Abstract: A baler includes a body, and a wrap system that is attached to the body. The wrap system is operable to support a roll of wrap material in an installed position. A cover is attached to the body, and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. When in open position, the cover provides access to the wrap system from an exterior location. When in the closed position, the cover encloses the wrap system from the exterior location. The baler includes a lift system attached to one of the body and the cover. The lift system is concealed between the body and the cover when the cover is disposed in the closed position. The lift system is positioned below the cover when the cover is disposed in the open position. The lift system raises the roll of wrap material into the installed position.

Abstract: Agricultural harvesting machines and methods of operation thereof are disclosed herein. A harvesting machine includes a main frame, a drive mechanism, a plunger, and a linkage system. The drive mechanism is coupled to the main frame and has at least one crank arm that is rotatable about a crank arm axis. The plunger is movable along a longitudinal axis in a compression chamber between a de-stroked position and a stroked position that is located rearward of the de-stroked position along the longitudinal axis. The linkage system couples the plunger to the main frame.

Abstract: An accumulator is coupled to an agricultural baler and is configured to support a crop package exiting the baler. The accumulator includes an accumulator frame coupled to a wheel supported on a surface and a carriage pivotably coupled to the accumulator frame about a first rotational axis for movement between a first position and a second position. The carriage is configured to support the crop package when the carriage is in the first position. The carriage is also configured to discharge the crop package from the accumulator when the carriage is in the second position. The accumulator also includes an over-center linkage system coupled between the accumulator frame and the carriage. The over-center linkage system is configured to lock the carriage in the first position.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine for crop material may include a crank arm connected to a rotational power source, a plunger having an extended position which is located further rearward in a compression chamber than a retracted position, and a connecting link connected between the plunger and the crank arm, with one of the connecting link and the crank arm having a variable length. The agricultural harvesting machine may include a startup mode and a run mode. The movement of the plunger can be decoupled from the movement of the crank arm at the beginning of the startup mode. The plunger can move to a predetermined position during the startup mode. The movement of the plunger can be coupled to the movement of the crank arm during the run mode.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine for crop material including a crank arm connected to a rotational power source, a plunger having an extended position which is located further rearward in a compression chamber than a retracted position, and a connecting link connected between the crank arm and the plunger. The movement plunger is decoupled from the movement of the crank arm during a startup mode of the agricultural harvesting machine. The movement plunger is coupled to the movement of the crank arm during a run mode of the agricultural harvesting machine. The connecting link, crank arm, or both have a variable length.

Abstract: A harvester and a crop accumulator combination. The harvester is configured to transfer a harvested crop to the crop accumulator. The crop accumulator comprises at least one actuator to selectively discharge the harvested crops onto a field. A GPS unit is configured with at least one virtual trip line. An ECU is in communication with the GPS unit. The ECU is configured to selectively command the actuator of the crop accumulator to discharge harvested crop onto the field when the ECU receives a signal from the GPS unit when at least one of the virtual trip line is being approached, the virtual trip line is being crossed, and the virtual trip line has been crossed.

Abstract: A PTO support assembly for a work vehicle train includes a work vehicle having a PTO drive shaft and a work implement, towed by the work vehicle, having a PTO shaft. The PTO support assembly has a mounting base with a connection interface coupled to the work implement. A support member is coupled to the mounting base and has a support interface for contacting the PTO shaft. The PTO support is adjustable to a support position in which the support interface is maintained at a height corresponding to a height at which the PTO shaft is engaged with the PTO drive shaft.

Abstract: An agricultural baler comprising a baler mechanism and a carriage assembly coupled to the baler mechanism. A platform is coupled to at least one of the baler mechanism and the carriage assembly. The platform is configured to move a bale from the baler mechanism to the carriage assembly and remain tilted until the bale is moved onto the carriage assembly at least substantially out of contact with the platform. A sliding mechanism is coupled to the carriage assembly. The sliding mechanism is configured to move the bale onto the carriage assembly.

Abstract: A bale collection system and method for receiving and storing a bale. The bale collection system including a baler having a rear aperture through which a bale may be ejected, a trough defining a storage bay sized to receive one or more bales therein, where the trough is coupled to the baler and movable with respect thereto between a first position, where no bale is positioned within the storage bay, and a second position where a bale is at least partially positioned within the storage bay, and where the first position is different than the second position. The bale collection system also includes a resistance element operatively coupled to the frame and configured to at least partially control the movement of the frame between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A system includes a baler configured to produce a first bale and a second bale succeeding the first bale. The first bale is configured to include a first surface defining a first dimension. The second bale is configured to include a second surface corresponding to the first surface of the first bale. The system also includes a sensor configured to weigh at least the first bale. The system further includes a control processor configured to receive a desired bale weight of the first bale, receive an actual bale weight of the first bale from the sensor, compare the desired bale weight to the actual bale weight of the first bale, and adjust a second dimension of the second surface of the second bale based on the comparison of the desired bale weight to the actual bale weight of the first bale.

Abstract: A baler for baling crop material, the baler including a frame, a feed assembly coupled to the frame, and a forming chamber where the forming chamber includes an inlet through which crop material may pass into the forming chamber. The baler also includes a moisture sensor configured to detect the moisture content of crop material passing into the forming chamber, a plurality of force sensors configured to detect the mass of a bale positioned within the forming chamber, and a controller in operable communication with the moisture sensor and the plurality of force sensors, and wherein the controller is configured to calculate the mass of dry matter contained within a bale positioned within the forming chamber.

Abstract: A system for recompressing a round bale into a square bale includes a bottom platen and a fixed platen proximate the bottom platen. The system includes a transfer table to receive the round bale. The transfer table is movable relative to the bottom platen to transfer the round bale to the bottom platen and to recompress the round bale. The system includes an upper platen rotatable relative to the bottom platen and the fixed platen. The upper platen is rotatable between a first position to receive the round bale between the bottom platen, the fixed platen and the upper platen, and a second position in which the upper platen cooperates with the transfer table to recompress the round bale into the square bale.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recompressing a round bale into a square bale. The system includes a bottom platen to receive the round bale and an upper platen rotatably coupled to the bottom platen. The upper platen is rotatable between a first position to receive the round bale between the bottom platen and the upper platen, and a second position in which the upper platen cooperates with the bottom platen to recompress the round bale into the square bale.

Abstract: A round baler may include a frame supported by one or more ground engaging devices, a bale forming chamber including sidewalls spaced apart a distance defining a width of the bale forming chamber, a discharge gate selectively operable between a baling position and a discharge position, and a bale forming apparatus, which forms the round bale in the bale forming chamber. The round baler may include a first set of spacers positioned adjacent at least one of the sidewalls reducing the effective width of the bale forming chamber.

Abstract: An accumulator system for a bale recompression system that recompresses a round bale into a square bale includes a bottom platen to receive the round bale and a movable platen translatable relative to the bottom platen. The accumulator system includes a source of a bale diameter that indicates a diameter of the round bale to be received and a controller, having a processor, configured to: receive as input the bale diameter and output one or more control signals to move the movable platen based on the bale diameter.

Abstract: A system for recompressing a round bale into a square bale includes a bottom platen to receive the round bale and a movable platen translatable relative to the bottom platen. The system includes an upper platen rotatable relative to the bottom platen. The upper platen is rotatable between a first position to receive the round bale between the bottom platen, the movable platen and the upper platen, and a second position in which the upper platen cooperates with the movable platen and the bottom platen to recompress the round bale into the square bale.

Abstract: An actuation system for moving a movable platen of a bale recompression system includes one or more actuators, a first scissors linkage, a second scissors linkage and a cross-member. The first scissors linkage has a first link end coupled to a frame of the bale recompression system and has a second link end coupled to the movable platen. The second scissors linkage has a third link end coupled to the frame and has a fourth link end coupled to the movable platen. The cross-member interconnects the first scissors linkage and the second scissors linkage. Actuation of the one or more actuator pivots the first link end of the first scissors linkage and the third link end of the second scissors linkage relative to the frame and translates the movable platen from a first position to a second position. The first scissors linkage and the second scissors linkage are configured to maintain a fixed orientation of the movable platen in the first position and in the second position.

Abstract: A system for controlling the speed of harvested crop as it is discharged from a crop accumulator onto a field comprising a discharge mechanism for imparting a desired rearward travel speed to the harvested crop as it is being discharged from the crop accumulator and a speed measurement device for measuring forward travel speed of the crop accumulator. A processor is in communication with the discharge mechanism and the speed measurement device and is operable to adjust the discharge mechanism for imparting the desired rearward travel speed or the forward travel speed of the crop accumulator, to discharge harvested crop with a rearward travel speed that is substantially equal to the forward travel speed such that the harvested crop has a substantially net zero speed as it contacts the ground.

Abstract: A system for controlling the speed of harvested crop as it is discharged from a crop accumulator onto a field comprising a discharge mechanism for imparting a desired rearward travel speed to the harvested crop as it is being discharged from the crop accumulator and a speed measurement device for measuring forward travel speed of the crop accumulator. A processor is in communication with the discharge mechanism and the speed measurement device and is operable to adjust the discharge mechanism for imparting the desired rearward travel speed or the forward travel speed of the crop accumulator, to discharge harvested crop with a rearward travel speed that is substantially equal to the forward travel speed such that the harvested crop has a substantially net zero speed as it contacts the ground.

Abstract: A self-propelled mower includes a rotary cutter bar that feeds cut crop to a driven crop conveying arrangement which delivers the crop to a windrow forming arrangement. The speed at which the crop conveying arrangement delivers crop to the windrow forming arrangement is controlled so as to be a predetermined ratio of the ground speed.