Abstract:
A cylindrical cotton module handling device includes an attachment having a pair of selectively spreadable, powered cylindrical tines adapted for supporting and rotating a module. Each powered tine is constructed from a cylindrical tube supported from a conventional L-shaped fork by a tubular sleeve received on, and dimensioned for fitting closely to, the horizontal leg of the conventional fork. The tubular sleeve is held in place by an L-shaped bracket forming a rearward extension of the sleeve and formed for embracing a region of the convention fork at the junction of its vertical and horizontal legs, with a retaining pin extending through vertical side plates of the bracket at a location just to the rear of the junction. An endless roller chain bearing arrangement is secured in encircling relationship to the tubular sleeve and supports the associated cylindrical tine for rotation. A hydraulic motor drive arrangement is mounted to the sleeve and has a shaft borne chain sprocket meshed with a drive chain carried by a rotating drive plates that are keyed to the cylindrical tube. A hydraulically retractable spike assembly is located inside a forward end section of the cylindrical tube and includes a plurality of spikes mounted for being selectively extended outwardly through holes in the tube for engaging a module wrapping during removal of the wrapping from the module.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention relates to module handling devices and more particularly relates to module handing attachments equipped with spreadable powered cylindrical tines for supporting and rotating a cylindrical module of cotton or other crop products, for example, covered in a protective covering made of plastic sheet material to a desired position for having the covering slit during removal of the covering. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A low cost arrangement for removing plastic wrap from cylindrical cotton or stover modules is needed, and is especially needed regarding cotton modules as part of processing the modules on a feeder floor of a cotton gin. While large cotton gins may opt for a more expensive automated arrangement for removing the plastic wrap, a lower cost arrangement is needed for the smaller gins that may require more labor, but less capital costs. The biggest problem to overcome with removing wrap from a module is getting the wrap out from under the bottom of the module during emptying the cotton contained by the wrapping onto the feeder floor. Assuming that the wrap will be cut along a line parallel to the axis of the module, a second problem arises, which is to insure that the cut does not occur at the location where the inner tail of the wrapping material is not bonded to the next adjoining wrapping layer. Ideally, the module handling device would involve an attachment for a front end loader or for a tractor three-point hitch to provide maximum versatility. Additionally, it is desirable that this module handling device be able to load modules onto flat bed trailers in the field, double-stack modules onto trailers when drop deck trailers are available or height restrictions allow, move modules in the gin yard, remove modules from a flatbed trailer and place them in the gin yard and double-stack the modules to reduce gin yard space requirements. 
         [0003]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/928,240, filed on 30 Oct. 2007, discloses such a low cost module handler, but it suffers from one or more of the disadvantages of the tine support and drive lacking durability and of manual assistance often being required for helping the driven cylindrical tines engage and wrap up the wrapping during removal of the wrapping after it has been slit. 
         [0004]    Therefore, the problem to be solved is that of providing a module handler having spreadable, driven cylindrical tines supported and driven in a reliable manner and capable of positively engaging the plastic wrapping for effecting its removal once the wrapping has been slit lengthwise of the module. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to the present invention there is provided a module handler which represents an improvement over the module handler disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/928,240, filed on 30 Oct. 2007. 
         [0006]    An object of the invention is to provide a module handler of the type noted above, but which has powered cylindrical tines which are supported and driven in a reliable and durable fashion, and which are equipped so as to effect a rolling up of the wrapping material during the removal of the wrapping from the module, without the need for manual assistance. 
         [0007]    The foregoing object is accomplished by mounting cylindrical tines on each of a pair of conventional flat tines by providing a tubular sleeve dimensioned for fitting closely over a horizontal section of the flat tine, by providing a low-friction mounting arrangement defined by a length of roller chain which supports the cylindrical tine for rotation, by powering the cylindrical tine with a low speed, high torque motor arrangement and by equipping the powered, cylindrical tines with selectively retractable spikes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a left front perspective view of a fork attachment for a front end loader including powered cylindrical tine assemblies constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a right side view of an adapter assembly for converting a conventional L-shaped flat tine for supporting a powered cylindrical tine. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a right side view, with parts broken away, of one of the powered cylindrical tine assemblies supported by the adapter assembly shown in  FIG. 2  and installed on a conventional L-shaped tine. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front view of one of the cylindrical tines, with a front cap removed, showing the bearing supporting the roller tine at a forward end of the adapter assembly and showing the retractable spike arrangement. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 , but showing only one of the sets of retractable spikes. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the cylindrical tine drive and bearing support assembly, with the drive roller chain and support bearing roller chain being omitted for clarity. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a view like that of  FIG. 4 , but showing the drive roller chain and support bearing roller chain. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a view showing the motor mounting plate of the drive assembly shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a view showing one of the UHMW plastic rings of the drive assembly shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a view showing one of the chain-driven plates of the drive assembly shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a view showing one of the guide plates of the endless roller chain bearing support shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a view showing one of the plates defining the support race for the endless roller chain bearing shown in  FIG. 6   
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a drive key in place for coupling the chain driven plates of  FIG. 10  for driving the cylindrical tine. 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a vertical sectional view taken through the powered roller assembly at a location passing between the chain-driven plates and the middle of the drive key shown in  FIG. 12 , and further showing an access hole provided in the cylindrical tine for permitting the installation of the drive key. 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a portion of the cylindrical tine showing a cover installed over the access opening shown in  FIG. 14 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a fork implement  10  for being attached to the loader arms of a front end loader, for example. The fork implement  10  includes a support frame  12 , including right- and left-hand, upright end members  14  and  16 , respectively, joined together by top and bottom cross members  18  and  20 , respectively. Also extending between the end members  14  and  16  are upper and lower cylindrical guide members  22  and  24 , respectively. Identical, right- and left-hand, conventional L-shaped tines  26  and  28  have respective eyes  30  and  32  formed at upper ends of vertical legs  34  and  36  thereof, the eyes being mounted for sliding along the upper guide member  22 . Similar eyes, not shown, are provided below the eyes  30  and  32  and mounted for sliding along the lower guide member  24 . Thus, the tines  26  and  28  are mounted for movement towards and away from each other for engaging and releasing cylindrical modules of baled material, such as cotton, for example. Provided for selectively effecting such sideways movement of the right- and left-hand fork tines are horizontally disposed, extensible and retractable, right- and left-hand hydraulic actuators  38  and  40 , with the actuator  38  including a cylinder having a right end anchored to the right-hand end member  14  and a rod coupled to a bracket (not shown) fixed to a rear location of the vertical leg  36  of the tine  28 , and with the actuator  40  including a cylinder having a left end anchored to the left-hand end member  16  and a rod coupled to a bracket (not shown) fixed to a rear location of the vertical leg  34  of the tine  26 . 
         [0024]    Using each of the conventional fork tines  26  and  28  as a mounting base, the tines are converted into right- and left hand, driven cylindrical tines  42  and  44 , respectively, which are mounted to the horizontal legs of the conventional fork tines, in a manner described below, for rotating about respective longitudinal axes of the tines  42  and  44 . It is to be understood that the structure for mounting each of the rotary tines  42  and  44  to the fork tines  26  and  28  is identical to the other and that, for the sake of simplicity, only the structure mounting the rotary tine  42  to a horizontal leg  46  of the L-shaped tine  26  is illustrated (see  FIG. 3 ), but with structure rigidly fixed to the two tines being given the same reference numerals. 
         [0025]    Referring now also to  FIG. 2 , there is shown and adapter assembly  50  for converting each tine of a fork implement having conventional L-shaped fork tines into a mounting base for the driven cylindrical tines  42  and  44 . Specifically, the adapter assembly  50  includes an elongate, tubular sleeve  52  having a rectangular cross-section dimensioned for fitting closely to the horizontal leg  46  of the tine  26 . Joined to a rear end of the sleeve  52  is an attachment bracket  54  including a pair of transversely spaced, parallel, generally L-shaped side plates  56  and  58  having forward regions of horizontal legs fixed to opposite sides of the sleeve  52  and having forward edges joined together by an L-shaped front plate  60  having a forward edge welded to a rear edge of a top wall of the sleeve  52  and having a top edge terminating at a location spaced below a top edge of the side plates  56  and  58 . A lower rear corner region of each of the side plates  56  and  58  forms an ear  62  that projects to the rear, with aligned holes  64  being provided in the ears for receiving a locking pin  66  that engages a lower rear location of the conventional tine  26  ( FIG. 3 ) so as to hold the sleeve  52  in place once positioned on the horizontal leg  46  of the tine  26  with the bracket  54  engaged with a front surface of the vertical leg  34 . A tubular hydraulic hose guide  67  having a rectangular cross section has a bottom edge of a rear wall thereof welded to a top edge of the L-shaped front plate  60  and to upper end regions of forward edges of the L-shaped side plates  56  and  58 , with it being noted that an assembled height of the side plates  56  and  58  and the hose guide  67  is approximately equal to a height dimension of the vertical leg  34  of the conventional flat tine  26 . Fixed at a rear end of the sleeve  50  is a circular rear plate  68  having a cylindrical support ring  70  welded to its forward face, the ring  70  having a diameter sized for supporting a rear end region of the cylindrical tine  42  for rotation thereabout, with the plate  68  acting for reducing the amount of contaminants that might otherwise pass into the back of the driven cylindrical tine  42 . The plate  68  contains appropriate openings for permitting the passage of hydraulic lines (not shown). For reducing the chances of the plate  68  from catching on an obstacle such as the back side of a feeder floor of a cotton gin or for debris to be drug into the backside of the driven cylindrical tine  42  if an operator inadvertently backs up while the cylindrical tine is on the ground surface, a support tube  72  of square cross section and having a width greater than the distance between the side plates  56  and  58  is centered beneath, and welded to lower rear edges of the side plates, with an upper front corner of the tube  72  engaging a bottom rear edge of the sleeve  52 . A horizontal deflector plate  74  is welded between a lower front region of the support tube  72  and a rear surface of the rear plate  68 . A transverse passage  76  is thus defined by a rear region of a bottom surface of the sleeve  52 , a lower rear surface region of the plate  68 , a central front region of the front side of the support tube  72  and a top surface of the plate  74 ; with the passage  76  serving for holding lower end regions of flexible fluid hoses (not shown) that pass downwardly through the hose guide  67 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to also to  FIGS. 3-5 , it can be seen that a single acting, extensible and retractable actuator  80  includes a cylinder  82  defined by a cylindrical rod located along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve  52  and having a rear end fixed to an interior of the sleeve by a rear rectangular plate  84 , and having a middle location fixed to a front end of the sleeve by a front rectangular plate  86 . The cylinder  82  is provided with a blind bore that extends axially from a forward end of the cylinder and receives a piston rod  88  for extension and retraction therein, the rod having appropriately sealed rear end section defining a piston (not shown) and having a forward end joined to a shift collar  90 , having a purpose explained below, comprising axially spaced cylindrical sections  92  defining an annular groove  94 . An inverted L-shaped fluid fitting  96  includes a vertical leg projecting through a hole provided in a top wall of the sleeve  52  and threaded into a radial work port leading to a rear end of the blind bore in the cylinder  82 . A cylindrical bearing surface  98  is formed on the cylinder  82  at a region immediately forward of the front plate  86 , and a circular plate  100  is welded to the interior of the cylindrical tine  42  and includes a bearing hub  102  received for rotation about the bearing surface  98 . 
         [0027]    A retractable spike assembly is provided within the driven cylindrical tine  42  forwardly of the circular plate  100  and includes three identical, double-spike mechanisms  106 , with only the details of one of the spike mechanisms appearing in  FIG. 5 . The spike mechanisms  106  are spaced equi-angularly about the rotation axis of the cylindrical tine  42 . Each spike mechanism  106  includes a support including a pair of plates  108  having parallel central sections  110  having opposite ends joined to generally semi-circular sections  112 , with the semi-circular sections of one plate  108  cooperating with those of the other plate to define spring housings  114 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Radially outer edges of the plates  108  are fixed to an axially extending rectangular base  116 , which is held in place by appropriate fasteners (not shown). Located between radially inner end regions of the central sections  110  of the plates  108  is a generally triangular shaped crank arm  118  mounted for pivoting about a pin  120  inserted in a first set of aligned holes provided in the plate central sections  110 , and a motion transfer link  122  mounted for pivoting about a pin  124  inserted in a second set of aligned holes provided in the plate central sections  110 . The pin  120  is located about equidistant from first and second corners of the crank arm  118 , with a third corner of the crank arm  118  being rounded and located within the groove  94  of the shift collar  90  at the end of the piston rod  88 . A front first corner of the crank arm  118  is pinned to an inner end of a radially extending first spike  126  located axially within the adjacent spring housing  114  and having an outer end disposed within a hole  128  provided in the wall of the cylindrical tine  42 . A rear second corner of the crank arm  118  is rounded and is received in a complementary shaped socket provided in a forward end of the motion transfer link  122 , the link  122  having a rear end pinned to an inner end of a radially extending second spike  126  located axially within the adjacent spring housing  114  and having an outer end disposed within a second hole  128  provided in the wall of the cylindrical tine  42 . 
         [0028]    Thus, it will be appreciated that, as viewed in  FIG. 5 , extension of the piston rod  88  will result in the crank arm  118  pivoting counterclockwise, and in the link  122  pivoting clockwise, resulting in the spikes  126  being shifted outwardly through the holes  128 . Since the actuator  80  is single-acting, there needs to be a way to retract the spikes  126  once extended. This function is accomplished by providing a coil compression spring  130  about each spike  126  in each spring housing  114 , each spring acting between the adjacent base plate  116  and a washer carried on the associated spike  126  above its pinned connection with either the crank arm  108  or the link  122 . 
         [0029]    It is to be noted that each spike mechanism  106  could be replaced with a similar mechanism having a support including another spring housing and having another bell crank coupled to it and to the bottom of the third spike, and with a rounded end of the bell crank being received within a collar groove of a second collar mounted for being shifted by the piston rod  88 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , together with  FIGS. 6 and 7 , there is shown a cylindrical tine drive and bearing support assembly  140  comprising a mounting ear  142  fixed on each side of the support sleeve  52  at a location spaced forward from the cylindrical support ring  70 , with only the ear  142  at the right side of the support sleeve  52 , being shown. An assemblage of plates is mounted to the ears  142  by respective mounting bolts  144 , which project forwardly through holes provided in the ears  142 . Starting from the rear, the assemblage of plates comprises a motor support plate  146  ( FIG. 8 ), a first low friction plate  148  ( FIG. 9 ), first and second, identical toothed drive plates  150  and  152  ( FIG. 10 ), a second low friction plate  154  identical to the first low friction plate  148 , an inner bearing chain guide plate  156  ( FIG. 11 ), first and second, identical bearing race plates  158  and  160  ( FIG. 12 ) and an outer bearing chain guide plate  162 , similar to the inner guide plate  156 . It is to be noted that from a functional standpoint the bearing race plates  158  and  160  could be replaced by a single plate, from a manufacturing standpoint two plates are desired since their thickness permits them to be laser-cut, while a single plate would be outside the thickness desired for laser-cutting. 
         [0031]    In  FIGS. 8 ,  11 , and  12 , it can be seen that the plates  146 ,  156 ,  158 ,  160  and  162  respectively include axially aligned right-hand holes  164 ,  166 ,  168 ,  170  and  172  that receive one of the bolts  144 , and axially aligned left-hand holes  174 ,  176 ,  178 ,  180  and  182 , that receive the other one of the bolts  144 . Since it is desired that the motor mount plate  146  and the bearing guide plates  156  and  162  be tightly clamped against the bearing race plates  158  and  160 , and that the toothed drive plates  150  and  152  rotate freely, a cylindrical spacer  184  ( FIG. 6 ) having a length sufficient for preventing the plates  150 ,  152  from being tightly clamped together is placed on each of the mounting bolts  144  between the motor support plate  146  and the inner bearing guide plate  156 . A second cylindrical spacer  186  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) is mounted on each bolt  144  between the motor support plate  146  and the mounting ear  142 . Thus, it will be appreciated that when the nuts received on the bolts  144  are tightened, the ears  142 , spacer  186 , motor support plate  146 , spacer  184  and plates  156 - 162  will be tightly clamped together, while the UHMW plastic plates  148 ,  154  and the toothed drive plates  150  and  152  will be permitted to rotate freely, with it being respectively evident in  FIGS. 9 and 10  that the plastic plates and the toothed drive plates are each formed as rings having inner diameters large enough so as to avoid any interference with mounting bolts associated with the remaining plates, and outer diameters which are substantially equal to the inside diameter of the driven cylindrical tine  42 . 
         [0032]    The plates  146  and  156 - 162  are further held together by four bolts (not shown) respectively inserted through aligned bolt holes provided in a rectangular pattern in each of the plates, with such a pattern of four bolt holes being shown at  188  in plate  146 , at  190  in plate  156 , at  192  in plate  158 , at  194  in plate  160  and at  196  in plate  162 . It is noted that the rectangular pattern of bolt holes in each of these plates is adjacent a large rectangular opening which permits the plates to be slid over the sleeve  52  during assembly, with the rectangular opening being shown at  198  in plate  146 , at  200  in plate  156 , at  202  in plate  158 , at  204  in plate  160 , and at  206  in plate  162 . 
         [0033]    As can best be seen in  FIGS. 6-8 , identical, upper and lower, high torque, low speed, reversible hydraulic motors  208  and  210 , respectively, are mounted to a rear face of the motor support plate  146 . Specifically, the upper and lower hydraulic motors  208  and  210  are respectively located above and below the mounting sleeve  52 , with a mounting structure  212  of the upper motor  208  having a planar face clamped against a circular recess  214  in the plate  146  by a pair of mounting bolts  216  inserted through respective holes provided in opposite sides of the mounting structure  212  in axial alignment with a first set of holes  218  provided in the plate  146 , and with a mounting structure  220  of the lower motor  210  having a planar face clamped against a circular recess  222  in the plate  146  by a pair of mounting bolts  224  inserted through respective holes provided in opposite sides of the mounting structure in axial alignment with a second set of holes  226  provided in the support plate  146 . Respective drive shafts  228  and  230  of the upper and lower motors  208  and  210  project through respective circular openings  232  and  234  located centrally in the recesses  214  and  222  of the plate  146 , with each shaft  228  and  230  projecting to an axial location between the toothed drive plates  150  and  152 , and respectively receiving chain drive sprockets  236  and  238 . The sprockets  236  and  238  are each meshed with a drive roller chain  240  having opposite side links provided with drive tabs  242  located in recesses  244  provided between adjacent teeth  246  of each of the toothed plates  150  and  152 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0034]    Also shown in  FIG. 7  is a support bearing for the cylindrical fork driven cylindrical tine  42  comprising a roller chain bearing  248  wrapped tightly around the bearing race formed by the plates  158  and  160 , the diameter of the rollers of the chain  248  being such as to dispose an outer surface of the rollers on a circle having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the cylindrical tine  42 . Thus, the roller chain bearing  248  forms a support bearing for a rear region of the cylindrical tine  42 , while the bearing surface  98  of the hydraulic actuator cylinder  82  forms a bearing support for a front region of the driven cylindrical tine  42 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7 ,  10  and  13 - 15 , it can be seen that rotation of the toothed drive plates  150  and  152  caused by operation of the hydraulic motors  208  and  210  will be transferred to the cylindrical tine  42  by a drive key  250 , which is in the form of a cylindrically curved rectangular plate, which bridges the toothed drive plates  150  and  152  and rests on the drive tabs  242  of the drive roller chain  240 . The drive key  250  is provided with drive lugs  252  formed at its opposite sides and received within respective pockets  254  formed in the toothed drive plates  150  and  152 , in lieu of one of the teeth  246  of each drive plate. As shown in  FIG. 10 , a second pocket  254  is provided in each drive plate at a diametrically opposite location. The provision of two, diametrically opposite pockets  254  in each of the toothed drive plates aids in the assembly of the drive key  250 , as is described below. As shown in  FIG. 14 , an upper part of the drive key  250  is located within a keyway  256  provided in the cylindrical tine  42  so that rotation of the drive rings  150  and  152  is transferred to the cylindrical tine  42  at the keyway  256 , with spaces  257  being defined between the bottom of the drive key  250  and the bottoms of the adjacent recesses  244  for receiving the drive tabs  242  of the roller chain  240 . The keyway  256  is covered by a cover plate  258  welded onto the cylindrical tine  42  and provided with an access opening  260  in which is located a removable cover  262  that is secured to the driven cylindrical tine  42  by screws  264 . During installation of the cylindrical tine  42  on the support sleeve  52 , the cylindrical tine  42  is positioned with its keyway  256  in substantial alignment with one of the diametrical opposite pockets  254  of the drive plates  150  and  152 . The driven cylindrical tine  42  is then moved axially to the rear along the support sleeve  52  until the rear end of the driven cylindrical tine  42  passes first over the roller chain bearing  248 , and then the drive roller chain  240 . Still further rearward movement of the cylindrical tine will bring the access opening  260 , from which the cover  262  has been removed, over the drive pockets  254  of the drive plates  150  and  152 . If necessary, the driven cylindrical tine  42  will be rotated a small amount to center the access opening  260  over the pockets  254 . The key  250  is then placed with its pair of drive lugs  252  respectively in the pockets  254  of the toothed drive plates  150  and  152 . The cylindrical tine  42  is moved to the rear so as to capture the drive key  250  and to place its rear end over the cylindrical ring  70  and closely adjacent the plate  68  at the rear of the sleeve  52 . The cylindrical tine  42  is then ready for operation. 
         [0036]    An onboard motor control valve (not shown) is provided on a motor vehicle carrying the implement  10  and selectively controls the flow of pressure fluid to, and exhaust fluid from, work/exhaust ports  266  and  268  of each of the hydraulic motors  208  and  210 , by way of pressure/exhaust conduits, including sections of flexible hoses (not shown) which are routed down through the hose guides  67  and then sideways through the transverse passage  76  from its inside end, with ends of the flexible hoses being connected to L-fittings joined to L-shaped pipes that lead through respective holes provided in the vertical plate  68 . Similarly, an onboard spike actuator control valve (not shown) selectively controls the flow of pressure fluid to, and exhaust fluid from the fitting  96  of the spike-engagement cylinder  80  by way of a pressure/exhaust conduit, including a flexible hose section which is routed down through the hose guides  67  similar to the hoses that supply and return fluid to the motors. A fitting couples the flexible hose section to a solid conduit (not shown) that goes through a hole provided in the plate  68  and routes along a left region of the support sleeve  52  through a notch  270  provided in the motor mounting plate  146 , through a notch  272  provided in each of the support bearing guide plates  156  and  162 , and through a notch  274  provided in each of the bearing race plates  158  and  160 . The flexible hose sections of the various fluid supply and return conduits for the motors  208  and  210  and the spike actuator  80  are of respective lengths chosen to accommodate sideways shifting movement of the conventional L-shaped fork tines  26  and  28  effected by the selective operation of the extensible and retractable hydraulic actuators  38  and  40 . 
         [0037]    In operation, assuming a starting condition wherein the vehicle carrying the implement  10  is positioned adjacent a powered wrapper slitting device located at an end of a cotton gin feeder floor and that a cylindrical bale of plastic wrapped cotton is supported on the powered cylindrical tines  42  and  44 . At this point, the spike actuator  80  will be in a non-pressurized condition wherein it and the spikes  126  are held in retracted conditions by the springs  130 , as show in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . If it is then desired to remove the plastic wrapping from the bale so as to empty the cotton onto the gin feeder floor, the vehicle supporting the implement  10  would be driven forward so that the slitting device slits the wrapper lengthwise of the bale. The operator would then actuate to spike control actuator  80  to cause the piston rod  88  to extend, thereby causing the spikes  126  to move radially outward through the holes  128  in the roller surface and to engage the plastic wrapping on the bale with enough aggressiveness to cause the wrapper to become wrapped about the cylindrical tines  42  and  44  when they are rotated, with it to be noted that outer ends of the spike are blunt and the amount of projection of the spikes outwardly of the cylindrical tine surfaces is sufficiently small so as not to cause the plastic wrap to be punctured (alternatively, the spikes could be sufficiently sharp so as to cleanly puncture through the plastic wrap without tearing off bits of plastic which may contaminate the cotton). Rotation of the cylindrical tines  42  and  44  is next initiated by selectively operating the motors  208  and  210 , associated with each of the powered rollers  42  and  44 , to cause the drive plates  150  and  152  to be driven to cause the associated cylindrical tines  42  and  44  to be respectively rotated counterclockwise and clockwise, as viewed from the front, by the action of the roller drive chain  240  and associated drive key  250 , with the fork actuators  38  and  40  then being actuated to cause the forks  26  and  28 , and hence, the cylindrical tines  42  and  44  to be separated for allowing the cotton to be expelled onto the floor by action of the plastic cover as its opposite ends become wrapped about the cylindrical tines, noting that, once wrapping of the wrapper about the cylindrical tines  42  and  44  commences, the spikes  126  will be retracted by effecting depressurization of the spike actuator  80 . After the cotton has been expelled, the vehicle is driven to a suitable wrapper collection bin and the operation of the set of motors  208  and  210  is reversed to cause the wrapping material to be unwrapped from the cylindrical tines  42  and  44  so that it drops into the collection bin. The bearing supports afforded by the bearing surface  98  of the spike actuator  80  and the rollers of the bearing roller chain  248  permit free rotation of the cylindrical rollers  42  and  44 . 
         [0038]    Thus, it will be appreciated that the adapter assembly  50  is a relatively simple structure which acts to convert the conventional, flat L-shaped tines  26  and  28  into an assembly for supporting and powering the cylindrical tines  42  and  44 , and for supporting a retractable spike arrangement for the rollers. 
         [0039]    Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.