Abstract: A baling machine according to the invention has a frame having walls defining an elongated compaction chamber having a front end provided with a transversely open intake to which a stream of crop is fed substantially continuously. At least one compacting member is periodically displaced in the chamber between a front position forward of the intake and a back position rearward of the intake by an appropriate drive so as to rearwardly compact crop in the chamber. A plurality of pushers are each displaceable between an advanced position projecting into the chamber and only partially blocking the intake and a retracted position substantially out of the chamber by a linkage that advances the pushers into their advanced position only when the member is rearward of the intake and of the pushers. Thus advance of the pushers into the advanced position immediately after movement of the compacting member rearward past the pushers parts the stream of crop between the pushers and compacting member.

Abstract: An impeller-type cutter drum for a chopper has a drum body including three drum disks arranged side-by-side and supporting two rows of blade holders which are spaced about the circumference of the drum body. Each blade holder supports a chopping blade and extends between a respective one of the outer disks and the center disk upwardly in an upwardly inclined and oblique manner. The front portion of each blade holder is shaped as an impeller which is arranged at constant distance to and has corresponding inclination as the chopping blade. Each impeller has an arc-shaped deflector portion immediately adjacent the centered drum and extends in a plane approximately adapted to the plane of the drum shaft which support the disks.

Abstract: A chopper has a housing centered on an axis and having a radially open input and a radially open output spaced angularly therefrom as well as a pair of axially oppositely open intakes, and a cutter drum rotatable in the housing about the axis and having a pair of end plates transverse of the axis and having axially oppositely directed faces confronting the respective intakes and a plurality of blades secured to and between the end plates and having cutting edges defining on rotation of the drum an orbit centered on the axis. Respective pluralities of vanes at the end plates can be secured either to the respective end plates in in-service positions extending generally radially thereon so that rotation of the drum moves the vanes to draw air in the axial intakes and expel it through the radial output or in an out-of-service position in which they do not move appreciable air. The vanes can be secured in the out-of-service position also to the respective end plates but extending generally only angularly.