EP2470000A1

EP2470000A1 - Procedure and apparatus for handling of fodder bales

Info

Publication number: EP2470000A1
Application number: EP10811326A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Onni Korhonen
Original assignee: NHK-Keskus Oy
Current assignee: NHK-Keskus Oy
Priority date: 2009-08-26
Filing date: 2010-08-25
Publication date: 2012-07-04
Also published as: EP2470000A4; WO2011023855A1

Abstract

The object of the invention is a method and an apparatus for handling of fodder bales, in which invention a bale collection device equipped with wheels (3) is used, onto which device fodder bales (21) are lifted at least one at a time for further handling. The fodder bales (21) to be handled are lifted one at a time from the side of the collection device, with the hoisting appliance (9) accompanying the device, onto the base in the device.

Description

PROCEDURE AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING OF FODDER BALES

The object of the invention is a method as presented in the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus for handling of fodder bales as presented in the preamble of claim 12.

Known in the art are handling and wrapping devices of fodder bales, in which devices a plastic film is wrapped around a rotating bale such that at the end of the wrapping the bale is as tightly as possible completely surrounded by a plastic film. In these solutions each bale is wrapped separately in its own plastic. Also solutions are known in the art wherein bales are wrapped consecutively such that the bales are end- to-end in line inside the same wrapping. This type of solution saves a lot of expensive wrapping plastic because there is no need to wrap the ends of bales in plastic and it is therefore a cheaper solution than to wrap each bale separately in its own plastic. For instance, wrapping methods are known in the art wherein fodder bales are brought with a tractor to the wrapping device that wraps the bales consecutively in line. A problem in this solution is that a separate tractor or corresponding is needed to bring the bales to the wrapping device, which tractor or corresponding brings one bale at a time and travels on the field back and forth a number of times. In this case when bringing the bales the tractor breaks the soil on the field and also in front of the nearly finished line of bales. When a wrapped line of bales lies on top of this type of uneven and broken soil, the wrapping plastic can easily break. Particularly in winter, when an uneven surface of the ground freezes, the ground surface can easily break the plastic. Another problem is that one tractor user is needed for each separate tractor or corresponding apparatus.

The aim of this invention is to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks and to achieve an easy-to-use method and apparatus for handling of fodder bales. The method according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 1. The apparatus according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 12. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is disclosed in the other claims .

One advantage of the solution according to the invention is that by means of it a lot of expensive plastic is saved compared to a solution, in which individual fodder bales are wrapped in their own plastic, because there is no need to wrap the ends of bales in plastic. From this follows also the advantage that larger bales than before can be made. Another advantage is that bales can be wrapped in line on an even ground, owing to which the wrapping plastic does not break so easily. An advantage is also that there is no need to transport fodder bales to the wrapping machine one at a time but instead several bales can be transported at a time, which speeds up the handling of bales. Another advantage is that even large bales can be collected and transported easily several at a time. A further advantage is that the surface of the field will not be ruined while handling and transporting the bales. Furthermore an advantage is that not many power tools nor individual users for each of them are needed. An advantage is also that when using an embodiment wherein a wrapping apparatus is in connection with a bale trolley, the same hydraulics can be used for both wrapping and for the other handling of a bale. Another advantage is also the increased capacity, because there is no need to separately install a separate wrapping device into its position for wrapping. Yet a further advantage is the versatile application possibilities of the solution. With the apparatus bales can be picked up from the ground and they can be efficiently transported to different locations. With the apparatus bales can also be wrapped and they can be transported to a storing place. Likewise with the apparatus bales can be collected from a storing place and they can be transported to be eaten by the cattle. In addition, different auxiliary devices can be connected to the apparatus for handling of bales in different phases. In the following the invention will be described in more detail by the aid one embodiment example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 presents a side view of an apparatus according to the invention,

Fig. 2 presents a top view of an apparatus according to the invention,

Fig. 3 presents a top view of a hoisting appliance belonging to the apparatus according to the invention in the initial phase of lifting a bale,

Fig. 4 presents a top view of a hoisting appliance belonging to the apparatus according to the invention in the subsequent phase of lifting a bale,

Fig. 5 presents a side view of a hoisting appliance belonging to the apparatus according to the invention in the same phase as in Fig. 3, i.e. in the initial phase of lifting a bale,

Fig. 6 presents a side view of a hoisting appliance belonging to the apparatus according to the invention in the same phase as in Fig. 4, Fig. 7 presents a top view of a hoisting appliance belonging to the apparatus according to the invention in the yet subsequent phase of lifting a bale,

Fig. 8 presents a front view of a hoisting appliance belonging to the apparatus according to the invention in the same phase as in Fig. 7, Fig. 9 presents a front view of a hoisting appliance belonging to the apparatus according to the invention in the subsequent phase of lifting a bale,

Fig. 10 presents a side view of an apparatus according to the invention, to which a wrapping device is connected, Fig. 11 presents a front view of an apparatus according to Fig. 10 in the wrapping phase of the ends of the first or the last bale of the line of bales.

Fig. 12 presents a side view of an apparatus according to the invention before collecting a single bale from the field,

Fig. 13 presents a side view of an apparatus according to the invention, when one bale is collected, Fig. 14 presents a side view of an apparatus according to the invention, when bales are transported for wrapping,

Fig. 15 presents a side view of a part of an apparatus according to the invention when the bales are unloaded after transportation, and

Fig. 16 presents a side view of a part of an apparatus according to the invention when bales are unwrapped from the wrapping. The idea of the invention is that, e.g. fodder bales in a field are collected from the field and transported by means of an apparatus according to the invention to a wrapping machine for wrapping. Alternatively a wrapping machine can be connected to a bale trolley belonging to the apparatus according to the invention, in which case wrapping occurs in connection with the collection of bales. Handling of round bales is described in this embodiment but the invention also applies to the handling of other types of bales, such as square bales.

Fig. 1 presents a side view and Fig. 2 a top view of an apparatus according to the invention, by means of which apparatus bales are collected from a field. The apparatus comprises a bale trolley 1 functioning as a collection device, which trolley comprises a support structure 2 fitted approximately to the centre part of the trolley, to which structure four wheels 3 are fitted, on top of which wheels the trolley 1 is fitted to move. A tow bar 4 is connected at its rear end to the front end of the trolley 1 by means of a joint 4a, which tow bar is arranged to be connected at its front end to, e.g. a trailer hitch of a tractor, in which case the trolley 1 can be moved, e.g. on a field by means of a tractor. A platform 5 is fitted on top of the support structure 2 such that the platform 5 is hinged to the frame structure 2 by- means of an axle 6. Owing to this type of fixing the platform 5 can be turned around the axle 6, which enables the front part of the platform 5 to be lowered downwards, if needed, in which case the rear part of the platform rises upwards. Correspondingly, the rear part of the platform 5 can, if necessary, be lowered downwards, in which case the front part of the platform 5 rises upwards. Different positions of the platform 5 are described in more detail in Figs. 9-10.

Guide rails 7 functioning as a base of the bales are fitted on the upper surface of the platform 5 and handrails 8 are fitted on the edges of the platform. The guide rails 7 are manufactured from the kind of material that bales slide well on the guide rails 7 when the bales are moved on the platform 5. The length of the guide rails 7 is selected suitably such that n units of bales fit consecutively end-to-end on the guide rails, where n is an integer number between 1-20, suitably, e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.

A hoisting appliance 9 that is fixed onto the frame structure of the collection device is fitted in a hinged manner to the front part of the platform 5 on the side of the bale trolley 1, which hoisting appliance is arranged to lift one bale at a time from the ground on the side of the direction of travel of the bale trolley 1 to the platform 5 on top of the guide rails 7. The bale is lifted from the ground onto the platform 5 such that the trolley 1 is driven beside the bale so that the bale is at the point of the hoisting appliance 9. Before this the front part of the platform 5 is lowered from the horizontal plane downwards by the aid of a power means 10 functioning as a tip-up device connected to the tow bar 4 and fitted to the front part of the platform 5. The power means 10 is used for lowering the front end of the collection device downwards and for lifting it upwards. The power means 10 is, e.g. a hydraulic cylinder or other corresponding means and it is hinged at its first end to a fixing part 5a fixed to the front end of the platform 5 by means of a joint 10a and at its second end to the tow bar by means of a joint 10b. When the front part of the platform 5 is lowered downwards the hoisting appliance 9 also descends downwards at the same time such that the coupling means 11a and lib belonging to the hoisting appliance 9 move near the surface of the ground. At the same time the hoisting appliance 9 also straightens essentially to the horizontal plane whereas it is at a slightly inclined attitude when the platform 5 is on a horizontal plane. When the hoisting appliance 9 is driven to the point of a bale, the bale is lifted by means of the hoisting appliance 9 onto the platform 5. The hoisting appliance comprises identification means 9a for detecting the bale and for activating the hoisting function automatically when the aforementioned identification means 9a detect that the bale can be lifted. The parts and operation of the hoisting appliance 9 are described in more detail in the descriptive sections of Figs. 3-6. The hoisting appliance 9 is arranged to lift the bale to the front part of the platform 5 on top of the guide rails 7.

The power means 10 at the front end of the collection device is hinged at its first end to one point of the front end of the frame of the collection device and at its second end to the rear part of the tow bar, which rear end of the tow bar, for its part, is hinged to a second point of the front end of the frame of the collection device and the front end of the tow bar is fixed to a pulling device, with the aforementioned hinging and fixing points and the hinging point in the centre part of the frame being interdisposed with respect to each other such that when the rod of the power means is shortened the front end of the frame and the rear end of the tow bar descend, and when the rod of the power means is lengthened, the front end of the frame and the rear end of the tow bar ascend.

Before the next bale is lifted onto the platform, the previous bale is pushed from the front part of the platform out of the way of the next bale. This is performed by means of a pushing apparatus 12 belonging to the trolley 1. The pushing apparatus 12 comprises a power means 13, which is connected to the pushing means 14 via a power transmission means 15. The power transmission means 15 is, e.g. a chain and the power means 13 is a motor moving the chain. The pushing means 14 is e.g. a metal frame fixed to a chain. The pushing apparatus 12 is thus arranged to push the bales towards the rear part of the platform 5 along the guide rails 7. The rear end of the platform 5 also comprises a tail gate 25, which is arranged to prevent bales from being accidentally pushed over the rear end of the platform.

Fig. 3 presents a top view and Fig. 5 a side view of a hoisting appliance belonging to the apparatus in the initial phase of lifting a bale The hoisting appliance 9 is fixed to the side edge of the front part of the platform of the bale trolley 1 from its fixing part 16. An arm 18 is connected to the fixing part 16 by means of a joint 17, to the second end of which arm the first coupling means 11a is fixed perpendicularly with respect to the arm 18. A second coupling means lib is also hinged from its first end to the same joint 17. The arm 18 is arranged to allow rotation around the joint 17 by means of the first power means 19 of the hoisting appliance and the second coupling means lib by means of the second power means 20 of the hoisting appliance. The power means 19 and 20 are, e.g. hydraulic cylinders. Additionally a guide 22 is fixed to the fixing part 16. In the situation of the figure the second coupling means lib is turned forwards in the longitudinal direction of the platform 5 and the arm 18 is turned backwards also in the longitudinal direction of the platform 5. In this case the first coupling means 11a fixed to the end of the arm 18 is in the perpendicular position with respect to the platform 5. The parts of the hoisting appliance 9 are thus in this position before the hoisting appliance 9 is driven to the bale that is to be next lifted onto the platform 5. When round bales are collected, which bales are essentially cylindrically-shaped, the bales are approached from the side, i.e. in the direction of the radius of the so-called "cylinder". When the hoisting appliance 9 is driven to the bale, the first coupling means 11a is fitted under the first edge of the bale 21.

Fig. 4 presents a top view and Fig. 6 a side view of the subsequent phase of the bale collection, in which phase the second coupling means lib is turned by means of the second power means 20 around the joint 17 under the second edge of the bale 21.

Fig. 7 presents a top view and Fig. 8 a front view of the subsequent phase of the bale collection, in which phase the arm 18 is turned by means of the first power means 19 around the joint 17 essentially 90 degrees forwards, in which case the coupling means 11a and lib as well as the bale 21 are also turned forwards by the amount of the same angle . A round bale is thus now turned in the direction of the platform 5. Fig. 9 presents a front view of the subsequent phase of the bale collection. In this phase the front part of the platform 5 is lifted upwards by means of the power means 10 connected to the tow bar 4, in which case the hoisting appliance 9 also ascends, simultaneously lifting the bale off the ground. After this, the hoisting appliance 9 is turned around the joint 23 upwards by means of a third power means 24 belonging to the hoisting appliance, in which case the bale rotates along the guide 22 onto the platform 5. The third power means 24 is also, e.g. a hydraulic cylinder. After this the hoisting appliance 9 and its parts are returned to the same starting positions as they are in Fig. 3, in which case the hoisting appliance 9 is again ready for collecting a new bale. The hoisting appliance 9 comprises means for gripping a bale 21 first from one side of the cylinder surface of the bale, then from the second side of the cylinder surface of the bale, for turning the bale essentially in the horizontal plane around its centre axis and, when the centre axis of the bale is essentially in the longitudinal direction of the collection device, for lifting the bale over the side edge of the collection device onto the guide rails 7 of the collection device.

Figs. 10 and 11 present a side and front view of the apparatus according to the invention, to which apparatus the wrapping apparatus of the bales is connected, which wrapping apparatus comprises a wrapping device 29 of the ends of the first and last bales of the line of bales and a wrapping device 26 of the sheath surface of the bales. Fig. 10 presents a bale trolley 1 shortened. The wrapping device 29 of the ends of the first and last bale of the line of bales is at the front part of the platform and it comprises, e.g. a stem part 30, which is fixed at its first end to the front part of the platform 5 such that the stem part 30 can be turned by means of a turning apparatus 31 to on top of the bale 21 to be wrapped and, after the wrapping of the ends, out of the way of the bale 21 when the bale is lifted onto the platform 5. At the free end of the stem part 30 is an actuator, such as a motor 32, to the actuating shaft 35 of which actuator a wrapping arm 33 is fixed at its first end, at the second end of which arm is a plastic roll 34. Depending on the structure the rotating axis of the wrapping arm 33 can be in the vertical direction or inclined at a suitable angle so that the plastic roll 34 is able to pass around the bale 21 when the bale 21 is in the hoisting appliance 9. In this example the rotating axis of the wrapping arm 33 is inclined. The hoisting appliance 9 of the apparatus according to Figs. 10 and 11 also differs slightly from the hoisting appliance presented earlier. In this solution the first coupling means 11a of the hoisting appliance 9 is equipped with a rotating roll, which receives its operating power from the actuator disposed in the hoisting appliance, transmitted by a power transmission means, such as a chain 36. The actuator is not shown in the figures. The coupling means 11a is arranged to rotate the bale 21 at the same time as the wrapping arm 33 rotates the plastic roll 34 around the ends of a bale. Thus the ends of the first and last bale of the line of bales are quickly completely coated with plastic with two to five rounds of the wrapping arm before the bales are lifted onto the platform 5 of the bale trolley.

A wrapping device 26 is fixed to the rear part of the platform, which device is arranged to wrap the bales 21 in plastic as the bales are pushed backwards on the platform 5 through the rim of the wrapping device 26 along the guide rails 7 of , the collection device. The wrapping device 26 wraps the plastic on the sheath surface of the bales 21 and at the same time binds together consecutive bales of the line of bales with plastic, which bales are joined to each other end- to-end. The wrapping device starts the wrapping of the first bale of the line of bales such that the edge of the plastic is on the front side of the front edge of the first bale. In this case a part of the width of the plastic bends on top of the frontmost end of the bale and a part of the width of the plastic wraps around the sheath surface of the bale. Thus the wrapping device 26 supplements the wrapping of the end of the bale that is already earlier wrapped by the wrapping device 29 and the end becomes sufficiently tight. The same procedure applies to the last bale of the line of bales. In this case the wrapping device stops the wrapping of the last bale of the line of bales such that the edge of the plastic is on the rear side of the rear edge of the last bale. In this case a part of the width of the plastic bends on top of the rearmost end of the bale and a part of the width of the plastic wraps around the sheath surface of the bale.

The wrapping devices 26 and 29 can be easily detached from the frame of the bale trolley 1 and fixed back into their position. For instance, when wrapped bales are fetched from a storing place for eating, the wrapping devices 26 and 29 are not needed so they can be detached and replaced in connection with the bale trolley 1 only next time when the bales are wrapped in plastic after the season. This increases the versatility of the apparatus.

The apparatus according to one preferred embodiment does not comprise a wrapping apparatus of its own, in which case there are connecting means at the rear part of the frame of the collection device for connecting the collection device to a separate wrapping device such that the bales 21 can be pushed from the guide rails 7 of the collection device through the rim of the wrapping device by means of the pushing means 14 of the collection device.

Fig. 12 presents a side view of an apparatus according to the invention when the front part of the platform 5 is lowered by means of a power means 10 before a single bale is picked up from the field. The hoisting appliance 9 is . straightened essentially into the horizontal plane and the coupling means 11a and lib of the hoisting appliance are moved to near the surface of the ground. The second coupling means lib is open, as described above, in which case the hoisting appliance 9 can be driven to the bale to be collected.

Fig. 13 presents a side view of an apparatus according to the invention when one bale 21 is lifted onto the platform 5. The front part of the platform 5 is lifted up by means of a power means 10, in which case the rear part of the platform is lowered because the platform 5 is hinged at its centre part to the support structure 2 with an axle 6. In addition, the bale 21 is pushed along the guide rails 7 for some distance towards the rear end of the platform 5 by means of a pushing means 14.

Owing to the hinge arrangements of the power means 10 and the tow bar 4, the front part of the platform and also the rear end of the tow bar lower downwards when the piston of the power means moves inwards in the cylinder of the power means. Correspondingly the front part of the platform and the rear end of the tow bar rise upwards when the piston of the power means moves outwards from the cylinder of the power means .

Fig. 14 presents a side view of an apparatus according to the invention when the platform 5 is full of lifted bales. The platform 5 is in an essentially horizontal position and it is connected by means of a tow bar 4 to a tractor, with which the bale trolley 1 with its bales is transported to a wrapping machine. In this case eight bales fit on the platform 5. One bale could still be lifted to the hoisting appliance 9, in which case nine bales could be transported at a time. Fig. 15 presents a side view of an apparatus according to the invention when the platform is unloaded of bales. The rear part of the platform 5 is lowered to the ground and the tail gate 25 is opened. When the trolley 1 is pulled forwards, e.g. with a tractor, the bales 21 slide along the guide rails 7 to the ground.

Fig. 16 presents a side view of an apparatus according to the invention when the platform is unloaded of bales, which are wrapped in plastic. With the apparatus also bales wrapped in plastic, which are transported to animals for eating, can be collected. In this case the plastic must be removed from around the bales. The rear part of the platform 5 is lowered to the ground and the tail gate 25 is opened. When the trolley 1 is pulled forwards, e.g. with a tractor, the bales 21 slide along the guide rails 7 to the ground. A cutting means 27 is fitted to the handrail 8 at the rear part of the platform 5, which means is arranged to cut through the plastic when the bale travels past the cutting means 27. Gripping means 28 are also fitted on the tail gate 25, which means are fitted to draw the plastic, which is now cut through, away from around the bales when the wrapped bales are released from the guide rails 7 of the collection device in the feeding phase. With the method according to the invention fodder bales are handled, e.g. such that a bale trolley 1 is driven next to a bale 21 such that the first coupling means 11a of the hoisting appliance 9 is fitted under the bale. After this the second coupling means lib of the hoisting appliance 9 is turned to under the bale on the second side of the bale, after which the hoisting appliance 9 turns the bale essentially 90 degrees forwards in the direction of the platform of the bale trolley 1. Next the bale 21 is lifted onto the platform 5 by means of the hoisting appliance 9. When the desired number of bales 21 is on the platform 5, the bale trolley 1 is driven to the wrapping machine and the bales 21 are unloaded from the platform 5 to the wrapping machine.

A bale collection device provided with wheels is used in the method, onto which device fodder bales 21 are lifted at least one at a time for further handling. The fodder bales 21 to be handled are lifted one at a time from the side of the collection device, with the hoisting appliance 9 accompanying the device, onto the base in the device.

By means of the detectors 9a in the hoisting appliance 9 a bale in the field is detected to be available for lifting, after which the bale is placed with the hoisting appliance 9 to be ready for lifting and lifted over the side edge of the collection device onto the base in the collection device.

A plurality of bales 21 are lifted one after the other into the collection device using a hoisting appliance 9, which bales are placed on the guide rails 7 of the base in the collection device consecutively in the axial direction and pushed together with a pushing means 14 such that the consecutive bales are essentially together at their ends.

The consecutive bales 21 on the base of the collection device are led at least part of the time all together in an essentially even line to the wrapping device, by means of which at least a plurality of bales are wrapped consecutively end-to-end in plastic such that no plastic is wrapped between the bales . When the base of the collection device is full, or sufficiently full, of bales 21 to be wrapped, the free end of the collection device is connected to the wrapping device and the bales on the base of the collection device are pushed in an essentially continuous line to be wrapped by the wrapping device.

According to one preferred embodiment the bales 21 on the base of the collection device are transferred in an essentially continuous line to be wrapped by a wrapping device 26 disposed at the second end of the collection device.

The bales 21 on the base of the collection device are transferred in an essentially continuous line to the ground in the proximity of the wrapping device for being picked up and wrapped by the wrapping device.

Further, according to one preferred embodiment the ends of the first and last■ bales of the line of bales to be assembled are plastic coated before the bale is lifted with the hoisting appliance 9 onto the guide rails 7 of the collection device. The plastic coating of the ends is performed with the wrapping device 29 disposed in the proximity of the hoisting appliance 9 and at the same time the bale 21 is rotated in the hoisting appliance 9.

When a bale 21 is lifted from the ground, the front end of the collection device and at the same time the hoisting appliance at the front end are lowered towards the surface of the ground before taking the bale into the hoisting appliance, and before moving the bale from the hoisting appliance onto the base of the collection device the front end of the collection device is lifted upwards such that the front end is higher than the free rear end of the collection device. By means of the collection device one or more fodder bales 21 wrapped in plastic is/are picked up and lifted onto the base of the collection device, transported to a desired feeding place and unloaded from the base by inclining and moving the collection device and by means of the compression of the pushing means 14, and in connection with the unloading the plastic film is at the same time cut through with a cutter 27 at the rear end of the collection device and the cut-through plastic film is removed from around the bale with a gripping means 28 disposed at the rear end of the collection device such that when the bale is freed from the base of the collection device the wrapping plastic is essentially fully removed from around the bale.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the example described above, but that it may be varied within the scope of the claims presented below. Thus, for example, the structure of the hoisting appliance can also be different than what is described above. From the viewpoint of the idea of the invention it is essential that the hoisting appliance travels along with the bale trolley on its side and lifts fodder bales onto the platform of .the bale trolley.

It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that the bales can also be unloaded from the bale trolley upwards by inclining the front end of the bale trolley downwards. In this case the bales can be unloaded directly to, e.g. a mash trolley.

Claims

1. Method for handling of fodder bales, in which method a bale collection device equipped with wheels is used, onto which device fodder bales (21) are lifted at least one at a time for further processing, characterized in that the fodder bales (21) to be handled are lifted one at a time from the side of the collection device, with the hoisting appliance (9) accompanying the device, onto the base in the device.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that by means of the detectors (9a) in the hoisting appliance (9) a bale in

■ a field is detected to be available for lifting with a hoisting appliance (9) , after which the bale (21) is placed with the hoisting appliance (9) to be ready for lifting and is lifted over the side edge of the collection device onto the base in the collection device.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of bales (21) are lifted one after the other into the collection device using the hoisting appliance (9), which bales are placed on the base in the collection device consecutively in the axial direction and pushed together such that the consecutive bales (21) are essentially together at their ends.

4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the consecutive bales (21) on the base of the collection device are at least a part of the time led all together in an essentially even line to the wrapping device, by means of which at least a plurality of bales are wrapped consecutively end-to-end in plastic such that no plastic is wrapped between the bales.

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the base of the collection device is full, or sufficiently full, of bales (21) to be wrapped, the free end of the collection device is connected to a separate wrapping device and the bales (21) on the base of the collection device are pushed in an essentially continuous line to be wrapped by the wrapping device.

6. Method according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the bales on the base of the collection device are transferred in an essentially continuous line for being wrapped by the wrapping device (26) at the second end of the collection device.

7. Method according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the bales (21) on the base of the collection device are transferred in an essentially continuous line to the ground in the proximity of the wrapping device for being picked up and wrapped by the wrapping device.

8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ends of the first and last bale of the line of bales to be formed are plastic coated before the bale (21) is lifted to the guide rails (7) of the collection device with the wrapping device (29) in the proximity of the hoisting appliance (9) and at the same time the bale (21) is rotated in the hoisting appliance (9) .

9. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the bale is lifted from the ground the front end of the collection device and at the same time the hoisting appliance (9) at the front end are lowered towards the surface of the ground before taking the bale (21) into the hoisting appliance (9), and in that before transferring the bale from the hoisting appliance (9) onto the base of the collection device the front end of the collection device is lifted upwards such that the front end is higher than the free rear end of the collection device.

10. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bales (21) on the base of the collection device are pushed towards the rear end of the collection device on top of slide guide rails (7) by means of a pushing means (14) in the longitudinal direction of the collection device.

11. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that by means of the collection device one or more fodder bales wrapped in plastic is/are picked up and lifted onto the base of the collection device, transported to a desired feeding place and unloaded from the base by inclining and moving the collection device and also by means of the compression of the pushing means (14) , and in connection with the unloading the plastic film is at the same time cut through with a cutter (27) disposed at the rear end of the collection device and the cut-through plastic film is removed from around the bale with a gripping means (28) disposed at the rear end of the collection device such that when the bale (21) is freed from the base of the collection device the wrapping plastic is essentially fully removed from around the bale.

12. Apparatus for handling of fodder bales (21), which apparatus comprises at least a collection device pulled by a pulling device and equipped with wheels (3) , which device is equipped with at least a hoisting appliance (9) and a tip-up device and also guide rails (7), which function as a base of the bales (21) for supporting the bales and for transferring the bales from the collection device, characterized in that the hoisting appliance (9) is disposed on the side of the collection device, essentially at the front end of the collection device.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the hoisting appliance (9) is fixed in a hinged manner to the frame structure of the collection device and the hoisting appliance (9) comprises means (11a, lib) for gripping the bale

(21) first from one side of the cylinder surface of the bale and then from the second side of the cylinder surface of the bale, for turning the bale (21) essentially in the horizontal plane around its centre axis and when the centre axis of the bale is essentially in the longitudinal direction of the collection device, for lifting the bale from the side of the direction of travel of the collection device over the side edge of the collection device onto the guide rails (7) , the length of which is selected such that n units of bales (21) is fitted consecutively end-to-end on the guide rails (7), where n is an integer number between 1-20, suitably, e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the hoisting appliance (9) comprises identification means

(9a) for detecting a bale (21) and for activating the hoisting function automatically when the aforementioned identification means (9a) detect that the bale (21) can be lifted.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that a power means (10) is at the front end of the collection device for lowering the front end of the collection device downwards and lifting it upwards, and in that the frame of the collection device comprises a joint (6) essentially in the longitudinal midpoint of the frame, around which joint the frame of the collection device is arranged to turn such that when the front end of the frame ascends the rear end of the frame descends and vice versa.

16. Apparatus according to any of claims 12-15, characterized in that the power means (10) at the front end of the collection device is hinged at its first end to one point of the front end of the frame of the collection device and at its second end to the rear part of the tow bar (4), which rear end of the tow bar (4) , for its part, is hinged to a second point of the front end of the frame of the collection device and the front end of the tow bar is fixed to a pulling device, with the aforementioned hinging and fixing points and the hinging point in the centre part of the frame being interdisposed with respect to each other such that when the rod of the power means (10) is shortened the front end of the frame and the rear end of the tow bar (4) descend and when the rod of the power means (10) is lengthened the front end of the frame and the rear end of the tow bar (4) ascend.

17. Apparatus according to any of claims 12-16, characterized in that the collection device comprises a wrapping apparatus, which includes a wrapping device (29) at the front part of the frame of the collection device for wrapping the ends of the first and last bale of the line of bales to be formed, and a wrapping device (26) of the sheath surface of the bales (21) at the rear part of the frame of the collection device disposed such that the bales (21) can be pushed through the rim of the wrapping device (26) along the guide rails (7) of the collection device by means of the pushing means (14) of the collection device, and in that the first coupling means (lla) of the hoisting appliance (9) is equipped with a rotatable roll for rotating the bale (21) during the plastic coating of the ends of the bale.

18. Apparatus according to any of claims 12-17, characterized in that the rear part of the frame of the collection device comprises connecting means for connecting the collection device to a separate wrapping device such that the bales (21) can be pushed from the guide rails (7) of the collection device through the rim of the wrapping device by means of the pushing means (14) of the collection device.

19. Apparatus according to any of claims 12-18, characterized in that the rear part of the frame of the collection device comprises cutting means (27) for cutting the plastic film and gripping means (28) for removing the plastic film from around the bale (21) when releasing the wrapped bales from the guide rails (7) of the collection device in the feeding phase.