Abstract: An article storage facility includes an elevating scaffold capable of ascending/descending in a movement space across a withdrawal height that is set on an upper side and a plurality of working heights that are set in intermediate locations in the movement space in the vertical direction. A plurality of support bodies that support the elevating scaffold are provided in the vertical direction so as to respectively correspond to the plurality of working heights, and at least a support body other than the lowermost support body of the plurality of support bodies is configured to be movable to an acting position at which the support body protrudes toward the movement space so as to support the elevating scaffold and a withdrawal position at which the support body retracts toward the article storage shelf so as not to come into contact with the elevating scaffold moving up and down.

Abstract: A parking facility for motor vehicles having fixed parking places arranged above each other and each having a guide for a pallet that is displaceable along the guide as well as a lift, which is disposed alongside the fixed parking places and which also carries a guide for the pallet is provided. For displacement of the pallet between the respective guides of a parking place and the lift, the lift is stopped alongside a parking place such that the respective guides are aligned with one another. The guide of the lift at its end facing the parking place is supported on a supporting surface connected to the parking place. The guide of the lift after being set down onto the supporting surface is pivoted about a horizontal pivotal axis until the guide of the lift is in a horizontal position.

Abstract: A substrate inspection system of a type that receives substrates disposed within a cassette and inspects a planar surface of the substrates with a read head, where the substrates are inspected while they are disposed within the cassette, and the read head is of a size to fit between adjacent substrates within the cassette. In this manner, the substrates do not need to be removed from the cassette, and no robotic arm is required to do so.

Abstract: An automated parking garage includes a three-dimensional warehousing facility for receiving a vehicle at a delivery bay, storing the vehicle in a parking area, and retrieving the vehicle from the parking area. The parking garage includes mechanical elements for transporting the vehicle between the delivery bay and the parking space, namely, at least one shuttle vehicle and at least one elevator. A central computer is in electrical communication with each of the mechanical elements to control the movement of the corresponding elements in the facility. A main catwalk extends the length of the facility to define parking spaces in the parking area to receive at least two vehicles, each vehicle having a front end and a rear end, with the desired end of each vehicle adjacent the main catwalk.

Abstract: A farm product baling system for transforming large rolls of baled farm product into smaller substantiality rectangular sized bales of farm products. The farm product baling system preferably incorporates a first conveyor thrasher subsystem connected to a standard type baler in such a way as to enable the first conveyor thrasher subsystem to convey and thrash the farm product prior to being baled by the standard baler. A first receiving conveyor subsystem may, if desired, be operatively connected to one end of the first conveyor thrasher subsystem in such a way as to facilitate the unrolling of the large baled farm products to the first conveyor thrasher subsystem. A mirror image of the first receiving conveyor subsystem and the first conveyor thrasher subsystem may, if desired, be operatively added to the farm product baling system to further increase volume of production in transforming large rolls of baled farm products into smaller substantiality rectangular sized bales of farm products.

Abstract: A bale lifting device for use with flatbed trucks has a rigid bed member, recessed portions at each corner for receiving a portion of a pair of hinged arms, a rigid housing hingedly attached to the truck bed, two rigid arms, each having two members attached at an angle, with respect to the other, one portion of which is received in the recessed portion of the bed, and where the housing is hydraulically hinged to the bed so as to provide for movement of the arms to and from a first lowered position having the arms extending outwardly from the rear end of the bed, to a second stored position having the arms rest on top of the bed without regard to any hinged position of the arms, and so as to allow the arms to rest on the bed and act as siderails to the bed; a pair of spinners having holding shafts angularly attached is removably attached to the rigid arms to create a functional multiuse flatbed with hinged arms that are both flush and that act as siderails.

Abstract: A spooled hay dispenser apparatus for unrolling spooled hay from a tractor. The apparatus provides a slotted tube at the ends of and perpendicular to a cross bar for rotatably mounting spiked arms which hold a cylindrical hay bale. An upright locking bracket lets the operator pick up a roll of hay at the storage area, carry it to the feeding area, and completely unroll it without having to adjust the turnbuckle of the tractor's three point hitch at all. This bracket is of heavy construction design so as not to bend in use; this enhances the maintaining of control of the invention, even when handling uneven hay rolls (e.g., large on one end and small on the other). Also, the centered bracket on the cross bar maintains the arms horizontally when the bale is almost completely unrolled to prevent gouging the ground surface with the hexagonal bale holding plates.

Abstract: A new Round Bale Handling System for offering a simple inexpensive device for lifting and unrolling round bales. The inventive device includes a frame, a lifting shaft, two tow chains, and a roll shaft. In use, the farm tractor 4 is backed up and the lifting shaft 30 is forced longitudinally axially into a round bale 2. The farm tractor's hitch is then used to lift the round bale 2 and the round bale 2 can be hauled by the farm tractor 4 to any desired location. When the round bale 2 has been placed, the farm tractor 4 is then relocated around and backed up to the round bale 2 so that the farm tractor 4 is normal to a rolling axis of the round bale 2. The roll shaft 50 is then pushed through the round bale 2 along its rolling axis and the tow chain 40 is rotatably attached to the roll shaft 50 by use of the retaining pin 56 and the hair clip pin 58. The farm tractor 4 then pulls the roll shaft 50 and the round bale 2 rotates about the roll shaft 50 and unrolls as it does so.

Abstract: A four-wheeled vehicle which allows a user to carry and distribute a bale of hay. The vehicle includes a rotatable table, i.e. a turntable, and a frame. The frame includes axles and spindles for the attachment of wheels and bearings for the rotative support of the turntable. The turntable rotates along four support bearings disposed near its periphery and a thrust bearing disposed near the center of the turntable. Steering is accomplished by pivoting a handle attached to the front axle, above which is a pair of six inch discs pivotally engaged to each other by a pin. The discs distribute the load and reduce the force on the pin, i.e. pivot point, thereby resulting in an easily steered vehicle.

Abstract: An improved clamp arm and bracket design for a hay handler and unroller apparatus which accommodates a wide range of varying lengths of hay bales is disclosed. The improved clamp arm includes an improved bracket design which is connected to a frame which in turn is connected to a tractor via a three point hitch. Each bracket can be mounted to the frame in one of two possible positions where the bracket is rotated 180.degree. from a first position where the bracket extends inwardly to obtain a second position where the brackets extend outwardly. These alternate positions enable the apparatus to provide for varying distances between said clamp arms by allowing for three possible arrangements of the brackets, namely, both brackets in the first position to accommodate shorter bales, both brackets in the second position to accommodate longer bales, and one bracket in the first position and the other bracket in the second position to accommodate bales of an intermediate length.

Abstract: A novel mechanism is presented that is able to harvest and load and to unload and install large rolls of sod with only one worker. It is equally useful with conventional sods grown on soil as well as sods grown over an impervious surface. The device is attached by a shiftable bracket to the utility mounting plate and hydraulics of a suitable tractor, skid steer loader, or modified fork lift. It consists of a steel spear or prong attached to a clevis that rotates slightly more than 180 degrees. Cones are placed on the hinged spear and these position PVC pipe or other tubing of the same length as the sod roll desired. The spear with cone(s) and tubing is placed at a right angle, either to the left or right, of the direction of the loader and dropped to the surface at the end of a cut sheet of sod. Small protrusions or prongs on the surface of the tubing lightly grasp the sod and begin rolling it up on the tubing.

Abstract: The un-winder for hay bales has a frame having a pair of opposite arms, and a link bridging the pair of arms. One of the arms is to be drivenly mounted at least in part to a roof, particularly the roof of a barn. The other arm is provided with means to unwind a bale of hay. This enables unwinding a bale of hay in a barn particularly when space for unwinding is limited using a compact self-driven suspended un-winders for hay bales.

Abstract: A hay bale handling and wrapping apparatus for removable installation on a truck bed is disclosed, including a tiltable vertical member, a rotatable hay bale handling mechanism and a wrapping mechanism. A motor is connected to the shaft of the hay bale handling mechanism by a sprocket and roller chain for rotating the hay bale handling mechanism. A pulley, a bi-directional electric winch and a cable are provided for tilting the vertical member.

Abstract: An automated high-raised parking system includes a parking rack structure having a plurality of racks disposed one above another for parking an automobile, an entrance/exit section for allowing entrance and exit of the automobile and a lift-translator device for transporting the automobile between the entrance/exit section to the racks. The lift-translator device includes a lift table vertically movable along a lift passage extending along a side of the parking rack structure and communicating with the entrance/exit section. In this system, the invention provides a shielding member for shielding an upward view from the entrance/exit section up through the lift passage when the lift table is positioned at the entrance/exit section for entrance or exit of the automobile.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for unrolling spirally wound bales of hay which are moved by hydraulic or electric operated bale spikes mounted on a vehicle such as a truck or tractor. The device is comprised of a tubular axle sleeve which fits over the bale impaling spike and is impaled along with the impaling spike into the hay bale when the bale is to be transported by the vehicle. After the bale is moved, the impaling spike is withdrawn leaving the axle sleeve impaled in the center of the bale. Bearings are employed at opposed ends of the axle which are free to rotate on the axle and are connected to lines on opposite sides of the rear of the vehicle. Movement of the truck causes the lines to rotate the axis of the bale from an axial position in alignment with the axis of the truck 90.degree. in order that the bale can be unwound in the manner of a spool to leave a mat-like web of hay upon the ground for feeding livestock.

Abstract: A single large round bale handling apparatus includes an elongated generally upright support frame having a main portion and an upper end portion extending in an angular relationship relative to the main portion, an upper cross beam pivotally mounted to the upper end portion of the support frame and extending in transverse relation thereto, and a pair of lift arms pivotally mounted to and supported below the upper cross beam. Elongated bale impaling prongs are mounted in generally facing relation to one another to lower ends of the lift arms. The lift arms are pivotally coupled together at their upper ends. Elongated springs mounted between the lift arms and the opposite ends of the upper cross beams apply biasing forces to the lift arms to normally pivotally move the lift arms toward an outer bale releasing position.

Abstract: A round hay bale dispenser connectable to the conventional three-point hitch of a tractor and having a pair of spaced longitudinally extending arms movable simultaneously laterally relative to each other for accommodating a round hay bale therebetween. A freely rotatable wheel is mounted on the free or outer end of each arm and engages the outer peripheral surface of the bale. The tractor pulls the arms causing the bale to roll as it traverses the ground while the wheels engage the outer surface of the bale causing the hay to fall from the bale in chunks rather than layers.

Abstract: A forage feed out machine, the machine comprising; a cradle with a series of transverse rollers extending across and forming a base for a bale; the cradle being mounted on a chassis and wheels such that it is pivotable backward and forward by hand; at least one of the rollers being ground driven. The width and the height of the cradle is such that a range of different sized bales, preferably round, can be loaded and fed out by the machine. A main roller which feeds out the feed has a ridge along its surface, this ridge providing a means for intermittently feeding out forage material in discrete clumps from the periphery of the bale. The ridge acts as a blade or paddle which removes the feed from the periphery of the bale and also initially raises and moves the bale.

Abstract: An article handling device for attachment to the rear of a pickup truck including a rigid main frame having arms separated by a cross member and all lying in substantially the same plane. The cross member has rigidly attached at approximately 90 degrees thereto a leverage pole to rotate the main frame when it is hingedly supported on a bumper mounting base. A floating spear type axle for retaining an article on the main frame is attached thereto near the outer end of each arm by a flexible movement limiting tether. The floating axle when penetrating and thereby retaining an article such as a round bale allows the bale to shift downwardly and rest on the main frame preventing transit damage especially to loosely packed or soft core bales.

Abstract: Multi-story car park, comprising parking floors divided into lanes having a width approximately equal to the length of the vehicle, and a length which is a multiple of the width of the vehicle, these lanes being sub-divided into elevator lanes (2), in which there are elevators to move the vehicle vertically, fixed space lanes (4) for the parking of vehicles, and flexible space lanes (3) situated between the elevator lanes (2) and the fixed space lanes (4).

Abstract: An unrolling device for cylindrical hay bales spikes the bale on its axis and pulls it along the ground to unroll it, when the device is pulled by a pickup truck, tractor, or the like. It comprises a transverse crossbar, two arms hinged at their ends to respective ends of the crossbar, and spikes insertable through the arm ends. The arms may swing out from the bar to a right angle; when both are swung out they lie parallel to one another. The spikes fit through the arm ends to protrude inwardly in the same plane as the plane formed by the crossbar and arms. Thus when set up for use the device has the general shape of a serif capital letter C. In use, the arms are set out on either side of a bale and the spikes are inserted through the arm ends to penetrate the hay bale on its axes. The device is pulled by chains on the crossbar to unroll the bale. When not in use, the device folds into a compact linear shape; the spikes are removed and the arms are folded down.

Abstract: A device for lifting, transporting and unwinding spirally wound cylindrical bales of hay utilizes a spear post mounted upon a grapple framework pivotably attached to the bucket of a front-end loader. A drive motor, interactive with the spear post, permits controlled positive unwinding of a bale supported upon the spear post.

Abstract: The invention is an improved bale handling and wrapping apparatus adapted to be fitted on the front-end loader or three-point hitch of a power source. The round bale handler of the present invention is capable of handling, stacking, transporting, wrapping and dispensing bales of hay. A spindle probe adapted to engage the bale of hay is mounted for lateral movement on a transverse frame. The frame extends outwardly to one side of the power source beyond the line of travel. A removable wrapping arm is fitted on the frame. The spindle probe can be moved laterally across the frame to accommodate bales of varying diameters, such that the wrapping arm is positioned adjacent the outer most portion of the bale. Thereafter the spindle is rotated and the wrapping material applied to the bale.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling round bales of hay, straw or the like material. In general terms, the handling comprises dispensing a round bale of hay or the like material by unwinding the bale and feeding the thus produced continuous mat into the inlet device of a compactor, typically employing the compacting mechanism of a known square baler. The compactor compacts the material fed into it to produce a second, compacted state generally similar to square bales. Thus, in brief, the invention converts the round bales into the square bales. In a particularly preferred application of the invention, the continuous compact mass of the material is fed directly into a grinder-mixer. The grinder-mixer, being usually on a mobile frame, can thus be fed from a round bale.

Abstract: A haybale unloader is disclosed for transporting and unwinding cylindrical bales of hay or like material. The invention provides a compact, self-powered and self-propelling unloader for unrolling a continuous sheet of agricultural material from a bale. The unloader allows for convenient transport of bales and is easily operated by a single person. The unloader comprises a wheeled frame on which are disposed a support surface for a bale and a conveyor having a forward discharge end and rearward receiving end. A limiting surface is disposed adjacent the receiving end of the conveyor and extends upwardly therefrom in an obtuse angle relationship thereto. A pair of freely pivoting bale retaining arms is provided for rotatably retaining the bale against the support surface and limiting surface.

Abstract: A hay bale handling implement is provided and includes a support frame for releasably coupling the implement to a vehicle. A plurality of elongate cylindrical spears project forwardly from the frame and are spaced about an axis of for securing releasably a hay bale so that it may be lifted and moved to a desired location. An actuator is also included for rotating the elongate spears about the axis to allow the hay bale to be rotated when engaged with the spears.

Abstract: To protect a round bale of hay from moisture, the bale is engaged by a machine attached to the three point hitch of a conventional farm tractor and then elevated with the hitch. An impervious strip, which is supplied on a roll, is attached at its end to the bale near one end of the bale, and then the machine rotates the bale, causing the strip material to pay off of the roll and wrap around the bale. The roll, which is on a dispenser, is maneuvered along the bale such that the strip wraps spirally around the bale with some overlap between adjacent convolutions of the strip. This forms a sleeve-like cover around the bale for the entire length of the bale. The machine includes a frame which connects to the three point hitch of the tractor and has a horizontal bearing in which a spear shaft rotates. The shaft is quite long and solid, so that as it rotates it may be driven into the bale from one end of the bale.

Abstract: A sod laying machine having front and rear sections articulated together. A boom on the front section has arms extending forwardly, with gripper arms extending downwardly from the boom to grip a roll of sod. A control roller connected to the boom arms drives the sod roll to control its speed of unwinding. The sod roll has its grass side facing outwardly and its top unwinds rearwardly so an operator in a seat at the front of the machine, between the boom arms, has an unobstructed view of the critical area of sod extending in the air from the roll to the ground, to reduce the likelihood of buckles and tears therein. The machine passes over the sod after it is laid, to roll the sod.

Abstract: A round bale transporter and unroller provides a mechanical system for unrolling large, round bales. The apparatus includes a frame that may be mounted on a front end loader. The mounting brackets are adjustable and "universal". A carriage is mounted on the frame for movement from side to side. The carriage carries a bale support in the form of a large disk with a long center spike and four smaller spikes distributed around it. The support is mounted on a shaft for rotation by a hydraulic motor also carried on the carriage. The unrolling mechanism is positioned at one side of the frame and projects to the front so that it lies alongside a bale carried by the support mechanism. The unroller includes a power driven, spiked cylinder that rotates in the same direction as the bale to draw material from the bale over the cylinder. As material is removed from the bale, the carriage is shifted towards the unroller.

Abstract: A sod laying machine having front and rear sections articulated together. A boom on the front section has arms extending forwardly, with gripper arms extending downwardly from the boom to grip a roll of sod. A control roller connected to the boom arms drives the sod roll to control its speed of unwinding. The sod roll has its grass side facing outwardly and its top unwinds rearwardly so an operator in a seat at the front of the machine, between the boom arms, has an unobstructed view of the critical area of sod extending in the air from the roll to the ground, to reduce the likelihood of buckles and tears therein. The machine passes over the sod after it is laid, to roll the sod.

Abstract: Equipment for loading, moving and feeding round bales having a bale lifting mechanism, a T-bar to move the bales along a trailer bed surface and having a pair of tiltable platforms at the front of the trailer bed. One of the platforms is used to move the bale to the other platform and the second platform cooperates with a feeding drum to unwrap the bale substance in a controlled manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling and unwinding round bales of loose fibrous material such as hay, silage and the like comprises a wheeled frame and a turntable mounted for rotation on the frame, the turntable being adapted to receive and retain a round bale such that a bale placed on the turntable may be unwound in a substantially upright position. The turntable may be pivotable from a generally horizontal bale transporting position to a generally vertical bale loading position and in the transporting position, the turntable may be tilted with respect to the frame, generally towards the point at which hay is to be unwound from the bale and dispensed from the turntable. The apparatus is particularly suited for use in narrow passages between animal houses.

Abstract: A multi-function bale handling apparatus for use on small trucks or other farm vehicles is defined by a metal frame, which is mounted on the vehicle, a loading device defined by a prong pivotally mounted on the end of an arm, which is also pivotally mounted on the frame for moving a bale from the ground through an arc in excess of 90.degree. to a transversely extending conveyor belt on the frame, a manually operated gate on one side of the frame so that the bale can be discharged in its entirety for storage or feed, and toothed shredder rollers on the other side of the frame for shredding the bale for discharge in particulate form from the apparatus. The loading device is operated by a pair of hydraulic cylinders for rotating the arm and prong. The conveyor and discharge rollers are driven by a common drive including a hydraulic motor, chains and toothed wheels.

Abstract: The invention concerns a frequency converter-controlled squirrel cage motor particularly for use in elevator operation. The motor's stator is mounted on a stationary axle and the rotor rotating around the stator has been rotatably carried on the same axle. On the outer periphery of the rotor a cylinder has been mounted, carrying rope grooves and a brake surface for the elevator's lifting ropes and brake.

Abstract: A sod laying machine having front rear sections articulated together. A boom on the front section has arms extending forwardly, with gripper arms extending downwardly from the boom to grip a roll of sod. A control roller connected to the boom arms drives the sod roll to control its speed of unwinding. The sod roll has its grass side facing outwardly and its top unwinds rearwardly so an operator in a seat at the front of the machine, between the boom arms, has an unobstructed view of the critical area of sod extending in the air from the roll to the ground, to reduce the likelihood of buckles and tears therein. The machine passes over the sod after it is laid, to roll the sod.

Abstract: The field vehicle of the instant invention includes an elongate mobile vehicle frame which is supported for movement over the ground, and an elongate conveyor extending along the length of the frame. The conveyor is constructed to support a series of bales in end-to-end relationship and to move the bales endo along the frame in a path extending axially of the frame. A bale unrolling mechanism is aligned with the conveyor to receive a bale moved thereinto by the conveyor. The bale unrolling mechanism includes a support for supporting the underside of the bale occupying the unrolling mechanism. The support includes rolls that are rotated to produce rotation of the bale thereon about its axis.

Abstract: A device for attachment to the rear of a pickup truck as a replacement for the rear bumper includes a transverse frame member which is pivotally mounted on brackets carried on the chassis. The frame member carries a pair of arms each of which is pivoted at an outer end of the frame member and extends across the frame member in a folded position with an outer stub portion extending outwardly and around the end of the frame member to define ends of the bumper. Hydraulic rams can pivot the frame member about a horizontal axis and can pivot the arms about vertical axes at the outer ends of the frame member. Flanges extending from the rear face of the frame member confine and receive the arms and define a compartment for a hitch pin.

Abstract: A carrier for cylindrical hay bales is adapted for mounting on the box of a pickup truck. It includes a shaft pivoted in a support frame about a horizontal axis and a pair of bale lifting arms are mounted to opposite ends of the pivoted shaft. These arms can swing laterally for engaging and disengaging hay bales by means of bale piercing spikes at the outer ends of the arms. A hydraulic system is provided for swinging the pivoted shaft and bale lifting arms from a rearward position adjacent the ground to a forward position adjacent the truck body. For this purpose, two hydraulic cylinders with a special crank arm linkage are used with one of the hydraulic cylinders being capable of swinging the bale lifting arms through an arc of up to about 130.degree. C. and the second hydraulic cylinder being adapted to swing the bale lifting arms through an additional arc of up to about 70.degree. C. Alternatively, a chain and sprocket system driven by a hydraulic cylinder may be used.

Abstract: A load toting vehicle apparatus includes a vehicle such as a pick up truck having a special cylindrical bumper, rotably mounted to the rear thereof, with special bumper mounting brackets. The bumper mounting brackets have sleeves for the cylindrical bumper to rotate in, and a pair of spears are removably attachable to the cylindrical bumper for spearing a load of hay, or the like. The bumper has a rotating mechanism for rotating the bumper in the sleeves so as to lift the spears and any load mounted on the spears. The vehicle can be driven to spear a load of hay, or the like, then the load lifted and moved with the vehicle to a different location. The spears can be removed from their operating position and stored inside the hollow cylindrical bumper and locked in the bumper with a threaded clamp. The actuating mechanism includes a leverage bracket attached to the cylindrical bumper and connected with a hydraulic cylinder for rotating the cylindrical bumper.

Abstract: A round bale handler comprises a frame with a rear member, and a spike. The spike has a pointed front end to penetrate the round bale, and a rear end pivotally connected to the frame so that the spike is swingable between forward and sideways positions. The spike is of a sufficient length such that a front portion of it can penetrate through the axis of the bale and extend substantially along the entire length of it. Stop means are provided for releasably retaining the spike in the forward position and preventing it from swinging beyond each sideways position. A method of using the handler is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus designed to facilitate the unrolling of baled hay has a main frame mounted onto a tractor or other vehicle. An upstanding arm attached to the frame carries a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly, which assembly supports and selectively positions an axle and wheel. The axle is positioned so that the wheel contacts a tire of a vehicle. As the vehicle causes the tire to rotate, the wheel is also rotated but in the opposite direction from that of the tire. The wheel is driven by the vehicle against a rolled bale of hay. As the vehicle is driven, the wheel abuts the bale of hay and causes it to unroll.

Abstract: A bale handler includes a body with ground wheels and a bed for supporting two or more round bales end-to-end rotatably supported for rearward tilting movement about a horizontal axis to unload the bales as a vertical stack. A secondary support is provided and supports the bales as the bed is tilted. The bed may be brought to an unloading/reloading position past vertical at which the stack remains stable and the secondary support bears the weight of the rear of the handler. The aforesaid axis is positioned so that the portion of the bed between the secondary support and the axis is sufficient to stabilize the stack during reloading.A bale loading cradle includes a pair of laterally spaced support members which pass under a bale to lift and support it and which define at their forward ends opposed edges which, in a horizontal plane, are mutually forwardly divergent and are configured for centering a bale approached off-center.

Abstract: A bale support arm is raised into the space between a bale trailer frame and the bale lift fork thereof to prevent a large round bale from sagging into that space, and possibly being damaged, during loading of the bale. Pairs of parallel frame links connected to the frame of the trailer and links connected to the fork are pivotally connected respectively to define hinge joints. In one embodiment of the invention for low-bed bale trailers, the bale support arm extends between the hinge joints. As the fork pivots upwardly, the arm is lifted as the links fold upwardly into the space between the fork and trailer and partially supports the tilting bale. In a second embodiment for high-bed bale trailers, a pair of arm lifting levers are connected to the hinge joints. The levers are connected by respective anchor links to the fork, and the bale support arm extends between the outer ends of the levers.

Abstract: Bale handling and hay distributing apparatus comprises a round-bale holder equipped with a device for rotating the bale around its central axis and a hay shredding unit. The bale holder is supported by a lift mechanism having a pair of vertically movable, projecting arms at the end of which the holder is pivotally connected. A device for rotating the bale holder with respect to the supporting lift mechanism is provided, so that the holder can be positioned in a hay dispensing position and in two different bale loading positions respectively rotated of an angle of 90.degree. and 180.degree. with respect to the hay dispensing position. Hooks projecting from the longitudinal sides of the holder are provided having a cooperating jaw-movement for grasping the bale during loading operation.

Abstract: A truck has a stowable round bale hauler that includes a beam hinged to the truck rear, and rotated about a horizontal base axis with hydraulic cylinders. Arms journaled at their ends to the beam are pivoted by hydraulic cylinders connecting the arms and the beam. The arms may be pivoted to and from a folded position, and the beam rotated to and from a stowed position, in which positions the arms and beam are contiguous with the vehicle rear. The arms are meshed when folded, with one arm adjacent and between the other arm and the beam to form a substantially flat vehicle rear. Pointed bale stabbers on the arms are proximate the base axis with the arms folded. The arms may be pivoted from the folded position to an open position, where the bale stabbers are distal of the base axis and separated more than a bale length. The arms are pivotable toward each other to an engaged position where the stabbers impale a bale positioned between the arms.

Abstract: An apparatus connected to a prime mover for handling a bale is provided and consists of a wheeled frame member to be moved with respect to the bale supported on the ground so that the frame member extends around the bale, structures on the frame member for rotatably engaging opposite ends of an elongated support member that engages and supports the bale, hydraulic cylinders on the frame member for raising and lowering the elongated support member relative to the ground whereby upward movement of the elongated support member will cause the bale to be raised from the ground and a gear drive mechanism on the frame member for rotating the elongated support member whereby rotation of the elongated support member will cause the bale to unroll.

Abstract: A hay bale feeder comprises a cradle having opposed end plates and side formed by angularly disposed conveyors movable laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the cradle. Each conveyor comprises a pair of substantially parallel endless chains carried by sprockets on respective upper and lower shafts extending between the end plates, and a plurality of slats or bars are fixed to the chains for movement therewith. The slats or bars have spikes extending therefrom to engage in and remove hay from a bale carried in the cradle. The conveyors are driven in synchronism so that upper runs of the conveyors move in the same general lateral direction. Guide plates support the conveyor chains between the respective upper and lower shafts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor device consisting of endless chains or the like, which are adapted to be driven and which are led over end rollers, while cross-bars extend between the chains, the cross-bars carrying teeth, the path which is followed by the cross-bars with the teeth including a conveying portion and an inactive portion which is positioned lower than the conveying portion. According to the invention the inactive portion of the path comprises a stretch, which extends partly towards the conveying portion and partly away from the conveying portion. The invention further relates to an apparatus for loosening and apportioning silage or the like material provided with a storage container, which comprises a carrier conveyor and a loosening conveyor, which loosening conveyor joins this carrier conveyor and is inclined upwardly. This loosening conveyor may be executed as the conveyor device described hereinabove.

Abstract: A manually controlled hydraulically driven round bale loading and transport system is self contained on a trailer that only need be moved by a pick-up truck or the like. It has a wide arc full control lifting mechanism that permits lifting a bale from the ground and about a 160.degree. arc to a storage rack. This permits a second bale to be held in the lifting mechanism. A pair of grasping arms has the respective arms disposed on each end of the bale by separate manual hydraulic controllable pivot action permits picking up bales directly from uneven terrain. Bales may be unrolled by a hydraulic motor from standstill position, but conventional unrolling on the ground is permissible. Hydraulic control valves are located to permit viewing each bale end as the respective grasping arms are manipulated and the bale partially lifted by one end to permit grasping on the center line for good balance and proper unrolling.

Abstract: A load carrier is provided including a trailer main frame defining front and rear end portions and provided with hitch structure at the front end portion. The rear end portion of the main frame includes opposite side support wheels and an upstanding lift frame is pivotally supported at its lower end from the rear end portion of the main frame for swinging about a horizontal transverse axis forward of the wheels between a first rearwardly and upwardly inclined position with an upper portion of the lift frame disposed rearward of the wheels and a second position with the upper end portion swung forwardly to a position forward of the axis of rotation of the wheels. A winch is carried by the main frame for pulling the lift frame upper portion forwardly toward second position thereof.