APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BREAKING BALE TIES

摘要

An apparatus (10) for severing a plurality of ties (12) on a bale (14), comprising a tie severing head (16) arranged for movement along a travel path; a planar array of tie grabbing elements (18) arranged generally along the travel path and spaced laterally thereabout so as to abut a generally planar side surface (52) of a tied bale (14) when the bale (14) is brought into contact therewith; and a drive apparatus (20) for driving the severing head (16) along the travel path with at least a minimum force predetermined to cause the severing head (16) to successively engage and sever each plurality of bale ties (12) arranged laterally across the path.