REDUCING TWINE WRAP ON BALE PROCESSING SHAFTS

摘要

Wrapping of twine on a chain and slat conveyor in a bale processor is reduced. The bale processor has a bale chamber, a chain bed forming a bottom of the bale chamber and a disintegrator roller mounted along one side. Driven and idler shafts extend adjacent to opposite first and second sides of the chain bed. Front, middle, and rear sprockets are mounted to front, middle, and rear portions of the shafts, and corresponding front, middle, and rear conveyor chains engage corresponding sprockets. Conveyor slats are attached to the chains. Wrapping of twine is reduced by supporting the shafts only at front and rear ends thereof such that the sprockets and shafts rotate unsupported between front and rear bearings on walls of the bale chamber. Scraper devices can be mounted adjacent to front and rear sprockets to prevent the build-up of twine on the shafts.