Abstract: An agriculture baler having a bale-forming mechanism; a pick-up assembly disposed forward of the bale-forming mechanism to pick up a cut crop material and convey the crop material towards the bale mechanism, the pick-up assembly having: (a) a pick-up apparatus; (b) a conveying rotor disposed to receive cut crop material from the pick-up apparatus and to move the cut crop material towards the bale forming mechanism; (c) a floor having a first slot formed therein; (d) a cutting mechanism including a first knife disposed to rotate from a first resting position to a second cutting position extending through the first slot in the floor; and (e) a first guide plate disposed adjacent to the first slot.

Abstract: The invention consists of an offset kingpin in the rear steering axle of a self-propelled combine harvester. Attached to the rear axle is a knuckle. The kingpin is pivotally attached to the knuckle and the spindle is rotationally attached to the knuckle. The kingpin is positioned forward of the spindle allowing the rear tires equal clearance with the combine side shielding. This positioning of the kingpin relative to the spindle improves the turning radius of the combine. It also aids tire stability at road speeds.

Abstract: A round baler having a main frame including opposing sidewalls, and an apron assembly comprising crop engaging elements disposed between said sidewalls for defining a bale forming chamber having a generally cylindrical shape with a transverse inlet. The crop engaging elements move along a path having an inner course contiguous with a major portion of the fixed periphery of the cylindrical chamber. The baler also includes a pickup assembly for feeding crop material to the chamber through the inlet whereby crop material accumulated in the chamber is engaged by the crop engaging elements and formed into a compacted cylindrical package. A supply of net material is selectively dispensed via a dispensing assembly into the chamber for wrapping the periphery of the formed cylindrical package of crop material in the chamber. A supply of twine fed to a twine dispensing assembly is also selectively dispensed into the chamber for wrapping the periphery of the cylindrical package of crop material.

Abstract: A round baler, having a pair of spaced side walls mounted on a main frame, is supported on wheels and adapted to be pulled across a field. A crop confining apron is mounted between the side walls for defining an expandable chamber that is adapted to rotatably form a cylindrical package of crop material between the side walls. A pickup picks up crop material and conveys it into the chamber through a generally transverse crop infeed opening operatively associated with the pickup. A transverse starter roll extends between the side walls to provide the upper limit of the infeed opening. A crop severing device extends into the expandable chamber in the vicinity of the starter roll to cut crop material on the surface of the cylindrical package as it is being formed.

Abstract: A round baler, having a pair of spaced side walls mounted on a main frame, is supported on wheels and adapted to be pulled across a field. A crop confining apron is mounted between the side walls for defining an expandable chamber that is adapted to rotatably form a cylindrical package of crop material between the side walls. A pickup picks up crop material and conveys it into the chamber through a generally transverse crop infeed opening operatively associated with the pickup. A transverse starter roll extends between the side walls to provide the upper limit of the infeed opening. A crop severing device extends into the expandable chamber in the vicinity of the starter roll to cut crop material on the surface of the cylindrical package as it is being formed.

Abstract: A flotation mechanism for use on a crop harvesting machine having a header suspended from the frame thereof by flotation springs is disclosed wherein a hydraulic cylinder interconnects the frame and at least one of the springs to allow selective adjustment of the weight of the header supported from the frame. The extensible hydraulic cylinder is operable to vary the length of at least one of the flotation springs while the crop harvesting machine is in operation and movable over the ground.

Abstract: An agricultural baler comprises a bale case having an inlet opening in one side wall thereof; a plunger mounted for reciprocation within the bale case and back-and-forth across the inlet opening; a feeder duct communicating at one end with the inlet opening in the bale case and curving forwardly therefrom; the feeder duct comprising a pair of curved opposed wall means of which is movable relative to the other; and feeder means cooperable with the feeder duct to accumulate a charge of crop material therein and then stuff that charge into the bale case. The movable wall means is movable relative to the other wall means along substantially its entire length such that one cross sectional dimension of the feeder duct is variable along substantially the entire length of said feeder duct to ensure that, in use and as a charge of crop material is being accumulated in the feeder duct, said opposed wall means generally maintain contact with said crop material.

Abstract: A frame for a machine operable to invert and laterally displace a windrow of crop material is disclosed wherein the frame includes a support portion having a windrow pickup mechanism and a windrow inversion mechanism mounted thereon and being mobilely supported over the ground by a pair of ground wheels. The frame also includes a hitch portion pivotally connected to the support portion for articulation about a transversely extending horizontal pivot axis. A latching mechanism is operable to interengage the hitch and support portions of the frame to positionally fix the pivotal motion therebetween to lock the frame into an elevated transport position. The hitch and support portions are free to pivotally move relative to one another during operation to permit the pickup mechanism to floatingly follow the contours of the ground.

Abstract: A baler feed assembly includes a stuffer mechanism having a smooth acting lever or slotted member which moves between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position. The slotted member pivots about a fixed shaft and includes an upper slot and a lower slot. A crank shaft having a roller member associated therewith, engages the upper slot by means of the roller member to thereby impart motion to the slotted member so that the slotted member can move between the aforesaid positions. A spring is connected to the slotted member at one end and to a fixed support at another end. Preferably, the spring is connected so that its line of action is aligned with the center of the fixed shaft when the slotted member is in the substantially vertical position. By this construction, when the slotted member is moved from the vertical position, the spring insures that the roller member, associated with the crank shaft, is in engagement with only one side of the upper slot.

Abstract: A twine needle is provided particularly for use on large crop balers. The twine needle includes a body portion and a tip portion detachably secured to the body portion. The tip portion is designed to break off, if a predetermined force is exerted thereon, without damaging the body portion. A broken tip portion may be easily replaced without replacing the entire twine needle.

Abstract: Crop divider mechanism for attachment to a knockdown bar of an agricultural harvesting or conditioning machine and comprising a pair of similar interchangeable left-hand and right-hand rod members bent into substantially trapezoidal shape with parallel opposite long and short sides and intervening sides sloping from said long side to said short side, pairs of bracket members attachable respectively in spaced relation along opposite end portions of said knockdown bar and each pair pivotally receiving one of said intermediate sides of said rod members, similar positioning plates respectively fixed to one bracket of each pair thereof and having several spaced holes to receive selectively one end of a positioning pin selectively to support said rod members in upstanding inoperative position or forwardly extending operative position, and supplemental flat links connected to a second plate adjacent each positioning plate in positions to engage said knockdown bar in a manner to hold said rod members no lower than in

Abstract: A crop harvesting machine has a crop harvesting header, a mobile frame and improved header stabilizing system. The frame is adapted to move across a field in a forward direction and includes upper frame structure extending transversely to the forward direction and a lower wheel frame assembly. The assembly includes a transverse cylindrical member being rotatably mounted to and supporting the upper frame structure. Lift means is provided, being actuatable for moving the lower assembly, and thereby rotating the cylindrical member thereof, relative to the upper frame structure to effectuate raising of the upper frame structure and the cylindrical member relative to the field. A header suspension and lift means includes upper means pivotally interconnecting an upper portion of the header with the upper frame structure and lower elongated means pivotally interconnecting a lower portion of the header with the cylindrical member of the wheel frame assembly.

Abstract: A crop harvesting machine has a crop harvesting header, a mobile frame and improved header suspension and lift means. The frame is adapted to move across a field in a forward direction and includes upper frame structure extending transversely to the forward direction and a lower wheel frame assembly. The assembly includes a transverse cylindrical member being rotatably mounted to and supporting the upper frame structure. Lift means is provided, being actuatable for moving the lower assembly, and thereby rotating the cylindrical member thereof, relative to the upper frame structure to effectuate raising of the upper frame structure and the cylindrical member relative to the field. The improved header suspension and lift means includes upper means pivotally interconnecting an upper portion of the header with the upper frame structure and lower elongated means pivotally interconnecting a lower portion of the header with the cylindrical member of the wheel frame assembly.

Abstract: A crop harvesting machine includes a mobile frame, a header movably suspended from the frame, a pair of upper and lower conditioner rolls rotatably mounted on the frame rearwardly of the header, and drive means for operating the conditioner rolls and the cutterbar and reel of the header. The drive means includes a gearbox assembly mounted on the frame and having rotary input drive transmission means and a transversely extending rotary output shaft drivingly coupled to the input means. An upper telescopible shaft articulately intercouples one end of the output shaft with the upper roll for rotatably driving the latter which accommodating movement thereof relative to the lower roll. Gear means is drivingly coupled between an opposite end of the output shaft and lower transversely extending shaft means which, in turn, is drivingly intercoupled to the lower roll, such that the lower roll is rotatably driven in a direction opposite to that of the upper roll.

Abstract: A harvesting machine has an improved crop gathering reel assembly which includes an elongated tubular drive member rotatably mounted to the machine, at least one pair of spaced apart unitary spiders, a plurality of tine-carrying bars extending generally parallel to the tubular member and interconnecting the spiders, joint members mounting the spiders to the tubular member for universal articulation relative to the member and a guide plate structure stationarily mounted to the machine adjacent one of the spiders for positioning the spiders in generally parallel planes disposed at predetermined oblique angles relative to the tubular member. The angles are generally equal and predetermined such that, upon predetermined rotation of the tubular member, the spiders rotate therewith within the aforementioned planes and concurrently universally articulate relative to the tubular member so that the tine-carrying bars will engage and sweep crop laterally and toward the harvesting machine.

Abstract: A pull-type crop harvesting implement has a mobile frame which may be converted from a forward harvesting mode to a lateral transport mode by utilizing a first jack to support a left forward end of the frame, pivoting a field tongue connected to the left forward frame end from a forwardly-extending position, in which it may be coupled to a tractor for towing the implement in a forward direction in its harvesting mode, to a transversely-extending fixed position, pivoting the one of two spaced-apart ground wheels which is mounted at the left rearward frame end from a forwardly-directed position to a transversely-directed position, disposing a transport tongue at the right lateral side of the frame in a fixed position extending outwardly from the right lateral frame side, supporting the right lateral frame side by utilizing a second jack, removing the other of two ground wheels which is mounted at the right rearward frame side in a forwardly-directed position and remounting the other wheel in a transversely-dire