Abstract: Apparatus for for stacking papermaking pulp bales is disclosed, comprising two sets of lifting forks, which are directed towards each other for lifting bales, and a conveyor for inserting a new bale beneath the lifted bales. The lifting forks are horizontally movable between an advanced active lifting position and an inactive retracted position and have forward portions with a continuously decreasing thickness. The drive means for the lifting forks comprise a motor and a freewheel clutch for lifting and lowering the lifting forks, so that the lowering movement for both sets of lifting forks is automatically and individually adapted to their pulling-out movement when they rest on the underlying bale, although the speed of the drive motors which operate in a synchronized manner need not be controlled.

Abstract: A bale stacker for stacking papermaking pulp bales, comprising two sets of lifting forks (17-19; 20-22), which are directed to each other for together lifting bales, and a conveying means (12, 13) for inserting a new bale (14) beneath the lifted bales. The lifting forks are horizontally movable between advanced active lifting position and inactive retracted position and have forward portions (23) with continuously decreasing thickness. The drive means for the lifting forks comprise a motor (37) and a freewheel clutch for lifting and lowering the lifting forks, so that the lowering movement for both sets of lifting forks automatically and individually are adapted to their pulling-out movement when they rest on the underlying bale, although the speed of the drive motors (37) of the drive means which operate synchronized need not be controlled.