Abstract: Method and apparatus for delivering twine to a baler knotter. The baler (10) which performs the method includes a bale chamber (16) having a forward inlet end. A knotter (64) is disposed to one side of the bale chamber and the baler is of the type having feeding means including a pair of rollers (36) which are moved back and forth across the inlet end of the bale chamber. A portion (90) of the twine is supported on the lower feed roller as the rollers are moved back and forth across the inlet end of the bale chamber. A pickup needle (110 or 302) is associated with the knotter, and at the initiation of the tying cycle moves from an at rest position towards the lower roller to pick up the twine and then to a position above the twine disks (140) of the knotter to deliver the twine to the knotter and then returns to its at rest position. The twine is tensioned by a twine drag (144) and a pigtail type tensioning mechanism (146) both during the formation of a bale and during tying.

Abstract: An apparatus for coordinating the operation of the bale tying mechanism with the feeding apparatus of a baler. The baler (10) includes a bale chamber (16), feeding means (26) including a pair of feed rollers (36) which are moved back and forth across the inlet end by reciprocating means (46, 48) including a hydraulic cylinder. The bale tying means includes a knotter (64), a pickup needle (110), and a knotter shaft (76) capable of driving the knotter and the needle. The actuating means which is capable of actuating the bale tying means includes a bale length metering mechanism (202 to 218), a constantly driven sprocket (230), and a single revolution clutch (220), the actuating means being capable of initiating the operation of the clutch (220) to cause rotation of the knotter shaft (76) when the bale length has been achieved.

Abstract: Spreader for farmyard manure has a moving wall to push manure to a discharge rotor. The wall is moved by a hydraulic ram located at the side of the spreader. The ram is coupled to the wall by chains trained round pocket wheels or sprockets.

Abstract: A spreader for liquid or solid farmyard manure. The spreader comprises a manure container, an unloading rotor and a manure pusher. The rotor is spaced above the level of the bottom of the container and discharges over the rear wall of the container. The pusher keeps the rotor immersed in manure to the correct depth. In this way both solid and liquid manure can be spread. The rear wall of the container slopes up to the rotor to guide solid manure to the rotor.