Abstract:
A bale handler having a crane on a bed on a vehicle outside the storage area of the bed to place round bales of hale on the bed, preferably into individual storage tubs in order to facilitate knowing the precise location of such bales in order to facilitate automation. Some embodiments combine a lifting arm mechanism with the crane. The lifting arm mechanism is capable of grasping a round bale of hay, lifting the bale, releasing it on the bed, retrieving it from the bed, and unrolling the round bale. Optionally, the bale hander comprises an auger for breaking the hay into particles to facilitate livestock eating such hay and for discharging such particles onto the ground or into a livestock feed bunk.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a device for handling, viz., retrieving, loading, transporting, unloading, and feeding, bales of agricultural material, especially large, round bales of hay. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Numerous patents and patent publications exist for bale handlers; and there is are several patents for cranes that, although not specifically intended to lift bales, are capable of doing so. 
         [0005]    Such bale handlers use one of two devices for retrieving hay bales from the ground. The first is a traditional crane—varying from a very basic model to industrial versions. The second is known by a variety of names in the art but herein will be termed a lifting arm mechanism. It has two arms, one of which goes on one side of a bale and the other of which goes on another side of the bale. Each arm rotates about an upper portion of the arm, just as a human arm rotates about a person&#39;s shoulder, to lift the bale from the ground and onto a wheeled carrier. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,091,943; 4,363,583; 4,498,829; 4,552,501; 5,607,274; 5,725,346; 5,975,832; and 6,220,811 all involve bale handlers which utilize some form of crane but have no lifting arm mechanism and no tubs to accommodate individual bales. 
         [0007]    On the contrary, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,329,101; 4,952,111; 5,340,259; 5,405,229; 5,618,146; 6,312,205; 7,004,706; 7,241,098; 7,419,345; 7,481,612; 8,112,202; and 8,152,429 as well as United States patent publication nos. 20110014014 and 20110271647 employ lifting arm mechanisms but have neither cranes nor tubs to accommodate individual bales. Only the lifting arm of U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,146 is stated to be capable of unloading the bales; and none of these patents have a motorized rotatable bale gripper for unrolling a round bale or an auger to receive hay from an unrolled bale and break the hay into smaller pieces to facilitate the eating of such hay by animals. 
         [0008]    Several cranes, however, have a cargo holding device which can rotate in both the pitch (parallel to the last segment of the boom on the crane) place and the yaw (perpendicular to the pitch plane) plane, but none of the cargo holding devices are specifically intended to hold a hay bale. 
         [0009]    The device of international publication number WO 87/01684 has, mounted to the bed of a truck, a fully functional crane, i.e., the boom  13  of the crane  10  can rotate in both the pitch (the plane containing the boom of the crane) and yaw (a plane that is perpendicular to the pitch plane and that contains the last segment of the boom of the crane) planes and can also be extended. Moreover, the lifting fork  29 , consisting of “two parallel supporting arms  35  . . . rigidly secured to a transversal back portion  36  of the lifting fork at their rear ends,” can independently be moved in the pitch and yaw planes. This device has, however, no curved tubs for securely accommodating round hay bales, no lifting arm mechanism, and no programmed computer for automating its operation. 
         [0010]    For the crane of U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,395, the patent states, in lines  19  through  20  of column  3 , “A hydraulic cylinder  39  on the hoisting fork  21  is retracted to tilt the arms  40  of the hoisting fork  21 .” And the patent also indicates, in lines  39  through  40  of column  3 , “The hydraulic ‘wrist’  36  . . . is used for rotating the hoisting fork  21  . . . . ” As with the patent discussed in the preceding paragraph, this crane has no curved tubs for securely accommodating round hay bales, no lifting arm mechanism, and no programmed computer for automating its operation. And the hoisting fork  21 , which U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,395 states “ . . . is described in greater detail in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,072,” is rotatably suspended from the boom (Actually, in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,395, as opposed to U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,072, a wrist  36  to which the fork is attached is rotatably suspended from the boom.) so that the forks  40  would rotate backward rather than piercing and entering a hay bale. Such suspension and its resultant effect is, moreover, also true for the crane of U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,501. 
         [0011]    In U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,785 a “multi-directional lifting and handling device is mounted on the end of a standard telescoping crane boom.” Such device can rotate in both the pitch and yaw planes. Again, though, the crane has no curved tubs for securely accommodating round hale bales, no lifting arm mechanism, and no programmed computer for automating its operation. 
         [0012]    And U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,427 explains how a camera at the end of a boom may rotate in the yaw plane but, for rotation in the pitch plane, simply states, “According to an additional feature of the invention, the camera  32  may further rotate about a horizontal tilt axis  252 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , this coupling may be accomplished by controls known in the art. And, of course, the this camera crane has no curved tubs for securely accommodating round hay bales, no lifting arm mechanism, and no programmed computer for automating its operation. 
         [0013]    Cargo holding devices for cranes and lifting arm mechanisms are known to be of four types suitable for holding a bale of hay, including a large, round bale. 
         [0014]    The first type will herein be termed a pincher claw. This is illustrated, for a crane, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,501 and involves a first set of hooks which are able to penetrate the bale on a first side of the highest point of the bale while an opposing set of hooks penetrate the bale on the opposite side of the highest point of the bale. 
         [0015]    The term herein for the second will be grappling arms. An illustration of this, for a crane, is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,583 and involve a set of arms and an opposing set of arms which together are capable of encircling the top and more than fifty percent of each side of a bale, thereby extending below the elevation of the center of the bale. 
         [0016]    Third is one or more forks which embodiment is illustrated, for a lifting arm mechanism, in United States patent publication no. 20110271647 and utilizes one or more forks to pierce a bale, preferably from the end of the bale. 
         [0017]    Finally, a cradle which holds a bale by supporting a lower portion of such bale is illustrated, for a lifting arm mechanism, in United States patent publication no. 20110271647. 
         [0018]    For bale loaders with lifting arm mechanisms those of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,952,111; 7,419,345; 7,481,612; and 8,112,202 all provide for automated loading. 
         [0019]    And the Summary of the Invention for U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,943, which utilizes a crane (termed a “gripping device”) to load and unload bales on and from a vehicle, explains: 
         [0020]    “Any suitable known type of programmable control means may be used in connection with the method and loading apparatus of the present invention and may be of a mechanical, electrical, or electronic type, and preferably of a type making it possible to select one of a number of possible movement programs. For example, the automatic control means may be programmed in such a manner that the bales are loaded onto the vehicle in superposed layers which are mutually bonded. The substantially improved bond between the bales in each layer and between adjacent layers substantially reduces the risk that a stack formed by tilting a number of truck loads in the manner previously described overturns. 
         [0021]    “The method according to the invention also makes it possible to obtain other types of automatic unloading of the bales. Thus, the gripping device may successively unload the bales from the vehicle if the automatic control means is programmed so as to unload the bales in the inverse order in relation to the loading operation. The unloading position or bale releasing position may for example be fixed under the unloading operations. Thus, the automatic control means may for example be programmed in such a manner that all of the bales are unloaded and released at the same position on a conveyor which may then convey the bales to a storing site. However, it is also possible to program the automatic control means in such a manner that the gripping device will unload the bales and arrange them in superposed and preferably mutually bonded layers.” 
         [0022]    Although directed toward using overhead cranes handling and stacking pressed bales in a bale storage facility, one of ordinary skill the art would be able to utilize the computers and software of U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,155 for automatically loading and unloading a bale loader. That patent states: 
         [0023]    “To further optimize the facility, it is recommended that a control covering the entire facility be provided for the stacking device(s), the intermediate storage areas and possibly the delivery station(s). As a result, the bale storage facility can be operated and managed, for the most part, automatically. 
         [0024]    “The control may contain a computer with a storage facility management software and with a data bank for the virtual storage or stacking places. The location in the storage facility and the relevant, product-related data, such as the identity of the bale, the type of bale or fiber, the size of the bale, the fiber grade, the date of manufacture, etc., are stored in it. Due to the absence of a fixed subdivision of the storage facility, as it is present in a shelf-type storage facility with permanent storage places, the locations within the storage facility are determined and stored in relation to one another in the bale storage facility management system. 
         [0025]    “For the storage facility management, the control has a computer with a storage facility management program and a data bank for the virtual stacking or storage places of the bales  2  and possibly with a sorting program. Data on the storage location of the pressed bale  2 , the identity of the bales, the type of the bale or fiber, the fiber grade, the bale size, the type of packaging, the date of manufacture, and other desired product-related or other relevant properties of the bale are stored in the data bank in suitable data records.” 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    The Bale Handler of the present invention utilizes a crane to load round bales onto a bed of a truck or trailer. Preferably, such bed comprises an individual tub for each bale with the bottom of the tub sloped so as to cause a bale placed in such tub to move to the longitudinal and transverse center of the tub. This facilitates automating loading and unloading of the bed since the precise location of each bale will be known. 
         [0027]    Preferably, the Bale Handler also comprises a lifting arm mechanism for retrieving a bale from the ground and placing it on a transitional platform for movement by the crane to its ultimate intended location on the bed. 
         [0028]    Also preferably, the lifting arm mechanism has on each of two arms a bale gripper. Each bale gripper has projections for securely holding an end of the bale, with the projections of a first bale gripper entering, when the first bale gripper is used, a first end of a bale and with the projections of the second bale gripper entering, when the second bale gripper is used, a second end of the bale. Both bale grippers are preferably rotatable, and at least one of the bale grippers is preferably motorized. The lifting arm mechanism can grasp a round bale on the transitional platform, lower it toward the ground, and unroll such round bale. 
         [0029]    Even more preferably, an auger, preferably twin adjacent augers, is located in an auger assembly attached to the lifting arm mechanism in such a position as to receive the hay as it is unrolled from a round bale. Such auger breaks the hay into smaller pieces to facilitate the eating of such hay by animals, particularly livestock. (As used herein the term “auger” covers a traditional single auger but also and, preferably, includes twin adjacent augers.) 
         [0030]    Another preferred option is, in order to facilitate placement of a bale on the bed, to have the cargo holding device for the crane be attached to the distal end of the crane and be rotatable in both the pitch plane, i.e., the plane containing the boom of the crane, and the yaw plane, i.e., a plane that is perpendicular to the pitch plane and that contains the last segment of the crane. And even more preferably, such cargo holding device comprises a base from which one or more forks project in order to pierce an end of a bale, although the cargo holding device can be any of those discussed above. 
         [0031]    And, lastly, using any technique known to one of ordinary skill in the art, the process of loading and unloading is preferably automated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view taken from the front of a self-propelled bale handler with its lifting arm mechanism rotated down into the operational position. 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is an elevational view taken from the right side of a self-propelled bale handler with its lifting arm mechanism rotated down into the operational position. 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view taken from the right side of a self-propelled bale handler with its lifting arm mechanism rotated down into the operational position and with the boom of its crane extended. 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view taken from the front of a self-propelled bale handler with its lifting arm mechanism rotated upward into the storage position and with the crane either placing a bale of hay on the ground or retrieving a bale of hay from the ground. 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a plan view taken from above a self-propelled bale handler with its lifting arm mechanism rotated down into the operational position and with the boom of the crane extended either for placing a bale of hay on the bed of the bale handler or for retrieving a bale of hay from the bed of the bale handler. 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a partial plan view taken from above a self-propelled bale handler with its lifting arm mechanism rotated down into the operational position and with the crane in a stored position. 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is an elevational partial view taken from the left of a semi-trailer embodiment of the bale handler with the crane either just having placed a bale on an upper row or just ready to remove a bale from an upper row on the bed of the semi-trailer. 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is an elevational view taken from the left of a semi-trailer embodiment of the bale handler with the crane either just having placed a bale on a lower row or just ready to remove a bale from a lower row on the bed of the semi-trailer. 
           [0040]      FIG. 9  is a plan view taken from above a semi-trailer embodiment of the bale handler with the crane either just having placed a bale on the semi-trailer or just removing a bale from the semi-trailer. 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  is an elevational view taken from the right side of a tractor-pulled bale handler with its lifting arm mechanism rotated down into the operational position. 
           [0042]      FIG. 11  is a plan view taken from above a tractor-pulled bale handler with its lifting arm mechanism rotated down into the operational position and with the crane in a stored position. 
           [0043]      FIG. 12  is an elevational partial view taken from the right side of a self-propelled bale handler with its lifting arm mechanism rotated upward into the storage position. 
           [0044]      FIG. 13  is a plan view taken from above a self-propelled bale handler that is unrolling a bale of hay. 
           [0045]      FIG. 14  is an elevational view from the front of a self-propelled bale loader having its lifting arm mechanism rotated down into the operational position with an auger assembly attached to the lifting arm mechanism in such a position as to receive the hay as it is unrolled from a round bale in order to break the hay into smaller pieces and to distribute such pieces, for example, into a livestock feeding bunk as illustrated. 
           [0046]      FIG. 15  is an elevational view taken from the right side of the auger assembly, with the auger in an auger housing and having a feeder box leading to such auger housing, attached to the lifting arm mechanism. 
           [0047]      FIG. 16  is an elevational view taken from the front of the lifting arm mechanism with the attached auger assembly. 
           [0048]      FIG. 17  is an elevational view taken from the rear of any embodiment of the bale handler other that the drop-bed semi-trailer bale handler. 
           [0049]      FIG. 18  is an elevational view taken from a side of any embodiment of the bale handler showing how round bales can be less than precisely located longitudinally when a tub runs the longitudinal length of the bed, being curved only in the transverse direction. 
           [0050]      FIG. 19  is an elevational view taken from a side of any embodiment of the bale handler illustrating individual tubs for round bales which are curved in the transverse direction, the longitudinal ends of which tubs are also curved, and the longitudinal length of each tub being such that a standard round bale will simultaneously touch both longitudinal ends of the tub and thereby slide to the longitudinal center of the tub as well as the transverse center of the tub, being, therefore, precisely located. 
           [0051]      FIG. 20  is an elevational view taken from the front showing the lifting arms and an alternate embodiment of the attached bale grippers with the bale grippers in a retracted position and, in phantom, with the bale grippers extended to grasp a bale of hay. 
           [0052]      FIG. 21  is an elevational view taken from the right side of the lifting arm mechanism with an attached auger assembly, portraying the lifting mechanism as a bale is being raised from the transitional platform. 
           [0053]      FIG. 22  is a plan view taken from above a semi-trailer embodiment of the bale handler with the crane either just having placed a bale on the semi-trailer or just removing a bale from the semi-trailer and having two outriggers extended on the left side and two outriggers extended on the right side of the semi-trailer. 
           [0054]      FIG. 23  is an elevational view taken from the left of a drop-bed semi-trailer bale handler with the crane in a stored position. 
           [0055]      FIG. 24  is a plan view taken from above the drop-bed semi-trailer bale handler with the crane in a position for loading or unloading. 
           [0056]      FIG. 25  is an elevational view taken from the rear of the drop-bed semi-trailer bale handler. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0057]    Three primary embodiments exist of the Bale Handler for round bales  1 : a self-propelled bale handler  2 , shown primarily in  FIGS. 1 through 6  and  12  through  14 ; a tractor-pulled bale handler  3  which is pulled by a traditional tractor  4 , as illustrated principally in  FIGS. 10 and 11 ; and a semi-trailer bale handler  5 , portrayed predominantly in  FIGS. 7 through 9  and  22 , which is pulled by the traditional type of powered truck, often termed a road tractor, known in the art to pull semi-trailer tractors. Herein the term “vehicle” shall include both a self-propelled vehicle and a vehicle not having its own propulsion, such as a traditional trailer. 
         [0058]    The semi-trailer bale handler  5  comprises any crane  6  known in the art which can rotate about its base  7  and extend its boom  8  to at least one storage tub  9  and, preferably, two laterally adjacent storage tubs  9 . Each storage tub  9  has sloped sides  10 ,  11  (being either an angled plane or a curve) and, preferably, in a first embodiment, illustrated in part in  FIG. 18 , extends substantially the full longitudinal length of the storage area  12  on the bed  13  of the bale handler  5 . Preferably, however, individual storage tubs  14 , shown in  FIG. 19 , are provided to accommodate each bale  15 , there being at least one column  16  and, preferably, two laterally adjacent columns  16  of individual storage tubs  14 . The boom  8  of the crane  6  is selected to be sufficiently long to place a bale  15  anywhere in such storage tubs  9  or in any individual storage tub  14 , when individual storage tubs  14  are employed. 
         [0059]    The dimensions of each storage tub  9  are selected so as to accommodate the bales  15  intended to be carried by the tubs  9 . Preferably, the sloped sides  10 ,  11  are portions of a curve  17  running continuously transversely across each storage tub  9 . And, preferably, the lowest point  18  of such curve  17  is substantially at the transverse center  19  of the tub  9 , especially when such lowest point  18  provides some of the support for a bale  15  or bales  15 . The critical feature of the sloped sides  10 ,  11  is that the slope and dimensions of such sloped sides  10 ,  11  are such that the lowest point of a bale  15  placed between and supported by such sloped sides  10 ,  11  will be substantially at the transverse center  19  of the tub  9 . 
         [0060]    For individual storage tubs  14  both the forward end  20  and the rear end  21  are sloped, preferably curved. Moreover, preferably, the individual storage tubs  14  are of such dimensions that the distance between the bottom  22  of the front curve  23  and the bottom  24  of the rear curve  25  is substantially equal to the length of the bales  15  intended to be carried by the individual storage tubs  14 . This causes the location of a bale  15  to be precisely known even if the initial placement of the bale  15  was not so accurate. Such precision facilitates, as discussed below, automation of the loading and unloading process. 
         [0061]    The bed  13  can be either a traditional truck bed or a traditional framework for supporting the storage tubs  9  or individual storage tubs  14 . 
         [0062]    Of the embodiments for the Bale Handler  1  the semi-trailer bale handler  5  employs a crane  6  while the self-propelled bale handler  2  and the tractor-pulled bale handler  3  preferably utilize a crane  6 . The semi-trailer bale handler  5  has one or more storage tubs  9  or, preferably, one or more individual storage tubs  14 , such storage tubs  9  or individual storage tubs  14  being optional but preferred for the self-propelled bale handler  2  and the tractor-pulled bale handler  3 ; but only the self-propelled bale handler  2  and the tractor-pulled bale handler  3  have a lifting arm mechanism  26 . 
         [0063]    The lifting arm mechanism  26 , shown with the greatest detail in  FIGS. 15 and 21 , can be constructed in any manner known to one of ordinary skill in the art such that the mechanism  26  can grasp a bale  15  on the ground; lift such bale  15  to a transitional platform  27  of the bale handler  2 ,  3 ; release the bale  15  on the transitional platform  27  for the crane  6  to move; grasp a bale  15  located on the transitional platform  27 ; lift such bale  15  away from the transitional platform  27  until it is suspended over, or touching, the ground; and, preferably, unroll the bale  15 . The transitional platform  27  is either part of the bed  13  of the bale handler  2 ,  3  or is either directly or indirectly attached to the bed  13  of the bale handler  2 ,  3 . Therefore, for this reason and because the transitional platform  27  at times holds a bale  15 , for the purposes of this invention the term “bed” includes the transitional platform  27  whenever a transitional platform  27  is present. 
         [0064]    Preferably, an individual storage tub  14  is located on the transitional platform  27  where the lifting arm mechanism  26  deposits a bale  15 . 
         [0065]    To facilitate storage for movement over roads, the lifting arm mechanism  26  is preferably rotatably attached to the bale handler  2 ,  3 —on either the left side  28  or the right side  29  of the bale handler  2 ,  3 . 
         [0066]    The preferred embodiment for the lifting arm mechanism  26  comprises a mechanism support structure  30 . The top  31  of the mechanism support structure  30  preferably comprises the transitional platform  27 . 
         [0067]    Near the top  31  of the mechanism support structure  30  and one of the sides  32  (left  33  or right  34 ) of the mechanism support structure  30 , the mechanism support structure  30  is rotatably connected to the bed  13  of the bale handler  2 ,  3 . To raise the lifting arm mechanism  26  for storage or to lower the lifting arm mechanism  26  for operation, a first end  35  of one or more hydraulic cylinders  36 , designated the mechanism lifting cylinder or cylinders  36 , is rotatably attached to the side  32  of the mechanism support structure  30  that is nearer the bale hander  2 ,  3 ; and a second end  37  of the one or more mechanism lifting cylinders  36  is rotatably attached to the bale handler  2 ,  3  below the position  38  at which the mechanism support structure  30  is rotatably connected to the bed  13  of the bale handler  2 ,  3 . 
         [0068]    Near the bottom  39  and the front  40  of the mechanism support structure  30  a lower axle  41  is attached to the mechanism support structure  30 . Near a first end  42  of the lower axle  41  a lower end  43  of a right vertical support member  44  is rotatably attached to the lower axle  41 ; and near a second end  45  of the lower axle  41  a lower end  46  of a left vertical support member  47  is rotatably attached to the lower axle  41 . A first end  51  of an upper axle  52  is rotatably connected to and extends through the right vertical support member  44  near an upper end  53  of the right vertical support member  44 . A second end  54  of the upper axle  52  is rotatably connected to and preferably extends through the left vertical support member  47  near an upper end  55  of the left vertical support member  47 . 
         [0069]    A first end  56  of a first main lifting arm  57  is slidably attached to the upper axle  52  near the first end  51  of the upper axle  52  but farther from the first end  51  of the upper axle  52  than the right vertical support member  44 . Similarly, a first end  58  of a second main lifting arm  59  is slidably attached to the upper axle  52  near the second end  54  of the upper axle  52  but farther from the second end  54  of the upper axle  52  than the left vertical support member  47 . 
         [0070]    A first end  60  of a primary hydraulic cylinder  61 , designated the right primary hydraulic cylinder  61 , is rotatably attached to the mechanism support structure  30  near the bottom  39  and on the right side  34  of the mechanism support structure  30 . The second end  62  of the right primary hydraulic cylinder  61  is rotatably connected to the first end  51  of the upper axle  52 . Preferably, a first end  63  of a second primary hydraulic cylinder  64 , designated the left primary hydraulic cylinder  64 , is similarly rotatably connected to the mechanism support structure  30  near the bottom  39  and on the left side  33  of the mechanism support structure  30 . Also preferably, the second end  65  of the left primary hydraulic cylinder  64  is rotatably attached to the second end  54  of the upper axle  52 . 
         [0071]    A first end  66  of a secondary hydraulic cylinder  67 , designated the right secondary hydraulic cylinder  67 , is rotatably and slidably attached to the lower axle  41 . The second end  68  of the right secondary hydraulic cylinder  67  is rotatably connected to the first main lifting arm  57 . Preferably, a first end  69  of a second secondary hydraulic cylinder  70 , designated the left secondary hydraulic cylinder  70  is similarly rotatably and slidably connected to the lower axle  41 . Also preferably, the second end  71  of the left secondary hydraulic cylinder  70  is rotatably attached to the second main lifting arm  59 . 
         [0072]    A housing  72  of a first spreader hydraulic cylinder  73 , designated the right spreader hydraulic cylinder  73 , is attached to the upper axle  52  between the first main lifting arm  57  and the second main lifting arm  59 . A free end  74  of the piston rod  75  of the right spreader hydraulic cylinder  73  is connected to the first main lifting arm  57 . Similarly, a housing  76  of a second spreader hydraulic cylinder  77 , designated the left spreader hydraulic cylinder  77 , is connected to the upper axle  52  between the right spreader hydraulic cylinder  73  and the second main lifting arm  59 . A free end  78  of the piston rod  79 , of the left spreader hydraulic cylinder  77  is connected to the second main lifting arm  59 . 
         [0073]    A first end  80  of a first bale gripper  81  is attached to the left side  82  of the first main lifting arm  57  near the second end  48  of the first main lifting arm  57 . Similarly, a first end  83  of a second bale gripper  84  is attached to the right side  85  of the second main lifting arm  59  near the second end  49  of the second main lifting arm  59 . Projections  86  are located on the second end  87  of the first bale gripper  81 , and projections  88  are also located on the second end  89  of the second bale gripper  84 . Both bale grippers  81 ,  84  are preferably rotatable; and at least one of the bale grippers  81 ,  84  is, using any technology known in the art, preferably motorized. 
         [0074]    Optionally, rather than having the attachment of the main lifting arms  57 ,  59  to the upper axle  52  be slidable and requiring the spreader hydraulic cylinders  73 ,  77 , at least one, and preferably both, of the bale grippers  81 ,  84  can be, as illustrated in  FIG. 20 , telescoping, using any technology known in the art, such as a hydraulic cylinder or a motorized rotating screw working against threads within a channel inside a bale gripper  81 ,  84 . 
         [0075]    In operation, when either an operator observes or a proximity indicator  90  (which can be any such device that is known by one of ordinary skill in the art, such as—but not necessarily limited to—a contact switch or an ultrasonic detector) attached to the front  40 , preferably on either side  33 ,  34  or between such sides  33 ,  34  of, the mechanism support structure  30 , indicates that a bale  15  is in position to be grasped and raised by the lifting arm mechanism  26 , the operator, using any technology known in the art, causes the spreader hydraulic cylinders  73 ,  77  to force the main lifting arms  57 ,  59  to move closer to each other, pulling the bale grippers  81 ,  84  closer together and their projections  86 ,  88  into the first end  91  and the second end  92 , respectively, of the bale  15  (or, optionally, activates the telescoping of the bale grippers  81 ,  84  toward one another in lieu of using spreader hydraulic cylinders  73 ,  77  in order to accomplish the preceding). 
         [0076]    Then the piston rod  93  of the right secondary hydraulic cylinder  67  is extended from the housing  94  of the right secondary hydraulic cylinder (and when the preferable left secondary hydraulic cylinder  70  is present, the piston rod  95  of the left secondary hydraulic cylinder  70  is extended from the housing  96  of the left secondary hydraulic cylinder  70 ) to raise the main lifting arms  57 ,  59  and thereby, the bale  15 , as portrayed in  FIG. 21 . 
         [0077]    Also, as further shown in  FIG. 21 , the piston rod  97  of the right primary hydraulic cylinder  61  is drawn into the housing  98  of the right primary hydraulic cylinder  61  (and when the preferable left primary hydraulic cylinder  64  is utilized, the piston rod  99  of the left primary hydraulic cylinder  64  is drawn into the housing  100  of the left primary hydraulic cylinder  64 ), thereby tilting the upper axle  52  and the top  101  of the right vertical support member  44  as well as the top  102  of the left vertical support member  47  toward the transitional platform  27 . 
         [0078]    These combined operations place the bale  15  on the transitional platform  27  (and when the individual storage tub  14  is preferably located on the transitional platform  27 , into the individual storage tub  14 ). 
         [0079]    Reversing these operations enables a bale  15  of hay to be retrieved from the transitional platform  27  (and, preferably, the individual storage tub  14  on the transitional platform  27 ) and either lowered to the ground or suspended above the ground for unrolling, preferably by rotating the bale grippers  81 ,  84 . Of course when the bale  15  touches the ground, lateral movement of the bale handler  2 ,  3  will unroll a bale  15  because such lateral movement will cause the bale grippers  81 ,  84  to rotate when such bale grippers  81 ,  84  are, indeed, rotatable. 
         [0080]    Of course, the crane  6 , when it is preferably employed on the self-propelled bale handler  2  and the tractor-pulled bale handler  3 , moves bales  15  to and from locations (preferably, storage tubs  9  and, even more preferably individual storage tubs  14 ) on the bed  13 , including the transitional platform  27 , of the self-propelled bale handler  2  and the tractor-pulled bale handler  3  and, when there are two or more laterally adjacent storage tubs  9  or two or more laterally adjacent columns  16  of individual storage tubs  14 , on (as well as between, creating a triangular shape of bales  15  when there are two laterally adjacent storage tubs  9  or two laterally adjacent columns  16  of individual storage tubs  14 , which triangular shape is most clearly evident in FIG.  17 ) and from previously placed laterally adjacent bales  15 , as seen in  FIG. 7 . Moreover, if desired, the crane  6 , when employed, can be used to load and unload any embodiment of the bale handler  5 . 
         [0081]    The preceding can be automated using technology that is well known in the art, such as that of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,952,111; 7,419,345; 7,481,612; and 8,112,202, for grasping a bale  15  on the ground, moving the bale  15  to the transitional platform  27 , and releasing the bale  15  on the transitional platform  27  and such as that of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,091,943 and 6,074,155 for using the crane  6  to move a bale  15  from the transitional platform  27  to a storage tub  9  (preferably, an individual storage tub  14 ) or on top of bales  15  already in the storage tubs  9  (preferably, individual storage tubs  14 ), to return such a bale  15  to the transitional platform  27 , to remove a bale  15  from a storage tub  9  (preferably, an individual storage tub  14 ) and place such bale  15  on the ground or an other intended storage place away from the bale handler  1 , and to take a bale  15  from the ground or other intended storage place and move the bale  15  to a storage tub  9  (preferably, an individual storage tub  14 ) or on top of bales  15  already in the storage tubs  9  (preferably, individual storage tubs  14 ). One of ordinary skill in the art should, moreover, be capable of adapting the automation technology of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,952,111; 7,419,345; 7,481,612; and 8,112,202 to enable the lifting arm mechanism  26  of the present invention to grasp a bale  15  located on the transitional platform  27 ; lift such bale  15  away from the transitional platform  27  until it is suspended over, or touching, the ground; and, preferably, unroll the bale  15 . 
         [0082]    As mentioned above, the cargo holding device  103  is preferably attached to the distal end  104  of the crane  6  and is rotatable in both the pitch plane, i.e., the plane containing the boom  8  of the crane  6 , and the yaw plane, i.e., a plane that is perpendicular to the pitch plane and that contains the last segment  107  of the boom  8  of the crane  6 , in a manner that is well known in the art, such as the cargo holding devices of the cranes of international publication number WO 87/01684 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,501. And even more preferably, such cargo holding device  103  comprises a base  108  from which one or more forks  109  project in order to pierce an end  91 ,  92  of a bale  15 . 
         [0083]    Using any memory and communication system known in the art, the location of the bales  15  can be stored on the bale handler  1  or at the storage location so that the location can be automatically provided to another bale handler  1  to facilitate the automatic removal of one or more bales  15  and the loading of such bales  15  on the other bale handler  1 . 
         [0084]    Optionally, an auger assembly  110 , illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , comprises an auger assembly support structure  105 , which is connected (preferably, releasably connected) to the mechanism support structure  30 , preferably, to the front  40  and bottom  39  of the mechanism support structure and which, as its name suggests, supports the remainder of the auger assembly  110 , such remainder comprising a feeder box  111 , an auger housing  112 , and an auger  113  within the auger housing  112 . 
         [0085]    The feeder box  111  has an open top  114  and bottom  115  to receive hay  116  unrolling from a bale  15  and to provide access for such unrolled hay  116  to the auger  113  within the auger housing  112  that is located below the feeder box  111 . The auger housing  112  has an open top  117 , a closed bottom  118 , and sides  119  attached to the sides  120  of the feeder box  111 . Preferably, a channel  121  leads from the auger  113  to an aperture  122 , on the side  123  of the auger housing  112  opposite to the bale handler  2 ,  3  for discharging the particles of hay  124  produced by the auger  113  to the ground or a feed bunk  125 . 
         [0086]    Because the semi-trailer bale handler  5  may be required to load and unload bales  15  in the absence of a road tractor, the semi-trailer handler  5  has equipment not found on the self-propelled bale handler  2  and the tractor-pulled bale handler  3 . A control panel  126  for the crane  6  is located on the bed  13  of the semi-trailer bale handler  5  along with a combined hydraulic fuel tank and hydraulic pump  127  to power the crane  6  and a combined diesel fuel tank and diesel engine  128  to power the hydraulic pump of the combined hydraulic fuel tank and hydraulic pump  127 . And a ladder  129  attached to a side  28 ,  29  of the semi-trailer bale handler  5  to provide an operator access to the bed  13  of the semi-trailer bale handler  5 . 
         [0087]    And in addition to the preceding embodiments of the bale handler  1 , there is a specialized semi-trailer bale handler  130  termed a “drop-bed semi-trailer bale handler”, which is portrayed in  FIGS. 23 ,  24 , and  25 . 
         [0088]    As its name implies, the bale-carrying portion  131  of the bed  13  for the drop-bed semi-trailer bale handler  130  is lower than the remainder  132  of such bed  13  in order to accommodate an additional level  133  of bales  15 . 
         [0089]    Furthermore, for the drop-bed semi-trailer bale handler  130  the bales  15  are stacked directly on top of one another, rather than in the pyramid fashion of the other embodiments, when such other embodiments have laterally adjacent storage tubs  9  or individual storage tubs  14 . To stabilize bales  15  stacked in this fashion a front brace post  134  is placed in front of each of the two columns  135  of bales  15 , a side brace post  136  is placed at each side of each row  137  of individual storage tubs  14 , and a middle brace post  138  is placed between laterally adjacent individual storage tubs  14 . The two front brace posts  134 , all the side brace posts  136 , and all the middle brace posts  138  comprise an upper post element  139  removably attached utilizing any technique known in the art, preferably with a traditional pin in traditional apertures, to a lower post element  140 . The lower end  141  of each lower post element  140  fits removably into an aperture  142  in the bed  13  of the drop-bed semi-trailer bale handler  130 . 
         [0090]    Because of the proximity to the ground for the bale-carrying portion  131  of the bed  13  for the drop-bed semi-trailer bale handler  130  and the distance between that portion  131  and the portion  143  of the bed  13  having the control panel  126 , the ladder  129  on the drop-bed semi-trailer bale handler  130  provides access from the bale-carrying portion  131  of the bed  13  to the portion  143  of the bed  13  having the control panel  126 , rather than from the ground to the bed  13  as is the case for the semi-trailer bale handler  5 . 
         [0091]    Similarly, because of the different shapes for the stacks of bales  15 , the rear post frame  144  for the drop-bed semi-trailer bale handler  130  has, as seen in  FIG. 25 , a rectangular shape rather than having the sloped upper corners  145  which the rear post frame  144  for all the other embodiments of the Bale Handler  1  has, as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
         [0092]    And the rear portion  146  of the bed  13  for the drop-bed semi-trailer bale handler  130  holds a container  147  for the posts  134 ,  136 ,  138  and the traditional pins or other traditional connectors for the upper post elements  139  and the lower post elements  140 . 
         [0093]    Optionally, the semi-trailer bale handler  5  can for increased stability, when loading or unloading bales  15 , extend, as illustrated in  FIG. 22 , one or more outriggers  148  from each side  28 ,  29  of the semi-trailer bale handler  5 . 
         [0094]    As used herein, the term “substantially” indicates that one skilled in the art would consider the value modified by such terms to be within acceptable limits for the stated value. Also as used herein the term “preferable” or “preferably” means that a specified element or technique is more acceptable than another but not that such specified element or technique is a necessity.