Abstract: A bale opening machine is provided with a safety apparatus, by means of which there are produced safety barriers or fences parallel to lengthwise sides of a row of bales to be opened and/or substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the bale opening machine. The safety apparatus moves in conjunction with the bale opening machine. The safety apparatus can comprise mechanical and/or sensory protective structure. The sensory protective structure comprises one or more electro-acoustical transducers arranged in a sonic chute together with one or more reference reflectors such that transmitted acoustical signals are split into a measuring signal and a reference signal. The reference signal is reflected at one of the reference reflectors, whereas the measuring signal is reflected at a deflection reflector into the monitored area and back again by an object located in the monitored area.

Abstract: A bale removal machine having sensory control protective apparatus and a process for the sensory control of the protective apparatus. During at least an initial pass of the bale removal machine along a row of bales, at least one control sensor scans and monitors an area located in the feed direction of the removal member of the machine. If the evaluating unit connected to the control sensors detects a bale, the protective curtains are deactivated immediately before a bale is detected by same. In subsequent removal passes, the protective curtains are activated and deactivated as a function of the known bale profile and/or the control sensor or sensors. If presence of a foreign object, particularly a person, is detected, protective measures are initiated by the protective curtains.

Abstract: A fiber bale opening device (1.1) with a bale opening organ (30) moves in the direction of the arrow A over a row of bales (4) to open fiber flocks from the surface of the bales by means of the opening rollers 6a and 6b. The opening rollers are inclined in such a way that the bales are opened with an angle .gamma. to the horizontal. The opening rollers (6a and 6b) are moreover adjustable to incline in such a way that the depth of penetration (T.1) of the leading opening roller correspond substantially to half the penetration depth (T.2) of the trailing opening roller. These penetration depths can, on the one hand, be effected by the setting of the opening rollers. Movement of the opening organ (30) in direction (D) sets of the opening rollers in order to retain the opening depth (T.1).

Abstract: An adjustable grid for the extraction arm of a bale-opener machine for adjusting the depth of penetration of drivable fiber extraction elements extending between the grid bars which are substantially tranversely arranged relative to the longitudinal direction of the extraction arm, has the grid bars biased by the spring devices into an abutment position corresponding to a minimum depth of penetration of the extraction elements. The spring force is selected such that the moveably arranged grid bars are displaced, in accordance with the bale hardness, in the direction of increasing depth of penetration of the extraction elements into a position which at least approximately corresponds to the appropriate depth of penetration of the extraction elements.

Abstract: In an apparatus for opening bales of textile fibers, a deflecting member for the fiber flocks is arranged within the housing and extends in the longitudinal direction of the opening roll. This deflecting member deflects fiber flocks supplied on the one side of the roll into the conveying shaft, at least largely prevents leakage air coming from the other side of the roll, and is able to shift in position under the action of blows which act on it during bale opening, for example blows caused by foreign articles. The deflecting member is pivotally secured in the region of its longitudinal edge adjacent the roll, to respective links for executing pivotal movements about an axis which extends parallel to such longitudinal edge. The opposite ends of the links are in turn pivotally journalled on the housing. Moreover, an extendible and retractable unit is provided for changing over the direction of the deflecting member in accordance with the direction of rotation of the opening roll.