Abstract:
An un-baling system for transforming substantially rectangular bales of farm product into smaller substantiality rectangular sized bales of farm products. The un-baling system incorporates a first rail mounted conveyor subsystem connected to a first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem. The first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem is connected to a platform conveyor subsystem in such a way as to enable the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem to convey the farm product to the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem wherein the farm product is thrashed. The thrashed farm product is gravity fed onto the platform conveyor subsystem. The platform conveyor subsystem then feeds the thrashed farm product into the baling machine. A plurality of un-baling systems may be ganged together to further increase the volume of production in transforming large substantially rectangular bales of farm products into smaller substantiality rectangular sized bales of farm products.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/441,092 filed on Jan. 17, 2003. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates, in general, to a system for un-baling farm products. In particular, the invention relates to a system for transforming large substantially rectangular bales of farm products into substantially smaller rectangular sized bales of farm products. More particularly, the invention relates to a system of conveyors and adjustable thrashing mechanisms working in concert with a plurality of hydraulic motors under the control of an operator to transform large substantially rectangular bales of farm products into substantially smaller rectangular sized bales of farm products. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The baling of farm products along with farming has changed over the years. At the turn of century the number of farmers or farm workers, as compared to the number of industry or factory workers, was quite large. There was a large segment of the labor force actively engaged in farming and many were engaged in the baling of farm products. Farming was labor intensive and there was a large labor force available to bale farm products. The cost of labor was relatively low compared to the cost of the baled farm product. As the economy expanded the need for factory workers increased. Competing resources drew from the large labor pool thus draining the available farm labor from the labor pool. 
   As the labor pool shrank the need to mechanize farming increased to provide the same or increased productivity with less direct farm labor. One solution to mechanize farming is to store farm products in a compact state. For example, large volumes of farm product such as hay may be harvested directly from the windrows in the fields. Large volumes of hay are tightly compacted into large substantially rectangular bales. The hay may then be stored and later re-baled into a more workable or convenient bale size. The economies of scale in this approach are self-evident. The bigger the substantially rectangular bales of hay the lower the labor cost of an individual rectangular bale. 
   To preserve the economies of scale, the un-baling of the farm product must be done by a labor saving re-baling machine. Attempts in the past have been made to preserve the economies of scale by un-baling the farm product into a hopper. The hopper would then feed the farm product into a chamber. The chamber would grind and mix the farm product prior to its being formed into smaller sized bales. The caveat to this approach is that not all large rectangular bales of farm product are compacted with the same consistency. Farm products may be harvested at various times during the harvest season and under various climatic conditions. The large rectangular bales of farm product may be in storage for various lengths of time before being re-baled. Large rectangular bales of farm product of various consistencies may stall or choke the mixer or grinder thus requiring labor to service the machinery involved. This effort is high maintenance and does not produce the economies of scale desired in transforming large rectangular bales of farm product into small sized bales. 
   Other attempts to resolve the problems of efficiently transforming large rectangular bales of farm product into smaller bales include the additions of various chambers in the baling process. The chambers have various types of augers, rollers and thrashers that attempt to separate the farm product prior to compacting it into smaller bales. The caveat to this approach is that the augers, rollers, and thrashers tend to be unidirectional. The variation in large rectangular bales of farm product consistency is not accommodated. If the consistency of the large rectangular bales of farm product is such that it is tightly wound or wet, the unidirection of the augers, rollers, and thrashers do not separate the farm product. The un-separated farm product generally has to be manually removed or manually separated in the chamber before the processing of the large rectangular bales of farm product may continue. 
   It would be desirable to have a system for baling farm products that would allow a minimum expenditure of labor to operate and produce smaller baled farm products from larger baled farm products. The system would be able to accommodate various consistencies of large baled farm products i.e., tightly wrapped bales, loosely wrapped bales, or wet and matted bales of farm product. The system would also provide multidirectional capabilities to enable an operator of the system to maneuver the large rectangular bales of farm product in the forward or reverse direction. The aerating and thrashing of the farm product would be under operator control thus enabling the operator to accommodate for varying degrees of consistency (as discussed above) disposed within a particular large rectangular bale of farm product. Transforming large rectangular bales of farm products into smaller substantially rectangular sized bales of farm products would no longer rely on labor intensive methods to unfurl the larger baled farm products or on mechanisms primarily designed to grind and compact rather than separate and aerate. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The farming industry is well aware of the importance of containing cost in the production of farm products. Cost containment and the management of farm labor may very well be the core elements in making a successful harvest. Farmers have a multitude of challenges and adversities facing them every day. These adversities and challenges range from weather, diminishing labor pool, equipment malfunction, and many more to numerous to mention. 
   The common thread that runs through all of these challenges and adversities is cost containment and management of farm labor. The challenges and adversities the farmer experiences in the course of a season generally determine whether the farmer will be in business the following season. The need for farm labor is seasonal. Farm labor generally peaks one or more times a year during planting and/or harvesting of farm products. Harvesting of farm products generally occurs in a short time period and amassing the farm labor to harvest crops all at the same time is not practical or possible. The problem, of course is cost, containment and management of farm labor. 
   The present invention provides a solution to cost containment and management of farm labor after the harvest season. The present invention provides the farmer with a means to very quickly process farm products that have been harvested in bulk and stored at various times during the year. An example of harvesting a farm product in bulk is the well-known process of harvesting hay by compacting it into large substantially rectangular bales rather than into smaller more traditional size bales. The economies of scale are self evident. The harvesting of farm products in bulk reduces the over all cost of harvesting and reduces the dependency on great numbers of farm laborers i.e., cost containment and management of farm labor. 
   The present invention transforms bulk farm products like large substantially rectangular bales of hay that were stored or recently harvested into more suitably sized bales. The present invention is a farm product un-baling system comprising a plurality of subsystems. The subsystems of the present invention are a first rail mounted conveyor subsystem, a first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem, a spring-loaded retarding mechanism, a platform conveyor subsystem and a baling machine. 
   The first rail mounted conveyor subsystem is mechanically connected in-line to the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem. The first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem is mechanically connected at a right-angle to the platform conveyor subsystem which is mechanically connected in-line with the baling machine. The spring loaded retarding mechanism is suspended over and connected to the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem. A plurality of un-baling systems may, if desired, be ganged together to increase the economies of scale of un-baling large substantially rectangular bales of farm product and then re-baling into smaller sized rectangular bales. 
   A loading conveyor subsystem may, if desired, be connected to the present invention to aid in loading the suitably sized farm product bales onto the truck. The conveyor subsystem is a freestanding pivotal conveyor with a telescoping adjustable extension. The movement of the conveyor subsystem allows repositioning of the conveyor during the loading of the suitably sized farm product bales onto the truck. 
   In operation, a large substantially rectangular bale of farm product is positioned on the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem and/or the subsequent second rail mounted conveyor subsystem with the bale facing forward as determined by the clockwise curvature of the lower portion of the bale. The bottom portion of the bale engages the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem. The clockwise curvature is facing towards the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem. The operator commands the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem to propel the substantially rectangular bale forward. The forward end or front end of bale engages the spring-loaded retarding mechanism. The spring-loaded retarding mechanisms holds the top portion of the bale of farm product in-place as the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem engages the lower portion of the bale of farm product. 
   The first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem may, if desired, be pivoted in relation to the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem to enable the operator to select the position for the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem that is best suited for the particulate comprising the bale of farm product. Under operator control, the substantially rectangular bale of farm product begins to break apart as it is propelled towards the thrashing action of the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem. After the thrashing action the un-baled and thrashed farm product is gravity fed to the platform conveyor subsystem. The platform conveyor subsystem propels the thrashed farm product towards the baling machine wherein the baling machine transforms the thrashed farm product into suitably sized bales. The suitably sized bales are transported along the loading conveyor subsystem to be loaded by operator onto the truck. If desired the suitably sized bales may be stacked and/or stored in any convenient arrangement or configuration in any convenient facility. 
   When taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims, other features and advantages of the present invention become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures of which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top level systems view diagram of the present invention, 
       FIG. 2   a  illustrates a perspective view diagram of an interconnected first rail mounted conveyor subsystem, a first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem and a platform conveyor subsystem of  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 2   b  illustrates a perspective view diagram of a bale of farm product positioned on the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem of  FIG. 2   a,    
       FIG. 3   a  illustrates a side view diagram of a first position of the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem, thrashing the farm product of  FIG. 2   b,    
       FIG. 3   b  illustrates a side view diagram of a second position of the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem, thrashing the farm product of  FIG. 2   b,    
       FIG. 3   c  illustrates a side view diagram of the interior portion of the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem of  FIG. 2   a,    
       FIG. 4   a  illustrates a front view diagram of a spring-loaded retarding mechanism of  FIG. 2   a,    
       FIG. 4   b  illustrates a side view diagram of the spring-loaded retarding mechanism of  FIG. 4   a,    
       FIG. 4   c  illustrates a perspective view diagram of the spring-loaded retarding mechanism of  FIG. 4   a,    
       FIG. 5   a  illustrates a front view diagram of a first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  FIG. 2   a,    
       FIG. 5   b  illustrates a perspective view diagram of a rectangular shearing panel of  FIG. 5   a,    
       FIG. 5   c  illustrates a perspective view diagram of one of a plurality of serrated teeth of  FIG. 5   b,    
       FIG. 6   a  illustrates a front view diagram of the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem of  FIG. 2   a,    
       FIG. 6   b  illustrates a perspective view diagram of the chain drive mechanism of the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem of  FIG. 2   a,    
       FIG. 6   c  illustrates a perspective view diagram of one of a plurality of tabs of  FIG. 6   b.    
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Before describing in detail the particular improved system for baling farm products in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the invention resides primarily in a novel structural combination of conventional farm equipment, discrete subsystems or subassembly components, associated control of the aforementioned farm equipment and components, and not in the particular detailed configuration thereof. Accordingly, the structure, command, control and arrangement of these conventional components and subassemblies have, for the most part, been illustrated in the drawings by readily understandable diagram representations and schematic diagrams. The drawings show only those specific details that are pertinent to the present invention in order not to obscure the disclosure with structural details which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein. For example, a farm product baling machine  11 ,  FIG. 1  has numerous connections to the present invention  10 . Various portions of the baling machine&#39;s  11  connections to the present invention  10  have been simplified in order to emphasize those portions that are most pertinent to the invention. Thus, the top level system diagram and schematic diagram illustrations of the Figures do not necessarily represent the mechanical structural arrangement of the exemplary system, and are primarily intended to illustrate major hardware structural components of the system in a convenient functional grouping whereby the present invention may be more readily understood. 
   An overview of the present invention  10 ,  FIG. 1 : The present invention  10  is a system for un-baling farm product. Any type of farm product that may be baled may be used in conjunction with the present invention  10 . An example of farm product is a forage plant cut and dried for animal feed commonly referred to as hay. The hay, in this example, has been previously baled into substantially large rectangular bales. Any size of rectangular bale or consistency of the particulate forming the farm product may be used with the present invention  10 . The farm product delineated herein and generally baled is the product of pressing particulate matter by a plunger mounted within a baling machine&#39;s compacting chamber. The plunger has a repetitive action i.e., the plunger moves forward pressing the particulate matter into flakes. The size of the flakes are derived from the plunger interval. For example, a plunger interval of 90 strokes per minute produces a flake of approximately 4 inches in depth. The present invention  10  may, if desired, process flakes produced from plunger intervals of 50 to 120 strokes per minute. The plurality of flakes produced by this method are aligned front to back to form a complete bale of farm product. 
   Each flake produced by the plunging action produces a discernable curvature on the bottom portion of the bale. For example, the farm product bale  21 ,  FIG. 2   b  comprises a plurality of front to back aligned flakes  57 . Each flake&#39;s lower portion has a discernable clockwise curvature  58 . The clockwise curvature  58  is produced from the plunger motion in concert with the plunging chamber. This particular rectangular farm product bale  21  size is eight feet by four feet by three feet with 4-inch flakes  57  wherein all flakes  57  have a clockwise curvature  58  on the bottom portion. The size of the bale is selected for shipping purposes i.e., road and bridge weight and height restrictions. Further, the rectangular farm product bale  21  was baled in this selected size to reduce labor costs. The rectangular farm product bale at its final destination is re-baled into smaller bales for handling purpose. 
   The farm product un-baling system of the present invention  10 ,  FIG. 1  may, if desired, be composed of any number of individual subsystems or subassemblies. If desired, the present invention  10  may be expanded into multiple systems for un-baling farm products with all systems controlled from one system control station  19 . The present invention  10  may, if desired, be mounted onto any surface that allows the normal operation. The present invention  10  may, for example, be located in the fields where the harvested farm products can be baled. The present invention  10  may also be located in a barn or shed wherein farm product is transported to the present invention for processing. 
   The subsystems of the present invention  10 ,  FIG. 1  are a first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12 , a first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13 , a spring-loaded retarding mechanism  45 , a platform conveyor subsystem  14  and a baling machine  11 . The first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12  is mechanically connected in-line to the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13 . The first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13  is mechanically connected at a right-angle to the platform conveyor subsystem  14  which is mechanically connected in-line with the baling machine  11 . The spring loaded retarding mechanism  45  is suspended over and connected to the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13 . 
   A second rail mounted conveyor subsystem  15 ,  FIG. 1  is a mirror image of the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12 . The mounting or positioning of the second rail mounted conveyor subsystem  15  may, if desired, be identical to and oppositely spaced from the position or mounting of the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12 . The second rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  16  is a mirror image of the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13 . The mounting or positioning of the second rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  16  may, if desired, be identical to and oppositely spaced from the position or mounting of the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13 . A second spring-loaded retarding mechanism  38  is positioned in concert with the second rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  16 . The functioning of the two spring-loaded retarding mechanisms  38  and  45  respectively, is the same. The second rail mounted conveyor subsystem  15  and the second conveyor-thrasher  16  provide additional processing support for the farm product  22 , i.e., baled farm product  22  may be loaded into the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12  and the baled farm product  21  may be loaded onto the second rail mounted conveyor subsystem  15 . 
   The baling machine  11 ,  FIG. 1  re-bales the farm product bale  21  and/or  22  into suitably sized farm product bales  26  for handling by an operator  24  or transporting via any convenient vehicle such as a truck  25 . The baling machine  11 ,  FIG. 1  may, if desired, be any type of baling mechanism that receives the un-baled farm product  27  from the platform conveyor subsystem  14  and transforms or bales the un-baled farm product  27  into suitably sized farm product bales  26 . The size of the bales is a matter of convenience and may range in size depending on the intended storage and transportation of the baled farm products  21  or  22 . A typical example of baling machine  11  is manufactured by John Deere, Model 348. 
   A loading conveyor subsystem  18 ,  FIG. 1 , may, if desired, be connected to the present invention  10  to aid in the loading of the suitably sized farm product bales  26  onto the truck  25 . The conveyor subsystem  18 ,  FIG. 1 , is a freestanding pivotal conveyor with a telescoping adjustable extension. The movement of the conveyor subsystem  18  allows repositioning of the conveyor during the loading of the suitable size farm product bales  26  onto the truck  25 . 
   The operational control of the present invention  10 ,  FIG. 1 , is provided by a plurality of driving or propelling mechanisms attached or connected to the various subsystems, conveyors, pumps and the like. Any number of driving or propelling mechanisms may be used in conjunction with the normal operation of the present invention  10  to allow it to operate normally. The driving or propelling mechanisms may, if desired, be electrical, mechanical, hydraulic or any other suitable forms of power that allow the present invention  10  to operate normally. 
   In operation the above discussed present invention  10 ,  FIG. 1  has an operator  23  positioned at the controls of system control station  19  that command the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12  to begin moving the farm product bale  21 . The farm product bale  21  is conveyed to the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13  where it is thrashed. The operator  23  may, if desired, manipulate the controls of the system control station  19  to actively change the conveying motion of the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12  and the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13  from the forward to a reverse direction to aid in the un-baling of the farm product. 
   The un-baled farm product  27 ,  FIG. 1  is gravity fed to the platform conveyor subsystem  14  where the un-baled farm product  27  is re-baled by the baling machine  11 . The platform conveyer subsystem  14 , as with the other subsystems disclosed herein, may be commanded or operated in the forward or reverse direction by the operator  23  to aid in the baling of the un-baled farm product  27 . The re-baled suitably sized farm product  26  may, if desired, be loaded onto awaiting vehicles or stacked nearby. 
   A single operator  23 ,  FIG. 1  may, if desired, be positioned at the controls of system control station  19  to operate any combination of the multiple subsystems of the present invention  10 . An example of multiple farm product baling is a second rail mounted conveyor subsystem  15  suitably positioned in relation to the conveyor platform subsystem  14 . This position may, if desired, be aligned with the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12 . The second rail mounted conveyor subsystem  15  is mechanically connected to a second rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  16 . The second rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  16  is mechanically connected to a conveyor platform subsystem  14 . 
   The baled farm product  21 ,  FIG. 1  may, if desired, be retrieved from storage by a farm vehicle or tractor  20 . The tractor  20  suitably positions the baled farm product  21  into the second rail mounted conveyor subsystem  15 . The operator  23 , positioned at the controls of system control station  19 , commands the second rail mounted conveyor subsystem  15  to begin moving the baled farm product  22 . The baled farm product  22  is conveyed to the second rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  16  where it is thrashed. The operator  23  may, if desired, manipulate the controls of the system control station  19  to actively move the conveying motion of the second rail mounted conveyor subsystem  15  and second rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  16  in the forward and reverse directions to aid in the un-baling of the baled farm product  22 . 
   The un-baled farm product  27 ,  FIG. 1  is gravity fed to the platform conveyor subsystem  14  where the farm product  22  is re-baled by the baling machine  11 . After re-baling, the baling machine  11  ejects the re-baled farm product  26  from the baler to be loaded onto awaiting vehicles or stacked nearby. The re-baling of the baled farm products  21  and/or  22  may, if desired, be identical. The second rail mounted conveyor subsystem  15  and second rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  16  are mirror images of the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12  and the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13 . They both feed the baled farm product  21  or  22  to the platform conveyor subsystem  14  and into the baling machine  11 . 
   A re-circulating subsystem  17 ,  FIG. 1 , may, if desired, be connected to the present invention  10  to alleviate dust and/or particles distributed in or near the operation of the present invention  10 . During the normal operation of the present invention  10 , farm product particles are generated and may be hazardous to the attending operator&#39;s health and destructive to associated machinery. 
   Any number of the above discussed subsystems of the present invention  10 ,  FIG. 1  may be ganged in series or connected in parallel to un-bale large rectangular farm products and then re-bale the farm products into smaller bales. The present invention  10  as discussed herein may, if desired, be combined with or implemented in conjunction with U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,026. The aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,026 and the present invention  10  were invented by the same inventor T. W. Simpson. The U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,026 is included herein by reference. 
   A more detailed discussion of the subsystems of the present invention  10   FIG. 2   a : The first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12  is substantially rectangular comprising two parallel rail housings  30  and  31 . The parallel rail housings  30  and  31  extend the length of the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12 . The parallel rail housings  30  and  31  are mounted to a plurality of cross-members  32  and  33 . Although cross members  32  and  33  are the only cross-members illustrated, it is understood any number of cross-members may, if desired, be used to support the parallel rail housings  30  and  31 . Each of the parallel rail housings  30  and  31  have a pair of oppositely spaced cog-pulleys  34  and  35 . Each pair of oppositely spaced cog-pulleys  34  and  35  has a chain  36  and  37 ,  FIG. 6   b  positioned about the respective cog-pulleys. Mounted onto each of the chains  36  and  37  are a plurality of spaced apart substantially rectangular tabs  28  each having a top surface  29  and a bottom surface  100 ,  FIG. 6   c . Each tab&#39;s top surface  29  is facing upwards away from its respective chain position. The baled farm product  21  or  22  is positioned on the plurality of tabs&#39;  28  top surfaces  29 . The top surface  29  supports the weight of the baled farm product  21  or  22 . The tabs  28  engaged the bottom surface of the baled farm product  21  or  22  and in concert with the chains  36  and  37  propel the bales in a forward or reverse direction along the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12 . The chains  36  and  37  are hydraulic driven and the forward and reverse movement of the respective chains is under the control of the operator  23 . One end of each of the parallel rail housings  30  and  31  respectively is mounted to the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13 . 
   The first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13 ,  FIG. 2   a  is a substantially rectangular housing  42  pivotally mounted at  101  and  102 ,  FIG. 5   a  to parallel rails  39  and  40 , respectively. The parallel rails  39  and  40 ,  FIG. 5   a  have a cross-member  41  mounted thereon. The cross-member  41  is the connection vehicle to the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12 . The substantially rectangular housing  42 ,  FIG. 2   a  comprises two parallel rail housings  47  and  48 . The parallel rail housings  47  and  48  are mounted to a plurality of cross-members that extend the length of the substantially rectangular housing  42 . Each of the parallel rail housings  47  and  48  has a pair of oppositely spaced cog-pulleys  49  and  56 ,  FIG. 3   c . A chain  51 ,  FIG. 5   a  is positioned about the first pair of cog-pulleys  49  and  56  of rail housings  47  and a second chain  52  is positioned about the second pair of cog-pulleys  59  (not shown) and  60  of rail housings  48 . Mounted onto each of the chains  51  and  52  is a plurality of spaced apart slats  53 ,  FIG. 5   a . The spacing  61 , between the slats  53  may, if desired, be any convenient distance. The spaced apart slats  53  are mounted parallel to the direction of travel of the conveyor. The conveyor comprising a plurality of flat substantially rectangular panels. Each rectangular panel being hinged to the adjoining rectangular panel. The plurality of hinged together, rectangular panels forms a continuous belt operationally connected to chain  51 . Each of the slats  53  has a plurality of outwardly extending teeth  54  that engage the bottom portion of the farm product  21  or  22 . The plurality of teeth  54  may, if desired, be arranged in any convenient pattern to facilitate the unbaling of the farm product  21  or  22 . Typically, one slat  53  containing a plurality of the teeth  54  is separated from a subsequent slat  53  containing a plurality of the teeth  54  by a blank slat  63 . The teeth  54  on any given slat  53  are offset from subsequent rows of teeth  54  on slats  53 . 
   A substantially rectangular panel  55 ,  FIG. 2   a  is mounted above the plurality of spaced apart slats  53  at a right-angle to a pair of screened sidewalls  65  and  66  mounted onto the substantially rectangular housing  42 . The rectangular panel  55 ,  FIG. 5   b  has a plurality of elongated bars  67  facing the spaced apart slats  53 . Each elongated bar  67  has a plurality of serrated teeth  68  mounted thereto. The serrated teeth  68 ,  FIG. 5   c  are triangular in shape and may, if desired, have any convenient number of serrations disposed thereon. The serrated teeth  68  are selectively positioned along each bar to provide, in concert with the outwardly extending teeth  54 , a scissor or shearing action to the farm product thereby thrashing apart the bale  21  or  22 . 
   The first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13 ,  FIG. 3   a  may, if desired, pivot in relation to the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12 . The first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13  has a pair of pivot actuators  70  connected to the parallel rails  39  and  40 . The pivot actuators  70  provide the pivot action to positionally adjust the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13  from a first position  69  to a second position  71 ,  FIG. 3   b  or any position therebetween. This pivot action enables the operator  23  to control the angle of engagement between the substantially rectangular housing  42  and the advancing bale of farm product  21  or  22 . If the advancing bale of farm product  21  or  22  has a consistency that does not permit maximum positioning of the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13  in relation to the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12  the operator  23  may, if desired, adjust the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13  to enable maximum un-baling efficiency. 
   The spring-loaded retarding mechanism  45 ,  FIG. 4   a  is formed from a pair of substantially L-shaped members  43  and  44  and an adjustable cross-member  72  connected therebetween. The cross-member  72  may, if desired, be adjusted along the upright portion of the substantially L-shaped members  43  and  44  by adjusters  73  and  74 ,  FIG. 4   c . The positioning of the adjusters  73  and  74  along the substantially L-shaped members  43  and  44  is selective according to the size of the baled farm product  21  or  22 . The spring-loaded retarding mechanism  45  has a plurality of elongated members  75  that are connected along the cross-member  72 . Each elongated member  75  has a coiled spring  76  connected to one end. The other ends of the elongated members  75  extends downward in the same plane as the upright portion of the L-shaped members  43  and  44 . The spring-loaded retarding mechanism  45  is positioned to selectively engage the top portion of the bale of farm product  21  or  22 . For example, as the bale of farm product  21 ,  FIG. 4   b  advances forward, the leading edge engages the spring-loaded retarding mechanism  45 . The spring-loaded retarding mechanism  45  retards the movement of the top portion of the bale of farm product  21  thereby allowing the bottom portion of the bale to engage the teeth  54  of the slats  53 . 
   The platform conveyor subsystem  14 ,  FIG. 6   a  is connected to the first conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13  and the baling machine  11 . The first conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13  is mounted on a pair of parallel elongated C-shaped members  77  and  78 . The elongated C-shaped members  77  and  78  have a plurality of cross-members  79  connected therebetween supporting the platform conveyor subsystem  14 . The platform conveyor subsystem  14  is chain driven by a pair of chains  80  and  81 . The chains  80  and  81  are connected to a series of panels  83  forming a continuous belt  82  that extend the length of the platform conveyor subsystem  14 . The top surface of the belt  82  receives the thrashed farm product  27 . The thrashed farm product  27  is fed into the baling machine  11 . The baling machine  11  (as discussed above) transforms the thrashed farm product  27  into suitably sized bales  26 . 
   In operation, the baled farm product  21 ,  FIG. 2   b  may, if desired, be positioned on the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12  in any convenient manner. Preferably, the baled farm product  21 ,  FIG. 2   b  is positioned on the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12  with the bale&#39;s flakes  57  lower portion&#39;s clockwise curvature  58  engaging the tabs  28  of the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12 . The clockwise curvature  58  is facing towards the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13 . The operator  23  commands the forward motion of the first rail mounted conveyor subsystem  12 . The tabs mounted onto the continuous chains  36  and  37  of the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13  engage the farm product bale  21  propelling the farm product forward. The forward end or front end of bale  21  engages the spring-loaded retarding mechanism  45 . The spring-loaded retarding mechanisms  45  holds the top portion of the bale of farm product  21  in-place as the first rail mounted conveyor-thrasher subsystem  13  engages the lower portion of the bale of farm product  21  via the slat&#39;s  53  plurality of outwardly extending teeth  54 . The operator  23  selects a suitable position  69  through  71  that is best suited to the particulate comprising the bale of farm product  21 . The flakes  57  are propelled towards the thrashing action of the serrated teeth  68  in concert with the outwardly extending teeth  54 . The un-baled and thrashed farm product  27  is gravity fed to the platform conveyor subsystem  14 . The platform conveyor subsystem  14  propels the thrashed farm product  27  towards the baling machine  11  wherein the baling machine  11  transforms the thrashed farm product  27  into suitably sized bales  26 . The suitably sized bales  26  are transported along the loading conveyor subsystem  18  to be loaded by operator  24  onto the truck  25 . If desired the suitably sized bales  26  may be stacked and stored in any convenient arrangement or configuration in any convenient facility. 
   Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims, means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.