Abstract: A guide link mechanism is supported from the draft tongue of a pull-type harvester and connected to the gearbox mounted on the crop harvesting header to provide rotational power thereto wherein the guide link is supported from a sliding mechanism mounted on the tongue that accommodates the changes in distance in respective points associated with the pivotal movement of the draft tongue about a different pivot center than the gearbox. The sliding mechanism includes a bracket affixed to the underside of the draft tongue and low friction inserts, such as nylon, phenolic, urethane or polyethylene inserts, carried by the bracket. The guide link is connected to a slider plate that is slidably received by the phenolic inserts to permit a sliding movement thereof relative to the draft tongue. The rearward end of the guide link is pivotally connected to the gearbox to accommodate vertical movements of the crop harvesting header relative to the draft tongue.

Abstract: An aeration machine is provided with a split tine assembly having a movable spoon portion that disengages from the tine to discharge a wet core therefrom. The movement of the spoon portion is controlled by a cam mechanism that controls the point of discharge of the core from the tine. A core destroying machine is connectable to the aeration machine to receive wet cores directly therefrom or is operable independently of the aeration machine. The core destroying machine is provided with a stepped screen member that is cooperable with a linearly reciprocating scrubbing mechanism to scrub the aeration cores against the stepped screen in a manner to remove the earthen portion thereof and convey the organic thatch thereof to the discharge end of the screen member for reception in a collection vessel for subsequent remote disposal. A sweep mechanism can be provided to gather aeration cores lying on the ground and convey the aeration cores into the scrubbing mechanism.

Abstract: A machine and method of operation thereof to pick-up individual bales of hay or other forage material from the field to create a package of individual bales that is silage-wrapped with plastic before being discharged back to the ground. The receiving table is pivotally supported on the frame of the machine to provide the ability to re-orient the package for wrapping plastic about orthogonal axes. A clamping and elevating mechanism is operable to lift layers of individual bales to permit the formation of subsequent layers therebeneath until the desired package size has been completed. The clamping members are rotatably mounted to allow rotation of the elevated package for wrapping plastic around the periphery thereof. Ejection of the wrapped package is accomplished by pivoting the telescopic members mounting the clamping members to a horizontal orientation and releasing the package. The reversal of the discharge process can be utilized to retrieve wrapped packages from the field.

Abstract: A round baler having a main frame including opposing sidewalls, and an apron assembly comprising crop engaging elements disposed between said sidewalls for defining a bale forming chamber having a fixed generally cylindrical shape with a transverse inlet. The crop engaging elements move along a path having an inner course contiguous with a major portion of the fixed periphery of the cylindrical chamber, and a pickup assembly for feeding crop material to the chamber through the inlet whereby crop material accumulated in the chamber is engaged by the crop engaging elements and formed into a compacted cylindrical package under conditions where a sufficient amount of crop material has accumulated in the chamber. A supply of net material is dispensed via a dispensing assembly having grasping elements for feeding the net into the chamber for wrapping the periphery of the cylindrical package of crop material in the chamber to form a round bale of crop material.

Abstract: A round baler having a main frame including opposing sidewalls, and an apron assembly comprising crop engaging elements disposed between said sidewalls for defining a bale forming chamber having a generally cylindrical shape with a transverse inlet. The crop engaging elements move along a path having an inner course contiguous with a major portion of the fixed periphery of the cylindrical chamber. The baler also includes a pickup assembly for feeding crop material to the chamber through the inlet whereby crop material accumulated in the chamber is engaged by the crop engaging elements and formed into a compacted cylindrical package. A supply of net material is selectively dispensed via a dispensing assembly into the chamber for wrapping the periphery of the formed cylindrical package of crop material in the chamber. A supply of twine fed to a twine dispensing assembly is also selectively dispensed into the chamber for wrapping the periphery of the cylindrical package of crop material.

Abstract: A method of wrapping crop material in a round baler having a main frame including opposing sidewalls, and an apron assembly comprising crop engaging elements disposed between said sidewalls for defining a bale forming chamber having a generally cylindrical shape with a transverse inlet. The crop engaging elements move along a path having an inner course contiguous with a major portion of the fixed periphery of the cylindrical chamber. The baler also includes a pickup assembly for feeding crop material to the chamber through the inlet whereby crop material accumulated in the chamber is engaged by the crop engaging elements and formed into a compacted cylindrical package. A supply of net material is dispensed into the chamber for wrapping the periphery of the formed cylindrical package of crop material in the chamber. A supply of twine is simultaneously dispensed into the chamber for wrapping the periphery of the cylindrical package of crop material.

Abstract: An agricultural baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material having a sledge assembly moveable between bale starting and full bale positions. The sledge assembly includes a plurality of rollers which cooperate with an apron to define a bale forming chamber. A dispensing mechanism is carried on the sledge assembly for dispensing sheet material, such as net or the like, into the bale forming chamber whereupon it is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical bale of crop material in the bale forming chamber. A net supply assembly is associated with the dispensing mechanism to provide net for feeding into the bale chamber via the dispensing mechanism. Included in the net supply assembly is a net brake for restraining the net during various parts of the wrapping process, e.g, cutting. The brake is operated in cooperation with a counter arrangement that includes an idler roll in continuous contact with the surface of the net supply roll.

Abstract: An agricultural baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material having a sledge assembly moveable between bale starting and full bale positions. The sledge assembly includes a plurality of rollers which cooperate with an apron to define a bale forming chamber. A dispensing mechanism is carried on the sledge assembly for dispensing sheet material, such as net or the like, into the bale forming chamber whereupon it is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical bale of crop material in the bale forming chamber. A net supply assembly is associated with the dispensing mechanism to provide net for feeding into the bale chamber via the dispensing mechanism. Included in the net supply assembly is a net brake for restraining the net during various parts of the wrapping process, e.g, cutting. The brake is operated in cooperation with a counter arrangement that includes an idler roll in continuous contact with the surface of the net supply roll.

Abstract: An agricultural baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material having a sledge assembly moveable between bale starting and full bale positions. The sledge assembly includes a plurality of rollers which cooperate with an apron to define a bale forming chamber. A dispensing mechanism is carried on the sledge assembly for dispensing web material into the bale forming chamber whereupon it is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical package of crop material. A net supply assembly is associated with the dispensing mechanism to provide net for feeding into the bale chamber via the dispensing mechanism. Included along the feed path of the net is a net severing assembly for cutting the net after it has been wrapped around the cylindrical hay package. The net severing assembly includes a free falling cutting element for operatively engaging the net prior to entry into the chamber.

Abstract: An agricultural baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material having a sledge assembly moveable between bale starting and full bale positions. The sledge assembly includes a plurality of rollers which cooperate with an apron to define a bale forming chamber. A dispensing mechanism is carried on the sledge assembly for dispensing sheet material, such as net or the like, into the bale forming chamber whereupon it is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical bale of crop material in the bale forming chamber. A net spreading system is associated with the dispensing mechanism to assure that the net being fed into the bale chamber via the dispensing mechanism is maintained at its nominal width which corresponds generally to the width of the chamber.

Abstract: A hay harvesting machine in which previously cut crop material in a windrow or swath on the ground is picked up and inverted to position a damp side up and a dry side down; as the crop is inverted, it is directed laterally toward one side of the machine and rearwardly; after inversion, the crop is turned further and conveyed for discharge back onto the ground laterally displaced from its original position on the ground.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping cylindrical bales of crop material formed in a bale forming chamber of an agricultural baler with sheet material such as net or plastic film. The apparatus includes a dispensing mechanism which is movable from a retracted position to a dispensing position for inserting a tail of the sheet material into the bale forming chamber of the baler so that the sheet material is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical bale disposed therein. The dispensing mechanism is comprised of a pair of clamping members that grip the tail of the sheet material and between which the sheet material is dispensed during bale wrapping. The apparatus also includes a motor and a plurality of links for moving the dispensing mechanism between its retracted and dispensing positions.

Abstract: A method of wrapping cylindrical bales of crop material with sheet material, such as net or plastic film, includes gripping a tail of the sheet material in a dispensing mechanism during formation of a cylindrical bale in a bale forming chamber of an agricultural baler. After the bale is completed, the dispensing mechanism is moved from a retracted position to a dispensing position and the tail of the sheet material is inserted into the bale forming chamber of the baler. The sheet material is wrapped circumferentially around the bale while it is disposed in the bale forming chamber, and the dispensing mechanism is returned to the retracted position after one or more layers of the sheet material have been wrapped around the bale. When the dispensing mechanism has returned to the retracted position, the sheet material is cut by a cutting mechanism.

Abstract: An agricultural baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material having a sledge assembly movable between bale starting and full bale positions. The sledge assembly includes a plurality of rollers which cooperate with an apron to define a bale forming chamber. A dispensing mechanism is carried on the sledge assembly for dispensing sheet material, such as net or plastic film, into the bale forming chamber so that it is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical bale of crop material disposed in the bale forming chamber. The dispensing mechanism is movable into a dispensing position wherein a tail of the sheet material is inserted through a gap between the apron and one of the rollers of the sledge assembly.

Abstract: A machine for continuously forming roll bales of crop material has a lower apron and forward and rearward upper aprons cooperating to define front and rear bale forming chambers. Pivoting arms move the forward upper apron between various positions during bale formation. Ramps extend upwardly above the lower apron in an operative position, and the ramps are also movable to an inoperative position. An actuator mechanism is interconnected between the arms and the ramps to cause movement of the ramps between the operative and inoperative positions in response to movement of the forward upper apron between its various positions.

Abstract: A twine cutting and clamping apparatus for a roll baling machine includes an arm having one edge which cooperates with a cutting member such as a knife to cut twine therebetween. The arm has another edge which cooperates with a resilient member such as a spring clip to clamp twine therebetween.

Abstract: A baler has a bale case disposed above and centrally of a pickup mechanism. A feed mechanism is provided to deliver crop material from a feed area into the bale case through an opening in the bottom thereof. The feed mechanism preferably includes two pairs of fingers movable in loop-like paths.

Abstract: In a combine used for harvesting and threshing crop material from a field and equipped with a system for ejecting stones and other foreign objects from an infeed housing through a trapdoor there is provided an improved seal for the stone trapdoor and the opposing sidewalls of the infeed housing.