Abstract: A conveyor roller including a monitoring/sensing device includes a sensor, a processor, an identification device, and a transmitter. The sensor is configured to sense at least one characteristic of said conveyor roller and to produce sensor data representative of said sensed characteristic. The processor is configured to determine when a predetermined abnormal characteristic is sensed. The identification device is configured to provide unique identification data for the conveyor roller. The transmitter is configured to only transmit said data when said predetermined abnormal characteristic is sensed.

Abstract: A sensing device and system is configured for sensing the temperature, vibration or other characteristics of conveyor rollers and transmitting data pertaining to the condition of the rollers to a remote server to indicate maintenance requirements. The system is configured to only transmit data when an abnormal characteristic is sensed, so that power and data requirements of the monitoring system is minimized. Each sensing device is installed in the shaft of a conveyor roller with its transmission antenna positioned to protrude from an end of the roller. A central server receives the transmitted sensor data and a user interface provides maintenance information to a user so that any required maintenance of a roller can be initiated.

Abstract: A conveyor component incorporating at least one sensor, a component identifier, and a transmitter, as well as a system/method for monitoring conveyor components. Each sensor is integrally formed in said conveyor component and is adapted to sense at least one characteristic of said conveyor component to produce sensor data representative of said sensed characteristic. An identification device is adapted to provide unique identification data for the respective conveyor component. The transmitter is adapted to transmit said sensor and identification data to a central server wherein said data is processed to generate status data in relation to the conveyor component indicative of any maintenance required to be performed on said conveyor component. The system/method for monitoring includes at least one sensor, a central server, and a user interface. Each sensor is adapted to sense at least one characteristic of a respective conveyor component and produce sensor data representative of said sensed characteristic.

Abstract: A bulk material baler for binding bales of bulk material with more than two baling wires or straps. The baling wires or straps are bound around the bale with wire drive wheels that push the wire through a guide track around the bale and back to a knotter that ties together the ends of the bale wire. The narrow head of the present invention orients the drive wheels in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the bale wire loop, and makes it possible to put the wire feed drive wheels, knotter and guide track ends all in a 9¼ inches wide space so that adjacent baling wires can be bound around a bale simultaneously.

Abstract: A laterally displaceable guide track for a bale binding apparatus includes a carriage with a guide track portion mounted on it with a hinge. The guide track portion has an engaged position and a disengaged position. The engaged position is aligned with at least one other guide track portion to define a bale loop plane, and the disengaged position is out of the bale loop plane. The mount allows the guide track portion to be moved between the engaged position and the disengaged position. The disengaged position allows the carriage to be withdrawn from a baling station for ejection of a finished bale.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively driving a pivotable knotter includes a rack, a pinion in driving communication with the rack, a knotter drive gear connected to the knotter and a linear actuator. The linear actuator is connected to the knotter and pivots the knotter about a pivot axis. Upon pivot, the knotter drive gear is engaged with the rack.

Abstract: A control system for a bulk material baler embodied in a machine readable data structure and including an instruction to a moveable guide track to move from a removed position to a closed position to create a guide track loop around a volume of bulk material to be baled while that bulk material is under compression and also including in instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a pre-determined length of strapping around the guide track loop, and including an instruction to a cutter to cut the end of the bale strap and including an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten together the ends of the bale strap and including an instruction to remove the moveable guide track section from around the bale and an instruction to release compression and an instruction to eject a bound bale.

Abstract: A laterally displaceable guide track for a bale binding apparatus includes a carriage with a guide track portion mounted on it with a hinge. The guide track portion has an engaged position and a disengaged position. The engaged position is aligned with at least one other guide track portion to define a bale loop plane, and the disengaged position is out of the bale loop plane. The mount allows the guide track portion to be moved between the engaged position and the disengaged position. The disengaged position allows the carriage to be withdrawn from a baling station for ejection of a finished bale.

Abstract: A wire feeding apparatus is disclosed. The wire feeding apparatus includes a rotable drive shaft, a servo motor in driving relationship with the drive shaft and one or more feed modules. Each feed module is selectively engaged with the drive shaft through the use of a linear actuator. When the linear actuator is engaged, each feed module is driven by the drive shaft such that wire is either fed or retracted.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively driving a pivotable knotter is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rack, a pinion in driving communication with the rack, a knotter drive gear connected to the knotter and a linear actuator. The linear actuator is connected to the knotter and pivots the knotter about a pivot axis. Upon pivot, the knotter drive gear is engaged with the rack.

Abstract: The lower guide track sections for a bale binder engaged with a down press include a platen portion substantially as long as a platen slot and dimensioned for deployment within the platen slot. Track extensions extend outward from the platen. The first extension has a strap receiving end face that to cooperates with a first strap guide track on a carriage such that the first strap guide track on the first carriage is dimensioned to index laterally beyond a press frame. A second extension having a strap exit end face cooperates with a second strap guide track on a second carriage such that the second strap guide track on the second carriage is dimensioned to index laterally beyond the press frame. First and second guide track sections are mounted on laterally displaceable carriages and each have an exit end face, the end faces operatively cooperate with the receiving end faces of the extensions.

Abstract: In a bulk material bate binder, the bulk material bale binder having a stand adjacent a baling station and being installed to bind bales compressed by an up press having a moving lower platen, the lower platen having insertion slots for guide tracks, a guide track removal and insertion apparatus including a guide track removal frame, the frame being hingedly mounted on the stand such that the guide track removal frame may rotate to and from an engaged position and a removed position; a guide track mount, pivotably mounted on the guide track removal frame, the guide track mount having an insertion position and a retracted position; a guide track section attached to the guide track mount, the guide track section having an insertion portion; and a linkage, the linkage having a first end and a second end, the first end being operatively engaged with the stand and the second end being operatively engaged with the guide track mount, such that during insertion and removal of the insertion portion of the guide track,

Abstract: A control system for a bulk material baler embodied in a machine readable data structure and including an instruction to a moveable guide track to move from a removed position to a closed position to create a guide track loop around a volume of bulk material to be baled while that bulk material is under compression and also including in instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a pre-determined length of strapping around the guide track loop, and including an instruction to a cutter to cut the end of the bale strap and including an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten together the ends of the bale strap and including an instruction to remove the moveable guide track section from around the bale and an instruction to release compression and an instruction to eject a bound bale.

Abstract: A control system for a bulk material baler embodied in a machine readable data structure and including an instruction to a moveable guide track to move from a removed position to a closed position to create a guide track loop around a volume of bulk material to be baled while that bulk material is under compression and also including in instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a pre-determined length of strapping around the guide track loop, and including an instruction to a cutter to cut the end of the bale strap and including an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten together the ends of the bale strap and including an instruction to remove the moveable guide track section from around the bale and an instruction to release compression and an instruction to eject a bound bale.

Abstract: A bulk material baler for binding bales of bulk material with more than two baling wires or straps. The baling wires or straps are bound around the bale with wire drive wheels that push the wire through a guide track around the bale and back to a knotter that ties together the ends of the bale wire. The narrow head of the present invention orients the drive wheels in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the bale wire loop, and makes it possible to put the wire feed drive wheels, knotter and guide track ends all in a 9¼ inches wide space so that adjacent baling wires can be bound around a bale simultaneously.

Abstract: A control system for a bulk material baler embodied in a machine readable data structure and including an instruction to a moveable guide track to move from a removed position to a closed position to create a guide track loop around a volume of bulk material to be baled while that bulk material is under compression and also including in instruction to a bale strap feed drive to feed a pre-determined length of strapping around the guide track loop, and including an instruction to a cutter to cut the end of the bale strap and including an instruction to a strap fastener to fasten together the ends of the bale strap and including an instruction to remove the moveable guide track section from around the bale and an instruction to release compression and an instruction to eject a bound bale.