Bale Stacker

Abstract

A bale stacker and method of using a bale stacker for consolidating a plurality of bales into a bale stack. The bale stacker including a bale stacker chassis supported for translational motion over a surface and one or more: of a bale lift, a bale receiving platform disposed over the bale stacker chassis to receive bales released from the bale lift, a bale transfer table disposing a plurality of bales in bale stack, a bale stack bed having at least one fork movable to abut a bale stack on said bale stack bed, a bale shuffler operable to engage the bale stack to align the bales in the bale stack, and a bale stack push of operable to engage the bale stack disposed on said bale stack bed in primarily vertical orientation to push a plurality of bale stacks off from the bale stack bed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]A bale stacker and method of using a bale stacker for consolidating a plurality of bales into a bale stack.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Forage, such as hay and crop residue, such as corn stalks and straw of cereal plants, can be formed into bales having substantially uniform rectangular dimensions of bale length (L), bale width (W) and bale height (H). A bale has a bottom wall opposite a top wall each having substantially identical area of L×W, and having two opposite sidewalls, each having substantially identical area H×L, and having to opposite end walls, each having substantially identical area H×W. If the forage is to be transported or stored, the bales can be consolidated in a bale stack by abutting a bottom wall to a top wall and optionally further abutting bale stack side walls to consolidate a plurality of bale stacks into a bale bundle.[0003]Bale stackers to consolidate bales into bale stacks are known; however, conventional machines have a n...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The system enhances the uniformity and stability of bale stacks, increases the speed and capacity of the bale stacking process, reducing the likelihood of bale damage and re-stacking, while ensuring reliable sliding and alignment of bales.

Problems solved by technology

Bale stackers to consolidate bales into bale stacks are known; however, conventional machines have a number disadvantages in picking bales up, moving individual bales into a bale stack, aligning the bale walls in a bale stack, aligning stack walls in a plurality of bale stacks, or pushing bale stacks or bale bundles off from the bale stacker, which disadvantages can reduce the uniformity of the bale stack or bale bundle which can result in unstable bale stacks or bale bundles which may dissociate and require re-stacking, or damage or break open bales resulting in lost forage.

Additionally, the disadvantages reduce the speed and capacity of the bale stacker.

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