Abstract: Apparatus for removing tie wires from bales includes a table for receiving a bale having a plurality of tie wires wrapped transversely around the bale, a rear stop engageable with the rear side of the bale when on the table, a main carriage movable transversely of the table towards and away from the rear stop and including a front stop engageable with the front of the bale for firmly holding the bale between it and the rear stop, and a cutter assembly movable longitudinally of the table adjacent to one of the stops for cutting the tie wires of a bale when firmly held between the two stops.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing flexible covers from bales, includes a conveyor for conveying each bale from a loading station through a cutting station wherein the cover is cut, a stripping station wherein the cover is stripped from the bale, and a discharge station wherein the stripped bale is discharged. The cutting station includes a front blade assembly mounted on a carriage driven vertically along the length of the front wall of the cover for vertically slitting the front wall while the bale is relatively stationary on the conveyor, and then for horizontally slitting one of the end walls of the cover as the bale is conveyed towards the stripping station. An end wall blade assembly horizontally slits the other end wall of the cover as the bale is conveyed towards the stripping station.