Abstract: A mower-conditioner platform or header is suspended from the main frame of the mower-conditioner by a pair of transversely spaced lower links and a single upper link or lift arm. A hydraulic lift cylinder is connected directly to the lift arm. The lift arm is mounted between the main and platform frames in a manner for permitting the lift arm to undergo a given amount of side-to-side movement about its connection with the main frame in response to relative vertical movement between the opposite ends of the platform as the platform travels over uneven ground contour during cutting operation, and for limiting the side-to-side movement of the upper link to an amount considerably less than said given amount when the platform is raised to its transport position. Three different connection points are provided at the forward end of the lift arm for connection to the platform frame and by selecting different ones of these points different platform cutting angles may be obtained.

Abstract: A cutterbar includes a plurality of modules connected in end-to-end relationship with each other, the modules respectively including identical cast gear housing sections which cooperate to form a gear housing in which is located a spur gear drive train. Each module includes a removably mounted cutting unit, with the cutting units having blade-carrying discs and being arranged such that the discs are indexed 90.degree. relative to each other and in counter rotating pairs, when an even number of units are used to form a cutterbar but being arranged such that the leftmost and adjacent blade-carrying discs rotate in the same direction when an odd number of modules are used.

Abstract: A cutterbar for a rotary mower includes a gear housing containing a series-parallel spur gear train coupled for driving cutting units spaced along the cutterbar. The gear housing, as viewed from an end, defines a cavity which is wedge-shaped in cross section with the deep part of the wedge being located at the rear of the cutterbar. As considered when the cutterbar is leveled from end-to-end and disposed for cutting crop at a relatively high level, a top wall of the cavity extends substantially horizontally and the spur gears contained within the cavity are positioned close to and parallel to the top wall so that a substantial volume is left below the gears for containing lubricant. A plurality of fore-and-aft extending, transversely spaced ribs are formed along a bottom wall of the housing at a level below the gearing whereby the ribs serve to prevent the lubricant from moving quickly towards a lower end of the cutterbar when the latter is working on a slope.

Abstract: A rotary mower includes a cutterbar having a fluid-tight gear housing made up of a plurality of identical gear housing sections connected together in end-to-end relationship with each other. Each section is a casting including spaced apart top and bottom walls, the top wall being provided with a pair of circular openings and the bottom wall being provided with a pair of upwardly opening cylindrical receptacles respectively located in axial alignment with the pair of openings and having respective annular upper ends defining bearing seating surfaces. Each idler gear has a bearing received in a central bore thereof and the assembled idler gear and bearing is located in a housing section such that the inner race of the bearing rests on a selected one of the seating surfaces and is held in place by means of a stub shaft tightly received in the bearing and in a selected one of the receptacles and having an enlarged head which is tightly received in the opening which is aligned with the receptacle.

Abstract: A wrapping mechanism for enveloping the surface of a large round bale with a wrapper is mounted to the discharge gate of a baler having a bale-forming chamber formed in part by the gate and side-by-side supported belts carried by the gate. A pair of feed rolls are positioned for directing wrap material into a pinch point defined by a lower run of the bale chamber belts and an upper surface of a plate mounted to the underside of the gate for guiding the wrap material to an inlet at the bottom of the bale-forming chamber. A device for cutting off a desired length of wrap material fed through the feed rolls includes a spring loaded knife which is released from and reset to a cocked position by the action of a hydraulic cylinder which also acts to engage and disengage drive means coupled to the feed rolls in appropriate sequence to the operation of the knife.

Abstract: An optional mechanism for enveloping a bale, in the bale chamber of a large round baler, with a wrapping material such as plastic sheet or net is provided on a baler having an automatic twine tie mechanism. The optional mechanism is embodied such that it utilizes mechanical and hydraulic controls of the twine tie mechanism for effecting automatic engagement of a normally disengaged drive roll drive for feeding wrap material into the bale chamber in response to a bale reaching a desired diameter in the chamber and for automatically severing the wrap material once a length thereof sufficient for encompassing a bale a desired amount has been disposed as determined by the time it takes a speed-controlled hydraulically operated twine arm to swing from one side to the other of the bale chamber.

Abstract: A bale wrapping mechanism for wrapping a large round bale with a wrap material such as plastic sheet material or net, is mounted to the rear of a bale discharge gate. Drive rolls are located rearwardly of the gate and are selectively drivable for dispensing wrap material onto the rear end of a guide pan extending beneath and engaged with a portion of bale-forming belts extending between lower rear and lower front belt support rolls carried by the discharge gate. A guide finger assembly is secured to the front of the pan and includes a plurality of fingers located in gaps between the bale-forming belts and including forward end portions curved arcuately about the lower front belt support roll for directing wrap material about the roll and into a pinch point defined between the belts and a bale desired to be wrapped by the material.

Abstract: Control mechanism employing a "joy-stick" unit in conjunction with electrical rocker switches, featuring a mounting bracket secured to the joy-stick unit and carrying a pair of rocker switches. The angularly movable elements of the unit are transmitted to the switches by hairpin-like "shafts" having legs engaging the faces of the respective switches.

Abstract: A bale twine knotter comprised of a rotatably mounted billhook for forming a loop of twine thereabout and a wiper arm with an improved adjustably mounted wiper for sliding a twine loop from the billhook while the twine end is retained in a jaw of the billhook to complete the formation of a twine knot. The adjustable mounting of the wiper permits the spacing of the wiper from the billhook to be adjusted easily and accurately and permits the wiper and wiper arm to be made of strong, rigid materials.