Apparatus and method for baling cut fibers and product

A process for producing a bale of crimped nylon staple yarn from a continuous nylon multifilament tow comprising:

• continuously cutting the fiber tow into segments and doffing the cut tow segments by directing the segments radially outward and downward utilizing centrifugal and gravitational forces for extending and separating the segments perpendicular to the filaments;
• continuously transporting the separated segments along angled slides by gravity as a charge to a charge chamber;
• depositing the charge onto a support platen at a tramping position;
• accumulating the continuously transported segments to form a next charge;
• tramping the charge in the tramping position to a preselected pressure to form a compacted layer and pressing the support platen down one layer thickness;
• holding the last compacted layer in place to retain the layer compaction;
• depositing the next charge onto the last compacted layer at the tramping position;
• repeating the tramping, holding, depositing and accumulating steps until there are a plurality of compacted layers to form a bale;
• pressing the bale to a first pressure higher than the preselected tramping pressure;
• partially reducing the pressing to a pressure intermediate the first and preselected pressures;
• and
• strapping the bale to hold the compacted layers against expansion.