Abstract: A rectangular baler is disclosed comprising a bale case (6) into which successive charges of crop material are introduced; a plunger (7) disposed for reciprocating movement in the bale case (6) to compact the charges while advancing the compacted charges toward an exit opening in the bale case; and a knotter (8) for tying a flexible binding material, such as twine, in a form-stabilising manner around successive increments of compacted crop material while they advance in the bale case (6) to form bales. An elongated sensor (48), disposed on the knotter (8) in the trajectory of the flexible material (49) projecting from a twine holder (32) towards a billhook (33), is operable to detect the tensile forces occurring in the binding material during bale formation and to produce signals, which are processed by a microprocessor (24) to, if found necessary, lower the density of the bales in order to avoid twine failure.

Abstract: A round baler includes a bale chamber in which, in use of the baler, a bale of crop material is formed; a source of bale wrapping material; bale wrapping control apparatus; and a knife operable under the control of the wrapping control means to cut the wrapping material. The bale wrapping control apparatus comprises a first set of worm and sector gears operable to drive the knife to a position ready for cutting the bale wrapping material and a second set of worm and sector gears operable to determine the length of wrapping material to be dispensed from the source of wrapping material for wrapping a given bale and then to initiate operation of the knife to effect cutting of the dispensed wrapping means from the source. Both of the worm gears are carried on a single master shaft which is rocked in one direction to activate the first set of gears and in the opposite direction to activate the second set of gears.

Abstract: A round baler is provided which comprises a bale chamber which is expandable between a bale start position and a full bale position and which comprises a first of bale-forming means disposed generally circumferentially around a portion of the full size bale chamber when the baler is in its bale-forming condition, and a second bale-forming means which is movable relative to the first bale-forming means between two extreme positions. The second bale-forming means is cooperable, in one extreme position, with part of the first bale-forming means to form the bale start chamber of reduced dimensions for starting bale formation, and, in the other extreme position, with the first bale-forming means to define a generally cylindrical bale chamber generally corresponding to a full size bale. The first and second bale-forming means are cooperable to form a round bale of crop material during movement of the second bale-forming means from the one extreme position towards the other extreme position.

Abstract: A round baler includes a base and rear frame. A first set of rollers is mounted in the base frame and extends transversely thereof. A pair of arms are pivoted on the rear frame, and a second set of rollers is carried by the arms extending transversely between the arms. The arms are movable between a bale starting position and a full bale position, and the second set of rollers cooperate with at least part of the first set of rollers to define a bale starting chamber that is vertically elongated when the arms are in the bale starting position.

Abstract: A knotter comprising a billhook operable to form a knot in flexible material such as twine and being rotatable through first and second cycles during the knot tying operation, the billhook having jaws which can be opened or closed. Means are provided which are contactable by the billhook during both the first and second cycles of rotation thereof but which are operable to maintain the billhook jaws closed during the first cycle and to open and close the billhook jaws during the second cycle. The means may be in the form of a cam and releasable locking means may be provided to lock the cam against rotation during portions of the first and second cycles of billhook rotation.

Abstract: The invention relates to knotters for tying knots and has particular, but not exclusive, application to agricultural balers. In known baler knotters, twine for tying the bales is cut by a fixed or movable knife in such a way that substantially the same portion of the knife edge is used for cutting with the result that early blunting occurs which can give rise to only partially cut twine which adversely affects the knotter. In accordance with the invention a knotter (24) comprises a twine holder (63) operable to hold, during a knot-tying operation, a primary and a secondary portion (20,43) of twine in which the knot is to be tied, and rotary knife means (130) operable to cut at least one of said twine portions at a predetermined point in the operational cycle of the knotter and as said at least one twine portion is held by the twine holder.

Abstract: A knotter apparatus is improved by providing a frame supporting first and second rotatable shafts. A plurality of flanges are mounted on the first shaft and a billhook is mounted on the second shaft. A plurality of twine holder fingers are pivotally supported by the frame and resiliently urged relative to the flanges.

Abstract: A knotter apparatus is improved by providing a frame supporting first and second rotatable shafts. A plurality of flanges are mounted on the first shaft and a billhook is angularly mounted on the second shaft. A plurality of twine holder fingers are pivotally supported by the frame and resiliently urged relative to the flanges. The second shaft is operable for intermittently driving the first shaft.

Abstract: An automatic bale wagon comprising a frame, at least one load floor mounted on the frame, bale pick-up means operable to pick up bales from the ground for delivery to the load floor, or one of the load floors, conveyor means operable to convey bales on the or each load floor in a predetermined manner and such that the direction of movement of the bales is changed at one or more points in the path of travel, and bale support means movable in synchronism with the conveyor means to support one or more bales at a point at which a change in the direction of movement of the bale or bales is effected.

Abstract: A bale wagon comprising a main frame and bale pick-up apparatus mounted on the main frame, the bale pick-up apparatus comprising a subframe, bale elevator apparatus mounted on the subframe and operable to lift a bale from the ground on being engaged thereby, and conveyor apparatus to which bales lifted by the elevator apparatus are delivered, the conveyor apparatus comprising in effect two separate conveyors operable to handle a bale successively with the directions of movement imparted by the two conveyors to a bale lying in different planes inclined relative to, and intersecting, each other.

Abstract: The occurrence of misties during a knot-tying operation is substantially limited by providing a knotter apparatus including a twine holder having a plurality of spaced apart discs defining a plurality of grooves between the discs. The discs further define a plurality of adjacent sets of notches. One of the discs has a thickness substantially greater than the other discs. As a result, the length of a portion of twine looped through one set of the notches and through an adjacent set of notches, is substantially increased.

Abstract: The problem of debris fouling of knife edges causing sloppy cutting of baling twine is limited by providing a knotter apparatus including a rotating shear plate. A knife has a cutting edge in knife sharpening engagement with the plate. A groove formed between the cutting edge and the shear plate permits debris to be removed from between the knife and the plate.

Abstract: The invention provides a simple, and hence relatively inexpensive, bale accumulator for use in small and medium farming operations and which will reduce much of the present laborious and time-consuming manual bale-handling.The bale accumulator comprises a load bed (6), a load table (20) pivotally mounted to one side of the load bed (6) and movable between a horizontal bale-receiving position transverse of the load bed and an upright bale-discharge position for depositing a row of bales on the load bed (6), and bale pick-up means (25) located forwardly of the load table (2) adjacent the pivotal mounting thereof for picking up bales from the ground and depositing the bales one after the other on the load table (20) for forming a row of bales thereon.

Abstract: A knotter mechanism, primarily for use in crop baling machines, with an improved billhook and actuation means therefor is disclosed. The billhook is rotatably mounted on the knotter frame and includes a fixed jaw having an elongate shaft and a movable jaw with an integral heel portion is pivotally fixed to the fixed jaw whereby pivotable of the moveable jaw opens and closes the billhook. An actuation means in the form of a rotatable roller is mounted on the knotter frame adjacent the billhook on an axis of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fixed jaw shaft. As the billhook rotates, the heel portion of the moveable jaw periodically engages the roller, resulting in selective opening and closing of the billhook.

Abstract: An improved knotter primarily for use with a crop baling machine is disclosed. As is known in the art, a quantity of compacted crop material is encircled with a length of twine, or similar binding material, and a knot is tied in primary and secondary portions thereof to produce a discrete package of material. The improved knotter includes a rotatable twine holder for gripping the primary and secondary portions of twine and holding them in a side-by-side relationship extending along a predetermined path. A rotatable billhook is mounted adjacent the twine holder and positioned to intersect the predetermined path. Drive means interconnecting the twine holder and billhook rotate the two elements in timed relation such that during a first cycle of the billhook the twine portions are positioned thereabout, and during a second cycle of the billhook a knot is tied therein.

Abstract: An improved knot tying mechanism, primarily for use in the agricultural industry, is disclosed. A twine disc rotatably mounted about a central fixed hub is angularly arranged to position the twine-gripping area for better acceptance of twine from the needle and thereby reduce the incidence of misties due to inadequate gripping. A billhook shaft with a worm gear thereon extends through the fixed hub to properly support the billhook adjacent the twine-gripping area. Cooperating gear teeth on the twine disc are engaged by the worm gear so that rotational power applied to the billhook shaft is transmitted therethrough to provide corresponding movement of the twine disc.

Abstract: A knotter mechanism, primarily for use in crop baling machines, with an improved billhook and actuation means therefor is disclosed. The billhook is rotatably mounted on the knotter frame and includes a fixed jaw having an elongate shaft and a movable jaw with an integral heel portion is pivotally fixed to the fixed jaw whereby pivotable of the moveable jaw opens and closes the billhook. An actuation means in the form of a rotatable roller is mounted on the knotter frame adjacent the billhook on an axis of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fixed jaw shaft. As the billhook rotates, the heel portion of the moveable jaw periodically engages the roller, resulting in selective opening and closing of the billhook.

Abstract: This invention relates to mower conditioners of the type having at least two rotatable cutter units mounted side-by-side and each supporting at least one cutter blade to cut the standing crop by impact, as opposed to shearing. The mower-conditioner comprises a rotary crop conditioning and spreading apparatus extending rearwardly of the mower and having a pair of rotary units disposed rearwardly of each pair of cutter units, with each rotary unit being rotatable about a generally upright axis. One rotary unit of each pair of rotary units is located closer to the mower than the other rotary unit of the pair.

Abstract: A rotary mower comprising at least one rotary cutter unit mounted on a framework, the framework having at least one forwardly extending lower support for rotatably supporting the cutter unit at its lower end, and a freely rotatable shield disposed proximate to the foremost edge of the or each support and underneath the or each cutter unit for shielding said foremost edge.