Patent ID: 8408857

Claim:
A method for loading a plurality of bales from a ground surface on which the plurality of bales is disposed onto a bale picking truck, said bale picking truck comprising a pickup assembly operatively, pivotally attached to the bale picking truck, said pickup assembly comprising a plurality of gathering chains, the method comprising: (a) disposing the pickup assembly on a front of the bale picking truck; (b) approaching at least one of the plurality of bales with the pickup assembly; (c) pivoting the pickup assembly to dispose said pickup assembly near the ground and adjacent the at least one bale; (d) engaging the at least one bale with at least one of the plurality of gathering chains; (e) drawing the at least one bale onto the pickup assembly with the at least one of the plurality of gathering chains; (f) raising the pickup assembly up with respect to the bale picking truck; (g) lifting the at least one bale up to a level higher than the ground surface; (h) capturing the at least one bale with the gripper bars; and (i) holding the at least one bale at a predetermined level independently of a position of the pickup assembly.