Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically calibrating a bale size indicator by using inputs from existing bale wrapper material monitors to determine the linear amount of wrapping material necessary to encircle the bale one time. Balers with wrapping mechanisms may include a sensor for measuring the linear amount of wrapper dispensed as a means to alert the operator when the supply of wrapper material is low. Such balers may also have additional sensors for verifying that wrapping material completely encircles the bale prior to allowing the bale to be ejected from the baler. Using inputs from each of these sensors, a control system on the baler can determine the amount of wrapping material necessary to cover one revolution of the bale, also an indication of the bale circumference, and use the measurement to calibrate the display of bale diameter also generated from the control system.

Abstract: RFID tags pre-installed on bale wrap segments provide location information for a specific area of the bale wrap. RFID tag readers located on the cotton harvester provide signals for use by the module wrapping apparatus for initiating a cutting or separating operation, once a module has been wrapped, and for warning an operator of a situation where the wrapping function has not proceeded in an orderly fashion after a signal for starting the wrapping function has been received. A wrapped module carries the pre-installed RFID tags which are readable by RFID readers carried by module handlers in the field and/or at the gin input which identify the modules and establish a position to which the module may be automatically oriented so that an ideal module wrap cutting location is easily calculated. The RFID tag reading taken in the field or at the gin thus senses the number on the tag as well as the location of the tag, and the module identification is input to an electronic database.

Abstract: A bale wrapper is provided that comprises a rotating arm holding a film dispenser. The arm rotates around an axis thereby wrapping the film from the film dispenser around the bale. Rotation of the arm is stopped when a sensing arrangement mounted ahead of the arm senses an obstacle. The arm is driven with a first speed sufficiently slow to prevent any risk of injury and the arm and the film dispenser from being damaged by hitting an obstacle detected by the sensing arrangement when an obstacle sensor observing a sensitive range in the environment of the bale wrapper detects an obstacle. The arm rotates at a second speed faster than the first speed when the obstacle sensor detects no obstacle.

Abstract: An end wrap adjustment that may be used with an agricultural baler twine wrapping system. More particularly, an end wrap adjustment for improved adjustment of the end wrap location, without the use of tools. The end wrap adjustment provides for the adjustment of the location of the twine at the ends of the bale depending on one or more factors, such as the crop type, storage conditions, operator preference, etc. On one side, the twine dispensing assembly may include a first end wrap adjustment for controlling the position of the twine arm, and hence the twine with respect to an end or side of the bale when the bale wrapping system is in an extended position. On an opposite side, the twine cutting assembly may include a second end wrap adjustment for controlling the position of the twine with respect to an opposite end or side of the bale when the bale wrapping system is in a home position.

Abstract: An automated bale wrapping control system for a round baler that includes a simplified remotely installable operator interface for installation on a tractor. The simplified operator interface includes manual operated, mechanical input switches for selecting system on/off, number of wraps, twine or net wrapper selection, manual extension/retraction of the wrapping mechanism, and/or manual wrap cycle initiation. An audible alarm provides feedback to the operator for monitoring the baling and wrapping processes and for alerting the operator to abnormal conditions in the baling and/or wrapping processes.

Abstract: A manually operated bale wrapping apparatus for a round baler having a wrapping apparatus position indicator device which is visually observable by an operator that enables the operator to manually monitor and manipulate the wrapping apparatus, thereby reducing the need for an electronic control system on the baler to manage the operations of the bale wrapping process.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic alignment apparatus for rubber bands which automatically aligns a rubber band so as to automate a rubber banding process. The automatic alignment apparatus for rubber bands includes a pair of alignment rods installed in parallel on a plate, screw grooves respectively formed on outer circumferential surfaces of the alignment rods, alignment grooves formed on upper parts of the alignment rods, limit parts formed above the alignment grooves to prevent an aligned rubber band from being separated from the alignment rods, a driving unit and a power transmission unit to rotate the alignment rods, a first sensing unit to sense the rubber band aligned by rotation of the alignment rods, a second sensing unit to sense a consumption state of rubber bands temporarily banded onto the alignment rods, and a controller.

Abstract: A bale shape monitor for assisting an operator of a round baler. The bale shape monitor has an indicator with variable sensitivity. The indicator is less sensitive for small bales and more sensitive for larger bales so that the indicator de-emphasizes bale shape problems at the beginning of bale formation and emphasizes bale shape problems when the bale is almost fully formed. The indicator also changes colors according to the degree the bale is misshapen and provides textual driving instructions.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for a compactor/baler includes a controller and a plurality of switches coupled to inputs of the controller. A first switch is in a first position when a ram of the compactor/baler is below a predetermined location, and a second position when the ram reaches the location. A second switch is in a first position when pressure driving the ram is below a predetermined pressure limit, and a second position when the ram exceeds the pressure limit. A communication port and display are operatively coupled to outputs of the controller. The controller is configured to, upon actuation of the first switch to the first position, activate a ram timer to count to a predetermined timer setting, and, if the second switch is actuated to the second position before the ram timer reaches the timer setting, output an alert of a full bale condition the communication port and/or display.

Abstract: The present invention generally pertains to a single ram baler for baling recycled material. More specifically, the single ram baler of the present invention comprises a ram operable to move between a retracted position for receiving the recycled material and a tying position for allowing the compacted material to slightly expand before wiring the same.

Abstract: A self-adjusting stripper pin is for use in a strap chute for a strapping machine and includes a mount mounted to a fixed portion of the strapping machine, a reciprocating pin disposed in the mount for reciprocating movement relative to the mount and a pin spring disposed between the pin and the mount for biasedly mounting the pin to the mount. When the movable wall of the strapping machine is moved toward the fixed wall of the strapping machine, the pin moves out from the track to allow the strap to traverse therethrough and when the movable wall is moved away from the fixed wall, the pin is moved into the track to urge the strap out of the track. The spring positions the pin at about an outer edge of the track when the movable wall is moved away from the fixed wall.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for the wrapping of a bale. The arrangement has a drive for the introduction of a wrapping material into a baling chamber, a sensor for the detection of a physical size of a bale developing in a baling chamber, and a control arrangement connected with the drive and the sensor, to activate the drive based on the signals from the sensor. It is proposed that the control arrangement be operated to activate the drive looking ahead, based upon the detected growth rate in the size of the bale and the time delay between the activation of the drive and the exact time in which the wrapping material reaches the baling chamber, so that the wrapping material reaches the baling chamber when the size of the bale is equal to the desired size of the bale.

Abstract: RFID tags pre-installed on bale wrap segments provide location information for a specific area of the bale wrap. RFID tag readers located on the cotton harvester provide signals for use by the module wrapping apparatus for initiating a cutting or separating operation, once a module has been wrapped, and for warning an operator of a situation where the wrapping function has not proceeded in an orderly fashion after a signal for starting the wrapping function has been received. A wrapped module carries the pre-installed RFID tags which are readable by RFID readers carried by module handlers in the field and/or at the gin input which identify the modules and establish a position to which the module may be automatically oriented so that an ideal module wrap cutting location is easily calculated. The RFID tag reading taken in the field or at the gin thus senses the number on the tag as well as the location of the tag, and the module identification is input to an electronic database.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking up, stacking and bundling lumber, that comprises: a drive means, a conveyor assembly having a receiving bin and a conveyor, a stacking assembly operatively connected to the conveyor assembly, and having an unscrambling hopper, a row conveyor, a stacking bin and a bundling assembly a discharge platform, and a grapple assembly that picks up lumber pieces from the ground and deposits them into the receiving bin, and that also picks up bundles of lumber produced by the stacking assembly, for movement to a secondary location. The apparatus can be used on a variety of different terrains, including inclines and declines and can pick up lumber from a wide radius around the apparatus and from a number of ground conditions including rocky, muddy and wet ground.

Abstract: A strapping machine is provided to feed a strap around a load, position, tension and seal the strap around the load. The strapping machine includes a surface to support the load in the strapping machine; a strap chute to carry a strap around the load and release the strap from the strap chute; a motor assembly to convey the strap around the strap chute, retract the strap material around the load, and tension the strap around the load; and an adjustable speed drive capable of receiving a first reference signal and a second reference signal, and configured to actuate the motor assembly to apply a first amount of torque to the strap when receiving the first reference signal and to apply a second amount of torque to the strap when receiving the second reference signal.

Abstract: These and other objects are achieved by providing a bale wrap or tie monitor that uses a sensor array to sense the presence or absence of twine, net or film after initial operation of the wrapping mechanism and prior to ejection of the bale onto the field. Either, or both, visual and audible alarms can be initiated when default conditions are met.

Abstract: A strapping machine includes a frame, a vertically movable upper carriage, a strap chute including an upper leg mounted to the movable upper carriage, a pair of spaced apart compression plates mounted to the movable upper carriage for vertically compressing the load and a pair of side squaring elements movable toward and away from one another configured figured for horizontal movement to contact the sides of the load. The side squaring elements are disposed between the compression plates. The machine is controlled by a control system such that following a first strapping cycle and prior to a second strapping cycle the control system generates a signal to raise the compression plates from the load about 3 inches and a to move the side squaring elements away from the load about 3 inches. The machine includes a corner pad applicator assemblies for applying a corner pad at each of the upper corners of the load prior to positioning, tensioning and sealing the strapping material to itself about the load.

Abstract: The device tensions and closes strapping bands for packaging and suchlike. It has a band channel open longitudinally on one side in the longitudinal direction of the strapping band, a band tensioning device acting in the area of the band channel and a closing device which joins the band ends lying on top of each other in a tensioned state in the band channel. In order to ensure that correct tensioning rate, band tension, welding time, holding time and/or other band closing parameters in each case, the device is provided with a sensor device recording the width of the strapping band and a processing and adjusting unit interacting therewith, with which the band closing parameters are automatically adjusted as a function of the band width.

Abstract: Large cylindrical bales of hay, straw, or other forage or fodder are usually wrapped with a filament-type product, typically twine, or a sheet-type product, typically netwrap material, after a bale has reached a predetermined size. A method and apparatus are disclosed that permits the bale to continue to form during part of the wrapping process. A delay occurs between the initiation of the wrapping step and the alarm for the operator to stop the forward movement of the baler. By inserting the wrap material to an entry throat of the baler, new crop material may be added to the bale while the leading edge of the wrap material travels around the bale. The operator is notified only when the feed of additional crop material needs to be stopped for the wrapping operation to conclude. The present invention is applicable to the use of sheet or filament wrapping materials for binding round bales.

Abstract: A tractor comprises a tractor frame, driven ground engaging means, and an electronic tractor controller. A baler comprises a baler frame coupled or connected to the tractor frame, a crop receiving means, a baling chamber, a bale size sensor associated with the baling chamber, and an electronic baler controller. The baler controller is operable to submit a halt signal to the tractor controller when a bale size signal provided by the bale size sensor indicates that a bale has reached a size equal to or exceeding a first predetermined size. The tractor controller is operable to command the ground engaging means to automatically halt the tractor when receiving a halt signal from the baler controller. A steering controller is connected to a swath position sensor and operable to automatically steer the tractor along a swath based upon the signals of the crop swath sensor and of the bale shape sensor such that a uniform bale shape is obtained.

Abstract: A reinforcement binding machine (1), comprising a wire reel storage part (3) having a rotation detection lever (8) and a photo sensor (7). When a wire reel is rotated in starting binding, the rotation detection lever is turned on and off by a projected part formed on the side face of the wire reel to detect the rotation, and the photo sensor detects a reflection mark on the wire reel to discriminate the type of the wire by a mark number so as to control torsional torque, etc. Since wire information is detected in binding operation when the wire reel is rotated at a high speed not in initialization operation (in setting the wire) when the wire reel is rotated at a low speed, the swing amount of the rotation detection lever is large and, accordingly, the wire information can be securely detected.

Abstract: A strap feeding and withdrawing structure for a packing machine includes a driving member and a strapping member pivotally assembled on a main body of a conveying device and respectively driven by an electromagnetic switch unit and a pull member to carry out strap feeding, strap withdrawing and strap strapping work. The separable strap feeding and withdrawing structure of this invention can be disassembled quickly, facilitating maintenance and removal of disorder. In addition, the strapping member is disposed thereon with a strap withdrawal detecting member able to accurately control data of strap withdrawing and tightness of strapping.

Abstract: A bale wrapping control system that enables several custom bale wrapping patterns which more effectively wrap and maintain the integrity of bales formed in a round baler. The bale wrapping control system controls operation of a dispensing arm which dispenses twine or other bale wrapping material. The dispensing arm is moveable between a start position where an end of the dispensing arm is closest to the bale, a left edge position where the end of the dispensing arm is near a left edge of the bale, a right edge position where the end of the dispensing arm is near a right edge of the bale, and a cutoff or home position where the end of the dispensing arm passes a cutting mechanism. The bale wrapping control system includes a baler controller for controlling movement of the dispensing arm and a user interface for receiving operating instructions from an operator of the baler and for controlling certain functions of the baler controller in response to the operating instructions.

Abstract: A bale wrapping control system that enables several custom bale wrapping patterns which more effectively wrap and maintain the integrity of bales formed in a round baler. The bale wrapping control system controls operation of a dispensing arm which dispenses twine or other bale wrapping material. The dispensing arm is moveable between a start position where an end of the dispensing arm is closest to the bale, a left edge position where the end of the dispensing arm is near a left edge of the bale, a right edge position where the end of the dispensing arm is near a right edge of the bale, and a cutoff or home position where the end of the dispensing arm passes a cutting mechanism. The bale wrapping control system includes a baler controller for controlling movement of the dispensing arm and a user interface for receiving operating instructions from an operator of the baler and for controlling certain functions of the baler controller in response to the operating instructions.

Abstract: In a method and a device for compressing square large bales for stalk material on large baling presses by using twines that engage across longitudinal sides and end faces of bales and are tied together, wherein compressed large bales can be formed by a number of adjacently positioned, individually compressed and tied small bales, a first tying unit and a second tying unit at a pressing channel of a large baling press are provided, wherein the first and second tying units have knotters. The first tying unit for tying individual small bales can be activated. Alternatively, the first and second tying units can be activated individually together for simultaneously tying several small bales to form a large bale, wherein the first and second tying units interact with the same knotters.

Abstract: Cutting devices are known in rectangular baling presses that can be taken out of operation so that cut or uncut harvested material is selectively pressed. However, this is disadvantageous since it is difficult to hold cut harvested material together with binder twine under high tension. A rectangular baling press is proposed in which the cutting device is taken out of operation at least at the start and end of bale formation so that the twine presses only against uncut material at the end of the bale. The cutting device may additionally be taken in and out of operation during formation of the bale so that upper and lower layers of the bale are also formed by uncut material.

Abstract: A roll baler equipped with a hopper 2, and a transporting conveyor 3 for carrying bale shaping material discharged from beneath a discharge port 20 defined in the bottom face of the hopper 2 into a material receiving port 40 of the bale-shaping chamber, wherein the transporting conveyor 3 is divided into two parts of: a hopper-side transporting conveyor 3a provided in a space extending from beneath the discharge port 20 to the front position beneath the delivery mechanism 5; and a bale-shaping-chamber side transporting conveyor 3b provided in the space extending from beneath the delivery mechanism 5 to the receiving port 40 of the shaping chamber 4, both these hopper-side transporting conveyor 3a and bale-shaping-chamber-side transporting conveyor 3b being each driven independently one from the other.

Abstract: The invention suggests a device for wrapping a bale with a wrapping sheet, which comprises one or more sensors that detect whether the bale is wrapped properly with the wrapping sheet. A baling press is equipped with such a wrapping device as well as a control or regulating unit (ECU) that receives a signal from the one or more of the sensors and acts to interrupt the wrapping of a bale in the event the signal indicates an improper wrapping process is underway.

Abstract: A gripper assembly for a strapping head for a strapping machine includes a body having a generally rectangular cross-section and defining a cavity therein having an end wall. The body has a gripping pad on an exterior portion thereof. The body further includes pin openings in opposing walls. A single spring stack is disposed in the cavity. An end of the spring stack abuts the inner end wall of the body. A follower block is positioned in the cavity. The follower block has a base and a roller support portion. The roller support portion has pin openings therein. A roller is positioned in the roller support portion. The roller has a passage therethrough. A retaining pin is disposed through the body pin openings, the follower block pin openings and the roller passage. The retaining pin is disposed to maintain the follower block within the body cavity with the roller secured thereto and to maintain the spring stack captured within the body cavity.

Abstract: A strapping machine automatically adjusting the strap tension includes a sensor to interact with two sense members fixed on a subordinate wheel of an advance and retreat device, which consists of a main wheel and the subordinate wheel. The sensor and the sense members sense the advanced and the retreated rounds of the subordinate wheel when a strap is moved through a gap between the main wheel and the subordinate wheel. Then sensor sends a signal of the length practically needed to bind the strap around an object to a signal processor, which calculates and records and sends the difference cardinality to a controller. Then the controller controls operation and stopping of the motor of a strap tension device according to the signal so that the strap machine can automatically adjust the strap tension for binding the strap.

Abstract: A banding packing machine capable of inexpensively detecting the end of a band reel, thereby contributing to a reduction in cost. In a banding packing machine having a back pool box in a packing machine body and serving to feed an unused band (B) stored in the back pool box and a band from a band reel, the rotating speed of a touch roller is detected when a required amount of band is being pulled out of the band reel wherein the band is not left in the band reel if the rotating speed is not changed but the rotation is carried out at an almost constant speed, and the tip portion of the band does not arrive at the predetermined position of a band guide arch. Then, the driving operation of a normal rotating roller is stopped based on the decision signal.

Abstract: A method and control system for a strapping machine restarts the strapping machine at a point of interruption of the strapping machine cycle. The system and method determines the presence of a foreign object proximal the strapping machine during the strapping cycle, interrupts the strapping cycle upon determining the presence of the foreign object proximal the strapping machine during the strapping cycle, determines a point of interruption of the strapping cycle and restarts the strapping cycle at the point of interruption through the use of retained program timers.

Abstract: The distal end of a band remains held after a band-holding step. A band-tightening step is performed by operating a manual tightening switch, thereby driving a drive motor and hence rotating a drive roller under manual control. A band-sealing step and a band-feeding step are automatically and sequentially performed after a tightening stop switch is operated, generating a manual-tightening end signal. It is desirable to use a mode-changing switch for switching an operating mode of the apparatus between an automatic mode and a manual mode. The manual tightening switch and the tightening step are effective in the manual mode and are ineffective in the automatic mode.

Abstract: Cutting devices are known in rectangular baling presses that can be taken out of operation so that cut or uncut harvested material is selectively pressed. However, this is disadvantageous since it is difficult to hold cut harvested material together with binder twine under high tension. A rectangular baling press is proposed in which the cutting device is taken out of operation at least at the start and end of bale formation so that the twine presses only against uncut material at the end of the bale. The cutting device may additionally be taken in and out of operation during formation of the bale so that upper and lower layers of the bale are also formed by uncut material.

Abstract: A bundling assembly for use with a strapping machine that is configured to position a strap material around a load and tension the strap material around the load includes first and second moving belts positioned at the strapping machine entrance in opposing relation to one another. The belts each have a paddle mounted thereto and define a pathway through the bundling assembly. A movable stop is positioned at the exit of the strapping machine and is movable between a stop position and a convey position. The moving belts rotate to contact the paddles with the load, urging the load into the entrance of the strapping machine and into an area under the chute. The belts stop rotation, thus stopping movement of the load upon contact of the load with the stop. The movable stop then moves to the convey position and the moving belts rotate such that the paddles move the load out of the exit of the strapping machine. A stabilizing assembly applies a slight pressure on the load during the strapping cycle.

Abstract: A baler is described which has a collection chamber or duct and a baling chamber. Crop material enters the duct until a pre-determined level has been reached at which time a stuffer transfers the pre-compressed crop to the baling chamber. A control system is provided for calculating the ratio between the amount of crop material which should be formed into bales under optimal conditions and the rate of flow of crop material entering the duct. This ratio can be displayed and used to control the speed of the towing vehicle. The present invention uses the duct as a kind of measuring cylinder to determine the rate at which crop material is entering the baler.

Abstract: A controller in a banding packing machine which can easily correct a shift from the predetermined timing cycle. The controller includes a cam shaft having a plurality of cams, a timing plate which includes a plurality of holes corresponding to rotation positions of the cam shaft, and a detecting means. An inching mode is also disclosed which provides for the manual adjustment of presser members following a step in the rotation of the cam shaft.

Abstract: A plurality of electric wires of a wire harness have a filler applied to predetermined waterproofing portions thereof. A sheet is wound on a peripheral surface of a bundle of electric wires to which the filler has been applied, and the sheet-wound waterproofing portion is repeatedly pressed from opposite sides. By such pressing, a relative displacement of the electric wires and the filler can be accelerated and the filler can be spread and filled securely in the waterproofing portion.

Abstract: A deadlocked strap releasing device for a strapping machine includes a pull rod for pulling a pull rope for ejecting a deadlocked strap by a push member of a strap ejector above a worktable for a worker to pull out and cut off the redundant portion of the strap and correct malfunction so as to start the machine for continuing strapping quickly.

Abstract: A strap reserving control device for a strapping machine is to apply the relative action between a balancing weight unit and a balancing rod respectively fixed at the opposite ends of a rotating shaft, and the functions of sensing by a sensing portion of a sensing switch to control the amount of packaging strap stored in a strap reserving room. The balancing weight unit and the balancing rod is formed with a lever structure therebetween, therefore no tiredness of elasticity or damage may happen to them, able to prolong the service life of the machine, and stably and precisely control the amount of packaging strap stored in the strap reserving room.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a device and procedure to regulate the bale length in a square baler. Sensors determine both the forward and backward movement of the crop bundle and transfer these measurements to an evaluation electronic. The evaluation electronic adds the measurements and triggers the tying process when the actual length value is reached. The procedure includes the steps of: sensing both the forward and backward movement of a crop bundle in a baling chamber; adding the measured forward and backward movements to determine an actual length value of the crop bundle; and triggering the tying device once a pre-set target actual length value is reached.

Abstract: A twine knotter (10) for bale compactors comprises a knotting frame (11) with a knotting hook (9), supported rotatably on a knotting hook shaft (40), which forms a swivel pin in the knotting frame (11); with a hook part (41), projecting laterally from the knotting hook shaft (40), which hook part has a continuous through-opening (52) with an approximately rectangular cross section, this opening extending in the plane formed by the knotting hook shaft (40) and the hook part (41), the side boundaries of the opening being formed by cheeks (63, 64). A knotting tongue (44) is supported on the knotting hook (9) with freedom to pivot around a pivot pin (43), which is perpendicular to the plane formed by the knotting hook shaft (40) and the hook part (41) and which passes transversely through cooperating bores (65, 66, 67) in the cheeks (63, 64) and the knotting tongue (44).

Abstract: A strap reserving control device for a strapping machine is to apply the relative action between a balancing weight unit and a balancing rod respectively fixed at the opposite ends of a rotating shaft, and the functions of sensing by a sensing portion of a sensing switch to control the amount of packaging strap stored in a strap reserving room. The balancing weight unit and the balancing rod is formed with a lever structure therebetween, therefore no tiredness of elasticity or damage may happen to them, able to prolong the service life of the machine, and stably and precisely control the amount of packaging strap stored in the strap reserving room.

Abstract: A semi-automatic round baler having an “auto kick” or “auto wrap” mode. In the auto kick mode, at the conclusion of the forming cycle the baler will stop and await the operator's signal to continue. Once the operator has signaled to continue, the baler will wrap the bale and will immediately proceed to the ejecting cycle. In auto wrap mode, the baler will automatically enter into and complete the wrapping cycle (after a short delay) following completion of the forming cycle. At the conclusion of the wrapping cycle in the auto wrap mode, the baler will await the operator's signal before ejecting the completed bale.

Abstract: The distal end of a band remains held after a band-holding step. A band-tightening step is performed by operating a manual tightening switch, thereby driving a drive motor and hence rotating a drive roller under manual control. A band-sealing step and a band-feeding step are automatically and sequentially performed after a tightening stop switch is operated, generating a manual-tightening end signal. It is desirable to use a mode-changing switch for switching an operating mode of the apparatus between an automatic mode and a manual mode. The manual tightening switch and the tightening stop switch are effective in the manual mode and are ineffective in the automatic mode.

Abstract: An apparatus to be appended to a rotary printing press for binding successive stacks of printings with a thermally fusible paper band. Included is a band looper for loosely looping the band around a load on a platform. After having been tightened against the load, the band has its lapping parts heated by a band heater into a fused joint and is cut off from its continuous supply. A heater control circuit is provided for causing the band heater to be normally energized for a preassigned period of time at regular intervals during the operation of the apparatus, keeping the heater heated to a temperature necessary for melting the thermoplastic overlay of the paper band. After the heater has heated the band on each load, the heater control circuit causes the heater to be energized for a longer period of time which is enough to compensate for a temperature drop due to the heating of the band.

Abstract: An apparatus for planning and controlling production sequences, in particular printing processes in a printing system. The apparatus includes a sequence control apparatus formed of at least one data input unit, a data output unit, a data processing system and a memory unit, which are connected so as to communicate with one another and with the printing system. The apparatus also includes at least one planning board, which has display elements for displaying individual or a number of printing processes. In addition, a method of planning and controlling the production sequences is described.

Abstract: A binding device for a baler including at least one twine needle, a knotter shaft for driving the needle, a one-stop clutch for connecting the knotter shaft with the plunger drive and for intermittently driving the knotter shaft, and a transmission unit provided between the one-stop clutch and the knotter shaft and including elements which insure that for one complete revolution of the one-stop clutch, the knotter shaft also performs one complete revolution but with a higher speed than the one-stop clutch.

Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strapping material around an associated load and sealing the strapping material to itself around the load, includes a frame, a feed assembly mounted to the frame for feeding, retracting and automatically refeeding the strapping material, a guide configured to receive the strapping material from the feed assembly, and a strapping head configured to receive the strapping material from the feed assembly via the guide and to position the strapping material around the load and seal the strapping material to itself around the load. The feed assembly includes one and only one pair of reversible feed elements and a drive. The machine includes a controller operably connected to the drive. The one and only one pair of reversible feed elements are configured to automatically feed, retract and refeed the strapping material upon an appropriate signal from the controller.

Abstract: A rod-actuating strap control device for a strapping machine includes a rod-interacting unit composed of an actuating rod and a weight rod assembled on a rotary member and the relative action produced between the rod-interacting unit and a press rod as well as the balanced rod with cooperation of the sensing function between a sensing switch and the actuating rod to effectively control the length or amount of the packaging strap stored in a strap reserving room. The operation between the actuating rod of rod-interacting unit and the weight rod is based on a lever structure, therefore no tiredness of resilience or damage of a twisting spring may happen to them, able to prolong the service life of the machine and control the length or amount of packaging strap stored in a strap reserving room with great precision and stability.