Abstract: A travelling opening device for detaching fiber material from top faces of fiber bales includes two opening rollers having generally horizontal longitudinal axes oriented perpendicularly to a travelling direction of the opening device; opening elements carried on the opening rollers; and grates formed of grate bars spaced parallel to the longitudinal axes and each having a horizontal length portion arranged to engage the top faces of the fiber bales. The elements of the opening rollers project between the grate bars and penetrate into the fiber bales. Each opening roller cooperates with a separate grate. The grates are movably supported independently from one another. The grate bars of each grate have a supported end and an opposite free end spaced from the supported end parallel to the travelling direction. The free ends of the grate bars constitute an open end of the grate. The open ends of the two grates are adjacent and are oriented towards one another.

Abstract: A method of operating a bale opener, including the steps of propelling a carriage of the bale opener in a path of travel to execute consecutive back and forth passes in a generally horizontal direction along and between two parallel fiber bale rows having opposite end faces defining a length boundary for each bale row; removing, during each pass, fiber tufts from the top of the fiber bales of one of the rows by an opening device supported laterally by a tower mounted on the carriage; and turning, upon reaching the end of each pass, the tower through 180.degree. about a generally vertical axis for swinging the opening device through 180.degree. from above an end zone of one bale row to above an adjacent end zone of the other bale row such that the opening device, during its swinging motion, remains substantially in its entirety within the end boundary of at least one of the bale rows.

Abstract: A fiber bale opener includes a housing arranged for horizontal travel along a series of fiber bales and a pair of horizontally spaced, parallel opening rollers defining an intermediate space therebetween. Each opening roller has a rotary axis oriented transversely to a direction of horizontal travel and each is supported in the housing for travel therewith above the fiber bales. Each opening roller further has peripherally situated fiber tuft removing elements arranged for penetrating top surfaces of the fiber bales in a working zone of the opening rollers. The fiber bale opener also has a suction device in the housing for drawing away fiber tufts removed by the opening rollers. The opening rollers are rotated in opposite directions such that in the working zone the rotary directions of the opening rollers are oriented away from one another.

Abstract: An opening roller for removing tufts from fiber bales includes a cylindrical core adapted to be supported for rapid rotation and annular toothed discs affixed peripherally to the cylindrical core. The toothed discs which have teeth adapted to penetrate into the fiber bales upon rotation of the cylindrical core are arranged to have a helical course.