A grasping mechanism for an agricultural bale wagon has a fixed grasping arm and a movable grasping arm. The movable grasping arm is translatable toward and away from the fixed grasping arm. The movable grasping arm can be rotated to define varying angular relationships between the fixed grasping arm and the movable grasping arm. Rotation and translation of the movable grasping arm are effected by an actuator. A resilient bumper between the fixed grasping arm and movable grasping arm is adjustable automatically to span the adjusted width between the fixed grasping arm and movable grasping arm.

A method of grasping a bale of crop material and placing the bale in a bale wagon, the method comprising the steps of sensing, grasping and evaluating. The sensing step includes sensing a presence of a bale between grasping arms of a bale grasping mechanism. The grasping step includes grasping the bale with the grasping arms. The evaluating step includes evaluating a size of the bale that has been grasped.

A bale processor apparatus has a bale processing chamber mounted on a chamber frame on wheels for travel in a travel direction. A lift arm frame is pivotally attached to a rear end of the chamber frame about a lift pivot axis, and a lift actuator pivots the lift arm frame from a lowered position to a raised position. A bale turning assembly is pivotally attached to the lift arm frame and bale fork tines are attached to the bale turning assembly. A turning actuator pivots the bale turning assembly from a standard position, where the bale fork tines extend rearward from bale processing chamber to a turned position, where the bale fork tines are rearward of the bale processing chamber and perpendicular to the travel direction. A shear bar cuts twine on rectangular bales as they fall into the chamber but does not affect cylindrical bales.

A retention mechanism for retaining an agricultural machine in engagement with a fork assembly. The mechanism may be provided on the fork assembly, agricultural machine or split between them. The retention mechanism may be actuated by a foot associated with either the fork assembly or the agricultural machine. The retention mechanism may employ pivoting latches or a clamping mechanism that clamps upon the forks or tines.

A bale retriever for retrieving bales which includes a bale pick up configured to contact and pick up a bale, a steering assembly configured to steer the bale retriever, at least one sensor configured to sense at least one bale feature of the bale, and a controller operatively coupled to the steering assembly and the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to receive bale drop location information, receive at least one bale feature signal from the at least one sensor, identify an exact bale location of the bale based at least partially on the bale drop location information and the at least one bale feature signal from the at least one sensor, generate a steering control signal based at least partially on the exact bale location, and output the steering control signal to the steering assembly.

A cylindrical bale-wrapping apparatus includes a main frame having a vehicle mounting apparatus, a first sub-frame adjustably mounted on the main frame between a bale-loading position and a bale-wrapping position, and a second sub-frame adjustably mounted on the main frame between a transport position and a bale-wrapping position. A wrapping table adapted to rotate a cylindrical bale about a central axis is associated with the first sub-frame. A wrapping ring including at least one roll support adapted to rotate about the wrapping table is mounted on the second sub-frame. The second sub-frame has a bale-support element.

A portable weighing scale for weighing a bale of crop includes a support frame configured to be transported on ground. A powered lift is operatively coupled to the support frame and configured to lift the bale of crop off the ground. A weight measurement system is operatively coupled to the support frame and configured to measure the weight or mass of the bale of crop when the bale of crop is lifted off the ground by the power lift.

Device for collecting forage bales found on the ground, wherein it includes first means (17) of traction of bales (19) and dragging means (2) of said first traction means (17) mounted on a first chassis (1) of a frame in such a way that they define a first section (“A”) of ascent of the bales, means (16) of traction of the bales and means (4) of dragging those means (16) of traction mounted on a second chassis (3) of the frame so that they define a second section (“B”) of ascent of the bales coming from the first section (“A”) of ascent, the first chassis (1) being joined to the second chassis (3) in such a way that it is capable of rotating around a rotating axle (“Y”) due to the effect of the force of the impact with the bales, the first means (17) approaching the ground, and the device comprising a set (8) of shock absorbers of the turning movement of the first chassis (1).

A bale processor and transport apparatus includes a bale processor, and a hitch assembly attached to a rear end of the bale processor. A bale trailer is attached to the hitch assembly, and the bale trailer comprises a trailer conveyor operative to move bales forward on the bale trailer. A lift frame is provided on the bale processor above the hitch, and the lift frame is operative to receive a transported bale from the trailer conveyor and pivot the transported bale upward and forward into a chamber of the bale processor.

A bale loading apparatus has a base frame mounted to a loader vehicle operative to move the base frame up and down. Right and left fork frames are connected to right and left portions of the base frame by corresponding right and left linkages, and right and left fork pairs extend away from the loader end of the base frame. A right actuator is operative to pivot the right fork pair with respect to the base frame upward and outward to the right of a path of the loader vehicle from a lowered right position to a raised right position, and a left actuator is operative to pivot the left fork pair with respect to the base frame upward and outward to the left of the path of the loader vehicle from a lowered left position to a raised left position.