US Patent 7610851 Bale stacker

A bale stacker for consolidating a plurality of bales into a bale bundle. The bale stacker includes a compression chamber at least partially defined by a floor, sidewalls, and a ceiling. The compression chamber extends between an upstream opening and a downstream opening thereof. The bales are receivable in the compression chamber via the upstream opening and the bale bundle is configured to exit the compression chamber via the downstream opening. The compression chamber ceiling includes a substantially planar rear portion positioned substantially parallel to the floor. The compression chamber ceiling also includes a front portion positioned upstream from the rear portion, and located in a non-parallel relationship relative to the floor for engaging the bales as they are moved past the front portion in a downstream direction of travel toward the downstream opening, so that the bales are compressed between the front portion and the floor.