Bale handling apparatus

Claim 1

Bale handling apparatus including a frame portion, a bale moving portion, a bale engaging portion and a control portion; said frame portion including a base section, said base section including a pair of substantially parallel spaced side members, said frame portion also including means for pivotally connecting said apparatus to a vehicle; said bale moving portion including rotatable means extending between said side members of said base section, said rotatable means being disposed along said side members of said base section, said rotatable means including a plurality of spaced parallel roller means with a plurality of raised portions, the roller means adjacent the free ends of said side members being disposed inside the nip of said bale and the outer layer thereof; said bale engaging portion including a plurality of spaced hook means pivotally connected to said frame portion adjacent one edge thereof, said hook means being oriented substantially parallel to said side members of said base section, said hook means being of a length substantially the same as said side members; said control portion including means for driving said rotatable means, means for pivoting said hook means with respect to said base section and means for changing the position of said base section; whereby when said apparatus is attached to a vehicle, a round bale may be positioned on said apparatus by tilting said base section and grasping said bale between said hook means and said base section, and said bale may be opened and distributed by raising said base section and driving said rotatable means to unroll said bale.