Method of forming a stack of bales of crop material

摘要

An automatic bale wagon for forming a weather resistant block shaped stack from a plurality of similarly shaped bales as the bale wagon picks up and handles bales during traversal of a field in which a plurality of formed bales have been deposited. A first tier is formed by placing a plurality of bales within a generally rectangular configuration, and a tie tier is formed by placing a plurality of bales within a generally rectangular configuration similar in shape to the rectangular configuration of the first tier, the outermost of which bales in the tie tier not being in alignment with the bales in the first tier. The tie tier is positioned above the first tier. A tight top tier is then formed by placing a plurality of bales in a generally rectangular configuration similar in shape to the rectangular configuration of the tie tier. Adjacent ends and side surfaces of all bales in the top tier are contiguous, the outermost of which bales are not in alignment with the bales in the tie tier. The tight top tier is positioned above the tie tier whereby the contiguous relationship of the bales provides a barrier for resisting the entry of moisture via the top of the stack.