The cutter on the TANCO A-100J is mechanically operated when the table tips to unload the bale.
Table Tipping and Cutter Engagement
To tip the table, the operator pulls the joystick back, allowing hydraulic oil to flow to the tip ram, which raises the turntable.
As the turntable rises, a bolt moves along the slotted bar (see photo).
When the bolt reaches the end of the slot, the slotted bar pulls the silver channel bar that the bolt is attached to.
The silver channel bar is normally held up by a spring. When pulled down, it allows the plunger on the diverter valve to drop.
Once the plunger drops, the oil flow diverts from the tip ram to the cutter ram.
When the cutter ram fully closes, oil flow automatically returns to the tip ram to continue lifting the turntable.
The other end of the slotted bar (not shown in the photo) has a series of holes. These allow adjustment for various bale diameters to ensure the cutter closes at the correct time.
Turntable Rotation via Joystick
To start the A-100J turntable, the operator pulls the joystick towards themselves for one full rotation of the turntable.
Once one rotation is complete, a magnet at the base of the joystick is energised, holding the joystick in position. This allows the turntable to continue rotating for the target number of rotations.
When the target rotations are complete, power to the magnet is disconnected, and the joystick automatically returns to neutral
To reverse the turntable into the correct tipping position, the operator pushes the joystick away from themselves.
Diagram Reference:
The photo below shows the spring-loaded slotted bar and linkage mechanism that engages the diverter valve during table tipping.