Round haybale unloader

Abstract

A haybale unloader is disclosed for transporting and unwinding cylindrical bales of hay or like material. The invention provides a compact, self-powered and self-propelling unloader for unrolling a continuous sheet of agricultural material from a bale. The unloader allows for convenient transport of bales and is easily operated by a single person. The unloader comprises a wheeled frame on which are disposed a support surface for a bale and a conveyor having a forward discharge end and rearward receiving end. A limiting surface is disposed adjacent the receiving end of the conveyor and extends upwardly therefrom in an obtuse angle relationship thereto. A pair of freely pivoting bale retaining arms is provided for rotatably retaining the bale against the support surface and limiting surface. A clamping disk and spear assembly is disposed at each free terminal end of the arms and is adapted for slidable and rotatable interconnection therewith and for engagement with the respective end surfaces of a bale near its central longitudinal axis. The conveyor unrolls a bale placed onto the support surface by imparting a rotative movement to the bale about its central longitudinal axis and drawing therefrom a continuous sheet of agricultural material for distribution along the ground adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor.