Abstract: A round baler includes bale forming mechanism and a crop delivery apparatus for delivering crop material to the bale forming mechanism. A clutch is provided for drivingly disconnecting the bale forming mechanism and delivery apparatus from the driveline while the tailgate is raised to discharge a wrapped bale. Engagement and disengagement of the clutch is controlled by a piston and cylinder assembly, and raising and lowering of the tailgate is controlled by a pair of piston and cylinder units. The baler is provided with a hydraulic sequencing circuit that connects the clutch assembly and the tailgate units to a common source of pressurized fluid. Moreover, the sequencing circuit controls fluid flow to the assembly and the units so that the clutch is disengaged before the tailgate is raised and the clutch is not re-engaged until the tailgate has been closed.

Abstract: The round baler has a plurality of transverse rolls and a plurality of laterally spaced belts entraining the rolls, wherein the rolls and belts cooperatively define a baling chamber expandable from an initial, generally upright, bale-starting configuration. The baling chamber has a crop intake opening adjacent the bottom of the chamber through which crop material is delivered to the chamber during formation of a bale. The rolls include a lower front roll and a lower rear roll which are located behind the intake opening. The lower rear roll has a bale supporting surface that is positioned generally upwardly and rearwardly from the front roll for supporting the bale during formation thereof at a point spaced upwardly and rearwardly from the intake opening.

Abstract: A round baler having a wrapping apparatus for wrapping bales with twine includes a twine dispenser moveable generally between the sidewalls for dispensing at least one strand of twine around the bale. The wrapping apparatus further includes a retractable twine guide for spacing the twine wrapped around the bale a certain distance from one of the sidewalls. The guide is shiftable into and out of an operating position, in which the guide engages and maintains the twine the distance from the one sidewall. The operating position of the twine guide is generally within or proximate to the path of inflowing crop material so that shifting of the guide out of the operating position minimizes interference with the flow of material and reduces accumulation of trash and material on the guide.

Abstract: A tailgate-responsive clutch of a round baler tensions a drive belt of the baler for drivingly connecting the bale forming components to a towing vehicle's power source when the clutch is engaged. An actuator is coupled with the clutch to engage and disengage the clutch in response to swinging of the tailgate. Particularly, the actuator is disposed for operable connection with the tailgate when the tailgate is in the closed position, whereby the clutch is engaged, and for disconnection from the tailgate when the tailgate is out of the closed position, whereby the clutch is disengaged. The actuator includes an operating member shiftable by the tailgate to engage the clutch as the tailgate approaches the closed position, wherein the operating member has a resilient portion capable of engaging the clutch, yet also flex and yieldably maintain the clutch engaged when the tailgate is in the closed position.

Abstract: A reciprocating plunger of a square baler has a series of cleanout probes fixed to an oscillating drive arm which reciprocates the plunger. The probes sweep along a path adjacent portions of a horizontal frame member of the plunger as the plunger moves through its operating cycle in order to remove the accumulation of loose crop materials from the same. The probes are arranged to swing away from the path of travel of needles which carry baling twine or wire upwardly through the plunger and toward an overlying knotting device, to thereby avoid interference with the needles and substantially prevent the needles from carrying any loose crop materials toward the knotting mechanism.

Abstract: A round baler includes a bale shape monitor for facilitating uniform bale formation. The bale shape monitor includes a pair of end sensors and an intermediate sensor. The end sensors sense the diameter of the bale at end locations adjacent opposite ends of the bale, while the intermediate sensor senses the diameter of the bale at an intermediate location spaced between the end locations. The monitor further includes a signal responsive to the sensors to indicate to the operator when the diameter of the bale at one of the end locations is less than the diameter at the intermediate location. The signal is electrically powered and includes a pair of switches, each of which is operably coupled between one of the end sensors and the intermediate sensor to operate an indicator when the diameter of the bale sensed at the corresponding end location is less than the diameter sensed at the intermediate location.