US 4,215,964 AGranted

Bale-accumulating trailer

AssigneeHesston Corporation

InventorsThomas G. Schrag, Amos G. Hill, Howard R. Lohrentz

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Abstract

A three-bale load is accumulated on the trailer as bales issue from the rear of the baler, whereupon the accumulated bales may be dumped all at the same location or singly as may be desired. Successive bales issuing from the baler arrive at a central platform from which they are alternately distributed to laterally disposed side platforms in an automated procedure. Once a side platform receives its bale, lockout mechanism prevents the transfer device from presenting the side platform with another bale until such time as the previous bale has been dumped. Once a bale has been dumped from a platform, the transfer device is automatically actuated, if indeed the next bale is ready to be transferred, for loading of the next bale onto the awaiting side platform. Special mechanism is employed to actuate a hydraulic valve of the transfer device in alternately opposite directions, notwithstanding the fact that the triggering input from a sensor that perceives the arrival of the next bale on the center platform is always in the same direction.

Claims3

Dependent claims

In a bale-accumulating trailer for use in conjunction with a baler from which bales are successively discharged, said trailer having a first station disposed to receive said bales as they issue from the baler, a second station spaced and separate from said first station, and a transfer device normally operable in response to arrival of a bale at said first station to move the arrived bale from said first to said second station, the improvement comprising:

mechanism sensitive to the presence of an existing bale at said second station for preventing said operation of said device,
said mechanism including a bale-engaging element shiftable into and out of a position preventing operation of said device and located in disposition to be shifted to said position by a bale arriving at said second station,
said second station being tiltable out of a generally horizontal attitude for dumping a bale therefrom;
means for holding said first station against tilting with said second station such that the second station tilts relative to the first station;
means for releasably retaining said element in said position thereof during said tilting of the second station;
and
means for releasing said element from said retaining means and for shifting said element out of said position only upon complete return of said second station of said horizontal attitude whereby to thereupon cause operation of the device to clear said first station.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/860,152Filed 14 Dec 1977
Granted: 5 Aug 1980
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

A01D 85/005
Arrangements for making or setting stacks: forming groups of bales, e.g. bale sledges
A01D 90/08
Loading means: with bale-forming means additionally used for loading; with means for picking-up bales and transporting them into the vehicle
A01D 2085/007
Forming groups of bales, e.g. bale sledges: machines directly attached to a baler
A01D 2085/008
Forming groups of bales, e.g. bale sledges: making groups of bales just at horizontal level for leaving them on the field