Bale processor and binding remover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10647463-B2
Application number	US-201615179199-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2016
Priority date	Jun 12, 2015
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

A bale processing machine that removes a binding from a bale allows for rapid bale processing. A method for removing the binding from the bale includes supporting the bale with a bale support at an elevated positon and securing the binding to a binding engagement device. The method also includes cutting the binding and removing the bale support from beneath the bale, such that at least a portion of the bale falls by gravity away from the binding secured to the binding engagement device.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for removing a binding from a bale, the apparatus comprising:
a bale support for supporting a portion of the bale; and
a binding engagement device including at least one tine and at least one hook positioned proximate to the at least one tine, wherein the at least one hook is configured to move linearly relative to the at least one tine, and wherein the binding engagement device automatically removes the binding from the bale; and
a cutting blade for cutting the binding and the bale at a cutting station during a cutting operation in which the cutting blade cuts the binding and at least a portion of the bale during travel of the cutting blade upward toward the binding engagement device and into a core of the bale, and wherein the upward travel of the cutting blade into the bale moves the bale upward into engagement with a stationary bale stop structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bale stop structure is positioned above the bale when the bale is supported on the bale support and cutting blade, the cutting blade being configured to lift the bale as the cutting blade moves from a lowered position toward a raised position until the bale engages the bale stop structure, the cutting blade being configured to continue to move toward the raised position after the bale engages the bale stop structure, such that the cutting blade cuts through the binding and at least a portion of the bale and such that the bale support moves at least partially out from beneath the bale.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cutting blade and bale support are configured to move at an angle relative to horizontal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bale support is pivotally attached to the cutting station, and wherein the bale support pivots away from the cutting station when moving at least partially out from beneath the bale.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a guide defining a guide direction extending along a length of a binding removal arm, wherein the binding engagement device is movable along the guide direction between a first position over the cutting station and a second position offset from the cutting station, the at least one tine including a set of tines being spaced apart along the guide direction so as to define a tine row and the at least one hook including a set of hooks being spaced apart along the guide direction so as to define a hook row, the hook row being linearly movable relative to the tine row along the guide direction between a binding holding position and a binding release position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the hook row and the tine row cooperate to define binding retaining pockets when the hook row is in the binding holding position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one hook has a longitudinal direction that extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal direction of the at least one tine.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one hook and the at least one tine cooperate to pinch the binding when in the binding holding position.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the binding removal arm includes an engaging end at which the binding is removed from the bale by the binding engagement device and an opposite disengaging end for disposing of the binding by the binding engagement device, the binding removal arm including at least a pair of guide fingers positioned apart along a length of the binding removal arm, the guide fingers being at least partially angled.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one hook includes at least a partially textured outer surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bale support is configured to selectively move at least partially out from beneath the bale.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cutting blade is configured to move at an angle relative to horizontal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cutting blade is configured to move at an angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees from horizontal.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cutting blade penetrates at least 30 percent of the thickness of the bale during the cutting operation.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the cutting blade penetrates at least 50 percent of the thickness of the bale during the cutting operation.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the cutting blade penetrates at least 70 percent of the thickness of the bale during the cutting operation.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the cutting blade travels upward toward the binding engagement device and into the core of the bale, a first portion of the bale is beneath the cutting blade and unsupported by the bale support, and a second portion of the bale is above the cutting blade and supported by the cutting blade.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , further including an exit conveyor configured to first receive the first portion of the bale from the cutting station, and subsequently receive the second portion of the bale from the cutting station after the cutting blade moves to a retracted position.

Assignees

• Vermeer Mfg Co

Inventors

• Steenhoek Curtis J
• Verhoef Gary
• Dykema Matthew William
• Johnson Brian Michael
• Moffet Gary D
• Van Roekel Jay C
• Weishaar Scott A
• Gardner John G

Classifications

• B65B69/0025 Primary

  Removing or cutting binding material, e.g. straps or bands · CPC title

• Y10T29/5139

  and means to sever work prior to disassembling · CPC title

• Y10T29/49821

  by altering or destroying work part or connector · CPC title

• Y10S83/909

  Cutting strand extending from or lying on strand or package support · CPC title

• Y10T29/49819

  with conveying of work or disassembled work part · CPC title