Abstract: An agricultural system including an agricultural baler and a control unit. The agricultural baler includes a baler driveline; a rotatable flywheel; and a rotary input shaft connected by way of the baler driveline to the rotatable flywheel. The driveline includes one or more clutches for controllably transferring rotary drive between the input shaft and the flywheel. The control unit is configured to receive input-power-data indicative of a drive power available at the rotary input shaft; and determine a clutch-control-signal for controlling an amount of torque transferred from the input shaft to the flywheel bye the one or more clutches, based on the input-power-data.

Abstract: An agricultural system including an agricultural baler including a rotary input shaft connectable by way of a baler driveline to a rotatable flywheel; a hydraulic pump for supplying the agricultural baler with hydraulic fluid, the rotatable flywheel being connectable to the hydraulic pump via the driveline. The baler is transferrable between a first state for driving the hydraulic pump by external drive power provided by a corresponding work vehicle, and a second state for driving the hydraulic pump by the rotatable flywheel. The agricultural system further includes a control unit that is configured to: receive input-power-data indicative of a drive power available for driving the hydraulic pump in the first state of the baler; and determine a control-signal for transferring the baler into the second state, if the input-power-data indicates that the available drive power is insufficient for driving the hydraulic pump.

Abstract: A stuffer assembly includes a stuffer chute and a stuffer for transferring crop material from the stuffer chute into a baling chamber. The stuffer includes a tine bar having a plurality of tines. Each tine is slidably connected to the tine bar to be linearly movable with respect to the tine bar between an extended position and a retracted position parallel to a radial direction of the tine bar. A method accordingly includes retracting a tine from the extended position into the retracted position in case of an overload.

Abstract: A baling machine includes a rotary drive-transferring driveline including a rotary input shaft that is connected to provide rotary drive as an input to a transmission; a flywheel shaft supporting a flywheel that is rotatably driven as an output of the transmission, the flywheel shaft connecting directly or indirectly to a plunger of the baling machine; and the transmission that is drive-transferringly interposed between the input shaft and the flywheel shaft. The transmission includes one or more clutches for selectively drivingly connecting the input shaft and the flywheel shaft one to the other inside the transmission and the flywheel shaft is free of clutches.

Abstract: A plunger for an agricultural baler includes: a plurality of plunger sections held together to form the plunger, the plurality of plunger sections including a pair of plunger end sections, each of the plunger sections including at least one tube holding portion having a tube opening formed therein; at least one of at least one roller or at least one sliding block attached to and extending laterally from each of the plunger end sections; and a tube placed within the tube opening of each tube holding portion such that an interference fit is formed between the tube and the at least one tube holding portion of each plunger section to hold the plunger sections together.

Abstract: A stuffer assembly includes a stuffer chute and a stuffer for transferring crop material from the stuffer chute into a baling chamber. The stuffer includes a tine bar having a plurality of tines. Each tine is slidably connected to the tine bar to be linearly movable with respect to the tine bar between an extended position and a retracted position parallel to a radial direction of the tine bar. A method accordingly includes retracting a tine from the extended position into the retracted position in case of an overload.

Abstract: An agricultural baler includes a main bale chamber having an inlet for receiving crop material. A strawhook arrangement includes a plurality of strawhooks and an actuation mechanism for moving the strawhooks between an open position wherein the inlet to the main bale chamber is open, and a closed position wherein the inlet to the main bale chamber is closed. The actuation mechanism includes a two-bar linkage and an actuator. The two-bar linkage has a first bar with a first end and a second end, and a second bar with a first end and a second end. The first end of the first bar is pivotally coupled with the strawhooks, and the first end of the second bar is pivotally coupled with a fixed structure of the baler. The actuator is coupled with the second ends of the first bar and the second bar. The actuator is operable to apply pushing or pulling forces to each of the second ends and thereby selectively move the strawhooks between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: An agricultural system including an agricultural baler and a control unit. The baler includes a driveline including at least one heat generating component; a rotatable flywheel; a rotary input shaft connectable by the driveline to the rotatable flywheel; and at least one pump for supplying cooling fluid at a cooling fluid pressure to the at least one heat generating component. The control unit is configured to: receive baler-data indicative of one or more operating conditions of the agricultural baler; receive cooling-pressure-data indicative of a flow of the cooling fluid supplied by the at least one pump; set a threshold-condition based on the baler-data; and provide a control-signal to the agricultural baler based on a comparison between the cooling-pressure-data and the threshold-condition.

Abstract: An agricultural system including an agricultural baler and a control unit. The agricultural baler includes a pick-up arrangement for collecting plant matter. The pick-up arrangement includes a roller for feeding crop into the baler. The baler further includes a pick-up drive shaft for moving the roller at a desired rotational speed. The pick-up drive shaft is connected to the roller by a clutch for selectively transferring power between the pick-up drive shaft and the roller. The control unit is configured to: receive clutch-status-data indicative of an engagement status of the clutch; determine a speed-control-signal for varying the rotational speed of the pick-up drive shaft based on the clutch-status-data; and provide the speed-control-signal to a driveline for driving the pick-up drive shaft.

Abstract: A plunger for an agricultural baler includes: a plurality of plunger sections held together to form the plunger, the plurality of plunger sections including a pair of plunger end sections, each of the plunger sections including at least one tube holding portion having a tube opening formed therein; at least one of at least one roller or at least one sliding block attached to and extending laterally from each of the plunger end sections; and a tube placed within the tube opening of each tube holding portion such that an interference fit is formed between the tube and the at least one tube holding portion of each plunger section to hold the plunger sections together.

Abstract: An agricultural baler including a bale case, a plunger, a duct, and a stuffer unit, operably associated with the duct. The stuffer unit includes a fork assembly including tines, a drive mechanism acting on the fork assembly, and a clutch arrangement for selective coupling the drive mechanism to a power source of the baler. The clutch arrangement includes a selectively operable dog clutch including a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member. The driving and the driven clutch member are configured for selectively engaging each other in one direction of rotation of the driving clutch member relative to the driven clutch member. The clutch arrangement furthermore includes an overrunning clutch associated with the driving clutch member and the driven clutch member.

Abstract: A baling machine includes a rotary drive-transferring driveline including a rotary input shaft that is connected to provide rotary drive as an input to a transmission; a flywheel shaft supporting a flywheel that is rotatably driven as an output of the transmission, the flywheel shaft connecting directly or indirectly to a plunger of the baling machine; and the transmission that is drive-transferringly interposed between the input shaft and the flywheel shaft. The transmission includes one or more clutches for selectively drivingly connecting the input shaft and the flywheel shaft one to the other inside the transmission and the flywheel shaft is free of clutches.

Abstract: An agricultural baling machine includes a rotary input shaft connected by way of an input driveline to a rotatable flywheel mounted on a flywheel shaft; and a drive converter that converts rotation of the flywheel to reciprocal rectilinear motion of a plunger in a bale-forming chamber forming part of the baling machine, in a manner compressing plant matter in the bale-forming chamber. The input driveline transfers rotary drive between the input shaft and the flywheel shaft. The rotary input shaft is disposed at a lower height in the baling machine than the flywheel shaft, and the input driveline includes a transmission having driveline components that engage one another in a drive-transferring manner connecting the rotary input shaft and the flywheel shaft.

Abstract: A mobile baling machine including a rotary input shaft connected by way of a driveline to a rotatable flywheel; and a drive converter that converts rotation of the flywheel to reciprocal rectilinear motion of a plunger, in a bale-forming chamber forming part of the baling machine, in manner forming plant matter in the bale-forming chamber into a compressed form; the driveline including one or more clutches for controlledly transferring rotary drive between the input shaft and the flywheel, wherein the driveline includes a transmission including driveline components defining at least first and second selectable transmission ratios between the input shaft and the flywheel; and wherein the baling machine includes or is operatively connected to one or more controllers that selectively engage a relatively lower, first said transmission ratio or a relatively higher, second said transmission ratio in dependence on conditions prevailing in the baling machine.

Abstract: An agricultural baling machine including: a frame; a connection point for attaching to a towing vehicle; a plunger in a bale-forming chamber; a driveline for taking power from the towing vehicle and causing reciprocal rectilinear motion of the plunger in the bale-forming chamber, wherein the driveline includes a transmission; and a drawbar assembly that provides a mechanical link between the connection point and the frame. The drawbar assembly includes a transmission mounting member that provides a mechanical connection between the transmission and the frame.

Abstract: A mounting for a baling machine gearbox includes a first, cylindrical support member secured to and extending from at least a first part of a rigid frame inside the baling machine and a second support member secured to and extending from at least a further part of the rigid frame that in use is spaced vertically from the first part of the rigid frame. The gearbox includes at least one selectively tightenable and loosenable clamp that encircles the first support member and the mounting includes at least one releasable connection securing the gearbox to the second support member, whereby on disconnecting of an input rotary shaft and a crank from the gearbox, and disconnecting of the releasable connection and loosening of the clamp the gearbox is rotatable from the operational position to an access position permitting access to the plunger while supported on the first support member.

Abstract: An agricultural baling machine including: frame; a connection point for attaching to a towing vehicle; a plunger in a bale-forming chamber; a driveline for taking power from the towing vehicle and causing reciprocal rectilinear motion of the plunger in the bale-forming chamber; and a drawbar assembly that provides a mechanical link between the connection point and the frame. The drawbar assembly includes: a lower drawbar member and an upper drawbar member, wherein both members extend in a longitudinal direction of the baling machine from the frame towards the connection point; and wherein the lower drawbar member is spaced apart from the upper drawbar member in a vertical dimension such that one or more components of the driveline are accessible from the side of the baling machine through the drawbar assembly.

Abstract: An agricultural baling machine including: a frame; a connection point for attaching to a towing vehicle; a plunger in a bale-forming chamber; a driveline for taking power from the towing vehicle and causing reciprocal rectilinear motion of the plunger in the bale-forming chamber; and a drawbar member that provides a mechanical link between the connection point and the frame. The drawbar member is rotatably coupled to the frame such that the height of the connection point relative to the frame of the baling machine is adjustable.

Abstract: An agricultural system including an agricultural baler and a control unit. The baler includes a driveline including at least one heat generating component; a rotatable flywheel; a rotary input shaft connectable by the driveline to the rotatable flywheel; and at least one pump for supplying cooling fluid at a cooling fluid pressure to the at least one heat generating component. The control unit is configured to: receive baler-data indicative of one or more operating conditions of the agricultural baler; receive cooling-pressure-data indicative of a flow of the cooling fluid supplied by the at least one pump; set a threshold-condition based on the baler-data; and provide a control-signal to the agricultural baler based on a comparison between the cooling-pressure-data and the threshold-condition.

Abstract: An agricultural system including an agricultural baler including a rotary input shaft connectable by way of a baler driveline to a rotatable flywheel; a hydraulic pump for supplying the agricultural baler with hydraulic fluid, the rotatable flywheel being connectable to the hydraulic pump via the driveline. The baler is transferrable between a first state for driving the hydraulic pump by external drive power provided by a corresponding work vehicle, and a second state for driving the hydraulic pump by the rotatable flywheel. The agricultural system further includes a control unit that is configured to: receive input-power-data indicative of a drive power available for driving the hydraulic pump in the first state of the baler; and determine a control-signal for transferring the baler into the second state, if the input-power-data indicates that the available drive power is insufficient for driving the hydraulic pump.