Abstract: An apparatus for merging a pair of windows into a single window for subsequent processing by a forage harvester, square baler or the like. The apparatus includes a main frame, a rotary pickup head for picking up the first windrow, a cross conveyor mounted on the main frame and disposed rearwardly of the pickup head for transporting the first windrow transversely between a windrow receiving end and a windrow discharge end, a hydraulic drive circuit including a cross conveyor drive motor and a pickup drive motor, a speed control mechanism for controlling the speed of the cross conveyor independently of the speed of the pickup head so that conveyor belt speed may be adjusted depending upon the distances between windrows to either discharge or throw the first windrow a further distance or a shorter distance so as to be combined with a second adjacent windrow. There is also disclosed a quick attachment assembly for pivotally and releasably attaching the main frame to a tractor.

Abstract: A forage blower having an upwardly extending, tangential blower outlet transition member which is hinged along one of its sides so as to be swung laterally to thereby expose the inside of the blower housing. By swinging the outlet member laterally, only a very small clearance is required between the upper end of the outlet member and the lower end of the conveying pipe which conveys the material to the top of the silo. The upper end of the outlet member has an upwardly extending lip which facilitates the connection between the upper end of the outlet member and the lower end of the conveying pipe. The hinge arrangement between the transition member and the blower housing is such that the hinge is mounted on and supported by the rim sheet bracket.

Abstract: A pickup at the front of a rotary crop baler discharges crop material rearward between crop guiding means comprising a feed roller that propels the material farther rearward. Rearwardly adjacent to the feed roller is a bale forming roller with a diameter about twice that of the feed roller, rotating in the same direction as the feed roller and at the same or a slightly faster peripheral speed. The bale compacting belt assembly has the usual expandable lower stretch defined by two rollers, one of which is spaced above the crop guiding means, the other of which is rearwardly adjacent to the bale forming roller. During an initial stage of core formation that stretch of belt slides on the bale forming roller and cooperates with it, with the feed rollers and with retractable bale forming fingers, to define a bale starting chamber more nearly cylindrical than heretofore.

Abstract: A rotary baling machine for forming large cylindrical bales of cut crop material, such as hay which uses a conveyor belt and an oppositely moving containing belt means arranged to rotate the hay and form the bale in a baling compartment as the machine moves over the crop being harvested. The endless containing belt means surrounds the bale as it progressively increases in size and acts to compact the crop being baled to thereby form a bale of proper density. This containing belt means is trained over suitable elongated rollers which extend across the machine and thereby acts to rotatably drive the rollers. Power means are also provided, such as chain and sprocket means to also power drive the rollers. An overrunning sprocket is provided on at least one of the rollers so that possible over-loading or slack in the containing belt means which is caused by differential belt driving speeds, is eliminated.

Abstract: A rotary baler for forming large cylindrical bales of cut crop material such as hay and which uses a conveyor belt and an oppositely moving compacting belt arrangement to rotate the hay and form the bale in a baling compartment. Adjustable hydraulic control means are provided for controlling the tension in the compacting belt to thereby control the density of the bale being formed. The hydraulic control means is such that a lower tension force is maintained in the compacting belts during the critical initial start-up phase, and a higher belt tension is provided during the early bale forming stage, resulting in a finished bale of high density.

Abstract: A baling machine for forming large cylindrical bates of cut crop material and including an improved means for adjusting the relative alignment of a plurality of transversely spaced, parallel belts and minimizing wear of the belts. The conveyor belts are supported for movement in a closed path by a plurality of parallel spaced apart rollers. Means are provided for adjusting the position of at least one end of one of said rollers such that the longitudinal axis of the roller can be moved generally in a plane perpendicular to the plane bisecting the angle defined by the belt wrapped around the roller whereby relative skewing of the belt and roller imparts a force on the belt during movement of the belt and in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the roller.