Bale Handling Apparatus and Method

A method of handling a bale comprising:

• freeing at least one bale including
• lowering two parallel support members having cooperating flaps in a closed position, the flaps supporting a bale engaged therebetween, until the bale touches the ground;
• pivoting the cooperating flaps on the support members into an open position to substantially free the bale from the flaps;
• and
• longitudinally disengaging the pivoted flaps from the bale.

A bale handler comprising:

• a mobile frame including at least a pair of parallel spaced apart support members, the support members capable of being jointly raised and lowered, and defining a bale reception area therebetween;
• at least two cooperating flaps, one on each member, each flap having a free edge and being upwardly pivotable between
• a closed position of the flaps in which each flap extends towards the bale reception area, whereby the cooperating flaps can engage and support the weight of at least one bale, and
• an open position where the bale is substantially free from the flaps.