A method of applying a handle to a netting roll for round balers

A method of applying a handle to a netting roll for round balers using an application equipment, said handle comprising a flexible ring body having a through opening, said application equipment comprising:

• a belt conveyor defining a running plane extending in a running direction, said belt conveyor being configured to cause said roll to run on the running plane along the running direction;
• a first operating element configured to pick up the ring body of the handle and being movable in the running direction and in a first direction transverse to the running direction to carry said ring body;
• a second operating element which is able to move in a second direction, transverse to the first direction and to the running direction, to pick up the ring body from the first operating element and to fit said ring body onto the roll so that that the roll may be introduced into the through opening of said ring body;
• at least one applicator configured to apply at least one fixing element to the ring body and the roll to stably fix said ring body to the roll and thus define a grip portion of the handle;
• a third operating element configured to apply a pulling force to the ring body during application of the fixing element to the ring body and the roll;
• wherein said method of applying comprises the steps of:
• picking up, by means of the first operating element, the ring body of the handle;
• placing the roll on the running plane of the belt conveyor and causing said roll to run, by means of the belt conveyor, in the sliding direction up to the second operating element;
• conveying, by means of the first operating element, the ring body of the handle to position said ring body at the second operating element;
• picking up, by means of the second operating element, the ring body from the first operating element;
• fitting, by means of the second operating element, said ring body onto the roll
• exerting, by means of the third operating element, a pulling force on said ring body;
• applying, by means of the applicator, at least one fixing element to the ring body of the handle and the roll to fix said ring body to the roll and thus define a grip portion of the handle;
• releasing, by means of the third operating element, the pulling force applied to the ring body.