The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 21, 1992
Filed:
Aug. 10, 1990
Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG, Winterthur, CH;
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for operating a bale opening machine having an opening member, wherein the height profile of a row of bales is determined by at least one sensor directed towards the bale surface and is used to control the position of the opening member during the subsequent bale opening. The received signal of the sensor, which is preferably an optical or acoustical sensor or a sensor which operates with radar waves, is processed to obtain a signal corresponding to the hardness of the bales. In addition, the in-feed and, optionally, the penetration of the opening member, is controlled or regulated in accordance with the hardness signal. Various slip-free length measuring devices serves to determine the longitudinal position of the opening member along the row of bales.