Abstract: An assembly to receive, guide and bend a bale wire having a preformed end. The bale wire is bent to facilitate the joining of the preformed ends to be applied to a bale. The assembly includes a plurality of fixtures which receive an preformed end of a plurality of bale wires at predetermined positions. The assembly is then subjected to a rotational movement to bend the wire tie after which the preformed ends can be joined with ease.

Abstract: A method for producing baling wires having enlarged tips for tying bundled items such as reinforcing rods and bags in which enlargements are formed by melting the tips of the wire segments wherein a strip of continuous wire is advanced through a first melting zone in a substantially vertical position, the wire is then heated to its melting point to sever a segment of the wire therefrom causing an enlargement to be formed at the leading tip of the subsequent wire segment, successively heating, melting and severing individual wire segments and causing the formation of the enlargements at the leading edge of the next subsequent wire segment as the strip of wire advances through the first melting zone, successively rotating each individual wire segment at least substantially 180.degree.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for straightening and cutting a used wire bale tie having one fastening end removed includes means for feeding, straightening and cutting the bale tie. The improvement in the apparatus involves providing an engaging means for the engagement of the bale tie fastening end to limit the feeding of the bale tie into the straightening means. The engagement of the bale tie fastening end with the engaging means activates the cutting means to cut the bale tie to a predetermined length. Means for withdrawing the bale tie from the straightening means is activated by an activation means associated with the cutting of the bale tie. The invention also includes a method of straightening wire bale ties having one fastening end removed.

Abstract: A bale-tie wire for use with press platens in a baling press for baling materials includes a body portion having looped members formed at each end of the bale-tie wire body portion with a portion of each of the looped members bent out of the plane in opposite directions of each of the respective looped ends. Each of the looped members includes rearwardly extending legs which engage the body portion of the bale-tie wire with one of the extending leg portions being substantially longer than the leg portion of the other end looped member to provide a bale-tie wire structure which substantially reduces the force necessary for the engagement of the looped end portions of the bale-tie wire.

Abstract: A length of wire of uniform composition throughout has end portions of circular cross section bent into the form of mutually interengageable loops with free ends. The loops can be interengaged and then drawn into a knot by endwise tension applied to the wire. The portion of the wire intermediate the end portions is of uniform oval cross section of such less area than the circular cross section of the end portion that, when the wire is subjected to a direct tensile pull, its load capacity approaches more nearly the load capacity of the knot than in prior wire bale ties. The longest cross sectional dimension of the intermediate portion of the wire is juxtaposed flatwise against the bale in the installed condition of the tie.