Abstract: If the next charge to be stuffed into the baling chamber has not yet reached the desired size and density by the time the stuffing fork and compacting plunger are ready to begin their next operating cycles, the plunger and the fork are temporarily deactivated until the charge reaches full size and density. Thereupon, the fork stuffs the entire charge into the baling chamber in a single cycle of operation for compaction by the plunger. The baler is loaded from the bottom of the baling chamber through an upwardly curved duct that serves both as an accumulating chamber and as a precompression area into which the charge is progressively packed by a rotating, retractable finger drum at the lower end of the duct. The plunger closes the top of the duct during such accumulation and pre-compression, and in order to provide ample time for the plunger to retract from the duct when the stuffing cycle commences, the fork moves slowly at first but then quite rapidly once the plunger has retracted.

Abstract: If the next charge to be stuffed into the baling chamber has not yet reached the desired size and density by the time the stuffing fork and compacting plunger are ready to begin their next operating cycles, the plunger and the fork are temporarily deactivated until the charge reaches full size and density. Thereupon, the fork stuffs the entire charge into the baling chamber in a single cycle of operation for compaction by the plunger. The baler is loaded from the bottom of the baling chamber through an upwardly curved duct that serves both as an accumulating chamber and as a pre-compression area into which the charge is progressively packed by a rotating, retractable finger drum at the lower end of the duct. The plunger closes the top of the duct during such accumulation and pre-compression, and in order to provide ample time for the plunger to retract from the duct when the stuffing cycle commences, the fork moves slowly at first but then quite rapidly once the plunger has retracted.

Abstract: Bales are successively formed in the baling chamber of the machine by intermittently packing an additional charge of new material against the trailing end of a forming bale to progressively push the bales toward the discharge end of the chamber. When the bale reaches its predetermined size, a needle swings across the bale chamber behind the trailing end of the bale and presents a binding strand to a knotter. The knotter unites the presented end of the strand with an end previously held by the knotter during a packing cycle such as to form a secure, tied loop about the bale. As the needle retracts from the knotter, it places a new length of strand across the bale chamber in preparation for the loop around the next, succeeding bale, and it is during such retraction of the needle that a slackening device draws a supply of slack in the strand and lays the same along the proximal side of the preceding bale.

Abstract: A machine for handling large crop masses and the like is presented which permits completely automatic processing of these masses and requires only a single operator to effectively manipulate the machine to perform this function. A tiltable bed having a fore-and-aft conveyor is arranged behind a bank of shredding rolls for engaging ground-supported crop masses, loading the latter to a horizontally support position and then feeding the same horizontally into the rolls. Swingable structure is provided between the rolls and the bed for positive feeding of remnant portions of the masses presented at the end of the feeding cycle. The bed and the processor are releasably connected such that they effectively cooperate as a single machine, yet at the same time may be used individually to perform other unrelated farm tasks.

Abstract: The discharge end of a bale chamber may be constricted or enlarged such that bales being packed rearwardly through the chamber may be increased or decreased in density by regulating their resistance to exit from the chamber. Bell cranks at the four corners of the chamber are coupled with shiftable walls of the latter in such a way that pressure increases or decreases are simultaneously experienced by all of the walls upon introduction or release of hydraulic fluid to a pair of power devices which interconnect the two cranks on each side of the chamber. The two legs of each bell crank are of equal radial length with respect to the axis of swinging movement of the crank so that equal moment arms are produced by such legs to accomplish substantially uniform pressure around the bale within the chamber.

Abstract: If the next charge to be stuffed into the baling chamber has not yet reached the desired size and density by the time the stuffing fork and compacting plunger are ready to begin their next operating cycles, the plunger and the fork are temporarily deactivated until the charge reaches full size and density. Thereupon, the fork stuffs the entire charge into the baling chamber in a single cycle of operation for compaction by the plunger. The baler is loaded from the bottom of the baling chamber through an upwardly curved duct that serves both as an accumulating chamber and as a pre-compression area into which the charge is progressively packed by a rotating, retractable finger drum at the lower end of the duct. Actuation of the plunger and stuffing fork occurs automatically in response to obtaining the predetermined density of the accumulated charge as sensed by a pressure-sensitive device located at the lower end of the loading duct slightly downstream from the packing drum.

Abstract: A machine particularly suited for the range or bunk feeding of animal foodstuffs in stacks, large bales, or groups of smaller bales is designed to disintegrate the mass of material on the move and to discharge the disintegrated material in a continuous stream along the ground or into the feed bunk. A vertically swingable lift on the machine picks up the mass and swings it into a raised position wherein the mass is tightly clamped against a deactivated bank of shredding rolls and is maintained protectively cradled in such position for transport to a feeding site. Actuation of the shredding rolls and continued swinging of the lift forces the mass into the rolls to completely disintegrate the mass while the machine is advanced. The bank of shredding rolls is inclined away from the lift such as to facilitate disintegration and discharge of even the last remnant of the mass and to enhance the cradling action provided for the mass during transport and disintegration.