Bale stacker

A bale stacker for forming a plurality of bales into a bale bundle comprising a predetermined number of bales, the bale stacker comprising:

• a compression chamber extending between an upstream opening and a downstream opening thereof, the bales being receivable in the compression chamber via the upstream opening and formable in the compression chamber into the bale bundle, the bale bundle being removable from the compression chamber via the downstream opening;
• a loading chamber in which said bales are positionable in respective columns proximal to the upstream opening, each said column comprising a preselected number of bales;
• a transfer assembly for moving said columns of said bales from the loading chamber into the compression chamber;
• the transfer assembly comprising a platen for engaging each said column of bales respectively, the platen being movable between a retracted position, in which the bales are movable into the loading chamber, and an extended position, in which each said respective column of bales is positionable by the platen at least partially in the compression chamber;
• at least one front door movable between a closed position, in which a front surface thereof is disposed for supporting said bales in each said column respectively located in the loading chamber, and an open position, in which each said column of bales is movable respectively through the upstream opening;
• and
• at least one controlling means for controlling movement of said at least one front door such that movement of the platen from the retracted position to the extended position results in movement of said at least one front door from the closed position to the open position respectively, and movement of the platen from the extended position to the retracted position results in movement of said at least one front door from the open position to the closed position respectively.

A bale stacker for forming a plurality of bales into a bale bundle comprising a predetermined number of bales, the bale stacker comprising:

• a compression chamber extending between an upstream opening and a downstream opening thereof, the bales being receivable in the compression chamber via the upstream opening and formable in the compression chamber into the bale bundle, the bale bundle being removable from the compression chamber via the downstream opening;
• a loading chamber in which said bales are positionable in respective columns proximal to the upstream opening, each said column comprising a preselected number of bales;
• a transfer assembly for moving said columns of said bales from the loading chamber into the compression chamber;
• the transfer assembly comprising a platen for engaging each said column of bales respectively, the platen being movable between a retracted position, in which the bales are movable into the loading chamber, and an extended position, in which each said respective column of bales is positionable by the platen at least partially in the compression chamber;
• at least one front door movable between a closed position, in which a front surface thereof is formed to guide said bales as they are positioned in respective columns in the loading chamber, and an open position, in which each said column of bales is movable respectively through the upstream opening;
• and
• at least one controlling means for controlling movement of said at least one front door such that movement of the platen from the retracted position to the extended position results in movement of said at least one front door from the closed position to the open position respectively, and movement of the platen from the extended position to the retracted position results in movement of said at least one front door from the open position to the closed position respectively.