The invention also relates to a de-wiring apparatus for carrying out the method.

A plurality of solutions are previously known within this area of technique. An example of that is the technical solution shown and described in the American patent No.

4.850.087.

This document discloses two plate-formed holders, positioned at an angular distance of 90° from each other, against which the bale is intended to rest. Each holder has a cutting- off tool, a separate gripping tool and a winding-up tool. There are several drawbacks connected with this device. Firstly, the device becomes very expensive by having so many different tools. Secondly, the efficiency becomes suffering, since the three different tools with so different functions are positioned on one and the same holder. Therefore, there have been requirements in the market for a de-wiring apparatus, which cuts off the wire as well as removes the same from the bale in an effective way.

This invention intends to satisfy these requirements and provide a new de-wiring apparatus, which makes possible an effective cutting-off procedure for the wires as well as an effective removal of the same.

This has been made possible by the fact that the method and apparatus according to the invention have the steps and features mentioned in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention shall be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a survey view of the new de-wiring apparatus, applied at a conveyor, Fig. 2 shows a view from above of the de- wiring apparatus, Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of a tool being a part of the apparatus, Fig 4 shows a detailed view of another tool being a part of the apparatus, and Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of the design of the teeth of the tool according to Fig. 4.

The new de-wiring apparatus for bales, which is intended to cooperate with a conveyor 1 for the bale, known in the market, comprising two units 2,3, which are movably arranged towards and from each other on a frame, this movement being made essentially perpendicular to the conveyor 1. In this connection the one unit 2 is arranged on the one side of the conveyor and the other unit 3 on the other side of the conveyor.

The first unit 2 comprises a cutting-off tool 5 for the wires (see Fig. 3). This tool comprises two strips 6,7 provided with teeth, which are directed towards each other, the

rails being positioned one above the other and in contact with each other. Thus, in order that the cutting-off procedure shall be effective, the lower strip 7 is movable in relation to the upper one and this movement is preferably made in a hydraulic way.

As has been mentioned previously the first unit 2 and by that the cutting-off tool 5, arranged on this one, is movable on the frame 4. This is made possible by the fact that the unit comprises a carriage 8, which is movable in the frame 4 and which in a hydraulic way can move to and fro on the frame 4. Thus, when cutting off the wires, the first unit 2 shall be forced in the direction towards the conveyor 1 so that the cutting-off tool is applied against the side surface of the bale. In order to completely secure that the teeth of the cutting-off tool catch seize of the wires for cutting off the same, the cutting-off tool itself is provided with arms 9a, b and joints 10a, b, which in a hydraulic way can take the cutting- off tool a short way forwards and accordingly press the teeth of the two strips 6,7 into the bale itself.

The second unit 3 comprises a combined gripping and winding-up tool 11 (see Fig.

4,5), which comprises a rotatable, essentially circular-cylindrical metal rod 12, which is rotatably journalled at its rear part and has an extension, which is essentially parallel with the conveyor. On a portion of the jacket surface of the rod have been made a great number of slots 13, arranged in parallel and made on the entire rod and extending essentially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the rod 12. Furthermore, a longitudinal recess 14 has been made straightly through the slots and a short way into the rod, and this recess extends essentially along the entire rod. Due to this recess of the rod, teeth are formed on the same, which are designed in such a way that they are directed towards the rear part of the rod 12.

Into the mentioned recess 14 is a metal strip 16, provided with teeth, intended to be inserted, this strip being intended to be able to be displaced in a hydraulic way in relation to the rod 12. Furthermore, the teeth 17 of the strip 16 are directed forwards, i. e. towards the front part of the rod. When displacing the strip 16 in relation to the rod 12 in the direction towards the front part of the latter one, the metal wire is taken further into the tooth gap 18 of the tooth 17 and is fixed there by clamping by the teeth 15 of the metal rod.

The second unit 3 is in the same way as the first unit arranged on a carriage 19, which in a hydraulic way is movably arranged in the direction towards and from the

conveyor 1, with the transported bales on it, on the same frame 4 as the unit 2 with the carriage 8 is arranged on.

Due to the design of the special tool 11 and the fact that the units 2 and 3 with respective carriage 8 and 19 with force can be pressed against the opposite side portions of the bale, it is made possible for the tool 11 to function not only as a winding-up tool but also as a gripping tool, which catches hold of the metal wires in a secure way.

The second unit further comprises a discharging tool 20 comprising a round ring which is intended in a hydraulic way to be replaced on the outside of and along the rod 12, whereby the bobbin, wound up on the rod, can be removed.

The second unit 3 can be provided with a further tool 21 having a strip 22 which is provided with teeth 23 and is suspended by articulated arms 24. The foremost purpose with this tool is that it enables the metal wires to be wound up evenly.

As is apparent from Fig. 4, the second unit 3, according to this embodiment, comprises four strips 25a-d, parallel with the rod 12, all of which being made of a metallic material. These strips are intended to be in contact with the metal wires and give a signal when all wires have been wound up. Due to that fact an effective removal of the metal wires is secured.

The new de-wiring apparatus functions in the following way: When the bale has reached the de-wiring apparatus, the conveyor 1 is stopped, whereafter the two carriages 8,19 with the units 2,3 begin to move towards the two opposite side surfaces of the bale. The flange-like front surfaces 26,27 of the two units 2,3 (see Fig. 1) are applied against the surfaces of the bale so that the bale is fixed by clamping between the units. Moreover, the first unit 2 has an essentially horizontal, plate-formed strip 28, which is intended to right up the bale if it should stand obliquely.

Thereafter the cutting-off tool 5 is applied against the bale side, the articulated arms 9a, b pressing the tool a short distance into the bale so that it is secured that the tool really reaches in behind the wires. In the next moment the cutting-off tool is activated, whereby the wires are cut off.

When the second unit 3 comes into contact with the opposite bale side, the combined gripping and winding-up tool 11 is pressed deeply into the bale side, at the same time as the tool moves to the right in Fig. 4 into a cavity formed by the means 29. Due to that fact the metal wires get into the area between the teeth 15 and 17 of the tool 11.

In the next moment the rod 12 moves in relation to the strip 16 to the left in the illustration (see Fig. 4,5), which has the consequence that the metal wires are forced further into the tooth gaps 18 of the strip 16. At the same time the metal wires are fixed in the tooth gaps 18 by clamping of the teeth 15 of the rod 12.

After that the winding-up moment takes place and is carried out in that way that the rod 12 if forced into rotation, whereby the metal wires are wound around the rod and form bobbins on this one.

After this moment, the rod 12 is brought in relation to the strip to the right in the illustration (see Fig. 5), so that the tooth gap is opened. Thereafter the rod 12 and the strip 16, together, are taken to the left in the illustration (see Fig. 4), whereby there is created a not shown gap between the outer end of the rod 12 and the hollow means 29.

The last moment relates to the removal of the bobbins from the rod 12. This moment is made in that way that a discharging tool 20, which is positioned at the rear end of the rod 12, is forced forwards along the rod and removes the bobbins from the same, which bobbins fall down through the opening that has been formed at the means 29.

If the bale also would be surrounded by metal wires on the two remaining, opposite and vertical side portions, the carriages 8,19 with the units 2,3 are taken quickly from the bale, whereafter this one is rotated a quarter of a revolution on the conveyor by the rotatable laying-up plate 30, whereafter the same procedure as previously takes place.

The invention is of course not limited to the mentioned and shown embodiment but can be modified within the scope of the following claims. Thus, the winding-up tool could for instance be composed of an outer, tubular means, which is intended to co-operate with an inner, concentric means, the teeth formed on these means being directed towards each other.

According to the described embodiment, the movements in the de-wiring apparatus are preferably made in the hydraulic way. Of course, it is within the scope of the invention to let at least certain of these movements be made in another way, for instance in an electric and/or a pneumatic way.