Abstract: A bale opener for detaching fiber tufts from a top surface of a fiber bales series includes a tower for travel along a series of fiber bales in a direction of travel; a detaching device supported by the tower and including a rapidly rotating detaching roll; an arrangement for vertically moving the detaching device relative to the tower; an arrangement for angularly moving the detaching device about a horizontal axis oriented perpendicularly to the direction of travel; and a bale transporting device for advancing the fiber bales in a horizontal feed direction. The bale transporting device includes a conveyor belt and first and second end rollers supporting the conveyor belt. The first end roller is situated downstream of the second end roller as viewed in the horizontal feed direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing severed ties and wrapper from a fiber bale includes a first device for pulling the severed ties and wrapper off the fiber bale; and a second device for taking over the ties and wrapper from the first device and for conveying the ties and wrapper away from the fiber bale.

Abstract: A bale opener includes a tower arranged for horizontal travel in a travelling direction along a stationarily supported fiber bale series; a detaching assembly mounted on the tower and projecting laterally therefrom to extend above an upper surface of the bale series; an opening device forming part of the detaching assembly for removing fiber tufts from the upper surface in an oblique plane during travel of the bale opener tower; at least two surface level sensors mounted on the detaching assembly for determining a height level of the upper suface at different locations during the horizontal travel of the bale opener; a path sensor for determining coordinates of the different locations; and a control device for determining the inclination of the upper surface from the height levels of the upper surface at the different locations. The surface level sensors and the path sensor are connected to the control device.

Abstract: An apparatus for severing ties or a wrapper surrounding a fiber bale includes a severing device having a cutting element and a drive for actuating the cutting element; a counterelement positioned adjacent the cutting device; a supporting device for positioning the fiber bale; and a displacing device for moving the severing device and the cutting device as a unit relative to the supporting device for causing the counterelement to penetrate into the fiber bale underneath the tie to countersupport the tie during severing of the tie by the severing device.

Abstract: A method of detaching fiber tufts from a top surface of serially-arranged fiber bales by a bale opener includes the steps of propelling the bale opener for back-and-forth travel along the fiber bale series, vertically moving, simultaneously with the propelling step, the detaching device relative to the supporting structure and simultaneously with the propelling step and the vertical displacement of the detacher, removing fiber tufts by the detaching device in consecutive passes.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a fiber bale having a soiled surface. The apparatus includes a cleaning device arranged for engaging a bale surface to remove soiled material therefrom and a displacing arrangement for effecting a relative motion between the fiber bale and the cleaning device.

Abstract: A travelling fiber tuft detaching device for removing fiber tufts from top surfaces of stationarily supported fiber bales includes a housing; first and second toothed, parallel detaching rolls accommodated in the housing; first and second pivot frames carrying the first and second detaching rolls, respectively; a pivot shaft for pivotally securing the first and second pivot frames to the housing to provide for a pivotal motion of each pivot frame in a substantially vertical plane relative to the housing; and first and second setting devices articulated to the first and second pivot frames, respecitvely, and to the housing for exerting separately settable adjusting forces to the first and second pivot frames, whereby a height level of the detaching rolls relative to one another is set for effecting penetration of the detaching rolls into a top bale surface to different depths thereof during the detaching operation.

Abstract: A bale opener for detaching fiber tufts from top faces of fiber bales includes a tower for travelling along a fiber bale series in a direction of travel; a cantilever housing supported on, and projecting laterally from the tower; an opening roll supported for rotation in the cantilever housing and being oriented horizontally and transversely to the direction of travel; and a displacing mechanism for displacing the cantilever housing and the opening roll as a unit horizontally relative to the tower, in a direction transverse to the direction of travel.

Abstract: A method of removing fiber tufts from a top surface of a fiber bale with a travelling opening device includes the steps of moving the opening device along the top surface of the fiber bale toward and away from a stationary wall face against which a vertical end face of the fiber bale abuts; and codirectionally rotating pressing rolls which are mounted in the opening device travels away from the wall face, the pressing roll which is farthest away from the wall face is lifted from the top bale surface while a bale-penetrating position of the pressing roll which is closest to the wall face is maintained.

Abstract: A method of operating a bale opener arranged for alternating forward and reverse travel along a series of fiber bales and having an opening device including an opening roll for removing fiber tufts from top faces of the fiber bales. The opening roll has unidirectionally inclined teeth. The opening device further has a grate arranged for pressing down on the top faces of the fiber bales and formed of grate bars between which the teeth of the opening roll project. The method includes the following consecutive steps: lowering the opening device immediately prior to a forward working pass, whereby the opening roll executes a downward feed motion; moving the opening device in a forward travelling direction for causing an execution of the forward working pass; and moving the opening device, without an immediately preceding lowering thereof, in a rearward travelling direction for causing an execution of a reverse working pass.

Abstract: A travelling fiber tuft detaching device for removing fiber tufts from top surfaces of stationarily supported fiber bales includes two parallel-arranged detaching rollers rotatable about substantially horizontal axes spaced from one another in a travelling direction and extending transversely thereto. Each detaching roller has a plurality of detaching elements arranged in a plurality of side-by-side situated circumferential series. The detaching device further has a grate formed of a plurality of spaced grate bars extending parallel to the travelling direction. The detaching elements of each circumferential series project into spaces between respective adjoining grate bars. There is further provided a roller and/or grate setting device for adjusting a height level of the detaching rollers and/or grates relative to one another for effecting penetration of the detaching rollers into a top bale surface to different depths thereof during detaching operation.

Abstract: A bale opener arranged for travel along a series of fiber bales for removing fiber tufts from top surfaces thereof. The bale opener includes a toothed opening roll supported in an orientation transverse to a direction of travel and a grate formed of grate bars spaced in a direction transverse to the direction of travel and arranged for engaging the top surfaces of the fiber bales. The teeth of the opening roll extend between the grate bars for penetrating into the fiber bales during travel. There are further provided bale pressing elements supported by the bale opener on opposite sides of the opening roll spaced therefrom parallel to the direction of travel. The bale pressing elements are arranged to engage and press down the fiber bales during travel of the bale opener. A setting arrangement simultaneously vertically adjusts the bale pressing elements in opposite directions.

Abstract: A bale opener includes a housing moved along a travelling path, and an opening roll which is mounted in the housing for removing fiber tufts from faces of fiber bales arranged in a series along the travelling path and which has a longitudinal axis lying in a plane oriented perpendicularly to the travelling path. There is further provided a suction device that generates a suction stream within the housing for removing, from a zone of the opening roll, fiber tufts detached by the opening roll from the fiber bales. A pressurized air stream generating device blows air in an upwardly inclined direction into the housing for essentially preventing fiber material from dropping off the fiber bales over upper edges thereof.

Abstract: A fiber feeder apparatus includes a driven endless supply conveyor belt having a coneveying surface for supporting a fiber pile and an endless spiked lattice arranged at one end of the supply conveyor belt and extending at an upward inclination therefrom. The spiked lattice has spikes arranged to penetrate into the fiber pile for effecting removal of fibers from the fiber pile. The supply conveyor belt is driven such that the fiber pile is being fed by the conveying surface into contact with the spikes. There is further provided a control device which is connected to the drive of the supply conveyor belt for effecting a nonuniform driving thereof.

Abstract: A bale opener includes a carriage arranged for a back-and-forth travel in a path along a fiber bale series; a tower supported on the carriage and a cantilever mounted on the tower and arranged for vertical displacements with respect to the tower, an opening device supported in the cantilever and arranged for removing fiber from the bale tops during travel of the carriage; a sensor assembly arranged for travel along the fiber bale series for emitting first signals characterizing bale heights; and a control device operatively connected to the sensor assembly for receiving the first signals. The sensor assembly comprises two sensors mounted on the tower or the cantilever and spaced vertically from one another. There is further provided a length position determining device for generating second signals representing longitudinal positions of the cantilever along the travel of the carriage. The length position determining device is connected to the control device for receiving the second signals.

Abstract: A method of operating a bale opener having a carriage arranged for back-and-forth travel along a plurality of serially arranged fiber bales, a tower mounted on the carriage, a cantilever supported by the tower and projecting generally laterally therefrom, an opening device accommodated in the cantilever and arranged for removing fiber from bale tops, and a sensor arranged to travel in a path along the fiber bales. The method includes the steps of sensing the presence of a length boundary of the bales by the sensor and applying first signals, representing such presence, to a control device. The sensing step comprises the step of sensing the bale boundary by the sensor directly.

Abstract: A bale opener has an opening device arranged for a horizontal back-and-forth travel above a row of fiber bales. The opening device includes two parallel-arranged and horizontally oriented opening rollers provided with teeth. The opening rollers are spaced from one another in a direction parallel to the direction of back-and-forth travel and each opening roller has an axis of rotation oriented perpendicularly to the direction of the back-and-forth travel. The opening device further has a bale hold-down device through which the teeth of the opening rollers project for penetrating into upper faces of the bales and a suction device for removing fiber tufts detached by the opening rollers. The opening rollers are codirectionally rotated during the back-and-forth travel of the bale opener.

Abstract: A fiber bale opener includes a downwardly open housing which is adapted to be supported above fiber bales to be opened and which accommodates an opening roller having an axis and being arranged for detaching fiber tufts from upper bale surfaces. In the housing there is further arranged a suction duct through which fiber tufts detached by the opening roller are adapted to be removed by a suction air stream flowing therethrough. The suction duct has two lateral walls which are facing one another and which are spaced from one another in a direction parallel to the roller axis. One lateral wall has an upwardly extending first oblique air guiding face and the other lateral wall has an upwardly extending second oblique air guiding face.

Abstract: A fiber bale opener includes a downwardly open housing adapted to be supported above fiber bales to be opened and accommodating an opening device having a width dimension. The opening device includes an opening roller oriented parallel to the width dimension and arranged for removing fiber tufts from upper bale surfaces and a suction duct through which fiber tufts detached from the bales by the opening roller are adapted to be removed by a suction air stream flowing therethrough. The suction duct has two transverse walls facing one another and being spaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to the width dimension. The transverse walls extend substantially over the entire width dimension and each has a lower terminus defining a zone with an upper bale face situated underneath the opening device during operation thereof. The zone is sealed for substantially preventing air from passing therethrough along the width dimension of the opening device.

Abstract: A bale opener is arranged for travel along a series of fiber bales and has a detaching (opening) device for progressively removing and hurling away fiber tufts from top faces of the fiber bales. The detaching device includes a generally horizontally supported opening roller having a roller axis and equipped with detaching teeth and a grate urged against top faces of the bales. The grate is formed by a series of side-by-side arranged grate bars spaced from one another in a direction parallel to the roller axis. The teeth project between adjoining grate bars and penetrate into top faces of the bales. A first imaginary contour line, defining a plane with the roller axis, interconnects tips of axially adjacent teeth of the opening roller and a second imaginary contour line, defining a plane with the roller axis, lies in an underface of each grate bar and interconnects side-by-side arranged grate bars in a direction generally along the roller axis.