Abstract: An agricultural baler for making square bales of crop material having a bale case, a feed platform adjacent the bale case and a pickup in front of the platform for lifting crop material from the to the platform. A first feed mechanism, including a first set of crop engaging tines, is provided for urging crop material across the feed platform toward the bale case. Intermediate the first feed mechanism and the bale case is a second feeding mechanism having a second set of crop engaging tines for urging the crop material across the platform from said first feed mechanism into the crop inlet. The first and second sets of crop engaging tines are driven through endless paths each having arcuate portions in the vicinity of the feed platform and along which the tines travel in the general direction of the bale case. The paths of the second set of tines pass through said inlet into the bale case and are offset from the first set transversely relative to the general direction crop is being urged across the platform.

Abstract: A position locking mechanism for a windrow inverter having a wing draper attachment mounted on the frame of the windrow inverter on the opposing side of the transverse cross conveyor from the discharge chute and being manually movable between a horizontal operative position and a vertical transport position is disclosed wherein the wing extension is latched automatically when raised to the transport position. A rod connected to the pivotally movable wing extension is telescopically received within a bracket mounted to the frame of the windrow inverter and is appropriate notched and biased into engagement for fixing the wing extension when placed in both the operative and transport positions. A concentric compression spring mounted on the rod reduces the effort required to lift the wing extension into a raised transport position. A set of elastomeric bumpers requires the wing extension to be forced into the operative position to be latched.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a windrow inverter having a crop pick-up mechanism operable to elevate a windrow of crop material from the ground onto a transversely moveable draper conveyor is disclosed wherein the draper conveyor is rotatably driven by a hydraulic motor operable to rotate the draper conveyor in opposing lateral directions. The crop pick-up mechanism is driven by a ground drive mechanism. A power transfer device including a movable power transfer gear provides the option of interconnecting the drive mechanisms for the draper conveyor and the crop pick-up mechanism upon disconnection of one of the drive mechanisms. A second movable transfer gear provides another option of mechanically driving the operation of the draper conveyor, in either lateral direction. A wing draper attachment mounted on the frame of the windrow inverter is drivingly coupled to the draper conveyor for rotatable operation therewith.

Abstract: In a rectangular baler wherein a plunger is reciprocated by connecting rods to force crop material through a bale casing, and a microprocessor-based control circuit monitors the stress in the connecting rods to develop a digital value representing the pressure which should be applied to the tension rails of the casing in order to obtain baled crop material of desired density, the digital value is compared with upper and lower limits of the pressure which may be applied to the tension rails. If the digital vaue falls below the lower limit or exceeds the upper limit a visual indication of the condition is displayed for the operator.

Abstract: In a bale case (20) of an agricultural baler, a reciprocating plunger (71) is connected by a connecting rod assembly (90) and a wrist pin (92) to a driving crankshaft (74). A tension adjusting system (60) is provided for adjusting the dimensions of a bale case (20). The tension adjusting system (60) is responsive to a signal produced by sensors which sense stress when a compactive force is applied by the plunger (71) to crop material in the bale case (20). In one embodiment shear stress sensors (124, 126, 128, and 130) are mounted in annular recesses (120, 122) on the exterior of a wrist pin (92) to sense upon compaction the shear stress experienced by the wrist pin (92) in shear planes (160A, 160B). In another embodiment shear stress sensors (170, 171, 172, and 173) are mounted on an interior surface (174) of a wrist pin (90') to sense the shear stress experienced by the wrist pin (92') in shear planes (176, 177).