Bale feeder
AssigneeFleischer Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsRussell E. Reyher, Randy Reyher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a bale feeder for breaking down large cylindrical bales of hay and like animal feeds and spreading it in rows for feeding. The bale feeder comprises a feeder body, a bale lifting means for lifting and positioning a bale within the feeder body, and a bale opening means providing superior dust and mold removal characteristics. The bale feeder is usually towed over the ground behind a vehicle. The bale feeder also includes anti-binding means for reducing the problem of cut twine and hay getting into and binding the cutting means and feed mechanisms.
Claims20
A bale feeder for opening a round bale of animal feed, said bale being held together by at least one length of twine, said bale feeder comprising:
- a feeder body for receiving the bale, said feeder body having a first side wall;
- a bale opening means including:
- an opening in the first side wall of the feeder body;
- an elongate rotor extending across the opening;
- cutting means distributed around and along the rotor and being fixed thereto for engaging the bale and cutting a portion thereof;
- a rotor drive means for rotating the rotor;
- a traveling bed arranged adjacent a bottom of the first side wall and interior to the feeder body for supporting the bale and for continuously feeding the bale into the cutting means, said traveling bed comprising at least one conveyor chain arranged substantially perpendicular to the elongate rotor, drive means for driving the conveyor chain comprising a first shaft and at least one sprocket mounted on the first shaft for engaging the at least one conveyor chain;
- and anti-binding means for preventing cut animal feed and twine from binding in the drive means, said anti-binding means comprising at least one cutting blade mounted on the feeder body adjacent the first shaft such that the at least one cutting blade lies adjacent and laterally of the at least one sprocket.
A bale feeder for opening a round bale of animal feed, said bale being held together by at least one length of twine, said bale feeder comprising:
- a feeder body for receiving the bale, said feeder body having a first side wall;
- a bale opening means including:
- an opening in the first side wall of the feeder body;
- an elongate rotor extending across the opening;
- cutting means distributed around and along the rotor and being fixed thereto for engaging the bale and cutting a portion thereof;
- a rotor drive means for rotating the rotor;
- a traveling bed arranged adjacent a bottom of the first side wall and interior to the feeder body for supporting the bale and for continuously feeding the bale into the cutting means, said traveling bed comprising:
- at least one conveyor chain arranged substantially perpendicular to the elongate rotor, drive means for driving the conveyor chain comprising a first shaft arranged adjacent the first wall, a second shaft spaced from the first shaft, and at least one sprocket mounted on each shaft for engaging the at least one conveyor chain;
- and anti-binding means for preventing cut animal feed and twine from binding in the drive means, said anti-binding means comprising at least one sleeve member arranged around and along at least a portion of at least one of the first and second shafts, said at least one sleeve member being arranged to rotate freely on said shaft.
A bale feeder for opening a round bale of animal feed, said bale being held together by at least one length of twine, said bale feeder comprising:
- a feeder body for receiving the bale, said feeder body having a a front wall, a rear wall spaced from the front wall, and a side wall extending therebetween;
- a bale opening means including:
- an opening in the side wall of the feeder body;
- an elongate rotor extending across the opening and having a first end and a second end arranged such that the first end lies adjacent the front wall and the second end lies adjacent the rear wall;
- cutting means distributed around and along the rotor and being fixed thereto for engaging the bale and cutting a portion thereof;
- a rotor drive means for rotating the rotor;
- a bale conveyor means for feeding the bale into the cutting means;
- and anti-binding means arranged at each end of the elongate rotor for preventing cut animal feed and twine from binding in the elongate rotor, said anti-binding means comprising a curved plate arranged at each end of the first and second ends of the elongate rotor, each said curved plate being fixed to a respective one of the front and rear sides of the feeder body and extending over a respective end of the elongate rotor and around at least a portion of a circumference thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.