CA2094847C - Method and apparatus for removing twine - Google Patents

Abstract

A twine cutter and method for removing twine, particularly suited for large round bales. The device consists of a blade with a sharpened cutting edge which is preferably retractable, a spike member generally mounted perpendicular to the plane of the blade, and a handle also generally mounted perpendicular to the blade. The method has the steps of uncovering the twine using the spike member,extending the blade to cut the twine, wrapping the twine around the spike memberusing it as a capstan, then pulling on the handle to remove the twine.

Description

DISCLOSUR~ 2 0 9 4 8 4 7 This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for removing twine from hay bales, in particular large round hay bales.
Large hay bales have been in common use for about two decades. The machinery to make these large bales is well known, available from several sources, and in common use. Equipment to move and distribute the large bales are also available from several sources.
The common method of securing these large bales is by wrapping the bale a number of times with a small diameter rope commonly referred to as bale twine.
Bale twine is comm~nly made of plastic and should be removed upon feeding the bale in order to avoid ingestion by the animals. Non-removal also leads to further problems with catching on the animals and wrapping around manure handling equipment resulting in damage and time loss.
The common method used to remove the bale twine is to cut the twine with a sharp blade, then remove the twine by wrapping it around a hand and pulling. Pocket knives or sickle sections are often used to cut the twine. Often all the twine cannot be removed as the force required to remove the twine exerts a large pressure on the hand causing pain.
It is common to remove twine from round bales by cutting the twine with a pocket knife, butcher knife, or sickle section and remove the twine by wrapping the twine around a hand and pulling on the twine. This method of removing twine is a time consuming, tiring, frustrating and often unsafe method. It is time consuming because on has to first cut the twine with a ~harp edged device, set this device aside, dig the twine out with his fingers, wrap the twine around one~ 5 hand and pull on the twine. Often a significant pull is re~uired to dislodge the twine. This results in pain and frustration as the harder on pulls the tighter the twine tightens up on one~s hand. As a result fewer strands can be pulled at any one time, thus leading to a time consuming process I have found that these disadvantages can be overcome by mounting a retractable, replaceable, renewable, razor sharp blade on a handle, along with a hook and hand grip. Mounting the blade on the end of a handle enables the user to cut the twine with a quick combination of a slice and chopping motion. It should be noted that during the cutting operation, the hook can be used to uncover any strands of twine which may be covered by snow, ice, or buried in the material of the bale.
After the twine is cut, the blade is retracted for safety. The twine is then wrapped around the hook and removed from the bale by pulling on the hand grip.

~, ~094847 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view looking down from the handle end at the preferred embodiment of a twine remover according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view looking down rom the handle end at the preferred embodiment of a twine remover according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is an elevational side view of the preferred embodiment of a twine remover being held in a hand according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED E~30DIMENT
According to the principles of the invention, a twine removing tool is provided as shown in Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3.
The tool comprises a blade support portion body 10 in the form of an elongated body which is generally trape~oidal in plan view as shown in Figure 3 and has a height less than width. The body is generally channel shaped and receives within the body a sliding arrangement 17. The sliding arrangement is attached to the body portion using screw 18 which is passed through slot 19 and threaded into hole 24 in the body such as to allow sliding arrangement 17 to move forwards and backwards within the constraints of slot 19. The blade 14 is held in place between the slide and the body by stub 21 which passes through the hole 20 in the blade and slides in channel 25 in the bottom of the ~h~nnel of the body. The blade 14 is preferably of the type which can be reversed when that portion which is exposed i3 dulled by use. The blade is extended by pushing orward on the end 40 of the sliding arrangement. Pushing the slide arrangement forward to extend the blade compresses spring 22 which is inserted in ~h~nn~l 31 against the stop 23 attached to the bottom of the inside o~ the channel of the body. When the force pushing the sliding arrangement orward is removed, the spring 22 pushes the sliding arrangement back resulting in the retraction of the blade 14.

A spike member 11 extends downwardly from the underside o the channel defining the blade support portion at right angles there to and below the end containing ~h~nnel 25 preferably closer to the edge of the blade opposite the sharpened edge 15. A handle 13 extends downwardly from the underside of the channel defining the blade support portion at right angles there to and below the end opposite to the end containing ch~nn~l 25. The handle 13 can be shaped with any suitable cross section.
In the use of the twine remover and in the practice of the present invention, the twine remover is firstly grasped by the handle by the user.
The user then, by way of a hooking and tearing motion, may remove any material covering the twine using spike member 11. Once the twine is exposed the user then pushes on the end 40 of the sliding arrangement to move the sliding arrangement forward and exposed the sharpened edge 15 of the blade 14. The twine is then cut by moving the sharpened edge of the blade at right angles through the twine. When all of the twine is cut, the twine can be grasped and wrapped around the spike member in the form of a capstan. The capstan action of the spike then allows a vigorous pulling action on the twine strands resulting in the twine strands being dislodged from the bale. The twine removing tool then may be grasped by the body with the spike member and handle protruding away from the user such that the twine may be spooled around the spike member and the _andle for disposal.

Claims (7)

1. A hand tool for use in removing twine from a bale comprising a) an elongated blade support portion having a rear end and a forward end, b) a cutting blade which may be extended and retracted from the forward end of the blade support portion, c) a manually graspable handle near the rear end projecting downwardly from the blade support portion substantially at right angles thereto, d) a spike member near the forward end projecting downwardly from the blade support portion substantially at right angles thereto.

2. The hand tool according to Claim 1 wherein the handle and spike member are substantially parallel.

3. The hand tool according to Claim 2 wherein the handle and spike member extend from the blade support portion in the same direction.

4. The hand tool according to Claim 1 wherein the blade is slidable longitudinally of the blade support portion.

5. The hand tool according to Claim 4 wherein the blade is retracted by a spring upon release of the force extending the blade.

6. The hand tool for use in removing twine of Claim 1 which can be used to cut the twine by grasping the handle, extending the blade, and cutting the twine with a slicing, chopping motion.

7. The hand tool of Claim 1 which can be used to dislodge twine by wrapping the twine around the spike member, grasping the handle and pulling.