Abstract: The agricultural baler operable to produce square bales and comprising a bale case having an inlet opening formed therein, a feeder communicating at one end with the inlet opening in the bale case and feeder tines operable to feed crop material into the feeder duct to form a wad of crop material for subsequent transfer to the bale case. A wall of the feeder duct is provided with rollers or a conveyor operable to assist in the movement of crop material within the feeder duct and contactable by the crop material as it passes through the feeder duct, whereby the frictional forces produced by the passage of the crop material over that wall of the feeder duct are reduced.

Abstract: An agricultural bale accumlator includes a load bed adapted for accumulating thereon a plurality of bales with bales being received one after another in a first direction on the load bed. Bale-transfer arms are operable to displace the bales, after receipt on the load bed, across the load bed in a second direction transverse to the first direction and to position these bales in side-by-side relationship on the load bed thus forming a compact parcel thereof. A bale-discharge conveyor is operable to discharge a parcel of bales accumulated on the load bed to the ground. This bale accumulator also comprises a bale-turning mechanism for turning each bale through 90.degree. around its longitudinal axis upon receipt on the load bed.

Abstract: A bale accumulator includes a base module having a table for receiving a plurality of bales thereon, a bale transfer module for accumulating the bales received on the table into a parcel thereof, and a bale turning module for individually turning each bale received on the table through substantially 90.degree. about its longitudinal axis. The bale transfer and the bale turning modules are independently attachable to and detachable from the base module. The accumulator may also comprise a bale dumping module for dumping the parcel of bales accumulated on the table and an extension module for extending the width dimension of the table. The bale dumping module and the extension module are attachable to and detachable from the base module independently of the bale transfer and bale turning modules.

Abstract: An agricultural baler comprises a bale case having an inlet opening in one side wall thereof; a plunger mounted for reciprocation within the bale case and back-and-forth across the inlet opening; a feeder duct communicating at one end with the inlet opening in the bale case and curving forwardly therefrom; the feeder duct comprising a pair of curved opposed wall means of which is movable relative to the other; and feeder means cooperable with the feeder duct to accumulate a charge of crop material therein and then stuff that charge into the bale case. The movable wall means is movable relative to the other wall means along substantially its entire length such that one cross sectional dimension of the feeder duct is variable along substantially the entire length of said feeder duct to ensure that, in use and as a charge of crop material is being accumulated in the feeder duct, said opposed wall means generally maintain contact with said crop material.

Abstract: A bale accumulator is provided for use in conjunction with a baler from which, during operation, bales successively are discharged. The accumulator comprises a bale receiving table movable between a home position for receiving a bale from the baler and a bale transfer position. A loadbed is disposed to receive bales from the bale receiving table and to accumulate a plurality of bales thereon. The bale receiving table is pivotally mounted on a shuttle mechanism which itself is movable along a transverse linear path between retracted and extended positions. When the bale receiving table is in its home position, it is located in a lower position with the shuttle mechanism assuming its retracted position. In this condition the bale receiving table is disposed at least partially vertically underneath the loadbed. Positioning means are provided for moving the receiving table from its home position underneath the loadbed to its bale transfer position generally alongside and at the level of the loadbed.

Abstract: A bale accumulator is provided for use in conjunction with a baler from which, during operation, bales successively are discharged. The accumulator comprises a bale receiving table movable between a home position for receiving a bale from the baler and a bale transfer position. A loadbed is disposed to receive bales from the bale receiving table and to accumulate a plurality of bales thereon. The bale receiving table is pivotally mounted on a shuttle mechanism which itself is movable along a transverse linear path between retracted and extended positions. A table positioning mechanism is provided for moving the receiving table from its home position to its bale transfer position and vice versa. A loadbed positioning mechanism pivots the loadbed from a horizontal home position for accumulating a plurality of bales thereon to a bale dumping position and vice versa.

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.