Abstract: A bale cutter assembly and associated method for automatically cutting a bale of fibrous material to allow for the taking of a sample at a single point from one or two sides of the bale after the bale has been conveyed from the bale press with the bale retention straps in place. An elevator mechanism lifts the bale from a lower level to an upper level, while the plurality of cutter assemblies cut a section of the bale for obtaining the sample when the bale is being lifted between the lower level and the upper level.

Abstract: A door opening assembly of a bale press including a first arm member having a first end and a second end hingedly coupled at the first end to a first door. The door opening assembly also includes a second arm member having a first end and a second end hingedly coupled at the first end to a second door. An actuator is coupled to the second end of the first arm member and the second end of the second arm member to cause the first arm member to displace the first door and the second arm member to hold the second door from being displaced. A further feature include a door closing system involve a guide member and a guide receptacle for moving a latch gate to close the door.

Abstract: A bag retrieval assembly and bag, which facilitates the covering of a bale of cotton or other fibrous material, are discussed. The bag is configured to be used with the bag retrieval assembly, which is configured to manipulate the bag from a stacked or stored configuration to an open configuration that may be raised and held into a position for further processing.

Abstract: A bagging assembly for bagging bales of fibrous material is disclosed. The bagging assembly incorporates a chute defining a channel for receiving a bale, which is pushed there between by a stuffing assembly. Aspects of the bagging assembly include raising a bale using a bale elevator to a higher elevation position so that the bale could be stuffed by the stuffing assembly and using a bag retrieving mechanism for retrieving a bag from a bag location for use in bagging the bale.

Abstract: A bagging assembly for bagging bales of fibrous material is disclosed. The bagging assembly incorporates a chute defining a channel for receiving a bale, which is pushed there between by a stuffing assembly. Aspects of the bagging assembly include raising a bale using a bale elevator to a higher elevation position so that the bale could be stuffed by the stuffing assembly and using a bag retrieving mechanism for retrieving a bag from a bag location for use in bagging the bale.

Abstract: A system for sampling a bale of fibrous material is provided including a transportation mechanism for moving the bale from a first point to a second point and a first gripper for obtaining a sample from the bale when the bale is at a position between the first point and the second point. The gripper includes a movable finger for gripping the sample from the bale. An actuator comprising an actuating rod is provided for pushing the sample away from the movable finger.

Abstract: Furred woven wire fabric lathing is provided which incorporates a plurality of wires twisted together forming a wire mesh with a major portion of the wire in a plane with a portion of the mesh comprising furr portions extending out of the plane of the mesh and configured for embedment in plaster upon application of plaster to the wire mesh.

Abstract: An automatic bale strapping device is mounted on a baling press and is configured to present overlapping lengths of flexible thermoplastic strapping for welding in a region corresponding to either the top or bottom of a compressed bale. Baling straps are precut to a predetermined length and preloaded into the device while the press ram is still operating. Articulated strap tying assemblies are mounted to either side of the press and include locks which grip opposing ends of the precut baling strap. The strap tying assemblies rotate around the compressed bale so as to direct the baling strap circumferentially around the bale and articulate to bring the opposite ends of the baling strap into an overlapping relationship for welding while the press is still forming the bale. The straps are gripped tightly within the locks in order to wrap the strap tightly around a bale, but a short welding portion of each strap is free-floating in order to allow sufficient movement for friction welding.

Abstract: A method for welding baling straps and the like includes receiving two strap portions intermediate to weld plates such that the two strap portions overlap at least partially, moving the weld plates back and forth with respect to one another so as to move the two strap portions back and forth with respect to one another, and locking the weld plates while the weld plates are moved back and forth. Locking the weld plates while moving the weld plates back and forth effects the formation of a weld which attaches the two strap portions together. An improved weld plate configuration is also provided. The improved weld plate has an alternating pattern of teeth formed thereon such that portions of the weld plate vary in the ability thereof to grip a strap.

Abstract: A tying device is provided for mounting on a baling press for tying a plurality of wires having preformed interlocking ends around a bale formed in the press. The device includes a center plate mounted above the press chamber in which the bale is formed and a pair of wire bend assemblies pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the center plate. The wire closer assembly is mounted on the press ram below the bale and provides the floor of the baling chamber. The wire bend assemblies pivot from a fully raised to a fully lowered position to bend the preformed interlocking ends of the wires around the bale and to insert the interlocking ends into the wire closer assembly where the interlocking ends terminate in loops oriented in a vertical plane. The wire bend assemblies include guide rollers for guiding the interlocking ends of the wire into the wire closer assembly while the press ram is in its last few inches of travel to compress the bale.

Abstract: A tying device is provided for mounting on a down-packer type baling press in which cotton is boxed for baling at a loading side of a substantially horizontal rotating turntable, the tying device for tying a plurality of wires having pre-formed interlocking ends around a bale formed in the press. The device includes a base plate provided as the floor of the press chamber in which the bale is formed and a pair of wire bend assemblies pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the base plate. A wire closer assembly is mounted on the press ram above the bale and provides the top surface of the baling chamber. The wire bend assemblies pivot from a first fully retracted to a second partially extended load position and to a fully extended position so as to bend the pre-formed interlocking ends of the wires around the bale and to insert the interlocking ends into the wire closers where the interlocking ends are joined together to form a knot.