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US 2006/0188363 A1Published application
Automatic robotic big bale loader, hauler and stacker
AssigneeCNH America LLC
InventorEdward Priepke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A large rectangular bale loading, hauling and stacking vehicle that mounts on a production truck chassis. Loading is accomplished with a bale manipulator that can selectively pick up and rotate bales, depositing them in tiers on a load rack, some in tie tiers. The manipulator works in conjunction with a transverse pivoting mast along the length of which the manipulator is selectively movable. A stack of bales is thus formed on the load rack and later deposited at a storage site.
Claims25
A vehicle for loading, hauling and stacking large rectangular bales comprising:
- an elongate fore-and-aft extending truck chassis having a first end, an opposing second end and a longitudinal axis;
- an elongate load rack with a front end and an opposing rear end, said front end adjacent, but spaced from, said first end of said chassis and extending toward said second end of said chassis, said rear end of said load rack generally adjacent said second end of said chassis, said load rack further having a generally planar bale-supporting surface;
- a bale manipulation mechanism supported by said chassis generally between said first end of said chassis and said front end of said load rack;
- said bale manipulation mechanism including:
- an elongate mast having a inward end and an opposing outward end, said mast pivotably supported by said chassis adjacent said inward end of said mast for rotation in a plane generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said chassis;
- a carrier attached to said mast for selective movement along the length of said mast generally between said inward and outward ends;
- a pivoting device affixed to said carrier, said pivoting device selectively pivotable between a first position directed generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said chassis and a second position generally 90 degrees downwardly;
- a rotation mechanism affixed to said carrier and movable therewith, said rotation mechanism having a faceplate affixed thereto, said rotation mechanism capable of selectively rotating said faceplate at least 135 degrees;
- a bale grasping device affixed to said faceplate and capable of grasping and holding a bale during manipulation thereof;
- and
- a plurality of tines affixed to said rear end of said load rack, whereby said bale grasping device may grasp and pick up a single bale from the ground, lift it, move it toward said pivot location of said mast and selectively rotate the bale, and deposit it on said load rack, thereby building a stack of bales on said load rack.
8 more elements
A manipulation mechanism for large rectangular bales, comprising:
- an elongate wheel-supported chassis having a front end, an opposing rear end and a longitudinal axis;
- an elongate mast having a inward end and an opposing outward end, said mast pivotably supported by said chassis adjacent said inward end of said mast for rotation in a plane generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said chassis;
- a carrier attached to said mast for selective movement along the length of said mast generally between said inward and outward ends;
- a pivoting device affixed to said carrier, said pivoting device selectively pivotable between a first position directed generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said chassis and a second position generally 90 degrees rearwardly and upwardly;
- a rotation mechanism affixed to said carrier and movable therewith, said rotation mechanism device having a faceplate affixed thereto, said rotation mechanism capable of selectively rotating said faceplate at least 135 degrees;
- a bale grasping device affixed to said faceplate and capable of grasping and holding a bale during manipulation thereof;
- and
- a plurality of tines affixed to said rear end of said load rack, whereby said bale grasping device may grasp and pick up a single bale from the ground, lift it, move it toward said pivot location of said mast and selectively rotate the bale, and deposit it on said load rack, thereby building a stack of bales on said load rack.
5 more elements
A manipulation mechanism for large rectangular bales, comprising:
- an elongate fore-and-aft extending wheel-supported chassis having a first end, an opposing second end and a longitudinal axis;
- an elongate mast with a first end and an opposing second end pivotably affixed to said chassis for selective rotation in a plane generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;
- a carrier affixed to said mast and selectively movable along the length thereof generally between said first and second ends thereof;
- a pivoting device affixed to said carrier, said pivoting device selectively pivotable between a first position directed generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said chassis and a second position generally 90 degrees;
- a rotation mechanism affixed to said carrier and movable therewith, said rotation mechanism having a faceplate affixed thereto, said rotation mechanism capable of selectively rotating said faceplate at least 135 degrees;
- a bale grasping device affixed to said faceplate and capable of grasping and holding a bale during manipulation thereof, whereby bales may be picked up and manipulated.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.