BALE FEEDER WITH ELEVATOR PLATFORM
In at least one embodiment, a bale feeder assembly is provided comprising a housing having side walls and a feed assembly disposed between the side walls. The feed assembly has a proximal end and a distal end, and is structured to move a bale of material. The bale feeder also has a movable platform connected to the proximal end of the feed assembly to move the bale along the housing, and wherein the movable platform is rotatable between a generally horizontal position and a generally perpendicular position relative to the housing. The bale feeder also has a shredder disposed adjacent the distal end of the feed assembly to shred the bale, the feed assembly being disposed at an angle such that the proximal end is in a plane spaced below a plane the distal end is disposed in and the feed assembly with the movable platform is capable of moving a bale of material or a portion of a bale of material towards the shredder for shredding.
1 . A bale feeder assembly comprising:
a housing having side walls;
a feed assembly disposed between the side walls, the feed assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, structured to move a bale of material;
a movable platform connected to the proximal end of the feed assembly to move the bale along the housing, and wherein the movable platform is rotatable between a generally horizontal position and a generally perpendicular position relative to the housing; and
a shredder disposed adjacent the distal end of the feed assembly to shred the bale, the feed assembly being disposed at an angle such that the proximal end is in a plane spaced below a plane the distal end is disposed in and the feed assembly with the movable platform is arranged to move a bale of material or a portion of a bale of material towards the shredder for shredding.
2 . The bale feeder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of rail members, wherein each individual rail members is connected to a respective one of the side walls and receives a respective roller associated with the movable platform.
3 . The bale feeder assembly of claim 2 , wherein the feed assembly comprises a drive chain disposed below at least one of the rail members, wherein the drive chain is structured to pull the movable platform towards the shredder.
4 . The bale feeder assembly of claim 3 , wherein the movable platform is attached to the drive chain, the drive chain structured to pull the movable platform from a generally horizontal position to a generally perpendicular position relative to the housing.
5 . The bale feeder of claim 1 , wherein the shredder comprises a spinning blade.
6 . The bale feeder of claim 1 , wherein the shredder comprises a plurality of spinning blades.
7 . The bale feeder of claim 1 , wherein the movable platform, when in a generally perpendicular position relative to the housing, moves along with the feed assembly to move a bale of material or a portion of a bale of material towards the shredder to generate a consistent feed rate of the bale of material to the shredder.
8 . The bale feeder of claim 1 , wherein the platform has a width of 75 to 225 cm and a length of 75 to 225 cm.
9 . The bale feeder of claim 1 , wherein the feed assembly comprises a plurality of spaced apart slats.
10 . A bale feeder assembly comprising:
a housing having side walls;
a movable feed assembly disposed between the side walls, the movable feed assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, and is structured to move a bale of material;
a platform connected to the feed assembly structured to move the bale along the housing between the sidewalls, and wherein the movable platform is pivotable between a first position and a second position relative to the feed assembly, wherein the first position provides an angle between the platform and the feed assembly that is greater than when in the second position; and
a shredder disposed adjacent the distal end of the feed assembly to shred the bale, the feed assembly disposed at an angle such that the proximal end is in a plane spaced below a plane the distal end is disposed in and the feed assembly with the platform is arranged to move at least a portion of a bale of material towards the shredder for shredding.
11 . The bale feeder of claim 10 , wherein the platform has a width of 75 to 225 cm and a length of 75 to 225 cm.
12 . The bale feeder assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a pair of rail members, wherein each individual rail members is connected to a respective one of the side walls and receives a respective roller associated with the movable platform.
13 . The bale feeder assembly of claim 12 , wherein the feed assembly comprises a drive chain disposed below at least one of the rail members, wherein the drive chain is structured to pull the movable platform towards the shredder.
14 . The bale feeder assembly of claim 13 , wherein the movable platform is attached to the drive chain, the drive chain structured to pull the movable platform from a generally horizontal position to a generally perpendicular position relative to the housing.
15 . The bale feeder of claim 10 , wherein the shredder comprises a plurality of spinning blades.
16 . The bale feeder of claim 10 , wherein the movable platform, when in a generally perpendicular position relative to the housing, moves along with the feed assembly to move a bale of material or a portion of a bale of material towards the shredder to generate a consistent feed rate of the bale of material to the shredder.
17 . The bale feeder of claim 10 , wherein the feed assembly comprises a plurality of spaced apart slats.
18 . A bale feeder assembly comprising:
a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end;
a platform supported by the housing, the platform being movable within the housing from the inlet end towards the outlet end, the platform sized to support a bale of material;
a shredder disposed adjacent the outlet end of the feed assembly to shred the bale; and
a driving member connected with the housing and the platform to drive the platform between the inlet and outlet ends of the housing
19 . The bale feeder of claim 18 , wherein the platform is pivotable between a first position and a second position relative to the housing, wherein the first position provides an angle between the platform and the housing that is greater than when in the second position; and the housing disposed at an angle such that the inlet end is in a plane spaced below a plane the outlet end is disposed in, and the platform is arranged to move at least a portion of a bale of material towards the shredder for shredding.
20 . The bale feeder of claim 19 , wherein the platform has a width of 75 to 225 cm and a length of 75 to 225 cm.