Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
We Claim:
1. An agricultural bale accumulator comprising:
a base module including:
a load bed which is substantially planar for receiving a plurality of bales
along a first axis and accumulating thereon the plurality of bales; and
a main frame for supporting the load bed above a ground surface; and
a load bed extension module including:
a first extension table which is substantially planar;
a first extension table attachment mechanism connected to the first
extension table and the base module to permit the first extension table to be
moveable in a
direction along a second axis transverse to the first axis relative to the
base module
between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein the first
extension table is
substantially co-planar with the load bed and adjacent to a first side of the
load bed when
the first extension table is in the unstowed position to permit the first
extension table to
accumulate thereon at least one of the plurality of bales, wherein the
agricultural bale
accumulator has a first lateral width dimension along the second axis and a
first bale
accumulating capacity when the first extension table is in the stowed
position, wherein the
agricultural bale accumulator has a second lateral width dimension along the
second axis
and a second bale accumulating capacity when the first extension table is in
the unstowed
position, wherein the first lateral width dimension is less than the second
lateral width
dimension, and wherein the first bale accumulating capacity is less than the
second bale
accumulating capacity; and
a first extension table support system contacting the first extension table at
a
location beyond the first extension table attachment mechanism to support the
first
extension table when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
2. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 1, wherein the first
extension
table support system contacts the first extension table above a bale receiving
surface of the
first extension table to support the first extension table when the first
extension table is in
the unstowed position.
41
3. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the
first
extension table support system contacts the first extension table below a bale
receiving
surface of the first extension table to support the first extension table when
the first
extension table is in the unstowed position.
4. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein
the first extension table support system is connected to the base module.
5. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein
the first extension table support system is connected to the load bed.
6. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
wherein
the first extension table support system is connected to the main frame.
7. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
wherein
the first extension table support system is connected to the first extension
table.
8. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
wherein
the first extension table support system contacts the base module to support
the first
extension table from the base module when the first extension table is in the
unstowed
position.
9. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
wherein
the first extension table support system contacts the load bed to support the
first extension
table from the load bed when the first extension table is in the unstowed
position.
10. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
wherein
the first extension table support system contacts the main frame to support
the first
extension table from the main frame when the first extension table is in the
unstowed
position.
11. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
wherein
the first extension table support system contacts the ground surface to
support the first
42
extension table from the ground surface when the first extension table is in
the unstowed
position.
12. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
wherein
the first extension table support system further comprises:
a first support wheel connected to the first extension table and moveable with
the
first extension table when the first extension table moves between the stowed
position and
the unstowed position, wherein the first support wheel contacts the ground
surface to
support the first extension table from the ground surface when the first
extension table is in
the unstowed position.
13. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 12 further
comprising:
a first wheel and a second wheel coupled to the main frame, wherein the first
wheel
and the second wheel contact the ground surface to support the base module
from the
ground surface and to permit the agricultural bale accumulator to be
transported across the
ground surface, and wherein the first wheel, the second wheel and the first
support wheel
share a common axis of rotation when the first extension table is in the
unstowed position.
14. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
wherein
the first extension table support system further comprises:
a first frame extension member connected to the first extension table and
moveable
with the first extension table when the first extension table moves between
the stowed
position and the unstowed position, wherein an end surface of the first frame
extension
member contacts an end surface of the base module to support the first
extension table
from the base module when the first extension table is in the unstowed
position.
15. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 14:
wherein the end surface the first frame extension member has a downward angle
relative to a horizontal axis when the first extension table is in the
unstowed position,
wherein the end surface on the base module has an upward angle relative to the
horizontal axis which is complementary to the downward angle, and
wherein the end surface the first frame extension member contacts the end
surface
on the base module to translate an upward force through the first frame
extension member
43
to support the first extension table from the base module when the first
extension table is in
the unstowed position.
16. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
wherein
the first extension table support system further comprises:
a second frame extension member having a first end connected to the base
module
and a second end connected to the first extension table and being moveable
between a
collapsed position and an expanded position, wherein the second frame
extension member
is in one of the collapsed position and the expanded position when the first
extension table
is in the unstowed position, wherein the second frame extension member is in
one of the
expanded position and collapsed position, respectively, when the first
extension table is in
the stowed position, and wherein the second frame extension member is
connected to the
first extension table and the base module to support the first extension table
from the base
module when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
17. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 16, wherein the
second frame
extension member further comprises:
a first hydraulic fluid cylinder for moving the first extension table between
the
stowed position and the unstowed position responsive to receiving pressurized
hydraulic
fluid from a hydraulic fluid source.
18. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claims 16 or 17, wherein
the second
frame extension member further comprises:
at least one spring member, connected to at least one of the base module, the
first
extension table and the second frame extension member, for exerting a bias
force on the
first extension table when the first extension table is moved to at least one
of the stowed
position and the unstowed position.
19. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 18,
wherein
the first extension table support system further comprises:
a third frame extension member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein
the proximal end of the third frame extension member is connected to the main
frame,
wherein a distal end of the third frame extension member extends beyond the
main frame
44
in the lateral direction along the second axis at a fixed position which is
located inside the
first lateral width dimension of the agricultural bale accumulator to permit
safe traveling of
the agricultural bale accumulator on a public roadway when the first extension
table is in
the stowed position, and
wherein a first portion of the first extension table is positioned inside the
distal end
of the third frame extension member and a second portion of the first
extension table is
positioned outside the distal end of the third frame extension member when the
first
extension table is in the unstowed position to permit the third frame
extension member to
contact the first extension table between the first portion of the first
extension table and the
second portion of the first extension table to support the first extension
table from the main
frame when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
20. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 19,
wherein
the first extension table support system further comprises:
a fourth frame extension member having a proximal end and a distal end; and
a frame attachment mechanism connected to the proximal end of the fourth frame
extension member and the main frame to permit the distal end of the fourth
frame
extension member to be moveable in the lateral direction along the second axis
relative to
the main frame between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein the
distal
end of the fourth frame extension member moves towards the main frame when the
fourth
frame extension member is in the stowed position, wherein the distal end of
the fourth
frame extension member moves away from the main frame when the fourth frame
extension member is in the unstowed position, wherein the distal end of the
fourth frame
extension member contacts the first extension table to support the first
extension table
from the main frame when the fourth frame extension member is in the unstowed
position
and when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
21. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 20, wherein the frame
attachment mechanism further comprises:
a pivoting mechanism for pivotally connecting the proximal end of the fourth
frame
extension member to the main frame about a vertical axis relative to the main
frame.
22. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 20, wherein the frame
attachment mechanism further comprises:
a telescoping mechanism for telescopically connecting the proximal end of the
fourth frame extension member to the main frame along a horizontal axis
relative to the
main frame.
23. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 20, 21 or
22,
wherein the first extension table support system further comprises:
a first support wheel connected to the distal end of the fourth frame
extension
member and moveable with the fourth frame extension member when the fourth
frame
extension member moves between the stowed position and the unstowed position,
wherein
the first support wheel contacts the ground surface to support the first
extension table from
the ground surface when the fourth frame extension member is in the unstowed
position
and when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
24. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 23:
wherein the first support wheel provides a sole support for a first side of
the base
module from the ground surface to permit the agricultural bale accumulator to
be
transported across the ground surface when the first extension table is in the
stowed
position and when the fourth frame extension member is in the stowed position,
and
wherein the first support wheel provides the sole support for the first side
of the base
module and the first extension table from the ground surface to permit the
agricultural bale
accumulator to be transported across the ground surface when the first
extension table is in
the unstowed position and when the fourth frame extension member is in the
unstowed
position.
25. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 23 further
comprising:
a first wheel and a second wheel coupled to the main frame, wherein the first
wheel
and the second wheel contact the ground surface to support the base module
from the
ground surface and to permit the agricultural bale accumulator to be
transported across the
ground surface when the first extension table is in the stowed position and
the unstowed
position, and when the fourth frame extension member is in the stowed position
and the
unstowed position, wherein the first support wheel contacts the ground surface
to support
46
the first extension table from the ground surface when the fourth frame
extension member
is in the unstowed position, and wherein the first wheel, the second wheel and
the first
support wheel share a common axis of rotation when the fourth frame extension
member is
in at least the unstowed position.
26. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 25,
wherein
the load bed extension module further comprises:
a second extension table which is substantially planar;
a second extension table attachment mechanism connected to the second
extension
table and the base module to permit the second extension table to be moveable
in the
lateral direction along the second axis relative to the base module between a
stowed
position and an unstowed position, wherein the second extension table is
substantially co-
planar with the load bed and adjacent to a second side of the load bed when
the second
extension table is in the unstowed position to permit the second extension
table to
accumulate thereon at least one of the plurality of bales, wherein the
agricultural bale
accumulator has the first lateral width dimension along the second axis and
the first bale
accumulating capacity when the first extension table and the second extension
table are
each in their respective stowed positions, and wherein the agricultural bale
accumulator
has the second lateral width dimension along the second axis and the second
bale
accumulating capacity when the first extension table and the second extension
table are
each in their respective unstowed positions; and
a second extension table support system connected to at least one of the base
module and the second extension table, wherein the second extension table
support system
contacts the second extension table at a location beyond the second extension
table
attachment mechanism at the second side of the load bed and contacts at least
one of the
base module and the ground surface to support the second extension table from
at least one
of the base module and the ground surface, respectively, when the second
extension table
is in the unstowed position,
wherein the second extension table support system has the same dependent
limitations as the first extension table support system according to any one
of claims 2 to
25.
47
27. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 26,
further
comprising:
a third extension table which is substantially planar;
a third extension table attachment mechanism connected to the third extension
table
and the first extension table to permit the third extension table to be
moveable with the first
extension table relative to the base module when the first extension table
moves between
the stowed position and the unstowed position, wherein the third extension
table is
moveable in the lateral direction along the second axis between a stowed
position and an
unstowed position relative to the first extension table, wherein the third
extension table is
substantially co-planar with the load bed and the first extension table and
adjacent to the
first extension table when the first extension table and the third extension
table are each in
their unstowed positions to permit the third extension table to accumulate
thereon at least
one of the plurality of bales, wherein the agricultural bale accumulator has
the first lateral
width dimension along the second axis and the first bale accumulating capacity
when the
first extension table and the third extension table are each in their
respective stowed
positions, and wherein the agricultural bale accumulator has the second
lateral width
dimension along the second axis and the second bale accumulating capacity when
the first
extension table and the third extension table are each in their respective
unstowed
positions; and
a third extension table support system connected to at least one of the base
module,
the first extension table and the third extension table, wherein the third
extension table
support system contacts the third extension table at a location beyond the
third extension
table attachment mechanism at the first extension table and contacts at least
one of the base
module, the first extension table, and the ground surface to support the third
extension
table from at least one of the base module, the first extension table, and the
ground surface,
respectively, when the first extension table and the third extension table are
each in their
unstowed positions,
wherein the third extension table support system has the same dependent
limitations as the first extension table support system according to any one
of claims 2 to
25.
28. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 27:
48
wherein the first extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a
first
hinge for pivotally connecting the first extension table to the base module
about a first
hinge axis,
wherein the third extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a
third
hinge for pivotally connecting the third extension table to the first
extension table about a
third hinge axis,
wherein the first extension table pivots upwards towards the base module about
the
first hinge axis when the first extension table is in the stowed position, and
wherein the third extension table pivots upwards towards the base module and
the
first extension table about the third hinge axis when the third extension
table is in the
stowed position.
29. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 27:
wherein the first extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a
first
hinge for pivotally connecting the first extension table to the base module
about a first
hinge axis,
wherein the third extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a
third
hinge for pivotally connecting the third extension table to the first
extension table about a
third hinge axis,
wherein the first extension table pivots upwards towards the base module about
the
first hinge axis when the first extension table is in the stowed position, and
wherein the third extension table pivots downwards towards the base module and
the first extension table about the third hinge axis when the third extension
table is in the
stowed position.
30. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 27:
wherein the first extension table attachment mechanism further a first
telescoping
mechanism for telescopically connecting a proximal end of the first extension
table to the
base module in the lateral direction along the second axis relative to the
base module,
wherein the third extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a
first
telescoping mechanism for telescopically connecting a proximal end of the
third extension
table to a distal end of the first extension table in the lateral direction
along the second axis
relative to the base module,
49
wherein the first extension table telescopes along the horizontal axis to a
first
position substantially inside the base module when the first extension table
is in the stowed
position, and wherein the third extension table telescopes along the
horizontal axis to a
first position substantially inside the first extension table when the third
extension table is
in the stowed position, and
wherein the first extension table telescopes along the horizontal axis to a
second
position substantially outside the base module when the first extension table
is in the
unstowed position, and wherein the third extension table telescopes along the
horizontal
axis to a second position substantially outside the first extension table when
the third
extension table is in the unstowed position.
31. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 28, 29 or 30:
wherein a top surface of the first extension table is lower than a top surface
of the
load bed by a first predetermined distance when the first extension table is
in the unstowed
position, and
wherein a top surface of the third extension table is lower than the top
surface of
the first extension table by a second predetermined distance when the third
extension table
is in the unstowed position.
32. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 31,
wherein
the load bed extension module is attachable to and detachable from the base
module
independently of any other module on the agricultural bale accumulator.
33. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 32,
further
comprising:
at least one bale position sensor for sensing that at least one of the
plurality of bales
is disposed on a bale receiving surface of at least one of the load bed, the
first extension
table, the second extension table, and the third extension table,
respectively.
34. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 33, wherein the at
least one
bale position sensor further comprises:
a sensing plate located at the predetermined position along the first axis and
moveable between a first position, at least coplanar with the bale receiving
surface, and a
second position, extending above the bale receiving surface, wherein the
sensing plate is
located in the first position responsive to a bale applying a force on the
sensing plate, and
wherein the sensing plate is located in the second position responsive to a
bale not
applying a force on the sensing plate; and
a switch coupled to the sensing plate, wherein the switch has a first switch
state
responsive to the sensing plate being located in the first position to
generate a first bale
position signal, and wherein the switch has a second switch state responsive
to the sensing
plate being located in the second position to generate a second bale position
signal.
35. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 34,
wherein
the load bed receives the plurality of bales in a first direction along the
first axis, the
agricultural bale accumulator further comprising:
a bale transfer module operable to transfer the plurality of bales received on
the
load bed across at least one of the load bed, the first extension table, the
second extension
table, and the third extension table in a second direction along the second
axis to
accumulate the plurality of bales on at least one of the load bed, the first
extension table,
the second extension table, and the third extension table, respectively, in a
side-by-side
relationship when at least one of the first extension table, the second
extension table, and
the third extension table, respectively, is in the unstowed position.
36. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 35, wherein the bale
transfer
module further comprises:
a push bar extending above a bale receiving surface of the load bed and having
a
longitudinal axis disposed substantially parallel to the first axis, wherein
the push bar is
adapted move between a first position and a second position, wherein the push
bar is in the
first position when the push bar is located towards a first side of the load
bed, wherein the
push bar is in the second position when the push bar is located towards a
second side,
opposite to the first side, of the load bed, wherein the push bar is adapted
to push a bale
across the load bed in a first direction along the second axis responsive to
the push bar
moving from the first position to the second position, and wherein the push
bar is adapted
to push a bale across the load bed in a second direction, opposite to the
first direction,
along the second axis responsive to the push bar moving from the second
position to the
first position.
51
37. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claims 35 or 36, wherein:
the bale transfer module transfers the plurality of bales received on the load
bed
responsive to an automatically or manually generated electrical signal.
38. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one claims 1 to 37
further
comprising:
a bale discharge module operable to discharge at least one of the plurality of
bales
accumulated on at least one of the load bed, the first extension table, the
second extension
table, and the third extension table to the ground surface.
39. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 38, wherein the bale
discharge module further comprises:
at least a portion of the load bed pivotally connected to the main frame about
a
pivot point disposed on a horizontal pivot axis and moveable relative to the
main frame
between a bale accumulating position and a bale discharging position, wherein
the at least
a portion of the load bed is in a horizontal position relative to the main
frame when the at
least a portion of the load bed is in the bale accumulating position to permit
the at least a
portion of the load bed and the first extension table to accumulate thereon
the plurality of
bales, and wherein the at least a portion of the load bed is in an inclined
position relative to
the main frame when the at least a portion of the load bed is in the bale
discharging
position to permit the at least a portion of the load bed and the first
extension table to
discharge the plurality of bales accumulated thereon to the ground surface,
wherein the first extension table attachment mechanism connects the first
extension
table to the at least a portion of the load bed to permit the first extension
table to be
moveable with the at least a portion of the load bed when the at least a
portion of the load
bed moves between the bale accumulating position and the bale discharging
position, and
wherein the first extension table support system contacts the first extension
table
and contacts at least one of the base module and the ground surface to support
the first
extension table from at least one of the base module and the ground surface,
respectively,
when the first extension table is in the unstowed position and when the at
least a portion of
the load bed is in at least one of the bale accumulating position and the bale
discharging
position.
52
40. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 39, wherein the first
extension table support system supports the first extension table offset from
the horizontal
pivot axis when the first extension table is in the unstowed position and when
the at least a
portion of the load bed is in at least one of the bale accumulating position
and the bale
discharging position.
41. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 40, wherein the first
extension table support system supports the first extension table offset from
the horizontal
pivot axis at a location between a front side of the load bed where the
plurality of bales are
received on the load bed and the horizontal pivot axis.
42. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claims 39, 40, or 41,
wherein the
first extension table support system supports the first extension table about
the horizontal
pivot axis when the first extension table is in the unstowed position and when
the at least a
portion of the load bed is in at least one of the bale accumulating position
and the bale
discharging position.
43. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 39 to 42,
further
comprising:
a second hydraulic fluid cylinder having a first end connected to the main
frame
and a second end connected to the at least a portion of the load bed, wherein
the second
hydraulic fluid cylinder moves the at least a portion of the load bed relative
to the main
frame between the bale accumulating position and the bale discharging position
responsive
to receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid source; and
a hydraulic valve for selectively routing the pressurized hydraulic fluid from
the
hydraulic fluid source to the first hydraulic fluid cylinder at a first time,
and to the second
hydraulic fluid cylinder, at a second time, different from the first time,
responsive to an
electric control signal.
44. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 39 to 43,
further
comprising:
53
an alignment mechanism for aligning the at least a portion of the load bed
with the
main frame at a location between a front side of the load bed where the
plurality of bales
are received on the load bed and a horizontal pivot axis when the at least a
portion of the
load bed is in the bale accumulating position.
45. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 39 to 44,
further
comprising:
a latch mechanism for latching the at least a portion of the load bed to the
main
frame when the at least a portion of the load bed is in the bale accumulating
position and
for unlatching the at least a portion of the load bed from the main frame when
the at least a
portion of the load bed is in the bale discharging position.
46. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 45, wherein the latch
mechanism further comprises:
at least one hook and at least one catch bar located at a front side of the
agricultural
bale accumulator, mechanically coupled to an inside of the main frame and an
under side
of the at least a portion of the load bed, and adapted to move between a
latched position
and an unlatched position,
wherein the latch mechanism latches the at least a portion of the load bed to
the
main frame when the latch mechanism is in the latched position to secure the
at least a
portion of the load bed in the bale accumulating position, and
wherein the latch mechanism unlatches the at least a portion of the load bed
from
the main frame when the latch mechanism is in the unlatched position to permit
the at least
a portion of the load bed to move to from the bale accumulating position to
the bale
discharging position.
47. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 38, wherein the bale
discharge module further comprises:
a push mechanism extending above a bale receiving surface of the load bed and
the
first extension table and having a longitudinal axis disposed transverse to
the first axis,
wherein the push mechanism is adapted move along a bale discharge axis
parallel to the
first axis between the bale accumulating position and the bale discharging
position,
wherein the push mechanism is in the bale accumulating position when the push
54
mechanism is located near a front side of the load bed and the first extension
table, and
wherein the push mechanism is in the bale discharging position when the push
mechanism
is moved towards a rear side of the load bed and the first extension table.
48. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 38 to 47,
wherein:
the bale discharge module moves between the bale accumulating position and the
bale discharging position responsive to an automatically or manually generated
electrical
signal.
49. The agricultural bale accumulator according any one of claims 1 to 48,
wherein the
base module further comprises:
a hitch assembly mechanically coupled to the main frame and adapted to
mechanically couple and decouple a front side of the main frame to a mating
hitch
assembly on a rear side of an agricultural baler, wherein the hitch assembly
supports the
front side of the main frame when the hitch assembly is mechanically coupled
to the
mating hitch assembly on the rear side of the agricultural baler to permit the
agricultural
bale accumulator and the agricultural baler to be towed by the agricultural
baler,
wherein the load bed successively receives the plurality of bales from a bale
chamber of the agricultural baler along the first axis in a rearward direction
essentially
opposite to a direction of travel of the agricultural baler.
50. The agricultural bale accumulator according any one of claims 1 to 48,
wherein the
base module further comprises:
a hitch assembly mechanically coupled to the main frame and adapted to
mechanically couple and decouple a front side of the main frame to a mating
hitch
assembly on a rear side of a tractor, wherein the hitch assembly supports the
front side of
the main frame when the hitch assembly is mechanically coupled to the mating
hitch
assembly on the rear side of the tractor to permit the agricultural bale
accumulator to be
towed behind the tractor,
wherein the load bed receives the plurality of bales, deposited by an
agricultural
baler on the ground surface, from the ground surface along the first axis in a
rearward
direction essentially opposite to a direction of travel of the tractor.
51. The agricultural bale accumulator according any one of claims 1 to 50,
wherein the
load bed further comprises:
a center load bed, disposed at a bale receiving portion of the load bed, for
receiving
a first bale of the plurality of bales;
a first side load bed, disposed at a first side of the center load bed, for
accumulating
a second bale of the plurality of bales; and
a second side load bed, disposed at a second side, opposite to the first side,
of the
center load bed, for accumulating a third bale of the plurality of bales.
52. The agricultural bale accumulator according any one of claims 1 to 51,
wherein at
least one of the first extension table, the second extension table, and the
third extension
table is adapted to accumulate at least one of a fourth bale, a fifth bale,
and a sixth bale,
respectively.
53. The agricultural bale accumulator according any one of claims 1 to 52,
further
comprising:
a first bale discharging capacity including one to three bales when the first
extension table and the second extension table are each in their stowed
positions, wherein
the first bale accumulating capacity includes one to three bales when the
first extension
table and the second extension table are each in their stowed positions; and
a second bale discharging capacity including one to five bales when the first
extension table and the second extension table are each in their unstowed
positions,
wherein the second bale accumulating capacity includes one to five bales when
the first
extension table and the second extension table are each in their unstowed
positions.
54. The agricultural bale accumulator according any one of claims 1 to 52,
further
comprising:
a first bale discharging capacity including one bale when the first extension
table
and the second extension table are each in their stowed positions, wherein the
first bale
accumulating capacity includes one bale when the first extension table and the
second
extension table are each in their stowed positions; and
56
a second bale discharging capacity including one to three bales when the first
extension table and the second extension table are each in their unstowed
positions,
wherein the second bale accumulating capacity includes one to three bales when
the first
extension table and the second extension table are each in their unstowed
positions.
55. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 54,
further
comprising:
a controller, electrically coupled to at least one agricultural bale
accumulator
module, and adapted to control the operation of the agricultural bale
accumulator.
56. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 55, further
comprising:
a control console, electrically coupled to the controller, adapted to be
mounted in a
cab of an operator to provide the operator with feedback about the operation
of the
agricultural bale accumulator to permit the operator to at least one of
monitor and change
the operation of the agricultural bale accumulator.
57. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 56,
wherein
the first extension table is disposed perpendicular to the load bed, above a
bale receiving
surface of the load bed, and adjacent to a first side of the load bed when the
first extension
table is in the stowed position.
58. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 57,
wherein
the first extension table attachment mechanism further comprises:
a first hinge for pivotally coupling the first extension table to the base
module
about a first hinge axis.
59. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 56,
wherein
the first extension table attachment mechanism further comprises:
a telescoping mechanism for telescopically coupling the first extension table
to the
base module along the second axis.
60. The agricultural bale accumulator according any one of claims 1 to 59,
further
comprising:
57
a hydraulic fluid distribution system including at least a first hydraulic
fluid
distribution path, at least a second hydraulic fluid distribution path, and at
least a third
hydraulic fluid distribution path, and adapted to selectively couple
pressurized hydraulic
fluid received by the at least the first hydraulic fluid distribution path
from a hydraulic
fluid source to the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path, at
a first time, and
to the at least the third hydraulic fluid distribution path, at a second time,
different from the
first time;
a first bale accumulator module adapted to perform a first mechanical function
at
the first time responsive to receiving a first force generated by the
pressurized hydraulic
fluid received from the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path;
and
a second bale accumulator module adapted to perform a second mechanical
function, different from the first function, at the second time, responsive to
receiving a
second force generated by the pressurized hydraulic fluid received from the at
least the
third hydraulic fluid distribution path.
61. The agricultural bale accumulator according claim 60, further comprising:
a hydraulic fluid valve including:
a first set of hydraulic fluid ports mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the at least a first hydraulic fluid distribution path,
a second set of hydraulic fluid ports mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the at least a second hydraulic fluid distribution path,
and
a third set of hydraulic fluid ports mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the at least a third hydraulic fluid distribution path,
wherein the hydraulic fluid valve is adapted to selectively couple the
pressurized hydraulic fluid received by the first set of hydraulic fluid ports
from the
hydraulic fluid source to the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, at the
first time, and the
third set of hydraulic fluid ports, at the second time, different from the
first time;
a first hydraulic fluid cylinder adapted to be mechanically coupled to and in
fluid
communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, and adapted to
move between
a first position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second position
of the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder responsive to the pressurized hydraulic fluid,
wherein the first bale accumulator module further includes:
58
a first mechanical part adapted to move between a first position of the first
mechanical part and a second position of the first mechanical part responsive
to the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder moving between the first position of the first
hydraulic fluid
cylinder and the second position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder,
respectively; and
a second hydraulic fluid cylinder adapted to be mechanically coupled to and in
fluid communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, and adapted
to move
between a first position of the second hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second
position of the
second fluid hydraulic cylinder responsive to the pressurized hydraulic fluid;
wherein the second bale accumulator module further includes:
a second mechanical part adapted to move between a first position of the
second mechanical part and a second position of the second mechanical part
responsive to
the second hydraulic fluid cylinder moving between the first position of the
second
hydraulic fluid cylinder and the second position of the second hydraulic fluid
cylinder,
respectively.
62. The agricultural bale accumulator according claims 60 or 61, wherein the
first
equipment module and the second equipment module of the agricultural bale
accumulator
further comprise:
two different corresponding bale accumulator modules selected from the
following
bale accumulator modules:
a bale movement module;
a bale transfer module;
a bale discharge module; and
a load bed extension module.
63. A method for making an agricultural bale accumulator according to any one
of
claims 1 to 62, comprising the steps of:
providing the base module including the steps of:
providing the load bed; and
providing the main frame for supporting the load bed; and
providing the load bed extension module including the steps of:
providing the first extension table;
59
providing the first extension table attachment mechanism connected to the
first extension table and the base module to permit the first extension table
to be moveable
in the direction along a second axis transverse to the first axis relative to
the base module
between the stowed position and the unstowed position; and
providing the first extension table support system contacting the first
extension table at the location beyond the first extension table attachment
mechanism to
support the first extension table when the first extension table is in the
unstowed position.
64. A method for using an agricultural bale accumulator according to any one
of claims
1 to 62, comprising the steps of:
receiving a plurality of bales on the load bed;
accumulating at least one of the plurality of bales on at least one of the
load bed,
the first extension table, second extension table, and third extension table;
and
discharging at least one of the plurality of bales from at least one of the
load bed,
the first extension table, second extension table, and third extension table.
65. An agricultural bale accumulator comprising:
a base module including:
a main frame; and
a load bed, having a substantially planar bale receiving surface,
mechanically coupled to the main frame in a fixed position and supported by
the main
frame in a substantially horizontal plane parallel to a ground surface, and
adapted to
receive thereon a plurality of bales, including a leading bale immediately
followed by a
trailing bale, successively ejected from a bale chamber of an agricultural
baler along a bale
receiving axis in a bale traveling direction, opposite to a direction of
travel of the
agricultural bale accumulator, towards a rear side of the agricultural bale
accumulator to
accumulate the plurality of bales on the load bed, wherein the load bed
further includes:
a center load bed adapted to successively receive thereon each bale
of the plurality of bales ejected from the bale chamber of the agricultural
baler and to
accumulate thereon a first bale of the plurality of bales;
a right load bed, located adjacent to a right side of the center load
bed, adapted to receive thereon a bale of the plurality of bales from the
center load bed and
to accumulate thereon a second bale of the plurality of bales; and
a left load bed, located adjacent to a left side, opposite to the right
side, of the center load bed, adapted to receive thereon a bale of the
plurality of bales from
the center load bed and to accumulate thereon a third bale of the plurality of
bales;
a bale transfer module adapted to alternately transfer each of the plurality
of bales,
received by and accumulated on the center load bed, across the load bed to the
right load
bed and to the left load bed along a bale transfer axis transverse to the bale
receiving axis
responsive to a bale transfer signal to accumulate the plurality of bales on
at least one of
the center load bed, the right load bed, and the left load bed in a side-by-
side relationship,
wherein the bale transfer module further comprises:
a first push mechanism adapted to push each of the plurality of bales,
received by and accumulated on the center load bed, substantially horizontally
across the
load bed to the right load bed and to the left load bed; and
a bale discharge module adapted to move between a bale accumulating position
and
a bale discharging position responsive to a bale discharge signal to discharge
at least one
of the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed to the ground surface,
wherein the
agricultural bale accumulator is adapted to accumulate at least one of the
plurality of bales
on the load bed when the bale discharge module is located in the bale
accumulating
position, and wherein the agricultural bale accumulator is adapted to
discharge at least one
of the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed to the ground surface
when the bale
discharge module is moved from the bale accumulating position to the bale
discharging
position, wherein the bale discharge module further comprises:
a second push mechanism adapted to push the at least one of the plurality of
bales, accumulated on the load bed, substantially horizontally along the load
bed towards
the rear side of the agricultural bale accumulator to cause the at least one
of the plurality of
bales, accumulated on the load bed, to be discharged from the rear side of the
agricultural
bale accumulator to the ground surface.
66. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 65, wherein the first
push
mechanism extends above the bale receiving surface of the load bed and has a
longitudinal
axis disposed substantially parallel to the bale receiving axis, wherein the
first push
mechanism is adapted move between a first position and a second position,
wherein the
first push mechanism is in the first position when the first push mechanism is
located at a
right side of the center load, wherein the first push mechanism is in the
second position
61
when the first push mechanism is located at a left side of the center load
bed, wherein the
first push mechanism is adapted to push a bale from the center load bed to the
left load bed
along the bale transfer axis responsive to the first push mechanism moving
from the first
position to the second position, and wherein the first push mechanism is
adapted to push a
bale from the center load bed to the right load bed along the bale transfer
axis responsive
to the first push mechanism moving from the second position to the first
position.
67. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 66, wherein the first
push
mechanism further comprises:
a push bar.
68. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 65 to 67,
wherein
the second push mechanism extends above the bale receiving surface of the load
bed and
has a longitudinal axis disposed substantially transverse to the bale
receiving axis, wherein
the second push mechanism is adapted move along a bale discharge axis parallel
to the
bale receiving axis between the bale accumulating position and the bale
discharging
position, wherein the second push mechanism is in the bale accumulating
position when
the second push mechanism is moved towards a front side of the load bed,
wherein the
second push mechanism is in the bale discharging position when the second push
mechanism is moved towards a rear side of the load bed.
69. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 68, wherein the
second push
mechanism further comprises:
a push plate.
70. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 65 to
69,
wherein each of the plurality of bales has a medium size or a large size.
71. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 65 to
70,
wherein each of the plurality of bales has a rectangular shape.
72. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 65 to
71, further
comprising:
62
a hitch assembly mechanically coupled to the main frame and adapted to
mechanically couple and decouple a front side of the main frame to a mating
hitch
assembly on a rear side of the agricultural baler to permit the agricultural
bale accumulator
to be towed by the agricultural baler.
73. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 65 to
72, further
comprising:
first and second pairs of castor wheels mechanically coupled to the main frame
at
first and second locations, respectively, and adapted to pivot about first and
second
substantially vertical axes, respectively, wherein the first and second pair
of castor wheels,
having a common axis of rotation transverse to a longitudinal axis of the
agricultural bale
accumulator, to support the agricultural bale accumulator from the ground
surface to
permit the agricultural bale accumulator to be transported across the ground
surface in the
direction of travel.
74. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 65 to
73, further
comprising:
a bale position sensing module adapted to generate at least one bale position
signal
responsive to determining a position of at least one bale accumulated on at
least one of the
center load bed, the right load bed, and the left load bed.
75. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 74, wherein the bale
position
sensing module further comprises:
at least one sensing plate having at a predetermined location, and moveable
between a first position at least coplanar with the bale receiving surface,
and a second
position extending above the bale receiving surface, wherein the sensing plate
is located in
the first position responsive to a bale applying a force on the sensing plate,
and wherein the
sensing plate is located in the second position responsive to a bale not
applying a force on
the sensing plate.
76. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 75, wherein the bale
position
sensing module further comprises:
63
a switch coupled to the sensing plate, wherein the switch has a first switch
state
responsive to the sensing plate being located in the first position to
generate a first bale
position signal, and wherein the switch has a second switch state responsive
to the sensing
plate being located in the second position to generate a second bale position
signal.
77. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 65 to
76,
wherein each of the bale transfer signal and the bale discharge signal is
represented by at
least one of one of at least one bale position signal and an operator control
signal.
78. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 65 to
77, further
comprising:
a controller adapted to generate the bale transfer signal and the bale
discharge
signal to control the bale transfer module and the bale discharge module,
respectively.
79. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 65 to
78, further
comprising:
a control console adapted to permit an operator of the agricultural bale
accumulator
to monitor and/or control the operation of the agricultural bale accumulator.
80. The agricultural bale accumulator, according any one of claims 65 to 79,
further
comprising:
a hydraulic fluid distribution system including at least a first hydraulic
fluid
distribution path, at least a second hydraulic fluid distribution path, and at
least a third
hydraulic fluid distribution path, and adapted to selectively couple
pressurized hydraulic
fluid received by the at least the first hydraulic fluid distribution path
from a hydraulic
fluid source to the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path, at
a first time, and
to the at least the third hydraulic fluid distribution path, at a second time,
different from the
first time.
81. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 80, further
comprising:
a first bale accumulator module adapted to perform a first mechanical function
at
the first time responsive to receiving a first force generated by the
pressurized hydraulic
fluid received from the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path;
and
64
a second bale accumulator module adapted to perform a second mechanical
function, different from the first function, at the second time, responsive to
receiving a
second force generated by the pressurized hydraulic fluid received from the at
least the
third hydraulic fluid distribution path.
82. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 81, further
comprising:
a first hydraulic fluid cylinder adapted to be mechanically coupled to and in
fluid
communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, and adapted to
move between
a first position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second position
of the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder responsive to the pressurized hydraulic fluid,
wherein the first bale accumulator module further includes:
a first mechanical part adapted to move between a first position of the first
mechanical part and a second position of the first mechanical part responsive
to the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder moving between the first position of the first
hydraulic fluid
cylinder and the second position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder,
respectively; and
a second hydraulic fluid cylinder adapted to be mechanically coupled to and in
fluid communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, and adapted
to move
between a first position of the second hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second
position of the
second fluid hydraulic cylinder responsive to the pressurized hydraulic fluid;
wherein the second bale accumulator module further includes:
a second mechanical part adapted to move between a first position of the
second mechanical part and a second position of the second mechanical part
responsive to
the second hydraulic fluid cylinder moving between the first position of the
second
hydraulic fluid cylinder and the second position of the second hydraulic fluid
cylinder,
respectively.
83. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 80 to
82, further
comprising:
a hydraulic fluid valve including:
a first set of hydraulic fluid ports mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the at least the first hydraulic fluid distribution path,
a second set of hydraulic fluid ports mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path,
and
a third set of hydraulic fluid ports mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the at least the third hydraulic fluid distribution path,
wherein the hydraulic fluid valve is adapted to selectively couple the
pressurized hydraulic fluid received by the first set of hydraulic fluid ports
from the
hydraulic fluid source to the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, at the
first time, and the
third set of hydraulic fluid ports, at the second time, different from the
first time.
84. The agricultural bale accumulator, according claim 83, further comprising:
a first set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to and
in fluid
communication with the first set of hydraulic fluid ports to distribute the
pressurized
hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source to the first set of hydraulic
fluid ports;
a second set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to
and in
fluid communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports to distribute
the
pressurized hydraulic fluid from the second set of hydraulic fluid ports to
the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder; and
a third set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to and
in
fluid communication with the third set of hydraulic fluid ports to distribute
the pressurized
hydraulic fluid from the third set of hydraulic fluid ports to the second
hydraulic fluid
cylinder.
85. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 80 to
84, further
comprising:
a controller adapted to cause the hydraulic fluid valve to selectively couple
the
pressurized hydraulic fluid from the least the first hydraulic fluid
distribution path to one
of the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path and the at least
the third
hydraulic fluid distribution path.
86. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 80 to
85, further
comprising:
an operator control console adapted to permit an operator to generate an
operator
control signal to selectively couple the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the
least the first
hydraulic fluid distribution path to one of the at least the second hydraulic
fluid
distribution path and the at least the third hydraulic fluid distribution
path.
66
87. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 81 to
86,
wherein the first bale accumulator module and the second bale accumulator
module further
comprise:
two different corresponding bale accumulator modules selected from the
following
bale accumulator modules:
a bale movement module;
the bale transfer module;
the bale discharge module; and
a load bed extension module.
88. The agricultural bale accumulator, according any one of claims 82 to 87,
wherein the first accumulator module and the second accumulator module further
comprise the bale transfer module and the bale discharge module, respectively,
wherein the first push mechanism of the bale transfer module is adapted move
between the first position and the second position responsive to the first
hydraulic fluid
cylinder moving between the first position of the first hydraulic fluid
cylinder and the
second position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder, respectively, and
wherein the second push mechanism of the bale discharge module is adapted move
along the bale discharge axis parallel to the bale receiving axis between the
bale
accumulating position and the bale discharging position responsive to the
second hydraulic
fluid cylinder moving between the first position of the second hydraulic fluid
cylinder and
the second position of the second hydraulic fluid cylinder, respectively.
89. The agricultural bale accumulator, according any one of claims 65 to 88,
further
comprising:
a load bed extension module including:
a first extension table which is substantially planar;
a first extension table attachment mechanism connected to the first
extension table and the base module to permit the first extension table to be
moveable in a
direction along the bale transfer axis transverse to the bale receiving axis
relative to the
base module between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein the
first
extension table is substantially co-planar with the load bed and adjacent to a
first side of
67
the load bed when the first extension table is in the unstowed position to
permit the first
extension table to accumulate thereon at least one of the plurality of bales,
wherein the
agricultural bale accumulator has a first lateral width dimension along the
bale transfer
axis and a first bale accumulating capacity when the first extension table is
in the stowed
position, wherein the agricultural bale accumulator has a second lateral width
dimension
along the bale transfer axis and a second bale accumulating capacity when the
first
extension table is in the unstowed position, wherein the first lateral width
dimension is less
than the second lateral width dimension, and wherein the first bale
accumulating capacity
is less than the second bale accumulating capacity.
90. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 89, further
comprising:
a first extension table support system contacting the first extension table at
a
location beyond the first extension table attachment mechanism to support the
first
extension table when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
91. An agricultural bale accumulator comprising:
a load bed, having a substantially planar bale receiving surface, adapted to
receive
thereon a plurality of bales, including a leading bale immediately followed by
a trailing
bale, successively ejected from a bale chamber of an agricultural baler along
a bale
receiving axis in a bale traveling direction, opposite to a direction of
travel of the
agricultural bale accumulator, towards a rear side of the agricultural bale
accumulator to
accumulate the plurality of bales on the load bed, wherein the load bed
further includes:
a center load bed adapted to successively receive thereon each bale of the
plurality of bales ejected from the bale chamber of the agricultural baler and
to accumulate
thereon a first bale of the plurality of bales;
a right load bed, located adjacent to a right side of the center load bed,
adapted to receive thereon a bale of the plurality of bales from the center
load bed and to
accumulate thereon a second bale of the plurality of bales; and
a left load bed, located adjacent to a left side, opposite to the right side,
of
the center load bed, adapted to receive thereon a bale of the plurality of
bales from the
center load bed and to accumulate thereon a third bale of the plurality of
bales;
a hydraulic fluid valve including a first hydraulic fluid distribution path, a
second
hydraulic fluid distribution path, and a third hydraulic fluid distribution
path, and adapted
68
to selectively couple pressurized hydraulic fluid received by the first
hydraulic fluid
distribution path from a hydraulic fluid source to one of the second hydraulic
fluid
distribution path and the third hydraulic fluid distribution path;
a first accumulator module adapted to perform a first mechanical function at a
first
time responsive to receiving a first force generated by the pressurized
hydraulic fluid from
the second hydraulic fluid distribution path; and
a second accumulator module adapted to perform a second mechanical function,
different from the first function, at a second time, different from the first
time, responsive
to receiving a second force generated by the pressurized hydraulic fluid from
the third
hydraulic fluid distribution path.
92. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 91, wherein each of
the
plurality of bales has a medium size or a large size.
93. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claims 91 or 92, wherein
each of
the plurality of bales has a rectangular shape.
94. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 91 to
93, further
comprising:
at least a first hydraulic fluid line adapted to be mechanically coupled to
and in
fluid communication with the first hydraulic fluid distribution path to
distribute the
pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source to the first
hydraulic fluid
distribution path.
95. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 91 to
94, further
comprising:
a first hydraulic fluid cylinder mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication
with the second hydraulic fluid distribution path, and adapted to move between
a first
position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second position of the
first hydraulic
fluid cylinder responsive to receiving the pressurized hydraulic fluid from
the second
hydraulic fluid distribution path to generate the first force; and
a second hydraulic fluid cylinder mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the at least the third hydraulic fluid distribution path,
and adapted to
69
move between a first position of the second hydraulic fluid cylinder and a
second position
of the second hydraulic fluid cylinder responsive to receiving the pressurized
hydraulic
fluid from the third hydraulic fluid distribution path to generate the second
force.
96. The agricultural bale accumulator, according claim 95, further comprising:
at least a second hydraulic fluid line adapted to be mechanically coupled to
and in
fluid communication with the second hydraulic fluid distribution path to
distribute the
pressurized hydraulic fluid from the second hydraulic fluid distribution path
to the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder; and
at least a third hydraulic fluid line adapted to be mechanically coupled to
and in
fluid communication with the third hydraulic fluid distribution path to
distribute the
pressurized hydraulic fluid from the third hydraulic fluid distribution path
to the second
hydraulic fluid cylinder.
97. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claims 95 or 96,
wherein the first accumulator module includes a first mechanical part adapted
to
move between a first position of the first mechanical part and a second
position of the first
mechanical part responsive to the first hydraulic fluid cylinder moving
between the first
position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder and the second position of the
first hydraulic
fluid cylinder, respectively, and
wherein the second accumulator module includes a second mechanical part
adapted
to move between a first position of the second mechanical part and a second
position of the
second mechanical part responsive to the second hydraulic fluid cylinder
moving between
the first position of the second hydraulic fluid cylinder and the second
position of the
second hydraulic fluid cylinder, respectively.
98. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 91 to
97, further
comprising:
an electrical switch adapted to generate a first electrical control signal and
a second
electrical control signal when the electrical switch is in a first switch
position and a second
switch position, respectively, responsive to receiving a control signal,
wherein the hydraulic fluid valve is adapted to selectively couple the
pressurized
hydraulic fluid received by the first hydraulic fluid distribution path from
the hydraulic
fluid source to one of the second hydraulic fluid distribution path and the
third hydraulic
fluid distribution path responsive to the first electrical control signal and
the second
electrical control signal, respectively.
99. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 91 to
98, further
comprising:
a controller adapted to generate a control signal to cause the hydraulic fluid
valve
to selectively couple the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic
fluid
distribution path to one of the second hydraulic fluid distribution path and
the third
hydraulic fluid distribution path.
100. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 91 to
99, further
comprising:
an operator control console adapted to permit an operator to generate at least
one
operator control signal to selectively couple the pressurized hydraulic fluid
from the first
hydraulic fluid distribution path to one of the second hydraulic fluid
distribution path and
the third hydraulic fluid distribution path.
101. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 91 to
100,
further comprising:
a base module including:
a main frame positioned substantially horizontal to a ground surface;
a hitch assembly mechanically coupled to a main frame of the agricultural
bale accumulator and adapted to mechanically couple and decouple a front side
of the main
frame to a mating hitch assembly on a rear side of the agricultural baler to
permit the
agricultural bale accumulator to be towed by the agricultural baler.
102. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 101, wherein the
base
module further includes:
first and second pairs of castor wheels mechanically coupled to the main frame
at
first and second locations, respectively, and adapted to pivot about first and
second vertical
axes, respectively, wherein the first and second pair of castor wheels, having
a common
axis of rotation transverse to a longitudinal axis of the agricultural bale
accumulator, to
71
support the agricultural bale accumulator from the ground surface to permit
the agricultural
bale accumulator to be transported across the ground surface in the direction
of travel.
103. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 91 to
102,
wherein the first accumulator module and the second accumulator module further
comprise:
two different corresponding modules selected from the following modules:
a bale movement module;
a load bed extension module;
a bale transfer module; and
a bale discharge module.
104. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 103,
wherein the bale transfer module is adapted to alternately transfer each of
the
plurality of bales, received by and accumulated on the center load bed, across
the load bed
to the right load bed and to the left load bed along a bale transfer axis
transverse to the bale
receiving axis responsive to the bale transfer signal to accumulate the
plurality of bales on
at least one of the center load bed, the right load bed, and the left load bed
in a side-by-side
relationship.
105. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 104, wherein the
bale
transfer module further comprises:
a first push mechanism adapted to push each of the plurality of bales,
received by
and accumulated on the center load bed, substantially horizontally across the
load bed to
the right load bed and to the left load bed
106. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 105, wherein the
first push
mechanism extends above the bale receiving surface of the load bed and has a
longitudinal
axis disposed substantially parallel to the bale receiving axis, wherein the
first push
mechanism is adapted move between a first position and a second position,
wherein the
first push mechanism is in the first position when the first push mechanism is
located at a
right side of the center load, wherein the first push mechanism is in the
second position
when the first push mechanism is located at a left side of the center load
bed, wherein the
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first push mechanism is adapted to push a bale from the center load bed to the
left load bed
along the bale transfer axis responsive to the first push mechanism moving
from the first
position to the second position, and wherein the first push mechanism is
adapted to push a
bale from the center load bed to the right load bed along the bale transfer
axis responsive
to the first push mechanism moving from the second position to the first
position.
107. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 103 to
106,
wherein the bale discharge module is adapted to move between the bale
accumulating position and the bale discharging position responsive to the bale
discharge
signal to discharge at least one of the plurality of bales accumulated on the
load bed to a
ground surface, wherein the agricultural bale accumulator is adapted to
accumulate at least
one of the plurality of bales on the load bed when the bale discharge module
is located in
the bale accumulating position, and wherein the agricultural bale accumulator
is adapted to
discharge at least one of the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed
to the ground
surface when the bale discharge module is moved from the bale accumulating
position to
the bale discharging position.
108. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 107, wherein the
bale
discharge module further comprises:
a second push mechanism adapted to push the at least one of the plurality of
bales,
accumulated on the load bed, substantially horizontally along the load bed
towards the rear
side of the agricultural bale accumulator to cause the at least one of the
plurality of bales,
accumulated on the load bed, to be discharged from the rear side of the
agricultural bale
accumulator to the ground surface.
109. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 108, wherein the
second
push mechanism extends above the bale receiving surface of the load bed and
has a
longitudinal axis disposed substantially transverse to the bale receiving
axis, wherein the
second push mechanism is adapted move along a bale discharge axis parallel to
the bale
receiving axis between the bale accumulating position and the bale discharging
position,
wherein the second push mechanism is in the bale accumulating position when
the second
push mechanism is located near a front side of the load bed, and wherein the
second push
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mechanism is in the bale discharging position when the second push mechanism
is moved
towards a rear side of the load bed.
110. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 103 to
107,
wherein the bale discharge module further comprises:
at least a portion of the load bed pivotally connected to a main frame about a
pivot
point disposed on a horizontal pivot axis and moveable relative to the main
frame between
the bale accumulating position and the bale discharging position, wherein the
at least a
portion of the load bed is in a horizontal position relative to the main frame
when the at
least a portion of the load bed is in the bale accumulating position to permit
the at least a
portion of the load bed to accumulate thereon the plurality of bales, and
wherein the at
least a portion of the load bed is in an inclined position relative to the
main frame when the
at least a portion of the load bed is in the bale discharging position to
permit the at least a
portion of the load bed to discharge the plurality of bales accumulated
thereon to the
ground surface.
111. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 103 to
110,
wherein the load bed extension module, further includes:
a first extension table, having a substantially planar bale receiving surface,
adapted
to receive thereon a bale of the plurality of bales from the right load bed
and to accumulate
thereon a fourth bale of the plurality of bales;
a first attachment mechanism adapted to connect the first extension table to a
right
side of the right load bed to permit the first extension table to be moveable
relative to the
right load bed between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein the
first
extension table is disposed substantially co-planar with the right load bed
and adjacent to
the right side of the right load bed when the first extension table is in the
unstowed
position to permit the first extension table to accumulate thereon the fourth
bale, and
wherein the first extension table is prevented from accumulating thereon the
fourth bale
when the first extension table is in the stowed position;
a second extension table, having a substantially planar bale receiving
surface,
adapted to receive thereon a bale of the plurality of bales from the left load
bed and to
accumulate thereon a fifth bale of the plurality of bales; and
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a second attachment mechanism adapted to connect the second extension table to
a
left side of the left load bed to permit the second extension table to be
moveable relative to
the left load bed between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein
the second
extension table is disposed substantially co-planar with the left load bed and
adjacent to the
left side of the left load bed when the second extension table is in the
unstowed position to
permit the second extension table to accumulate thereon the fifth bale,
wherein the second
extension table is prevented from accumulating thereon the fifth bale when the
second
extension table is in the stowed position;
wherein the bale accumulator has a first lateral width dimension when the
first
extension table and the second extension table are each in their stowed
positions to provide
a first bale accumulating capacity and a first bale discharging capacity, and
wherein the
bale accumulator has a second lateral width dimension, longer than the first
lateral width
dimension, when the first extension table and the second extension table are
each in their
unstowed positions to provide a second bale accumulating capacity greater than
the first
bale accumulating capacity and a second bale discharging capacity greater than
the first
bale discharging capacity.
112. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 103 to
110,
wherein load bed extension module further comprises:
a first extension table which is substantially planar;
a first extension table attachment mechanism connected to the first extension
table
and the base module to permit the first extension table to be moveable in a
direction along
the bale transfer axis transverse to the bale receiving axis relative to the
base module
between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein the first
extension table is
substantially co-planar with the load bed and adjacent to a first side of the
load bed when
the first extension table is in the unstowed position to permit the first
extension table to
accumulate thereon at least one of the plurality of bales, wherein the
agricultural bale
accumulator has a first lateral width dimension along the bale transfer axis
and a first bale
accumulating capacity when the first extension table is in the stowed
position, wherein the
agricultural bale accumulator has a second lateral width dimension along the
bale transfer
axis and a second bale accumulating capacity when the first extension table is
in the
unstowed position, wherein the first lateral width dimension is less than the
second lateral
width dimension, and wherein the first bale accumulating capacity is less than
the second
bale accumulating capacity.
113. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 112, further
comprising:
a first extension table support system contacting the first extension table at
a
location beyond the first extension table attachment mechanism to support the
first
extension table when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
114. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 91 to
113,
further comprising:
a bale position sensing module adapted to generate at least one bale position
signal
responsive to determining a position of at least one bale received and
accumulated on at
least one of the center load bed, the right load bed, the left load bed, the
first extension
table, and the second extension table.
115. An agricultural bale accumulator comprising:
a load bed, having a substantially planar bale receiving surface, adapted to
receive
thereon a plurality of bales, including a leading bale immediately followed by
a trailing
bale, successively ejected from a bale chamber of an agricultural baler along
a bale
receiving axis in a bale traveling direction, opposite to a direction of
travel of the
agricultural bale accumulator, towards a rear side of the agricultural bale
accumulator to
accumulate the plurality of bales on the load bed, wherein the load bed
further includes:
a center load bed adapted to successively receive thereon each bale of the
plurality of bales ejected from the bale chamber of the agricultural baler and
to accumulate
thereon a first bale of the plurality of bales;
a right load bed, located adjacent to a right side of the center load bed,
adapted to receive thereon a bale of the plurality of bales from the center
load bed and to
accumulate thereon a second bale of the plurality of bales; and
a left load bed, located adjacent to a left side, opposite to the right side,
of
the center load bed, adapted to receive thereon a bale of the plurality of
bales from the
center load bed and to accumulate thereon a third bale of the plurality of
bales;
a hydraulic fluid system including:
76
a hydraulic fluid valve including a first set of hydraulic fluid ports, a
second
set of hydraulic fluid ports, and a third set of hydraulic fluid ports, and
adapted to
selectively couple pressurized hydraulic fluid received by the first set of
hydraulic fluid
ports from a hydraulic fluid source to one of the second set of hydraulic
fluid ports and the
third set of hydraulic fluid ports;
a first hydraulic fluid cylinder mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, and adapted to
move between
a first position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second position
of the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder responsive to receiving the pressurized hydraulic
fluid from the
second set of hydraulic fluid ports;
a second hydraulic fluid cylinder mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the third set of hydraulic fluid ports, and adapted to move
between a
first position of the second hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second position of
the second
hydraulic fluid cylinder responsive to receiving the pressurized hydraulic
fluid from the
third set of hydraulic fluid ports; and
a controller adapted to cause the hydraulic fluid valve to selectively couple
the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the first set of hydraulic fluid ports to
one of the
second set of hydraulic fluid ports and the third set of hydraulic fluid
ports;
a first accumulator module including a first mechanical part adapted to
perform a
first mechanical function and adapted to move between a first position of the
first
mechanical part and a second position of the first mechanical part responsive
to the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder moving between the first position of the first
hydraulic fluid
cylinder and the second position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder,
respectively, and
a second accumulator module including a second mechanical part adapted to
perform a second mechanical function, different from the first function, and
adapted to
move between a first position of the second mechanical part and a second
position of the
second mechanical part responsive to the second hydraulic fluid cylinder
moving between
the first position of the second hydraulic fluid cylinder and the second
position of the
second hydraulic fluid cylinder, respectively.
116. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 115, wherein each
of the
plurality of bales has a medium size or a large size.
77
117. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 115 or 116, wherein
each of
the plurality of bales has a rectangular shape.
118. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 115 to
117,
further comprising:
a first set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to and
in fluid
communication with the first set of hydraulic fluid ports to distribute the
pressurized
hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source to the first set of hydraulic
fluid ports;
a second set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to
and in
fluid communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports to distribute
the
pressurized hydraulic fluid from the second set of hydraulic fluid ports to
the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder; and
a third set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to and
in
fluid communication with the third set of hydraulic fluid ports to distribute
the pressurized
hydraulic fluid from the third set of hydraulic fluid ports to the second
hydraulic fluid
cylinder.
119. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 115 to
118,
further comprising:
an operator control console adapted to be electrically coupled to the
controller to
permit an operator to generate an operator control signal to cause the
controller to
selectively couple the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the first set of
hydraulic fluid ports
to one of the second set of hydraulic fluid ports and the third set of
hydraulic fluid ports.
120. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 115 to
119,
further comprising:
a base module including:
a main frame positioned substantially horizontal to a ground surface;
a hitch assembly mechanically coupled to the main frame and adapted to
mechanically couple and decouple a front side of the main frame to a mating
hitch
assembly on a rear side of the agricultural baler to permit the agricultural
bale accumulator
to be towed by the agricultural baler.
78
121. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 120, wherein the
base
module further comprises:
first and second pairs of castor wheels mechanically coupled to the main frame
at
first and second locations, respectively, and adapted to pivot about first and
second vertical
axes, respectively, wherein the first and second pair of castor wheels, having
a common
axis of rotation transverse to a longitudinal axis of the agricultural bale
accumulator, to
support the agricultural bale accumulator from the ground surface to permit
the agricultural
bale accumulator to be transported across the ground surface in the direction
of travel.
122. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 115 to
121,
wherein the first accumulator module and the second accumulator module further
comprise:
two different corresponding modules selected from the following modules:
a bale movement module;
a load bed extension module;
a bale transfer module; and
a bale discharge module.
123. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 122,
wherein the bale transfer module is adapted to alternately transfer each of
the
plurality of bales, received by and accumulated on the center load bed, across
the load bed
to the right load bed and to the left load bed along a bale transfer axis
transverse to the bale
receiving axis responsive to the bale transfer signal to accumulate the
plurality of bales on
at least one of the center load bed, the right load bed, and the left load bed
in a side-by-side
relationship.
124. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 123, wherein the
bale
transfer module further comprises:
a first push mechanism adapted to push each of the plurality of bales,
received by
and accumulated on the center load bed, substantially horizontally across the
load bed to
the right load bed and to the left load bed
79
125. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 124, wherein the
first push
mechanism extends above the bale receiving surface of the load bed and has a
longitudinal
axis disposed substantially parallel to the bale receiving axis, wherein the
first push
mechanism is adapted move between a first position and a second position,
wherein the
first push mechanism is in the first position when the first push mechanism is
located at a
right side of the center load, wherein the first push mechanism is in the
second position
when the first push mechanism is located at a left side of the center load
bed, wherein the
first push mechanism is adapted to push a bale from the center load bed to the
left load bed
along the bale transfer axis responsive to the first push mechanism moving
from the first
position to the second position, and wherein the first push mechanism is
adapted to push a
bale from the center load bed to the right load bed along the bale transfer
axis responsive
to the first push mechanism moving from the second position to the first
position.
126. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 122 to
125,
wherein the bale discharge module is adapted to move between the bale
accumulating position and the bale discharging position responsive to the bale
discharge
signal to discharge at least one of the plurality of bales accumulated on the
load bed to a
ground surface, wherein the agricultural bale accumulator is adapted to
accumulate at least
one of the plurality of bales on the load bed when the bale discharge module
is located in
the bale accumulating position, and wherein the agricultural bale accumulator
is adapted to
discharge at least one of the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed
to the ground
surface when the bale discharge module is moved from the bale accumulating
position to
the bale discharging position.
127. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 126, wherein the
bale
discharge module further comprises:
a second push mechanism adapted to push the at least one of the plurality of
bales,
accumulated on the load bed, substantially horizontally along the load bed
towards the rear
side of the agricultural bale accumulator to cause the at least one of the
plurality of bales,
accumulated on the load bed, to be discharged from the rear side of the
agricultural bale
accumulator to the ground surface.
128. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 127, wherein the
second
push mechanism extends above the bale receiving surface of the load bed and
has a
longitudinal axis disposed substantially transverse to the bale receiving
axis, wherein the
second push mechanism is adapted move along a bale discharge axis parallel to
the bale
receiving axis between the bale accumulating position and the bale discharging
position,
wherein the second push mechanism is in the bale accumulating position when
the second
push mechanism is located near a front side of the load bed, and wherein the
second push
mechanism is in the bale discharging position when the second push mechanism
is moved
towards a rear side of the load bed.
129. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 122 to
126,
wherein the bale discharge module further comprises:
at least a portion of the load bed pivotally connected to a main frame about a
pivot
point disposed on a horizontal pivot axis and moveable relative to the main
frame between
the bale accumulating position and the bale discharging position, wherein the
at least a
portion of the load bed is in a horizontal position relative to the main frame
when the at
least a portion of the load bed is in the bale accumulating position to permit
the at least a
portion of the load bed to accumulate thereon the plurality of bales, and
wherein the at
least a portion of the load bed is in an inclined position relative to the
main frame when the
at least a portion of the load bed is in the bale discharging position to
permit the at least a
portion of the load bed to discharge the plurality of bales accumulated
thereon to the
ground surface.
130. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 122 to
129,
wherein the load bed extension module, further includes:
a first extension table, having a substantially planar bale receiving surface,
adapted
to receive thereon a bale of the plurality of bales from the right load bed
and to accumulate
thereon a fourth bale of the plurality of bales;
a first attachment mechanism adapted to connect the first extension table to a
right
side of the right load bed to permit the first extension table to be moveable
relative to the
right load bed between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein the
first
extension table is disposed substantially co-planar with the right load bed
and adjacent to
the right side of the right load bed when the first extension table is in the
unstowed
81
position to permit the first extension table to accumulate thereon the fourth
bale, and
wherein the first extension table is prevented from accumulating thereon the
fourth bale
when the first extension table is in the stowed position;
a second extension table, having a substantially planar bale receiving
surface,
adapted to receive thereon a bale of the plurality of bales from the left load
bed and to
accumulate thereon a fifth bale of the plurality of bales; and
a second attachment mechanism adapted to connect the second extension table to
a
left side of the left load bed to permit the second extension table to be
moveable relative to
the left load bed between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein
the second
extension table is disposed substantially co-planar with the left load bed and
adjacent to the
left side of the left load bed when the second extension table is in the
unstowed position to
permit the second extension table to accumulate thereon the fifth bale,
wherein the second
extension table is prevented from accumulating thereon the fifth bale when the
second
extension table is in the stowed position;
wherein the bale accumulator has a first lateral width dimension when the
first
extension table and the second extension table are each in their stowed
positions to provide
a first bale accumulating capacity and a first bale discharging capacity, and
wherein the
bale accumulator has a second lateral width dimension, longer than the first
lateral width
dimension, when the first extension table and the second extension table are
each in their
unstowed positions to provide a second bale accumulating capacity greater than
the first
bale accumulating capacity and a second bale discharging capacity greater than
the first
bale discharging capacity.
131. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 122 to
129,
wherein load bed extension module further comprises:
a first extension table which is substantially planar;
a first extension table attachment mechanism connected to the first extension
table
and the base module to permit the first extension table to be moveable in a
direction along
the bale transfer axis transverse to the bale receiving axis relative to the
base module
between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein the first
extension table is
substantially co-planar with the load bed and adjacent to a first side of the
load bed when
the first extension table is in the unstowed position to permit the first
extension table to
accumulate thereon at least one of the plurality of bales, wherein the
agricultural bale
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accumulator has a first lateral width dimension along the bale transfer axis
and a first bale
accumulating capacity when the first extension table is in the stowed
position, wherein the
agricultural bale accumulator has a second lateral width dimension along the
bale transfer
axis and a second bale accumulating capacity when the first extension table is
in the
unstowed position, wherein the first lateral width dimension is less than the
second lateral
width dimension, and wherein the first bale accumulating capacity is less than
the second
bale accumulating capacity.
132. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 131, further
comprising:
a first extension table support system contacting the first extension table at
a
location beyond the first extension table attachment mechanism to support the
first
extension table when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
133. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 115 to
132,
further comprising:
a bale position sensing module adapted to generate at least one bale position
signal
responsive to determining a position of at least one bale received and
accumulated on at
least one of the center load bed, the right load bed, the left load bed, the
first extension
table, and the second extension table.
134. An agricultural bale accumulator comprising:
a base module including:
a main frame positioned substantially horizontal to a ground surface;
a hitch assembly mechanically coupled to the main frame and adapted to
mechanically couple and decouple a front side of the main frame to a mating
hitch
assembly on a rear side of an agricultural baler to permit the agricultural
bale accumulator
to be towed by the agricultural baler;
first and second pairs of castor wheels mechanically coupled to the main
frame at first and second locations, respectively, and adapted to pivot about
first and
second vertical axes, respectively, wherein the first and second pair of
castor wheels,
having a common axis of rotation transverse to a longitudinal axis of the
agricultural bale
accumulator, support the agricultural bale accumulator from the ground surface
to permit
83
the agricultural bale accumulator to be transported across the ground surface
in a direction
of travel; and
a load bed, having a substantially planar bale receiving surface,
mechanically coupled to the main frame in a substantially horizontal position,
and adapted
to receive thereon a plurality of bales, having either a medium size or a
large size, having a
rectangular shape, including a leading bale immediately followed by a trailing
bale,
successively ejected from a bale chamber of the agricultural baler along a
bale receiving
axis in a bale traveling direction, opposite to the direction of travel of the
agricultural bale
accumulator, towards a rear side of the agricultural bale accumulator to
accumulate the
plurality of bales on the load bed, wherein the load bed further includes:
a center load bed adapted to successively receive thereon each bale
of the plurality of bales ejected from the bale chamber of the agricultural
baler and to
accumulate thereon a first bale of the plurality of bales;
a right load bed, located adjacent to a right side of the center load
bed, adapted to receive thereon a bale of the plurality of bales from the
center load bed and
to accumulate thereon a second bale of the plurality of bales; and
a left load bed, located adjacent to a left side, opposite to the right
side, of the center load bed, adapted to receive thereon a bale of the
plurality of bales from
the center load bed and to accumulate thereon a third bale of the plurality of
bales;
a bale position sensing module adapted to generate at least one bale position
signal
responsive to determining a position of at least one bale received and
accumulated on at
least one of the center load bed, the right load bed, and the left load bed;
a hydraulic fluid system including:
a hydraulic fluid valve including a first set of hydraulic fluid ports, a
second
set of hydraulic fluid ports, and a third set of hydraulic fluid ports, and
adapted to
selectively couple pressurized hydraulic fluid received by the first set of
hydraulic fluid
ports from a hydraulic fluid source to one of the second set of hydraulic
fluid ports and the
third set of hydraulic fluid ports;
a first set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to and
in fluid communication with first set of hydraulic fluid ports to distribute
the pressurized
hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source to the first set of hydraulic
fluid ports;
a first hydraulic fluid cylinder mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, and adapted to
move between
84
a first position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second position
of the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder responsive to receiving the pressurized hydraulic
fluid from the
second set of hydraulic fluid ports;
a second set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to
and in fluid communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports to
distribute the
pressurized hydraulic fluid from the second set of hydraulic fluid ports to
the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder;
a second hydraulic fluid cylinder mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the third set of hydraulic fluid ports, and adapted to move
between a
first position of the second hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second position of
the second
hydraulic fluid cylinder responsive to receiving the pressurized hydraulic
fluid from the
third set of hydraulic fluid ports;
a third set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to
and in fluid communication with the third set of hydraulic fluid ports to
distribute the
pressurized hydraulic fluid from the third set of hydraulic fluid ports to the
second
hydraulic fluid cylinder; and
a controller adapted to cause the hydraulic fluid valve to selectively couple
the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the first set of hydraulic fluid ports to
one of the
second set of hydraulic fluid ports and the third set of hydraulic fluid ports
responsive to
receiving a bale transfer signal and a bale discharge signal, respectively,
wherein each of
the bale transfer signal and the bale discharge signal is represented by one
of the at least
one bale position signal and an operator control signal;
an operator control console adapted to be electrically coupled to the
controller to
permit an operator to generate the operator control signal;
a bale transfer module adapted to alternately transfer each of the plurality
of bales,
received by and accumulated on the center load bed, across the load bed to the
right load
bed and to the left load bed along a bale transfer axis transverse to the bale
receiving axis
responsive to the bale transfer signal to accumulate the plurality of bales on
at least one of
the center load bed, the right load bed, and the left load bed in a side-by-
side relationship,
wherein the bale transfer module further includes:
a first push mechanism extending above the bale receiving surface of the
load bed and having a longitudinal axis disposed substantially parallel to the
bale receiving
axis, wherein the first push mechanism is adapted move between a first
position and a
second position responsive to the first hydraulic fluid cylinder moving
between the first
position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder and the second position of the
first hydraulic
fluid cylinder, respectively, wherein the first push mechanism is in the first
position when
the first push mechanism is located at a right side of the center load,
wherein the first push
mechanism is in the second position when the first push mechanism is located
at a left side
of the center load bed, wherein the first push mechanism is adapted to push a
bale from the
center load bed to the left load bed along the bale transfer axis responsive
to the first push
mechanism moving from the first position to the second position, and wherein
the first
push mechanism is adapted to push a bale from the center load bed to the right
load bed
along the bale transfer axis responsive to the first push mechanism moving
from the
second position to the first position; and
a bale discharge module adapted to move between a bale accumulating position
and
a bale discharging position responsive to the bale discharge signal to
discharge at least one
of the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed to the ground surface,
wherein the
agricultural bale accumulator is adapted to accumulate at least one of the
plurality of bales
on the load bed when the bale discharge module is located in the bale
accumulating
position, and wherein the agricultural bale accumulator is adapted to
discharge at least one
of the plurality of bales accumulated on the load bed to the ground surface
when the bale
discharge module is moved from the bale accumulating position to the bale
discharging
position, wherein the bale discharge module further comprises:
a second push mechanism extending above the bale receiving surface of the
load bed and having a longitudinal axis disposed substantially transverse to
the bale
receiving axis, wherein the second push mechanism is adapted move along a bale
discharge axis parallel to the bale receiving axis between the bale
accumulating position
and the bale discharging position responsive to the second hydraulic fluid
cylinder moving
between the first position of the second hydraulic fluid cylinder and the
second position of
the second hydraulic fluid cylinder, respectively, wherein the second push
mechanism is in
the bale accumulating position when the second push mechanism is located near
a front
side of the load bed, wherein the second push mechanism is in the bale
discharging
position when the second push mechanism is moved towards a rear side of the
load bed.
135. An agricultural bale equipment comprising:
an agricultural baler including:
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a baler hydraulic fluid distribution system, including a first set of baler
hydraulic fluid distribution paths and a second set of baler hydraulic fluid
distribution
paths, mechanically coupled to and in fluid communication with a hydraulic
fluid source
providing hydraulic fluid;
a baler hydraulic cylinder mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the second set of baler hydraulic fluid distribution paths,
and adapted
to operate a baler module of the agricultural baler;
a rear baler interface including:
a rear baler hitch;
a rear baler hydraulic interface including a first set of rear baler
hydraulic fluid ports and adapted to be mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the first set of baler hydraulic fluid distribution paths;
and
an agricultural bale accumulator including:
an accumulator interface including:
an accumulator hitch adapted to be mechanically coupled to the rear
baler hitch to permit the agricultural bale accumulator to be towed by the
agricultural
baler; and
an accumulator hydraulic fluid interface, including a first set of
accumulator hydraulic fluid ports, a second set of accumulator hydraulic fluid
ports, and a
third set of accumulator hydraulic fluid ports, wherein the first set of
accumulator
hydraulic fluid ports is adapted to be mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication
with the first set of rear baler hydraulic fluid ports, respectively;
a load bed, having a substantially planar bale receiving surface, adapted to
receive thereon a plurality of bales, having either a medium size or a large
size, having a
rectangular shape, including a leading bale immediately followed by a trailing
bale,
successively ejected from a bale chamber of the agricultural baler along a
bale receiving
axis in a bale traveling direction, opposite to a direction of travel of the
agricultural bale
accumulator, towards a rear side of the agricultural bale accumulator to
accumulate the
plurality of bales on the load bed, wherein the load bed further includes:
a center load bed adapted to successively receive thereon each bale
of the plurality of bales ejected from the bale chamber of the agricultural
baler and to
accumulate thereon a first bale of the plurality of bales;
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a right load bed, located adjacent to a right side of the center load
bed, adapted to receive thereon a bale of the plurality of bales from the
center load bed and
to accumulate thereon a second bale of the plurality of bales; and
a left load bed, located adjacent to a left side, opposite to the right
side, of the center load bed, adapted to receive thereon a bale of the
plurality of bales from
the center load bed and to accumulate thereon a third bale of the plurality of
bales;
an accumulator hydraulic fluid distribution system, including a first set of
accumulator hydraulic fluid distribution paths and a second set of accumulator
hydraulic
fluid distribution paths, and adapted to be mechanically coupled to and in
fluid
communication with the second set of accumulator hydraulic fluid ports and the
third set of
accumulator hydraulic fluid ports, respectively;
a first accumulator hydraulic fluid cylinder adapted to be mechanically
coupled to and in fluid communication with the first set of accumulator
hydraulic fluid
distribution paths, and adapted to move between a first position of the first
accumulator
hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second position of the first accumulator
hydraulic fluid
cylinder responsive to pressure exerted by the hydraulic fluid;
a first accumulator module including a first accumulator mechanical part
adapted to move between a first position of the first accumulator mechanical
part and a
second position of the first accumulator mechanical part responsive to the
first accumulator
hydraulic fluid cylinder moving between the first position of the first
accumulator
hydraulic fluid cylinder and the second position of the first accumulator
hydraulic fluid
cylinder, respectively;
a second accumulator hydraulic fluid cylinder adapted to be mechanically
coupled to and in fluid communication with the second set of accumulator
hydraulic fluid
distribution paths, and adapted to move between a first position of the second
accumulator
hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second position of the second accumulator
hydraulic fluid
cylinder responsive to pressure exerted by the hydraulic fluid;
a second accumulator module including a second accumulator mechanical
part adapted to move between a first position of the second accumulator
mechanical part
and a second position of the second accumulator mechanical part responsive to
the second
accumulator hydraulic cylinder moving between the first position of the second
accumulator hydraulic fluid cylinder and the second position of the second
accumulator
hydraulic fluid cylinder, respectively;
88
an electrical switch adapted to generate a first electrical control signal and
a
second electrical control signal when the electrical switch is in a first
switch position and a
second switch position, respectively, responsive to receiving an operational
control signal;
and
a hydraulic fluid valve mechanically coupled to and in fluid communication
with the accumulator hydraulic fluid distribution system, and adapted to
selectively couple
the hydraulic fluid from the first set of hydraulic fluid distribution paths
to the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder, at a first time, and to the second hydraulic fluid
cylinder, at a
second time, different from the first time, responsive to receiving the first
electrical control
signal and the second electrical control signal, respectively.
136. The agricultural bale equipment, according to claim 135, further
comprising:
an agricultural tractor including:
a tractor hitch; and
a tractor hydraulic fluid system including:
the hydraulic fluid source adapted to provide the hydraulic fluid;
and
a tractor hydraulic interface, including a first set of tractor hydraulic
fluid ports and a second set of tractor hydraulic fluid ports, and adapted to
be mechanically
coupled to and in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid source; and
wherein the agricultural baler further comprises:
a front baler interface including:
a front baler hitch adapted to be mechanically coupled to the tractor
hitch to permit the agricultural baler to be towed by the agricultural
tractor; and
a front baler hydraulic fluid interface, including a first set of front
baler hydraulic fluid ports and a second set of front baler hydraulic fluid
ports, adapted to
be mechanically coupled to and in fluid communication with the first set of
tractor
hydraulic fluid ports and the second set of tractor hydraulic fluid ports,
respectively, and
adapted to be mechanically coupled to and in fluid communication with the
first set of
baler hydraulic fluid distribution paths and the second set of baler hydraulic
fluid
distribution paths.
137. The agricultural bale equipment, according to claim 135 or 136,
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wherein the first equipment module and the second equipment module of the
agricultural bale accumulator further comprise:
two different corresponding modules selected from the following modules:
a bale movement module;
a bale transfer module;
a load bed extension module; and
a bale discharge module.
138. An agricultural bale accumulator comprising:
a base module including:
a load bed, having a substantially planar bale receiving surface, and adapted
to receive thereon a plurality of bales, including a leading bale immediately
followed by a
trailing bale, successively ejected from a bale chamber of an agricultural
baler along a bale
receiving axis in a bale traveling direction, opposite to a direction of
travel of the
agricultural bale accumulator, towards a rear side of the agricultural bale
accumulator to
accumulate the plurality of bales on the load bed, wherein the load bed
further includes:
a center load bed adapted to successively receive and accumulate on
the center load bed at least a first bale of the plurality of bales ejected
from the bale
chamber of the agricultural baler;
a right load bed, located adjacent to a right side of the center load
bed, adapted to receive and accumulate on the right load bed at least a second
bale of the
plurality of bales; and
a left load bed, located adjacent to a left side, opposite to the right
side, of the center load bed, adapted to receive and accumulate on the left
load bed at least
a third bale of the plurality of bales;
a bale transfer module adapted to alternately transfer the first bale,
received by and
accumulated on the center load bed, across the load bed to the right load bed
or to the left
load bed along a bale transfer axis transverse to the bale receiving axis
responsive to a bale
transfer signal to accumulate the plurality of bales on at least one of the
center load bed,
the right load bed, and the left load bed in a side-by-side relationship; and
a bale discharge module adapted to move between a bale accumulating position
and
a bale discharging position responsive to a bale discharge signal, wherein the
agricultural
bale accumulator is adapted to accumulate at least one of the plurality of
bales on the load
bed when the bale discharge module is located in the bale accumulating
position, and
wherein the agricultural bale accumulator is adapted to discharge at least the
first bale
accumulated on the center load bed to the ground surface when the bale
discharge module
is moved from the bale accumulating position to the bale discharging position.
139. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 138, wherein the
bale transfer
module further comprises:
a first mechanism adapted to move at least one of the plurality of bales,
received by
and accumulated on the center load bed, substantially horizontally across the
load bed to
the right load bed and to the left load bed
140. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 139, wherein the
first
mechanism further comprises a first push mechanism, wherein the first push
mechanism
extends above the bale receiving surface of the load bed and has a
longitudinal axis
disposed substantially parallel to the bale receiving axis, wherein the first
push mechanism
is adapted move between a first position and a second position, wherein the
first push
mechanism is in the first position when the first push mechanism is located at
a right side
of the center load, wherein the first push mechanism is in the second position
when the
first push mechanism is located at a left side of the center load bed, wherein
the first push
mechanism is adapted to push a bale from the center load bed to the left load
bed along the
bale transfer axis responsive to the first push mechanism moving from the
first position to
the second position, and wherein the first push mechanism is adapted to push a
bale from
the center load bed to the right load bed along the bale transfer axis
responsive to the first
push mechanism moving from the second position to the first position.
141. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 138 to
140,
wherein the bale discharge module further comprises:
a second mechanism adapted to move the at least one of the plurality of bales,
accumulated on the load bed, substantially horizontally along the load bed
towards the rear
side of the agricultural bale accumulator to cause the at least one of the
plurality of bales,
accumulated on the load bed, to be discharged from the rear side of the
agricultural bale
accumulator to the ground surface.
91
142. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 141, wherein the
second
mechanism further comprises a second push mechanism, wherein the second push
mechanism extends above the bale receiving surface of the load bed and has a
longitudinal
axis disposed substantially transverse to the bale receiving axis, wherein the
second push
mechanism is adapted move along a bale discharge axis parallel to the bale
receiving axis
between the bale accumulating position and the bale discharging position,
wherein the
second push mechanism is in the bale accumulating position when the second
push
mechanism is moved towards a front side of the load bed, wherein the second
push
mechanism is in the bale discharging position when the second push mechanism
is moved
towards a rear side of the load bed.
143. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 138 to
142,
further comprising:
a hitch assembly mechanically coupled to a front side of the agricultural bale
accumulator and adapted to mechanically couple and decouple the front side of
the
agricultural bale accumulator to a mating hitch assembly on a rear side of the
agricultural
baler to permit the agricultural bale accumulator to be towed by the
agricultural baler; and
first and second pairs of castor wheels mechanically coupled to the
agricultural bale
accumulator at first and second locations, respectively, and adapted to pivot
about first and
second substantially vertical axes, respectively, wherein the first and second
pair of castor
wheels, having a common axis of rotation transverse to a longitudinal axis of
the
agricultural bale accumulator, support the agricultural bale accumulator from
the ground
surface to permit the agricultural bale accumulator to be transported across
the ground
surface in the direction of travel.
144. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 138 to
143,
further comprising:
a bale position sensing module adapted to generate at least one bale position
signal
responsive to determining a position of at least one bale accumulated on at
least one of the
center load bed, the right load bed, and the left load bed.
145. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 144, wherein the
bale
position sensing module further comprises:
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at least one sensing plate having at a predetermined location, and moveable
between a first position at least coplanar with the bale receiving surface,
and a second
position extending above the bale receiving surface, wherein the sensing plate
is located in
the first position responsive to a bale applying a force on the sensing plate,
and wherein the
sensing plate is located in the second position responsive to a bale not
applying a force on
the sensing plate; and
a switch coupled to the sensing plate, wherein the switch has a first switch
state
responsive to the sensing plate being located in the first position to
generate a first bale
position signal, and wherein the switch has a second switch state responsive
to the sensing
plate being located in the second position to generate a second bale position
signal.
146. Agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 138 to 145,
further
comprising:
a controller adapted to generate the bale transfer signal and the bale
discharge
signal to control the bale transfer module and the bale discharge module,
respectively,
wherein each of the bale transfer signal and the bale discharge signal is
represented
by at least one of one of at least one bale position signal and an operator
control signal.
147. The agricultural bale accumulator, according any one of claims 138 to
146, further
comprising:
a hydraulic fluid distribution system including at least a first hydraulic
fluid
distribution path, at least a second hydraulic fluid distribution path, and at
least a third
hydraulic fluid distribution path, and adapted to selectively couple
pressurized hydraulic
fluid received by the at least the first hydraulic fluid distribution path
from a hydraulic
fluid source to the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path, at
a first time, and
to the at least the third hydraulic fluid distribution path, at a second time,
different from the
first time.
148. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 147, further
comprising:
a first bale accumulator module adapted to perform a first mechanical function
at
the first time responsive to receiving a first force generated by the
pressurized hydraulic
fluid received from the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path;
and
93
a second bale accumulator module adapted to perform a second mechanical
function, different from the first function, at the second time, responsive to
receiving a
second force generated by the pressurized hydraulic fluid received from the at
least the
third hydraulic fluid distribution path.
149. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 148, further
comprising:
a first hydraulic fluid cylinder adapted to be mechanically coupled to and in
fluid
communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, and adapted to
move between
a first position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second position
of the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder responsive to the pressurized hydraulic fluid,
wherein the first bale accumulator module further includes:
a first mechanical part adapted to move between a first position of the first
mechanical part and a second position of the first mechanical part responsive
to the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder moving between the first position of the first
hydraulic fluid
cylinder and the second position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder,
respectively; and
a second hydraulic fluid cylinder adapted to be mechanically coupled to and in
fluid communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, and adapted
to move
between a first position of the second hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second
position of the
second fluid hydraulic cylinder responsive to the pressurized hydraulic fluid;
wherein the second bale accumulator module further includes:
a second mechanical part adapted to move between a first position of the
second mechanical part and a second position of the second mechanical part
responsive to
the second hydraulic fluid cylinder moving between the first position of the
second
hydraulic fluid cylinder and the second position of the second hydraulic fluid
cylinder,
respectively.
150. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 147, further
comprising:
a hydraulic fluid valve including:
a first set of hydraulic fluid ports mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the at least the first hydraulic fluid distribution path,
a second set of hydraulic fluid ports mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path,
and
94
a third set of hydraulic fluid ports mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the at least the third hydraulic fluid distribution path,
wherein the hydraulic fluid valve is adapted to selectively couple the
pressurized hydraulic fluid received by the first set of hydraulic fluid ports
from the
hydraulic fluid source to the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, at the
first time, and the
third set of hydraulic fluid ports, at the second time, different from the
first time; and
a controller adapted to cause the hydraulic fluid valve to selectively couple
the
pressurized hydraulic fluid from the least the first hydraulic fluid
distribution path to one
of the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path and the at least
the third
hydraulic fluid distribution path.
151. The agricultural bale accumulator, according claim 150, further
comprising:
a first set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to and
in fluid
communication with the first set of hydraulic fluid ports to distribute the
pressurized
hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source to the first set of hydraulic
fluid ports;
a second set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to
and in
fluid communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports to distribute
the
pressurized hydraulic fluid from the second set of hydraulic fluid ports to
the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder; and
a third set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to and
in
fluid communication with the third set of hydraulic fluid ports to distribute
the pressurized
hydraulic fluid from the third set of hydraulic fluid ports to the second
hydraulic fluid
cylinder.
152. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 138 to
151,
wherein the first bale accumulator module and the second bale accumulator
module further
comprise:
two different corresponding bale accumulator modules selected from the
following
bale accumulator modules:
a bale movement module;
the bale transfer module;
the bale discharge module; and
a load bed extension module.
153. The agricultural bale accumulator, according any one of claims 138 to
152, further
comprising:
a load bed extension module including:
a first extension table which is substantially planar;
a first extension table attachment mechanism connected to the first
extension table and the base module to permit the first extension table to be
moveable in a
direction along the bale transfer axis transverse to the bale receiving axis
relative to the
base module between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein the
first
extension table is substantially co-planar with the load bed and adjacent to a
first side of
the load bed when the first extension table is in the unstowed position to
permit the first
extension table to accumulate thereon at least one of the plurality of bales,
wherein the
agricultural bale accumulator has a first lateral width dimension along the
bale transfer
axis and a first bale accumulating capacity when the first extension table is
in the stowed
position, wherein the agricultural bale accumulator has a second lateral width
dimension
along the bale transfer axis and a second bale accumulating capacity when the
first
extension table is in the unstowed position, wherein the first lateral width
dimension is less
than the second lateral width dimension, and wherein the first bale
accumulating capacity
is less than the second bale accumulating capacity.
154. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 153, further
comprising:
a first extension table support system contacting the first extension table at
a
location beyond the first extension table attachment mechanism to support the
first
extension table when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
155. An agricultural bale accumulator comprising:
a base module including:
a load bed, having a substantially planar bale receiving surface, and adapted
to receive thereon a plurality of bales, including a leading bale immediately
followed by a
trailing bale, successively ejected from a bale chamber of an agricultural
baler along a bale
receiving axis in a bale traveling direction, opposite to a direction of
travel of the
agricultural bale accumulator, towards a rear side of the agricultural bale
accumulator to
accumulate the plurality of bales on the load bed, wherein the load bed
further includes:
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a center load bed adapted to successively receive and accumulate on
the center load bed at least a first bale of the plurality of bales ejected
from the bale
chamber of the agricultural baler;
a right load bed, located adjacent to a right side of the center load
bed, adapted to receive and accumulate on the right load bed at least a second
bale of the
plurality of bales; and
a left load bed, located adjacent to a left side, opposite to the right
side, of the center load bed, adapted to receive and accumulate on the left
load bed at least
a third bale of the plurality of bales;
a bale transfer module adapted to alternately transfer the first bale,
received by and
accumulated on the center load bed, across the load bed to the right load bed
or to the left
load bed along a bale transfer axis transverse to the bale receiving axis
responsive to a bale
transfer signal to accumulate the plurality of bales on at least one of the
center load bed,
the right load bed, and the left load bed in a side-by-side relationship; and
a bale discharge module adapted to move between a bale accumulating position
and
a bale discharging position responsive to a bale discharge signal, wherein the
agricultural
bale accumulator is adapted to accumulate at least one of the plurality of
bales on the load
bed when the bale discharge module is located in the bale accumulating
position, and
wherein the agricultural bale accumulator is adapted to discharge the
plurality of bales that
are accumulated on the load bed from the load bed to the ground surface when
the bale
discharge module is moved from the bale accumulating position to the bale
discharging
position to form a first bale discharge pattern on the ground surface in
response to:
a. each of the first, second, and third bales being accumulated on and being
discharged from the center, right, and left load beds, respectively, to
provide three
bales in the side-by-side relationship on the ground surface.
156. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 155, wherein the
agricultural
bale accumulator is adapted to discharge the plurality of bales that are
accumulated on the
load bed from the load bed to the ground surface when the bale discharge
module is moved
from the bale accumulating position to the bale discharging position to form a
second bale
discharge pattern on the ground surface in response to:
b. each of the second and third bales being accumulated on and being
discharge from the right and left load beds, respectively, to provide two
bales
97
spaced apart by at least a lateral width dimension of one bale on the ground
surface.
157. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 155 or
156,
wherein the agricultural bale accumulator is adapted to discharge the
plurality of bales that
are accumulated on the load bed from the load bed to the ground surface when
the bale
discharge module is moved from the bale accumulating position to the bale
discharging
position to form a third bale discharge pattern on the ground surface in
response to:
c. each of the first bale accumulated being accumulated on and being
discharge from on the center load bed, and one of the second and third bales
being accumulated on and being discharge from the right and left load beds,
respectively, to provide two bales in the side-by-side relationship on the
ground
surface.
158. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 155 to
157,
wherein the agricultural bale accumulator is adapted to discharge the
plurality of bales that
are accumulated on the load bed from the load bed to the ground surface when
the bale
discharge module is moved from the bale accumulating position to the bale
discharging
position to form a fourth bale discharge pattern on the ground surface in
response to:
d. at least the first bale being accumulated on and being discharge from the
center load bed to provide one bale on the ground surface.
159. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 155 to
158,
wherein the agricultural bale accumulator is adapted to discharge the
plurality of bales that
are accumulated on the load bed from the load bed to the ground surface when
the bale
discharge module is moved from the bale accumulating position to the bale
discharging
position to form a fifth bale discharge pattern on the ground surface in
response to:
e. one of the second and third bales being accumulated on and being discharge
from the right and left load beds, respectively, to provide one bale on the
ground surface.
160. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 155 to
159,
wherein the bale transfer module further comprises:
98
a first mechanism adapted to move at least one of the plurality of bales,
received by
and accumulated on the center load bed, substantially horizontally across the
load bed to
the right load bed and to the left load bed
161. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 160, wherein the
first
mechanism further comprises a first push mechanism, wherein the first push
mechanism
extends above the bale receiving surface of the load bed and has a
longitudinal axis
disposed substantially parallel to the bale receiving axis, wherein the first
push mechanism
is adapted move between a first position and a second position, wherein the
first push
mechanism is in the first position when the first push mechanism is located at
a right side
of the center load, wherein the first push mechanism is in the second position
when the
first push mechanism is located at a left side of the center load bed, wherein
the first push
mechanism is adapted to push a bale from the center load bed to the left load
bed along the
bale transfer axis responsive to the first push mechanism moving from the
first position to
the second position, and wherein the first push mechanism is adapted to push a
bale from
the center load bed to the right load bed along the bale transfer axis
responsive to the first
push mechanism moving from the second position to the first position.
162. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 155 to
161,
wherein the bale discharge module further comprises:
a second mechanism adapted to move the at least one of the plurality of bales,
accumulated on the load bed, substantially horizontally along the load bed
towards the rear
side of the agricultural bale accumulator to cause the at least one of the
plurality of bales,
accumulated on the load bed, to be discharged from the rear side of the
agricultural bale
accumulator to the ground surface.
163. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 162, wherein the
second
mechanism further comprises a second push mechanism, wherein the second push
mechanism extends above the bale receiving surface of the load bed and has a
longitudinal
axis disposed substantially transverse to the bale receiving axis, wherein the
second push
mechanism is adapted move along a bale discharge axis parallel to the bale
receiving axis
between the bale accumulating position and the bale discharging position,
wherein the
second push mechanism is in the bale accumulating position when the second
push
99
mechanism is moved towards a front side of the load bed, wherein the second
push
mechanism is in the bale discharging position when the second push mechanism
is moved
towards a rear side of the load bed.
164. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 155 to
163,
further comprising:
a hitch assembly mechanically coupled to a front side of the agricultural bale
accumulator and adapted to mechanically couple and decouple the front side of
the
agricultural bale accumulator to a mating hitch assembly on a rear side of the
agricultural
baler to permit the agricultural bale accumulator to be towed by the
agricultural baler; and
first and second pairs of castor wheels mechanically coupled to the
agricultural bale
accumulator at first and second locations, respectively, and adapted to pivot
about first and
second substantially vertical axes, respectively, wherein the first and second
pair of castor
wheels, having a common axis of rotation transverse to a longitudinal axis of
the
agricultural bale accumulator, support the agricultural bale accumulator from
the ground
surface to permit the agricultural bale accumulator to be transported across
the ground
surface in the direction of travel.
165. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 155 to
164,
further comprising:
a bale position sensing module adapted to generate at least one bale position
signal
responsive to determining a position of at least one bale accumulated on at
least one of the
center load bed, the right load bed, and the left load bed.
166. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 165, wherein the
bale
position sensing module further comprises:
at least one sensing plate having at a predetermined location, and moveable
between a first position at least coplanar with the bale receiving surface,
and a second
position extending above the bale receiving surface, wherein the sensing plate
is located in
the first position responsive to a bale applying a force on the sensing plate,
and wherein the
sensing plate is located in the second position responsive to a bale not
applying a force on
the sensing plate; and
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a switch coupled to the sensing plate, wherein the switch has a first switch
state
responsive to the sensing plate being located in the first position to
generate a first bale
position signal, and wherein the switch has a second switch state responsive
to the sensing
plate being located in the second position to generate a second bale position
signal.
167. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 155 to
166,
further comprising:
a controller adapted to generate the bale transfer signal and the bale
discharge
signal to control the bale transfer module and the bale discharge module,
respectively,
wherein each of the bale transfer signal and the bale discharge signal is
represented
by at least one of one of at least one bale position signal and an operator
control signal.
168. The agricultural bale accumulator, according any one of claims 155 to
167, further
comprising:
a hydraulic fluid distribution system including at least a first hydraulic
fluid
distribution path, at least a second hydraulic fluid distribution path, and at
least a third
hydraulic fluid distribution path, and adapted to selectively couple
pressurized hydraulic
fluid received by the at least the first hydraulic fluid distribution path
from a hydraulic
fluid source to the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path, at
a first time, and
to the at least the third hydraulic fluid distribution path, at a second time,
different from the
first time.
169. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 168, further
comprising:
a first bale accumulator module adapted to perform a first mechanical function
at
the first time responsive to receiving a first force generated by the
pressurized hydraulic
fluid received from the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path;
and
a second bale accumulator module adapted to perform a second mechanical
function, different from the first function, at the second time, responsive to
receiving a
second force generated by the pressurized hydraulic fluid received from the at
least the
third hydraulic fluid distribution path.
170. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 169, further
comprising:
101
a first hydraulic fluid cylinder adapted to be mechanically coupled to and in
fluid
communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, and adapted to
move between
a first position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second position
of the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder responsive to the pressurized hydraulic fluid,
wherein the first bale accumulator module further includes:
a first mechanical part adapted to move between a first position of the first
mechanical part and a second position of the first mechanical part responsive
to the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder moving between the first position of the first
hydraulic fluid
cylinder and the second position of the first hydraulic fluid cylinder,
respectively; and
a second hydraulic fluid cylinder adapted to be mechanically coupled to and in
fluid communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, and adapted
to move
between a first position of the second hydraulic fluid cylinder and a second
position of the
second fluid hydraulic cylinder responsive to the pressurized hydraulic fluid;
wherein the second bale accumulator module further includes:
a second mechanical part adapted to move between a first position of the
second mechanical part and a second position of the second mechanical part
responsive to
the second hydraulic fluid cylinder moving between the first position of the
second
hydraulic fluid cylinder and the second position of the second hydraulic fluid
cylinder,
respectively.
171. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 168 to
170,
further comprising:
a hydraulic fluid valve including:
a first set of hydraulic fluid ports mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the at least the first hydraulic fluid distribution path,
a second set of hydraulic fluid ports mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path,
and
a third set of hydraulic fluid ports mechanically coupled to and in fluid
communication with the at least the third hydraulic fluid distribution path,
wherein the hydraulic fluid valve is adapted to selectively couple the
pressurized hydraulic fluid received by the first set of hydraulic fluid ports
from the
hydraulic fluid source to the second set of hydraulic fluid ports, at the
first time, and the
third set of hydraulic fluid ports, at the second time, different from the
first time; and
102
a controller adapted to cause the hydraulic fluid valve to selectively couple
the
pressurized hydraulic fluid from the least the first hydraulic fluid
distribution path to one
of the at least the second hydraulic fluid distribution path and the at least
the third
hydraulic fluid distribution path.
172. The agricultural bale accumulator, according claim 171, further
comprising:
a first set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to and
in fluid
communication with the first set of hydraulic fluid ports to distribute the
pressurized
hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source to the first set of hydraulic
fluid ports;
a second set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to
and in
fluid communication with the second set of hydraulic fluid ports to distribute
the
pressurized hydraulic fluid from the second set of hydraulic fluid ports to
the first
hydraulic fluid cylinder; and
a third set of hydraulic fluid lines adapted to be mechanically coupled to and
in
fluid communication with the third set of hydraulic fluid ports to distribute
the pressurized
hydraulic fluid from the third set of hydraulic fluid ports to the second
hydraulic fluid
cylinder.
173. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 169 to
172,
wherein the first bale accumulator module and the second bale accumulator
module further
comprise:
two different corresponding bale accumulator modules selected from the
following
bale accumulator modules:
a bale movement module;
the bale transfer module;
the bale discharge module; and
a load bed extension module.
174. The agricultural bale accumulator, according any one of claims 155 to
173, further
comprising:
a load bed extension module including:
a first extension table which is substantially planar;
103
a first extension table attachment mechanism connected to the first
extension table and the base module to permit the first extension table to be
moveable in a
direction along the bale transfer axis transverse to the bale receiving axis
relative to the
base module between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein the
first
extension table is substantially co-planar with the load bed and adjacent to a
first side of
the load bed when the first extension table is in the unstowed position to
permit the first
extension table to accumulate thereon at least one of the plurality of bales,
wherein the
agricultural bale accumulator has a first lateral width dimension along the
bale transfer
axis and a first bale accumulating capacity when the first extension table is
in the stowed
position, wherein the agricultural bale accumulator has a second lateral width
dimension
along the bale transfer axis and a second bale accumulating capacity when the
first
extension table is in the unstowed position, wherein the first lateral width
dimension is less
than the second lateral width dimension, and wherein the first bale
accumulating capacity
is less than the second bale accumulating capacity.
175. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 174, further
comprising:
a first extension table support system contacting the first extension table at
a
location beyond the first extension table attachment mechanism to support the
first
extension table when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
176. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 175, wherein the
first
extension table support system contacts the first extension table above a bale
receiving
surface of the first extension table to support the first extension table when
the first
extension table is in the unstowed position.
177. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claims 175 or 176, wherein
the first
extension table support system contacts the first extension table below a bale
receiving
surface of the first extension table to support the first extension table when
the first
extension table is in the unstowed position.
178. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
177,
wherein the first extension table support system is connected to the base
module.
104
179. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
178,
wherein the first extension table support system is connected to the load bed.
180. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
179,
wherein the first extension table support system is connected to a main frame
supporting
the load bed.
181. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
180,
wherein the first extension table support system is connected to the first
extension table.
182. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
181,
wherein the first extension table support system contacts the base module to
support the
first extension table from the base module when the first extension table is
in the unstowed
position.
183. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
182,
wherein the first extension table support system contacts the load bed to
support the first
extension table from the load bed when the first extension table is in the
unstowed
position.
184. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
183,
wherein the first extension table support system contacts a main frame,
supporting the load
bed, to support the first extension table from the main frame when the first
extension table
is in the unstowed position.
185. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
184,
wherein the first extension table support system contacts the ground surface
to support the
first extension table from the ground surface when the first extension table
is in the
unstowed position.
186. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
185,
wherein the first extension table support system further comprises:
105
a first support wheel connected to the first extension table and moveable with
the
first extension table when the first extension table moves between the stowed
position and
the unstowed position, wherein the first support wheel contacts the ground
surface to
support the first extension table from the ground surface when the first
extension table is in
the unstowed position.
187. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 186 further
comprising:
a first wheel and a second wheel coupled to the main frame, wherein the first
wheel
and the second wheel contact the ground surface to support the base module
from the
ground surface and to permit the agricultural bale accumulator to be
transported across the
ground surface, and wherein the first wheel, the second wheel and the first
support wheel
share a common axis of rotation when the first extension table is in the
unstowed position.
188. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
187,
wherein the first extension table support system further comprises:
a first frame extension member connected to the first extension table and
moveable
with the first extension table when the first extension table moves between
the stowed
position and the unstowed position, wherein an end surface of the first frame
extension
member contacts an end surface of the base module to support the first
extension table
from the base module when the first extension table is in the unstowed
position.
189. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 188:
wherein the end surface the first frame extension member has a downward angle
relative to a horizontal axis when the first extension table is in the
unstowed position,
wherein the end surface on the base module has an upward angle relative to the
horizontal axis which is complementary to the downward angle, and
wherein the end surface the first frame extension member contacts the end
surface
on the base module to translate an upward force through the first frame
extension member
to support the first extension table from the base module when the first
extension table is in
the unstowed position.
190. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
189,
wherein the first extension table support system further comprises:
106
a second frame extension member having a first end connected to the base
module
and a second end connected to the first extension table and being moveable
between a
collapsed position and an expanded position, wherein the second frame
extension member
is in one of the collapsed position and the expanded position when the first
extension table
is in the unstowed position, wherein the second frame extension member is in
one of the
expanded position and collapsed position, respectively, when the first
extension table is in
the stowed position, and wherein the second frame extension member is
connected to the
first extension table and the base module to support the first extension table
from the base
module when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
191. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 190, wherein the
second
frame extension member further comprises:
a first hydraulic fluid cylinder for moving the first extension table between
the
stowed position and the unstowed position responsive to receiving pressurized
hydraulic
fluid from a hydraulic fluid source.
192. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claims 190 or 191, wherein
the
second frame extension member further comprises:
at least one spring member, connected to at least one of the base module, the
first
extension table and the second frame extension member, for exerting a bias
force on the
first extension table when the first extension table is moved to at least one
of the stowed
position and the unstowed position.
193. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
192,
wherein the first extension table support system further comprises:
a third frame extension member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein
the proximal end of the third frame extension member is connected to the main
frame,
wherein a distal end of the third frame extension member extends beyond the
main frame
in the lateral direction along the second axis at a fixed position which is
located inside the
first lateral width dimension of the agricultural bale accumulator to permit
safe traveling of
the agricultural bale accumulator on a public roadway when the first extension
table is in
the stowed position, and
107
wherein a first portion of the first extension table is positioned inside the
distal end
of the third frame extension member and a second portion of the first
extension table is
positioned outside the distal end of the third frame extension member when the
first
extension table is in the unstowed position to permit the third frame
extension member to
contact the first extension table between the first portion of the first
extension table and the
second portion of the first extension table to support the first extension
table from the main
frame when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
194. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
193,
wherein the first extension table support system further comprises:
a fourth frame extension member having a proximal end and a distal end; and
a frame attachment mechanism connected to the proximal end of the fourth frame
extension member and the main frame to permit the distal end of the fourth
frame
extension member to be moveable in the lateral direction along the second axis
relative to
the main frame between a stowed position and an unstowed position, wherein the
distal
end of the fourth frame extension member moves towards the main frame when the
fourth
frame extension member is in the stowed position, wherein the distal end of
the fourth
frame extension member moves away from the main frame when the fourth frame
extension member is in the unstowed position, wherein the distal end of the
fourth frame
extension member contacts the first extension table to support the first
extension table
from the main frame when the fourth frame extension member is in the unstowed
position
and when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
195. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 194, wherein the
frame
attachment mechanism further comprises:
a pivoting mechanism for pivotally connecting the proximal end of the fourth
frame
extension member to the main frame about a vertical axis relative to the main
frame.
196. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 194, wherein the
frame
attachment mechanism further comprises:
a telescoping mechanism for telescopically connecting the proximal end of the
fourth frame extension member to the main frame along a horizontal axis
relative to the
main frame.
108
197. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 194, 195
or 196,
wherein the first extension table support system further comprises:
a first support wheel connected to the distal end of the fourth frame
extension
member and moveable with the fourth frame extension member when the fourth
frame
extension member moves between the stowed position and the unstowed position,
wherein
the first support wheel contacts the ground surface to support the first
extension table from
the ground surface when the fourth frame extension member is in the unstowed
position
and when the first extension table is in the unstowed position.
198. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 197:
wherein the first support wheel provides a sole support for a first side of
the base
module from the ground surface to permit the agricultural bale accumulator to
be
transported across the ground surface when the first extension table is in the
stowed
position and when the fourth frame extension member is in the stowed position,
and
wherein the first support wheel provides the sole support for the first side
of the base
module and the first extension table from the ground surface to permit the
agricultural bale
accumulator to be transported across the ground surface when the first
extension table is in
the unstowed position and when the fourth frame extension member is in the
unstowed
position.
199. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 197 further
comprising:
a first wheel and a second wheel coupled to the main frame, wherein the first
wheel
and the second wheel contact the ground surface to support the base module
from the
ground surface and to permit the agricultural bale accumulator to be
transported across the
ground surface when the first extension table is in the stowed position and
the unstowed
position, and when the fourth frame extension member is in the stowed position
and the
unstowed position, wherein the first support wheel contacts the ground surface
to support
the first extension table from the ground surface when the fourth frame
extension member
is in the unstowed position, and wherein the first wheel, the second wheel and
the first
support wheel share a common axis of rotation when the fourth frame extension
member is
in at least the unstowed position.
109
200. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
199,
wherein the load bed extension module further comprises:
a second extension table which is substantially planar;
a second extension table attachment mechanism connected to the second
extension
table and the base module to permit the second extension table to be moveable
in the
lateral direction along the second axis relative to the base module between a
stowed
position and an unstowed position, wherein the second extension table is
substantially co-
planar with the load bed and adjacent to a second side of the load bed when
the second
extension table is in the unstowed position to permit the second extension
table to
accumulate thereon at least one of the plurality of bales, wherein the
agricultural bale
accumulator has the first lateral width dimension along the second axis and
the first bale
accumulating capacity when the first extension table and the second extension
table are
each in their respective stowed positions, and wherein the agricultural bale
accumulator
has the second lateral width dimension along the second axis and the second
bale
accumulating capacity when the first extension table and the second extension
table are
each in their respective unstowed positions; and
a second extension table support system connected to at least one of the base
module and the second extension table, wherein the second extension table
support system
contacts the second extension table at a location beyond the second extension
table
attachment mechanism at the second side of the load bed and contacts at least
one of the
base module and the ground surface to support the second extension table from
at least one
of the base module and the ground surface, respectively, when the second
extension table
is in the unstowed position,
wherein the second extension table support system has the same dependent
limitations as the first extension table support system according to any one
of claims 176
to 199.
201. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
200,
further comprising:
a third extension table which is substantially planar;
a third extension table attachment mechanism connected to the third extension
table
and the first extension table to permit the third extension table to be
moveable with the first
extension table relative to the base module when the first extension table
moves between
110
the stowed position and the unstowed position, wherein the third extension
table is
moveable in the lateral direction along the second axis between a stowed
position and an
unstowed position relative to the first extension table, wherein the third
extension table is
substantially co-planar with the load bed and the first extension table and
adjacent to the
first extension table when the first extension table and the third extension
table are each in
their unstowed positions to permit the third extension table to accumulate
thereon at least
one of the plurality of bales, wherein the agricultural bale accumulator has
the first lateral
width dimension along the second axis and the first bale accumulating capacity
when the
first extension table and the third extension table are each in their
respective stowed
positions, and wherein the agricultural bale accumulator has the second
lateral width
dimension along the second axis and the second bale accumulating capacity when
the first
extension table and the third extension table are each in their respective
unstowed
positions; and
a third extension table support system connected to at least one of the base
module,
the first extension table and the third extension table, wherein the third
extension table
support system contacts the third extension table at a location beyond the
third extension
table attachment mechanism at the first extension table and contacts at least
one of the base
module, the first extension table, and the ground surface to support the third
extension
table from at least one of the base module, the first extension table, and the
ground surface,
respectively, when the first extension table and the third extension table are
each in their
unstowed positions,
wherein the third extension table support system has the same dependent
limitations as the first extension table support system according to any one
of claims 176
to 199.
202. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 201:
wherein the first extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a
first
hinge for pivotally connecting the first extension table to the base module
about a first
hinge axis,
wherein the third extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a
third
hinge for pivotally connecting the third extension table to the first
extension table about a
third hinge axis,
111
wherein the first extension table pivots upwards towards the base module about
the
first hinge axis when the first extension table is in the stowed position, and
wherein the third extension table pivots upwards towards the base module and
the
first extension table about the third hinge axis when the third extension
table is in the
stowed position.
203. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 201:
wherein the first extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a
first
hinge for pivotally connecting the first extension table to the base module
about a first
hinge axis,
wherein the third extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a
third
hinge for pivotally connecting the third extension table to the first
extension table about a
third hinge axis,
wherein the first extension table pivots upwards towards the base module about
the
first hinge axis when the first extension table is in the stowed position, and
wherein the third extension table pivots downwards towards the base module and
the first extension table about the third hinge axis when the third extension
table is in the
stowed position.
204. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 201:
wherein the first extension table attachment mechanism further a first
telescoping
mechanism for telescopically connecting a proximal end of the first extension
table to the
base module in the lateral direction along the second axis relative to the
base module,
wherein the third extension table attachment mechanism further comprises a
first
telescoping mechanism for telescopically connecting a proximal end of the
third extension
table to a distal end of the first extension table in the lateral direction
along the second axis
relative to the base module,
wherein the first extension table telescopes along the horizontal axis to a
first
position substantially inside the base module when the first extension table
is in the stowed
position, and wherein the third extension table telescopes along the
horizontal axis to a
first position substantially inside the first extension table when the third
extension table is
in the stowed position, and
112
wherein the first extension table telescopes along the horizontal axis to a
second
position substantially outside the base module when the first extension table
is in the
unstowed position, and wherein the third extension table telescopes along the
horizontal
axis to a second position substantially outside the first extension table when
the third
extension table is in the unstowed position.
205. The agricultural bale accumulator according to claim 202, 203, or 204:
wherein a top surface of the first extension table is lower than a top surface
of the
load bed by a first predetermined distance when the first extension table is
in the unstowed
position, and
wherein a top surface of the third extension table is lower than the top
surface of
the first extension table by a second predetermined distance when the third
extension table
is in the unstowed position.
206. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
205,
wherein the load bed extension module is attachable to and detachable from the
base
module independently of any other module on the agricultural bale accumulator.
207. The agricultural bale accumulator according any one of claims 175 to 206,
further
comprising:
a first bale discharging capacity including one to three bales when the first
extension table and the second extension table are each in their stowed
positions, wherein
the first bale accumulating capacity includes one to three bales when the
first extension
table and the second extension table are each in their stowed positions; and
a second bale discharging capacity including one to five bales when the first
extension table and the second extension table are each in their unstowed
positions,
wherein the second bale accumulating capacity includes one to five bales when
the first
extension table and the second extension table are each in their unstowed
positions.
208. The agricultural bale accumulator according any one of claims 175 to 206,
further
comprising:
a first bale discharging capacity including one bale when the first extension
table
and the second extension table are each in their stowed positions, wherein the
first bale
113
accumulating capacity includes one bale when the first extension table and the
second
extension table are each in their stowed positions; and
a second bale discharging capacity including one to three bales when the first
extension table and the second extension table are each in their unstowed
positions,
wherein the second bale accumulating capacity includes one to three bales when
the first
extension table and the second extension table are each in their unstowed
positions.
209. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
208,
wherein the first extension table is disposed perpendicular to the load bed,
above a bale
receiving surface of the load bed, and adjacent to a first side of the load
bed when the first
extension table is in the stowed position.
210. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
209,
wherein the first extension table attachment mechanism further comprises:
a first hinge for pivotally coupling the first extension table to the base
module
about a first hinge axis.
211. The agricultural bale accumulator according to any one of claims 175 to
209,
wherein the first extension table attachment mechanism further comprises:
a telescoping mechanism for telescopically coupling the first extension table
to the
base module along the second axis.
212. An agricultural bale accumulator for use with a baler for producing
rectangular
bales of agricultural crops as the baler traverses a field in a forward
direction of travel, and
extruding the bales longitudinally from a rear end of the baler, the
accumulator
comprising:
a hitch for connecting the accumulator to the rear end of the baler to be
towed
thereby;
a platform for receiving bales, extruded by the baler, on a center part of the
platform;
positioning means for alternately arranging the bales, received on the center
part of
the platform, in a selected array on the platform;
a pusher mounted for movement longitudinally of the platform;
114
actuating means on the accumulator for moving the pusher rearwardly along the
platform to move bales along the platform, wherein the actuating means causes
the pusher
to move the bale received on the center part of the platform off of the center
part of the
platform to a ground surface; and
a rear bale support rearwardly of the platform for supporting bales as they
are
moved off of the platform by the pusher.
213. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 212, wherein the
positioning
means comprise an elongate arm member parallel to the direction of travel and
moveable
in a lateral direction to push a bale, received on the center part of the
platform, laterally
across the platform.
214. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to claim 212 or 213, wherein
the
positioning means comprise an elongate arm member parallel to the direction of
travel and
moveable in a lateral direction to push bales extruded sequentially onto the
center part of
the platform to opposite sides of the platform.
215. The agricultural bale accumulator, according to any one of claims 212 to
214,
wherein the pusher is an elongate member disposed perpendicular to the
direction of travel.
115
