Abstract: A baler belt system for use primarily in round crop baling machines, includes an elongated elastomeric belt that is adapted for rolling engagement with one or more drive, idler, and tensioner rollers of the type normally used in a round crop baling machine. There are one or more sets of cleaning bars disposed on the inner and outer surfaces of the belt. Each set includes one or more flexible cleaning bars that deform during rolling contact with the various rollers. As the cleaning bars lose contact with the various rollers, they snap back to their original shapes, thereby releasing significant potential energy to loosen crop material that may have accumulated on the exterior surfaces of the rollers. In addition, the sets of cleaning bars function to urge an incoming stream of crop material into a tightly formed spiral without the necessity for an excessively aggressively textured belt surface.

Abstract: Belts used in agricultural applications and particularly in round, hay balers have inherent problems created by their usual process of manufacture. This process involves cutting a large processed sheet of elastomeric into relatively narrow strips which form the core of the belts. The belt disclosed herein utilizes a wrap of fabric affixed around each longitudinal edge of the belt core. This wrapped belt core is then further processed to create belts with improved longevity and performance characteristics.

Abstract: A means and method for encapsulating a mechanically spliced belt, used in agricultural machinery, are disclosed. The encapsulating material protects the mechanical splice from exposure to environmental and operational conditions. The encapsulating material increases the cross-sectional modulus of the mechanical splice while maintaining geometric integrity of the fastening system, thereby increasing the operational life of the spliced belt.

Abstract: A reinforced elastomer cover for use on conditioning rolls in harvesting machines for conditioning crop material. The roll cover comprises one or more layers or plies of reinforcing material interspersed between and bonded to layers of the elastomer. The reinforcing material preferably comprises fibers of synthetic polymers or glass. The reinforced elastomer sheets are placed on roll cores and bonded or otherwise secured to the outer periphery of the roll core. The reinforced elastomer sheets are also molded or machined to possess the desired tread pattern. The sheets may be assembled and bonded directly on a roll core and thereafter vulcanized; or the vulcanized sheets may be bonded or otherwise secured to the cores.

Abstract: A means and method for encapsulating a mechanically spliced belt, used in agricultural machinery, are disclosed. The encapsulating material protects the mechanical splice from exposure to environmental and operational conditions. The encapsulating material increases the cross-sectional modulus of the mechanical splice while maintaining geometric integrity of the fastening system, thereby increasing the operational life of the spliced belt.

Abstract: Belts used in agricultural applications and particularly in round, hay balers have inherent problems created by their predominant process of manufacture. This process often involves cutting a large processed sheet of material into the narrow strips which form the core of the belt. The method disclosed herein produces a belt with a folded edge, a fabric wrapped edge, or an edge that is reinforced with a hard elastomer. These belts have strengthened longitudinal edges and an increased cross-sectional modulus at the edges which alleviates many problems associated with current hay-baler belts.

Abstract: Belts used in agricultural applications, and particularly belts used by hay balers for forming hay into bales, have a tendency to delaminated and crack along their cut longitudinal edges. The belt disclosed herein utilizes a folded fabric core surrounded by an appropriate elastomeric material to form an endless belt. The folded fabric core forms a folded edge along each longitudinal edge of the belt when the fabric core is folded twice to form a three-ply belt. These folded edges strengthened the longitudinal edges of the belt and provided a greater resistance to delamination and cracking.