Large bale handling apparatus

An improved bale loading mechanism for a large bale handling apparatus that comprises an offset wheeled trailer pulled by a tractor, a bale accumulating platform on the trailer, and a bale loading mechanism at the front of the apparatus that picks up and deposits the bales on the accumulating platform as the apparatus is pulled over a field, the bale loading mechanism comprising:

• a loading platform pivotally mounted at an inner end thereof to the front of the accumulating platform for movement between a lowered position, wherein the loading platform extends downwardly toward the ground, and a raised position wherein the loading platform extends forwardly from the front of the accumulating platform at an upwardly inclined angle;
• pair of pick-up arms pivotally mounted on laterally opposite sides of the loading platform and extending outwardly therefrom for movement in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the loading platform, the pick-up arms being pivotal between a gripping position, wherein the arms are pivoted inwardly in position to grip the ends of bales positioned between the arms, and an open position, wherein the arms are pivoted in an outwardly inclined position with respect to the loading platform, such that the arms in their open position serve as inclined alignment members that engage a bale that is out of orientation or alignment with the loading platform in its lowered position and move the bale into orientation and alignment with the loading platform as the apparatus is pushed forwardly against the bale;
• grab hook means for holding bales to the loading platform, the grab hook means comprising at least one hook pivotally mounted to the loading platform for movement between a retracted position, wherein the hook does not interfere with the movement of a bale on the loading platform, and an extended position, wherein the hook extends outwardly from a front face of the loading platform, such that the hook penetrates a bale positioned against the loading platform and restrains it from falling off the loading platform;
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• drive means for raising and lowering the loading platform, opening and closing the pick up arms, and extending and retracting the grab hook means.

Large hay bale handling apparatus adapted to be towed behind a tractor comprising:

• a wheeled trailer comprising a frame mounted on wheels and having hitch means for attaching the trailer to the tractor, the hitch means having an offset position wherein the trailer frame is positioned to one side of the tractor as the tractor moves along a path in a forward direction, the frame having a front facing in the direction of forward movement of the tractor and a rear facing in the opposite direction;
• a generally flat accumulating platform pivotally mounted on the frame about a pivot axis adjacent the rear of the frame, the accumulating platform being pivotal in a rearward direction with respect to the direction of forward tractor movement between a lowered position, wherein the accumulating platform is inclined downwardly toward the rear of the frame, and a raised position, wherein the accumulating platform is in a generally vertical position at the rear of the frame, the accumulating platform having a rear end that abuts the ground at the rear of the frame when the accumulating platform pivots into its vertical position, the accumulating platform including retainer means at the rear end thereof for preventing the large bales from sliding off the rear end of the accumulating platform;
• drive means for moving the accumulating platform between its lowered and raised positions;
• a bale loading mechanism pivotally mounted to the accumulating platform at a front end thereof, the loading mechanism comprising a loading platform pivotally mounted at an upper end thereof to the accumulating platform and having a distal end that abuts the ground when the loading platform is pivoted downwardly to a lowered position, the loading platform being pivotable from its lowered position to a raised position, wherein the loading platform is inclined downwardly toward the rear of the loading platform, the bale loading mechanism further comprising a pair of pick-up arms pivotally mounted on opposite lateral sides of the loading platform, the pick-up arms extending forwardly from the loading platform when the loading platform is in its lowered position, the pick-up arms being pivotal in a plane generally perpendicular to the loading platform between an outwardly inclined position, wherein the pick-up arms orient and guide bales into aligned contact with the loading platform, and a bale grasping position, wherein the arms are pivoted inwardly until they grasp securely the ends of a bale and prevent it from sliding off the front of the loading platform while the loading platform is raised to its raised position, the inclination of the accumulating platform in its lowered position and the inclination of the loading platform in its raised position being such that bales picked up by the bale loading mechanism slide rearwardly under the influence of gravity from the loading platform to the rearmost available storage location on the accumulating platform when the platform is not already full, the loading platform then being returnable to its lowered position for picking up another bale, the loading platform being tiltable rearwardly to a vertical position along with the accumulating platform to reorient the horizontally positioned row of bales on the bale handling apparatus to a stacked vertical position on the ground at the rear of the apparatus;
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• drive means for moving the loading platform between its lowered and raised positions and for pivoting the pick-up arms inwardly and outwardly.