Trailer with multiple bale elevating apparatus and method of bale handling

A multiple bale handling apparatus comprising:

• (a) an elongated mobile frame;
• (b) conveyor means extending along said frame, said conveyor means being capable of supporting a plurality of bales therealong;
• (c) elevator platform means extending along said frame;
• (d) elevating means mounted on said frame, connected to said platform means, and operable to elevate said platform means with a bale thereon from a position wherein said bale is resting on said conveying means to a height above said conveying means permitting additional bales to be received on said conveyor means, whereby said frame supports bales in upper and lower layers simultaneously for transport;
• (e) said platform means including a platform section extending along each side of said conveyor means;
• (f) said frame including at least one standard associated with each platform section, said standard including opposite side surfaces;
• (g) each platform section including guide means connected thereto, said guide means including a pair of spaced apart rollers;
• and
• (h) said rollers engaging respective opposite side surfaces of said standard in a manner to resist rotation of said platform section about a horizontal axis during elevation of said platform means.

A multiple bale handling apparatus comprising:

• (a) an elongated mobile frame;
• (b) conveyor means extending along said frame, said conveyor means being capable of supporting a plurality of bales therealong;
• (c) elevator platform means extending along said frame;
• (d) elevating means mounted on said frame, connected to said platform means, and operable to elevate said platform means with a bale thereon from a position wherein said bale is resting on said conveying means to a height above said conveying means permitting additional bales to be received on said conveyor means, whereby said frame supports bales in upper and lower layers simultaneously for transport;
• (e) said frame including a plurality of standards longitudinally spaced along opposite sides thereof;
• (f) said platform means including a pair of elongated platform sections extending respectively along opposite sides of said conveyor means;
• and
• (g) guide means are connected to each of said platform sections and engage respective standards to thereby maintain substantially horizontal orientation of said platform sections during elevation thereof;
• and said elevating means includes:
• (h) a pair of shafts rotatably supported on and extending longitudinally along respective opposite sides of said frame;
• (i) a sprocket mounted on each of said shafts;
• (j) an elevating chain associated with each shaft, engaged with the sprocket of said shaft, and connected to one of said platform sections for elevation thereof upon rotation of said sprocket;
• and
• (k) motor means operatively coupled with said shafts for rotation thereof to thereby effect elevation of said platform sections.

In a bale handling trailer for transporting large cylindrical bales and including an elongated trailer frame and bale conveyor means extending along said frame, the improvement comprising:

• (a) elevator platform means extending alongside said conveyor means;
• (b) elevating means mounted on said frame, connected to said platform means, and operable to elevate said platform means with a bale thereon to a height permitting additional bales to be received on said conveyor means below said bale on said platform means;
• said trailer frame including a plurality of standards spaced longitudinally along opposite sides thereof and said elevating means including;
• (c) a pair of elongated shafts rotatable supported at the upper ends of the standards extending along respective opposite sides of said trailer frame;
• (d) a plurality of elevating sprockets mounted at longitudinally spaced positions along each of said shafts;
• (e) a chain engaging each of said sprockets, each chain being operatively connected to said platform means;
• (f) a plurality of guide means mounted on said platform means, each guide means engaging a respective standard, said guide means being operative to maintain the substantially horizontal orientation of said platform means during elevation thereof;
• and
• (g) motor means operatively coupled to said shafts for rotation thereof to thereby effect elevation of said platform means.