Abstract: In a leaf loading method, leaves are picked up from the ground by operating a rotary beater and a rotary broom. The leaves are then delivered between the beater and the broom by rotating the beater and the broom in opposite directions. Next, the leaves are guided from between the beater and the broom toward an auger disposed rearwardly of the broom. Finally, the leaves are transferred from the auger into a thrower by rotating the auger and then the leaves are discharged by operating the thrower.

Abstract: A blower for conveying material includes a housing and a spout. The housing has a front wall, a rear wall and an arcuate side wall extending between the front and rear walls. A plurality of arms with paddles mounted thereon are rotatable within the housing to discharge material through the spout. Springs are provided to urge a portion of the housing side wall into a normal position while permitting this side wall portion to be flexed outwardly if a foreign object such as a rock impacts against the inside of the housing side wall with enough force to overcome the springs. Permanent deformation to the housing is thus prevented by the springs.

Abstract: A leaf loading machine designed for use in combination with a towing vehicle includes a mobile frame with a tongue extending forwardly thereof for connection to the towing vehicle. The machine has a rotary beater and a rotary broom extending transversely of the mobile frame. The broom is disposed rearwardly of an in tandem relation to the beater. The beater and the broom have lower sides thereof disposed adjacent the ground and they are operable to counterrotate relative to one another so as to deliver material from the ground upwardly therebetween. The machine also includes an auger extending transversely of the frame rearwardly of the broom for receiving material from the broom, and a thrower mounted on the frame for receiving material from the auger and for discharging the material into the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A disc cutterbar for use on a harvesting implement, such as a disc mower-conditioner, is driven by an endless timing belt entrained around toothed sprockets corresponding to each disc cutter within the transmission casing. The positive engagement between the toothed timing belt and the corresponding toothed sprocket provides a means for timing the rotation of adjacent disc cutters to minimize the possibility of interference between rotating knives. The toothed timing belt, however, is capable of movement relative to the toothed sprocket should the corresponding disc cutter become restricted in its rotation, such as by impact with a substantial object.

Abstract: A leaf loading machine has a rotary beater and a rotary broom extending transversely of a mobile frame. The broom is disposed rearwardly of and in tandem relation to the beater. The beater and the broom have lower sides thereof disposed adjacent the ground and they are operable to counterrotate relative to one another so as to deliver material from the ground upwardly therebetween. A shroud mounted on the frame fully covers an upper side of the beater and partially covers an upper side of the broom. The shroud is open at its front and rear ends, and includes a top wall and a pair of side walls. A housing is also mounted on the frame overlying and enclosing the broom and an auger disposed rearwardly of the broom. The housing is closed at its rear end but is open at its front end where it communicates with the rear end of the shroud to guide material delivered between the beater and the broom to the auger. The housing includes a top wall, a pair of side walls, and a rear wall.

Abstract: A leaf loading machine has a rotary beater and a rotary broom on a mobile frame, both of which extend transversely of the frame. The broom is disposed rearwardly of and in tandem relation to the beater. Both the beater and the broom are disposed adjacent to the ground and are operable to counterrotate relative to one another so as to deliver leaves from the ground upwardly therebetween. The broom rotates substantially faster than the beater.

Abstract: Netting in the form of an extruded plastic mesh is provided for wrapping round bales of crop material. The netting includes longitudinal strands and tranverse strands fused together at intersecting joints to define rectangularly shaped openings in the netting. The minimum elasticity of the netting is about 15% before tensile failure in a longitudinal direction in order to prevent the netting from shrinking in a transverse direction. The netting thus maintains its original width dimension when pulled lengthwise.

Abstract: A leaf harvesting machine has an auxiliary rotary beater and main rotary pickup broom on a mobile frame which both extend transversely of the direction of travel of the frame. The main pickup broom is disposed rearwardly of and in tandem relation to the beater. Both the beater and pickup broom are disposed adjacent to the ground and operable to counterrotate relative to one another so as to deliver leaves from the ground upwardly therebetween. One feature of the machine relates to the provision of, and cooperation which occurs between, a plurality of lifting elements of the beater and pluralities of sweeping and lifting elements of the pickup broom. Another feature relates to an arrangement for adjustably mounting the beater for movement toward and away from the pickup broom for presetting the positional relationship of the beater lifting elements relative to the pickup broom sweeping and lifting elements.

Abstract: A bale forming method for use with round balers is disclosed. Typically round balers are operated in a manner whereby crop material is fed into only one side of the bale forming chamber at a time. The disclosed method includes positioning a round baler so that crop material is fed into the right side of the bale forming chamber, generating a signal in a first indicator light in response to a predetermined expansion of the bale forming chamber, repositioning the round baler so that crop material is fed into the left side of the bale forming chamber, and generating a signal in a second indicator light in response to a further predetermined expansion of the bale forming chamber.

Abstract: A bale shape controlling system for round balers is disclosed. The system includes first and second indicator lights, and bale shape monitor apparatus for alternately generating signals in the indicator lights in response to predetermined expansion of the bale forming chamber of round balers. Typically round balers are operated in a manner whereby crop material is fed into only one side of the bale forming chamber at a time. The system also includes apparatus for automatically positioning round balers so that crop material is alternately fed into the right or left side of the bale forming chamber when signals are alternately generated in the indicator lights.

Abstract: A bale shape monitoring system for round balers includes first and second indicator lights, and bale shape monitor apparatus for alternately generating signals in the indicator lights in response to predetermined expansion of the baling chamber of round balers. Typically round balers are operated in a manner whereby crop material is fed into only one side of the baling chamber at a time. The signals generated in the indicator lights are used by the operator of a round baler as an indication of when to weave the baler to feed crop material into the other side of the baling chamber. Proper use of the disclosed system prevents the formation of poorly shaped bales while reducing operator fatigue.

Abstract: A round bale forming machine comprising a frame supporting substantially circular rollers at opposite sides of the frame supporting inner and outer portions of an endless flexible apron arranged in a substantially C-shaped configuration upon the sets of rollers with the ends of said configuration spaced apart to comprise an inlet for crop material to be delivered from a pickup head to a bale-forming compartment defined by the inner portion of the apron, drive sprockets on the frame positioned in one end of the C-shaped configuration of the apron adjacent the top of the inlet and takeup guide sprockets on the frame positioned in the other end of the C-shaped configuration of the apron adjacent the bottom of the inlet, the takeup guide sprockets normally holding the portions of the apron taut but being yieldable to permit the inner portion of apron to expand a limited amount against the action of the takeup guide sprockets when a bale of desired predetermined size has been formed, and signal means on said machi

Abstract: A crop baling machine of the type for producing round bales and in which a cylindrical bale forming compartment receives crop material from a pickup device, the bale-forming compartment being defined by an endless apron which extends around inner and outer sets of guide rollers. The endless apron also extends respectively around drive sprockets and takeup guide sprockets which are spaced apart to provide an inlet to the bale forming compartment, the takeup guide sprockets being mounted for limited movement against springs to maintain the apron taut but also permit limited expansion of the inner portion of the apron which extends around the inner set of guide rollers when the bale forming compartment is filled to a desired degree, and the movement of the takeup guide sprockets causing additional mechanism to disconnect the pickup device from the power source which drives it and thereby automatically prevent structural damage to the machine.

Abstract: A method used to wrap roll bales of crop material with plastic film. The method involves holding the end of a supply roll of plastic film between stationary feed rolls as a bale is formed, and then delivering the end of the plastic film to the outer surface of a completed roll bale by driving the feed rolls. The method also involves wrapping the roll bale with a suitable number of layers of the plastic film by driving the feed rolls while rotating the roll bale, and then severing the plastic film at a location between the roll bale and the feed rolls by stopping the feed rolls and moving a cutoff bar into contact with the plastic film while continuing to rotate the roll bale.

Abstract: A baler adapted to form round bales including a support for a supply roll of stretch cling-type of plastic film, power operated nip rolls to engage the outer end of said roll of film, a drag brake on said support to maintain tension on said film, cut-off mechanism including a toothed bar positioned below the roll of film and movable between operative and inoperative positions relative to said film, an electric switch near the operator's position to control a solenoid which moves the cutoff bar to inoperative position, support mechanism for rotating a roll bale to be wrapped with the film, powered mechanism to rotate the roll bale to be wrapped with the film while the nip rolls feed the free end of the film into engagement by the rotating bale roll for encircling the same with multiple convolutions of the film while the drag brake maintains tension thereon and rotation of the nip rolls then being stopped and the electric switch being operated to cause the solenoid to move the cutoff bar to operative position t

Abstract: A mobile harvester unit provided with a row crop attachment having a plurality of laterally spaced generally fore-and-aft dividers defining one or more elongated passageways for accommodating rows of crop material. Crop severing means are disposed along each passageway for cutting crop being guided rearwardly during operation. Feeder assemblies, disposed in longitudinal alignment with the dividers, comprise gathering fingers extending from at least three rigid bars adjacent the passageways. The bars, mounted at equal intervals on rigid rotatable elements, are rotatably driven to impart intermittent rearward motion of the fingers in the passageway to urge crop toward the harvesting unit.