Patent ID: 6711881
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: A01F,B65B,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for dividing bales of fibrous material, the apparatus comprising:a staging area for receiving and supporting large bales of material, wherein the staging area comprises a floor having a substantially smooth surface; a cutting grate assembly for longitudinally dividing the large bales into a plurality of bale sections, wherein the cutting grate assembly comprises a first plurality of blades oriented substantially perpendicular to a second plurality of blades; a metering assembly for severing the bale sections into metered bales, the metering assembly comprising a metering knife and a metering limiter; a driver head assembly for moving the large bales from the staging area through the cutting grate assembly and into the metering area; a sorting assembly for selectively moving the metered bales from the metering assembly, wherein the sorting assembly includes a push-off head and a drop table that move together during the operation of the sorting assembly; and a bagging assembly for packaging the metered bales.