Bale feeder device

Claim 1

A bale feeder device for use with a grinder mixer apparatus having a mobile chassis and having a mixing tank and a hammer mill mounted on said chassis, said device including: an elongate substantially flat table structure having a material receiving end and having a discharge end, means swingably mounting said bale feed device on said chassis for swinging movement between an operative position and an inoperative position, said table structure when in the operative position projecting outwardly from the chassis and having its discharge end positioned adjacent the inlet of the hammer mill, and said table structure when in the inoperative position being supported upon the chassis, an elongate endless conveyor mechanism mounted on said table and extending longitudinally thereof and having bale engaging elements thereon for engaging a bale of hay to continuously forceably rip slab portions of hay from the bale, a feed chute mounted on said table structure adjacent said material receiving end and projecting upwardly therefrom, said feed chute having a cross-sectional size slightly larger than the cross section of a bale of hay and receiving a bale of hay therein to position the bale of hay so that one end of the latter is disposed closely adjacent the table structure, a driven slab feeder roll mounted on said table structure closely adjacent and forwardly of said feed chute and being positioned above said conveyor, said slab feeder roll cooperating with said conveyor mechanism to cause slab portions of hay to be conveyed toward said discharge end, a feed roller mounted on the table structure adjacent the discharge end and cooperating with said conveyor mechanism to cause the slabs of hay material to be impelled into the hammer mill.