Abstract: A large crop material bale handler mountable to a prime moving vehicle operable to retrieve, transport and discharge large crop material bales is provided with a main support frame, a traveling load support with material engaging elements fastened to the lower portion thereof, power lifting apparatus to raise and lower the load support, and grappling members pivotally affixed at a pivot point to the load support and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom. The grappling member has a material engaging end and an opposing end. The pivot point further overlies the plane of the material engaging elements such that when the grappling member is in the engaged position the material engaging end, in combination with the material engaging elements, exerts a grappling and lifting force on a bale.

Abstract: In a twine wrapping apparatus for a crop roll forming machine effective to bind the periphery of a crop roll with a binding material having at least a first binding material dispenser and a second binding material dispenser, drive apparatus connected to the binding material dispensers and overload protective apparatus positionable between a driving connection and a non-driving connection between the drive apparatus and the binding material dispensers, there is provided an alignment apparatus cooperable with the drive apparatus and the overload protective apparatus to retain the drive apparatus so that it is held in a fixed position while the overload protective apparatus is moved from the non-driving connection to the driving connection to thereby permit the binding material dispensers to be driven through their predetermined paths of travel.

Abstract: In a crop roll forming machine having a reversibly rotatable bale forming means and a drive means there is provided a control means affixed to the frame movable between at least a first position and a second position for cooperative interaction with the drive means and the bale forming means to selectively cause the bale forming means to cease being driven in a first direction and cause it to be driven in an opposing second direction when the control means is moved from the first position to the second position so that a completed crop roll is ejected rearwardly from the machine onto the ground.

Abstract: In a crop roll forming machine adapted to be towed across a field, a kicker means is fastened to the opposing sides of the frame and extends at least partially therebetween adjacent the conveying means and the rear end so that upon completion of the formation of the crop roll the roll is ejected from the bale forming region into contact with the kicker means which propels it rearwardly of the roll forming machine.

Abstract: In a crop roll forming machine having cooperating upper and lower bale forming means there is provided an improved automatic twine wrapping mechanism for binding a completed crop roll with binding material. The automatic twine wrapping mechanism is triggered by one of either two trip devices to automatically effect the serial steps of the twine wrapping cycle.

Abstract: Apparatus in a crop roll forming machine for improving the core formation of the crop rolls, reducing the amount of particles of crop material lost, and collecting particles of crop material lost from either the crop package or loose crop material during the roll formation process comprising stripping surfaces and an elongated tailgate with a collection pan. The particles are recycled from the collection pan back into the roll forming region by the cooperative interaction of the tailgate collection pan and the upper bale forming means as the bale forming means traverses a predetermined path imparting rotative motion to the crop material delivered to the roll forming region.

Abstract: In a crop roll forming machine which forms large cylindrically shaped bales in a bale forming region and wraps the bales with a binding material and which further has a wrapping means for controlling the wrapping of the completed bale there is provided at least a first and a second binding material dispensing means adjacent the bale forming region connected to the wrapping means so that upon actuation of the wrapping means the first dispensing means is driven across a portion of the bale forming region in a first predetermined path and the second dispensing means is driven in a second predetermined path. The predetermined paths are adjacent the completed bale to effect the wrapping of the bale substantially across its length as the bale is rotated by the bale forming means of the crop roll forming machine.

Abstract: Apparatus in a crop roll forming machine for improving the core formation of the crop rolls and for collecting particles of crop material lost from either the crop package or loose crop material during the roll formation process consisting of an elongated tailgate with a collection pan. The particles are recycled from the collection pan back into the roll forming region by the cooperative interaction of the tailgate collection pan and the upper bale forming means as the bale forming means traverses a predetermined path imparting rotative motion to the crop material delivered to the roll forming region.

Abstract: An improved twine wrapping mechanism is provided for a roll forming machine having a frame defining a roll forming region. The twine wrapping mechanism includes an elongated dispensing tube and means for mounting the dispensing tube forwardly of the bale forming region on the frame such that the tube can be driven in a predetermined path across the bale forming region. The tube is fastened at one end to a gear segmented plate which is supported on one end of a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame. The dispensing tube is adapted to be driven along its predetermined path either manually by a handle having a gear segment that driveably mates with the gear segmented plate or automatically by a hydraulic cylinder that is operably connected to the shaft that rotatably supports the plate and the tube.

Abstract: A roll forming machine having a frame defining a roll forming region is provided with an improved twine wrapping mechanism that includes an elongated twine dispensing tube that is adapted to swing across the bale forming region in a predetermined path during the twine wrapping operation. A twine severing means in the form of a striker plate and a movable knife is provided for severing the twine at the completion of the wrapping operation. A latch, movable between tube receiving and tube holding positions is also provided for positively retaining the twine dispensing tube in a rest condition at the completion of the wrapping operation and during the roll forming operation. The latch and the knife are interconnected such that the knife is driven against the striker plate, clamping the twine therebetween, as the twine dispensing tube is driven into the latch forcing the same from its tube receiving to its tube holding position.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling large round bales or the like includes a mobile frame adapted for movement across a field and a bed assembly mounted thereon. The bed assembly includes a plurality of elongated, laterally spaced rails capable of being disposed in an inclined position with respect to the frame in which forward ends of the rails are disposed adjacent the field. A flexible endless conveyor chain is movably mounted on and along each rail and has bale-engaging lugs moving along a path extending along and above an upper side of each rail and around and beyond the forward end of each rail for delivering a bale or the like from the field to the forward ends of the rails when the rails are disposed in the inclined position. A ground engaging element is attached to and extends along and below each forward rail end for supporting the rail end above the field.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling large round bales or the like includes a transverse mobile frame and an elongated bed assembly pivotally mounted about a generally horizontal axis generally intermediately between its opposite ends to the frame. A hydraulic cylinder and linkage assembly is provided for actuating pivotal tilting of the bed assembly between a horizontal position, a rearwardly inclined position, and a forwardly inclined position and for supporting the bed assembly at such positions. Means is provided movably mounted on the bed assembly for delivering a bale from a field to the forward end of the bed assembly when it is disposed in its rearwardly inclined position and for moving the bale toward the rear end of the bed assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling large round bales or the like includes a mobile frame adapted for movement across a field and a bed assembly mounted thereon. The bed assembly includes a plurality of elongated, laterally spaced rails capable of being disposed in an inclined position with respect to the frame in which forward ends of the rails are disposed adjacent the field. A first flexible endless conveyor chain is movably mounted on and along a forward portion of each rail extending from the forward end thereof rearwardly through a distance preferably approximately equal to the axial length of a round bale. The first conveyor chains are capable of delivering a bale from the field to the forward ends of the rails when the rails are disposed in the inclined position and of moving the bale along the forward portions of the rails. A second flexible endless conveyor chain is movably mounted on and along a rearward portion of each rail extending from the forward rail portion to a rear end of the rail.

Abstract: A breakaway mechanism mounted on the frame of an improved crop material roll forming machine engages a take-up and expansion member to cause the member to initially retain an upper flexible, roll-forming apron substantially in a contracted position as crop material, being initially rolled to form a core at a roll-forming area defined between the upper apron and a lower crop-conveying and roll-forming apron, builds to a desired predetermined density. The breakaway mechanism will release its engagement with the take-up member when the core of crop material reaches the desired predetermined density.