Module wrap removal

Abstract

A system wherein plastic wrap on round bales of cotton is partially slit starting at one end of the bale and continuing to a location offset from the opposite end of the bale. One or more partial lengthwise slits allow the cotton to fall into a gin input hopper in a controlled manner and maintain the entire wrap, including any non-adhered inner tail remnants, attached to an intact circumferential wrapper portion at the end of the bale opposite the slit end. The non-slit wrapper end portion is pulled from end of the bale, and the remaining cotton material drops into the receptacle free of contamination by any wrap material.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . Apparatus for removing wrap material from a bale of harvested and compacted material having a length of wrapped portion with opposite ends and depositing the material in a receiving device, the apparatus comprising: 
 a conveyor for moving the bale towards a receiving device;    a cutting device for slitting the wrapped portion along a portion of the length and leaving an intact band at one of the ends of the wrapped length so the wrap remains intact; and    a wrapper removal device for contacting the wrap material and moving the wrap material away from the receiver.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the cutting device and the wrapped portion are movable in cutting contact with each other over a length of the wrapped portion less than the entire length.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the wrapper removal device connects to the intact band.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the wrapper removal device moves the intact band in a direction away from the slit wrapped portion.  
   
   
       17 . Apparatus for removing wrap material from a bale of harvested crop material having a wrapped length portion with opposite ends and depositing the material in a receiving device, the apparatus comprising: 
 means for moving the bale towards a receiving device;    means for cutting the wrapped length portion along a portion of its length and leaving an intact band at one of the ends of the wrapped length portion so the wrap remains intact; and    means for contacting the wrap material and moving the wrap material away from the receiver to prevent the wrap material from entering the receiving device.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the means for cutting the wrapped length portion includes means for slitting one end of the wrapped length portion to provide an egress area for the wrapped crop material at said one end.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the means for contacting the wrap material and moving the wrap material includes movable structure pulling the intact band in a direction generally away from the egress area.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the means for moving the bale includes a conveyor, and wherein the means for cutting the wrapped length includes a slitting device opening an egress area at one end of the wrapped length.