An agricultural baler comprising a baler mechanism and a carriage assembly coupled to the baler mechanism. A platform is coupled to at least one of the baler mechanism and the carriage assembly. The platform is configured to move a bale from the baler mechanism to the carriage assembly and remain tilted until the bale is moved onto the carriage assembly at least substantially out of contact with the platform. A sliding mechanism is coupled to the carriage assembly. The sliding mechanism is configured to move the bale onto the carriage assembly.

A bale loading trailer has a bale supporting frame mounted on wheels. A fork assembly is pivotally mounted beside a front end of the frame configured to engage a bale when in a lowered position, and to disengage the bale when in a raised position such that the bale moves onto the front end of the bale supporting frame. A hydraulic cylinder moves the fork assembly between positions. A hydraulic motor driven conveyor chain assembly extends along the bale supporting frame, and loaded bales rest on, and move along the frame in concert with, the conveyor chain. A valve circuit connects the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic motor drive such that as the fork assembly moves from the raised position to the lowered position, hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder through the hydraulic motor drive and causes the conveyor chain assembly to move a bale length rearward.

A trailer (1) for round bales of fodder material comprising a bed (19) and a pick-up mechanism (35) for transferring bales from the ground onto the bed (19). A lifting mechanism (38) adjacent the front end (10) of the bed (19) is provided with first and second receiving elements (39,40) for receiving four bales sequentially from the pick-up mechanism (35). The lifting mechanism (38) is urgeable by a main drive ram (60) from a first state adjacent the front end (10) of the bed (19) in a rearward direction for transferring four bales on the lifting mechanism (38) to an intermediate framework (26) of the bed (19). The next four bales on the lifting mechanism (38) urge the bales already on the intermediate framework (26) onto the rear framework (27) as those bales on the lifting mechanism (38) are being urged to the intermediate framework (26), and so on until the trailer has been loaded with sixteen bales. The rear framework (27) is pivotally coupled to the chassis (3) from a hauling state to a discharge state for discharging the bales onto the ground with the longitudinal central geometrical axis of the bales extending vertically.

Apparatus for gathering bales that substantially match conveyor speed to ground speed. Methods for gathering bales that use such apparatus are also provided.

Apparatus and methods which use a conveyored loading assembly for gathering bales and, in particular, round bales such as a hay or corn stover bales.

A bale accumulator for towed conveyance behind a rectangular baler features a bale platform for receiving the bales, a variable length drawbar enabling selective adjustment of the platform between a working field position of close working adjacency and statically in-line relation to the baler, and a road transport position trailing further therebehind and movable relative thereto about a yaw axis. Using an actuated coupler/decoupler, a bale pusher movable longitudinally of the platform to dump accumulated bales onto the field is selectively couplable to, and decouplable from, one or more elongated front bale supports slidably engaged with the baler, over which ejected bales can ride continuously from the baler without awaiting reset of the bale pusher. The front bale supports are coupled to the pusher for working use therewith in the working field mode, and decoupled therefrom to permit yawing of the platform in road transport mode.

A bale accumulator for towed conveyance behind a rectangular baler features a bale platform for receiving the bales, a variable length drawbar enabling selective adjustment of the platform between a working field position of close working adjacency and statically in-line relation to the baler, and a road transport position trailing further therebehind and movable relative thereto about a yaw axis. Using an actuated coupler/decoupler, a bale pusher movable longitudinally of the platform to dump accumulated bales onto the field is selectively couplable to, and decouplable from, one or more elongated front bale supports slidably engaged with the baler, over which ejected bales can ride continuously from the baler without awaiting reset of the bale pusher. The front bale supports are coupled to the pusher for working use therewith in the working field mode, and decoupled therefrom to permit yawing of the platform in road transport mode.

A trailer having a deck and a flip-over ramp. The deck and one side of the flip-over ramp are convertible from a flat position to a position with cradles that are configured to hold one or more round hay bales. The deck may tilt, and side rails may cooperate to form the cradle region. The flip over ramp may also pivot about a horizontal axis to form a pathway from a ground surface to the deck. Side rails may pivot both about a horizontal axis, and about a vertical axis near the flip-over ramp to allow clearance when the ramp is deployed.

A flatbed truck bed for coupling a trailer to includes a base unit and a lifting assembly. The base unit has a loading surface and a trough centrally disposed between opposite sides of the base unit. The trough extends downwardly through the loading surface and rearwardly through a rear end of the base unit. The base unit includes a pivotable access hatch with a recessed portion that forms a section of the trough. The lifting assembly has a crossmember and a pair of arms attached to opposite ends of the crossmember. The crossmember is pivotable about an axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the truck bed to extend the arms away from the truck bed. A recess extends into the crossmember and is alignable with the trough of the bed.

A flatbed truck bed for coupling a trailer to includes a base unit and a lifting assembly. The base unit has a loading surface and a trough centrally disposed between opposite sides of the base unit. The trough extends downwardly through the loading surface and rearwardly through a rear end of the base unit. The base unit includes a pivotable access hatch with a recessed portion that forms a section of the trough. The lifting assembly has a crossmember and a pair of arms attached to opposite ends of the crossmember. The crossmember is pivotable about an axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the truck bed to extend the arms away from the truck bed. A recess extends into the crossmember and is alignable with the trough of the bed.