Cutting Strand Extending From Or Lying On Strand Or Package Support Patents (Class 83/909)
  • Patent number: 11772839
    Abstract: A material handling apparatus and method is disclosed, including a grabber clamp apparatus and method for handling, such as grabbing and pulling, elongate binding material. The grabber clamp is capable of gripping one or more elongate binding material strands securely enough to pull it from the bale but without cutting the elongate binding material strand(s). The current invention also provides an elongate binding material puller for removing elongate binding material from a bale. The elongate binding material puller should be capable of automatically, mechanically removing elongate binding material from a bale. The method uses a grabber clamp to grip a strand of elongate binding material between two blunt points such that a portion of the elongate binding material is free from clamping pressure between the two blunt points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew Gerber, Rick Littlewood, Ian Kienlen
  • Patent number: 9440369
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device 1 to remove binding materials 2 from packaged bulk goods 3, particularly binding wire or binding cord from compressed cuboid bales as packaged bulk goods. In order to have an automated process during removal of binding materials, a transport unit 4 is provided to transport the packaged bulk goods 3 into a gripping and cutting station 6 at which the package of bulk goods 3 is affixed on the one side by a clamping device 8 and on the other side of the package of bulk goods by a cutting device 7, and binding materials 2 are gripped by the clamping device 8 and cut by the cutting device 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: KOMPOFERM GMBH
    Inventors: Manfred Bayer, Olaf Kränke, Andreas Plogmann
  • Patent number: 8769801
    Abstract: A bale processing apparatus for processing a bale of biomass that is bound by a binding includes a cutting device that is operable to automatically cut the binding. The bale processing apparatus also includes a binding remover that is operable to automatically move the binding from the bale after the binding has been cut by the cutting device. Furthermore, the bale processing apparatus includes an arranging member that cooperates with the binding remover to automatically arrange the binding generally into a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Mark Gerlinger Lyman
  • Patent number: 8667664
    Abstract: The device is for cutting and removal of wires from bales, such as pulp bales, paper bales and the like. The device is intended to remove all wires from a bale that is provided with at least two wires. The device has two cutting units and two winding units that are positioned pair-wise opposite each other, on one side each of a working location (W), for the pair-wise cutting off and removal of the two wires that are arranged in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Metso Paper Inc.
    Inventors: Mats Norberg, Stefan Nordhalling, Goran Strand, Martin Jakobsson
  • Patent number: 8561381
    Abstract: A system for unstrapping and unsleeving a tray is provided. The system comprises a tray-transport configured to transport a tray in the system, a strap cutter configured to cut a strap on the tray, a strap-removal portion configured to remove the strap cut by the strap cutter, and an unsleeving station configured to remove a sleeve from the tray. The unsleeving station is configured to remove the sleeve from the tray after the strap-removal portion removes the cut strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Donald R. Close, Robert D. Lundahl, William D. Finch, Robert Cutlip, Dwight Koogle, Mark Bankard
  • Patent number: 8365389
    Abstract: A multifunctional tool which enables a single robot or other manipulator to perform each of the operations to depalletize a palletized load is disclosed. The depalletization can proceed without the need to move the palletized load from one station to another. The multifunctional tool includes a strap cutting mechanism, extendable vacuum arms, and a fork lift mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Visy R & D Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Neil Taylor
  • Patent number: 7398727
    Abstract: A twine cutting apparatus in combination with an automated grass baler having a twine holding reel for feeding wrapping twine to the baled grass. The apparatus has a pivoted knife arm with a first end structured to cooperate with a cam surface for actuating the knife arm to a cutting position and an opposite end for mounting a twine cutting knife. The twine cutting knife is formed with an elongated, serrated cutting edge extending a distance greater than the radius of the twine holding disc presenting an elongated cutting surface to said twine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Interform, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Wright
  • Patent number: 6986233
    Abstract: A bale dewiring system for removing one or more wires wrapped around a bale from the bale includes a frame, a bale receiving region defined by the frame and defining a longitudinal direction, an upper compression platen mounted to the frame for vertically moving into contact with the bale to compress the bale, and side compression plates movable in the longitudinal direction into contact with the bale to compress the bale. A rail is operably mounted to the upper platen for vertical movement therewith. A cutting assembly is mounted to the rail for movement along the rail for cutting the one or more wires. A winding assembly is operably mounted to the frame and includes a rotating winding element having a wire receiving region and a wire winding region for winding the cut wires to remove the wires from the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald T. Covington, Paul R. Szadziewicz, Stanislaw Witczak
  • Patent number: 6912762
    Abstract: An automated de-banding machine which can perform by scanning the surface of the pallet to determine the number and position of bands to be removed. The machine also is capable of analyzing to determine the overlay bands from underlay bands. The overlay bands are removed first and typically fed individually to a chopper which chops the bands into pieces for recycling. The band information may be recorded and used to facilitate handling of a similar type of pallet in future operations to eliminate any stoppage for determination of retooling or adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: R. A. Pearson Company
    Inventors: Richard R. Lile, Daniel V. Brown
  • Patent number: 6681688
    Abstract: A round baler includes a housing, a bale chamber, and a bale wrapping apparatus. The bale wrapping apparatus includes two twine supply rolls providing two twine strands; two twine dispensing arms, each presenting one of the two strands; a shear bar connected to the housing; and a knife assembly rotatingly connected to the housing by an elongated bar to rotate from a first position to a second cutting position, the two twine strands extending transversely between the shear bar and the knife assembly, the knife assembly comprising: a mounting assembly comprising a mounting member having two protruding posts; a knife having two slots formed therein and a cutting edge, the knife mounted on the mounting member so each protruding post extends through one of the slots; and a biasing member disposed on each post to bias the knife toward the mounting member while permitting the knife to move relative to the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6571477
    Abstract: A tool for cutting strapping comprises a housing and a slot defined in a base of the housing. A blade is mounted upon the housing, and a handle is pivotally mounted upon the housing between a position remote from the blade and a position adjacent to the blade. A pusher is pivotally mounted upon the handle and is biased into engagement with the base by a spring so as to normally close the entrance to the slot. When strapping is to be cut, the strapping is inserted into the slot causing the pusher to be moved out of the way against the biasing force of its spring. Upon the strapping passing the pusher, the pusher returns to its original position whereby the pusher now engages the strapping. Manipulation of the handle toward the blade causes the pusher to push the strapping into engagement with the blade thereby cutting the strapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Mothena, Janusz Figiel
  • Patent number: 6474205
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cutting off and conveying strips, for a machine. The device is used for producing a continuous web, especially of paper or card, for a threading strip, and has a knife. Finally the device is characterized in that it has it least one (preferably driven) guiding roll (27) which can be brought into engagement with the threading strip (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Halmschlager, Peter Haider, Herbert Haunlieb
  • Patent number: 6383567
    Abstract: A roll of web and a method of making it has a total web width that is divided into n+1 portions by n circumferential slits. Each portion has a width less than the total web width such that the sum of the width of the portions equals the total web width and such that each portion can be individually used as an independent roll of web. The portions are held together such as by a core or an unslit portion of the web at innermost wraps of web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ronald H. Ager, Daniel M. Puls, Gerald L. Vogler
  • Publication number: 20020005097
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for severing twine from a bale supported by one or more grapple arms and bucket of a tractor is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a slide bar mounted to at least one grapple arm, the tines, or the bucket. The slide bar has a first end and a second end, and a blade riding on the slide bar, the blade oriented on the slide bar so that the blade contacts portion of the twine as the blade moves along the slide bar. A motor coupled to the blade for controllably moves the blade along the slide bar. The motor can be a reversible dc motor controllable by a switch, or a hydraulic motor. The twine about the bale can be cut without the need for the farmer to leave the driver's compartment of the tractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Jerome S. Rogness, Kevin G. Overland, Jeffrey D. Holte
  • Patent number: 6286292
    Abstract: A method and device for feeding blanks on a packing machine, whereby a store, having a horizontal axis, feeds a succession of blanks to a pickup station from which the blanks are withdrawn one by one; and the blanks are fed to an input station of the store in groups, wherein the blanks are positioned on edge and gripped together by a band, which is only removed once the groups are packed together along the store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: G.D Societa' Per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Franco Carini
  • Patent number: 6263774
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for severing twine from a bale supported by one or more grapple arms and bucket of a tractor is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a slide bar mounted to at least one grapple arm, the tines, or the bucket. The slide bar has a first end and a second end, and a blade riding on the slide bar, the blade oriented on the slide bar so that the blade contacts portion of the twine as the blade moves along the slide bar. A motor coupled to the blade for controllably moves the blade along the slide bar. The motor can be a reversible dc motor controllable by a switch, or a hydraulic motor. The twine about the bale can be cut without the need for the farmer to leave the driver's compartment of the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventors: Jerome S. Rogness, Kevin G. Overland, Jeffrey D. Holte
  • Patent number: 6115904
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for severing and removing wires surrounding a bale of pulp are disclosed, as well as a unique severing and coiling head. A bale of pulp is loaded onto a turn conveyor and the turn conveyor transports the bale from where it was loaded to the operating position, where a containment disk is lowered onto the top of the bale to restrain the wires wrapped around the bale during severing. A control arm moves a severing head until the head is in contact with the lateral surface of the bale, and keeps it there during the severing and removal process. The turn conveyor rotates the bale through 360 degrees about its vertical axis, thus drawing the severing head across each of the four lateral faces of the bale. The severing blade's teeth engage the wires, pull them free from the bale, and coil them around a spool that is coaxial with the severing blade and attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Lamb-Grays Harbor Co.
    Inventors: Stanley R. Merrill, Michael E. Hawley, Paul Dalietos
  • Patent number: 6098373
    Abstract: The strap processing apparatus comprises a first carrying conveyer for carrying a bundle of a predetermined number of layered valuable papers sealed with a sealing strap, a second carrying conveyer and an upper conveyer for bending the bundle of layered valuable papers carried by the carrying means thereby to form a clearance between the upper surface portion of the layered valuable papers and the sealing strap, a pair of strap catchers for clamping a portion of the sealing strap lifted apart from the upper surface portion of the layered valuable papers with a predetermined distance maintained between the pair of strap catchers each other, and a cutter for cutting an intermediate portion of the sealing strap clamped by the pair of strap catchers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ashikawa, Hideki Matsumoto, Toshiyuki Miyano, Toshinori Utsugi
  • Patent number: 6047458
    Abstract: An apparatus for severing and removing wires surrounding a bale of pulp are disclosed, as well as a unique severing and coiling head. A bale of pulp is loaded onto a turn conveyor which transports the bale from where it was loaded to the operating position, where a containment disk is lowered onto the top of the bale to restrain the wires wrapped around the bale during severing. A control arm moves a severing head until the head is in contact with the lateral surface of the bale, and keeps it there during the severing and removal process. The turn conveyor rotates the bale through 360 degrees about its vertical axis, thus drawing the severing head across each of the four lateral faces of the bale. In the first 90 degree increment of the bale's rotation, the teeth of a rotating severing blade engage the wires on the first lateral face of the bale and sever them. In the next 90 degree increment of the bale's rotation, the severing blade engages the wires on the second lateral face of the bale and severs them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Lamb-Grays Harbor Co.
    Inventors: Stanley R. Merrill, Michael E. Hawley, Paul Dalietos
  • Patent number: 6044738
    Abstract: A method for removing wires from a bale of waste cardboard and paper material that is compacted in vertical layers with wires running at right angles to the layers and in vertical planes. A cutting blade is moved downwardly through the wires and bale of waste material to separate a forward portion of the bale of waste material from the remainder of the bale of waste material and from the cut wires. The cut wires are gathered ahead of and beneath the bale of waste material into a bundle with opposed pairs of hook blades moved toward one another to interdigitate in overlapping relation to grasp the bundle of wires in a wire-receiving recess. A rotating fork is inserted into the wire receiving recess to coil the cut wires and pull them free from the bale of waste material as the bale of waste material is moved forward. The recess is cleared by withdrawing the fork from the coil and pushing the coiled wire with a pushing finger clear of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Lamb-Grays Harbor Co.
    Inventors: Mike Hawley, Stephen Hood, Stanley R. Merrill
  • Patent number: 5970834
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system which includes a method and apparatus for the removal of carton bundles from where they are stacked, such as on pallets, re-positions the carton bundles relative to a carton holding structure such as a hopper, removes the restraining strap(s) from each bundle and feeds the bundle or cartons onto a hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: R. A. Pearson Company
    Inventors: Gary M. Garofano, Richard Lile, Jerald McBride, James Peterson, Gregory Nowak
  • Patent number: 5901626
    Abstract: An apparatus for severing fiber bale ties and removing cut ties from a fiber bale includes a tie cutter for severing a metal tie surrounding the bale at a bale location; and a first metal sensor for responding to a presence of a metal tie around the bale. The first metal sensor is situated ahead of the tie cutter, whereby the first metal sensor passes by the bale tie prior to being severed by the tie cutter. There is further provided a second metal sensor for responding to a presence of a metal tie in engagement with the bale. The second metal sensor is situated after the tie cutter, whereby the second metal sensor trails the tie cutter relative to the fiber bale. The apparatus further has a device for displacing the bale and the first and second metal sensors relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Josef Temburg
  • Patent number: 5890408
    Abstract: A web (W) of sheet material intended to form individual tagged packets has surplus portions of a thread (S) extending along its length removed while the web is being advanced. After severing one end of each unwanted thread portion with a rotary cutter (2), the severed end is lifted by a wiper (10), and the lifted end is held away from the web by suction means (20) while it is detached by shearing means (22). The suction means (20) then remove the detached thread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas J. Lipton Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas William Bailey
  • Patent number: 5718157
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing wires from a bale of waste cardboard and paper material that is compacted in vertical layers with wires running at right angles to the layers and in vertical planes, sawing downwardly through the wires and bale to separate a forward portion of the bale from the remainder of the bale and from the cut wires, gathering the cut wires ahead of and beneath the bale into a bundle with opposed pairs of hook blades moved toward one another to interdigitate in overlapping relation, grasping the bundle in a wire-receiving recess with a rotating fork to coil the cut wires and pull them free from the bale, and clearing the recess by withdrawing the fork and pushing the coiled wire with a pushing finger clear of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Lamb-Grays Harbor Co.
    Inventors: Mike Hawley, Stephen Hood, Stanley R. Merrill
  • Patent number: 5709138
    Abstract: An apparatus for precision cutting of fiber tow is provided which includes a structure for securing a taut length of fiber tow between two points, a movable cutter, and a structure for guiding a cutting edge of the cutter substantially perpendicularly against the taut length of fiber tow at a predetermined point between the two points. A method of using the apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
    Inventor: Paul D. Rimer
  • Patent number: 5680691
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: I.M.A. Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Avi Marom, Gideon Shahaf
  • Patent number: 5664585
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing tie elements from hands of tobacco leaves on a conveyor belt involve a rotating drum having radially emergent cutting blades that contact the tie elements without contacting the belt. The axle of the drum is disposed at an angle to the direction of belt travel, and the blades are disposed at a compensatory angle with respect to the axle, whereby the drum provides an advancing effect on the leaves, yet the blades cut along the mid-rib of the leaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: MacTavish Machine Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Sam Levy, Robert E. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5533854
    Abstract: Apparatus for transporting blank stacks (14) surrounded by a band (15). During the transport of the blank stacks (14) in the direction of their longitudinal extension, the band (15) surrounding the blank stack (14) in the transverse direction is severed on the underside (bottom wall 19) by a stationary severing knife (35). The blank stack (14), together with the severed band (15), is conveyed further to a point above a magazine shaft (13, 13a). Here, the band (15) is held by suckers (39) and is sucked off via a lateral suction channel (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Hugo Mutschall
  • Patent number: 5482562
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing fibrous material wound around a generally cylindrical shaft rotated about a central longitudinal axis thereof. A cutter blade is provided to have a forward edge portion extending along the central longitudinal axis of the shaft, which edge portion is normally spaced from the shaft to define a non-cutting position. The edge portion of the cutter blade is moved about a reciprocating locus defined by a forward movement from the non-cutting position to a predetermined distance from the shaft effective to define a cutting position contacting the fibrous material, a lateral movement in the cutting position along the central longitudinal axis of the shaft to cut the fibrous material for its removal from the shaft, and a rearward movement from the shaft to return the edge portion to the non-cutting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Inventor: Frank W. Abernathy
  • Patent number: 5454683
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: IMA Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Avi Marom, Gideon Shahaf
  • Patent number: 5425219
    Abstract: In a method of cutting and recovering a bundling body D or wrap for a bundle of articles, a bundling body sucking opening 42 is arranged in the vicinity of an article transferring position and so positioned as to maintain a constant distance to the side portion of an articles B in the condition where holding of the articles by the holding plates is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tanaka, Eiji Hirata
  • Patent number: 5406690
    Abstract: A bale dewiring device uses a bale splitter to sever the strapping of the bale atop the bale and a movable hook to engage the strapping beneath the bale for retraction thereof to one side of the bale where the strapping is removed from the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Neilsen & Hiebert Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Neilsen, Peter Hiebert
  • Patent number: 5400493
    Abstract: A bale debanding method and apparatus comprising a band breaking blade, a band winding mandrel and a mandrel cleaning plate are mounted to a frame. A support table is attached to the frame for receiving a waste paper bale that is held together by banding material. As the bale is moved past the band breaking blade, a band retention notch engages a band and by stretching it breaks the band. Once a band is broken, an extensible band catch extending out of the mandrel contacts the band and facilitates the band in being wound around the mandrel. Once all of the bands have been removed from the bale, the band catch is retracted to a position within the mandrel and a cleaning plate is moved axially along the mandrel sweeping the bands off a free end of the mandrel. This process is repeated to remove bands from other surfaces of the bale, thereby releasing the waste paper in preparation of processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: R. Hall Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Hall
  • Patent number: 5375316
    Abstract: A conveyored bale dewiring system for safe severing and removal of bale strap material from about a compressed bale composed of a planar table with an integral conveyor system, an overhead cutting assembly on an articulated balanced 4-bar linkage, a grasping blade and opposing meshed puller gears, a rotating drum anvil and rotating drum cutter head assembly, and containment safety shroud. The system consists of a continually moving conveyor on which the bales are loaded; a cutting head which floats over the top of irregular shaped bales and automatically grabs and cuts each strand in succession as the bale is moving forward on the conveyor, and a grabber and chopper unit which simultaneously grabs each strand and pulls it down through the conveyor deck into a rotary drum anvil which chops the wire or bands into a manageable length and deposits it into a holding bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Harris Waste Management Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Carlson, Carl N. Winans, Frank Maniatis, Thomas Johnstone
  • Patent number: 5371938
    Abstract: The machine comprises a support structure including a vertical upright, a cross member which can move vertically along the upright, two horizontal arms, one end of each being articulated to the cross member and the other end having a rotatable gripping device for gripping a bale, motor means and associated control devices for moving the cross member, for moving the arms apart and towards each other and for rotating their gripping devices, and a cutting device for cutting the wrapper of a bale which is gripped and rotated by the gripping devices of said arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Comas S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Martin
  • Patent number: 5340263
    Abstract: The apparatus for feeding packaging machines with stacks of sheet material has a unit for the removal and transfer of stacks of sheet material which are arranged mutually side by side on supports and are individually wrapped by respective bands. The removal and transfer unit has a head which is vertically and horizontally movable and has grip elements for removing individual stacks from the supports and for transferring them to a feeding station of the packaging machine. A station for cutting the band is arranged ahead of the feeding station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: G.D. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Armando Neri, Mario Turra
  • Patent number: 5303460
    Abstract: A bale dewiring device uses a bale splitter to sever the strapping of the bale atop the bale and a movable hook to engage the strapping beneath the bale for retraction thereof to one side of the bale where the strapping is removed from the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Neilsen & Hiebert Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Neilsen, Peter Hiebert
  • Patent number: 5297329
    Abstract: The apparatus for cutting the string ties of products carried on pallet-like supports has at least one cutting unit with a transverse beam arranged above a line for the conveyance of the pallet-like supports so as to be slideable in a direction which is longitudinal to the conveyance line. The unit is moved at a speed equal to the advancement speed of the pallets. Two trucks are slideably mounted on the transverse beam and support a pair of vertically slideable arms. The arms have a cutting element, for automatically locating the string tie to be cut, and an opposite element for gripping the string tie, which cooperates with the cutting element. Rollers for removing the cut string tie cooperate with the gripping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: G.D. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giancarlo Santin, Armando Neri
  • Patent number: 5267823
    Abstract: The invention is addressed to an apparatus for tearing open conveyed bags containing municipal solid waste and emptying the contents therefrom. The bag splitter assembly comprises a series of pivotally mounted splitter blades which is located above a bag transporting conveyor. The confronting serrated edges of the splitter blades tear open the conveyed bags while the trailing serrated portion of the blades grip the torn bags allowing the conveyor to separate the contents from the retained bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Inventor: Walter C. Roman
  • Patent number: 5249341
    Abstract: A wire-removing machine for bales consist of a positioning device for the bales (1), a cutting device (4) for severing the tying wires tensioned round the bales, a gripper device (5), by means of which the tying wires, after these have been severed, can be lifted off from the bales, and a winding device (6) which grasps all the lifted-off wires in the lifted-off portion by means of a common fork-shaped longitudinally displaceable winding spindle (22) and winds them to form reels. To improve the operation of winding the severed tying wires, there is a row of guide fingers (7) which are arranged in a comb-like manner and which, after the severed tying wires have been lifted off, are arranged in the region between the winding spindle (22) and the bale (1), the tying wires running through between the guide fingers (7) during the winding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: B+G-Fordertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Gronau
  • Patent number: 5226336
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting at least one end of a surgical suture is described. The apparatus comprises a first pair of feed rollers which advance the surgical suture through a hole (or opening) in a cutting assembly. The first pair of feed rollers is driven by a stepper motor. A second pair of friction rollers take up the slack (i.e., provide tension) to the surgical suture beyond the cutting assembly. The second pair of friction rollers is driven by an electric or stepper motor. The cutting assembly comprises an anvil plate in which the hole is positioned, and a razor blade which is placed in a movable bracket against the anvil plate. The cutting edge of the razor blade is driven by a spring across the hole and cuts the surgical suture. The spring is activated (and can be reactivated for repetitive steps) by an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventor: Peter A. Coates
  • Patent number: 5216797
    Abstract: A bale debanding method and apparatus comprising a band breaking blade, a band winding mandrel and a mandrel cleaning plate are mounted to a frame. A support table is attached to the frame for receiving a waste paper bale that is held together by banding material. As the bale is moved past the band breaking blade, a band retention notch engages a band and by stretching it breaks the band. Once a band is broken, an extensible band catch extending out of the mandrel contacts the band and facilitates the band in being wound around the mandrel. Once all of the bands have been removed from the bale, the band catch is retracted to a position within the mandrel and a cleaning plate is moved axially along the mandrel sweeping the bands off a free end of the mandrel. This process is repeated to remove bands from other surfaces of the bale, thereby releasing the waste paper in preparation of processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: R. Hall Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Hall
  • Patent number: 5211525
    Abstract: Packs formed from a group of sacks bound by straps for feeding to so-called sack applicators are conveyed continuously in succession by a particular arrangement of endless driven belts, comprising a belt acting on the lower central part of the pack and a central upper belt and two lateral belts or shoes acting on the upper side parts of the pack to result in transverse arching of the pack and the insertion of a fixed reference member between the pack and strap to bring the strap into contact with a rotary cutter for its cutting. The hanging cut part of the strap is led between cooperating inclined rollers which remove the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Inventor: Mario Moltrasio
  • Patent number: 5199841
    Abstract: An apparatus for severing a strap surrounding a fiber bale includes a cutting disk having a periphery and a cutting edge on the periphery; a support for rotatably supporting the cutting disk; and a displacing arrangement for effecting relative movement under mutual pressure between the fiber bale and the cutting disk for moving the cutting disk in the fiber bale toward the strap and for severing the strap in a direction generally perpendicular to the strap length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Walter Von Gehlen
  • Patent number: 5199243
    Abstract: A container having four vertical sides, a top side and a bottom side, the six sides being connected to form a cube. The six sides are joined at the edges of the cube, and the juncture of one vertical edge with two upper edges forms a slanted surface. A pouring spout is mounted on the slanted surface and is inset from the planes of the adjacent sides so that it does not interfere with nesting and stacking. A handle is attached to the top side, at approximately its center, for carrying purposes, the handle being foldable to a flat position to facilitate stacking. The container is formed by cutting a blank from a flat sheet of relatively stiff material, and folding the blank along creases to form a closed container. The top and four sides are folded and sealed first, the pouring spout is installed, the container is filled through the open bottom side, and then the bottom side is folded and sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: American Colloid Company
    Inventors: Frank Vlasaty, Robert J. Smith
  • Patent number: 5190430
    Abstract: The apparatus for feeding packaging machines with stacks of sheet material has a unit for the removal and transfer of stacks of sheet material which are arranged mutually side by side on supports and are individually wrapped by respective bands. The removal and transfer unit has a head which is vertically and horizontally movable and has grip elements for removing individual stacks from the supports and for transferring them to a feeding station of the packaging machine. A station for cutting the band is arranged ahead of the feeding station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: G. D. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Armando Neri, Mario Turra
  • Patent number: 5179878
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Kranefeld, Josef Temburg, Abi Marom
  • Patent number: 5174010
    Abstract: A wire breaker blade and a wire puller member are provided for an automatic kraft paper bale dewiring machine for respectively breaking and removing a plurality of baling wires from a bale of kraft paper pulp. The wire breaker blade includes a hook-shaped wire cutting notch having an arcuate cutting edge with an inwardly extending protrusion formed therein for engaging and retaining a plurality of baling wires until fracture of the baling wires occurs. The wire puller member includes a hook-shaped wire pulling notch having an arcuate pulling edge with a radially inwardly extending protrusion form therein for engaging and retaining a plurality of fractured baling wires until the baling wires are completely removed from the kraft paper bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Champion International Corporation
    Inventor: Michael C. Asselin
  • Patent number: 5163216
    Abstract: A roller conveyor supports a bale at a cutting and removing station. Side compactors and a top compactor compress the bale slightly for positioning it. The bale is pushed against a wire cutting channel in which a blade having a surface that protrudes into and forms a groove in the bottom surface of the bale is passed diagonally across the bale, with the wires springing into a recess in the blade. The blade continues to move, pulling the wire against the back wall of the recess until the wire exceeds its tensile strength and breaks. The bale is then lifted on pins so that a wire pulling blade can be moved also diagonally across the top of the bale. The pulling blade also has a forwardly inclined surface that pushes the bale down while allowing the wires to be captured in a recess in the blade. The blade is moved across the bale, capturing all of the wires and removing them from the bale. Another embodiment uses a turner to rotate the bale to cut and remove wires from adjacent sides of the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Lamb-Grays Harbor Co.
    Inventors: Waldemar M. Ercums, Larry M. Johnson, Norman E. Dornblaser, Stephen K. Hood
  • Patent number: 5156516
    Abstract: A process and device for breaking and removing a tie which surrounds a bundle of blanks and is arranged in a vertical plane characterized by an arrangement for holding the bundle and transporting it between a first location and a second location, an arrangement for creating a space between an upper surface of the bundle and each of the ties, an arrangement for breaking the ties being inserted in the space to engage the tie and to hold the tie after it has been transversely broken to allow the blanks to be deposited at the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Vega Automation
    Inventor: Jean L. Boisseau