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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #91889
Title: MANAGEMENT OF BALE TIE LOADS THROUGH THE EFFICIENT PRESSING AND PACKAGING OF COTTON

Author
item SIMPSON, SHAY - NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL
item Anthony, William

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Review article--interpretive summary not required.

Technical Abstract: The cotton industry is plagued by broken bale ties. High resilient forces exerted by cotton bales can cause one or more ties to fail which may result in exposed lint and enlarged bales. Four main ginning techniques for reducing high stresses on bale ties include 1) maintaining a lint moisture content between 5 and 8 percent at the press box, 2) ensuring a platen separation of 19 or 20 inches, 3) ensuring lint distribution on the condenser drum remains uniform, and 4) providing tie lengths of 87 to 89 inches (plastic strap 86 1/2 inches maximum). Two additional recommendations for reducing stresses on ties are to rotate wire knots to the ball (sample side) of the bale and to recess ties into the flat side of the bale. Following these six guidelines will substantially reduce broken bale ties.