Patent ID: 7347659

Claim:
Transport vehicle mounted apparatus for handling bales of bulk material having a top bale gripping surface and opposite side surfaces adjacent thereto, comprising; a base support structure, mounting means for mounting said base support structure on a transport vehicle, an L-shaped platform including a bale gripping frame with bale gripping means thereon positioned to engage the top surface of a bale to be handled and a bale support deck extending at substantially right angles thereto positioned to engage one said adjacent side surfaces of the bale, said L-shaped platform being mounted for pivotal movement on said base structure through approximately 90° between a transport position with said bale gripping frame extending substantially vertical and a bale pick-up position with the bale gripping frame extending substantially horizontal to engage said bale gripping means with the top surface of a bale to be picked up, platform positioning means for moving said L-shaped platform between said transport position and said bale pick-up position, whereby said platform is moved to the bale pick-up position with the gripping means positioned to engage the top surface of a bale and with the bale support deck in contact with one of said adjacent opposite side surfaces thereof, said platform is then moved through approximately 90 ° to the transport position with the bale being supported by the bale support deck.