The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 11, 1977
Filed:
Apr. 07, 1976
Thomas Gene Schrag, Newton, KS (US);
Merle Keith Burkhart, Newton, KS (US);
Arnold Elmer Goertz, Buhler, KS (US);
Hesston Corporation, Hesston, KS (US);
Abstract
Large round bales are picked up in the field by forcing the inclined bed of the machine beneath the bales while simultaneously drawing them onto the bed with a conveyor chain. With the bed leveled, the bales can be transported end-to-end to a feeding location and, while still moving, thereupon successively transferred laterally to an outboard disintegrating unit which drops the material in a continuous stream to the ground or into a feed bunk. After each lateral transfer and outboard disintegration, the bales are advanced along the bed until the next succeeding bale is in position for processing. Alternative forms of lateral transfer apparatus include a lift that swings a bale upwardly off the bed and into the disintegrating unit, a ramp that cocks the bale toward the disintegrating unit in position for an overhead door to sweep the cocked bale into the unit, and an overhead feeder that reaches across the bed and draws the bale into the unit.