Author
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Anthony, William |
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Submitted to: Cotton Gin and Oil Mill Press
Publication Type: Popular Publication Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/1998 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Some of the six or eight ties that restrain cotton bales fail on about 800,000 cotton bales annually. Replacement of these ties at the gin requires several personnel and a commercial bale press ($300,000) for 10 to 30 minutes. When the failure occurs after the bale leaves the gin, the bale must be shipped to an appropriate repair facility at a cost of about $35 per bale. Less demanding and expensive repair methods are not available. A new device was developed and patented to provide a portable, inexpensive repair device ($20,000) requiring only one operator. The new device should ensure that all cotton bales produced in the U.S. meet industry standards. A monetary savings of as much as $28 million is possible with full implementation of the device. Technical Abstract: A portable device was developed to enable replacement of broken bale ties after initial packaging at the gin. The device can be operated by one person and can repair bales in 5-10 minutes. The device returns the bale to its original density and a standard length tie is installed. The device can be operated in the vertical or horizontal mode. It can be installed on a trailer or it can be positioned with a forklift to meet operational needs. The low-cost device provides a solution to replacing bale ties at the gin or in subsequent shipping or storage operations. |
