Patent ID: 7862288

Claim:
A method for accumulating hay bales into an ordered cluster, each of said hay bales having a long side and a short side, said method comprising: a. providing a bale accumulator having i. a chassis having a front and a rear, said chassis capable of moving in a direction of travel, ii. a first chute, a second chute, a third chute, and a fourth chute within said chassis, with each of said first through fourth chutes having a rear opening, iii. a first bale receiver lying to the rear of said first and second chutes, iv. a second bale receiver lying to the rear of said third and fourth chutes; b. accumulating one of said hay bales in each of said first and second bale receivers; c. accumulating two of said hay bales in each of said first through fourth chutes, wherein each of said hay bales within said first through fourth chutes is oriented such that said long side of each of said hay bales lies approximately parallel to said direction of travel of said chassis; d. rotating said hay bales in each of said first and second bale receivers so that said long sides of said hay bales in each of said first and second bale receivers lie approximately transverse to said long sides of said hay bales within said first through fourth chutes; e. releasing all of said hay bales out said rear of said chassis; f. providing said bale accumulator with a first pivoting gate assembly closing said first bale receiver; g. providing said bale accumulator with a second pivoting gate assembly closing said second bale receiver; and h. wherein said step of rotating said hay bales in each of said first and second bale receivers so that said long sides of said hay bales in each of said first and second bale receivers lie approximately transverse to said long sides of said hay bales within said first through fourth chutes is at least partially carried out by unlatching said first and second pivoting gate assemblies, and pivoting said first and second gate assemblies outward with respect to said chassis.