Author
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Anthony, William |
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Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meetings Papers
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/1998 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Improvements in packaging cotton in the United States include reducing the number of ties per bale from eight to six. However, published data comparing the forces exerted on different tie arrangements is not available. This study measured the forces on the ties of typical cotton bales restrained with either six or eight ties (steel straps). The forces were about 20% greater on the bales with only six ties as compared to those with eight ties. These findings should influence the industry to use stronger ties for the bales packaged with only six ties. An improved bale package that is more competitive in domestic and world markets will be possible. Technical Abstract: Studies using 6 or 8 ties per bale and platen separations of 19 or 21 in., bale tie lengths of 85 or 89 in., and storage at high humidity and normal humidity indicated that the average force on the 6-tie pattern was about 22% higher than for the 8-tie pattern. Tie 5 was located in about the same position for both patterns and exerted about 20% more force for the 6-tie pattern. The force exerted on individual restraint ties on a gin universa density cotton bale differed dramatically for different tie locations. Different force levels were required to compress and restrain cotton bales at different locations primarily as a function of lint distribution within the bale. Bale tie forces increased dramatically immediately after the bale was released from the press and tended to stablilize after 60 days. Cotton bales gained moisture at a declining rate until they reached equilibrium with the moisture in the air after about 100 days of storage. |
