Apparatus for collecting and unloading hay bales and the like

摘要

A wheeled vehicle mounts a rotary framework providing a plurality of longitudinally extending, peripheral and inner compartments for the removable storage of a multiplicity of hay bales or like objects. The framework is rotated by a driven endless chain wrapped about the framework centrally of the longitudinal ends thereof. Communication between the peripheral and inner compartments is controlled by movable gates operated selectively by spring-loaded latching mechanism at predetermined intervals of rotation of the framework. A longitudinally extending, reversibly movable feed conveyor below the framework registers with each of the peripheral compartments selectively for moving bales to and from the compartments. The arcuate shields extend from the opposite sides of the feed conveyor upwardly to form with the latter a semicircular shield surrounding the lower half of the framework to confine the bales in the lower peripheral compartments. A forwardly extending, reversibly movable delivery conveyor is aligned with the feed conveyor and is adjustable pivotally to lower its forward end for picking up bales from the ground and delivering them to the feed conveyor, and to raise its forward end for delivering bales from the feed conveyor to a storage conveyor for moving bales to storage.