US4006830A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hay bale stacker
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-12-08
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Granted: 1977-02-08
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Expires: 1995-12-08
Abstract
Abstract Bales are transferred to the hopper at the upper end of the device. Each bale trips a gate in the base of the hopper or bale receiving chamber which deposits the bale onto an inclined transfer chute, the base of which consists of a plurality of chute gates covering chutes leading to the bale forks at the base of the device. The first bale slides downwardly over the gates until the lowermost gate is reached. This gate pivots due to the weight of the bale and deposits it into the furthest chute adapted to receive only one bale. This bale holds this particular gate open at right angles to the remaining gates and the next bale strikes this gate whereupon the gate of the next chute opens due to the weight of the bale and the second bale enters the second chute which is adapted to receive two bales. This second bale slides to the bale fork at the base of this second chute and as it has cleared the second gate, this gate returns to the original position by spring means. The third bale also enters the second chute but holds the gate of the second chute in the open position so that the fourth bale is forced to enter the third chute which holds three bales. The process is repeated until all the chutes are full whereupon the forks trip and deposit the piled bales on the ground.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Knaggs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:39
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D85/00; A01D85/005; A01D2085/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A bale stacker for use in conjunction with a baler and a conveyor receiving bales from said baler and transferring same to said bale stacker; said bale stacker comprising in combination supporting framework, ground engaging means on each side of said framework, for facilitating the movement of said stacker along the ground, a bale receiving chamber formed on the upper side of said framework and receiving bales one at a time from the associated conveyor, an outlet gate hingedly mounted in the base of said chamber and forming said base, trip means actuated by the particular bale in said chamber to release said outlet gate, means to return said outlet gate to the closed position after said bale has passed therethrough, an inclined transfer chute extending from below said chamber downwardly and outwardly therefrom, a plurality of bale receiving chutes extending from the base of said transfer chute and being situated in side by side relationship substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said transfer chute, bale receiving forks at the bases of said bale receiving chutes, and automatically opening chute gates forming the base of said transfer chute, said chute gates including spring means normally urging the chute gates to the closed position the weight of a bale thereon opening said chute gates against the pressure of said spring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A bale stacker for use in conjunction with a baler and a conveyor receiving bales from said baler and transferring same to said bale stacker; said bale stacker comprising in combination supporting framework, ground engaging means on each side of said framework, for facilitating the movement of said stacker along the ground, a bale receiving chamber formed on the upper side of said framework and receiving bales one at a time from the associated conveyor, an outlet gate hingedly mounted in the base of said chamber and forming said base, trip means actuated by the particular bale in said chamber to release said outlet gate, means to return said outlet gate to the closed position after said bale has passed therethrough, an inclined transfer chute extending from below said chamber downwardly and outwardly therefrom, a plurality of bale receiving chutes extending from the base of said transfer chute and being situated in side by side relationship substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said transfer chute, bale receiving forks at the bases of said bale receiving chutes, and automatically opening chute gates forming the base of said transfer chute, said chute gates including spring means normally urging the chute gates to the closed position the weight of a bale thereon opening said chute gates against the pressure of said spring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
The bale stacker according to claim 1 in which said chute gates in said transfer chute are substantially rectangular when viewed in plan, said chute gates being pivoted to the sides of said transfer chute, intermediate the ends of said chute gates whereby each of said chute gates, when closed, partially extends over the entrance to two adjacent bale receiving chutes and form the floor of said transfer chute, and stop means maintaining said chute gates in the floor forming position when closed, said chute gates swinging through approximately 90° when fully open.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
The bale stacker according to claim 2 in which said chute gates include a forward portion forwardly of the pivotal mounting thereof and a rear portion rearwardly of the pivotal mounting thereof, said rear portion partially closing off one bale receiving chute, said front portion partially closing off the adjacent bale receiving chute, said front portion swinging downwardly against the upper side wall of said adjacent bale receiving chute, said rear portion swinging upwardly across said transfer chute thereby closing off said transfer chute when in the open position, the uppermost bale in said adjacent bale receiving chute, holding said chute gate in the open position when said adjacent chute is full.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The bale stacker according to claim 1 in which said outlet gate is hingedly secured to one longitudinal side of said bale receiving chamber, said outlet gate swinging downwardly into overlapping relationship with the chute gate adjacent thereto, when said chute gate is in the closed position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The bale stacker according to claim 2 in which said outlet gate is hingedly secured to one longitudinal side of said bale receiving chamber, said outlet gate swinging downwardly into overlapping relationship with the chute gate adjacent thereto, when said chute gate is in the closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The bale stacker according to claim 3 in which said outlet gate is hingedly secured to one longitudinal side of said bale receiving chamber, said outlet gate swinging downwardly into overlapping relationship with the rear portion of the chute gate adjacent thereto, when said chute gate is in the closed position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
127 words
The bale stacker according to claim 1 in which said bale receiving chamber includes an entry end and a closed end, said trip means including a spring loaded member mounted for sliding movement in the closed end and normally extending into said chamber, one end of the associated bale engaging said member, at least one latch normally holding said outlet gate in the closed position, and linkage means operatively connected between said member and said latch for releasing said latch when the associated bale engages said member as aforesaid, said means to return said outlet gate to the closed position comprising spring means operatively extending between said outlet gate and the framework forming said bale receiving chamber and normally urging said outlet gate towards the closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
The bale stacker according to claim 2 in which said bale receiving chamber includes an entry end and a closed end, said trip means including a spring loaded member mounted for sliding movement in the closed end and normally extending into said chamber, one end of the associated bale engaging said member, at least one latch normally holding said outlet gate in the closed position, and linkage means operatively connected between said member and said latch for releasing said latch when the associated bale engages said member as aforesaid, said means to return said outlet gate to the closed position comprising spring means operatively extending between said outlet gate and the framework forming said bale receiving chamber and normally urging said outlet gate towards the closed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
The bale stacker according to claim 3 in which said bale receiving chamber includes an entry end and a closed end, said trip means including a spring loaded member mounted for sliding movement in the closed end and normally extending into said chamber, one end of the associated bale engaging said member, at least one latch normally holding said outlet gate in the closed position, and linkage means operatively connected between said member and said latch for releasing said latch when the associated bale engages said member as aforesaid, said means to return said outlet gate to the closed position comprising spring means operatively extending between said outlet gate and the framework forming said bale receiving chamber and normally urging said outlet gate towards the closed position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
127 words
The bale stacker according to claim 4 in which said bale receiving chamber includes an entry end and a closed end, said trip means including a spring loaded member mounted for sliding movement in the closed end and normally extending into said chamber, one end of the associated bale engaging said member, at least one latch normally holding said outlet gate in the closed position, and linkage means operatively connected between said member and said latch for releasing said latch when the associated bale engages said member as aforesaid, said means to return said outlet gate to the closed position comprising spring means operatively extending between said outlet gate and the framework forming said bale receiving chamber and normally urging said outlet gate towards the closed position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
127 words
The bale stacker according to claim 5 in which said bale receiving chamber includes an entry end and a closed end, said trip means including a spring loaded member mounted for sliding movement in the closed end and normally extending into said chamber, one end of the associated bale engaging said member, at least one latch normally holding said outlet gate in the closed position, and linkage means operatively connected between said member and said latch for releasing said latch when the associated bale engages said member as aforesaid, said means to return said outlet gate to the closed position comprising spring means operatively extending between said outlet gate and the framework forming said bale receiving chamber and normally urging said outlet gate towards the closed position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-02-08 | 1980-08-09 | 1981-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-02-08 | 1984-08-09 | 1985-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-02-08 | 1988-08-09 | 1989-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |