Abstract: A system for controlling the speed of harvested crop as it is discharged from a crop accumulator onto a field comprising a discharge mechanism for imparting a desired rearward travel speed to the harvested crop as it is being discharged from the crop accumulator and a speed measurement device for measuring forward travel speed of the crop accumulator. A processor is in communication with the discharge mechanism and the speed measurement device and is operable to adjust the discharge mechanism for imparting the desired rearward travel speed or the forward travel speed of the crop accumulator, to discharge harvested crop with a rearward travel speed that is substantially equal to the forward travel speed such that the harvested crop has a substantially net zero speed as it contacts the ground.

Abstract: An agricultural baler comprising a baler mechanism and a carriage assembly coupled to the baler mechanism. A platform is coupled to at least one of the baler mechanism and the carriage assembly. The platform is configured to move a bale from the baler mechanism to the carriage assembly and remain tilted until the bale is moved onto the carriage assembly at least substantially out of contact with the platform. A sliding mechanism is coupled to the carriage assembly. The sliding mechanism is configured to move the bale onto the carriage assembly.

Abstract: An agricultural baler comprising a baler mechanism. The agricultural baler comprises at least one structural member and a first ground engaging support is pivotally coupled to the structural member about a pivotal axis. A second ground engaging support is rotationally coupled to the structural member about an aft rotational axis. The baler mechanism is pivotally connected to the structural member at a baler connection. The baler connection is located at least one of between the aft rotational axis and the pivotal axis and at the pivotal axis. A bale carriage is coupled to the structural member.

Abstract: A lift link assembly couples a baler needle to a lift arm. The lift link assembly includes a hollow lift link extending along a coupling axis, a lift bar slidably received by the lift link and an adjusting link. An overload protection mechanism includes a block fixed to the lift bar and coupled to the adjusting link, and a plate fixed to an end of the lift link. A pair of clamping bolts clamp the plate to the block. The clamping bolts are in tension and are substantially parallel to the coupling axis.

Abstract: A lift link assembly couples a baler needle to a lift arm. The lift link assembly includes a hollow lift link extending along a coupling axis, a lift bar slidably received by the lift link and an adjusting link. An overload protection mechanism includes a block fixed to the lift bar and coupled to the adjusting link, and a plate fixed to an end of the lift link. A pair of clamping bolts clamp the plate to the block. The clamping bolts are in tension and are substantially parallel to the coupling axis.

Abstract: An agricultural round baler has an electronic control unit (ECU), a bale diameter sensor, a gate position sensor, and an electro-hydraulic valve that controls the flow to the gate lift cylinder. The ECU determines the height to which the gate must be raised based on the bale diameter. When the gate reaches the desired height, the ECU closes or restricts the electro-hydraulic valve for a brief period of time thereby momentarily slowing or stopping gate the gate. Momentarily trapping the bale between the gate and ground allows the bale to come to rest before the bale is released from the baler. The gate can then be fully opened so that the tractor and baler can be moved clear of the bale before closing the gate.

Abstract: A large cylindrical baler is equipped with a bale control device coupled to fixed forward side wall sections of the baling chamber and being selectively operated such that front and rear bale control members of the device are respectively located behind and forward of a space into which a completed bale may be discharged, with the rear bale control member engaging a discharged bale so as to halt the rolling inertia imparted to the bale during discharge, the front and rear bale control members thus cooperating for locating the bale at rest. Once the bale is at rest, the rear bale control member is moved to a bale-clearing position wherein the rear bale control member may move forwardly relative to the bale without coming into contact with the bale.

Abstract: A large cylindrical baler is equipped with a bale control device coupled to fixed forward side wall sections of the baling chamber and being selectively operated such that front and rear bale control members of the device are respectively located behind and forward of a space into which a completed bale may be discharged, with the rear bale control member engaging a discharged bale so as to halt the rolling inertia imparted to the bale during discharge, the front and rear bale control members thus cooperating for locating the bale at rest. Once the bale is at rest, the rear bale control member is moved to a bale-clearing position wherein the rear bale control member may move forwardly relative to the bale without coming into contact with the bale.

Abstract: A wide pick-up for a baler includes a crop feed rotor and auger arrangement located at an elevated position rearward of a tined pick-up reel arrangement. Positioned for receiving crop delivered by the reel arrangement, and extending beneath the crop feed rotor and auger arrangement is a crop guide plate arrangement including a central movable crop guide plate portion mounted to be moved vertically between a raised feed position, wherein it is relatively close to a circular path traced by the outer peripheries of the crop feed rotor and the converging augers, and a lowered, crop unplugging position, wherein it is spaced to create a gap between the crop guide plate portion and the crop feed rotor and auger arrangement.

Abstract: A wrapping means tensioning device is provided for a round baler and comprises an idler assembly and an application assembly. Wrapping means, like net, when drawn during a wrapping cycle acts onto the idler assembly, which in turn will press an application element of the application assembly against a roll, on which wrapping means is stored. This provides for proper tension during a wrapping cycle without the need for springs or the like, the force of which would need to be overcome, when a wrapping device is brought into a non-operative loading mode.

Abstract: An agricultural machine having a crop pick up section, a crop chamber, and a crop repositioning device. The crop chamber has an opening and the crop repositioning device receives crop material from the crop pick up section and assists in the delivery of the crop material to the opening. The crop repositioning device is configured to reposition at least a portion of the crop material dependent upon the detected crop material distribution in the crop pickup section, the detected crop material distribution in the opening and/or the detected crop material distribution in the crop chamber.

Abstract: A round baler has an overshot secondary rotor located behind an undershot precutter rotor. The round baler has a relatively wide swath crop pick-up and a baling chamber with a significantly more narrow inlet. The precutter rotor has a central region supporting a plurality of rotatable crop conveying members interleaved by both a set of relatively fixed cutting blades and a set of relatively fixed strippers for urging cut crop away from the rotor, and end regions supporting rotatable helically disposed bands for receiving wide swath crop from the pick-up arrangement and urging the received crop toward the central region. The secondary rotor creates an S-shaped or serpentine crop path with minimal dead space and is a positive feeder for bale starting. Stationary strippers for the secondary rotor prevent crop from exiting the baler behind the secondary rotor.

Abstract: A round baler has an overshot secondary rotor located behind an undershot precutter rotor. The round baler has a relatively wide swath crop pick-up and a baling chamber with a significantly more narrow inlet. The precutter rotor has a central region supporting a plurality of rotatable crop conveying members interleaved by both a set of relatively fixed cutting blades and a set of relatively fixed strippers for urging cut crop away from the rotor, and end regions supporting rotatable helically disposed bands for receiving wide swath crop from the pick-up arrangement and urging the received crop toward the central region. The secondary rotor creates an S-shaped or serpentine crop path with minimal dead space and is a positive feeder for bale starting. Stationary strippers for the secondary rotor prevent crop from exiting the baler behind the secondary rotor.

Abstract: A wrapping means tensioning device is provided for a round baler and comprises an idler assembly and an application assembly. Wrapping means, like net, when drawn during a wrapping cycle acts onto the idler assembly, which in turn will press an application element of the application assembly against a roll, on which wrapping means is stored. This provides for proper tension during a wrapping cycle without the need for springs or the like, the force of which would need to be overcome, when a wrapping device is brought into a non-operative loading mode.

Abstract: A large round baler has a pickup including a tined reel mounted beneath an inlet at the bottom of an expansible baling chamber for picking up windrowed crop and delivering it into the inlet. The teeth of the tined reel are constructed so as to be in the neighborhood of at least two times stiffer than conventional teeth for the purpose of enhancing bale starting and diminishing plugging by effecting a constant smooth delivery of crop to the baling chamber. An embodiment is disclosed wherein ultra-stiff teeth, teeth which are so stiff as to be virtually inflexible, are used at selected areas across the width of the reel together with the stiff teeth.

Abstract: A large round baler is equipped with a wrapping mechanism for applying a web of plastic material to a bale located in the bale-forming chamber. The wrapping mechanism includes a housing including a cover mounted to the rear of the discharge gate of the baler for pivoting vertically, about a first horizontal transverse axis at an upper forward location of the cover, between a lowered closed position, wherein it encloses a roll of wrap material resting on a pair of roll end supports, and a raised position permitting access to the roll end supports. A pair of gas springs are coupled between opposite side walls of the cover and spaced apart crank arms of a load member which is vertically pivotally supported from the gate for swinging about a second horizontal transverse axis located slightly below and rearwardly of the first axis.

Abstract: A large round baler includes mechanism for optionally wrapping a bale with either twine or a surface wrap material. A wrap control mechanism includes means whereby the wrapping process is initiated in response to a bale reaching a desired diameter within the bale chamber. Various microswitches are strategically mounted so as to be operated by various components of the twine and surface wrap mechanisms and the control mechanism therefor. These switches are integrated into an indicator circuit including indicator devices including various colored lights and a buzzer all of which are caused to operate in various modes to apprise an operator of when the wrapping process is beginning, whether or not twine or surface wrap material is present, when wrapping is complete and when the surface wrap material has been severed.

Abstract: A wrap material spreader roll includes a smooth, cylindrical tube having spiral flights at opposite end portions thereof formed from spirally wound wires of circular cross-section, the wires having respective inner ends defined by a radially inwardly projecting portion which is received in a respective hole provided in the tube. The spreader roll is mounted to opposite support walls by respective bolts having hexagonal heads received in hexagonal bores provided in the inner races of a pair of roller bearings that are pressed into the opposite ends of the tube, the bolts having respective threaded stems received in keyhole-shaped holes provided in the walls and having nuts received thereon.

Abstract: A large round baler includes mechanism for optionally wrapping a bale with either twine or a surface wrap material. A wrap control mechanism includes means whereby the wrapping process is initiated in response to a bale reaching a desired diameter within the bale chamber. Various microswitches are strategically mounted so as to be operated by various components of the twine and surface wrap mechanisms and the control mechanism therefor. These switches are integrated into an indicator circuit including indicator devices including various colored lights and a buzzer all of which are caused to operate in various modes to apprise an operator of when the wrapping process is beginning, whether or not twine or surface wrap material is present, when wrapping is complete and when the surface wrap material has been severed.

Abstract: The baling chamber of one type of round baler is defined by belts which are trained over rolls connected to a drive. Stones can enter the nip formed between the belts and some of the rolls, e.g., a lower front belt driving roll, and thereby cause poor tracking of the belts. To reduce the problem, a shield device is snap-fit mounted on the roll. The device includes a nip bridging plate an upright portion of which abuts the belt run advancing to the nip and a downwardly sloping lower portion of which bridges the nip. Thus the device covers the nip preventing access to it by the stones, and stones which fall upon it slide down the sloping portion of the plate eventually to find their way harmlessly to the ground.