Method and Apparatus for Handling Bales

This invention relates to article handling devices and in particular but not by way of limitation to a device to be mounted on a pickup truck for handling round bales of hay.

The handling and storage of hay at one time was by the pitch fork and haystack. This method gave way to compressing the hay into rectangular bales which were piled in blocks after using elevating means. More recently the large round bales of hay have gained favour especially in the ranching and feed lot industry.

In view of the competitive nature of most industries today several devices evolved to cope with the problems involved in handling the new larger bales. The closest related prior art known to applicant are Canadian Patents 1,010,415, 1,063,559, 1,062,668, 1,195,295 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,722,651, 4,594,041, 4,579,497 and 4,564,325.

The above prior art devices while providing equipment that meets the needs of some, are, due to their complicated structure, far too expensive, require considerable assembly time and often are damaging to the bales.

The present invention in order to overcome the above mentioned deficiencies has as its main objective the provision of an inexpensive, structurally simple bale handler by using an arrangement that mounts on and dismounts from a vehicle in a matter of seconds with no tools required, and provides for a limited shifting of the bale by a floating spear type bale axle to a supported position on the bale handler frame thereby avoiding damage to the bales especially those of the loosely packed or soft core type.

The present invention further provides a structure that can be operated by a simple mechanical or electrical winch means.

The present invention further provides a rectangular frame for handling or transporting many miscellaneous articles when not in use as a bale handler.

The present invention further provides a structure suitable for the "roll-out" of bales for feeding purposes.

The present invention further provides an article handling means comprising a main frame means for supporting an article or articles and defining a plane surface, article retaining means fastened to said main frame with provision for limited free translational movement relative thereto while in operation, leverage means fixedly mounted to said main frame means and mounting means pivotally supporting said main frame means whereby movement of the leverage means pivots the main frame means with retaining means to an overcenter position about the mounting means thereby moving articles to a supported and locked position.

A further provision of the instant invention is the method of handling a cylindrical bale having a horizontal axis comprising the steps of: securing a lift mechanism to a bale, pivoting the lift mechanism and bale to a position overcenter of the pivoting axis, providing for a downward limited movement of the securing means enabling support of the bale on the mechanism, transporting the mechanism with bale to a new location, releasing the mechanism from the overcenter locking position, lowering the bale, untying the bale and by movement of the transporting vehicle unrolling the bale on the ground.

Other objects and provisions and a further understanding of the instant invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the instant invention mounted on the rear of a vehicle and in the bale engaging position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the instant invention mounted on the rear of a vehicle showing the bale in the supported and overcenter locked position.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a main frame generally designated by the numeral 10. This main frame is formed by two arms, 11 integrally joined by a cross member 12, the resultant structure lying in a single plane. A cross member reinforcing sleeve 18 is placed over the cross member centrally thereof and rigidly fixed thereto. Cross member tabs 19 are fixed to cross member 12 at a position that is slightly downwardly from the plane represented by the main frame. This out of plane location assists in an overcenter locking position of the main frame when pivoted as shown in FIG. 3. Mounting base tabs 21 are hingedly fastened to the cross member tabs 19 by hinge pins 22 and are rigidly fixed to the mounting base 20. The hinge pins 22 are off center to assist in the overcenter locking effect. The base tabs 21 are fixed to the base 20, which is preferably a sturdy 4".times.3" angle iron, at a location which provides a space or gap 23 at both ends to receive a mounting chain 28 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The mounting chain 28 lays along the throat of the angle iron base 20 then passes through the space 23 and is hooked at each end to a suitable location on the vehicle and tightened by a turnbuckle or "boomer". A boomer is an overcenter lever arrangement fastened to a chain and is commonly used on large flat bed trucks to secure a load. The boomer fastening device is used to provide a rapid fastening of the mounting base 20 to the vehicle where the top of the rear bumper 27 and truck box 29 form a complimentary right angle to accept the mounting base 20.

Near the free ends of each arm 11 is a bale axle retaining collar 16 attached to each arm by flexible means usually in the form of a chain 17. The bale axle retaining collars 16 hold the spear type bale axle 15 to the arms 11 by the flexible means 17 enabling a round bale pierced along its central axis by the bale axle 15 to move outwardly but within the outer limits of the arms 11 and inwardly sufficient to permit the bale to rest on the main frame 10 where the bale has been pivoted to its transporting location as shown in FIG. 3. This floating of the bale axle 15 permitting transporting support of the bale by the main frame 10 is very important since it eliminates damage to poorly pressed or soft core bales.

Leverage pole 13 is rigidly attached to the cross member reinforcing sleeve 18. The sleeve 18 is only for added strength in the event the bales are extremely heavy or stuck to the ground. The leverage pole 13 is located centrally of the cross member 12 and forms an approximate right angle with the plane of the main frame 10. The leverage pole 13 has at its outward end a pivot force mounting means 14 which is engaged by a hand crank winch 25 or electric tension producing device as desired.

In FIG. 2 the bale handler is seen attached to the rear of the vehicle, the mounting base 20 resting on the top of the vehicle bumper 27 and against the vehicle box 29. The mounting base is firmly attached by a chain 28 fastened to a suitable location under the bumper and snugged tight by a device such as an overcenter lever or "boomer" as previously described. In operation the vehicle is backed up to a bale, the spear type bale axle 15 is inserted through a bale axle retaining collar 16 then forced through the bale at its central axis then inserted through the other collar 16. The bale is now floatingly retained by chains 17 on arms 11. To raise the bale to transporting position a tension producing device such as a hand winch 25 is hooked to pivot force mounting means 14 normally welded to leverage pole 13. The winch is now operated shortening the winch cable 24 which is anchored to a vehicle body member 26 near the front of the vehicle box 29.

In FIG. 3 the bale handler has been pivoted to its transporting position. The center of gravity of the bale at bale axle means 15 is now over center of its pivoting axis which are hinge pins 22 locking it in position while the floating bale axle 15 has let the bale move downwardly to rest on the main frame 10 thereby avoiding bale damage especially to lose or soft core bales supported only by shaft piercing means.

For feeding of stock the bale is controllably released to its ground engaging position, the restraining cords are cut, the vehicle moves ahead and the bale unrolls. No special spinners are required.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.