Abstract: A bale processor on a wheeled vehicle has a hopper converging inwardly and downwardly to a lower disintegration area at which is located a flail roller rotatable about an axis extending generally along the hopper and including a drive roller or rollers in the hopper for driving rotation of the bale around an axis parallel to the flail roller axis. The processed material is discharged from the disintegration area at the flail roller through an opening in one side wall of the hopper to form a row along that side of the vehicle. A container for particulate material, such as grain, to be added to and mixed with the processed material is carried at the side wall opposite the discharge opening and has an auger tube extending from the container to the hopper at a height below the flail roller and mid way along the side wall so as to introduce the grain into the processed material to mix therewith in the disintegration area.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for disintegrating bales of agricultural material such as hay. The apparatus has a chassis, a processing tub with a discharge opening located in one of its side walls, a disintegrator mounted in the processing tub to disintegrate baled crop material positioned within the tub and discharge the processed bale material out the discharge opening and a manipulator mounted within the processing tub adapted to manipulate the baled crop material to expose different parts thereof to the disintegrator. The processing tub is adapted to be mounted on the chassis such that the discharge opening can be positioned on either the left or right side of the chassis. In an embodiment of the invention, the processing tub is sized to accommodated a large square bale lengthwise therein or two or more round bales.

Abstract: A bale processor with a processing chamber includes a manipulator driven by a drive system that includes a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor of the drive system drives a drive shaft with an axis of rotation offset from a driven shaft of the manipulator. A rotation transmission mechanism allows a higher torque to be applied to the manipulator than may be applied by the hydraulic motor alone and, thereby, leads to improved performance for the bale processor. Additionally, the hydraulic motor may be sized such that the peak allowable pressure of the hydraulic motor is higher than the peak output pressure of the power source used to drive the hydraulic motor.

Abstract: A feed cutter is mounted in a discharge area of a bale processor and includes a rotating member with a series of mounted blades. The feed cutter may be used to substantially reduce the length of crop material separated from a bale being processed that is to be used to feed livestock. Optionally, the feed cutter may be mounted to facilitate discharge of material from the processor with or without further processing by the feed cutter.

Abstract: A bale processor is provided with a bale support that is arranged to promote maintenance of the weight of a bale on a pre-disintegrator roller during operation. Partial pre-disintegration of the bale by the pre-disintegrator roller may then be accomplished before the bale is processed by a flail roller. The pre-disintegrator roller may have teeth designed to improve the partial pre-disintegration as well as teeth adapted to move the bale forward or rearward within the bale processor depending upon the direction of rotation of said pre-disintegration member.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for disintegrating bales of agricultural material such as hay. The apparatus has a chassis with a bale receptacle mounted thereon. A disintegrator is mounted in the bale receptacle and is adapted to disintegrate baled crop material in the bale receptacle and discharge the processed baled material out of the bale receptacle. A manipulator is mounted in the processing tub above the disintegrator adapted to manipulate the baled crop material in the bale receptacle to expose different parts thereof to the disintegrator and a passive support means is provided in the bale receptacle above the disintegrator. The manipulator and passive support means are positioned on opposing sides of the disintegrator to facilitate maintenance of the baled crop material above the disintegrator such that the disintegrator engages the baled crop material between the manipulator and the passive support means.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for disintegrating bales of agricultural material such as hay. The apparatus has a chassis, a processing tub with a discharge opening located in one of its side walls, a disintegrator mounted in the processing tub to disintegrate baled crop material positioned within the tub and discharge the processed bale material out the discharge opening and a manipulator mounted within the processing tub adapted to manipulate the baled crop material to expose different parts thereof to the disintegrator. The processing tub is adapted to be mounted on the chassis such that the discharge opening can be positioned on either the left or right side of the chassis. In an embodiment of the invention, the processing tub is sized to accommodated a large square bale lengthwise therein or two or more round bales.

Abstract: A bale processor with a processing chamber includes a manipulator driven by a drive system that includes a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor of the drive system drives a drive shaft with an axis of rotation offset from a driven shaft of the manipulator. A rotation transmission mechanism allows a higher torque to be applied to the manipulator than may be applied by the hydraulic motor alone and, thereby, leads to improved performance for the bale processor. Additionally, the hydraulic motor may be sized such that the peak allowable pressure of the hydraulic motor is higher than the peak output pressure of the power source used to drive the hydraulic motor.

Abstract: A bale processor having a hydraulic motor driven bale manipulator is provided with a selector valve in the flow path of hydraulic fluid. The selector valve allows for the direction of hydraulic fluid flow to be controlled by a remote controller. Such a remote controller may be positioned on the left side of a tractor towing such a bale processor. In this way the operational discomfort of trying to reach hydraulic controls on the right side of the tractor while monitoring processing while observing from the left side of the tractor may be relieved.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for disintegrating bales of agricultural material such as hay. The apparatus has a chassis, a processing tub with a discharge opening located in one of its side walls, a disintegrator mounted in the processing tub to disintegrate baled crop material positioned within the tub and discharge the processed bale material out the discharge opening and a manipulator mounted within the processing tub adapted to manipulate the baled crop material to expose different parts thereof to the disintegrator. The processing tub is adapted to be mounted on the chassis such that the discharge opening can be positioned on either the left or right side of the chassis. In an embodiment of the invention, the processing tub is sized to accommodated a large square bale lengthwise therein or two or more round bales.

Abstract: A drum shredder including a fan aggression adjustment system provides easy-to-use control for the speed of processing bales and the cut length of the material removed from the bale as a result of the processing. Additionally, a loading frame, which preferably has forks and includes a conveyance system, assists in the loading of bales into the processing tub without the use of external loading machinery.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for disintegrating bales of agricultural material such as hay. The apparatus has a a chassis, a processing tub with a discharge opening located in one of its side walls, a disintegrator mounted in the processing tub to disintegrate baled crop material positioned within the tub and discharge the processed bale material out the discharge opening and a manipulator mounted within the processing tub adapted to manipulate the baled crop material to expose different parts thereof to the disintegrator. The processing tub is adapted to be mounted on the chassis such that the discharge opening can be positioned on either the left or right side of the chassis. In an embodiment of the invention, the processing tub is sized to accommodated a large square bale lengthwise therein or two or more round bales.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved conveyor. The invention provides an apparatus for conveying material having an elongated tube with an input end and a discharge end, an intake hopper having a front end secured to the input end of the tube and an endless belt for conveying material from the intake hopper to the discharge end of the tube. Mounted within the intake hopper is at least two augers positioned above the endless belt and external to the input end of the tube. The endless belt and the augers are driven with appropriate drive mechanisms. Rotation of the augers conveys granular material in the hopper toward the input end of the tube so as to flood feed the input end of the tube. The granular material is then carried to the discharge end of the tube by the belt. In addition, the invention provides for the mounting of the augers to permit adjustment of the location of the augers within the intake hopper as well as facilitating easy removal and replacement of the augers.

Abstract: A novel transfer conveyor transports material from a feed point to an input section of a main conveyor. The transfer conveyor comprises a feed end, a discharge end, and a conveyance device for conveying material from the feed end to the discharge end. A connector is provided for detachably and rotatably connecting the transfer conveyor to the main conveyor such that the feed end of the transfer conveyor may be moved about the input section of the main conveyor while maintaining a gravity assisted flow of material from the discharge end of the transfer conveyor into an input section of the main conveyor. The connector may be adapted to permit rotation of the transfer conveyor about the input section of the main conveyor at each operation angle of the main conveyor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a twine cutting assembly for a rotary drum type bale processor. The twine cutting assembly comprises a twine cutter and a locking mechanism. The twine cutter, comprising a rod and a cutting member, is adapted to extend through a hole in the side wall of the bale processor. The cutting member may be manually moved axially along the surface of the rotary drum in contact with a guide element. The cutting member has a cutting blade which engages with and cuts any twine wrapped around the rotary drum as the cutting member is moved along the surface of the rotary drum. A locking mechanism including a stop member connected to a handle is positioned within a frame mounted on the exterior of the end wall of the bale processor. The stop is moved between a locked position and an unlocked position by movement of the handle. In the locked position, the stop member extends through a hole in the end wall and engages with the rotary drum thereby preventing rotation of the rotary drum.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for disintegrating bales of agricultural material such as hay. The apparatus has a a chassis, a processing tub with a discharge opening located in one of its side walls, a disintegrator mounted in the processing tub to disintegrate baled crop material positioned within the tub and discharge the processed bale material out the discharge opening and a manipulator mounted within the processing tub adapted to manipulate the baled crop material to expose different parts thereof to the disintegrator. The processing tub is adapted to be mounted on the chassis such that the discharge opening can be positioned on either the left or right side of the chassis. In an embodiment of the invention, the processing tub is sized to accommodated a large square bale lengthwise therein or two or more round bales.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for disintegrating bales of agricultural material such as hay. The apparatus has a chassis with a bale receptacle mounted thereon. A disintegrator is mounted in the bale receptacle and is adapted to disintegrate baled crop material in the bale receptacle and discharge the processed baled material out of the bale receptacle. A manipulator is mounted in the processing tub above the disintegrator adapted to manipulate the baled crop material in the bale receptacle to expose different parts thereof to the disintegrator and a passive support means is provided in the bale receptacle above the disintegrator. The manipulator and passive support means are positioned on opposing sides of the disintegrator to facilitate maintenance of the baled crop material above the disintegrator such that the disintegrator engages the baled crop material between the manipulator and the passive support means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel transfer conveyor for transporting material from a feed point to an input section of a main conveyor. The transfer conveyor comprises a feed end, a discharge end, and a means for conveying material from the feed end to the discharge end. A connector is provided for detachably and rotatably connecting the transfer conveyor to the main conveyor such that the feed end of the transfer conveyor may be moved about the input section of the main conveyor while maintaining the flow of material from the discharge end of the transfer conveyor into an input section of the main conveyor. If the main conveyor to which the transfer conveyor is attached is to be operated within a range of operation angles, the connector is adapted to permit rotation of the transfer conveyor about the input section of the main conveyor at each operation angle of the main conveyor within the range. The transfer conveyor may be provided with a nozzle portion on the discharge end thereof to which the connector is attached.

Abstract: Apparatus for disintegrating bales comprises a hopper with vertical end walls and two side walls which converge inwardly and downwardly to a part cylindrical base portion extending longitudinally of the hopper. The upper face of the hopper defined at the top of the side and end walls is open to receive a bale dumped into the hopper. In the hopper is provided a pair of parallel rollers for supporting an rotating the bale when in the hopper. In the base portion is provided a flail roller which rotates about its axis grasping material and throwing it out of an exit slot longitudinally of the hopper at the base of the hopper. Rectangular bales are loaded into the hopper by an inclined ramp with a chain conveyor on the ramp, the ramp having a loading position in which it is inclined from a forward edge adjacent one side wall to a rear edge at the ground for pushing under the rectangular bale by which the bale is carried up the ramp to sit on the ramp.