Apparatus for handling bales

Claim 2

A mobile hay baler and palletizer comprising a mobile frame, a baler operably associated with said frame, a movable baler chute positionably mounted on said frame and alignable in one position with the output of said baler, receiving means on said frame for receiving rows of bales, and traversing and lifting means operably associated with said chute for moving the same into a plurality of positions and thereafter orienting said chute for depositing the bales therefrom, hydraulic cylinder means including an extensible hydraulic piston, extending between the traversing means and the chute, the chute being pivotally secured to the traversing means whereby the chute may be pivoted for depositing the bales therefrom by extension of the piston.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 in which said mobile frame is also equipped with a cylinder and piston rod unit for interrupting the flow of bales from said baler to said chute to provide time for sequencing the movements of said chute.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 1 in which said receiving means is a wheel-equipped pallet removably supported within said mobile frame.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 1 in which said traversing means includes elongated rack means on said frame, pinion means operatively associated with said rack means for longitudinal movement therealong, and means connecting the pinion means to the chute.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 4 in which said rack means is mounted, for vertical movement along said frame, said lifting means including a winch for raising and lowering the rack means.

Claim 7

Apparatus for handling hay bales comprising a self propelled, mobile frame, a baler on said frame, a horizontal pallet removably supported on said frame, a movable baler chute positionably mounted on said frame and alignable in one position with the output of said baler to receive a plurality of bales sufficient to make up one longitudinal row on said pallet, said frame being equipped with traversing, lifting and dumping means coupled to said chute to deposit rows of bales in stacks in side by side relation on said pallet, said frame being equipped with control means for programming the traversing, lifting and dumping means to provide a rectangular solid arrangement of bales on said horizontal pallet, and winch means on said frame for raising and lowering said pallet whereby said pallet is adapted to travel with said frame during baling and after completion of loading be deposited on the ground for subsequent removal without the need for reaccumulation of bales and without the need for substantial interruption of the operation of the baler.

Claim 8

Apparatus for handling hay bales comprising a self propelled, mobile frame, a baler on said frame, a horizontal pallet removably supported on said frame, a movable baler chute positionably mounted on said frame and alignable in one position with the output of said baler to receive a plurality of bales sufficient to make up one longitudinal row on said pallet, said frame being equipped with traversing, lifting and dumping means coupled to said chute to deposit rows of bales in stacks in side by side relation on said pallet, said frame being equipped with control means for programming the traversing, lifting and dumping means to provide a rectangular solid arrangement of bales on said horizontal pallet, and winch means on said frame for raising and lowering said pallet whereby said pallet is adapted to travel with said frame during baling and after completion of loading be deposited on the ground for subsequent removal without the need for reaccumulation of bales and without the need for substantial interruption of the operation of the baler.