Module wrap removal

Abstract

A system wherein plastic wrap on round bales of cotton is partially slit starting at one end of the bale and continuing to a location offset from the opposite end of the bale. One or more partial lengthwise slits allow the cotton to fall into a gin input hopper in a controlled manner and maintain the entire wrap, including any non-adhered inner tail remnants, attached to an intact circumferential wrapper portion at the end of the bale opposite the slit end. The non-slit wrapper end portion is pulled from end of the bale, and the remaining cotton material drops into the receptacle free of contamination by any wrap material.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to wrapped modules and, more specifically, to removing plastic wrap from round seed cotton modules. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Round bales or modules of harvested material such as seed cotton can be wrapped in material for bale integrity and protection. For example, cotton harvesters are being developed with on-board processing systems wherein compacted bales are formed directly on the harvester. Such a system is shown, for example, in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,032,446 and 6,263,743. The compacted bales reduce cotton loss, increase transportability and facilitate expedited handling to the cotton gin. [0003] Additional difficulties are encountered when a bale or module of harvested material is supported within a wrap such as plastic sheet or netting to protect and maintain integrity of the formed material. When processing seed cotton, the handling system must be able to effectively separate all the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved bale or module wrap removal system which eliminates unattached wrap material remnants which would otherwise contaminate crop material in the bale during processing. It is yet another object which to provide such a system which is particularly useful for round bales of cotton wrapped in plastic material such as polyethylene.

[0007] It is still another object to provide an improved cotton bale or module wrap material removal system which eliminates wrap material contamination of the cotton and which provides easy removal of the entire wrap while assuring full separation of the cotton from the wrap. It is another object to provide such a system which assures that the wrap remnants remain connected and do not detach from the remainder of the wrap material.

[0008] In one embodiment, plastic wrap on round bales of cotton is partially slit starting at one end of the bale and continuing to a location offset from the opposite end of the bale. One or more partial lengthwise slits define an egress area and allow the cotton to fall into a gin input hopper in a controlled manner to prevent spillage and maintain the entire wrap, including any non-adhered inner tail remnants, attached to an intact circumferential wrapper portion at the end of the bale opposite the slit end. The non-slit wrapper end portion is the grasped and pulled from end of the bale, and the remaining cotton material drops into the receptacle free of contamination by any wrap material. All of the wrap material is connected together so the intact wrapper can be easily removed and discarded or recycled.

[0009] The system allows the wrap to remain completely connected and be easily removed from the bale in one piece. The bale wrap can be slit and removed with the bale in either a horizontal or a vertical position or in any other angular position. The partial slits define an egress area and facilitate controlled cotton release and automation of bale opening and wrap removal processes. The system easily accommodates modules and bales of different sizes, densities and moisture content.

Problems solved by technology

Additional difficulties are encountered when a bale or module of harvested material is supported within a wrap such as plastic sheet or netting to protect and maintain integrity of the formed material.

The wrapped cotton loses bale shape integrity quickly as the wrap is removed, and therefore providing a compact and clean entry configuration while allowing full cotton removal, eliminating spillage, and providing reliable wrap removal have been sources of difficulty.

When using a wrap such as polyethylene film, any wrap material not removed and entering the gin contaminates the cotton and makes spinning of the cotton into thread at the spinning mills very difficult.

However, depending on the cut location relative to the adherence location of wrap overlap, unattached hanging inner tail remnant pieces can be formed which separate from the remainder of the wrap and drop into the receiver to contaminate the cotton.

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