The present invention concerns an apparatus for loosening fiber material packed in bales, comprising a conveyor region for conveying the fiber material along a conveyor direction. The conveyor region includes a feed portion, a buffer portion and a discharge portion. A first roller arrangement is arranged in the transitional region between the feed portion and the buffer portion and a second roller arrangement is arranged in the transitional region between the buffer portion and the discharge portion.

An apparatus for lifting, moving, and dispersing bales of material while retaining and separating wrap material from the baled material. The apparatus contains grasping features which are movable to grasp and release bales of various sizes. Grasping features further contain features to grasp and sever wrap material while minimally cutting the baled material.

Apparatus and methods for removing net wrap from a bale are described herein. The apparatus includes a frame configured to releasably mount to a vehicle and first and second opposed arms movably coupled to the frame. At least one of the first and second opposed arms moves between a retracted position where the arms support the bale and an extended position where the bale passes between the arms and falls downwardly. The apparatus also includes a cutting mechanism including a cutting element configured to cut the net wrap. The apparatus further includes at least one grabbing mechanism coupled to at least one of the first arm and the second arm to retain the net wrap after the net wrap has been cut by the cutting mechanism and the bale falls downwardly between the arms.

A retention mechanism for retaining an agricultural machine in engagement with a fork assembly. The mechanism may be provided on the fork assembly, agricultural machine or split between them. The retention mechanism may be actuated by a foot associated with either the fork assembly or the agricultural machine. The retention mechanism may employ pivoting latches or a clamping mechanism that clamps upon the forks or tines.

A wrap removal assembly includes an elongated support member extending along a central longitudinal axis and having an exterior surface. A snagging wire is disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the elongated support member and includes an active material changeable between a first shape and a second shape in response to a control signal. The snagging wire presents a catch spaced outward and away from the exterior surface when disposed in the first shape to snag the wrap material and gather the wrap material around the elongated support member. The snagging wire is positioned substantially flat against the exterior surface of the elongated support member when disposed in the second shape to release the wrap material and allow removal of the wrap material from the elongated support member.

A system for processing plant materials is described. The plant materials have at least plant stalks, and the plant stalks comprise at least bast fibers. The system has a crusher module for disrupting the plant materials without breaking or damaging the bast fibers thereof, thereby obtaining disrupted plant stalks and a first plant-remainder; a decorticator module coupled to the crusher module for separating the disrupted plant stalks into bast fibers as a first product and a second plant-remainder; and a screening module coupled to the decorticator module for separating at least the second plant-remainder to microfibers and hurds as a second and a third product, respectively.

A net wrap recovery device that removes net wrap from large round bales of hay attached to commercial hay bale unrollers using one or more pins. The Net Wrap Removal Device mechanically automates the unwrapping of polymeric hay bale wrapping from a wrapped hay bale in one piece quickly and with a minimum of effort. The embodiments then allow the operator to simultaneously gather and store the net wrap on a disposable spool without dismounting from the tractor seat or leaving the operator station. The disposable spool can then be easily removed from the embodiments and disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. A new spool is then quickly and easily installed in its place.

Processing of baled material includes a bale opening stage, a separation stage, and a decortication stage. The bale opener features a conveyor moving incoming bales toward a toothed extractor with an array of teeth driven on a revolutionary path moving upwardly past the adjacent end of the conveyor to rake through the bale and extract material therefrom. The conveyor tilts upward reduce a working angle between the conveyor and the toothed extractor to urge the shrinking bale toward the moving teeth. A separation stage features multiple sets of vertically stacked, counter-rotating rollers with different characteristics from one set to the next. A decorticator has an external container, an internal drum rotatably supported therein, and an array of teeth on the drum. Driven rotation of the internal drum spins the fibrous stalks around the internal drum and impacts the fibrous stalks against surrounding interior wall surfaces of the external container.

A grappler for a utility implement for handling bales includes a pivot frame, at least one support arm coupled to the pivot frame, and a selectively movable cutting device. The grappler forms part of a utility implement along with a bucket such that the grappler is movable with respect to the bucket.

A net wrap recovery device that removes net wrap from large round bales of hay attached to commercial hay bale unrollers using one or more pins. The Net Wrap Removal Device mechanically automates the unwrapping of polymeric hay bale wrapping from a wrapped hay bale in one piece quickly and with a minimum of effort. The embodiments then allow the operator to simultaneously gather and store the net wrap on a disposable spool without dismounting from the tractor seat or leaving the operator station. The disposable spool can then be easily removed from the embodiments and disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. A new spool is then quickly and easily installed in its place.