Apparatus for forming a plurality of bales into a stack of predetermined size

Claim 1

Apparatus for forming a quantity of bales into a stack of predetermined size comprising in combination a support, a slideway on the support, a bale receiving platform pivotally mounted on the support between a raised bale discharge position in alignment with the slideway and a position in alignment with a baling machine for receiving a bale therefrom means for automatically raising said bale receiving platform to the bale discharge position each time a bale is received thereby, catch means on the support in position to engage the bale at the bale discharge position for retaining a bale in the position to which it is raised by the bale receiving platform into engagement therewith until it is raised further by a successive bale being raised by the bale receiving platform, means for automatically lowering the platform after the bale is engaged by the catch means for receiving a further bale, means for automatically moving laterally onto the slideway at least one vertical row of bales in response to the raising of a predetermined number of bales by the bale receiving platform and to permit further vertical rows of bales to be formed by the bale receiving platform, means for automatically drawing a binding element in response to the completion of a predetermined number of vertical rows and for automatically securing the binding element around the predetermined number of rows to form a stack after said predetermined number of rows have been moved onto the slideway.