US3724684A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bale relocator mechanism for a bale wagon
Assignee: Unisys Corp
•
Filing: 1971-12-22
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Granted: 1973-04-03
•
Expires: 1991-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A bale relocator mechanism for engaging and repositioning selected bales on a bale wagon. The bale relocator mechanism of the present invention is disclosed in the form of two species, each species being adapted for employment within a bale wagon having a first receiving table adapted to receive bales and transfer the bales received to a rearwardly disposed transfer table where the bales are accumulated into a tier, at which point the transfer table functions to transfer each tier to a rearwardly disposed load bed to form a stack of side-by-side tiers thereon. The first species comprises a hydraulically powered finger structure pivotally mounted about a longitudinally extending axis beneath the transfer table of the bale wagon and operative to move through an opening therein for engaging and laterally repositioning an overlying bale. A fence structure is situated along one side of said transfer table in spaced apart relationship to said finger structure to limit the lateral movement of the bale being repositioned. The second species comprises a mechanically actuated finger structure that is associated with the receiving table of the bale wagon. The finger structure of the second species is carried by a laterally extending connecting rod, the fingers of the finger structure being pivotally mounted thereon and aligned for engagement with a series of cams. The connecting rod is moved laterally, causing said fingers to contact said cams and move upwardly engaging and repositioning a bale thereover, by a bell crank engaging a trap door as said receiving table is pivoted upwardly to deposit bales thereon on said transfer table. As with the first species, a fence structure is provided along one side of said transfer table to maintain the outer ends of the bales repositioned within limits.
Inventors
- 👤 G Butler
- 👤 G Sipe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:37
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D90/00; A01D90/02; A01D90/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
In a bale wagon having a generally longitudinally extending wheel mounted chassis, a load bed pivotally mounted about a transverse axis to said chassis and having power means associated therewith for pivoting saId load bed from a generally normal horizontal position to a vertical position, tier forming means mounted adjacent said load bed and adapted to receive bales thereon and to form the bales into tiers, means for depositing the tiers formed on said tier forming means on said load bed to form a stack thereon, a bale relocating mechanism associated with said tier forming means for repositioning selected bales on said tier forming means, said bale relocating mechanism comprising: a. finger means, b. means for mounting said finger means for lateral movement relative to said tier forming means for selectively engaging and repositioning a bale situated on said tier forming means, c. a fence stationed along one side of said tier forming means and laterally spaced from said finger means for limiting the repositional movement of the bale being acted upon by said finger means, and d. means for actuating said finger means for engagement with a bale situated on said tier forming means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
In a bale wagon having a generally longitudinally extending wheel mounted chassis, a load bed pivotally mounted about a transverse axis to said chassis and having power means associated therewith for pivoting saId load bed from a generally normal horizontal position to a vertical position, tier forming means mounted adjacent said load bed and adapted to receive bales thereon and to form the bales into tiers, means for depositing the tiers formed on said tier forming means on said load bed to form a stack thereon, a bale relocating mechanism associated with said tier forming means for repositioning selected bales on said tier forming means, said bale relocating mechanism comprising: a. finger means, b. means for mounting said finger means for lateral movement relative to said tier forming means for selectively engaging and repositioning a bale situated on said tier forming means, c. a fence stationed along one side of said tier forming means and laterally spaced from said finger means for limiting the repositional movement of the bale being acted upon by said finger means, and d. means for actuating said finger means for engagement with a bale situated on said tier forming means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
133 words
A bale wagon, as recited in claim 1, wherein said tier forming means comprises a transfer table pivotally mounted about a transverse axis adjacent said load bed, and a receiving table pivotally mounted about a transverse axis forwardly of said transfer table, said receiving table, transfer table and load rack arranged in tandem with said receiving table adapted to receive bales and deposit the received bales on said transfer table to form a tier of bales thereon, and said transfer table adapted to pivot upwardly to deposit each tier formed thereon on said load rack to form a stack, and wherein said finger means is mounted beneath said transfer table and is operatively disposed thereunder to move through an opening in said transfer table for engaging and repositioning a bale overlying said opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
185 words
A bale wagon, as recited in claim 1, wherein said tier forming means includes a transfer table mounted about a transverse axis forwardly of said load bed and a receiving table pivotally mounted about a transverse axis forwardly of said transfer table, said receiving table, transfer table and load bed being tandemly arranged such that all three cooperate to receive bales and form a stack on said load bed, said cooperation including the receiving of bales by said receiving table and the depositing of said received bales by the receiving table on said transfer table wherein a tier of bales is accumulated thereon and deposited on said load bed to form a stack of side by side generally upstanding tiers on said load bed, and wherein said bale repositioning mechanism is disposed on said receiving table and wherein said actuating means is operatively connected to said finger means for actuating said finger means in response to the upward pivotal movement of said receiving table, whereby at least one bale thereon is engaged and repositioned against said fence station along one side of tier forming means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a bale wagon having a wheel mounted chassis structure, a load bed pivotally mounted to said chassis structure, tier forming means disposed adjacent said load bed and adapted to receive and accumulate bales thereon to form a tier of bales, means for transferring the formed tiers on said tier forming means to said load bed, a bale relocating mechanism for engaging and repositioning selected bales on said tier forming means, comprising: a. finger means, b. means for mounting said finger means for lateral back and forth movement relative to said tier forming means for selectively engaging and repositioning at least one selected bale on said tier forming means, and c. means for actuating said finger means for selective engagement with said bale to reposition the same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a bale wagon having a wheel mounted chassis structure, a load bed pivotally mounted to said chassis structure, tier forming means disposed adjacent said load bed and adapted to receive and accumulate bales thereon to form a tier of bales, means for transferring the formed tiers on said tier forming means to said load bed, a bale relocating mechanism for engaging and repositioning selected bales on said tier forming means, comprising: a. finger means, b. means for mounting said finger means for lateral back and forth movement relative to said tier forming means for selectively engaging and repositioning at least one selected bale on said tier forming means, and c. means for actuating said finger means for selective engagement with said bale to reposition the same.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A bale wagon, as recited in claim 4, wherein a fence structure is situated along one side of said tier forming means and laterally spaced from said finger means, said fence structure being provided thereon to limit the lateral extension of the bales repositioned by said finger means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
A bale wagon, as recited in claim 4, wherein said tier forming means includes a table support, and wherein said means for mounting said finger means includes means for pivotally mounting said finger means about a longitudinal axis relative to said bale wagon, and wherein said axis is spaced below said table support and moveable through an opening formed therein for engagement with a bale overlying said opening upon the actuation of said finger means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A bale wagon, as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for actuating said finger means includes a hydraulically powered cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
A bale wagon, as recited in claim 4, wherein said finger means includes first and second members pivotally secured together about inner portions of each member, and wherein one of said members is spring biased to a normal position of general radial alignment with said other member but is yieldable in one direction for returning to an initial position without returning the repositioned bale to its initial position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
A bale wagon, as recited in claim 4, wherein said tier forming means includes a support table and wherein said finger means are normally spaced below an opening therein; said means for mounting said finger means including a transversely extending support structure having said finger means pivotally mounted thereon; and wherein said actuating means includes cam means aligned with said finger means, and means for shifting said support member laterally, causing said finger means to engage said cam means and pivot said finger means upwardly through said opening, engaging and repositioning an overlying bale.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A bale wagon, as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for actuating said finger means includes a pivotally mounted bell crank having one end pivotally connected to said transversely extending support member and the other end disposed adjacent a trip that is fixed to said chassis structure such that upon the pivotal movement of said support table, said trip pivots said bell crank causing said support member to be shifted laterally, causing the finger means to engage and reposition an overlying bale.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A bale wagon, as recited in claim 10, wherein biasing means is interconnected between said chassis structure and said bale relocator mechanism for returning said finger means to an initial position after each bale is relocated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A bale wagon, as recited in claim 11, wherein said biasing means includes a spring fixed at one extremity to said chassis structure and connected at the other extremity to said pivotally mounted bell crank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
118 words
A bale relocator mechanism for a bale wagon comprising: a generally flat support table having an opening therein; means for transferring bales to said support table such that at least one bale transformed thereto lies over said opening; a finger means pivotally mounted beneath said support table about a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to the longitudinal center line of said bale wagon; a fence structure situated about one side of said support table and laterally spaced from said finger means; and means for pivoting said finger means about said longitudinal axis, causing a portion of said finger means to move through the opening in said support table, engaging and repositioning the overlying bale against said fence structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
A bale relocator mechanism for a bale wagon comprising: a generally flat support table having an opening therein; means for transferring bales to said support table such that at least one bale transformed thereto lies over said opening; a finger means pivotally mounted beneath said support table about a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to the longitudinal center line of said bale wagon; a fence structure situated about one side of said support table and laterally spaced from said finger means; and means for pivoting said finger means about said longitudinal axis, causing a portion of said finger means to move through the opening in said support table, engaging and repositioning the overlying bale against said fence structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
A bale wagon as recited in claim 13, wherein said support table forms a transfer medium between a receiving table and a load bed, both pivotally mounted about separate transverse axes, whereby said support table functions to accumulate bales thereon and transfer the bales in the form of tiers to said load bed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A bale wagon, as recited in claim 13, wherein said fence structure includes a generally vertically disposed stop member having a support member fixed thereto and adjustably secured to said support table such that the relative position of said fence structure may be adjusted relative to said support table and said finger means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
108 words
A bale wagon, as recited in claim 13, wherein said finger means includes upper and lower members pivotally secured together, said upper member being maintained in general radial alignment with said lower member when engaging and repositioning a bale, said upper member being further yieldable when returning to an initial position such that the engagement of the upper member with an overlying bale results in said upper member pivoting and thereby being ineffective to move the already repositioned bale overlying said opening, said upper member further being spring biased to assume the radial aligned position for engaging and repositioning a bale as it moves from said initial position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
A bale wagon as recited in claim 13, wherein said means for actuating said finger means comprises a hydraulic power cylinder anchored to said support table and having its rod end operatively connected to said finger means for pivoting said finger means back and forth about said longitudinal axis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
158 words
A bale relocator mechanism for a bale wagon comprising: a support table having an opening therein and pivotally mounted for movement between a generally horizontally receiving position and a vertical depositing position; means for pivoting said support table from said horizontal position to said vertical position; an elongated rod structure moveably mounted beneath said opening in said support table; a plurality of finger means laterally spaced and pivotally mounted on said elongated rod structure; cam means fixed relative to said support table and aligned with said finger means for engagement therewith, the cams being spaced such that the engagement of said cams with said finger means causes said finger means to pivot up through said support table for engagement with a bale overlying said opening therein; and means for actuating said elongated rod structure for back and forth lateral movement in response to the upward pivoting of said support table from said horizontal position to said vertical position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
158 words
A bale relocator mechanism for a bale wagon comprising: a support table having an opening therein and pivotally mounted for movement between a generally horizontally receiving position and a vertical depositing position; means for pivoting said support table from said horizontal position to said vertical position; an elongated rod structure moveably mounted beneath said opening in said support table; a plurality of finger means laterally spaced and pivotally mounted on said elongated rod structure; cam means fixed relative to said support table and aligned with said finger means for engagement therewith, the cams being spaced such that the engagement of said cams with said finger means causes said finger means to pivot up through said support table for engagement with a bale overlying said opening therein; and means for actuating said elongated rod structure for back and forth lateral movement in response to the upward pivoting of said support table from said horizontal position to said vertical position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
A bale wagon, as recited in claim 18, wherein said means for actuating said elongated rod structure in response to the pivoting of said support table includes a bell crank pivotally mounted and engageable with a trip arm extending from a chassis structure supporting the bale wagon and generally underlying said support table.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
329 words
A bale relocator mechanism for a bale wagon comprising: a generally longitudinally extending wheel supported chassis, a load bed pivotally mounted about a transverse axis to the rear portion of said chassis and tiltable from generally horizontal load receiving position to a generally vertical stacking position; a transfer table pivotally mounted about a transverse axis forwardly of said load bed and adapted to receive bales thereon to accumulate the bales received into a tier and to pivot from a generally horizontal position to a vertical position where said tiers are deposited on said load bed; a receiving table pivotally mounted about a transverse axis forwardly of said transfer table and adapted to receive bales and deposit said bales in succession to the forward portion of said transfer table; a bale pickup device offset to one side of said chassis structure adjacent one end of said receiving table for picking up bales from the field and delivering the picked up bales to said receiving means; the improvement comprising a bale relocator mechanism for association with said transfer table comprising a generally elongated finger pivotally mounted about a longitudinal axis below said transfer table and moveable in an arcuaTe path from an initial position, through an opening in said transfer table where a bale overlying said opening is engaged by said finger means and shifted laterally towards an outer side of said transfer table; said finger being further operatively to return to said initial position and being pivotally mounted, said finger member being comprised to sub-members pivotally secured together such that the upper sub-member will yield when contacting the already repositioned bale as the finger returns to said initial position; a fence structure disposed about the outer side of said support table and spaced laterally from said finger for limiting the outer protrusion of the bale being repositioned; an hydraulic cylinder means anchored beneath said support table and operatively connected to said finger for actuating said finger to reposition selected bales.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
329 words
A bale relocator mechanism for a bale wagon comprising: a generally longitudinally extending wheel supported chassis, a load bed pivotally mounted about a transverse axis to the rear portion of said chassis and tiltable from generally horizontal load receiving position to a generally vertical stacking position; a transfer table pivotally mounted about a transverse axis forwardly of said load bed and adapted to receive bales thereon to accumulate the bales received into a tier and to pivot from a generally horizontal position to a vertical position where said tiers are deposited on said load bed; a receiving table pivotally mounted about a transverse axis forwardly of said transfer table and adapted to receive bales and deposit said bales in succession to the forward portion of said transfer table; a bale pickup device offset to one side of said chassis structure adjacent one end of said receiving table for picking up bales from the field and delivering the picked up bales to said receiving means; the improvement comprising a bale relocator mechanism for association with said transfer table comprising a generally elongated finger pivotally mounted about a longitudinal axis below said transfer table and moveable in an arcuaTe path from an initial position, through an opening in said transfer table where a bale overlying said opening is engaged by said finger means and shifted laterally towards an outer side of said transfer table; said finger being further operatively to return to said initial position and being pivotally mounted, said finger member being comprised to sub-members pivotally secured together such that the upper sub-member will yield when contacting the already repositioned bale as the finger returns to said initial position; a fence structure disposed about the outer side of said support table and spaced laterally from said finger for limiting the outer protrusion of the bale being repositioned; an hydraulic cylinder means anchored beneath said support table and operatively connected to said finger for actuating said finger to reposition selected bales.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3664519A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-02 | 1976-10-02 | 1977-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-02 | 1980-10-02 | 1981-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-02 | 1984-10-02 | 1985-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |