Abstract: An agricultural bale accumulator includes a load bed, a bale transfer module, and a bale discharge module. The load bed includes center, right and left load beds, adapted to receive and accumulate thereon first, second and third bales, respectively, from a bale chamber of an agricultural baler along a bale-receiving axis. The bale transfer module alternately transfers the bales across the load bed from the center load bed to the right load bed or the left load bed along a bale transfer axis, transverse to the bale receiving axis, responsive to a bale transfer signal to accumulate the bales on the center, right, and the left load beds in a side-by-side relationship. The bale discharge module moves between a bale accumulating position and a bale discharging position responsive to a bale discharge signal. The bale discharge module moves to the bale accumulating position to accumulate the bales on the load bed.

Abstract: An agricultural bale accumulator includes a load bed, a bale transfer module, and a bale discharge module. The load bed includes center, right and left load beds, adapted to receive and accumulate thereon first, second and third bales, respectively, from a bale chamber of an agricultural baler along a bale-receiving axis. The bale transfer module alternately transfers the bales across the load bed from the center load bed to the right load bed or the left load bed along a bale transfer axis, transverse to the bale receiving axis, responsive to a bale transfer signal to accumulate the bales on the center, right, and the left load beds in a side-by-side relationship. The bale discharge module moves between a bale accumulating position and a bale discharging position responsive to a bale discharge signal. The bale discharge module moves to the bale accumulating position to accumulate the bales on the load bed.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading and feeding hay bales including a transport vehicle having a flatbed and a tiltable support frame mounted to the flatbed for carrying a stack of bales. A hoist is used to tilt the support frame from a horizontal hay bale transport position to a vertical position against a bale stack for picking up a bale stack. Squeeze arms are used to secure the bale stack to the support frame. An endless chain on the support frame is used to selectively move the bales forwardly. A flaker is mounted at a forward end of the flatbed for receiving a bale advanced thereon and selectively flaking off portions of the bale. A tipping apparatus is provided for selectively tipping a bale advanced by the endless chain from the support frame onto the flaker.

Abstract: A square baler comprises a bale chute for lowering completed bales onto the ground, wherein the bale chute has a leading end connected to the rear end of the baler for pivoting movement between a raised transport position and a lowered operating position about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the baler, and a suspension is provided. The suspension is connected to the baler by way of a lever mechanism that is movable between a first position in which the bale chute is supported in the operating position and a second position in which the bale chute is inclined sufficiently to the horizontal to cause a bale resting on any part of the bale chute to slide under the action of gravity along the bale chute and to fall onto the ground from the trailing end of the bale chute.

Abstract: A control system for managing rotation of a bale loading arm in a bale loader in which a pair of sensors combined with a purposefully designed sensor target enable loading arm position to be efficiently derived by a controller in order to direct the actuator movements based upon loading arm position necessary for automated operation of a bale loading cycle. Additional inputs to the controller enable initiation of a bale loading cycle to be automatically initiated. The controller may also determine when a complete bale wagon load is achieved and automatically direct loading arm motions necessary to configure the bale wagon for transport.

Abstract: A bale accumulation system for receiving, moving, and accumulating bales (3) on a bale support surface. The system may involve moving such bales (3) in linear path specific motions and transversely with respect to a bale accumulation surface (1). The system may further involve receiving such bales (3) onto a bale reception surface (11) and tilting such a bale reception surface (11) to deposit bales (3) onto the ground. Bales (3) may be aligned in various configurations on a bale support surface (1) perhaps without substantially restricting their movements on such a bale support surface (1) perhaps through the use of bale override alignment elements (16). The configuration of the bale support system also may minimize a total path distance through which bales (3) may be moved, perhaps decreasing the amount of time required to accumulate bales (3).

Abstract: The present invention is a bale flipping device, comprising a first vertical bar, a second vertical bar, a third vertical bar, a fourth vertical bar, a first pivot arm, a second pivot arm, and a third pivot arm, wherein the first pivot arm connects the first vertical bar to the third vertical bar, wherein the second pivot arm connects the second vertical bar to the fourth vertical bar, and wherein the third pivot arm is parallel to the second pivot arm and also connects the second vertical bar to the fourth vertical bar. The pivot arms are pivotally connected to the vertical bars so that the entire device can be folded up when not in use. The device is designed to be installed on the side of a New Holland small bale stacker.

Abstract: An agricultural bale accumulator (100) includes a load bed (113) and a load bed extension module (102). The load bed extension module (102) includes an extension table (104) pivotally connected to a side (124) of a load bed (113) by a hinge mechanism (122). The hinge mechanism (122) permits the load bed extension module (102) to move relative to the load bed (113) between a stowed position, perpendicular to the load bed (113), and an unstowed position, co-planar with a load bed (113) and adjacent to the side (124) of the load bed (113). The agricultural bale accumulator (100) has a first lateral width dimension (160) when the first extension table (104) is in the stowed position to provide a first bale accumulating capacity and a first bale discharging capacity.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for measuring the weight force of a bale in a baler wherein the bale moves between a first position, within the baling chamber, and a second position, within a wrapping apparatus carried by the baler chassis. A measurement device, which is connected to a data processing device, is provided, for measuring a measurement parameter influenced by the weight force of said bale in each of said first and second positions and developing a signal representative of the weight of the bale at those positions. The processing device is set up to calculate the weight force of the bale taking into account a first signal output from the measurement device when the bale is in the first position and a second signal output from the measurement device when the bale is in the second position.

Abstract: An agricultural bale accumulator (100) includes a load bed (113) and a load bed extension module (102). The load bed extension module (102) includes an extension table (104) pivotally connected to a side (124) of a load bed (113) by a hinge mechanism (122). The hinge mechanism (122) permits the load bed extension module (102) to move relative to the load bed (113) between a stowed position, perpendicular to the load bed (113), and an unstowed position, co-planar with a load bed (113) and adjacent to the side (124) of the load bed (113). The agricultural bale accumulator (100) has a first lateral width dimension (160) when the first extension table (104) is in the stowed position to provide a first bale accumulating capacity and a first bale discharging capacity.

Abstract: An agricultural bale accumulator (100) comprises a load bed extension module (102) including at least one extension table (104) pivotally connected to a side (124) of a load bed (113) by a hinge (122) and moveable relative to the load bed (113) between a stowed position and an unstowed, bale accumulating, position which is co-planar with a load bed (113) and adjacent to the side (124) of the load bed (113). The agricultural bale accumulator (100) has a first lateral width dimension (160) when the first extension table (104) is in the stowed position to provide a first bale accumulating capacity. The agricultural bale accumulator (100) has a second lateral width dimension (161), greater than the first lateral width dimension (160), when the first extension table (104) is in the unstowed position to provide a second bale accumulating capacity, greater than the first bale accumulating capacity. An extension table support system (130) connected to a main frame (120) and/or the extension table (104).

Abstract: The invention is a simple and efficient system for picking up bales of hay, straw, or other agricultural material in the field and transporting these in stacks (four bales high) to a remote location. The first step in the process is attaching to the baler a cart with a turn table. The baler bales the hay, straw, or other agricultural material into a rectangular bale that is delivered lengthwise to the cart. The turn table on the cart rotates the bale ninety degrees and discharges the bale. Then a bale is picked up by a self propelled bale wagon that consists of: a cab with an engine, a flat bed, and the appropriate machinery for picking up the bale. A boom is mounted on the front of the bale wagon. The boom includes a plurality of tines designed to penetrate the bale as it rests in the field after coming off the turn table cart.

Abstract: A hay bale turntable for angularly rotating a rectangular jumbo size hay bale 90.degree. about its longitudnal axis while lowering the bale as it is received from a baler chamber to the surface of the earth is formed by a rigid bale support frame connected with the rearward end of a hay baler frame below the exit end of the hay baler bale chamber. A bale lowering arm frame is pivotally connected with the support frame for vertical pivoting movement toward and away from the surface of the earth. The arm frame supports a bale receiving platform having a bearing centrally interposed between the platform and the arm frame for angular rotation of the platform as the arm frame lowers it toward the surface of the earth by a fluid pressure cylinder connected with the support frame and arm frame. The cylinder is actuated for pivoting the arm frame by a fluid pressure pilot valve on the platform triggered by an overlying bale.

Abstract: A mobile bale collector having a frame, bale carrier, and a coupling for connecting the bale collector to a mobile bale collector to receive bales from the baler, and the carrier is coupled to the frame by a hinge. In operation, a first bale is received onto the bale collector and moved rearward until the bale contacts a blocking device at the rear end of the bale carder. The blocking device is locked in position during the collection stage. The hinge coupling the carder to the frame permits the carder to pivot downwardly, to a low position after the first bale has been received. The carder may then receive a second bale from the baler. The second bale is propelled along the top surface of the first bale, toward the rear of the carrier. As the second bale moves into position, aligned over the first bale, the second bale releases the blocking device, thereby allowing the stacked bales to unload from the rear of the carder onto the ground in a stacked orientation.