Biomass bale processing system with automatic binding remover

A biomass processing apparatus for processing a bale of biomass, the bale of biomass including a binding, the biomass processing apparatus comprising:

• a cutting device that is operable to automatically cut the binding;
• a conveyor that conveys the bale of biomass with the binding toward the cutting device;
• a holding device that selectively and automatically holds the bale against a support surface, wherein the cutting device automatically cuts the binding while the holding device holds the bale against the support surface;
• a binding remover that is operable to automatically remove the binding from the bale of biomass after the binding has been cut by the cutting device, the binding remover including a head member that moves linearly across an outer surface of the bale, an end of the head member operable to penetrate into the bale to move between the bale and the binding as the head member moves linearly across the outer surface of the bale, the end operable to direct the binding into a head opening of the head member, the head member operable to drag the binding from the bale as the head member moves away from the bale;
• an arranging member that defines a support opening, the head member operable to move through the support opening and to drag the binding through the support opening to thereby generally align and arrange the binding into a first predetermined position, the arranging member and the head member operable to cooperatively support the binding when in the first predetermined position;
• a gathering member operable to automatically gather the binding from the head member while the head member and the arranging member cooperatively support the binding, the gathering member including a base and a plurality of tines that are operable to rotate about a gathering axis, the plurality of tines operable to move between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the plurality of tines are operable to move from the retracted position to the extended position and to rotate about the gathering axis to thereby wind the binding about the plurality of tines, and wherein the plurality of tines are operable to move from the extended position to the retracted position to thereby expel the binding from the gathering member;
• and
• a sensor that is operable to detect at least one of a metal content of the bale, a moisture content of the bale, a size of the bale, and a weight of the bale.