Portable bale binding removal apparatus and method

Abstract

A portable apparatus for removing bindings (e.g. string) from a bale of biomass (e.g. straw), the apparatus includes a body, attachable to a utility vehicle, having an outward facing (e.g. planar) working surface for engaging the bale. A movable cutting arm operates to cut the bindings. Multiple binding grippers each operate to engage a respective one of the bindings to allow removal the bindings from the bale by pulling on the bindings when the apparatus is moved away from the bale.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for removing a plurality of flexible bindings from a bale of biomass, the apparatus comprising:
 a body adapted for operative attachment to a utility vehicle, the body having an outward facing working surface for engaging a first side of the bale;   a movable cutting arm configured to engage and cut the plurality of bindings on a second side of the bale;   a plurality of binding grippers each mounted to and extendable outward from the working surface toward the bale, each of the binding grippers operative to engage and hold a respective one of the plurality of bindings to facilitate removal of the bindings from the bale following said cutting of the plurality of bindings.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second side of the bale is opposite the first side of the bale, and wherein the cutting arm is mounted to the apparatus and extends overtop of the bale. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting arm is movable vertically to engage and cut each of the plurality of bindings in turn using a single cutting device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting arm includes a rotating cutting wheel operative to cut each of the plurality of bindings. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said removal of the bindings involves moving of the apparatus away from the bale. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said moving of the apparatus away from the bale is initiated by moving the utility vehicle away from the bale. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of binding grippers comprises a pivotable body having an engaging edge configured to engage and hold said respective one of the plurality of bindings due to said pivoting, the pivotable body being controllably actuated by a mechanical actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the engaging edge is concave. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the pivotable body includes a convex edge opposite the engaging edge, the convex edge configured to non-grippingly pass over said respective one of the bindings due to a counter-pivoting in an opposite direction of said pivoting. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a stationary pad or surface configured to cooperate with at least one of the binding grippers to grippingly engage said respective one of the plurality of bindings. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising bale clamps operative to engage and hold the bale when the bale is against the working surface. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the bale clamps comprise a pair of surfaces cooperating to compressingly grip sides of the bale adjacent to the first side of the bale by movement of at least one of the pair of surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the working surface is substantially planar. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bindings are spaced apart from one another, and each of the plurality of binding grippers is located for adjacency with, and configured for gripping, a different respective one or more of the plurality of bindings. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of binding grippers is actuated by a hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical mechanism powered by the utility vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bindings are wire, twine, rope or string. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of binding grippers rotates about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the working surface. 
     
     
         18 . A method for removing a plurality of flexible bindings from a bale of biomass, the method comprising:
 engaging a side of the bale against the working surface of the apparatus of  claim 1 , the apparatus being operatively attached to the utility vehicle;   operating the cutting arm to engage and cut the plurality of bindings;   before, during or after said operating the cutting arm, operating the plurality of binding grippers to engage the plurality of bindings; and   after said operating the cutting arm and said operating the plurality of binding grippers, moving the apparatus away from the bale, to pull the cut bindings away from the bale.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising, after moving the apparatus away from the bale, operating the plurality of binding grippers to release the bindings. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein one or both of the operating the cutting arm and the operating the plurality of binding grippers is performed during motion of the utility vehicle.