Abstract: A wrapping assembly includes: a material roll configured to hold a roll of wrapping material; a duckbill assembly including a duckbill carrying a duckbill roll and configured to draw material from a roll of wrapping material held by the material roll; a duckbill actuator coupled to the duckbill to move the duckbill between an insert position and a home position; a variable brake associated with the material roll and configured to apply a variable braking force to the material roll; and a controller operatively coupled to the duckbill actuator and the brake. The controller is configured to: determine an averaged electric current draw of the duckbill actuator during a sampling period is below a defined value and responsively output a brake increase signal so the brake increases applied braking force to the material roll by a defined amount.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes: a chassis; a crop material handler carried by the chassis and configured to handle crop material; a communication interface carried by the chassis; and a controller operatively coupled to the communication interface and configured to: define a field map corresponding to a field; receive a bale drop zone input signal; define a bale drop zone within the field map based on the received bale drop zone input signal, the bale drop zone defining a location and a bale drop area within the field map; determine if the bale drop zone is sufficiently sized for a number of bales formed from crop material on the field to be placed in the bale drop zone; and output a drop zone insufficient signal if the bale drop zone is not sufficiently sized for the number of bales to be placed in the bale drop zone.

Abstract: A bale release assembly for an agricultural baler includes: a pair of spaced apart side sheets defining a bale release opening with an opening width therebetween; a tailgate associated with the bale release opening and defining a closed position where the tailgate closes the bale release opening and an open position where the bale release opening is open; and a pair of grasping arms associated with the bale release opening and pivotable about a pivot axis. The grasping arms are each movable between a respective ramp position to form a ramp from the bale release opening to the ground and a respective grasping position where a grasping width defined between the grasping arms is greater than the opening width. The grasping arms define a ramp width therebetween that is less than the grasping width when each grasping arm is in its respective ramp position.

Abstract: An agricultural baler includes: a frame; a bale chamber coupled with the frame; and a control system including: at least one sensor coupled with the frame, positioned circumferentially relative to the bale chamber, and configured for sensing an operative parameter of a crop material in the bale chamber.

Abstract: A wrapping assembly includes: a material roll configured to hold a roll of wrapping material; a duckbill assembly including a duckbill carrying a duckbill roll and configured to draw material from a roll of wrapping material held by the material roll; a duckbill actuator coupled to the duckbill to move the duckbill between an insert position and a home position; a variable brake associated with the material roll and configured to apply a variable braking force to the material roll; and a controller operatively coupled to the duckbill actuator and the brake. The controller is configured to: determine an averaged electric current draw of the duckbill actuator during a sampling period is below a defined value and responsively output a brake increase signal so the brake increases applied braking force to the material roll by a defined amount.

Abstract: A wrapping assembly includes: a material roll that holds a roll of wrapping material; a duckbill assembly including a duckbill carrying a duckbill roll that draws material from a roll of wrapping material held by the material roll, the duckbill being movable between a first position and a second position; a duckbill actuator coupled to the duckbill that moves the duckbill between the first position and the second position; a variable brake associated with the material roll that applies a variable braking force to the material roll; and a controller operatively coupled to the duckbill actuator and the brake. The controller determines that a load on the duckbill actuator exceeds a threshold value and outputs a brake reduction signal to the brake so the brake reduces applied braking force to the material roll when the load on the duckbill actuator exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: A wrapping assembly includes: a material roll configured to hold a roll of wrapping material; a duckbill assembly including a duckbill carrying a duckbill roll and configured to draw material from a roll of wrapping material held by the material roll; a duckbill actuator coupled to the duckbill to move the duckbill between an insert position and a home position; a variable brake associated with the material roll and configured to apply a variable braking force to the material roll; and a controller operatively coupled to the duckbill actuator and the brake. The controller is configured to: determine an averaged electric current draw of the duckbill actuator during a sampling period is below a defined value and responsively output a brake increase signal so the brake increases applied braking force to the material roll by a defined amount.

Abstract: A calibration system for an agricultural vehicle includes: a motor-driven component; a motor coupled to the motor-driven component and configured to move the motor-driven component between a maximum distance position and a home position; and a controller operatively coupled to the motor. The controller is configured to: enter a component calibration mode; output a first movement signal to the motor to cause the motor to carry the motor-driven component toward the maximum distance position; determine that the motor-driven component has reached the maximum distance position; output a second movement signal to the motor to cause the motor to carry the motor-driven component toward the home position; and determine that the motor-driven component has reached the home position.

Abstract: A wrapping assembly includes: a material roll configured to hold a roll of wrapping material; a duckbill assembly including a duckbill carrying a duckbill roll and configured to draw material from a roll of wrapping material held by the material roll; a duckbill actuator coupled to the duckbill to move the duckbill between an insert position and a home position; a variable brake associated with the material roll and configured to apply a variable braking force to the material roll; and a controller operatively coupled to the duckbill actuator and the brake. The controller is configured to: determine an averaged electric current draw of the duckbill actuator during a sampling period is below a defined value and responsively output a brake increase signal so the brake increases applied braking force to the material roll by a defined amount.

Abstract: A duckbill assembly of a wrapper for an agricultural baler. The duckbill assembly includes a frame, at least one roller movably connected to the frame and configured for spreading a wrapping material, an upper baffle connected to the frame, and a lower baffle connected to the frame and located underneath the upper baffle. The lower baffle has a width, a first set of grippers, and a second set of grippers. The first and second set of grippers are configured for spreading the wrapping material across the width of the lower baffle.

Abstract: A bale retriever includes: a chassis; a steering assembly carried by the chassis and configured to steer the bale retriever; a bale pick up carried by the chassis; and a controller operatively coupled to the steering assembly. The controller is configured to: receive a field signal corresponding to a field map; receive a baler travel signal corresponding to at least one of a baler planned path or a baler travel path of at least one baler; define an expected location of at least one bale on the field map based at least partially on the baler travel signal; generate a steering control signal based at least partially on the expected location of the at least one bale; and output the steering control signal to the steering assembly.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes: a chassis; a crop material handler carried by the chassis and configured to handle crop material; a communication interface carried by the chassis; and a controller operatively coupled to the communication interface and configured to: define a field map corresponding to a field; receive a bale drop zone input signal; define a bale drop zone within the field map based on the received bale drop zone input signal, the bale drop zone defining a location and a bale drop area within the field map; determine if the bale drop zone is sufficiently sized for a number of bales formed from crop material on the field to be placed in the bale drop zone; and output a drop zone insufficient signal if the bale drop zone is not sufficiently sized for the number of bales to be placed in the bale drop zone.

Abstract: A bale retriever for retrieving bales which includes a bale pick up configured to contact and pick up a bale, a steering assembly configured to steer the bale retriever, at least one sensor configured to sense at least one bale feature of the bale, and a controller operatively coupled to the steering assembly and the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to receive bale drop location information, receive at least one bale feature signal from the at least one sensor, identify an exact bale location of the bale based at least partially on the bale drop location information and the at least one bale feature signal from the at least one sensor, generate a steering control signal based at least partially on the exact bale location, and output the steering control signal to the steering assembly.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly for an agricultural baler includes: a tailgate that is movable between an open position and a closed position; a tailgate actuator coupled to the tailgate and configured to move the tailgate between the open position and the closed position; and a controller. The controller is configured to: determine that a bale formation cycle is beginning; enter a lockout mode responsively to determining the bale formation cycle has begun, the lockout mode preventing the tailgate actuator from moving the tailgate to the open position; determine that the bale formation cycle is complete; and enter an ejection mode from the lockout mode responsively to determining the bale formation cycle has completed, the ejection mode allowing the tailgate actuator to move the tailgate to the open position.

Abstract: A net knife assembly for a baler is provided. The net knife assembly includes a linkage drive system including a drive linkage coupled to a motor. The net knife assembly includes a knife carrier coupled to the linkage drive system and configured to be positioned in a home position and a cut position. The net knife assembly includes a tensioning member coupled to the linkage drive system. The motor is configured to rotate the drive linkage of the linkage drive system, rotation of the drive linkage rotating the knife carrier between the home position and the cut position. Upon rotation of the knife carrier through a center position relative to the tensioning member, the tensioning member accelerates rotation of the knife carrier into the home position or the cut position.

Abstract: A wrapping system includes: a material roll configured to hold a roll of wrapping material; a knife assembly comprising a movable knife that is configured to cut wrapping material that comes off the material roll; a sensor associated with the material roll and configured to output a drawn material signal; and a controller. The controller is configured to: receive the drawn material signal; determine a length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll; output a cut signal to the knife assembly when the drawn length of wrapping material reaches a defined length; determine a length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll after outputting the cut signal; and output an excessive wrap signal when the length of wrapping material drawn after outputting the cut signal exceeds a threshold length.

Abstract: A wrapping system for an agricultural baler includes: a material roll configured to hold a roll of wrapping material; a duckbill assembly configured to draw wrapping material from the material roll and including a duckbill motor; a bale size sensor configured to output bale size signals; and a controller operatively coupled to the duckbill motor and the bale size sensor. The controller is configured to: determine a starting size of a bale based on at least one received bale size signal; output an initiation signal to the duckbill motor to initiate a wrap cycle; determine a current size of the bale is less than the starting size of the bale by a defined amount after outputting the initiation signal; and output a successful wrap signal responsively to determining that the current size is less than the starting size by the defined amount.

Abstract: A duckbill assembly of a wrapper for an agricultural baler. The duckbill assembly includes a frame, at least one roller movably connected to the frame and configured for spreading a wrapping material, an upper baffle connected to the frame, and a lower baffle connected to the frame and located underneath the upper baffle. The lower baffle has a width, a first set of grippers, and a second set of grippers. The first and second set of grippers are configured for spreading the wrapping material across the width of the lower baffle.

Abstract: A wrapping system includes: a material roll configured to hold a roll of wrapping material; a knife assembly comprising a movable knife that is configured to cut wrapping material that comes off the material roll; a sensor associated with the material roll and configured to output a drawn material signal; and a controller. The controller is configured to: receive the drawn material signal; determine a length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll; output a cut signal to the knife assembly when the drawn length of wrapping material reaches a defined length; determine a length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll after outputting the cut signal; and output an excessive wrap signal when the length of wrapping material drawn after outputting the cut signal exceeds a threshold length.

Abstract: A calibration system for an agricultural vehicle includes: a motor-driven component; a motor coupled to the motor-driven component and configured to move the motor-driven component between a maximum distance position and a home position; and a controller operatively coupled to the motor. The controller is configured to: enter a component calibration mode; output a first movement signal to the motor to cause the motor to carry the motor-driven component toward the maximum distance position; determine that the motor-driven component has reached the maximum distance position; output a second movement signal to the motor to cause the motor to carry the motor-driven component toward the home position; and determine that the motor-driven component has reached the home position.