Abstract: A system including: a controller configured to: receive bale-location-data representative of the location of a plurality of bales in a field; receive bale-property-data representative of one or more physical properties of each of the plurality of bales; and determine bale-pick-up-data based on the bale-location-data and the bale-property-data. The bale-pick-up-data is associated with an operation to pick up the bales from the field.

Abstract: A wrapping device for wrapping a bale with a wrapping material for a baler includes a separating device having a knife arrangement and a blocking device. The separating device is movable between at least one wrapping means separating position and an inactive position. The blocking device prevents the separating device from being moved into the wrapping means separating position.

Abstract: An accumulator is coupled to an agricultural baler and is configured to support a crop package exiting the baler. The accumulator includes an accumulator frame coupled to a wheel supported on a surface and a carriage pivotably coupled to the accumulator frame about a first rotational axis for movement between a first position and a second position. The carriage is configured to support the crop package when the carriage is in the first position. The carriage is also configured to discharge the crop package from the accumulator when the carriage is in the second position. The accumulator also includes an over-center linkage system coupled between the accumulator frame and the carriage. The over-center linkage system is configured to lock the carriage in the first position.

Abstract: A bale wrapping mechanism has a roll holding station and a duckbill provided for clamping one end of the roll of wrapping material, said duckbill being pivotally mounted, via at least a first hinge, to the baling chamber sidewalls, for delivering said wrapping material to said baling chamber by insertion of said duckbill between adjacent rolls of said baling chamber, wherein the wrapping mechanism further has at least a first guiding roll for guiding the wrapping material between said roll holding station and said duckbill, wherein said first guiding roll axis substantially coincides with the first hinge axis.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a wrapping material system in a harvester, particularly to a latching mechanism that allows a material support cylinder to be unlocked and automatically ejected from its locked position. The latching mechanism comprises a support plate, connected to a harvester sidewall and configured for supporting the material support cylinder, and a lever plate, connected to the support plate at a pivot point and configured for locking in the material support cylinder in a closed position and ejecting the material support cylinder from the locked position when moved to an open position.

Abstract: An agricultural baler including a baler mechanism. The agricultural baler includes 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: An assembly is described for braking and indexing rotating components, including guide rollers of balers. A wheel is attached to a rotating component and is surrounded, at least in part, by a traction device. A tensioning assembly with a lost motion linkage is attached to the traction device and to a frame. A counterforce assembly is also attached to the traction device and to the frame. When a portion of the tensioning assembly is moved in a braking direction, the stop prevents further movement of the lost motion linkage to apply a tensioning force to the traction device. The tensioning force is resisted by the counterforce assembly to impose a braking force on the wheel and thereby brake the rotating component. Moving the portion of the tensioning assembly in a release direction moves the lost motion linkage away from the stop, thereby reducing the braking force on the wheel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wrapping device for enveloping or packing in particular agricultural crop bales, including a wrapping floor for receiving and rotating the pressed crop bale and a guide frame for at least one wrapping material carrier for wrapping the bale on the wrapping floor with wrapping material in the form of webs, wherein the guide frame is height adjustable, in order to set the center of the wrapping material approximately at the location of the center of the crop bale to be wrapped. In order to be able to adapt wrapping devices having a guide frame to bales of different bale diameters, the guide frame should be pivotable about a horizontal axle which is situated parallel to the axis of rotation of the crop bale.

Abstract: A net dispensing assembly in a baler includes a net roll support tube configured to hold the net roll and a brake drum assembly coupled to the net roll support tube and configured to rotate about the net roll support tube and apply tension to the net wrapping dispensed from the net roll. The net dispensing assembly also includes a pivoting element configured to move the net roll support tube between an operating position and a load-unload position. The net dispensing assembly further includes a locking mechanism coupled to the brake drum assembly and configured to prevent the brake drum assembly from rotating in a direction opposite the operating direction when the net roll support tube is in at least one of (i) the load-unload position and (ii) the operating position.

Abstract: A binding apparatus for a round baler binding a pressed bale with a binding twine. The binding apparatus has at least one binding twine guide, at least one binding twine guided by the binding twine guide and at least one cutting device for severing the binding twine after a binding operation. The cutting device has a cutting element guide and, formed on the cutting element guide, a cutting element holder to which is fastened a cutting element which has a cutting edge, in order to sever the binding twine, is guided to the binding twine by the cutting element guide and is brought into contact with the binding twine. In order to reduce wear on the cutting element and to increase the cut quality at the binding twine, a deflecting edge is formed on the cutting element guide between the cutting element and the binding twine, said deflecting edge displacing the binding twine in a deflecting movement, with binding twine tension being built up, before the binding twine is brought into contact with the cutting edge.

Abstract: A method for operating a baler with a pressing chamber which serves for the pressing of a straw-like crop includes compacting the crop using an adjustable pressing pressure and binding the crop through a holding material. The pressing pressure is limited to a maximum value and controlled through a control circuit. A control circuit reference variable is a load variable of the holding material. The load variable is adjustable and is smaller than or equal to the maximum value.

Abstract: An enclosure assembly enabling the selective covering of an area such as the bed of a pickup truck. The assembly includes a plurality of extendable collapsible cover section interconnected by an actuation system. The actuation system enables the rear cover section of the assembly to be pivoted to a collapsed or extended position by a pivoting structure having unique cam and leverage characteristics. The entire assembly can be selectively power operated or locked into position using a clutch mechanism associated with the actuation system. The actuation system can be powered by an electric motor or by a hand crank operating through bevel gears in case of a system failure.

Abstract: Stationary plates are mounted in the spaces between the segments of a roll. At least one of the plates comprises a cam-like extension, protruding from the roll surface for preventing wrapping material from wrapping around the roll.

Abstract: A wire bobbin binding device includes a binding head having first and second coaxially aligned rotatably mounted chucks for engaging opposite sides of an empty bobbin for motor-driven rotation about a bobbin axis while a wire is wound upon the bobbin. A ring creeping clip is mounted on the binding head and moveable between an advanced position and a retracted position to selectively engage the wire and bind the terminal end of the wire.

Abstract: A baler with a pickup and a baling chamber with an inlet, the bale forming chamber having a first and second side panel, a plurality rollers rotatably disposed respectively about parallel axes. A bale edge engaging member is rotatably attached to the frame about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to said axes of the rollers, the bale edge engaging member being disposed adjacent an inside portion of one of the side panels in overlapping arrangement with a bale being formed in the baling chamber at least at times when a bale is being formed. The bale edge engaging member is spaced from the inlet to the bale forming chamber so as to not impede material entering the bale forming chamber from a pickup. Alternate embodiments have the rotatable bale edge engaging member/disc on a fixed axis adjacent the baling chamber when the bale is almost completed.

Abstract: A binding apparatus for a baling machine includes means (4a,4b) for dispensing at least two strips of binding film (2a,2b) and guiding the strips of film simultaneously onto the surface of a rotating bale (6). The dispensing mechanism lays the strips of film side-by-side on the bale surface to form a combined strip (16) having a width greater than the width H of each individual strip of binding film.

Abstract: An agricultural round baler has a press chamber with inlet and rear outlet for ejecting a bale. A pressing device in the press chamber causes the harvested crop to rotate. A pickup device and a conveying and cutting device are provided upstream of a storage chamber that extends to the inlet of the press chamber and receives harvested crop in a storage phase of the baler. An element that interrupts or releases flow of harvested crop from the storage chamber to the press chamber is provided and acted on by a control and governing device. The storage chamber is a flat shaping and pressing channel for the harvested crop conveyed in the storage phase of the baler operation. The channel has a height-adjustable end and a cross-section that at least temporarily in the storage phase tapers in flow direction of harvested crop to the press chamber.

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: In one embodiment, a round baler, comprising: a first compartment comprising a bale forming system, the bale forming system configured to form a round bale; a compression system; a second compartment comprising a moveable wall operably coupled to the compression system, the compression system configured to cause the moveable wall to compress a round bale formed in the first compartment; and a gate located between the first compartment and the second compartment, the gate moveable between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: Stationary plates are mounted in the spaces between the segments of a roll. At least one of the plates comprises a cam-like extension, protruding from the roll surface for preventing wrapping material from wrapping around the roll.

Abstract: The invention relates to a baling device for forming cylindrical bales of crop material, including a frame, an intake device, a bale forming device, and a pre-baling device to form, when desired, a pre-bale, wherein the pre-baling device includes a lower conveyor belt and an upper conveyor belt, between which a pre-bale can be formed. At least one of the lower and upper conveyor belt is movable to and from the other of the lower and upper conveyor belt, wherein the baling device can at least be arranged in a baling position in which crop material is transferred to the bale forming device, and a pre-baling position in which crop material is received in the pre-baling device to form a pre-bale.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for forming a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces. Also described is a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces, which can be safely stacked vertically for transportation and storage purposes.

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 twine arm assembly is provided with a guide member controlling the movement of a twine arm during a tying cycle. In order to facilitate the insertion of new twine into the twine arm, said guide member is made of two parts which can be locked to each other or which can move with respect to each other in order to bring the twine arm into a position, in which twine can be inserted easily.

Abstract: The machine (100) comprises a supply station (S1) destined to receive a mattress (M) to be conveyed to a rolling station (S2) comprising a plurality of rolling rollers (1), partly arranged in a fixed section (21) of the station (S2) and partly arranged in an openable section (22), arranged in respective curved lines to define internally thereof a practically-cylindrical rolling chamber (10) with horizontal axes. Sliding organs (3) are interposed between the fixed section (21) and the openable section (22), for regulating a mutual distance between the fixed section (21) and the openable section (22) in order to vary, within a predetermined range, a base area of the rolling chamber (10) and in order to determine corresponding rolling diameters of the mattress (M) comprised between a minimum value (D1) and a maximum value (D2).

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: A baling machine and method for forming a bale is disclosed. A sensor is positioned in the bailing chamber and is positioned to sense an area proximate the perimeter of the bale to determine if material is present, thereby determining if the bale is properly wrapped or not. When the bale is not properly wrapped, material is present in the area proximate the perimeter in which the sensor is active; causing the sensor to send a signal indicating that the bale is not properly wrapped.

Abstract: A baler for forming large cylindrical bales of crop material is equipped with a wrapping mechanism at the rear side of the baling chamber for introducing wrapping material into the baling chamber for wrapping the cylindrical bales. A storage bin for storing extra rolls of wrapping material extends vertically above the wrapping mechanism and contains a plurality of extra rolls of wrapping material. The storage bin is mounted for pivoting about a connection at a lower end region of the bin so that the bin may be lowered to a loading position in which roll compartments of the bin are at a height commensurate with that of the waist of an average adult person standing on the ground so that supply rolls may be easily moved from these compartments to an operating position within the wrapping mechanism and new rolls may be used to replenish the rolls used from these compartments without an operator having to lift the rolls above his or her waist.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for forming a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces. Also described is a bale having substantially flat upper and lower surfaces, which can be safely stacked vertically for transportation and storage purposes. The apparatus comprises upper and lower platens having a protruding surface for compressing the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of a compressible material.

Abstract: A simplified mechanism for feeding a plurality of individual twine strands into a bale forming chamber for wrapping a bale that allows user-selectable adjustment of twine strand spacing along the bale length so that an optimal number of circumferential twine wraps around the bale necessary to secure the bale after discharge from the bale forming chamber may be selected. The simplified thus enables the spacing between twine strands to be optimized for various crop materials that are being baled.

Abstract: A baler and wrapper combination comprises a baler, a bale wrapper, and a bale transport table. The bale transport table is movable between a bale receiving position at a bale output location of the baler, a wrapping position at which the wrapper can wrap a bale located upon the bale transport table with a sheet material, while movable bale support elements rotate the bale around its horizontal central axis, and a bale depositing position in which a wrapped bale can be deposited on the ground. The bale support elements are arranged to be moved in the bale depositing position into an orientation in which the bale is deposited on its flat end.

Abstract: A baling press having a pressing chamber and an apparatus for wrapping a bale in a wrapping web and having at least one rotating conveyor element is proposed, wherein the conveyor element advances the wrapping web to the bale.

Abstract: In a round baler, twin arms come together in the start position, on the side opposite the cut position, because that configuration ensures that two twines lie nearly on top of each other to secure the bale much better at that end than with a single twine. The “start position” refers to that position where the twine arms reverse direction, and change from a fast speed of travel used to move the twine arms across the bale width, to a slower, controlled speed that is adjustable to vary the spacing of the twines. The change in direction combined with bringing the twine arms together at the start position, ensures that loose twine ends are effectively restrained as the twines are applied.

Abstract: A baler is modified to include a device for lifting rolls of bale wrapping material into the baler where the lifting device includes a winch having a frame and a guide arranged to be mounted on the housing of the baler at a rear wall thereof above a cover member over the roll compartment. A cable extends from the pulley through an opening in the cover such that, with the cover member opened, the cable passes through the opening in the cover member to pass through the compartment to the ground below the compartment. An element such as a hook or a grapple is carried on the cable for lifting a roll of the wrapping material by the winch into the compartment.

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 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 binding device for use on a cylindrical baling press that includes two binder dispensing mechanisms guided in a frame and which move transverse to a baling chamber of the baling press. Each binder dispensing mechanism further includes a binder advancing device having a drive wheel in rolling engagement with a drive mechanism configured to cause the drive wheel to rotate. The drive mechanism of the binder advancing mechanism is configured separately from a drive device of the binder dispensing mechanisms. Binding material is dispensed by the movement of the binder dispensing mechanisms and/or the movement of the drive device.

Abstract: A twine dispensing arm of a wrapping arrangement for a large round baler is provided with a dispensing end defined by a component which, at the time when twine wrapped about a bale is separated from a length of twine carried by the arm, prevents a length of recoiling twine from becoming entangled or incorrectly oriented for a subsequent wrapping cycle.

Abstract: An assembly for securing a loose yarn end on a cylindrical bale by the use of a band. The band can be conducted to a baling chamber by an advance assembly driven by a motor, where the band can be wrapped around a cylindrical bale in the region of the loose yarn end. The advance assembly is connected to the motor by an overrunning clutch that establishes a drive connection between the motor and the advance assembly only in a first motion transmission direction. The drive connection is established when the motor rotates in a first direction and the advance assembly conveys the band in the direction of the baling chamber.

Abstract: A controlled bale ejection mechanism for an agricultural baler is provided. The mechanism includes a bale support which is positioned below the bale when it is ejected, that catches and supports the bale. The bale support is then translated rearward by a hydraulic cylinder and guided by support rails. As the bale support and bale approach the desired location, the bale support is lowered by tilting the rail assembly downward. An articulating shoe is used to support and lower the rails. The bale support tilts as it is lowered, thereby creating a dumping action. If additional tilting is required due to geometry limitations, additional bale support tilt can be created by a weight shift of the bale support, changing the trajectory of the rail or torque induced by the bale support cylinder. The bale is set down on the ground and the ramp assembly resets to prevent the bale from rolling forward and preparing for the next cycle.

Abstract: A twine restrictor is disclosed having the advantages of simplicity and reliability. The twine restrictor is generally formed from solid or hollow stock. It is left free floating while being restrained sufficiently to avoid loss. Twine is passed over a substantially horizontal surface of a twine arm assembly and the twine restrictor is simply placed on the twine, providing a force up to a value equal to its weight on the twine. The twine restrictor is unaffixed and no springs are required.

Abstract: A large round baler is provided with a twine wrapping arrangement including a twine dispensing arm, a twine separating or severing device located between the dispensing arm and a baling chamber and a twine brake located between the separating device and the baling chamber. The twine brake is constructed of spring elements that are yieldably biased together, preferably in the form of a coil tension spring having a guide finger for guiding twine into a nip formed between the finger and a first coil of the spring, this nip receiving a length of twine extending between the dispensing arm and a bale being wrapped with the twine, with the twine becoming wedged between adjacent coils of the spring. As an alternative construction, a stack of Belleville springs are held together by bolt and nut assembly, with the nip being defined between adjacent springs.

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 binding arrangement and a process for the control of a binding arrangement is described that includes a binding material delivery arrangement, a cutting arrangement and a braking arrangement for the binding material, where the brake can be controlled and generates a variable braking force. To improve the binding process for harvested crop, brakes for the binding material are applied with which a binding material tension is generated or is increased to cause the binding material to be retarded during the binding process in opposition to the flow of the binding material. The brakes are controlled such that only a low binding material tension is caused at the beginning of the binding process to increase the tension to as large a value as possible during the continuing binding process and to reduce the tension upstream of the cutting arrangement again at the end of the binding process.

Abstract: A wrapping material brake release assembly, including a wrapping material dispenser roll mount pivotable between a first functional position to dispense material from a dispenser roll and a second access position to provide access to the dispenser roll. A brake assembly having a brake member is arranged to brake the dispenser roll when the mount is in the first functional position. A ramp-shaped lifting member is arranged to lift the brake member from the dispenser roll when the mount is pivoted from the first position to the second position. The roll mount includes a pivot plate arranged to pivot from the first to the second positions, and a shaft attached at one end to the pivot plate. The roll mount has a brake drum, and the brake member has a brake arm and a brake pad attached to the brake arm.

Abstract: A round baler including a housing; a bale chamber; bale forming apparatus; and bale wrapping apparatus including: four twine supply rolls defining four twine strands; four twine dispensing tubes, each tube presenting one of the strands so that each strand dangles from the corresponding tube, each tube movable between home and twine insert positions, wherein each strand dangles adjacent to a bale rotating in the chamber when the tubes are in the insert position; and two twine tensioning members disposed so that each tensioning member receives two strands, wherein each tensioning member has a receiving portion through which two strands are threaded, wherein each tensioning member is positioned to provide slack tension on two respective strands when the tubes are in the insert position, and wherein each tensioning member is positioned to increase wrapping tension on the two strands after the two respective strands have started to wrap the bale.

Abstract: A round baler, including a housing and bale wrapping apparatus, the bale wrapping apparatus comprising: a rotating twine supply roll defining a twine strand; a twine dispensing arm presenting the twine strand; a shear bar having a cutting surface; a knife assembly rotatingly connected to the housing by an elongated bar and rotatable from a first position to a second cutting position in contact with the cutting surface, wherein the twine dispensing arm is movable from a first position to a second cutting position wherein the twine strand extends transversely between the shear bar and the knife assembly; and a wiper is mounted to the twine dispensing arm so that when the twine dispensing arm moves from the first position to the cutting position, the wiper engages the cutting surface of the shear bar to clean trash from the cutting surface of the shear bar.

Abstract: A method for packaging skeins shaped as a circular ring of a flexible element of elongated shape, in particular a cable or a hose, wherein the turns are held unitarily to each other, comprises the following phases: sustaining the skein in overhang towards a binding station holding it by the clamping of opposite planar aces of the skein effected in correspondence with at least a first portion of the skein; binding the skein in correspondence with at least its second, free, portion which projects from the first held portion; rotating the skein around its own axis of symmetry by a predetermined angle with respect to the position of the skein in the previous binding phase; and binding the skein again in correspondence with its own rotated position.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is provided for converting a long indefinite length of wire from a supply bundle into a measured length, tightly wound coil. The wire is driven from the supply by a constant speed capstan to a winding station. A measured length of wire is wrapped around a mandrel between a pair of flanges under controlled tension conditions. After winding, a series of bands are passed through the coil bore and respective ends of banding material are twisted together and flattened against the coil surface. The banded coil is ejected from the mandrel to a conveyor or container.