Abstract: An auxiliary pressure source is provided in the baler hydraulic system of a round baler. During a round bale formation operation and/or during a bale wrapping or tying operation hydraulic pressure provided to the tensioning cylinders of the baler may be periodically boosted above that normally permitted by the high pressure relief valve of the baler hydraulic system.

Abstract: A round baler includes a housing, and a gate rotatably attached to the housing. A bale holder is attached to and moveable with the gate. The bale holder includes a retractable member that is moveable between an engaged position operable to grasp a bale and move the bale with the gate, and a disengaged position operable to release the bale. The retractable member is positioned to grasp an end face of the bale at a contact location. The contact location is disposed rearward of a vertical reference plane passing through a centerline of the bale when the bale is within an interior region of the round baler and the gate is in the closed position. The contact location may be disposed below a horizontal plane passing through the centerline of the bale when the bale is within the interior region and the gate is in the closed position.

Abstract: A tag installer for a baler implement includes a housing having a wall defining a baling chamber. The tag installer includes a retractable member having a tooth portion rotatably moveable about a member rotation axis between an installation position and a tag loading position. When in the installation position, the tooth portion is positioned to extend through an opening in the wall and penetrate a bale within the baling chamber. When in the tag loading position, the tooth portion is withdrawn from the baling chamber. An member actuator selectively rotates the retractable member about the member rotation axis. A dispenser holds a plurality of identification tags so that the tooth portion may engage and move a respective one of the identification tags through the opening and into embedded engagement with the bale when moving from the tag loading position into the installation position.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for operating a rear gate of a baler implement includes a hydraulic cylinder having a housing that defines an interior, and a piston that is moveably disposed within the interior of the housing. The housing includes a first fluid port and a second fluid port, each disposed in fluid communication with a first fluid volume of the hydraulic cylinder. A flow rate control valve is moveable between a first position for directing fluid to or from the first fluid port at a first flow rate, and a second position for directing fluid to or from the second fluid port at a second flow rate. The second flow rate is different than the first flow rate.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for a rear gate of a baler implement includes a fluid circuit having a first portion connected to and disposed in fluid communication with a first fluid port of a hydraulic cylinder. A flow bypass assembly is disposed in the first portion of the fluid circuit. The flow bypass assembly includes a flow rate control valve selectively moveable between a first position allowing fluid communication therethrough at a first flow rate, and a second position blocking fluid communication therethrough. The flow bypass assembly further includes a bypass passageway for circulating the fluid when the flow rate control valve is closed. A flow restriction is disposed within the bypass passageway to provide a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate.

Abstract: An articulating tongue arrangement includes a vehicle attachment section enabling attachment of the articulating tongue arrangement to a tow vehicle, an implement attachment section enabling attachment of the articulating tongue arrangement to an agricultural implement, and an articulating beam assembly located between the vehicle attachment section and the implement attachment section. The articulating beam assembly includes, in turn, a leading end portion movably coupled to the vehicle attachment section at a leading pivoting joint, a trailing end portion movably coupled to the implement attachment section at a trailing pivoting joint, and a beam assembly actuator coupled between the leading end portion and the trailing end portion of the articulating beam assembly. The beam assembly actuator is controllable to adjust an effective tow length of the articulating beam assembly, as measured along a straight line extending from the leading pivoting joint to the trailing pivoting joint.

Abstract: A method is carried-out by a controller architecture coupled to a beam assembly actuator, which is included in an articulating tongue arrangement connecting an agricultural implement to a tow vehicle. In an embodiment, the method includes: (i) monitoring, via the controller architecture, an effective tow length of an articulating beam assembly further included in the articulating tongue arrangement, the effective tow length measured along a straight line extending from a leading pivot joint of the articulating tongue arrangement to a trailing pivot joint of the articulating tongue arrangement; (ii) determining, at the controller architecture, an effective tow length target of the articulating tongue arrangement based upon operator input, sensor input, or a combination thereof; and (iii) transmitting commands from the controller architecture to the beam assembly actuator to maintain the effective tow length of the articulating beam assembly in conformance with the effective tow length target.

Abstract: A baler includes a body, and a wrap system that is attached to the body. The wrap system is operable to support a roll of wrap material in an installed position. A cover is attached to the body, and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. When in open position, the cover provides access to the wrap system from an exterior location. When in the closed position, the cover encloses the wrap system from the exterior location. The baler includes a lift system attached to the body. The lift system is concealed between the body and the cover when the cover is disposed in the closed position. The lift system is positioned below the cover when the cover is disposed in the open position. The lift system raises the roll of wrap material into the installed position.

Abstract: A control system and method are provided for accumulating bales processed by an agricultural baler. The accumulator has a base frame and a carriage laterally movable thereon. The control system includes at least one actuator mounted to the frame and configured to move the carriage relative to the frame or to move the carriage in response to a bale engaging an upstanding end of the carriage, at least one sensor configured to detect a position of one or more of the carriage and the at least one actuator relative to the frame, and a controller configured to receive position signals and control the at least one actuator to move at least the carriage relative to the frame to sequentially accumulate multiple bales on the carriage. A crop package receiving area of the carriage has a fixed lateral width during all lateral movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A round baler includes a housing, and a gate rotatably attached to the housing. A bale holder is attached to and moveable with the gate. The bale holder includes a retractable member that is moveable between an engaged position operable to grasp a bale and move the bale with the gate, and a disengaged position operable to release the bale. The retractable member is positioned to grasp an end face of the bale at a contact location. The contact location is disposed rearward of a vertical reference plane passing through a centerline of the bale when the bale is within an interior region of the round baler and the gate is in the closed position. The contact location may be disposed below a horizontal plane passing through the centerline of the bale when the bale is within the interior region and the gate is in the closed position.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for a rear gate of a baler implement includes a fluid circuit having a first portion connected to and disposed in fluid communication with a first fluid port of a hydraulic cylinder. A flow bypass assembly is disposed in the first portion of the fluid circuit. The flow bypass assembly includes a flow rate control valve selectively moveable between a first position allowing fluid communication therethrough at a first flow rate, and a second position blocking fluid communication therethrough. The flow bypass assembly further includes a bypass passageway for circulating the fluid when the flow rate control valve is closed. A flow restriction is disposed within the bypass passageway to provide a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for operating a rear gate of a baler implement includes a hydraulic cylinder having a housing that defines an interior, and a piston that is moveably disposed within the interior of the housing. The housing includes a first fluid port and a second fluid port, each disposed in fluid communication with a first fluid volume of the hydraulic cylinder. A flow rate control valve is moveable between a first position for directing fluid to or from the first fluid port at a first flow rate, and a second position for directing fluid to or from the second fluid port at a second flow rate. The second flow rate is different than the first flow rate.

Abstract: A baler includes a body, and a wrap system that is attached to the body. The wrap system is operable to support a roll of wrap material in an installed position. A cover is attached to the body, and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. When in open position, the cover provides access to the wrap system from an exterior location. When in the closed position, the cover encloses the wrap system from the exterior location. The baler includes a lift system attached to the body. The lift system is concealed between the body and the cover when the cover is disposed in the closed position. The lift system is positioned below the cover when the cover is disposed in the open position. The lift system raises the roll of wrap material into the installed position.

Abstract: A baler includes a body, and a wrap system that is attached to the body. The wrap system is operable to support a roll of wrap material in an installed position. A cover is attached to the body, and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. When in open position, the cover provides access to the wrap system from an exterior location. When in the closed position, the cover encloses the wrap system from the exterior location. The baler includes a lift system attached to one of the body and the cover. The lift system is concealed between the body and the cover when the cover is disposed in the closed position. The lift system is positioned below the cover when the cover is disposed in the open position. The lift system raises the roll of wrap material into the installed position.

Abstract: A control system and method are provided for accumulating bales processed by an agricultural baler. The accumulator has a base frame and a carriage laterally movable thereon. The control system includes at least one actuator mounted to the frame and configured to move the carriage relative to the frame or to move the carriage in response to a bale engaging an upstanding end of the carriage, at least one sensor configured to detect a position of one or more of the carriage and the at least one actuator relative to the frame, and a controller configured to receive position signals and control the at least one actuator to move at least the carriage relative to the frame to sequentially accumulate multiple bales on the carriage. A crop package receiving area of the carriage has a fixed lateral width during all lateral movement of the carriage.

Abstract: An agricultural bale-processing machine includes a baling chamber and an accumulator for carrying bales received from the baling chamber. The accumulator includes a base frame mountable behind the baler, a carriage mounted to the base frame to be movable relative to the base frame in a lateral direction by at least one actuator. The carriage has a platform having upstanding side walls defining a fixed width crop package receiving area therebetween.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a control system for agricultural equipment. The agricultural equipment includes a baler configured to produce a crop package. The control system includes a crop package barrier coupled to the baler and movable between a closed position and an open position. The control system also includes a crop package transfer system configured to move the crop package. The control system further includes a barrier control system configured to restrict movement of the crop package barrier as the crop package barrier is moving toward the open position from the closed position in response to at least one signal indicating the crop package is in an unpreferred location.

Abstract: An accumulator is coupled to an agricultural baler and includes a frame having a first end, a second end, and a support structure positioned between the first and the second ends. The accumulator includes a crop package moving assembly moveably coupled to the frame in a first direction and in a second direction. The crop package moving assembly is configured to move a crop package in the first direction. The accumulator includes a carriage coupled to the first end of the frame and configured to move relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The carriage is configured to move into the extended position to support the crop package. The carriage is also configured to move from the extended position into the retracted position in response to the crop package being removed from the carriage and the crop package moving assembly moving in the second direction.

Abstract: A baler includes a body, and a wrap system that is attached to the body. The wrap system is operable to support a roll of wrap material in an installed position. A cover is attached to the body, and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. When in open position, the cover provides access to the wrap system from an exterior location. When in the closed position, the cover encloses the wrap system from the exterior location. The baler includes a lift system attached to one of the body and the cover. The lift system is concealed between the body and the cover when the cover is disposed in the closed position. The lift system is positioned below the cover when the cover is disposed in the open position. The lift system raises the roll of wrap material into the installed position.

Abstract: An accumulator is coupled to an agricultural baler and is configured to support a crop package exiting the baler. The accumulator includes a frame having a first end, a second end, and a support surface positioned between the first and the second ends. The support surface is configured to support the crop package that exits the baler. The accumulator also includes a carriage coupled to the first end of the frame and linearly moveable relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The carriage is configured to support the crop package when in the extended position. The accumulator further includes a linkage coupled to at least one of the frame and the carriage. The linkage is configured to move the carriage to at least one of the extended and retracted positions.