Abstract: A wrap material dispensing system for a round baler includes a wrap material drive system for advancing wrap material from a supply roll to a wrap material feeding arrangement, and a selectively operable knife mechanism for severing the wrap material. The wrap material drive arrangement includes a pair of rollers that are driven by a motor. The knife mechanism is mounted to a pivotable shaft to which a one-way knife actuating clutch is mounted. A flexible drive member, such as a chain, is engaged with a rotatable output member of the drive motor, and with the one-way knife actuating clutch and a driven one of the wrap material drive rollers. Operation of the motor to rotate the motor output member in a first direction causes advancement of the wrap material, and the one-way knife actuating clutch is configured to maintain the knife mechanism in an inoperable rest position during advancement of the wrap material.

Abstract: A round baler for forming round bales of agricultural crop material includes a bale kicker mechanism for ensuring that the bale is clear of the path of movement of the baler tailgate after the bale has been discharged from the baler and before movement of the tailgate from its open position to its closed position. The bale kicker mechanism includes an inner section which is movably mounted to the baler for movement between a raised position and a lowered position, and an outer section which is pivotably mounted to the inner bale kicker section, to form a jointed bale kicker construction. The inner bale kicker section extends downwardly and rearwardly from the bale-forming chamber at a relatively sharp angle when in its lowered position, to facilitate discharge of the bale from the bale-forming chamber. The outer bale kicker section defines an outer end which engages the ground when the inner bale kicker section is in its lowered position, to provide a ramp for moving the bale onto the ground.

Abstract: A bale shape monitoring system for a round baler for detecting a misshapen bale during bale formation. The system includes a pair of spaced apart rollers mounted to a movable member located within the bale-forming chamber, and which are normally engaged with spaced apart baler belts when the bale has a uniform diameter in the vicinity of the rollers. A rotation sensing arrangement detects the rotation of the rollers, caused by engagement of the rollers with the belts during normal bale formation. In the event the bale is formed with a lesser diameter in the vicinity of one of the rollers, the associated belt moves out of contact with the roller, and the lack of roller rotation is sensed so as to provide a signal to the operator to steer the baler to supply crop material to the lesser diameter area of the bale. Once a uniform diameter is again obtained, both rollers continue to rotate so as to indicate to the operator that the bale has a uniform diameter.