Handling And Orienting Cotton Modules Wrapped With Material Including RFID Tag

A grapple device is provided for handling cylindrical cotton modules each having its circumference wrapped with a length of plastic sheet wrapping material. The grapple is equipped with a RFID reader for determining the location of a loose inner tail section of the wrapping material to which is attached an RFID tag assembly. The grapple device is also equipped with powered rollers which can be driven so as to cause the cotton module to be rotated about its axis so as to position the loose tail section of the wrapping material at an upper location of the module so as to permit a bottom surface location of the module to be slit by operation of a cutting device so as to release the cotton from the wrapper when the cotton module is positioned over a conveyor floor of a cotton gin. The powered rollers are then driven to aid in the removal and collection of the of the wrapping material from the module. In one embodiment, a separate set of powered rollers are provided for removing the wrapping material.