Apparatus and method for removing twine from a bale

An apparatus for removing a twine from a bale, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame having:
• a mounting portion configured to releasably mount to a vehicle, and
• two opposed arms rigidly coupled to and extending in a common direction from the mounting portion;
• a bale grabbing mechanism coupled to the frame and configured to releasably secure the bale against the opposed arms of the frame;
• a cutting mechanism movably coupled to one of the opposed arms of the frame, the cutting mechanism including a cutting element being configured to cut the twine;
• and
• a twine grabbing mechanism coupled to the other opposed arm of the frame, the twine grabbing mechanism being configured to retain the twine after the twine has been cut by the cutting mechanism, the twine grabbing mechanism including:
• a fixed twine grabbing member fixedly coupled to one of the opposed arms;
• and
• a sliding twine grabbing member slidingly coupled to the one of the opposed arms, the sliding twine grabbing member being configured to slide over a fixed portion of the twine grabbing mechanism to grab the twine.

A method of removing a twine from a bale, the method comprising:

• positioning a frame of an apparatus for removing twine from the bale against a top surface of the bale;
• releasably securing the bale to the frame by a bale grabbing mechanism of the apparatus;
• gripping the twine by a twine grabbing mechanism movably coupled to the frame and positioned against the top surface of the bale;
• cutting the twine along a width of the bale by a cutting mechanism movably coupled to the frame and positioned against the top surface of the bale;
• releasing the bale from the frame;
• and
• retaining the twine by the twine grabbing mechanism as the bale falls downwardly relative to the frame.

An apparatus for removing a twine from a bale, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame having:
• a mounting portion configured to releasably mount to a vehicle, and
• two opposed arms rigidly coupled to and extending in a common direction from the mounting portion;
• a bale grabbing mechanism coupled to the frame and configured to releasably secure the bale against the opposed arms of the frame;
• a cutting mechanism movably coupled to one of the opposed arms of the frame, the cutting mechanism including a cutting element being configured to cut the twine, the cutting mechanism including a cutting hydraulic cylinder for rotating the cutting element to cut the twine;
• and
• a twine grabbing mechanism coupled to the other opposed arm of the frame, the twine grabbing mechanism being configured to retain the twine after the twine has been cut by the cutting mechanism.