Systems and Methods for Wrapping a Pulp Bale

Abstract

A system for pulp bale wrapping includes at least one press plate operable to press a wrapper into a pulp bale. A method for wrapping pulp bale includes disposing the pulp bale between an upper wrapper and a lower wrapper, wrapping the pulp bale in the upper wrapper and the lower wrapper, and maintaining at least one of the upper wrapper and the lower wrapper in a wrapped position by crushing the at least one wrapper into the wrapped pulp bale.

1 . A method for wrapping pulp bale comprising:
 disposing the pulp bale between an upper wrapper and a lower wrapper;   wrapping the pulp bale in the upper wrapper and the lower wrapper; and   maintaining at least one of the upper wrapper and the lower wrapper in a wrapped position by crushing the at least one wrapper into the wrapped pulp bale.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising binding the wrapped pulp bale with at least one paper strap. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein binding the wrapped pulp bale comprises orienting the at least one paper strap in a direction substantially parallel to forks of handling equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein binding the wrapped pulp bale comprises positioning the paper straps at a distance from each other that is different from a distance between the forks of the handling equipment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one paper strap is oriented in a single direction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein crushing the at least one wrapper into the wrapped pulp bale comprises applying press plates to opposing sides of the pulp bale. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein crushing the at least one wrapper into the wrapped pulp bale comprises lifting a portion of the pulp bale to allow for insertion of the at least one wrapper into the pulp bale. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein crushing the at least one wrapper into the pulp bale further comprises placing a pressure element on top of the pulp bale to prevent flexing of the pulp bale during crushing of the pulp bale. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein applying press plates to opposing sides of the pulp bale comprises pressing one or more insertion apparatus into the upper wrapper and the lower wrapper. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising rotating the pulp bale to orient the at least one paper strap in the single direction. 
     
     
         11 . A system for pulp bale wrapping, the system comprising:
 at least one press plate operable to press a wrapper into a pulp bale.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one press plate comprises a pair of press plates operable to be applied to opposing sides of the pulp bale to crush the wrapper into the pulp bale. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one press plate comprises at least one insertion apparatus configured to crush the wrapper into the pulp bale. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one paper strap binding the wrapper around the pulp bale in a single direction. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the single direction is substantially parallel to forks on handling equipment. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one paper strap comprises two paper straps positioned at a distance from each other that is different from the distance between the forks. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one press plate comprises a plurality of insertion apparatus, wherein each of the insertion apparatus has a shape. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein at least two of the insertion apparatus have a different shape. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a lifting mechanism operable to lift at least a portion of the pulp bale while pressing of the wrapper into the pulp bale. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of wrappers, wherein the plurality of wrappers comprises a lower wrapper disposed beneath the pulp bale and an upper wrapper disposed on top of the pulp bale.