Patent ID: 8122822

Claim:
A bale stacker for forming a plurality of bales into a bale bundle comprising a predetermined number of bales, the bale stacker comprising: a compression chamber extending between an upstream opening and a downstream opening thereof, the bales being receivable in the compression chamber via the upstream opening and formable in the compression chamber into the bale bundle, the bale bundle being removable from the compression chamber via the downstream opening; a loading chamber in which said bales are positionable in respective columns proximal to the upstream opening, each said column comprising a preselected number of bales; a transfer assembly for moving said columns of said bales from the loading chamber into the compression chamber; the transfer assembly comprising a platen for engaging each said column of bales respectively, the platen being movable between a retracted position, in which the bales are movable into the loading chamber, and an extended position, in which each said respective column of bales is positionable by the platen at least partially in the compression chamber; at least one front door located at the upstream opening and movable between a closed position, in which the upstream opening is at least partially obstructed by said at least one front door, and an open position, in which each said column of bales is movable respectively through the upstream opening; and at least one controlling means for coordinating movement of said at least one front door with movement of the platen.