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 machine for forming cylindrical bales of crop material such as hay in which the bale is formed between two oppositely moving endless belts. One of the belts wraps around the bale as the bale is being formed and the tensioned belt contributes to the density of the bale. A pressure roller helps support its bale and penetrates the periphery of the bale to increase its density. Crop deflector means are provided at each side of the interior of the machine so as to reduce the friction between the material and the sides of the machine and thereby prevent excessive tension on the belt and consequently excessive bale density.