  120  actuates. Frame  136  is driven by drive assembly  135  from its starting position in  FIG. 10  against the back sides of bales  23 ′ and  23 ″ of bale set  25  to its ramming position in  FIG. 11 , for engaging and ramming bale set  25  from landing area  110  of platform  40  into group baler  26  along linear drive path F, and back to the starting position of frame  136  from its ramming position, when drive assembly  135  actuates. When frame  136  is moved from is starting position to its ramming position, it engages the back sides of the respective bales, namely, sides  253  of the respective bales  23 ′ and  23 ″, and slides them ends  23 A down across platform  40  rearwardly into group baler  25  without changing the packing orientation of bales  23 ′ and  23 ″. 
     Control unit  160  resets when ram  120  actuates, and the described bale accumulation and packing process continues for the next bale set  25  and each subsequent next bale set  25 , the next bale set  25  being shown is it would appear packed into group baler  26  directly against and in-line with, from the front to the rear, the previously-packed bale set  25 . When each subsequent bale set  25  of bales  23  is packed into group packer  26  against the previous-packed bale set  25  as in  FIG. 12 , the bale sets  25  are incrementally advanced into group baler  26 , and this packing process repeats until the predetermined number of bale sets  25  are packed into group baler  26 , which is seven in this example. 
     In the present embodiment, bales  23  are applied to depositor  51  beginning with gate  90  in its initial position, in which the bales are applied onto landing area  120  in the order of from bale-receiving area  83 B to bale-receiving area  83 A in which signals are sent to control unit  160  correspondingly first from sensor  161  and then from sensor  162  in response. If desired, bales  23  can be applied to depositor  51  beginning with gate  90  in its alternate position, in which the bales are applied onto landing area  120  in the order of from bale-receiving area  83 A to bale-receiving area  83 B in which signals are sent to control unit  160  correspondingly first from sensor  162  and then from sensor  161  in response. Sensor apparatus  121  senses a bale set  25  deposited onto landing area  110  of platform  40  each time a corresponding pair of signals are sent to control unit  160 , whether first from sensor  161  and then from sensor  162 , or first from sensor  162  and then from sensor  161 , sensor apparatus  121  senses a bale set  25  deposited onto landing area  110  of platform  40 . 
     The bale sets  25  are in-line with one another and axially aligned, from the front to the rear, when they are packed into group baler  26 . Group baler  26  group bales the bale sets  25  into group bale  28  and deposits group bale  28  outwardly from the rear of group baler  26  onto field  22  for further handling when group baler  26  is filled with its capacity of bale sets  25 . The process continues for each subsequent group bale. 
     In sum, and referring in relevant part to  FIGS. 1-12 , an accumulator for grouping bales  23  for group baling is disclosed, which includes platform  40 , depositor  51  mounted adjacent to platform  40  for sequentially depositing bale sets  25  onto platform  40 , each bale set  25  when deposited onto platform  40  includes a pair of bales  23 ′ and  23 ″ positioned upright and side-by-side in a packing orientation so that their corresponding long sides S 1  and S 2  are axially juxtaposed, and packer apparatus  52  mounted adjacent to platform  40  for packing one bale set  25  at a time from platform  40  into group baler  26  trailing platform  40  each time a bale set  25  is deposited onto platform  40  from depositor  51  without changing the packing orientation of the bales  23 ′ and  23 ″ of each bale set  25 . The packer apparatus  52  includes ram  120  for ramming a bale set  25  along linear drive path F from platform  40  into group baler  26  each time ram  120  actuates, and sensor apparatus  121  operatively coupled to ram  120  and to platform  40 , wherein ram  120  actuates each time sensor apparatus  121  senses a bale set  25  deposited onto platform  40 . Ram  120  includes drive assembly  135  drivenly coupled to frame  136 . Frame  136  is driven by drive assembly  135  from the starting position to the ramming position, for engaging and ramming a bale set  25  from platform  40  into group baler  26  along linear drive path F, and back to the starting position from the ramming position, each time drive assembly  135  actuates. Drive assembly  135  is a cylinder assembly  140  including cylinder  141  and operating rod  150 . Frame  136  is mounted on operating rod  150 , operating rod  150  is mounted partially within cylinder  141  for movement in reciprocal directions, and frame  136  moves in reciprocal directions between the starting and ramming positions upon actuation of operating rod  150  in reciprocal directions. Depositor  51  is upright relative to platform  40  for sequentially gravity depositing bale sets  25  onto platform  40 . Depositor  51  includes frame  70  mounted adjacent to platform  40 . Frame  70  includes a pair of bale-receiving areas  83 A and  83 B for alternately depositing bales  23  onto platform  40  into bale sets  25 , and gate  90 . Gate  90  is movable between alternate positions for alternately directing bales  23  into bale-receiving areas  83 A and  83 B, and gate  90  moves alternately from one to the other of the alternate positions each time a bale  23  passes gate  90 . 
     A bale-accumulation method according to the invention includes sequentially depositing bale sets  25  onto landing area  110  of platform  40  between ram  120  and group baler  26 , actuating ram  120  packing one bale set  25  at a time from landing area  110  of platform  40  into group baler  26  each time a bale set  25  is deposited onto landing area  110  of platform  40  without changing the packing orientation of the bales  23  of each bale set  25 . This bale set packing process is repeated for each bale set  25  until the predetermined number of bale sets  25  are packed into group baler  26 , and group baler  26  group bales the bale sets  25  into group bale  28  and deposits group bale  28  outwardly from the rear of group baler  26  onto field  22  in  FIG. 1  in response. The step of sequentially depositing bale sets  25  onto landing area  110  of platform  40  between ram  120  and group baler  26  further includes providing frame  70  including bale-receiving areas  83 A and  83 B for alternately depositing bales  23  onto landing area  110  of platform  40  between ram  120  and group baler  26  when bales  23  are applied alternately to bale-receiving areas  83 A and  83 B, and applying bales alternately to bale-receiving areas  83 A and  83 B, such as beginning with bale-receiving area  83 B starting with gate  90  in its initial position, or beginning with bale-receiving area  83 A starting with gate  90  in its alternate position. Applying bales  23  alternately to bale-receiving areas  83 A and  83  preferably includes gravity feeding bales  23  alternately to bale-receiving areas  83 A and  83 B as disclosed herein, without having to use a machine conveyor. The step of actuating ram  120  packing one bale set  25  at a time from landing area  110  of platform  40  into group baler  2  each time a bale set  25  is deposited onto landing area  110  of platform  40  without changing the packing orientation of the bales  23  of each bale set  25  includes providing sensor apparatus  121  operatively coupled to ram  120  and to landing area  110  of platform  40  via control unit  160 , and control unit  160  automatically actuating ram  120  each time sensor apparatus  121  senses a bale set  25  deposited onto landing area  110  of platform  40 . The invention has been described above with reference to illustrative embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the nature and scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.