A machine for releasing a bale, particularly a bale of tobacco from a package, comprises a structure movable along an upright and having two arms with rotatable gripping devices for gripping, lifting and rotating a packaged bale so that the block of tobacco can be released from the packaging box, and the empty box can be transferred to a discharge area.
A bundle handling device is provided that includes a frame, a body, a scoop, a ramp and a controller. The body is mounted to the frame and includes a first opening through which bundles are loaded and a second opening through which bundles are discharged. The scoop and the ramp are mounted to the body. The scoop covers a substantial portion of the second opening, while the ramp covers the remaining portion. The controller is coupled to a plurality of actuators and a plurality of sensors, and controls the rotation of the body, the opening and closing of the scoop and the opening and closing of the ramp, in order to discharge a metered portion of bundles through the second opening.
