AU761887B2

AU761887B2 - Stock feed bale dispenser

Info

Publication number: AU761887B2
Application number: AU69632/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kevin Mervyn Webb
Original assignee: COLIN JAMES MALCOLM
Current assignee: Malcolm Colin James
Priority date: 1999-11-01
Filing date: 2000-10-31
Publication date: 2003-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-31
Also published as: AU6963200A

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT SQUARE BALE DISPENSER THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THIS INVENTION, INCLUDING THE BEST METHOD OF PERFORMING IT KNOWN TO ME: STOCK FEED BALE DISPENSER Field of the invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for handling and distributing large stock feed bales.

Background of the invention Silage, ensilage, hay or other stock feed material are typically stored as round, rectangular or square bales. Presently, these bales are distributed manually by loading same on the back of trucks and pushed off onto the ground manually. Often, it is desirable to break the bales into smaller portions which requires breaking them down manually.

These present distribution methods are labour intensive and undesirable. Firstly, the bales are very large, typically measuring 7 ft (2.lm) x 3 ft (0.9 m) x 4 ft (1.2 m).

They are also heavy and require a lot of effort to push off the back of trucks. Breaking them into smaller portions also requires a lot of effort.

Further, silage/ensilage is harvested while the crop is still green and is sealed under airtight tarpaulins or underground chambers for, in some cases, several years.

During this time, it tends to ferment which causes it to produce a foul smell when exposed to the air. It is thus undesirable to manually handle this product.

It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least oo ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages of the prior art.

Summary of the Invention 25 The present invention provides an apparatus for distributing stock feed bales, the apparatus having: a platform having a length defined by first and second ends of the platform; at least one pushing assembly arranged on the platform, each pushing assembly being movable along substantially the entire length of the platform; and S 30 a drive assembly associated with each pushing assembly for moving the pushing assembly along the platform; wherein, in use, each pushing assembly is moved to be adjacent the platform first :i end, bales are loaded along said platform side by side between said platform second end *Vee: and said pushing assembly(ies), and each drive assembly is operable such that the [I:\DAYLIB\IibI] I 3609.doc: FDP associated pushing assembly pushes on the bale closest to the platform first end in order to push the bale closest to the platform second end off the platform.

Each pushing assembly preferably includes a frame and rollers are arranged on the base of the frame. A pushing plate can be attached to the frame, the plate facing the second end of the platform. The frame rollers advantageously run on tracks in the platform.

Each drive assembly preferably includes a chain running substantially the entire length of the platform; a driven sprocket and an idle sprocket attached to the frame of the pushing assembly, wherein the driven sprocket and the idle sprocket receive the chain therebetween; and a drive means for rotating the driven sprocket; such that rotation of the driven sprocket moves the pushing assembly along the chain and thus along the platform.

te The apparatus preferably further comprises a fork assembly disposed adjacent the second end of the platform, the fork assembly including a frame, a set of spaced blades or forks attached to the frame, the blades or forks being disposed at an elevated 0 15 position above the platform, wherein, in use, the fork assembly is movable relative to the platform such that the blades or forks engage the bale(s) closest to the platform second S 0 0 end for breaking said bale(s) into pieces of smaller portions.

0 The frame is preferably movable back and forth in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the platform. The frame typically includes a base, a generally vertically extending second portion attached to the base, a bar attached to the second portion extending between lateral sides of the platform, and wherein the set of spaced S •blades or forks are attached to the bar.

0000 In the preferred form, the platform is divided into three longitudinal sections, a 0 first side section, a second side section and a divider therebetween, with each of the first 25 and second side sections having a pushing assembly and a drive assembly. The frame S base is then preferably movable along the divider and the bar extends laterally over the 0 S• first and second side sections of the platform.

•0•0• A pivotable shaft is preferably attached to each end of the bar, and the blades or forks are attached to the pivotable shaft. An extension can be attached to each shaft, said extensions being attached to the second end of the platform by springs. Preferably, the springs can be disconnected from the extensions and the pivotable shafts can be rotated such that the blades or forks do not engage the bale(s).

The speed, timing and/or length of travel of the movement of the fork assembly can preferably be varied. If the frame is adapted to move back and forth, the reciprocating movement of the fork assembly is preferably provided by a hydraulic [I:\DAYLIB\Iibl] 13609.doc:FDP cylinder. The fork assembly and each drive assembly is preferably operated with a remote control pendant. The apparatus is preferably mounted on a truck or trailer.

Brief Description of the Drawing A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the sole accompanying drawing, which shows an embodiment of the bale dispenser according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment l0 The drawing shows a bale dispenser 1. Dispenser 1 includes a platform 2 having a front end 3 and a rear end 4. The platform 2 is divided into three longitudinal sections, a first side section 5, a second side section 6 and a divider support 7 therebetween. The first and second side sections 5 and 6 are identical and each include outwardly facing channels 8a, 8b on each side thereof. The purpose of the channels 8a, 8b and the divider 15 support 7 will be described below. The platform 2 is preferably made from sheet metal or similar material.

0 A pushing ram 10 is located on each of the first and second side sections 5 and 6.

00 Each pushing ram 10 includes a right triangular frame 11 having a flat pushing plate 12, which faces the rear end 4 of the platform 2. Rollers 13 are arranged on each base corner of the frame 11, which rollers 13 run inside the channels 8a, 8b. Each pushing ram 10 can thus move substantially the entire length of the platform 2 along the channels 8a, 8b. The drawing shows the first section pushing ram 10 part way along the platform 2.

000.

0 Each pushing ram 10 includes a drive assembly 20 for moving the pushing ram 10 along the platform 2. Each drive assembly 20 includes a chain 21 running S 25 substantially the entire length of the first and second sections 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the chains 21 are 100 mm pitch solid pin chains. Each drive assembly Salso includes a driven sprocket 22 and a snubber (idle) sprocket 23 attached to the frames egg...i Se 11 of the pushing rams 10, which sprockets 22 and 23 receive the chain 21 therebetween as shown. The driven sprockets 22 are mechanically or hydraulically driven, which drives the pushing rams 10 along the chain 21 and thus along the platform 2.

The dispenser 1 also includes a fork assembly 30 for breaking the bales into pieces of smaller portions. The fork assembly 30 is disposed at the rear end 4 of the platform 2. The fork assembly 30 includes a frame 32 having a base 31 slidable back and forth along channels 40 in the divider 7, as shown by arrow 39. Attached to the slidable base 31 are generally vertically extending supports 33, which support a transverse bar 34.

[I:\DAYLIBIibUI] 13609.doc:FDP The bar 34 extends sideways over the first and second side sections 5 and 6 of the platform 2. At each end of the bar 34, a shaft 35 is pivotably mounted to which a set of spaced blades or forks 36 are attached. It can be seen that the blades or forks 36 are spaced over the platform first and second side sections 5 and 6. An extension 37 is provided at the lateral ends of the shaft 35, which extensions 37 are attached to the rear end 4 of the platform 2 by springs 38. The reciprocating back and forth motion of the fork assembly 30 is preferably provided by a hydraulic cylinder.

The bale dispenser 1 may be temporarily or permanently mounted on a truck or trailer. The operation of the bale dispenser 1 will now be described. The bale dispenser 1 is built to handle bales measuring 7 ft (2.1 m) x 3 ft (0.9 m) x 4 ft (1.2 The bales (not shown) are loaded end to end or side by side along the platform 2, with the pushing o rams 10 retracted to be adjacent the front end 3 of the platform 2. The drive assemblies O° O• 20 are then operated to drive the pushing rams 10 toward the rear end 4, and thus the S" pushing rams 10 push on the bales closest to the first end 3. As the bales are arranged end 0 o 15 to end or side by side, each bale abuts adjacent bales to effectively push the bale closest to the rear end 4 off the platform 2. The number of bales pushed off any location is controlled by turning the drive assemblies 20 on and off.

oo :The fork assembly 30 can also be activated to travel back and forth as shown by oooo arrow 39. When the fork assembly 30 retracts (travels toward the front end 3 of the platform the blades/forks 36 hit the rear endmost bale and rotate about pivot shaft S° "until the fork assembly 30 has reached the forward extremity of its travel. It then reverses direction (toward the rear end 4 of the platform 2) and springs 38 force the blades/forks oooo 36 into the endmost bales to detach small portions of the bales from the main body of the oo °o bales. The drive assemblies 20 and fork assembly 30 are preferably operated with a S 25 remote control pendant.

o The size of the portions to be parted from the main bale body can be varied by controlling (eg. by varying) the speed and length of travel of the reciprocating movement of the fork assembly 30 along the support 7. The size of the portions can also be controlled by the timing (eg. intervals between reciprocating motions) of the fork assembly 30. In combination with the movement of the fork assembly 30, the speed of movement of the pushing rams 10 can also be varied to change the size of the portions dispensed. The dispenser 1 can dispense one or more full bales intact by deactivating the fork assembly 30 or disconnecting the springs 38 from the fork assembly 30 and rotating the pivot shaft 35 through 270 degrees, at which the blades/forks 36 will rest on the bar 34.

[I:\DAYLIB\Iibll 13609.doc:FDP The movement of the fork assembly 30 can be varied by changing the flow of oil to the hydraulic cylinder (from nil to full flow) via a lever of a flow regulator. As the drive assemblies 20 and fork assembly 30 are operated with a remote control pendant, the fork assembly 30 can be operated while moving either or both the pushing rams 10 to the platform front end 3 via the remote control pendant. Alternatively, the pushing rams can return to the platform front end 3 automatically upon activation of the fork assembly or they can be paused at any position along the platform 2.

The preferred embodiment of the apparatus described eliminates the physical labour traditionally used to carry out the operation of distributing or spreading bales, o0 including the breaking of the bales into smaller portions. Also, two bales can be placed on the dispenser 1 side by side thus keeping the overall dispenser dimensions within RTA limits. Consequently, no wide load permits are required. Six bales can be carried at a time depending on the size of the truck or trailer.

0 •O 0 0 0* ooo o [I:\DAYLIB\libU] 3609.doc:FDP

Claims

1. An apparatus for distributing stock feed bales, the apparatus having: a platform having a length defined by first and second ends of the platform; at least one pushing assembly arranged on the platform, each pushing assembly being movable along substantially the entire length of the platform; and a drive assembly associated with each pushing assembly for moving the pushing assembly along the platform; wherein, in use, each pushing assembly is moved to be adjacent the platform first end, bales are loaded along said platform side by side between said platform second end and said pushing assembly(ies), and each drive assembly is operable such that the associated pushing assembly pushes on the bale closest to the platform first end in order o to push the bale closest to the platform second end offthe platform.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each pushing assembly includes a S• frame and rollers are arranged on the base of the frame. 0 060 15 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a pushing plate is attached to the :oo•.frame, the plate facing the second end of the platform. The apparatus of claim 2 or 3 wherein the frame rollers run on tracks in 0o the platform. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein each drive assembly includes a chain running substantially the entire length of the platform; a driven sprocket i .and an idle sprocket attached to the frame of the pushing assembly, wherein the driven sprocket and the idle sprocket receive the chain therebetween; and a drive means for rotating the driven sprocket; such that rotation of the driven sprocket moves the pushing S•assembly along the chain and thus along the platform. S: 25 6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5 further comprising a fork assembly disposed adjacent the second end of the platform, the fork assembly including a frame, a set of spaced blades or forks attached to the frame, the blades or forks being .ooooi disposed at an elevated position above the platform, wherein, in use, the fork assembly is movable relative to the platform such that the blades or forks engage the bale(s) closest to the platform second end for breaking said bale(s) into pieces of smaller portions.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the frame is movable back and forth in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the platform.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the frame includes a base, a generally vertically extending second portion attached to the base, a bar attached to the second [IADAYLIB\Iibll 13609.doc:FDP portion extending between lateral sides of the platform, and wherein the set of spaced blades or forks are attached to the bar.

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the platform is divided into three longitudinal sections, a first side section, a second side section and a divider therebetween, with each of the first and second side sections having a pushing assembly and a drive assembly. The apparatus of claim 9 when appended to claim 8, wherein the frame base is movable along the divider and the bar extends laterally over the first and second side sections of the platform.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 or 10 wherein a pivotable shaft is attached to each end of the bar, and the blades or forks are attached to the pivotable shaft. Ss 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein an extension is attached to each shaft, said extensions being attached to the second end of the platform by springs.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the springs can be disconnected from 15 the extensions and the pivotable shafts can be rotated such that the blades or forks do not *00 engage the bale(s). .14. The apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 13 wherein the speed, timing and/or length of travel of the movement of the fork assembly can be varied. The apparatus of claim 7 the reciprocating movement of the fork assembly is provided by a hydraulic cylinder.

16. The apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 8 and 10 to 15 wherein the fork assembly is operated with a remote control pendant.

17. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein each drive assembly to is operated with a remote control pendant. 25 18. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 17 mounted on a truck or trailer.

19. An apparatus for distributing stock feed bales, the apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing. 0 Dated 16 December, 2002 Colin James Malcolm Kevin Mervyn Webb Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [I:\DAYLB\Iibll]13609.doc:FDP