Bale shredder

A bale shredder apparatus comprising:

• a frame having a front and a rear with a longitudinal axis extending from the front to the rear and aligning with a direction of movement of the frame when being towed across a ground surface, the frame having lateral sides;
• a bale hopper mounted on the frame and defining an interior bale chamber for receiving a bale to be shredded, the bale hopper having an upper opening into the bale chamber and a chamber bottom positioned opposite of the upper opening, the bale hopper comprising a perimeter formed of walls, the perimeter including a front wall positioned toward the front of the frame, a rear wall positioned opposite of the front wall with the bale chamber therebetween, a primary side wall on one lateral side of the bale chamber and extending rearwardly from the front wall, a secondary side wall positioned on an opposite lateral side of the bale chamber from the primary side wall and extending rearwardly from the front wall, a bale feed opening being positioned in the primary side wall, an outlet opening being located below the secondary side wall;
• a bale shredding assembly in communication with the interior bale chamber through the bale feed opening to shred a bale positioned in the bale chamber, the bale shredding assembly including a shredding rotor positioned adjacent to the bale feed opening such that shredding elements of the shredding rotor extend through the bale feed opening to engage a bale in the bale chamber, the shredding rotor being configured to eject material shredded from the bale below the bale chamber and through the outlet opening located below the secondary side wall;
• a bale loading opening extending into the bale chamber, the bale loading opening being opened by pivoting the rear wall of the perimeter outwardly and away from the front wall to permit loading of a bale into the bale chamber, the bale loading opening being closed by pivoting the rear wall inwardly and toward the front wall;
• and
• a bale removal opening extending into the bale chamber, the bale removal opening being positioned above the outlet opening, the bale removal opening being opened by pivoting the secondary side wall of the perimeter outwardly and away from the primary side wall to permit removal of an unshredded bale from the bale chamber, the bale removal opening being closed by pivoting the secondary side wall inwardly and toward the primary side wall.