Bale-stacking apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for producing a butt of bales, comprising: a frame having a longitudinal for and aft axis; a positioning bed at the forward end of the frame having a horizontal upper surface; a transfer bed on the frame rearward of and adjacent to the positioning bed and lying normally in a horizontal plane; flange means along the rear edge of the transfer bed extending upwardly substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bed to support a layer of bales on occasion; a horizontal load bed on the frame rearward of the transfer bed and spaced rearwardly of the flange means; means on the positioning bed to orient bales and deliver them to the transfer bed in predetermined arrangement to produce a single layer stack; the transfer bed being tiltable about a horizontal axis adjacent to its rear edge to a vertical position and being bodily movable along a horizontal path toward the load bed to transfer the layer thereto in vertical position; a load fork including a plurality of tines extending normal to the plane of the load bed and movable progressively rearwardly to accommodate additional layers as a full butt is constructed on the load bed; the latter being tiltable about a horizontal axis and laterally of the frame to place the butt in vertical attitude; and power means to move the load fork to a raised position for depositing the butt on an elevated support.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1; and common means adapted to tilt the transfer bed and to move it bodily toward and away from the load bed.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2; including interlock means to prevent bodily movement of the transfer bed during the tilting operation and to prevent tilting movement of the transfer bed during the horizontal movement operation.

Claim 5

Apparatus for producing a stack of bales, comprising: a frame having a longitudinal for and aft axis; a transfer bed pivotally mounted on an intermediate portion of the frame for rotation about a horizontal lateral axis adjacent to the rear edge of said bed from a horizontal position for assembling a layer of bales to an upright position for delivering the layer; a horizontal load bed on the frame rearward of the transfer bed to receive successive layers of bales from the transfer bed, each in upright position; a load fork on the load bed adapted to contact the first layer and move rearwardly to accommodate the delivery of successive layers; and an upright support frame at the forward end of the load bed; the support frame including an upright clamp bar at each side of the load bed to receive each successive layer between them; the bars being movable toward each other to grip each successive layer and compact it and prevent it from toppling in any direction; and means to draw the bars toward each other and to separate them.

Claim 6

Apparatus for producing a stack of bales, comprising: a frame having a longitudinal for and aft axis; a transfer bed pivotally mounted on an intermediate portion of the frame for rotation about a horizontal lateral axis adjacent to the rear edge of said bed from a horizontal position for assembling a layer of bales to an upright position for delivering the layer; a horizontal load bed on the frame rearward of the transfer bed to receive successive layers of bales from the transfer bed, each in upright position; a load fork on the load bed adapted to contact the first layer and move rearwardly to accommodate the delivery of successive layers; and an upright support frame at the forward end of the load bed; the support frame including an upright clamp bar at each side of the load bed to receive each successive layer between them; the bars being movable toward each other to grip each successive layer and compact it and prevent it from toppling in any direction; and means to draw the bars toward each other and to separate them.

Claim 7

Apparatus for transferring a prearranged layer of bales to a load bed, comprising: a frame Having a longitudinal axis; a normally horizontal transfer bed on said frame having a generally rectangular planform with a rear edge extending laterally of the axis of the frame and having flange means along said rear edge extending perpendicular to the plane of the transfer bed to support a layer of bales; a horizontal load bed on said frame spaced rearwardly of the rear edge of the transfer bed; track means on said frame extending parallel to the axis; carriage means axially movable on said track means; the transfer bed being pivotally mounted adjacent to its rear edge to said carriage means for tilting from horizontal to upright position; latch means on the carriage means engageable with a detent to prevent rearward movement of the carriage means; an extensible servomotor on said frame pivotally connected to the transfer bed forward of its pivotal mounting and arranged to apply upward and rearward force to the load bed to tilt it to upright position; a release link carried by the transfer bed and arranged to engage the latch means and release it from its detent as the transfer bed reaches upright position; the servomotor being adapted to continue to apply force to the transfer bed and move it bodily rearward to the load bed to transfer a layer of bales thereto; the latch means and release link having interconnecting engagement to maintain the link in position to brace the load bed against tilting at any position rearward of its foremost position.

Claim 8

Apparatus for transferring a prearranged layer of bales to a load bed, comprising: a frame Having a longitudinal axis; a normally horizontal transfer bed on said frame having a generally rectangular planform with a rear edge extending laterally of the axis of the frame and having flange means along said rear edge extending perpendicular to the plane of the transfer bed to support a layer of bales; a horizontal load bed on said frame spaced rearwardly of the rear edge of the transfer bed; track means on said frame extending parallel to the axis; carriage means axially movable on said track means; the transfer bed being pivotally mounted adjacent to its rear edge to said carriage means for tilting from horizontal to upright position; latch means on the carriage means engageable with a detent to prevent rearward movement of the carriage means; an extensible servomotor on said frame pivotally connected to the transfer bed forward of its pivotal mounting and arranged to apply upward and rearward force to the load bed to tilt it to upright position; a release link carried by the transfer bed and arranged to engage the latch means and release it from its detent as the transfer bed reaches upright position; the servomotor being adapted to continue to apply force to the transfer bed and move it bodily rearward to the load bed to transfer a layer of bales thereto; the latch means and release link having interconnecting engagement to maintain the link in position to brace the load bed against tilting at any position rearward of its foremost position.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5; said latch means including a latch portion movable between a lower limit position in which it engages a detent and a upper limit position in which is disengages the detent; said release link having a first end pivotally connected to the transfer bed and a second end provided with a formation to interengage with the latch portion and move it to its upper limit position when the transfer bed reaches upright position; the interengagement of the latch portion and the release link formation being such as to retain the latter between the latch portion and the track means at all positions of the carriage means rearward of its foremost position.

Claim 10

Apparatus for producing a butt of bales, comprising: a frame having a longitudinal fore and aft axis; a positioning bed at the forward end of the frame having a horizontal upper surface; a transfer bed on the frame rearward of and adjacent to the positioning bed and lying normally in a horizontal plane; flange means along the rear edge of the transfer bed extending upwardly substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bed to support a layer of bales on occasion; a horizontal load bed on the frame rearward of the transfer bed and spaced rearwardly of the flange means; means on the positioning bed to orient bales and deliver them to the transfer bed in predetermined arrangement to produce a single layer stack; the transfer bed being tiltable about a horizontal axis adjacent to its rear edge to a vertical position and being bodily movable along a horizontal path toward the load bed to transfer the layer thereto in vertical position; an upright support frame disposed at the forward end of the load bed, said support frame including an upright clamp bar at each side of the load bed to receive each successive layer therebetween, said bars being movable toward each other to grip each successive layer and compact it and prevent it from toppling in any direction; and means to move the bars toward and away from each other.

Claim 11

Apparatus for producing a butt of bales, comprising: a frame having a longitudinal fore and aft axis; a positioning bed at the forward end of the frame having a horizontal upper surface; a transfer bed on the frame rearward of and adjacent to the positioning bed and lying normally in a horizontal plane; flange means along the rear edge of the transfer bed extending upwardly substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bed to support a layer of bales on occasion; a horizontal load bed on the frame rearward of the transfer bed and spaced rearwardly of the flange means; means on the positioning bed to orient bales and deliver them to the transfer bed in predetermined arrangement to produce a single layer stack; the transfer bed being tiltable about a horizontal axis adjacent to its rear edge to a vertical position and being bodily movable along a horizontal path toward the load bed to transfer the layer thereto in vertical position; an upright support frame disposed at the forward end of the load bed, said support frame including an upright clamp bar at each side of the load bed to receive each successive layer therebetween, said bars being movable toward each other to grip each successive layer and compact it and prevent it from toppling in any direction; and means to move the bars toward and away from each other.

Claim 12

Apparatus for producing a butt of bales, comprising: a frame having a longitudinal for and aft axis; a positioning bed at the forward end of the frame having a horizontal upper surface; a transfer bed on the frame rearward of and adjacent to the positioning bed and lying normally in a horizontal plane; flange means along the rear edge of the transfer bed extending upwardly substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bed to support a layer of bales on occasion; a horizontal load bed on the frame rearward of the transfer bed and spaced reaRwardly of the flange means; means on the positioning bed to orient bales and deliver them to the transfer bed in predetermined arrangement to product a single layer stack; the transfer bed being tiltable about a horizontal axis adjacent to its rear edge to a vertical position and being bodily movable along a horizontal path toward the load bed to transfer the layer thereto in vertical position; a load fork including means for engaging one side of a layer of bales, said means extending normal to the plane of the load bed and movable progressively rearwardly to accommodate additional layers as a full butt is constructed on the load bed; the latter being tiltable about a horizontal axis laterally of the frame to place the butt in vertical attitude; and power means to move the load fork to a raised position.

Claim 13

Apparatus for producing a butt of bales, comprising: a frame having a longitudinal for and aft axis; a positioning bed at the forward end of the frame having a horizontal upper surface; a transfer bed on the frame rearward of and adjacent to the positioning bed and lying normally in a horizontal plane; flange means along the rear edge of the transfer bed extending upwardly substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bed to support a layer of bales on occasion; a horizontal load bed on the frame rearward of the transfer bed and spaced reaRwardly of the flange means; means on the positioning bed to orient bales and deliver them to the transfer bed in predetermined arrangement to product a single layer stack; the transfer bed being tiltable about a horizontal axis adjacent to its rear edge to a vertical position and being bodily movable along a horizontal path toward the load bed to transfer the layer thereto in vertical position; a load fork including means for engaging one side of a layer of bales, said means extending normal to the plane of the load bed and movable progressively rearwardly to accommodate additional layers as a full butt is constructed on the load bed; the latter being tiltable about a horizontal axis laterally of the frame to place the butt in vertical attitude; and power means to move the load fork to a raised position.