Abstract: A round baler having a main frame, a tailgate pivotally connected to the main frame and an apron extending around a plurality of guide rolls disposed in the main frame and the tailgate. A pair of take up arms, rotatably mounted on the main frame, carry at least one additional guide roll for the apron. A bale forming chamber, including the apron, varies in size from a bale starting position to a full bale position. A pair of levers, connected to rotate with the take up arms, have attached thereto a tensioning mechanism to urge the take up arms to the bale starting position of the apron. The machine is provided with apparatus for wrapping the formed bale with twine and a unique system that operates in conjunction with the levers to automatically trip the wrapping apparatus when the bale formed in the chamber has attained a desired size.

Abstract: A round baler includes an expansible, upwardly converging wedge shaped bale chamber having an opening at its bottom and being formed in part by first and second belt runs that respectively converge upwardly from first and second belt support rolls respectively located at the front and rear of the inlet opening. Expansion of the baling chamber works against a downwardly biased tensioning frame pivotally mounted to opposite side walls, the first and second belt runs extending between a fixed and a pivotal roll carried by the frame with the pivotal roll being controlled to move closer to the fixed roll as the tensioning frame is forced upwardly by a growing bale. A fingered rake structure bridges the gap between the fixed and pivotal rolls to keep crop material from exiting the chamber.

Abstract: A supply of wrapping material for a wrapping mechanism is provided in the form of a spool having a core member which is rotatably mounted to the lower ends of a pair of support arms having their upper ends vertically pivotally mounted to an arm support for pivoting about a horizontal axis. An upright contact surface is located below the horizontal axis and is engaged by one side of the spool of material such that the surface offers frictional resistance to the unwrapping of material from the spool.

Abstract: A unidirectional drum roller for a baler of large cylindrical bales. A plurality of ramped steps extend longitudinally along the periphery of a substantially cylindrical drum. Each ramped step includes a steeply inclined leading edge portion and a gradually inclined following portion. The unidirectional construction provides a drum roller which has aggressive feeding action but allows a counter-rotating forming bale to slip past in the non-driven direction. The ramped steps are formed from a single sheet of material by die stamping so that there are no crevices or interstices on the drum roller to trap crop material and the drum roller is essentially self-cleaning.

Abstract: The present invention provides a valve and a hydraulic circuit useful on a baler of the type used to form cylindrical bales of crop stock, the baler having a rear gate movable by a gate hydraulic cylinder between a closed position and an open position for discharge of a bale and further having a bale discharge apparatus having a bale engaging bumper movable by a bumper hydraulic cylinder between retracted and extended positions. The gate and bumper hydraulic cylinders are interconnected in a hydraulic circuit having a reservoir, a hydraulic pump connected to the reservoir for pumping hydraulic oil into an out of the reservoir, and at least one two-way sequence valve connected to the pump and in parallel to the gate hydraulic cylinder and the bumper hydraulic cylinder, the valve allowing uninterrupted flow between the reservoir and the gate cylinder and selectively actuable so as to allow oil to flow to and from the bumper cylinder to selectively actuate the bumper cylinder.

Abstract: A round baler has a baling chamber formed in part by a plurality of belts engaged with a plurality of rolls extending between opposite side walls of the baler, the rolls and belts being located such as to define an enclosed zone next to the baling chamber. The belt arrangement is so designed that in conjunction with two rolls between which some of the belts extend directly there is used a roll arrangement which includes at least two axially aligned rolls offset from the other two rolls and being engaged by the remaining belts so that gaps are created between offset belts extending about the offset rolls and the non-offset belts extending directly between the first mentioned two rolls. These gaps serve to permit pieces of the material being baled to escape from the area otherwise enclosed by the belts.

Abstract: A baler of the type for forming cylindrical bales is improved by the use of a combine type pickup which more effectively lifts the crop from the ground for insertion into the main baler housing. Between a feeder housing of the combine type pickup and the main baler housing is provided a transportation section under which is provided a belt to ensure that any material falling from the transportation section is caught by the belt and carried rearwardly for collection in an auger and fan assembly. The auger and fan assembly provides a low pressure within the baler housing which is substantially fully enclosed so that all material is kept within the baler and prevented from escaping. The collected material in the fan is carried through a duct to a discharge cyclone dropping the material back into the transportation section for carrying into the baler housing for baling.

Abstract: A feeding mechanism for a round hay baler is capable of feeding plastic sheet, netting, or alternatively twine by means of a single set of parallel feed rolls. The device includes a control mechanism which, upon sensing of a full bale having been formed within the baler, initiates a programmed control sequence beginning with driving of one roll for an incremental period of time. The driven roll engage netting, sheet or twine against the second idler roll and feeds the netting, sheet or twine into the bale forming mechanism for wrapping about the bale. Upon completion of the wrapping sequence, a special knife descends and cuts the twine or sheet of netting or plastic. The controller then resets the mechanism.

Abstract: A round baler with an open, non-compressive infeed region into its baling chamber has the bale core starter roller entrained by one end of a series of side-by-side conveyor belts so that the flat surfaces of the belts discourage loose crop materials from wrapping around the starter roller, without inhibiting the effectiveness of the starter roller as a means for imparting rotary driving force to the core during the early stages of bale formation.

Abstract: An adjustable bale size indicator for a baler which forms cylindrical bales comprising a first indicator member mounted for pivotal movement on the baler and having a bale diameter indicia exposed forwardly of the baler. The first indicator member is attached to the belt tension mechanism and moves pivotally in response to increasing bale diameter. A second indicator member having a shield indicator is adjustably attached to the first indicator member the pointer indicating the maximum bale size position on the bale diameter indicia. A full bale switch mounts adjacent to the second indicator member. The second indicator member contains a flag to change the state of the switch when the bale size reaches a bale diameter equal to that set on the bale diameter indicia by the shield indicator. The change in state of the full bale switch generates a signal to the operator indicating the bale has reached the desired diameter.

Abstract: An auger arrangement is provided to prevent the build-up of material on a belt support roll of a conveyor-like structure including a plurality of rolls supporting a plurality of belts thereon in side-by-side relationship and being configured to define the baling chamber of a round baler. The auger is mounted such that its flighting passes closely adjacent the outer surface of the roll from which it is desired that adhering material be removed to prevent the build-up of such material.

Abstract: The baling chamber of a round baler is provided with a forward wall segment that is pivotally mounted at its top and has a bottom located adjacent a conveyor located at the bottom of the baling chamber. A crop flow sensing device is operative to sense the volume of incoming crop and, in response to increased crop flow, causes the forward wall segment to be moved in such a way that it engages and exerts a lifting force on the bale so as to decrease the resistance of the flow of crop between the bale and the conveyor.

Abstract: A lift apparatus for raising and lowering a ground vehicle. A pair of transversely opposite frame members are interconnected at their lower end portions by a transversely extended crank axle. A pair of four-bar parallelogram linkages are located on either side of the vehicle and each of which includes a lever plate which supports a ground wheel of the vehicle. An upper link pivotally interconnects the lever plate to the associated frame member. A lower link is pivotally attached at one end to the lever plate and is secured at its other end to the crank axle, thereby forming a crank arm. A hydraulic cylinder is interconnected between each of the lever plates and the associated frame member. Extension and retraction of the cylinders raises and lowers the vehicle.

Abstract: A direct drive system for a baler of large round bales. A plurality of driven gearboxes, each of which has a planetary gear system and an interconnected bevel gear system, are located on a side wall of the baler and are each drivably connected to one of a plurality of transverse driven shafts of the baler. A distribution gearbox on the side of the baler is connected through a right angle gearbox to the power take-off of a tractor. Power from the distribution gearbox is distributed to the plurality of driven gearboxes through a plurality of driven gearboxes through a plurality of lateral drive shafts. The direct drive system of the present invention replaces substantially all of the roller chain and sprocket drive system of known balers.

Abstract: A transverse belt guide roll of the baler has its main cylindrical body portion provided with opposite end extremities which are spaced inwardly from the opposite sidewalls of the baler. Reduced diameter stub shafts project outwardly beyond the end extremities and into bearings supported by the sidewalls while the endmost belts along the roll have marginal edge portions which overhang the end extremities of the roll body to thereby eliminate a pinch point for loose residue between the belt edges and the surface of the roll body. Special annular components surrounding the otherwise exposed portions of the shaft ends serve as a shield to prevent the ingress of loose residue into the stub shafts for migration to the bearing assemblies. An alternative embodiment has the overhanging belt margins on one of the idler rolls carried by a vertically swingable belt control arm of the baler.

Abstract: Roll stripping apparatus for a round baler that has a frame and a crop conveying mechanism, including rotatable transverse rolls, mounted on the frame. The conveying mechanism provides a series of inwardly facing moving surfaces that define a baling chamber for forming cylindrical bales of crop material fed into the chamber via a pick-up. A scraper assembly, mounted adjacent one of the rolls for preventing buildup of unwanted material on the roll, includes unique structure for engaging unwanted debris randomly deposited on the roll and urging it in a generally axial direction under conditions where the roll is being rotated.

Abstract: Twine wrapping apparatus for a round baler having a bale forming chamber with a generally transverse crop infeed opening. The apparatus is mounted forward of the opening and includes a pair of individually extendable twine arms for dispensing twine into the chamber to wrap bales formed therein. A linkage arrangement provides for controlled swinging movement of the arms in concert through symmetrical paths that originate in the middle of the opening. The twine arms are in their outermost extended condition at the initiation of the twine dispensing phase and vary in length along their paths to a generally transverse rest position.

Abstract: The bale-forming belt for wrapping crop upon itself to form a cylindrical bale within a baling chamber of a round baler is automatically maintained in a straight tracking condition, despite an uneven supply of crop entering across the width of the baler, by a tracking control that is responsive to uneven tension across or the mistracking of the belt for effecting radial adjustment of one end of one or more of the rolls supporting the belt.

Abstract: The starter roll of a baler for rolling crop products into a large cylindrical bale has, in accordance with a first embodiment, a pair of ribs coated with or made of rubber or another friction enhancing material that are releasably attached to the roll for increasing its aggressiveness. In another embodiment, the roll has a pair of cylindrical shells releasably secured thereabout, the shells being coated with rubber or another friction enhancing material for increasing its aggressiveness.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring bale density in a round baler. A pair of hydraulic cylinders are operable to move a movable portion of the baler between its open and closed position. The bale density monitoring apparatus of the invention monitors pressure on the cylinders during bale formation. Upon sensing a differential in pressure between the cylinders, a signal is provided to the operator so that the tractor can be moved relative to the window to equalize pressure within the bale-forming chamber.

Abstract: An idler roll in a round baler has a number of belt-engaging portions spaced along its length, certain of which portions are of larger diameter than others so that the belts which wrap around the roll and are driven at a constant speed by other mechanism in the baler have a tendency to slip on some of the surfaces due to differences in peripheral speeds of such surfaces, which aids in maintaining the rolls polished and trash-free. A second idler roll has its own set of spaced, enlarged diameter portions, such portions on the second roll being in staggered relationship to those on the first roll so that the net differential in belt tension around the areas of large and small diameter is zero.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bale bumper for use on a machine capable of forming cylindrical bales of crop stock. The invention comprises a pair of swingable legs pivoted off each side of the machine and actuated by the tractor hydraulic system to engage a cylindrical bale during the bale discharge sequence and to push it rearwardly of the bale forming machine, thereby reducing the danger of machine damage from engagement with the bale following discharge and increasing baling efficiency by reducing the number of maneuvers normally associated with a bale discharge.

Abstract: A belt type variable chamber round baler includes a starting chamber for receiving crop material at the outset of bale formation. An adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting the volume of the bale starting chamber, for accommodating baling of various crops. A series of starting chamber rollers are supported between a pair of arms, which are pivotably mounted to the baler. The adjustment mechanism is operable to control the position of the pair of arms prior to bale formation, and thereby the position of the starting chamber rollers within the bale forming chamber of the baler. In this manner, the size of the starting chamber can be adjusted.

Abstract: The baler has a "vertical" bale starting chamber in which the upward moving rear belts and the downwardly moving front belts cooperate to tumble and roll incoming material into a bale. When the bale reaches full size in the expanded chamber, the bale is lifted while still in its chamber to a wrapping station where it continues to spin as a binding wrapper is applied. During the lifting of the finished bale and subsequent application of the wrapper, fresh material entering the continuously moving baler is confined beneath the finished bale in a new starting chamber, whereupon the cycle is repeated. As the new bale grows, a discharge ramp becomes formed by certain stretches of the belts and rollers to gravitationally discharge the wrapped bale from the baler without stopping advancement of the machine.

Abstract: A round-bale press for stalk-shaped crops has a pick-up and a press space which, on its circumference, is limited downwards by a rearwardly conveying ground arrangement, rearwards by the upwardly travelling front strand of a press-band arrangement, and forwards by a downwardly travelling movable wall arrangement. A transverse roller is provided which is movable and by which the front strand can be pressed forwards at the start of formation of a bale.

Abstract: There is provided a baler 1 having a press chamber 4 with press element 9 driven in a coiling direction and an ejector lid 12. A swath feed element 6 is mounted at the entrance of the feed passage 5. A continuously driven press cylinder having press blades is a second feed element and is mounted intermediate the feed element 6 and the press chamber inlet 8. A tying material device 22 is located downstream of the inlet 8. A separator 20 is mounted to operate between the second feed element 7 and the inlet 8 from an inoperative position outside of the feed passage to an operative position across the feed passage. The separator divides cut harvest product baled in the press chamber from cut harvest product being pre-stored in the feed passage 5. The separator, for instance, is a coiled web which can be extended to move from the feed passage through the inlet 8 and into the press chamber as cut harvest product is being continuously fed to the feed passage 5.

Abstract: The mechanism for expelling residue from regions of entrapment within the baler includes a series of flat, peripherally corrugated, powered rotary elements projecting edgewise into the spaces between adjacent belts that bound the region in which the residue collects. The elements are mounted on a transverse shaft outside of the residue collecting region and across the outer face of the belts and are driven in such a manner that the residue engaging portions thereof move in a direction generally opposite to that of the proximal belts. Cylindrical hubs projecting laterally from opposite sides of each element underlie the adjacent belts to control slack in such a manner that any such slack is caused to accumulate on the upstream side of the axis of rotation of the elements rather than in the immediate vicinity of the elements, thus preventing injurious climbing of the belts onto the expeller elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming large round bales of crop material includes a frame (10) having a pair of side walls (12, 14) and ground engaging wheels (18) mounted on the frame for supporting the apparatus for movement across the ground. A plurality of rollers (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) are mounted for rotatable movement relative to the frame (10) and extend between the side walls (12, 14), and a plurality of endless bale forming belts (46) are trained about the rollers to define a bale forming chamber (16) in which large round bales of crop materials are formed. At least one additional chamber (48) is also defined by the bale forming belts (46) adjacent the bale forming chamber (16). A clean-out assembly (54) is provided for cleaning crop material from the additional chamber.

Abstract: A method of baling straw, hay and like materials by feeding wrapping material around a cylindrical bale to hold the bale together is provided, in which method the wrapping material comprises a plurality of ends of twine which are fed simultaneously around the bale at positions spaced apart axially along the bale. The wrapping material comprises a baler twine package comprising a plurality of spooled ends of twine mounted co-axially and side-by-side on a common carrier, whereby in use the ends can be withdrawn simultaneously from positions spaced apart along the carrier to wrap a bale.

Abstract: The baling chamber of one type of round baler is defined by belts which are trained over rolls connected to a drive. Stones can enter the nip formed between the belts and some of the rolls, e.g., a lower front belt driving roll, and thereby cause poor tracking of the belts. To reduce the problem, a shield device is snap-fit mounted on the roll. The device includes a nip bridging plate an upright portion of which abuts the belt run advancing to the nip and a downwardly sloping lower portion of which bridges the nip. Thus the device covers the nip preventing access to it by the stones, and stones which fall upon it slide down the sloping portion of the plate eventually to find their way harmlessly to the ground.

Abstract: A baling maching includes a variable volume baling chamber with which there is associated a hydraulic tension cylinder containing fluid in its rod end for resisting expansion of the baling chamber. A high pressure relief valve is connected in circuit between the opposite ends of the cylinder for permitting fluid transfer between the ends in accordance with the pressure setting of the valve. A low pressure relief valve is connected in circuit between the opposite ends of the tension cylinder so as to be in parallel with the high pressure relief valve.

Abstract: A large round baler having an expansible bale chamber has tension cylinders associated with the chamber for strongly resisting expansion thereof so as to produce dense bales when a bypass valve located in a bypass line interconnecting rod and piston ends of the tension cylinders is positioned for preventing flow through the valve thereby forcing the flow to go through a variable high pressure relief valve located in another bypass line, the bypass valve being selectively shiftable to another position for permitting free flow therethrough when it is desired to produce a soft bale. The baler also includes gate cylinders for opening and closing the discharge gate of the baler.

Abstract: A roll baling machine includes a main frame, a tailgate pivotally connected to the main frame, and an apron extending around a plurality of guide rolls disposed in the main frame and in the tailgate. A pair of take up arms are rotatably mounted in the tailgate and carry an additional guide roll for the apron. A pair of levers are connected to rotate with the take up arms, and springs are connected to the levers to urge the take up arms into a bale starting position. The machine is provided with a twine wrapper, and a mechanism for automatically tripping the twine wrapper into operation comprises a cam surface on one of the levers engageable with a cam roller carried on a first link. This first link is rotatably mounted on the main frame and is connected to a sliding member which is movable toward and away from a tripping position. The tripping mechanism also includes second, third and fourth links connecting the first link to the sliding member.

Abstract: A twine feeding assembly for round hay baling machines which incorporates one or more twine feed members which cooperate with freely rotatable first sheaves mounted intermediate sections of the main hay feed press roller and second freely rotatable sheaves mounted intermediate sections of the main hay feed or belt drive drum which sheaves are operative to guide and feed a single wrap of twine about the hay as it is rolled after which the twine is knotted and cut and the tied bale discharged from the machine.

Abstract: The baler has a twine monitoring assembly which generates a pulsating signal in response to twine being dispensed during bale wrapping operations. The twine is wrapped around the periphery of a monitor wheel and, during dispensing, the twine rotationally drives the wheel. As the wheel rotates, a magnet affixed to the wheel at a location adjacent the periphery thereof, travels past a stationary, magnetically operated, normally open switch thereby briefly closing the switch and temporarily turning on an indicator light until the magnet moves sufficiently far enough away from the switch. During wrapping of the bale, twine is rapidly dispensed, causing the wheel to rapidly rotate and as a consequence, causing the light to pulsate, indicating to the operator that twine is being dispensed.

Abstract: A baler for forming large cylindrical bales of crop material has a baling chamber in which the crop is rolled into a bale by oppositely moving runs of side-by-side belts. A windrow of crop material is fed through an inlet of the baling chamber by a pick-up which lifts the windrow of crop and delivers the same to a feeder fork mechanism which in turn moves the crop into the inlet. Crop enters the baling chamber between a roll, over which the belts are trained, and a growing bale core. In order to reduce plugging of the crop at the inlet, the roll has discs rigidly mounted on it between neighboring belts. These discs each have an outer edge which is approximately sinusoidal in configuration and the peaks of the undulations extend outwardly beyond the thickness of the belts. The effect of the discs is both to grip the crop better and to raise the bale core slightly to provide easier access to the chamber for the crop.

Abstract: A round baler utilizes a combination of rollers and belts arranged to define a generally D-shaped bale starting chamber. An inner course of the belts forms the rear wall of the bale starting chamber while the rollers form the front wall of the bale starting chamber. The belt inner course extends upwardly and forwardly when the chamber is empty and is expandable in length during bale formation.

Abstract: In order to retain the press element (9) in a roll baling press (1) in a stable shape corresponding to the minimum size of the press chamber after a movable part (3) of the press has been closed, the press element (9) consists of an inherently stiff rubber or plastic web capable of forming a self-supported loop (SM) corresponding to the minimum size of the press chamber. At the beginning of the winding operation there is thus no interference by laterally disposed components, resulting in optimum operating conditions.

Abstract: An agricultural baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material having a sledge assembly movable between bale starting and full bale positions. The sledge assembly includes a plurality of rollers which cooperate with an apron to define a bale forming chamber. A dispensing mechanism is carried on the sledge assembly for dispensing sheet material, such as net or plastic film, into the bale forming chamber so that it is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical bale of crop material disposed in the bale forming chamber. The dispensing mechanism is movable into a dispensing position wherein a tail of the sheet material is inserted through a gap between the apron and one of the rollers of the sledge assembly.

Abstract: An elongated strip of baling material has opposite longitudinal edges, each of which includes an elastic element extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip. The width of the strip is greater than the length of the bale so that when the strip is wrapped around a bale, the opposite longitudinal edges of the strip extend radially inwardly to cover the outer peripheral portions of each of the end faces of the bale. The strip is held in place by the elastic elements in the longitudinal edges of the strip to protect the peripheral portions of the end faces of the bale.

Abstract: A baling machine for forming larger cylindrical bales of hay has a conventional baling chamber in which the crop is rolled into a bale by oppositely moving runs of belts. The baling chamber is fed by a delivery unit on the underside of the machine.In order to enable the machine to work without stopping during tying the discharge of the completed bale, crop being picked up during this stage is diverted onto a web of belting material which is attached at one end to a coiling shaft and, which at the other is wound around a web support or uncoiling shaft. The coiling shaft is driven to wind the web, drawing it from the uncoiling shaft, into a spiral with the crop sandwiched in the spiral. When baling in the chamber is restarted, the uncoiling shaft is driven in the opposite direction so as to unwind the spiral on the coiling shaft and the crop released thereby from the spiral is directed into the baling chamber.

Abstract: A method of tensioning the apron of a round baler includes utilizing a pair of springs and a pair of hydraulic cylinders connected between apron take up arms and a tailgate of the round baler in a manner such that the springs normally urge the apron take up arms toward an inner position whereas the hydraulic cylinders resist movement of the apron take up arms from the inner position to an outer position. The hydraulic cylinders provide a primary source of apron tension and the springs provide a secondary source of apron tension so that, during bale formation, the apron tension generated by the hydraulic cylinders increases while the apron tension generated by the springs remains substantially constant.

Abstract: A bale guide means is located at each end of a roller for feeding crop material into an expandable bale forming chamber to engage and guide the material at such ends inwardly of the bale to form a bale with end surfaces of planar contour and bale end portions with a density comparable to the density of the inner bale portions.

Abstract: Two-ply belting having improved dimensional stability flexing characteristics and elongation characteristics is disclosed. The belting comprises a first synthetic fabric proximate to the friction rubber surface of said belting and a second synthetic fabric distal to the friction rubber surface. The modulus and flex fatique life of the first synthetic fabric is greater than the modulus and flex fatique life of the second synthetic fabric. Belting with accordance with this invention is useful in agricultural applications.

Abstract: A system for tensioning the apron of a round baler includes a pair of springs and a pair of hydraulic cylinders connected between apron take up arms and a tailgate of the round baler. The springs normally urge the apron take up arms toward an inner position, and the hydraulic cylinders resist movement of the apron take up arms from the inner position to an outer position. The hydraulic cylinders provide a primary source of apron tension and the springs provide a secondary source of apron tension. During bale formation, the apron tension generated by the hydraulic cylinders increases while the apron tension generated by the springs remains substantially constant.

Abstract: A U-shaped bale push bar straddles a discharge gate of a large round baler with opposite legs of the bar being respectively pivotally connected to a pair of support brackets which are secured to and project rearwardly alongside the discharge gate from upper rear locations of opposite sidewall sections forming a portion of the baler main frame. A pair of chains are coupled between forward locations of the gate and the legs of the push bar and serve as lost-motion connections that cause the push bar to extend and retract respectively in following relationship to opening and closing movements of the gate such that interference between the gate and a discharged bale is avoided. An over center spring assembly acts between the push bar and support brackets to bias the bar toward its retracted position when the gate is closed and to bias the push bar toward its extended position when the gate moves a small amount towards its open position a small amount beyond an intermediate position permitting discharge of a bale.

Abstract: A device for controlling at least one twine guide arm 23, 24 for tying cylindrical bales in a pickup baler. The twine guide arm 23, 24 is adapted to pivot under the action of a control cable 25 close to the bale resting on the driving roller 14, while a tension arm 18 acting on shaping belts 12, 13 rests on the bale. At the end of the bale forming process, the distance between the tension arm 18 and the driving roller controls elements 33, 38 for moving the guide arm or arms 23, 24 toward a starting position corresponding to the beginning of the tying. The portion of the twine which is wound around the bale is then caught during the rotation of the bale for constituting the control parameter for controlling a cam engaging mechanism 40 adapted to engage the guide arm actuating elements 33, 38 during the tying process.

Abstract: A round baler includes an apron having an expandable inner course which cooperates with a sledge assembly to define a bale starting chamber when the sledge assembly is in a bale starting position. The sledge assembly is movable between the bale starting position and a full bale position. The sledge assembly includes a plurality of rollers and an idler roller in engagement with the apron to maintain the apron in close proximity to one of the rollers during movement of the sledge assembly between the bale starting and full bale positions.

Abstract: A potentiometer is driven by one of the serpentine arm assemblies used to maintain apron tension during formation of a round bale so that the output of the potentiometer continuously provides an indication of the size of a bale being formed in the baler. A microprocessor based control circuit senses the output of the potentiometer, converts it to a digital value, and compares the digital value with a value representing a desired bale size. When the two values are equal, the microprocessor computes the number of revolutions of a net feed roll that is required to wrap the bale a preselected number of times, energizes the net feed roll mechanism to feed net into the bale forming chamber, and counts the revolutions of the net feed roll. When the required amount of net has been dispensed, the microprocessor stops the net feed roll and activates a mechanism to cut the net. The size of a "full bale" is selected by actuating keys on a control panel.

Abstract: In a rotary crop baler for producing cylindrical crop bales, a simulated bale size and shape indicator is provided which provides the baler operator with a graphic representation of the size and shape of the bale being formed in the baler. The preferred indicator includes a potentiometer for producing a signal representative of the overall size of the bale, a plurality of potentiometers for producing corresponding signals representative of the shape of the bale, and an indicator including a signal processor and display liquid crystals or the like for producing the graphic simulation of the size and shape of the bale being formed.