Abstract: A roll baling machine including a floor roller, a bale forming apron, and drive apparatus connected between the floor roller and the bale forming apron. The drive apparatus causes rotation of the floor roller in response to movement of the apron in a normal direction during bale formation. The drive apparatus includes a clutch mechanism which drivingly disconnects the floor roller from the apron in response to movement of the apron in reverse direction such as when a bale is discharged from the machine.

Abstract: A roll baling machine includes a frame, an apron supported on the frame for forming a roll bale of crop material, and an arm assembly mounted on the frame supporting part of the apron. Air springs are connected between the arm assembly and the frame normally urging the arm assembly in a direction to dispose part of the apron in a substantially S-shaped configuration in side elevation.

Abstract: In a crop roll forming machine having a mobile frame, a pickup, a crop material conveying apparatus, a bale forming apparatus, and a bale forming region defined generally by the bale forming apparatus and the frame there is provided an improved tensioning apparatus for the bale forming apparatus comprising at least a first and a second spring extensibly affixed to mounting structure at a first end and connected to the bale forming apparatus at a second end. The springs further have an easily adjustable tension adjustment so that a resistive force to the extension of the springs is generated in direct relationship to the adjustments made to the tension adjustment; the resistive force being transmitted to the bale forming apparatus at the second end thereby providing an adjustably increasing tension to the bale forming apparatus and correspondingly adjustably increasing the force exerted upon crop material being formed into a bale in the bale forming region.

Abstract: Apparatus in a crop roll forming machine for improving the core formation of the crop rolls, reducing the amount of particles of crop material lost, and collecting particles of crop material lost from either the crop package or loose crop material during the roll formation process comprising stripping surfaces and an elongated tailgate with a collection pan. The particles are recycled from the collection pan back into the roll forming region by the cooperative interaction of the tailgate collection pan and the upper bale forming means as the bale forming means traverses a predetermined path imparting rotative motion to the crop material delivered to the roll forming region.

Abstract: A crop material roll forming machine, such as a large round baler, has a mobile frame adapted to travel across a field, an upper apron movably mounted on the frame that cooperates with an improved lower apron in defining a roll forming region therebetween. The lower apron is movably mounted on the frame below the upper apron and includes a series of fore-and-aft extending transversely spaced apart flexible members which are supported at their respective forward end portions by a first series of transversely spaced apart elements and at their respective rearward end portions by a second series of transversely spaced apart elements. The first series of elements are individually mounted on the front end of the frame and are yieldably movable in a fore-and-aft direction for maintaining a level of tension on the flexible members sufficient to facilitate coiling of crop material into a roll in the roll forming region.

Abstract: Apparatus in a crop roll forming machine for improving the core formation of the crop rolls and for collecting particles of crop material lost from either the crop package or loose crop material during the roll formation process consisting of an elongated tailgate with a collection pan. The particles are recycled from the collection pan back into the roll forming region by the cooperative interaction of the tailgate collection pan and the upper bale forming means as the bale forming means traverses a predetermined path imparting rotative motion to the crop material delivered to the roll forming region.

Abstract: A machine to form compact rolls of hay of substantial size by picking up a swath or windrow of hay and the like from a field, engage it by cooperating upper and lower endless flexible aprons driven in suitable direction to coil the hay into a compact roll while supported upon floor means mounted stationarily in the bottom of the machine to effect baling of all the hay without loss upon the ground. When the roll type bale of hay reaches a predetermined diameter, the upper apron raises to stop driving the same and provide an exit and the lower apron assists in ejecting the bale onto the ground, or the machine can transport it to a desired location for discharge, if desired. The upper apron initially is in contracted position and means are included to provide tension upon the upper conveyor to resist expansion of the same around part of the roll as the diameter thereof increases, said tensioning means also are such as to provide substantially uniform pressure upon the roll as it increases in size.

Abstract: A machine to form compact rolls of hay of substantial size by picking up a swath or windrow of hay and the like from a field, engage it by cooperating upper and lower endless flexible aprons driven in suitable directions to coil the hay into a compact roll while supported upon floor means mounted stationarily in the bottom of the machine to effect baling of all the hay without loss upon the ground. When the roll type bale of hay reaches a predetermined diameter, the upper apron raises and driving movement of the same stops while the bale is discharged by movement of the lower apron rearwardly in the machine, or the machine can retain and transport the bale to a desired location, if desired. The lower course of the upper apron is initially supported in a desired configuration relative to the lower apron by guide means which include movable auxiliary means arranged to be disengaged by said upper apron when the bale reaches a predetermined diameter.