Square bale transporter

Abstract

A bale transporting and stacking method and apparatus are disclosed. The bales are picked up from the field and placed bottom side down on the bed of the bale transporter. When the transporter is full, the bed, or part of the bed, is tipped upright to form a stack of bales. The process is repeated with the bales being located adjacent one another. With this system, the outer side of each column of bales is the original bottom side of the bale. This side is denser and structurally less prone to collapse than the less dense top side of the bale. Consequently, the stack is more stable than prior art stacks with the reverse arrangement. The apparatus includes a lift arm for lifting the bales, a pivoting bale clamp for rotating the bales over the bale bed and a pusher mechanism for advancing the bales along the bed towards the back end.