Tractor mountable splitter to cut through wrapped bale and retain wrapping via grab after split bale has been discharged

摘要

A bale splitter (1 ) for mounting on a front end loader arm of a tractor' comprises a support framework (5) having a plurality of tines (7) extending transversely therefrom for supporting a cylindrical wrapped bale (2). A pair of carrier arms (15) pivotally coupled to the support framework (5) carry a cutting blade (20) for splitting the bale (2) and for simultaneously cutting wrapping material of the bale (2). The cutting blade (20) is slightly spaced apart from the tines (7) for preventing cutting of the wrapping material (4) adjacent the tines (7) so that the wrapping material remains in one single integral piece after splitting of the bale (2). A grab (30) comprising jaws (32,33) is supported on the support framework (5) to abut the bale (2) when supported on the tines (7), and for gripping the wrapping material (4) prior to operation of the cutting blade (20) for cutting the bale (2). By tilting the bale splitter (1) the split bale is discharged and the wrapping material (4) still gripped by the grab (30) is thus separated from the split bale.