A straw processing system includes a straw pickup assembly, a straw chopper, and a straw distribution system. The straw pickup assembly picks up straw and passes it to the straw chopper for producing a straw feed stream flowing in a feed direction. The straw distribution system has a chamber with a feed inlet for receiving the straw feed stream, a central outlet, and at least a first outlet. The straw distribution system diverts at least a first fraction of straw from the straw feed into the first outlet in a first direction which is divergent from the feed direction. The central outlet discharges a fraction of the straw feed stream that continues to flow in the feed direction.

A method of loading bales into a bale processing chamber of a bale processor. The bale processing chamber is mounted on a chamber frame mounted on wheels for travel on a ground surface in a forward operating travel direction. A bale fork is pivotally mounted on the chamber frame such that in a lowered position the bale fork is oriented substantially horizontally and rests on the ground surface. The chamber frame is moved rearward such that the bale fork slides under a bale resting on the ground surface with a bale axis oriented substantially horizontally in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the operating travel direction. The bale fork and the bale supported thereon are raised above the ground surface. The bale fork is turned such that the bale axis turns to a second direction substantially parallel to the operating travel direction while maintaining the bale rearward of the bale processing chamber. The bale fork is raised to a raised position where the bale falls into the bale processing chamber with the bale axis oriented in the second direction.

The invention relates to a bale breaker (1) for a bale (2) of hay, straw, litter and/or fodder, comprising support means (3) for the bale (2) and breaker means (4) adapted to detach hay, straw, litter and/or fodder from a bale (2) provided on the support means (3) and to transport it to discharge means (5) arranged downstream of the breaker means (4), wherein feed means (6) for feeding a bale (2) provided on the support means (3) in a feed direction (Z) toward the disintegrating means (4) are associated with the support means (3), and wherein feed drive means (7) for driving the feed means (6) and disintegrating drive means (8) for driving the disintegrating means (4) are further provided, wherein control devices (9) are associated with the feed drive devices (7) and/or the opening drive devices (8) and/or the discharge devices (5), which are designed to control the feed drive devices (7) and/or the opening drive devices (8) and/or the discharge devices (5) in such a way that a malfunction or disturbance, such as in particular a jam or a blockage by the bale (2), in particular at the opening devices (4) and/or the discharge devices (5), is avoided or eliminated. Furthermore, the invention relates to a bale unraveling method in which a bale (2) of hay, straw, litter and/or fodder is transported on support devices (3) by means of their feed devices (6) driven by feed drive devices (7) to unraveling devices (4) driven by unraveling drive devices (8), which unravel hay, straw, litter and/or fodder from the bale (2) and transport it to output devices (5), wherein the feed drive devices (7) and/or the unraveling drive devices (8) and/or the dispensing devices (5) are controlled by means of control devices (9) in such a way that a malfunction or disturbance, such as in particular a jam or a blockage by the bale (2), in particular at the unraveling devices (4) and/or the dispensing devices (5), is avoided or eliminated.

An apparatus for disintegrating large rectangular bales of forage or bedding material and reforming the disintegrated material into small rectangular bales includes an inclined conveyor having spikes projecting therefrom to remove slices of material from the large bale and a spiked roller to move the slice rearwardly onto a tumbler bed that receives the slice and affects disintegration thereof. The tumbler bed includes a plurality of transverse assemblies having disks interleaving with the disks on adjacent assemblies, each assembly rotating faster than the assembly immediately forwardly thereof. The disintegrated material falls through the tumbler bed as discrete components that land on a collecting conveyor that conveys the material rearwardly to a small rectangular baler for repackaging. The apparatus further includes a hold-down mechanism that presses the slices toward the tumbler bed to enhance disintegration. An approach conveyor feeds the large rectangular bales loaded thereon to the inclined conveyor for processing.

A three-point bale spreader attachable to a tractor includes an arm capable of lifting a bale into a processing chamber. A pair of rotors with a plurality of flail knives is rotated to shred the bale. A conveyor feeds the bale into the rotating rotors, while a door can be opened to varying degrees to allow the shredded material to exit the bale spreader.

A method of loading bales into a bale processing chamber of a bale processor. The bale processing chamber is mounted on a chamber frame mounted on wheels for travel on a ground surface in a forward operating travel direction. A bale fork is pivotally mounted on the chamber frame such that in a lowered position the bale fork is oriented substantially horizontally and rests on the ground surface. The chamber frame is moved rearward such that the bale fork slides under a bale resting on the ground surface with a bale axis oriented substantially horizontally in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the operating travel direction. The bale fork and the bale supported thereon are raised above the ground surface. The bale fork is turned such that the bale axis turns to a second direction substantially parallel to the operating travel direction while maintaining the bale rearward of the bale processing chamber. The bale fork is raised to a raised position where the bale falls into the bale processing chamber with the bale axis oriented in the second direction.

A device for spraying bulk or piecemeal products includes a casing with a rotary spraying organ and a lateral ejection opening prolonged by a spout. The rotary organ includes radial vanes designed to form a material jet directed along the axis of the spout, with generation of a carrier air stream. The ejection opening is provided with a bounding rim disposed on that side of the opening which is last to be reached by the outer peripheral ends of the vanes in the course of their rotation during operational functioning of the device. The spraying device also includes an active and mobile organ, designed for directing the products that come into contact with it through the opening, into the spout and substantially into the jet of ejected material. The active and mobile organ is disposed in the region of the rim.

A conveying arrangement conveys loose material in a conveying direction, in particular agricultural material. Several knives of a cutting assembly are mounted below a cutting area guiding surface. The material is first conveyed along the cutting area guiding surface and afterwards along a further guiding surface. Both guiding surfaces are mechanically supported by a connecting assembly. A positioning mechanism can pivot the connecting assembly upwards and downwards. This pivotal movement causes both guiding surfaces to be moved upwards and downwards. The cutting area guiding surface together with the cutting assembly can be shifted laterally, i.e. perpendicular to the conveying direction, and is guided during this lateral movement.

A conveying arrangement conveys loose material in a conveying direction, in particular agricultural material. Several knives of a cutting assembly are mounted below a cutting area guiding surface. The material is first conveyed along the cutting area guiding surface and afterwards along a further guiding surface. Both guiding surfaces are mechanically supported by a connecting assembly. A positioning mechanism can pivot the connecting assembly upwards and downwards. This pivotal movement causes both guiding surfaces to be moved upwards and downwards. The cutting area guiding surface together with the cutting assembly can be shifted laterally, i.e. perpendicular to the conveying direction, and is guided during this lateral movement.

A bale splitter attachment for use with a bale including a frame comprising a frame base and a cutting arm rotatably connected to the frame base at a pivot, the rotatable cutting arm comprising an elongate blade, the frame base and the rotatable cutting arm together defining a bay to receive the bale; a powered actuation device comprising a first end connected to the frame base and a second end connected to the rotatable cutting arm at a connection point, the powered actuation device arranged to apply cutting force in a pulling arrangement; and a hook apparatus connected to the frame, the hook apparatus comprising a plurality of hooks.