Apparatus and method for cutting twine wound about a bale

Abstract

An apparatus and method for severing twine from a bale supported by one or more grapple arms and bucket of a tractor is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a slide bar mounted to at least one grapple arm, the tines, or the bucket. The slide bar has a first end and a second end, and a blade riding on the slide bar, the blade oriented on the slide bar so that the blade contacts portion of the twine as the blade moves along the slide bar. A motor coupled to the blade for controllably moves the blade along the slide bar. The motor can be a reversible dc motor controllable by a switch, or a hydraulic motor. The twine about the bale can be cut without the need for the farmer to leave the driver's compartment of the tractor.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for severing twine from a bale supported by one or more grapple arms of a tractor, comprising: 
 a slide bar mounted to at least one grapple arm, the slide bar having a first end and a second end;    a blade riding on the slide bar, the blade oriented on the slide bar so that the blade contacts portion of the twine as the blade moves along the slide bar; and    a motor coupled to the blade for controllably moving the blade along the slide bar.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the slide bar has a generally U-shaped cross-section with a top portion and a bottom portion, and the slide bar has a channel formed along the top portion.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a slide block connected to the blade, the slide block-adapted to slide within the channel along the slide bar while supporting the blade.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a visual indicator indicating the position of the blade relative to the slide bar.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is a reversible dc motor controllable by a switch.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first and second sprocket, said first sprocket coupled to said slide bar about said first end, and said second sprocket coupled to said slide bar about said second end, said first sprocket coupled to said motor for rotating said first sprocket about a fixed axis;    a chain connecting said first sprocket to said second sprocket, said blade coupled to said chain for movement of the blade along the slide bar.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said slide bar has a slot for receiving a bolt, and said second sprocket is mounted to said slide bar through the bolt, and the sprocket rotates about the bolt.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a substantially U-shaped tensioning bracket mounted about the second end of the slide bar, the bracket having first and second opposing legs coupled to a base portion, each leg having axially aligned opening for receiving said bolt, the base having an opening for receiving a tensioning bolt for adjusting the tension of the chain about the sprockets.    
     
     
         10 . A tractor, comprising: 
 a driver's compartment having a set of controls for controlling the operation of the tractor;    a loader having at least a pair of grapple arms coupled to grapple tines for piercing a bale having twine thereabout;    a twine cutting assembly, comprising: 
 a slide bar mounted to at least one grapple arm, the slide bar having a first end and a second end;  
 a blade riding on the slide bar, the blade oriented on the slide bar so that the blade contacts portion of the twine as the blade moves along the slide bar; and  
 a motor coupled to the blade for controllably moving the blade along the slide bar.  
   
     
     
         11 . The tractor of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a control located within the driver's compartment for controlling the operation of the motor.    
     
     
         12 . The tractor of  claim 10 , wherein the slide bar has a generally U-shaped cross-section with a top portion and a bottom portion, and the slide bar has a channel formed along the top portion; and further comprising 
 a slide block connected to the blade, the slide block adapted to slide within the channel along the slide bar while supporting the blade.    
     
     
         13 . The tractor of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a first and second sprocket, said first sprocket coupled to said slide bar about said first end, and said second sprocket coupled to said slide bar about said second end, said first sprocket coupled to said motor for rotating said first sprocket about a fixed axis;    a chain connecting said first sprocket to said second sprocket, said blade coupled to said chain for movement of the blade along the slide bar.    
     
     
         14 . The tractor of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a visual indicator indicating the position of the blade relative to the slide bar.    
     
     
         15 . The tractor of  claim 10 , wherein the motor is a reversible dc motor controllable by a switch.  
     
     
         16 . The tractor of  claim 10 , wherein a limit switch is positioned about said first end of said slide bar, said limit switch coupled to said motor and responsive to the position of the blade along the slide bar, so that when the limit switch is triggered, the limit switch disables said motor.  
     
     
         17 . The tractor of  claim 10 , wherein a limit switch is positioned about said second end of said slide bar, said limit switch coupled to said motor and responsive to the position of the blade along the slide bar, so that when the limit switch is triggered, the limit switch disables said motor.  
     
     
         18 . The tractor of  claim 10 , wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor.  
     
     
         19 . A method of cutting a portion of twine wrapped about a bale, the method comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a grapple of a tractor about a portion of the bale;    providing a twine cutting assembly on the grapple, the twine cutting assembly having a blade linearly movable in a direction generally transverse to the direction in which the twine is wrapped about the bale; and    in response to a control signal, controllably moving the blade across the twine to cut the twine.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 providing a control within said tractor for generating said control signal.    
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for severing twine from a bale supported by a grapple and a bucket of a tractor, comprising: 
 a slide bar mounted to the bucket, the slide bar having a first end and a second end;    a blade riding on the slide bar, the blade oriented on the slide bar so that the blade contacts portion of the twine as the blade moves along the slide bar; and    a motor coupled to the blade for controllably moving the blade along the slide bar.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the slide bar has a generally U-shaped cross-section with a top portion and a bottom portion, and the slide bar has a channel formed along the top portion.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 a slide block connected to the blade, the slide block adapted to slide within the channel along the slide bar while supporting the blade.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a visual indicator indicating the position of the blade relative to the slide bar.    
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the motor is a reversible dc motor controllable by a switch.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a first and second sprocket, said first sprocket coupled to said slide bar about said first end, and said second sprocket coupled to said slide bar about said second end, said first sprocket coupled to said motor for rotating said first sprocket about a fixed axis;    a chain connecting said first sprocket to said second sprocket, said blade coupled to said chain for movement of the blade along the slide bar.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said slide bar has a slot for receiving a bolt, and said second sprocket is mounted to said slide bar through the bolt, and the sprocket rotates about the bolt.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 a substantially U-shaped tensioning bracket mounted about the second end of the slide bar, the bracket having first and second opposing legs coupled to a base portion, each leg having axially aligned opening for receiving said bolt, the base having an opening for receiving a tensioning bolt for adjusting the tension of the chain about the sprockets.    
     
     
         30 . An apparatus for severing twine from a bale supported by tractor having a bucket and a grapple having tines, comprising: 
 a slide bar mounted to the tines, the slide bar having a first end and a second end;    a blade riding on the slide bar, the blade oriented on the slide bar so that the blade contacts portion of the twine as the blade moves along the slide bar; and    a motor coupled to the blade for controllably moving the blade along the slide bar.    
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein: 
 the slide bar has a generally U-shaped cross-section with a top portion and a bottom portion, and the slide bar has a channel formed along the top portion.    
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 a slide block connected to the blade, the slide block adapted to slide within the channel along the slide bar while supporting the blade.    
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 a visual indicator indicating the position of the blade relative to the slide bar.    
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the motor is a reversible dc motor controllable by a switch.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 a first and second sprocket, said first sprocket coupled to said slide bar about said first end, and said second sprocket coupled to said slide bar about said second end, said first sprocket coupled to said motor for rotating said first sprocket about a fixed axis;    a chain connecting said first sprocket to said second sprocket, said blade coupled to said chain for movement of the blade along the slide bar.    
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein said slide bar has a slot for receiving a bolt, and said second sprocket is mounted to said slide bar through the bolt, and the sprocket rotates about the bolt.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , further comprising: 
 a substantially U-shaped tensioning bracket mounted about the second end of the slide bar, the bracket having first and second opposing legs coupled to a base portion, each leg having axially aligned opening for receiving said bolt, the base having an opening for receiving a tensioning bolt for adjusting the tension of the chain about the sprockets.