METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM BALE SURFACE Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: bale processing equipment. SUBSTANCE: method involves placing bunch of bales on horizontal platform; aligning end surfaces of bales in single plane; separating fibers from upper surface of bunch of bales by picking fibers apart including simultaneous gripping of fiber upper layer in individual zones so as to move theses zones in opposite directions or in single direction at different speeds; mellowing and mixing fibers with following transfer to processing stations; providing simultaneous gripping of fiber in at least two zones; prior to separating fiber from upper surface of bunch of bales, subjecting fiber layer to be separated to progressive cleaning from metal contaminants through the entire length and width of bales bunch and to depth of at least height of fiber layer to be separated by means of magnetostatic field created by rigid ferromagnetic or by magnetic field created by electric current flowing through conductor and having variable magnetic induction and/or intensity; moving field over the entire surface of bales bunch so as to change area of bale bunch and field contact surface or above upper surface of bales bunch so as to change distance between bales bunch and surface of ferromagnetic or conductor. Field is displaced by rotary and/or progressive motion for contacting or forced contacting with upper surface of bales bunch, with rotating and/or progressive motion being oriented in opposite or alternating direction with respect to direction of displacement of magnetic field over bales bunch surface. Apparatus has mellowing head with two separating cutters, at least two supporting rolls and two supporting grids mounted for progressive displacement in horizontal plane, and at least one unit for cleaning fiber from metal contaminants. Working zone of cleaning unit has width at least equal to width bales bunch. Cleaning unit has at least one metal contaminants collecting chamber equipped with flexible cleaning knife. Apparatus is provided with permanent magnet comprising rigid ferromagnetic, or magnet comprising conductor. EFFECT: increased efficiency in mellowing separated fiber and simplified process. 27 cl, 5 dwg, 3 tbl