Bale-accumulating trailer

A bale accumulator for use in combination with a baler having a discharge, comprising:

• a first frame connectable to the baler, wherein the first frame includes a connector at a forward end thereof for mounting to the baler;
• a dumping frame pivotably mounted to the first frame for movement between a bale accumulating position and a bale dumping position;
• a bale transfer mechanism movably mounted to the accumulator for receiving a formed bale from the discharge of the baler and for moving the bale onto the dumping frame;
• an operating device for moving the dumping frame between its bale accumulating and bale dumping positions;
• and
• an arrangement interconnected with the connector for preventing operation of the bale accumulator if the angle between the baler and the bale accumulator exceeds a predetermined threshold.

A bale accumulator for use in combination with a baler having a discharge, comprising:

• a first frame connectable to the baler;
• a dumping frame pivotably mounted to the first frame for movement between a bale accumulating position and a bale dumping position, wherein the dumping frame includes a stop portion located toward a rearward end thereof for preventing bales from moving off the dumping frame when the dumping frame is in its bale accumulating position;
• a bale transfer mechanism movably mounted to the accumulator for receiving a formed bale from the discharge of the baler and for moving the bale onto the dumping frame;
• and
• an operating device for moving the dumping frame between its bale accumulating and bale dumping positions.

A bale accumulator for use in combination with a baler having a discharge, comprising:

• a first frame connectable to the baler;
• a dumping frame pivotably mounted to the first frame for movement between a bale accumulating position and a bale dumping position;
• a bale transfer mechanism movably mounted to the accumulator for receiving a formed bale from the discharge of the baler and for moving the bale onto the dumping frame, wherein the bale transfer mechanism includes a carriage and a bale receiver movable between a forward bale receiving position for receiving a bale upon discharge from the baler, and a rearward transfer position in which the carriage functions to place the bale onto the dumping frame;
• and
• an operating device for moving the dumping frame between its bale accumulating and bale dumping positions.

A bale accumulator for use in combination with a baler having a discharge, comprising:

• a first frame connectable to the baler;
• a dumping frame pivotably mounted to the first frame for movement between a bale accumulating position and a bale dumping position;
• a bale transfer mechanism movably mounted to the accumulator for receiving a formed bale from the discharge of the baler and for moving the bale onto the dumping frame;
• and
• an operating device for moving the dumping frame between its bale accumulating and bale dumping positions;
• wherein the first frame includes a forward end portion located adjacent the baler discharge for supporting the bale transfer mechanism when receiving a formed bale from the discharge of the baler, wherein a forward end of the dumping frame is located rearwardly of the first frame forward end portion, and wherein the dumping frame includes a rear end portion which extends rearwardly of a rearward end of the first frame for supporting the bales when the dumping frame is moved to its dumping position as the bales are moved rearwardly on the dumping frame.

A bale accumulator for use in combination with a baler having a discharge for accumulating bales discharged from the baler, comprising:

• a fixed frame having a set of ground-engaging wheels mounted thereto;
• a dumping frame pivotably mounted to the fixed frame and being constructed so as to support a plurality of bales;
• a dumping frame actuator interposed between the fixed frame and the dumping frame for moving the dumping frame between a loading position and a tilted dumping position;
• a bale transfer mechanism for receiving bales discharged from the baler and moving the bales back to the dumping frame, including a carriage;
• a carriage actuator for moving the carriage between a forward position and a rearward position;
• a bale receiver pivotably mounted to the carriage for movement about a pivot axis between a bale receiving position in which the bale receiver is positioned so as to receive a bale from the discharge of the baler, and an upright position;
• and a bale receiver actuator for moving the bale receiver from its bale receiving position to its upright position;
• wherein movement of the bale receiver to its upright position and movement of the carriage to its rearward position functions to move a bale from the discharge of the baler onto the dumping frame.

A method of handling formed bales subsequent to discharge from a baler, comprising the steps of:

• attaching a fixed frame to the baler, the fixed frame extending along a longitudinal front-rear axis and having a dumping frame pivotably mounted thereto for pivoting movement about a pivot axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fixed frame;
• receiving the bales on a movable bale transfer mechanism upon discharge of the bales from the baler;
• moving the bale transfer mechanism from a forward bale receiving position for receiving a bale from the baler, to a rearward bale transfer position to move the bale onto the dumping frame;
• and
• pivoting the dumping frame about the dumping frame pivot axis relative to the fixed frame to a bale dumping position wherein bales on the dumping frame are discharged onto the ground.

A method of handling formed bales subsequent to discharge from a baler comprising the steps of:

• attaching a fixed frame to the baler, the fixed frame having a dumping frame pivotably mounted thereto;
• receiving the bales on a movable bale transfer mechanism upon discharge of the bales from the baler by depositing each bale upon discharge from the baler onto a bale receiver which is pivotably mounted to a movable carriage for movement between a bale receiving position and an upright position;
• moving the bale transfer mechanism such that each bale is moved onto the dumping frame by moving the bale receiver to its upright position and moving the carriage away from the baler and toward the dumping frame;
• and
• pivoting the dumping frame relative to the fixed frame such that bales on the dumping frame are discharged onto the ground.

A bale accumulator for use in combination with a baler having a discharge, comprising:

• a first frame connectable to the baler and extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a dumping frame pivotably mounted to the first frame for movement about a pivot axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first frame, between a bale accumulating position and a bale dumping position;
• a bale transfer mechanism movably mounted to the accumulator for movement between a forward bale receiving position in which the bale transfer mechanism receives a formed bale from the discharge of the balers and a rearward bale transfer position in which the bale transfer mechanism moves the bale rearwardly onto the dumping frame;
• and
• an operating device for moving the dumping frame between its bale accumulating and bale dumping positions.