Abstract: A baling press for baling cotton gin trash and other particulate biomass feedstock. The baling press generally includes an infeed chute assembly, a compression ram assembly, an extrusion chamber assembly, a strapping storage and dispensing assembly, and a strapping insertion assembly. The present invention also relates to methods of producing a bale with the baling press and a bale generated by the baling press and described methods.

Abstract: A baling press with a bale pressing channel, a ram for pressing material in the bale pressing channel, the ram having a pressing face and a slot in the pressing face, a tying assembly on a first side of the bale pressing channel with a loop supply member for forming a loop across the bale pressing channel and movable between an extended position projecting through the slot and a retracted position. The press further has a slot clearing member movable between an extended position projecting through the slot and a retracted position on one side of said bale pressing channel. The slot clearing member and the tying assembly are on opposite sides of a feeding passage. The bale pressing channel is open for discharging cleared material on a side opposite of the location of the slot clearing member in its retracted position. A method of operation is also described.

Abstract: A bale identification assembly for use with an agricultural baler having a first supply roll mounted on the baler providing a binding material used by the knotter system to bind the formed bale, wherein the binding material on the first supply roll is free of identification tags. The bale identification assembly includes a second supply roll mounted on the baler providing an identifying filament. The knotter system joins the identifying filament from the second supply roll with the binding material from the first supply roll while tying a knot to bind the formed bale.

Abstract: A crop feeding mechanism for a harvester includes one or a plurality of screws or augers positioned in a hollow chamber of defined by the interior surface of an elongated frame, whereby the interior surface is tapered with decreasing volume in it rear portion. The one or a plurality of screws or augers are affixed upon a rotating axis and, as crop material is fed into the chamber, the one or a plurality of screws or augers conveys crop material rearward toward the tapered end and compact the crop materials so that the compacted crop material is extruded out of an opening at the rear end at a rate and temperature and in a form sufficient to allow a net wrap mechanism positioned at or near the opening to wrap the crop into a bale.

Abstract: A strapping system for an agricultural implement includes a strap feeding assembly positioned on a first side of a baling chamber and a needle positioned on a second side of the baling chamber, opposite the first side. The system also includes a first slot disposed within a first material-facing surface of a rear wall of the baling chamber. The strap feeding assembly is configured to propel a strap through at least a portion of the first slot to the second side of the baling chamber, and the needle is configured to grip a portion of the strap and to move the portion of the strap from the second side of the baling chamber to the first side of the baling chamber to surround a material within the baling chamber with the strap.

Abstract: A strapping system for an agricultural implement includes a strap feeding assembly positioned on a first side of a baling chamber, the strap feeding assembly being configured to propel a strap through or around at least a portion of the baling chamber. The system includes a needle positioned on a second side of the baling chamber, opposite the first side. The needle is configured to move through the baling chamber to extend from the second side to the first side of the baling chamber, and the needle includes an opening configured to receive the strap from the strap feeding assembly and to facilitate transfer of an end of the strap from the first side to the second side of the baling chamber to position the strap for capturing material as the material accumulates within the baling chamber.

Abstract: A strapping system for an agricultural implement includes a strap feeding assembly positioned on a first side of a baling chamber and a rotating gripper assembly positioned on a second side of the baling chamber, opposite the first side. The strapping system also includes a track assembly configured to direct a strap from the strap feeding assembly to the rotating gripper assembly. The rotating gripper assembly is configured to grip the strap while the rotating gripper assembly is in a first orientation, and while the rotating gripper assembly is in a second orientation that enables crop flow in a rearward direction to draw the strap through the strap feeding assembly.

Abstract: A strapping system for an agricultural implement includes a strap feeding assembly positioned on a first side of a baling chamber and a rotating gripper assembly positioned on a second side of the baling chamber, opposite the first side. The strapping system also includes a track assembly configured to direct a strap from the strap feeding assembly to the rotating gripper assembly. The rotating gripper assembly is configured to grip the strap while the rotating gripper assembly is in a first orientation, and while the rotating gripper assembly is in a second orientation that enables crop flow in a rearward direction to draw the strap through the strap feeding assembly.

Abstract: A method for strapping groups, bundles, packaged goods, and/or grouped articles or grouped packaged goods, having at least one strapping band, which is placed and/or tensioned approximately horizontally and/or vertically and/or diagonally around the exterior of the bundles, packaged goods, or groups of articles, or groups of packaged goods, the strapping band forming either an open or a closed ring, which is tensioned to form a firm assembly of the bundles, packaged goods, etc. A magazine feeds the strapping band to at least one application head for applying the strapping respectively to a group, to a bundle, to at least one packaged good, and/or to the grouped articles or grouped packaged goods. In addition, the strapping band extends and is conveyed largely without being guided and/or in a free-floating manner, at least within an operating range of the application head.

Abstract: A wrapping system for plant material utilizes a first wrapping material dispenser disposed along a first upper periphery of a compacting chamber, and a second wrapping material dispenser opposite the first dispenser, for automatically dispensing sheets of wrapping material in overlapping relation over the chamber and plant material therein. The system includes apparatus for joining the overlapping sheets together. The system is automatically operable to dispense sheets of the material in overlapping relation over the chamber and join them for receiving a flow of the plant material thereon. Before or while the plant material is received, the sheets are further dispensed to move downwardly in the chamber to receive and wrap about the plant material. The system then dispenses opposite ends of the sheets in overlapping relation over the material and joins the ends to complete the wrapper.

Abstract: A method and device for strapping one or more packets with a band, which device substantially comprises a frame, a lying conveyor belt supported by the frame for moving forward the packets, a pair of band clamping and guiding jaws movable toward and away from each other transversely of the conveyor belt, a supply reel associated with a jaw and guide members for the strapping band in addition to welding means co-acting with the jaws for welding together the band portions supplied by the pair of jaws, wherein means for arranging one or more label means at a time on the band are placed along the guide path of this band.

Abstract: A wrapping system for plant material utilizes a first wrapping material dispenser disposed along a first upper periphery of a compacting chamber, and a second wrapping material dispenser opposite the first dispenser, for automatically dispensing sheets of wrapping material in overlapping relation over the chamber and plant material therein. The system includes apparatus for joining the overlapping sheets together. The system is automatically operable to dispense sheets of the material in overlapping relation over the chamber and join them for receiving a flow of the plant material thereon. Before or while the plant material is received, the sheets are further dispensed to move downwardly in the chamber to receive and wrap about the plant material. The system then dispenses opposite ends of the sheets in overlapping relation over the material and joins the ends to complete the wrapper.

Abstract: Bale strap assemblies for strapping a pressed bale are discussed herein. The bale strap assemblies may include a strap positioning assembly having a plurality of strap assemblies and a return chute assembly having a plurality of return chutes for returning straps to the strap assemblies for strapping the pressed bale. The strap position assembly and return chute assembly incorporate cylinders to move between different positions during a strapping cycle. Exemplary embodiments include provisions for accommodating a press turntable of a down packer and registration means for providing a greater number of straps to strap a bale than a corresponding number of strap assemblies.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus designed to effectively twist and cut baling wire during the baling process. The apparatus includes a twister assembly that has a plurality of gear-driven twister heads. During the baling process the twister assembly extends from a slide housing so that the twister heads engage and twist adjacent strands of baling wire. The twister assembly then retracts back into the slide housing so that the twisted portion of the baling wire is cut by a cutting assembly attached to the slide housing.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus designed to effectively twist and cut baling wire during the baling process. The apparatus includes a twister assembly that has a plurality of gear-driven twister heads. During the baling process the twister assembly extends from a slide housing so that the twister heads engage and twist adjacent strands of baling wire. The twister assembly then retracts back into the slide housing so that the twisted portion of the baling wire is cut by a cutting assembly attached to the slide housing.

Abstract: A drive and bearing device for a binding station for finished bales predominantly in waste bale presses with a horizontally acting press plate, wherein several twisting wheels provided with a radial slot for receiving the binding wire are mounted in a support and are temporarily rotated by a common drive unit for the purpose of twisting the wire. The wheels supporting the slotted twisting disks have a plurality of arms or bearing points which extend outwardly in a star-shaped manner, wherein on the free end of each arm or bearing point is mounted a roller which is freely rotatable about an axis extending perpendicularly of the wheel plane. For each wheel with the star-shaped arms is provided in the same horizontal plane a drive wheel with arc-shaped recesses at the outer circumference thereof, wherein the recesses correspond in a positively engaging manner with the rollers.

Abstract: A mounting device for use with a hand tying device to tie a bale of compressed material comprises a pair of elongated members positioned generally parallel to each other to form a generally planar body and legs extending from an end of the body, generally perpendicular to said body. Mounting feet depend from the legs and are configured to engage a generally horizontal surface of a bale to secure the body along a vertical surface of the bale. At least one standoff element extends from another end of the body and is configured for coupling to a hand tying device and orienting the hand tying device against the vertical surface of the bale when the body is secured to the bale.

Abstract: For strapping substantially parallelepipedic objects or stacks which are conveyed into a strapping position and out of this position after strapping, a strapping tape extending in a starting position substantially straight from one side of the conveying path to the opposite side is formed into a tape bow with the help of two tape positioning devices arranged on the two opposite sides of the conveying path. Then, the object to be strapped is conveyed into the tape bow and the tape is tensioned around the object and is closed around the object and cut off the tape supply in the region of its starting position such that the object is strapped and the tape is again in its starting position. By adapting the size of the tape bow according to the format of an object to be strapped, the tape does not have to be pulled back for tensioning it around the object or stack. Therefore, the device is simple and the time required for strapping is short.

Abstract: An automatic baler for creating a bale of compressible material comprises a mechanism for compressing an amount of the material into a bale and moving the bale along a path past a continuous strand of wire which extends across the path to engage a front end of the bale and wrap around the bale as it moves along said path. Opposing arm elements positioned on opposite sides of the path are movable toward each other to engage the path and are operable for engaging sections of the continuous wire strand. The opposing arm elements form at least two overlapped sections of wire proximate the rear end of the bale, and a twisting mechanism with twister pinions engages the overlapped wire sections to simultaneously tie the overlapped wire sections to both secure the wire wrapped around the bale and to reform a continuous strand of wire to engage the next bale.

Abstract: A device for strapping a plurality of packets with a band includes a frame and a lying conveyor belt supported by the frame for moving the packets forward. A pair of band clamping and guiding jaws move toward and away from each other transversely of the belt. A band supply reel is associated with the jaws. A welding device coacts with the jaws for welding band portions together. Each jaw has a clamping surface that runs transversely relative to the forward direction and coacts with a counter-surface of an intermediate body carried by one of the jaws. A portion of the clamping surface and the counter-surface extend obliquely relative to the forward direction. One of the surfaces has tooth-like protrusions.

Abstract: An automatic tie system for a baler for tying a bale of compressible material comprises a reciprocating ram for pushing the bale along a path. A continuous strand of baling wire extends generally transverse to the path and engages the bale front end and wraps around the bale as it moves along the path. A reciprocating inserter arm engages the continuous wire strand to form a partial loop at the bale back end having an apex and an upstream wire section and a downstream wire section. A first gripper arm grips the upstream loop section when the loop is cut and moves the upstream loop section generally parallel to an incoming section of wire from a baling wire supply roll to create a supply wire overlap. A second gripper arm grips the downstream loop section and moves it adjacent to the bale and generally parallel to wire from a baling wire supply roll to form a bale wire overlap.

Abstract: A bale tying apparatus for use with a baling press distinguished from the prior art mechanisms in that the articulated arms which shape wire ties about a bale also incorporate elements on the ends thereof to effect the tying of the wires without engagement of the wires with positioning surfaces in the follow block of the press. Thus the tying function is made more reliable and is independent of the follow block precise positioning. A wire loop on at least one end of the wire tie remains in contact with the arm mechanism until the wire knot is made up. The apparatus may use wire loop holding devices at the ends of both arms or may use a housing carried on the end of one arm with an opening for insertion of the other end by the other arm.

Abstract: A baling press for automatically and mechanically placing and binding one or more binding wires around highly compressed bales of waste material. The baling press includes for each binding plane a separate feeding station, cutting station and twisting station on the opposite side of the pressing shaft. The feeding elements are not mechanically or positively connected to each other. Rather, the feeding elements are all connected to the same pulse generator for carrying out the control of the feeding elements.

Abstract: Loose cotton bales are compressed to about half their original size in a press having a lateral barrier with slots therein through which the original baling wires bulge outward, thus enabling automatic devices to engage the wires, apply tension thereto, and retie the wires to a shorter length.

Abstract: A modular automatic bale tier for separately tying one or more wires each in a closed loop having an adjustable predetermined length about a compacted bale of material so as to eliminate wire breakage and slack due to variations in bale material, density and dimensions. Each closed loop is formed by engagement of opposite portions of the wire by a reciprocating wire transport head which brings the portions together for the twisting and cutting operations.

Abstract: In an apparatus for binding bales, in which a band of wire is supplied from two storage rolls, one roll supplying an upper wire and the other roll supplying a lower wire, and which includes a cutting device for cutting through the twisted wires between two twists by which the wires are connected to each, in order to assure with reliability that the twist which completes the binding does not project beyond the rear edge of the bale as viewed in the pressing direction, the distance between a lower wire guide roller and the limiting forward pressing position of a pressing plunger of a baling press in which the apparatus is incorporated is made equal to the distance between the lower guide roller and the cutting device. Also, at least one wire catching finger acts transversely upon the wires which are held taut by a binding needle of the press and between the guide rollers, in order to bring together the portions of the wires which are twisted together by a twisting device.

Abstract: The device comprises a frame, a twisting member rotatably mounted in relation to the frame to carry along and twist two parts of thread, means for driving the twisting member, and a knife. The twisting member consists of a gear-wheel and the means for driving also comprise a gear-wheel which is in gear with the twisting member. The valleys between the teeth of the twisting member are cut deeper than is required to be in gear with the gear-wheel of the driving means.

Abstract: A baling press of the kind comprising a pressing channel containing a reciprocating pressing plunger has a bale binding device which binds the bales with bands each consisting of two separate lengths of wire from different rolls twisted together. The binding device includes a twisting mechanism for twisting the wires together and this twisting device comprises a disc which is rotatable about an axis situated in the plane of the binding and this disc has a single finger which projects outwards from the axis of rotation of the disc and is forwardly curved in the direction of rotation of the disc in order to seize the two wires and twist them together. The inner edge of the finger leads into a slit which extends through the disc up to the center of rotation of the disc and this slit tapers in a region adjacent the center of rotation of the disc to a width which only just exceeds the thickness of one wire.

Abstract: A method of arranging twine around a bale of straw or hay formed by pressing in a baling machine in which twine is fed from two separate bobbins, and, while pressure on the bale is maintained, one knot is laid in both pieces of twine for tying off the bale and another knot as starting knot for a following bale. The time periods of the formation of the knots overlap. The knots formed are noose type knots. The knots are formed under substantially no tension, so that the bales can be pressed with a considerable pressure, and a resulting increased density, without affecting the process of forming the knots or the firmness and stability of formed knots.Apparatus for binding bales in a baling machine comprising means for supplying twine for each twine loop, from two separate bobbins, and first and second rotary driven knotters.

Abstract: A method of binding pressed bales in a pressing channel of a baling press in which the ends of two wires which form the binding are fastened together by two twist connections which are spaced apart from each other comprises the improvement of the step of pulling back one of the two wires after the twist connections have been made and the wires have been severed between the two twist connections in such a way that as the next bale is pressed in the channel, the first twist connection lies at the front edge of a longitudinal face of the bale and a second twist connection, which is subsequently formed, lies at the rear edge of the same longitudinal face.

Abstract: Apparatus for binding bales by winding a filament, such as a wire or similar device thereabout, is provided with a twisting head which operates to twist together the ends of a binding filament after the filament has been wound around a bale. As the twisting operation is performed, tensile forces developed in the twisted filament may cause rupture of the filament. To avoid such rupture, the twisting head is resiliently mounted to enable absorption of the filament tensile forces thereby to avoid undesired rupture of the filament.

Abstract: In a crop baler each compacted bale is progressively formed in the bale chamber and incrementally advanced therethrough by the successive packing of new charges of loose material into the chamber against the trailing end of the partial bale. Yieldable resistance to movement of the bale through the chamber is normally provided by a previously formed and tied bale in order that the forming bale may be packed and densified in the proper way. Each bale is bound in its compacted condition by at least one complete loop of binding material, each loop consistng of a pair of separate strands from two separate sources of supply. The two strands of each loop are circumferential complements of one another and are connected together at the two locations where they are substantially end-to-end such that each binding loop contains two knots or other types of strand connections, depending upon the nature of the binding material selected for use.

Abstract: A device for wire binding bales of incoherent material or any packs or packages, comprising supply means for the binding wire at locations spaced apart from one another at the level of the outer surface of the package to be bound, wire knotting means arranged on a plane transverse of the package feeding, said knotting means comprising essentially at least two wire guiding means movable to and away from each other on the transverse plane to converge the binding wires to a single location of the transverse plane, said wire guiding means having a central pin or core substantially lying on said transverse plane and which is arranged between the joined or connected wires, and means for causing said pin or core to rotate in order to interlace said binding wires.