US3381341A

US3381341A - Textile fiber bale opener unit and systems embodying same

Info

Publication number: US3381341A
Application number: US400672A
Authority: US
Inventors: Platt Louis; James K Merck
Original assignee: Maremont Corp
Current assignee: Maremont Corp
Priority date: 1964-10-01
Filing date: 1964-10-01
Publication date: 1968-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1985-05-07
Also published as: CH436050A

Description

L. PLATT ET AL May 7,1968

I TEXTILE FIBER BALE OPENER UNIT AND SYSTEMS EMBODYING SAME Filed Oct. 1, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 7, 1968 PLATT ET AL 3,381,341 TEXTILE FIBER BALE OPENER UNIT AND SYSTEMS EMBODYING SAME Filed Oct. 1, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 7, 1968 PLATT ET AL TEXTILE FIBER BALE OPENER UNIT AND SYSTEMS EMBODYING SAME Filed Oct. 1. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,381,341 TEXTILE FIBER BALE OPENER UNll AND SYSTEMS ElldltODYiNG SAME Louis Platt, Seneca, and James K. Merck, Pendlcton, SAIL, assignors to Maremont Corporation, Chicago, lil., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 400,672 14 Claims. (Cl. 19-80) This invention relates to the opening of bales of textile fiber as well as the blending of fibers opened from a plurality of such bales.

The opening, cleaning and blending of bales of textile fiber has Ion-g been a problem in the art, particularly when the accurate blending of a variety of types of textile fibers is involved, and the opened fibers are to be fed almost in individually separated fiber directly to the input of a card without the prior formation of a lap or other fiber package. With such an arrangement, it is of the greatest importance that the fiber be both cleaned and opened to a high degree so that accurate blending may be achieved in an air stream.

Attempts have been made to solve the problem of providing suitable commercial apparatus capable of automatic operation to provide the desired result, but with indifferent success. This has been due to a variety of rea sons, principally involving the inability of heretofore known openers to pick the fibers from the bale in sulficiently open form and at a uniform rate especially when progressing from a full to an empty bale.

It is a major object of the present invention to deal with these problems by providing a novel bale opener apparatus capable of releasing textile fibers from a bale almost as individual fibers into an air stream at a uniform rate during the entire time the bale is being opened.

It is another object of the invention simultaneously to clean the fibers being released from the bale so that they may be fed directly to subsequent processing apparatus such as a card.

It is still another object of the invention to make possible the accurate blending of a variety of fibers by simultaneously and at a uniform rate removing fibers from a plurality of bales of differing types.

In general, these objects of the invention are met by providing a novel textile fiber bale opener and cleaner unit having a plurality of spaced grid bars supporting for reciprocating movements the bottom surface of a bale to be opened at a predetermined spacing from the fiber removing surface of a rotating beater cylinder and having a scarifying means, such as a roll with lugs extending between the grid bars to maintain the bottom of the bale in suitably disturbed condition for uniform fiber removal by the beater cylinder. Either the projection of the scarifying means relative to the grid bars or the spacing of the beater cylinders therebeneath or both is varied with decreasing bale thickness sensed by suitable means, for example, such as a photocell for control to provide such varied spacing for continued fiber removal. Cleaning means, such as a perforated surface associated with a suction system, is positioned adjacent the beater cylinder continuously to remove alien material from the fibers.

More specifically, a plurality of such opener units may be provided, one at each of a plurality of bale opening stations, to produce a complete opener, cleaner and blender system with successive of said stations having successively decreased predetermined spacing between their grid bars and cylinders or increased projection of the scarifying means or both, and bale advancing means responsive to a predetermined thickness of a bale may be provided for simultaneously advancing a bale at each of said stations from a preceding to a succeeding station so ice that the fibers from different bales may be blended, for example.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a complete opener and blender system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an opener unit according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the opener unit of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an electrical circuit diagram of the opener and blender system of FIGS. 1 and 2.

In general, the opener and cleaner unit of the invention, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes a rotating beater cylinder 12, preferably of a type covered with strip sheet metal having a multiplicity of small tooth-like projections 14; a plurality of horizontally spaced grid bars 20 having a predetermined spacing above cylinder 12 to support the lower surface of a textile fiber bale B above projections 14; a plurality of horizontal spaced grid bars tioned at each side of the grid bars for reciprocating the lower surface of bale B back and forth along grid bars 20 to remove fibers therefrom essentially in individual fiber form and to introduce them into a conveying air stream. A rotatable scarifying roll 42 has lugs 44 which extend upwardly between grid bars 20 into scarifying contact with the lower surface of a bale B as it is reciprocated back and forth across the grid bars to maintain a suitably disturbed surface for removal by cylinder projections 14 as the bale is continuously reduced in thickness. Sensing means, such as

photocells

51, 52, 53, 54 are provided for sensing the thickness of a bale for operating control means such as grid bar and scarifying roll adjuster motor 22 or

conveyor belts

32, 34 for advancing a bale to a succeeding opener unit.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a high capacity bale opener, cleaner and blender system is provided by utilizing a number of the opener units of the invention shown as arranged in a double series together with

suitable conveyor belts

311, 32, 3d, 36, 37, and 38 and 31, 32, 34', 36', 37 and 33 controlled by photocells 46-, 47, 43, 51-54 for advancing a bale B, B along each of the series from an opener unit having a greater grid bar cylinder spacing to one having a smaller such spacing or from one having a lesser scarifying roll projection to one having a greater scarifying roll projection, or both, as the bale is reduced in thickness (FIG. 2), until it is eventually so reduced as to be passed to a common cross output: conveyor 39, the fibers from the openers having been delivered to a pneumatic conveyor 72 for each series of openers and com bined in a common condenser 73 for feeding to a card, for example.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the apparatus of the invention, each opener unit as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is provided with frame side members lid and 11 supporting cylinder shaft 13 in suitable bearings. Preferably cylinder shaft 13 is driven through .a slip clutch 15 by a V-belt drive 15 from a suitable motor 17 which may be common to a series of units if desired. The surface of cylinder 12 is preferably covered with so-called metallic card clothing consisting of a helically wound sheet metal with toothed projections 14 providing a multiplicity of said projections extending around the cylinder and axially for the entire length thereof. The grid bars 20 are spaced above the surface of cylinder 12 and extend generally horizontally across the top of the cylinder in a direction perpendicular to its axis. The grid bars are relatively narrow, and spaced from one another for a substantial distance, and extend for the axial length of cylinder 12 to support the lower surface of a bale B spaced a predetermined distance above the beater cylinder surface for the individual fiber removal action characteristic of the apparatus of the invention.

The grid bars 24) are mounted at their ends on transverse support rods 21 which may be adjustably moved vertically by adjusting motor 22 through suitable mechanical connections including horizontal shaft 23 driving through suitable bevel gears 24, threaded vertical shafts 25 which are received in cooperating internally threaded members carried on transversal support rods 21.

Transverse scarifying roll 42 with its lugs as that extend upwardly through the spaces between the grid bars 20 extends along one side of cylinder 12 and is carried in suitable bearings 41 mounted for vertical movement in side frames and 11, such being moved with grid bars by horizontal shaft 23 driving through suitable bevel gears 43 threaded vertical shafts 45 which are received in cooperating internally threaded portions of bearings 41. Grid bars 20 and scarifying roll 42 may be arranged for movement independently of one another if desired, as by disconnecting one of their driving bevel gears. Scarifying roll 42 is driven by a reversing motor 56 by a sprocket and chain drive 57, controlled as hereinafter more fully explained.

Conveyors

32 and 34 are provided for reciprocating a bale B over grid bars 20 and for advancing said bale from an opener unit to discharge or to a suceeding unit, such conveyors having a plurality of pins 33 on their upper surface and being carried by rolls 35 driven by motor 56 by suitable chain and sprocket drives 53, controlled as hereinafter rn-ore fully explained.

The cleaning function of the opener unit of the invention is provided by a suction duct 60 aving an arcuate surface 61 with perforations 62 which extends adjacent to the downwardly moving surface of cylinder i2 along its entire axial length, the duct 60 being connected to a suitable suction system (not shown) to remove foreign matter from the fibers while they are carried past perforations 62 on the projections 14 of cylinder 12. Preferably, duct 60 is pivoted on shaft 64 for swinging movement of its upper portion away from cylinder 14 to avoid machine damage should a mass of fiber attempt to pass through the apparatus, spring 65 being provided normally to maintain said duct in its operating position as shown. A stripper edge 67 is provided adjacent the lower side of cylinder 12, such edge forming the uppermost edge of a wall 68, which, together with a bottom Wall 76, forms a branch duct connecting to a main duct 72 which may be utilized to connect the branch ducts of a number of opener units for combining and blending their outputs. Preferably, an adjustable end portion 74 swingably mounted on the upper end of lower wall is provided to underlie the suction duct 60 and to provide an inlet at for air flow downwardly through the branch duct defined by

walls

68 and 70 to carry released and opened fibers therethrough to main duct 72 and condenser 73.

Returning to the showing of FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein are shown four opening units as above described, a common motor 17 drives all of the beater cylinders through V-belt drive 16, while all of the aprons are driven by chain and sprocket drive 58. The common ducts 72 of both series of openers are led to a conventional condenser 73 having a driving motor 76.

Photocells 46, 4'7 and 48 are located, respectively, ad jacent the input end of conveyor 32, adjacent the output end of conveyor 38, and generally centrally of conveyor 34 with photocell 47 located at a lesser height above the level of said conveyors than are

photocells

46 and 48, for reasons hereinafter described.

The first of the opener units of the series is preceded by a loading conveyor 31 driven by a motor 78; and the last of the opener units is followed by a transversely extending sensing plate 8t} having a switch 82 associated therewith.

An electrical drive and control system is provided for the opener and blender apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, only those connections being shown which are believed necessary for a full understanding of the invention, with relays and their contacts being similarly numbered with further individual identifying reference numerals.

In FIG. 5, the various electrical elements are shown connected between two circuit lines 84-86.

With the apparatus in operation as controlled by the momentary starting switch contacts 88-1 and 38-2 and stop switch tl, the energizing elements which control the normal operation of the apparatus are

photocells

46, 47 and 48, herein depicted as switches since such elements are well known to those skilled in the electrical control art.

As shown in FIG. 5, normally open momentary starting contacts 88-1 are connected in series therewith between

lines

34 and 86 with beater motor 17 and relay operated timer 92. Normally open contacts 93-1 of relay operated timer 93 are connected in parallel with the momentary starting switch contacts 88-1 to perform a holding function. Normally open momentary starting contacts -2 are in series with normally closed momentary stop contacts 96, normally open contacts 92-1 of timer 92 and the relay operated timer coil 93. Holding contacts 93-4 are provided across starting contacts 38-2.

Condenser motor '76 is connected in series with contacts 92-2 of timer coil 93 across

lines

84, 86.

Apron drive motor 55 has its common side connected to line 86, its forward terminal 56-1 being in series with one side of normally open contacts 95-3 of reversing r relay 95 and its reverse terminal 56-2 in series with one side of normally closed contacts 95-4 of said reversing relayv The other side of contacts 95-3 and 95-4 are connected together in series with contacts 93-2 of timer and contacts 92-3 of timer 92 to line 84. Reversing relay $5 has its common terminal connected to line 86, its forward terminal 95-1 connected to line 84 in series with normally open photocell contacts 46, and its reverse terminal connected to line 34 in series with both photocell contacts 47 and pivot plate switch contacts 82.

Loader motor 78 is connected in series with photocell contacts 48 as well as with normally closed contacts 95-5 of reversing relay 95 and normally open contacts 96-1 of a relay coil 96 in parallel with loader motor 78, reversing relay coil contacts 95-5 and its own contacts 96-1. A normally open momentary manual switch 98 is provided in parallel with photocell contacts 48.

In the operation of the opener unit of the invention, fiber removal from the bale is accomplished as a result of three interdependent functions: air currents created by the beater cylinder 12 and the pneumatic stock removal system, including condenser 73; the scarifying roll 42 which disturbs the under surface of the bale, thus permitting the air currents to have greater effect in pulling the fibers into the path of the teeth on the beater cylinder which removes fibers in small increments, so that by the time the fibers are released from the beater cylinder they are essentially in individual fiber state.

It is of particular importance to the operation of the apparatus of the invention that there exist a spacing of at least about /2 inch between the top of the grid bars 2% and the top of the beater cylinder 12 which determines the spacing between the bottom of the bale and the beater cylinder. It is also important that either such spacing or the projection of scarifying roll lugs 44 above the grid bars be adjustable. Setting may be varied by adjusting the grid and scarifying roll to the heater and such may be accomplished by direct actuation of operating motor 22 in response to signals from photocells 51-54 (FIG. 4) or by using a series of opener units and advancing a bale therealong (FIGS. 1 and 2). In the latter case, a typical setting with variable grid bar-beater cylinder spacing the grid bars at the first station are set at about 1 inch and progressively decreased down to the last station where the setting is about /2 inch. With variable grid barscarifying roll setting, the projection of the scarifying roll lugs will increase at successive stations. The progressively varied setting in accordance with the teachings of the present invention compensates in a unique manner for the progressively diminishing bale thickness and makes possible fiber removal at a uniform rate as is not only highly desirable, but is essential for accurate bale blending.

Another important feature of the invention is the reversal of rotation of scarifying roll 42 as the direction of movement of the bale reverses as it is carried by the conveyors. Thus the periphery of the scarifying roll is always moving in the same direction as that of the bottom surface of the bale. The horizontal traversing movement of the bale is preferably faster than the peripheral speed of the roll by a ratio of about 1 /2-2 /2 to 1 for most desirable disturbing action for most efiicient operation.

Referring to the control system for the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 as shown in FIG. 5, the photocell 46 at the first opener unit of the apparatus and the photocell 47 at the last opener unit control the traversing and advancing movement of the bales as hereinafter explained in detail. The height of the photocell 47 is vertically adjustable so as to establish the maximum size of the bale to be fed onto the cross conveyor 39. As intermediate photocell 48 is positioned at the second opener unit at such a level that it is always below the level of the bales at the first and second stations for operating loader motor 78.

Assuming that bales are positioned as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus of the invention is put into operation by pushing the start pushbutton to momentarily close starting contacts 88-1 and 2 to energize the beater cylinder motor 17 and the relay operated timer 92, the closing of contacts 92-2 of which causes the condenser motor 76 to be energized. At the same time, with the relay operated timer 92 operated, the relay operated stop motion timer 93 will also be energized to lock in starting contacts 88-1, 88-2 and close contacts 93-2. After a predetermined time delay, the timer contact 92-3 closes and the conveyor drive motor 56 will start up. (The direction of rotation motor 56 is dependent upon the state of the reversing relay 95.) As shown in FIG. 5 the conveyor drive motor 56 will run in the reverse direction until the photo relay contacts 46 are operated. This will energize relay 95 which, in turn, will cause the conveyor drive motor to reverse direction and move all the bales carried on the conveyors in the opposite direction. The conveyor drive motor 56 Will continue to run in this direction until the photo relay contacts 47 are operated, at which time reversing relay 95 will again reverse direction of the conveyor drive motor.

This reciprocating movement of each bale (except the one on the loading conveyor 31), back and forth across an opener unit for continuous removal of fiber and reduction in thickness of the bale continues until the bale at the last station is of such a reduced height that the photocell contacts 47 will not be interrupted by that bales advance, so that it and all of the other bales as well con tinue to advance. When this occurs, the last hole as it passes over plate 80 will operate the plate switch 82, preventing the photocell 47 from operating conveyor motor 56 in its reverse direction.

As the advance of bales continues, the photocell 48 operates when the rearmost bale has advanced beyond it to energize relay coil 96 to close its contact 96-1 in series with loader motor 78. When the bales have advanced sufiiciently to operate photocell 47, reversing of the direction of bale movement will take place as explained above. When sufficient reverse movement has occurred to again operate photocell 46, not only will the bales again advance but loader motor 78 will be operated, since its contacts 96-1 are closed and its contacts 95-5 have closed by reason of the action of the reversing relay 95 in the forward direction of conveyor motor 56. The bale on the loader conveyor 31 will be advanced simultaneously with the advance of the other bales to the first opening unit and the apparatus will again take up its reciprocating movement as explained above. All of the bales having been advanced and each opener unit being occupied by a bale, a new bale may then be placed on loader conveyor 31, and that conveyor advanced to ready the new bale for the next automated advance of all of the bales by means of manual loader switch 98. Bales may be varied as loaded for blending.

In stopping the machine, the stop contacts are momentarily opened to deenergize the conveyor, cylinder and condenser motors.

Thus it will be seen that the invention provides both a novel textile fiber bale opener and cleaner unit and systems useful for blending embodying it. Various modifications of the invention within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A textile fiber bale opener comprising a rotary beater cylinder,

bale support means supporting a surface of a bale at a predetermined spacing from the surface of said cylinder,

reciprocating means for moving a surface of a bale back and forth past said cylinder and spaced from said cylinder to remove fibers therefrom and reduce the thickness of said bale,

sensing means for sensing a predetermined thickness of a bale less than the thickness of a bale delivered to said opener as it is so moved.

control means responsive to said sensing means connected to said support means for adjusting the bale support means relative to the surface of the cylinder to provide a decrease in the predetermined spacing upon a reduction in the thickness of a bale.

2. A textile fiber bale opener comprising a plurality of successively arranged bale opening stations, each station including a rotary beater cylinder and bale reciprocating means for moving a bale back and forth past said cylinder to remove fibers therefrom and reduce the thickness of said bale,

sensing means at at least said one of said stations responsive to a predetermined maximum thickness of a bale less than the usual thickness of a bale as delivered to one of said stations,

bale advancing means responsive to said sensing means for simultaneously advancing a bale at each of said stations from a preceding to a succeeding station upon sensing predetermined maximum thickness at said one of said stations.

3. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 2, further including conveyor means common to all of said stations for collecting fibers therefrom.

4. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 3 wherein said conveyor means is pneumatic.

5. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 2, wherein second sensing means are provided for sensing a bale being advanced from said one station, and wherein said bale advancing means is responsive thereto.

6. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 5, wherein loading means are provided for loading a bale on the first of said stations, and said loading means is re sponsive to said second sensing means.

7. A textile fiber bale opener comprising a plurality of successively arranged bale opening stations, each station including a rotary beater cylinder having a multiplicity of projections on its surface for removing fibers from a bale surface,

a plurality of transversely spaced grid bars extending longitudinally in a horizontal plane generally perpendicular to the axis of said cylinder and having a predetermined spacing above said cylinder supporting the lower surface of a bale above the projections, with successive of said stations having suc cessively decreased predetermined spacing,

bale reciprocating means for moving a bale back and forth across said station in a direction longitudinally of said grid bars and in contact therewith including reciprocating conveyor means extending between each of said cylinders,

sensing means responsive to a predetermined maximum thickness of a bale less than the usual thickness of a bale as delivered to at least one of said stations,

bale advancing means responsive to said sensing means for simultaneously advancing a bale at each of said stations from a preceding to a succeeding station, and

bale output sensing means following the last of said conveyor means in said plurality of bale opening stations, said advancing means being responsive to said bale output sensing means to advance a bale from said last conveyor means.

8. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 7, further including loading conveyor means in advance of the first of said reciprocating conveyor means of said plurality of bale opening stations, and sensing means responsive to the bale condition at one of said stations for advancing said loading conveyor means to load a bale on said first reciprocating conveyor.

9. A textile fiber 'bale opener comprising a rotary beater cylinder,

bale support means supporting a surface of a bale spaced from the surface of said cylinder,

scarifying roll means mounted beneath said bale support means having a plurality of scarifying lugs extending upwardly between said bale support means and projecting therebeyond a predetermined distance into scarifying contact with the surface of a bale supported on said bale support means,

sensing means for sensing a predetermined thickness of a bale less than the thickness of a bale delivered to said opener as it is so moved,

control means responsive to said sensing means providing an increased predetermined distance between said bale support means and said scarifying roll means upon a reduction in the thickness of a bale.

10. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 9, in which said control means includes means responsive to said sensing means for adjusting said predetermined distance.

11. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 9,

further including -a plurality of opening stations each having -a rotary beater cylinder, bale supporting means supporting a surface of a bale spaced from the surface of said cylinder, scarifying roll means mounted beneath said bale support means having a plurality of scarifying lugs extending upwardly between said bale support means and projecting therebeyond a predetermined distance and reciprocating means for moving a surface of a bale back and forth past said cylinder and spaced from said cylinder to remove fibers therefrom and reduce the thickness of said bale, with successive of said stations having successively increased predetermined distances, and advancing means for advancing a bale from a preceding to a succeeding station, wherein said control means is operatively connected to said advancing means.

12. A textile fiber bale opener comprising a plurality of successively arranged bale opening stations, each station including a rotary beater cylinder having a multiplicity of projections on its surface for removing fibers from a bale surface,

a plurality of transversely spaced grid bars extending longitudinally in a horizontal plane generally perpendicular to the axis of said cylinder and spaced above said cylinder supporting the lower surface of a bale above the projections,

scarifying roll means mounted beneath said grid bars having a plurality of scarifying lugs extending upwardly between said grid bars and projecting therebeyond a predetermined distance with successive of said stations having an increased predetermined distance,

bale reciprocating means for moving a bale back and forth across said station in a direction longitudinally of said grid bars and in contact therewith,

bale advancing means responsive to said sensing means for simultaneously advancing a bale at each of said stations from a preceding to a succeeding station.

13. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 12, wherein said bale reciprocating means includes reciprocating conveyor means extending between each of said cylinders, and wherein bale output sensing means are provided following the last of said conveyor means in said plurality of bale opening stations, said advancing means being responsive to said bale output sensing means to advance a bale from said last conveyor means.

14. A textile fiber bale opener as claimed in claim 13, further including loading conveyor means in advance of the first of said reciprocating conveyor means of said plurality of bale opening stations, and sensing means responsive to the bale condition at one of said stations for advancing said loading conveyor means to load a bale on said first reciprocating conveyor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,938, 239 5/1960 Leineweber et al. 19-80 3,141,199 7/1964 Hilt et al. 19--145.5 3,208,106 5/1965 Leineweber et al. 19'80 3,251,096 5/1966 Rapp 19-80 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,334,207 6/1963 France.

121,365 4/1958 U.S.S.R.

83 8,793 6/ 1960 Great Britain.

DORSEY NEWTON, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATE PATENTOFFTCE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,381,341 May 7, 1968 Louis Platt et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

1 fifii b w a llne 23, cance "a plurallty of horizontal spaced 1 ars an lnsert a d a palr of

conveyor belts

32, 34%;

p 51 Column 6, l1ne 4Q cancel "sald", first occurrence;

line 52, before "one" inser said Signed and sealed this 30th day of September 1969.

(SEAL) figqm a v Edwin! M. Fletcher, Jr U WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A TEXTILE FIBER BALE OPENER COMPRISING A ROTARY BEATER CYLINDER, BALE SUPPORT MEANS SUPPORTING A SURFACE OF A BALE AT A PREDETERMINED SPACING FROM THE SURFACE OF SAID CYLINDER, RECIPROCATING MEANS FOR MOVING A SURFACE OF A BALE BACK AND FORTH PAST SAID CYLINDER AND SPACED FROM SAID CYLINDER TO REMOVE FIBERS THEREFROM AND REDUCE THE THICKNESS OF SAID BALE, SENSING MEANS FOR SENSING A PREDETERMINED THICKNESS OF A BALE LESS THAN THE THICKNESS OF A BALE DELIVERED TO SAID OPENER AS IT IS SO MOVED. CONTROL MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID SENSING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE BALE SUPPORT MEANS RELATIVE TO THE SURFACE OF THE CYLINDER TO PROVIDE A DECREASE IN THE PREDETERMINED SPACING UPON A REDUCTION IN THE THICKNESS OF A BALE.