Abstract: The cattle feed mixer comprises a self-standing container having a cylindrical inner chamber in which is journaled a coaxial shaft rotatably carrying a number of radially extending paddles. An upper opening mouth allows hay and other cattle feed elements to be poured into the inner chamber, where the paddles are rotated to mix these elements together. Sector portions of a number of circular saw blades project into the inner chamber through slits made in the bottom of its inner wall, and rotate at high velocity to shear the hay carried thereagainst by the paddles. Once the mixing and cutting operations are completed, a discharge door is opened to allow the paddles to scoop the now homogeneous cattle feed out through a discharge opening, to be dispensed in suitable receptacles. The container has a collecting trough located under the slits of the saw blades, which is connected via an upwardly-extending sleeve to the inner chamber.

Abstract: A self-propelled machine that is used to break apart large round bales of straw and disperse the shredded material on a prepared seed bed. The machine includes an engine for power, a round bale chopper to dismember the round bale, a centrifugal fan and a moveable blower chute at least 9 feet long. The blower chute can move 360 degrees in the horizontal plane and 60 degrees in the vertical plane and allows the operator to very precisely control the amount and placement of the shredded material. A second large round bale can be stored and transported on the machine and can easily be moved into position to be shredded. An operator control chair is located at the right rear of the machine and is capable of controlling every aspect of the machine from the single location.

Abstract: A feed mixer comprising a plurality of mixing members wherein each mixing member is longitudinally mounted for rotation about an axis and at least one of the mixing members further comprises a chopper auger having double flighting. The double flighting may have similar or different outer diameters. The double flighting may further provide chopping knives, or sickle knives, on the outer peripheral edge of at least one of the flightings.

Abstract: The invention is a cutter-mixer-feeder wagon for fodder and grass or straw silage, comprising at least two rotary screw feeders (7), housed inside a compartment (75) with curved section obtained on the bottom (76) of the container (2) itself, each one provided with at least one pair of spirals (9, 10), on which peripheral cutters (13) are fixed, one of said spirals being wound clockwise (10) and the other anticlockwise (9), starting from the ends of the screw feeder and such as to convey the processed material towards the area where said right and left spirals converge.

Abstract: A bale dispenser for dispensing hay or silage from a bale is disclosed which has a support table for receiving a bale. Drawing frame is engaged by a cable which is wound onto a winch and which in turn is driven by a motor. The cable draws the drawing frame to move a bale towards an end of the platform. Arranged at the end of the platform is cutting knife for slicing the bale and doffer elements which are rotated to break off biscuits of the hay bale as the hay bale is drawn past the knife. A storage frame is arranged adjacent to the support frame and includes a positioning frame movable from a generally horizontal position to an inclined position to roll a bale from the storage frame onto the support frame.

Abstract: There is provided a new apparatus for use in the processing of a mass of material in which the mass is of any size or shape. The apparatus comprises a container which has a cutter within a space in the container. The cutter is rotationally driven about an axis. There is provided an adjustable loader for releasably engaging the mass and moving the mass into the container for engagement with the cutter. There is also provided a discharge for selectively discharging processed material from the container.

Abstract: A mixer feeder wagon (1) for mixing animal feed which includes hay, straw, silage and the like, including a mixing compartment (20) and a dispensing compartment (21). A mixing rotor (30) is rotatable in the mixing compartment (20) for mixing the animal feed, and a dispensing auger (38) in the dispensing compartment (21) dispenses the mixed animal feed through a dispensing outlet (22). A plurality of first blades (55) extend radially from mixing paddles (47) of the mixing rotor (30) and co-operate with a plurality of second blades (56) which are mounted on a base (12) of the mixing compartment (20) for cutting the fibrous material of the animal feed into relatively short lengths as the mixing rotor (30) rotates.

Abstract: A fixed roller is laterally axially supported by a movable body so as to ow an axial center line of the fixed roller to extend in parallel to a lateral direction, and driven to rotate an upper peripheral surface of the fixed roller backward, and a plurality of split press rollers respectively having the axes inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to an axial center line of the fixed roller as viewed in plan are arranged in a row in a lateral direction above the fixed roller in the manner of supporting the split press rollers by press roller frames. The split press rollers are energized to the descending side by oil-hydraulic cylinders respectively provided between a frame of the body and the press roller frames so as to bring the lower peripheral surface side of each split press roller into contact with the upper peripheral surface of the fixed roller under the action of pressure.

Abstract: A round bale cutter has an open bale loading side and a cut hay exhaust side with a bale receiving area on a floor in between. The cutter includes a housing with a gap on the hay exhaust side extending the length of the machine just above the floor and a hay reprocessing chamber attached to housing and extending outward and downward from the gap. A rotary cutter drum equipped with knives about its periphery is supported on a drive shaft which extends from end to end of the housing, with the cutter drum being positioned in the gap in contact with a hay bale in the bale receiving area. The hay bale is initially cut by the drum, propelling cut hay strands into the hay reprocessing chamber where they circulate long enough to hit the rotary drum knives again. The twice cut strands, which are small enough to be used in feed mixing operations, are then expelled through an exhaust side opening in the hay reprocessing chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting hay, straw, or other agricultural materials is provided with an intake hopper which directs a supply of material to be cut into a holding chamber. The material in the holding chamber is separated from the material remaining in the intake hopper by a pair of separating blades, while an advancement plate pushes the material in the holding chamber toward a cutting grid. A sliding panel is pulled behind the advancement plate to prevent the material remaining in the intake hopper from falling behind the advancement plate. The material in the holding chamber is cut into shorter lengths as it is pressed through horizontal and vertical slicing blades of the cutting grid.

Abstract: A bale processor has a horizontal rotor mounted at the center of an upwardly concave bale support. The bale support rocks from side to side across the rotor to bring new parts of the bale against the rotor. The rocking action produces a rolling, sliding or tumbling motion that is suitable for round bales of any size, including old bales that have settled. The apparatus can also handle square bales and loose material.

Abstract: A method of cutting a block of fibrous material for further recompression from a rectangular bale of fibrous material in which the bale is first positioned with the string side up. Slabs are cut from the bale generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and between parallel wrappings of baling twine to form a cut slab of predetermined width which is still wrapped with baling twine. The cut slab is laid over on to its side, the baling twine is removed from the slab, and the slab is cut into suitable sized pieces for recompression wherein the stems and grass blades are oriented generally parallel to each other but vertical and transverse to a longitudinal center line of the cut block.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bale feeder for breaking down large cylindrical bales of hay and like animal feeds and spreading it in rows for feeding. The bale feeder comprises a feeder body, a bale lifting means for lifting and positioning a bale within the feeder body, and a bale opening means providing superior dust and mold removal characteristics. The bale feeder is usually towed over the ground behind a vehicle. The bale feeder also includes anti-binding means for reducing the problem of cut twine and hay getting into and binding the cutting means and feed mechanisms.

Abstract: A cutting machine for extraction of silage from flat silos includes a frame which has an underside of straight, L-shaped or U-shaped configuration for supporting a cutter assembly, and is swingably guided upwardly and downwardly by rockers or vertical guides. At least one vibrator is secured to the frame for oscillatingly driving the cutting machine.

Abstract: A new Agricultural Feed Mixer Blade for providing a mixer blade with improved impact and wear resistance. The inventive device includes a plate having a leading edge with a plurality of teeth arranged in a stepped contiguous relationship therealong, and an elongated cutting element affixed to a face edge of each of the teeth wherein the cutting element is formed of a substance harder than that of the plate such as a cemented carbide. The blade is mountable to the auger of the agricultural feed mixer whereby the leading edge of the plate substantially protrudes beyond a periphery of the auger.

Abstract: The invention is a cutter-mixer wagon (1) for plant residues, comprising: a container (2) provided with an opening (21) for the introduction of said plant residues to be processed; a pair of rotary screw feeders (4) for cutting said plant residues; a conveyor belt (5) for the extraction of the cut and mixed material (23), positioned in correspondence with an unloading door (22) and supported by a frame (6) connected to said container (2) through oscillation means (7) and sliding means (8). Operating means (9) are provided to obtain the oscillation of said frame (6) around said oscillation means (7), in order to place said conveyor belt in a substantially vertical position when it is at rest and to incline it when it is in working position.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a bale processor for separating and selectively chopping baled crop materials. A moving barrier advances a bale into a separator which includes a rotating elongate tube provided with hinged finger-like flails. The flails remove material from the bale and discharge it in a directed manner. The material may be cut to differing sizes as desired by retractable knives positioned in the discharge outlet. Alternatively material can be separated without chopping. A second freely rotating blade separates material from the upper portion of the bale directing it into the path of the separator tube. The processor may be used to distribute crop material over a wide area mounted on a trailer and towed by a tractor. The apparatus advantageously can accommodate square or round bales employing a simple and economical bale handling mechanism.

Abstract: There is provided a new and useful method and apparatus for use in the cutting, processing and discharge of material. The apparatus comprises a container having a first cutter driven about a vertical axis by a first motor, a housing radially open to the container having a second cutter driven by a second motor which second cutter rotates in the same direction as the first cutter and which second cutter protrudes radially into the container and discharge means for selectively discharging processed material from the container.

Abstract: A bale separator for use in separating bales of crop materials. The bale is separated by the action of a rotatable member which engages the bale. The rotatable member includes a central shaft and a number of spaced apart fingers which extend out from the shaft to engage the bale during rotation of the shaft. The separator acts substantially without chopping the bale materials and can be used to separate and spread the bale materials in one operation. The separator can be mounted on a trailer for towing.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming structural panel members from fiber crop material such as rice, straw and the like. The fiber crop material is bailed into circular or rectangular bails which bails are placed in a debailer/shredder. The fiber material is cut to a predetermined length and conveyed pneumatically to a compression chamber. A ram compresses the fiber into a rectangular slot between upper and lower platen members. Paper is applied with glue to the upper and lower surfaces of the fiber and is folded up to cover the sides of the fiber. The glue is cured on a curing table and the fiber is severed in a cutting section into desired lengths.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing wires from a bale of waste cardboard and paper material that is compacted in vertical layers with wires running at right angles to the layers and in vertical planes, sawing downwardly through the wires and bale to separate a forward portion of the bale from the remainder of the bale and from the cut wires, gathering the cut wires ahead of and beneath the bale into a bundle with opposed pairs of hook blades moved toward one another to interdigitate in overlapping relation, grasping the bundle in a wire-receiving recess with a rotating fork to coil the cut wires and pull them free from the bale, and clearing the recess by withdrawing the fork and pushing the coiled wire with a pushing finger clear of the recess.

Abstract: Apparatus for disintegrating bales comprises a hopper with vertical end walls and two side walls which converge inwardly and downwardly to a part cylindrical base portion extending longitudinally of the hopper. The upper face of the hopper defined at the top of the side and end walls is open to receive a bale dumped into the hopper. In the hopper is provided a pair of parallel rollers for supporting an rotating the bale when in the hopper. In the base portion is provided a flail roller which rotates about its axis grasping material and throwing it out of an exit slot longitudinally of the hopper at the base of the hopper. Rectangular bales are loaded into the hopper by an inclined ramp with a chain conveyor on the ramp, the ramp having a loading position in which it is inclined from a forward edge adjacent one side wall to a rear edge at the ground for pushing under the rectangular bale by which the bale is carried up the ramp to sit on the ramp.

Abstract: An improved vertical feed mixer has a mixing chamber defined by a floor, a side wall, and an open upper end through which feed material, such as hay bales, is loaded into the chamber. A vertically disposed auger with tapered flighting is rotatably mounted within the chamber for cutting, mixing, and discharging the feed material through a discharge opening near the bottom of the chamber. A plurality of hay claws prevent hay from spilling over the top edge of the mixing chamber. The hay claws also catch the hay bales, or portions thereof, to inhibit rotation of the hay with the rotating auger, thereby allowing the knife blades on the auger to cut the hay. One or more plows are attached to the auger and extend between the flighting and the floor to direct material away from the auger shaft and thereby prevent feed material from becoming plugged.

Abstract: A mixing and feeding apparatus is provided for processing long-stemmed and livestock feed material. The apparatus comprises a receptacle having upright front and rear walls and side walls defining a mixing chamber for blending the feed material. One of the side walls has a discharge door which is generally aligned with the mid portion of the mixing chamber. The receptacle also has a scalloped bottom wall defining a pair of side-by-side troughs, each of the troughs having an inwardly projecting hay bar located on an upper end of the trough. An auger arrangement is disposed in the receptacle to blend the feed material in the mixing chamber. The auger arrangement includes first and second lower augers located in the bottom portion with one of the lower augers in each of the troughs. The auger arrangement further includes third and fourth upper augers positioned above and generally parallel to the first and second lower augers.

Abstract: A mixer is comprised of a substantially circular container tub and includes an auger flighting member extending upwardly within the mixer for engagement with bales of material to cut and shred the bales. The auger flighting member includes a plurality of knife blades mounted on the outer radial edges of the auger flighting member. The upper end portion of the auger flighting member includes a mounted knife blade, with the upper end portion of the member being bent out of the plane of the auger flighting at an angle of between 15 and 25 degrees. The auger flighting member includes a lower flighting portion having an extension member comprised of a leading edge member cooperating with the floor of the tub with the extension member having a radial width at least equal to the radial width of the remainder of the lower flighting portion. A kicker plate is mounted adjacent the leading edge portion of the extension member to direct the cut material into the auger flighting member to facilitate feeding and mixing.

Abstract: An apparatus for disintegrating baled crop material of various shapes and sizes includes a frame having a longitudinal axes and a material supporting floor with a centrally located first opening, mounted on the frame. Beneath the material supporting floor and in communication with the first opening is a rotary material disintegrating drum with pivoted material engaging sharp flails which while rotating pass through the first opening engaging and disintegrating the material placed on the material supporting floor. Slidably mounted on the material supporting floor is a material receiving chamber which is driven in a reciprocating manner back and forth across the material supporting floor substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis thereby positioning material placed therein over the first opening for flail engagement.

Abstract: A transportable conveyor system for use primarily with a pivot tub type hammermill having a frame, a conveyor means installed within the frame, for transporting the material to be ground or pulverized to the hammermill, sideboards or rails located on either side of the lower end of the conveyor frame for containing the material to be ground or pulverized on the conveyor means, a fixed shroud located at the upper end of the conveyor frame assembly extending upward from the frame and across the top of the conveyor means creating an enclosure through which the material to be ground or pulverized travels, an extendable shroud which is mounted on a pair of trolleys, one trolley mounted on either side of the conveyor frame assembly, each trolley traveling on a pair of wheels which in turn travel in a track attached to the sides of the conveyor frame assembly, the conveyor system having means for driving the trolley wheels along the track causing the extendable shroud to extend beyond the end of the conveyor frame a

Abstract: Carts successively installed in a transfer station, receives a cotton module from above and are successively transported by a tractor into a conveyor assembly which feeds the carts successively toward a stationary feeder head where the cotton of each module is removed progressively as the cart is passed under the feeder head fluffing the cotton and delivering it to a plenum chamber. An auger, which sweeps laterally over the empty portion of the cart forming a temporary bottom for the chamber delivers the fluffed cotton to an air box separator in which rocks and stones are removed by gravity and a suck pipe removes the fluffed cotton to convey it to the gin.

Abstract: An improved vertical feed mixer has a mixing chamber defined by a bottom wall, a side wall, and an open upper end through which feed material, such as hay bales, is loaded into the chamber. A vertically disposed auger with tapered flighting is rotatably mounted within the chamber for cutting, mixing, and discharging the feed material through a discharge opening near the bottom of the chamber. A plurality of hay claws prevent hay from spilling over the top edge of the mixing chamber. The hay claws also catch the hay bales, or portions thereof, to inhibit rotation of the hay with the rotating auger, thereby allowing the knife blades on the auger to cut the hay. A plurality of grader blades extend outwardly from the auger shaft in close proximity to the bottom wall of the mixing chamber, thereby pushing mixed feed outwardly through the discharge opening a plurality of times during each revolution of the auger, thereby providing increased uniformity of the discharge flow of material into a feed bunk or trough.

Abstract: A bale shredder for shredding a large bale of forage, bedding, or mulching material is provided wherein a cutter is mounted to a frame for moving with a cutting action for shredding a bale. Further, an oscillating carriage is mounted to the frame for oscillating the bale across the cutter to induce an additional cutting action on the bale by the cutter.

Abstract: Disclosure is made of baled material disintegrator, or debaler or pull apart apparatus having a bale conveyor and conveyor chute and at the outlet of the conveyor, a multi picker wheel debaler cartridge suspended on a swing shaft or axle, and hydraulic piston means connected to the debaler cartridge to swing the cartridge to and from the bale to be disintegrated or debaled, and further disclosure is made of removal from a bale of material such as paper, the bale binding wire scrap on breaking of the wire by action of debaler cartridge picker wheels, and a scraper bar with tooth segments extending to the tooth wheel shafts and the teeth of the scraper bar straddle the picker tooth wheels to remove the scrap wire from the shafts of the picker cartridge and collection of the cut bale binding wire on a magnet mount bank, set on an incline at the outlet of the debaler cartridge, and the magnet bank overlaid by an endless conveyor belt, and removal of the binding wire scrap, or other tramp iron from the disintegrat

Abstract: A hay cutter and fork lift implement are mounted on the three point hitch of a tractor with a hydraulic cylinder interconnecting the inner ends of the hay cutter assembly and the fork lift assembly for applying equal and opposite pressure on each, such that when the cutter assembly reaches the limits of its downward travel by engaging the ground or being resisted by the hay being cut, the fork assembly will automatically pivot upwardly thereby raising the bale off the ground, allowing the cutting operation to be completed.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting baled crop materials particularly of the cylindrical bale type comprises an apparatus in the form of a conventional chain saw in which the chain is modified so that either the slide links or the guide links include an outwardly projecting cutting plate. The cutting plate is shaped to form a cutting edge having a ramp shape commencing at a position intersecting the previous link and extending outwardly at a gradual inclination of the order of 20.degree. to an outermost point and then a trailing edge which extends backwardly toward the main body of the chain. The width of the cutting plate is less than the width of the chain itself in view of the tension in the bale which pulls the bale apart as it is cut.

Abstract: A mixer is comprised of a substantially circular container tub and includes an auger flighting member extending upwardly within the mixer for engagement with bales of material to cut and shred the bales. The auger flighting member includes a plurality of knife blades mounted on the outer radial edges of the auger flighting portion. The upper end portion of the auger flighting member includes a mounted knife blade, with the upper end portion of the member being bent out of the plane of the auger flighting at an angle of between 15 and 25 degrees. The lower leading edge portion of the auger flighting member includes a kicker plate mounted adjacent the lower leading edge portion to direct the cut material into the auger flighting to facilitate feeding and mixing. The mixer further includes a plurality of wedge deflection members mounted to the interior surface of the container tub to facilitate feeding and mixing within the mixer.

Abstract: Silage extractor and conveyor arm including an elongated box-like structure which contains means for conveying the material extracted from the silo. A first end of the structure is provided with a mill for cutting and removing loose or ensiled material, and a second end of the structure is articulated, about a horizontal axis, to a vertically extending support which is mounted on a supporting frame. The arm is characterized in that the support to which it is articulated is rotatably coupled to the supporting frame about a vertical axis.

Abstract: A material feeding system and method generates a specified continuous output from a variable quantity of discrete and separated units of input. The conversion from discrete units of input to a continuous stream of output is facilitated by a dispersing wheel positioned over the conveying apparatus, in a position blocking the advance of the discrete units of input. The dispersing wheel rotates in opposition to the direction of advance of the conveying apparatus, breaking up the units of input and dispersing them along the length of the advancing conveying apparatus. The dispersing wheel has an outer cylindrical surface, with teeth thereon, which teeth engage the material and, in combination with the advance of the conveying apparatus, disperse the material on the conveying apparatus.

Abstract: A bale opener assembly includes a travelling apparatus detaching fiber tufts from surfaces of fiber bales supported along the travel path; and a fiber tuft removing apparatus for removing the fiber tufts from the travelling apparatus by suction. The fiber tuft removing apparatus has a stationary suction channel extending along the travel path and having a longitudinal aperture oriented generally parallel to the travel path; a flexible cover belt stationarily covering major length portions of the longitudinal aperture; a guide mechanism mounted on the travelling apparatus for deflecting the cover belt away from and then back onto the longitudinal aperture, whereby in the suction channel a fiber tuft intake opening is provided which co-travels with the travelling apparatus and through which fiber tufts are introduced into the suction channel from the travelling apparatus during operation.

Abstract: There is provided a self-propelled mechanized apparatus for comminuting organic waste material, such as graveyard trash, shrubbery, branches, and municipal and private rottable waste. The apparatus includes a precompression device for precompressing the waste material, which is usually piled up in loose heaps, a comminuting device, and a discharge band, which circulates sideward of the traffic lane of the apparatus for piling up a comminuted waste in stacks.

Abstract: A horizontally oriented three sided frame is adapted to hold a round hay bale. An endless chain driven conveyor in the floor of the frame causes the round bale to rotate about a longitudinal axis while simultaneously urging a portion of the perimeter of the bale against a sickle bar cutter arrayed just above the floor on one side of the frame. The cutter chops the hay bale into manageable portions for feeding to livestock. The sickle bar cutter includes a conventional reciprocating cutter bar with triangularly shaped cutting teeth arranged continuously along the bar. A specially designed blade guide allows the entire cutting surfaces of the teeth to extend past the blade guide as they reciprocate. This insures that the hay bale is fed rapidly into the reciprocating teeth since no blade guide teeth enter the cutting gaps between the cutting teeth as they reciprocate and thus do not interfere with the advancement of the hay bale into cutter.

Abstract: Apparatus for disintegrating baled material in the form of large cylindrical bales, a collection of small rectangular bales or large rectangular bales includes a hopper for receiving the baled material. At the base of the hopper is provided a flail cylinder which engages the material and sweeps it around to an ejection slot along one side of the hopper. Above the flail cylinder is provided a pair of support rollers each on a respective side of the flail cylinder with the axes parallel to the flail cylinder. The rollers can be rotated in either direction to provide a vigorous rotating action of the baled material despite flat edges of the baled material. The rollers are mounted so that they can lift from the surface of the hopper if material passes between the underside of the roller and the inside surface of the hopper on its way to the flail cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for breaking down compressed bales of may or similar materials. The apparatus utilizes a canted bed mounted on wheels for movement as a trailer and a single blade knife spans the width of the bed between two cantilever mounted levers. The knife is activated by a pair of hydraulic cylinders to cut the bale into slices of widths controlled by an operator who advances the bales under the knife by controlling movement of a bale pusher actuated by a third hydraulic cylinder, with all three cylinders exchanging hydraulic oil under pressure with an external source, such as a farm tractor, through a control box. In operation bales are loaded into the lower end of the canted bed, advanced for cutting in the plane of the knife stroke by the hydraulic powered bale pusher, sliced transversely to the compressed layers by the hydraulic powered knife and discharged from a chute at the elevated end of the canted bed.

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: An apparatus for securing danger zones in a bale opening system. The apparatus includes a first beam transmitting/receiving device and a beam guide for guiding the first beam in a generally U-shaped course. A space between the legs of the U-shaped course accommodates conveyor belts on which bales are supported, the bale opener in any position along a path of travel thereof, a shuttle carriage in any position along a path of travel thereof and at least one part of a loading station. The shuttle carriage travels between a loading station where a bale is loaded on the carriage and a location on a conveyor belt where the carriage deposits the bale. The apparatus further has second and third beam transmitting/receiving devices for generating and detecting second and third beams each having a course connecting legs of the U-shaped course in a zone of the loading station. The second beam is more remote from the base of the U-shaped course of the first beam than the third beam.

Abstract: A fiber fluff generator includes a housing having three substantially cylindrical portions, each of which mounts and contains a rotor having a rotor shaft and a plurality of rotor pins extending radially therefrom. The rotor pins are arranged in rows spaced incrementally along the length of the shaft with gaps therebetween, each row including plural rotor pins arranged in spoke-like fashion. The rotor shafts preferably are mounted parallel to one another and lie in a common vertical plane. The rotor pins on one rotor shaft are axially offset from and overlap with the rotor pins on the adjacent rotor shaft(s) so that the rotor pins collectively are interleaved to provide a cross-combing effect. Stator pins fastened to the housing extend radially inwardly into the gaps between the rows of rotor pins to provide further cross-combing interaction.

Abstract: A bale shredder comprising a rotatable tub, closure means at one end of the tub, a bladed rotor having access to the interior of the tub through an aperture in said closure means, the rotor being of smaller diameter than the tub and being rotatable about an axis generally parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation of the tub and, bale abutment means determining the degree of penetration of blades of said rotor into a bale, the bale abutment means being such that the position of said bale abutment means, in the direction of the axis of rotation of the bladed rotor, can be adjusted relative to the blade tips during operation of the shredder, to control during shredding the degree of penetration of the blade tips into a bale engaging said bale abutment means.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bale ripper and conveyor which disintegrates round bales of forage material. The bales can be loaded into the device without regard to the direction in which they are wrapped. The present invention further comprises a control box and conveyor assembly whereby the speed of operation of the device can be controlled manually and the shredded forage material can be directed to a desired location such as a mix mill.

Abstract: A flailer for cutting forage-type materials in a feed reel mixer or similar machine has a powered shaft with a plurality of flailing blades swingably mounted in a full helix fashion, and an arcuate hood for directing material into the path of the flailing blades and containing the resulting debris. An intake shield having a resilient flap attached thereto is mounted to the hood at its inlet to prevent undesirably large materials from entering the flailer. Another resilient flap at the outlet side of the hood directs cut materials down onto the auger and helps contain the dust from flailing. A second set of stationary blades mounted on the inside of the hood near its inlet cooperates with corresponding flailing blades to shear the materials in a series of smooth individual cuts, conserving power and reducing vibration.

Abstract: A frame work is mounted on a 3 point hitch of a tractor and includes on its lower end a pair of bale support forks extending rearwardly. A pair of vertically disposed rails carry a vertically movable sickle cutter which extends parallel to the support forks and is centered to move therebetween when cutting through a bale positioned on the forks with its longitudinal axis parallel to the forks and the sickle cutter. The round bale of hay can be cut into half sections and then again into quarter sections. The bale support and cutter may be used for transporting bales with the sickle cutter pressing down against the top of the bale.

Abstract: In a device for opening pressed fiber bales and spinning material set up in rows along a bale supporting wall (12) by means of a milling device (5) accommodated in an arm casing (6) and having two parallel milling rollers (3,4) working on the surface (20) of the fiber bales (7). A suction hood is arranged above the milling rollers for sucking the loosened fibers off in an air flow. A suction opening (18), open towards the bale surface (20), is recessed between the milling rollers (3, 4) in the front wall (14) of the arm casing (6) facing the bale supporting wall (12) and a stripping device (26) abutting against the bale supporting wall (12), is arranged at the front wall (14) in the area of the suction opening (18).

Abstract: A cotton module handling system includes one or more feeder beds delivering seed cotton modules into a feeder head to disintegrate the module into a large number of small clumps of cotton, seed and plant trash for transport into a gin. A shaver assembly is provided, upstream of the feeder head, for removing part of the bottom of the module to remove a band of wet and/or dirty cotton.