Abstract: An apparatus for field loading a plurality of containers onto a transport vehicle, comprises a platform disposed on a transport vehicle; a palletizer operably associated with the platform for progressively stacking a plurality of containers into a preselected stacked configuration from one end to the other end of the platform; and a conveyor for transporting each of the containers from the field onto the palletizer. The palletizer includes a false floor for forming thereon at least a row of the containers. The palletizer includes an elevator operably associated with the false floor for vertically transporting to the false floor each of the containers from the discharge end of the conveyor. The palletizer includes a transfer head for transferring each of the containers from the elevator to the false floor for forming at least a row of containers. The false floor is vertically and horizontally movable for positioning the false floor above at least a tier of previously stacked containers on the platform.

Abstract: A field crop harvesting, carton packaging and packed carton handling machine, which includes transport means having a front section, central section and a trailing section; the front and trailing sections include ground engaging means and each include a platform mounted on the ground engaging means; the front platform also includes area means for stacking and supplying non-erected cartons and for erecting the non-erected cartons; the central section includes conveyor support means including a central conveyor means and a left and right conveyor means; the left and right conveyor means each include erected carton receiving and supplying means; the left and right conveyor means also include a series of carton packing stations as well as a conveyor for moving the packed cartons to the central conveyor; the central conveyor includes a rearwardly moving conveyor for transporting the packed cartons rearwardly to the trailing platform; and the trailing platform includes area means for receiving, handling and sealing

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for lifting and stacking cartons onto a bed attached to a truck bed, especially in an agricultural field. The lifting apparatus includes two endless parallel belts to lift the cartons from the field onto a first conveyor. Variations in carton size or alignment may be accommodated by a pivoting loading frame or by lateral movement of the loader, which lateral movement is compensated for by a self-alignment mechanism. Cartons are transported to an elevator via a first and second conveyor. The elevator lifts the cartons to the level of a palletizer with a false floor wherein a reciprocating and pivoting transfer head removes the cartons from the elevator and deposits them onto the prestacking area of the palletizer false floor. Cartons may be selectively rotated into a transverse loading position by the transfer heads. Upon assembly of a first row of cartons, a tamping bar extends to position the cartons against the truck tailgate or against previously stacked cartons.

Abstract: A bale handling apparatus picks up a load of large round bales from the field, transports the load and then dumps the load at a storage area. The apparatus includes a transporter bed and has the ability to arrange and control the position of the bales on the bed after being picked up. The versatile apparatus is preferably self-propelled to function as both an on-road and off-raod vehicle.

Abstract: A bale wagon for picking up bales of crop material from the field and forming them into a generally symmetrical pyramidal stack for deposit at a selected location is provided. The bale wagon includes a mobile frame pivotally supporting a stack forming load bed, a bale support and transfer mechanism for depositing the bales at a predetermined position on the load bed, a pickup mechanism for moving the bales from the field to the support and transfer mechanism, and a pusher mechanism for moving the bales along the load bed from the predetermined position. A control mechanism coordinates the functioning of the components so as to form a multi-layered stack of bales with each succeeding layer centered on and containing one less row of bales than the previous layer.

Abstract: A bale wagon for picking up bales of crop material from the field and forming them into a generally symmetrical pyramidal stack for deposit at a selected location is provided. The bale wagon includes a mobile frame pivotally supporting a stack forming load bed, a bale support and transfer mechanism for depositing the bales at a predetermined position on the load bed, a pickup mechanism for moving the bales from the field to the support and transfer mechanism, and a pusher mechanism for moving the bales along the load bed from the predetermined position. A control mechanism coordinates the functioning of the components so as to form a multi-layered stack of bales with each succeeding layer centered on and containing one less row of bales than the previous layer.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable conveyor to load hay bales onto a bale wagon. The chain conveyor with cleats to catch the bales is held to the bale wagon frame by bolts which pierce slots on the conveyor support. Adjustment of the distance of the extension of the cleats through the support table on which the bales move is accomplished by moving the slots relative to the bolts.

Abstract: A bale wagon has improved apparatus for repositioning selected bales on its second, tier-forming table so as to provide a generally even stack side on the bale loader side of the bale wagon. The apparatus includes a frame slidably mounted on the underside of the second table adjacent to the bale loader side thereof and a pair of bale-engaging cleats mounted on the frame and extending upwardly through elongated slots formed in the second table. The frame is slidable along a generally linear path which angles toward the forward right corner of the second table and is interconnected to a first, bale-receiving table of the bale wagon through a cable and pulley system. A spring biases the slidable frame to an outer position toward the loader side of the second table.

Abstract: A machine for tearing apart stacked crop material bales has a pivotal load bed with stack clamping mechanisms arranged about the bed for retrieving a stack of crop material bales by placing the load bed in an upright retrieving position, moving the upright load bed alongside the stack, actuating the clamp mechanisms to engage and retain the bale stack against the load bed and then pivoting the load bed with the stack retained thereon from the upright position to a horizontal position. A fore-and-aft moveable rolling rack mounted transversely across the load bed will advance the entire stack longitudinally along the load bed from time to time to position a leading vertical transversely-extending tier of bales, in a succession of such vertical tiers which form the stack, onto a horizontal platform positioned along one end of the load bed.

Abstract: A bale wagon adapted to pick up bales and form them into a composite stack and further adapted to unload individual bales from the formed stack in single bale fashion. The bale wagon basically comprises a load rack, a slightly forwardly inclined transfer table spaced forwardly of the load rack and moveable back and forth therebetween, and a vertically reciprocable receiving table interposed between the transfer table and load rack. During the loading mode of operation, the receiving table functions to transfer bales to the transfer table and after a complete tier has been formed thereon the transfer table moves rearwardly to a position adjacent the front end of the load rack where the tier is deposited. To unload, the transfer table is actuated rearwardly to the position adjacent the load rack, retrieves the end tier and moves back to its original position.