SLICING COMPRESSED BLOCKS

摘要

A block of compressed, stratified material such as a bale (10) of tobacco is placed in a receptacle (40) which executes reciprocating motion. Movement of the receptacle (40) brings the bale (10) into engagement with a fixed blade (46) which splits the bale (10) between strata, the unsupported weight of the slice (48) being separated assisting the splitting. A photodetector (62) initiates the loading of a further bale (10) when uncovered. The further bale (10) is carried by an indexing conveyor (42) mounted on a wheeled chassis (64) which moves the conveyor (42) over the remainder of the bale in the framework (40) then retreats leaving the further bale (10) on top of the remainder.