Abstract: A baler implement a tag installer operable to attach an RFID identification tag to a bale. A reader is positioned to interrogate the identification tag for receiving data from the identification tag. The reader is operable to emit an interrogation signal for interrogating the identification tag in accordance with a pre-defined timing sequence. The reader emits the interrogation signal regardless of a position of the bale in the baling chamber or on the baler implement. As such, the interrogation signal is emitted based on the pre-defined timing sequence. The pre-defined timing sequence may include a repeated on/off interrogation sequence, or continuously scanning interrogation sequence.

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 method of monitoring a status of a supply of wrap material of a baler implement includes receiving a supply roll length input when a new supply roll of wrap material is loaded into a wrap system of the baler implement. A respective length of the wrap material used to wrap each bale since receiving the supply roll length input is determined and summed together to define a total current used wrap value. The total current used wrap value is subtracted from the total longitudinal length to define a current remaining length of the wrap material. A notification signal is communicated to a communicator to indicate to an operator the current remaining length of the wrap material on the supply roll of the wrap material.

Abstract: A method of mapping a moisture level of a cut crop in a field includes identifying a cut time at which the cut crop was cut in the field. Elevation data, soil data, and weather data of the field are retrieved. A soil moisture map is then created to define a respective soil moisture level of the soil for each of a plurality of elevation zones in the field. The soil moisture map is based on a cut time, the elevation data, the soil data, and the weather data. A crop moisture map is then created to define a crop moisture level of the cut crop in each of the plurality of elevation zones in the field. The crop moisture map is based on the soil moisture map. By using the soil moisture map, the crop moisture map correlates the elevation data to the moisture levels of the cut crop.

Abstract: A round includes a housing and a gate rotatably attached to the housing for rotation about a gate rotation axis, and a forming belt that defines a variable sized baling chamber. A take-up roller supports the forming belt. A first actuator is coupled to the take-up roller and is operable to automatically apply a first bias force to the take-up roller to urge the take-up roller into a slack take-up position to reduce slack in the forming belt as the gate moves relative to the housing. A second actuator is coupled to the take-up roller for applying a second bias force to the take-up roller, in opposition to the first bias force, to restrict movement of the take-up roller into the slack take-up position to introduce slack into the forming belt when the gate is opened to an intermediate position.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a component of a work machine includes establishing fault threshold range of the component including a range of values of electromagnetic radiation indicative of a potential failure of the component. A controller is configured for receiving data from an infrared sensor related to a current electromagnetic radiation value emitted from the component, and comparing the current electromagnetic radiation value to the fault threshold range of the component. The controller may automatically communicate a first control signal to a machine control device when the current electromagnetic radiation value is within the fault threshold range of the component. The first control signal may include a message warning of potential failure of the component, or may control a drive associated with the component to alter or stop operation of the component prior to failure.

Abstract: A round baler includes a first roller and a second roller that define a gap therebetween and are arranged to position forming belts immediately adjacent to a baling chamber. A third roller is arranged to position the forming belts radially outward of the baling chamber. The forming belts move along a belt path in sequence from the first roller, to the third roller, and then to the second roller, such that the baling chamber is not bounded by the forming belts in the gap between the first roller and the second roller. A net guide is radially supported by both the first roller and the second roller and laterally positioned between an adjacent pair of the forming belts. The net guide extends across the gap to guide a net material across the gap and prevent the net material from following the forming belts away from the baling chamber.

Abstract: A harvesting machine comprises a crop conveying channel with a movable bottom flap coupled to a hydraulic actuator controlling the position of the flap and a crop throughput sensing arrangement with a pressure sensor adapted to sense a hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic actuator.

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 round baler includes a first roller and a second roller that define a gap therebetween and are arranged to position forming belts immediately adjacent to a baling chamber. A third roller is arranged to position the forming belts radially outward of the baling chamber. The forming belts move along a belt path in sequence from the first roller, to the third roller, and then to the second roller, such that the baling chamber is not bounded by the forming belts in the gap between the first roller and the second roller. A net guide is radially supported by both the first roller and the second roller and laterally positioned between an adjacent pair of the forming belts. The net guide extends across the gap to guide a net material across the gap and prevent the net material from following the forming belts away from the baling chamber.

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 agricultural work machine, an agricultural work machine control system, and method for an agricultural work machine having Bluetooth enabled RFID tags to determine a fault condition of machine components, devices, parts or systems. The Bluetooth enabled RFID tags are located on, at, or near machine components or systems to sense a temperature of those components or systems. The Bluetooth enabled RFID tags are interrogated to determine sensed temperatures and component identifiers. A controller receives the temperatures and component identifiers and compares the received temperatures to a threshold to determine whether a fault condition exists. If so, the controller transmits an alert signal to a user interface to indicate that a fault condition exists with an identified component, part, device, or system.

Abstract: A baler implement a tag installer operable to attach an RFID identification tag to a bale. A reader is positioned to interrogate the identification tag for receiving data from the identification tag. The reader is operable to emit an interrogation signal for interrogating the identification tag in accordance with a pre-defined timing sequence. The reader emits the interrogation signal regardless of a position of the bale in the baling chamber or on the baler implement. As such, the interrogation signal is emitted based on the pre-defined timing sequence. The pre-defined timing sequence may include a repeated on/off interrogation sequence, or continuously scanning interrogation sequence.

Abstract: A round includes a housing and a gate rotatably attached to the housing for rotation about a gate rotation axis, and a forming belt that defines a variable sized baling chamber. A take-up roller supports the forming belt. A first actuator is coupled to the take-up roller and is operable to automatically apply a first bias force to the take-up roller to urge the take-up roller into a slack take-up position to reduce slack in the forming belt as the gate moves relative to the housing. A second actuator is coupled to the take-up roller for applying a second bias force to the take-up roller, in opposition to the first bias force, to restrict movement of the take-up roller into the slack take-up position to introduce slack into the forming belt when the gate is opened to an intermediate position.

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: An agricultural work machine, an agricultural work machine control system, and method for an agricultural work machine having RFID tags to determine a fault condition of machine components, devices, parts or systems. The RFID tags are located on, at, or near machine components or systems to sense a temperature of those components or systems. A receiver/transmitter interrogates the RFID tags and receives the sensed temperatures, and component identifiers. A controller receives the temperatures from the receiver/transmitter and compares the received temperatures to a threshold to determine whether a fault condition exists. If so, the controller transmits an alert signal to a user interface to indicate that a fault condition exists with an identified component, part, device, or system.

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: A system, method, and apparatus includes management of a net wrap cycle of a cylindrical bale in a baling chamber of a round baler. The baler includes a crop supply assembly that passes crop material into the baling chamber and a net wrap unit. An electronic controller determines a net wrapping condition of the bale in the baling chamber in response to operation of the crop supply assembly, initiates a net wrap start event to dispense a first portion of a net wrap material from the net wrap unit in response to the net wrapping condition being less than a full bale condition, and disengages a component from the crop supply assembly to stop operation of the crop supply assembly when the bale has satisfied the full bale condition. The net wrapping condition includes a diameter growth rate measurement being greater than a net wrap initiation threshold.

Abstract: A baler for forming a bale includes a frame, an axle, and a sensor. The frame supports a bale chamber. The axle is connected to the frame at a first location and spaced apart from the frame at a second location. The sensor is positioned to measure the deflection of the axle based on a distance. The deflection of the axle changes based upon a weight of the bale.