Abstract: A roll baling press for harvest products for enabling a roll baling press to be operated in a continuous mode. A buffer store is formed for temporarily storing the continuously supplied harvest product during the typing and ejection of the finished roll bale. A flexible partition element (T) is provided in the roll-winding chamber (7) for temporarily establishing the buffer store (Z) within the roll-winding chamber (7).

Abstract: A baling machine for forming large cylindrical bales of hay has a gate which can be raised to enable a campleted bale to pass under it for discharge. The bale initially rests on a horizontal support which is biased by a compression spring to swing to a discharge position in which it forms a ramp down which the bale rolls onto the ground. The support is maintained in the horizontal position by a abutment bar on the gate during the time that the gate is closed, but is released on the gate opening. In this way energy from the bale is not used for swinging the ramp, so the bale tends to roll further so that it is properly clear of the gate so as not to interfere with the closing of the gate.

Abstract: The baler has a "vertical" bale starting chamber in which the upwardly 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 baling machine for forming large cylindrical bales of hay has a variable volume bailing chamber defined by moving belts with a crop inlet on the underside of the machine. When a bale has been completed it is wrapped with net stored in a holder on the back of the baler. The net is advanced by feed rolls through a cutting mechanism below the holder, and is then guided by a plate extending along the underside of a run of the belts to the baling chamber. The plate is in such close proximity to the run that the net is gripped between the plate and belts and is advanced by the moving belts. Finally, the net is cut by the cutting mechanism, the wrapping of net completed, and the bale discharged rearwardly through a gate onto the ground.

Abstract: A pair of twine arms are mounted for pivoting back and forth between first and second locations for dispensing twine into a bale chamber. The arms are oscillated by a reversible gear drive including a drive gear having a drive arm fixed thereto and coupled to an extensible and retractable hydraulic actuator through means of a resiliently extensible link which permits further extension of the actuator after the arms have engaged each other at their respective second locations. Accordingly, the arms dwell at their respective second locations, during such further extension of the actuator and then during retraction thereof until the link is restored to its normally unextended condition, thus permitting wraps of twine to be laid one on top of the other.

Abstract: A baling machine for forming large cylindrical bales of hay has a gate which can be raised to enable a completed bale to pass under it for discharge. The bale initially rests on a horizontal support which is connected by a cable and link to the gate. On the gate being raised sufficiently to enable the bale to pass freely below it, the moving gate pulls the support via the cable and link downwardly to form a discharge ramp along which the bale rolls onto the ground. The support is contained entirely within the confines of the machine, and thus, does not extend behind it.

Abstract: A twine dispensing mechanism for feeding twine into the bale chamber of a large round baler includes a double twine arm assembly comprising a first twine arm driven for sweeping its twine dispensing end across the front of the bale chamber and a second twine arm pivotally mounted to the first twine arm and having a twine dispensing end which may be selectively spaced from the end of the first arm by an adjustable spring biased bar assembly.

Abstract: A round bale press for agricultural stalk material which has a housing defining a pressing chamber with variable volume. The pressing chamber is defined by opposed side walls of the housing and at least one continuous belt within the chamber. The belt is guided by a plurality of cylindrical rollers. At least one stripping device is attached to the housing adjacent one of the rollers which is adjacent to the feeding area. The stripping device consists of a rail with supporting plates on both end sections. On said rail a steel knife blade is mounted for contacting the surface of the roller with uniform contact pressure over the longitudinal extension of the roller surface. At least one clamping device is integrated into the stripping device which is actuatable from outside the housing side walls for bending a central section of the rail relative to the end sections of said rail. A uniform contact pressure between the knife blade and the surface of the roller is achieved.

Abstract: The baler has an internal chamber within which crop materials are coiled up into a cylindrical bale by fore-and-aft spaced-apart, oppositely moving web stretches, the forwardmost stretch of which is looped around a forward drive roll. A special bale supporting roller adjacent the bottom of the chamber keeps the bale from riding against the web wrapped around the forward roll. The support roll includes a cylindrical shaft and a plurality of resilient flaps extending tangetially outward from the periphery of the shaft. During baler operation, crop material tends to be carried downwardly by the forwardmost stretch into a zone located between the forward roll and the support roller, but is immediately ejected from the zone by the roller flaps and into the baling chamber, thereby preventing crop materials from wedging between the forward roll and the support roller.

Abstract: A baling machine for forming large cylindrical bales of hay has a variable volume baling chamber defined by moving belts with a crop inlet on the underside of the machine. When a bale has been completed it is wrapped with surface wrapping material stored in a holder on the back of the baler. The wrapping material is advanced by feed rolls through a cutting mechanism below the holder, and is thus guided by a plate extending along the underside of a run of the belts to the baling chamber. In order to avoid wasting wrap, a cutter is triggered by a peg carried by a metering wheel movable between an adjustable "home" position against an abutment or stop to a trigger position in which it engages and lifts a release lever to release the cutter, and this distance is a measure of the length of wrap material required for the completed bale. In respective embodiments, the metering wheel is in the form of a friction wheel, a worm wheel and a ratchet wheel with all wheels being selectively driven by one of the feed rolls.

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 relationships to opening and closing movements of the gate such that interference between the gate and a discharged bale is avoided.

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: A baling machine for forming large cylindrical bales of hay has a gate which can be raised to an open position for enabling a completed bale to pass under it for discharge. Upon initial opening of the gate, the bale initially rests on a horizontal support which is connected by a cable and link to the gate. On the gate being raised further, the moving gate pulls the support via the cable and link so that it swings downwardly in a rearward direction to form a discharge ramp along which the bale may roll onto the ground and beneath that gate. The arrangement is such, however, that in hilly terrain the gate can be opened initially to an intermediate position corresponding to an intermediate swinging position of the support so that the bale runs down the support and either lodges against the gate before or after it contacts the ground. On either event the gate stops the bale from rolling.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a net dispensing apparatus used on a round baler wherein a resilient feed roller is operably driven by a drive belt powered from the main drive train for the round baler. A tensioning pulley is connected to a pivot arm pivotally mounted on the round baler and pivotally movable into and out of engagement with the drive belt by a linear actuator. The knife utilized to cut the netting material is interconnected with the pivot arm by a connecting link such that the pivotal rotation of the knife into and out of a cutting position is synchronized with the clutching and declutching of the feed roller drive. A lockout arm is also provided to engage a key on the shaft of the feed roller to positively restrain the feed roller from further rotation. The movement of the lockout arms is also synchronized to the movement of the tensioning pulley.

Abstract: A round baler having a shiftable repositioning member for moving a completed, discharged bale of hay away from the baler is provided with an interlock mechanism for preventing movement of the repositioning member until such time that the bale has been discharged from the chamber. A sensor is located on a side of the baling chamber to determine the absence of a bale, and preferably takes the form of a rounded element biased toward a position normally protruding into the chamber. The presence of a bale within the chamber causes the element to shift outwardly and thereby close a valve interposed in a hydraulic circuit for providing motive fluid power to a piston and cylinder assembly that, in turn, drives the repositioning member.

Abstract: Process for producing a cylindrical bale of an agricultural product in a baler whose winding chamber is in part delimited by rotary drive elements above a pickup and which includes a rear part that can be lifted for removal of the bale. The product is introduced into the winding chamber and wound between the rotary drive elements mounted on two pivoting baling elements until the diameter of the bale reaches a first value. Subsequently, the winding chamber is delimited by the assembly of the rotary elements and a set of belts as the diameter rises to a final value of the bale.

Abstract: A machine for forming large cylindrical bales of hay with a soft core and dense outer layers has a baling chamber which is defined by an arcuate array of fixed-position rolls, and by belts which are movable outwardly to accommodate a bale as it grows in size. The baling chamber is fed from the underside of the machine through a throat between the belts and rolls. The belts are trained over a single belt take-up roll on a pivoted arm which is loaded by a piston and cylinder unit to maintain belt tension. The belt take-up roll is located well outside the baling chamber to reduce the likelihood of being fouled by crop.

Abstract: A baling machine has belts which define a chamber in which a bale is formed. The belts are trained over rolls including belt take-up rolls mounted on a pair of pivoted arms moved by a piston and cylinder units connected thereto at first ends and connected at second other ends to a gate of the machine.In order to have the choice of producing a bale with a soft core each arm has a plurality of connection points one of which is close to the arm pivot and a geometric line through the axis of each unit will pass near the arm pivot so that tension applied by the unit to the belts during formation of the bale core is insignificant. The angle between the axis of each unit and a line joining the connection point of the unit to the gate and the arm pivot is zero to seven degrees, and desirably three to four degrees.

Abstract: A bale forming method for use with round balers is disclosed. Typically round balers are operated in a manner whereby crop material is fed into only one side of the bale forming chamber at a time. The disclosed method includes positioning a round baler so that crop material is fed into the right side of the bale forming chamber, generating a signal in a first indicator light in response to a predetermined expansion of the bale forming chamber, repositioning the round baler so that crop material is fed into the left side of the bale forming chamber, and generating a signal in a second indicator light in response to a further predetermined expansion of the bale forming chamber.

Abstract: Bale shape monitoring apparatus for use in combination with a round baler having an expandable bale forming chamber. The apparatus alternately illuminates first and second indicator lights in response to predetermined expansion of the bale forming chamber. The apparatus includes first and second electrical switches arranged in quadrature and connected to the first and second indicator lights by a microcomputer, and a plurality of cam lobes formed on the outer periphery of a ring for activating the switches. A method for monitoring bale shape in a round baler utilizes the first and second indicator lights and the first and second electrical switches. According to this method, the first indicator light is illuminated by opening the first and second switches and by closing the first and second switches. The second indicator light is illuminated by closing the first switch while the second switch remains open and by opening the first switch while the second switch remain closed.

Abstract: A bale shape monitoring system for round balers includes first and second indicator lights, and bale shape monitor apparatus for alternately generating signals in the indicator lights in response to predetermined expansion of the baling chamber of round balers. Typically round balers are operated in a manner whereby crop material is fed into only one side of the baling chamber at a time. The signals generated in the indicator lights are used by the operator of a round baler as an indication of when to weave the baler to feed crop material into the other side of the baling chamber. Proper use of the disclosed system prevents the formation of poorly shaped bales while reducing operator fatigue.

Abstract: A baler has winding elements for forming a bale of crop. A formed bale is bound with binding material such as twine or wire from a binding mechanism. When a bale is fully formed, a cable is pulled by the operator of the tractor towing the baler which actuates the binding mechanism and simultaneously operates a change-speed gear to increase the speed of the winding elements. The bale thus rotates faster during binding than it does while it is being formed. This reduces time required for binding. When the bale has been bound, it is discharged through a door which pivots upwards for this purpose. Pivoting of the door pulls a further cable which returns the change-speed gear to the lower speed position and actuates the binding mechanism so that the next bale can be formed. The bale chamber is substantially cylindrical with rotatable elements around the interior of its curved sides.

Abstract: A baler has winding elements for forming a bale of crop. A formed bale is bound with binding material such as twine or wire from a binding mechanism. When a bale is fully formed, a cable is pulled by the operator of the tractor towing the baler which actuates the binding mechanism and simultaneously operates a change-speed gear to increase the speed of the winding elements. The bale thus rotates faster during binding than it does while it is being formed. This reduces time required for binding. When the bale has been bound, it is discharged through a door which pivots upwards for this purpose. Pivoting of the door pulls a further cable which returns the change-speed gear to the lower speed position and actuates the binding mechanism so that the next bale can be formed. The bale chamber is substantially cylindrical with rotable elements around the interior of its curved sides.

Abstract: A round baler comprising a bale chamber in which crop material is formed into a bale, crop material pick-up means operable to deliver crop material to the bale chamber, apparatus for wrapping a formed bale with sheet material comprising feed rolls operable to feed the sheet material so that it can engage the formed bale and be wrapped therearound, and a knife operable to sever the sheet material when the formed bale has been wrapped with a predetermined length thereof. A further roll is disposed between the feed rolls and the formed bale for applying the sheet material in its full nominal width to the formed bale.

Abstract: The baler has a plurality of rolls and belts defining an expandable bale forming chamber. Preselected belt sections extended between an adjacent pair of the rolls and movable in a path out of engagement with the bale being formed in the chamber are provided with a twist of about 180.degree.. Any loose crop material carried by a belt is released and dropped from the belt on travel of the preselected belt section between the adjacent pair of rollers.

Abstract: A baler for forming large round bales and drawn behind a tractor has an expandable bale forming chamber for receiving a crop windrow fed thereto by a pick-up device. Sensing means responsive to expansion of the chamber automatically steers the baler relative to the tractor in a sinusoidal path along the crop windrow to feed material over the length of the forming chamber. Turning movements of the baler are alternately in opposite directions transversely of the windrow at the same rate and like degree, and take place with an increasing frequency to a final expansion of the chamber to produce a cylindrical bale of uniform diameter.

Abstract: A system for controlling the density of bales formed in a round baler includes a hydraulic cylinder unit of the single acting type connected between the frame of the round baler and a pair of arms which are pivotally mounted on the baler frame. These arms carry a set of conveying members or rollers and are movable between a bale starting position and a full bale position. The bale density control system includes a control valve that is adjustable in order to permit fluid flow from the hydraulic cylinder unit to a reservoir when the fluid pressure in the hydraulic cylinder unit reaches a preselected level. When the arms move from their bale starting position to their full bale position, the hydraulic cylinder unit is contracted and fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder unit to the reservoir via the control valve when the preselected level of fluid pressure is reached.

Abstract: As the tractor and baler are driven straight down the windrow, hay is picked up and placed upon a platform conveyor which transfers the same rearwardly toward the baling chamber, during which transfer a deflector diverts the crop stream into an appropriate one of three axial sections of the chamber as determined by sensing and control mechanism associated with the baler. As the hay builds up in one of the sections, the sensors of the mechanism compare the size of that portion of the bale with the bale portion in the next adjacent chamber section, and once the differential between the two bale portions reaches a certain predetermined level, the control mechanism swings the deflector to its next position, directing hay into that next adjacent section to build up that portion of the bale.

Abstract: A cylindrical bale forming machine has a bale transfer unit yieldably maintained in a transport or rest horizontal position located below the bale discharge gate to receive a bale discharged from the machine for transfer to a ground location rearwardly clear of the discharge gate. The transfer unit is operated in response to the movement of the discharge gate into its open or bale discharge position and is returned to its rest position in response to movement of the discharge gate out of the open position therefor.

Abstract: A round baler having a single bale forming chamber is provided with an electronic control circuit which makes its operation automatic except for the operator-controlled functions of starting and stopping forward motion of the baler. Under the circuit control the baler forms a bale, wraps it with twine, cuts the twine, raises the tailgate, ejects the wrapped bale and closes the tailgate. The control circuit energizes a first indicator when the tailgate closes to signal the operator to begin forward motion of the baler. When a point is reached in the bailing cycle at which the wrapping of the bale is to commence, the circuit energizes a second indicator to signal the operator to stop forward motion of the baler. The circuit also detects certain malfunctions and energizes a third indicator to signal the operator that a malfunction has occurred.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lifting device for machines intended for the gathering and roll baling of all types of harvest, said machine comprising a frame on which is rotatably mounted at its lower part a cut hay pick-up member, said frame bearing at its upper part means defining a forming chamber for the round bale and being mounted on a pair of wheels in contact with the ground. The pick-up member is fixed relative to the hay bale-forming chamber and the wheels are mounted on the frame by means for regulating the height of the frame and the pick-up member relative to the ground. The invention is used for harvesting.

Abstract: A so-called round baler has baling and wrapping chambers (3, 4), defined in part by flexible endless belts (1, 2). A bale formed in the chamber (3) may be transferred to the chamber (4) after separating the juxtaposed portions (12, 22) of working runs of the belt (FIG. 5).

Abstract: A system for tensioning the bale forming apron of a round baler includes first and second pairs of drive sprockets for moving the apron. The first pair of drive sprockets are driven at a first speed, and the second pair of drive sprockets are driven at a second speed which is slightly slower than the first speed. This differential in sprocket speeds tensions the inner course of the apron extending between the first and second pairs of drive sprockets. The system also includes a slip clutch assembly for temporarily disengaging the second pair of drive sprockets from being driven at the second speed whenever the differential between the first and second speeds reaches a preset limit.

Abstract: A baler comprises two winding spaces disposed side-by-side. In use, a pick-up device picks up crop from a swath and feeds it to one of the spaces. A pivotable wall portion comprising powered rollers initiates winding of a bale and pivots upwardly about an axis as the bale grows. Other powered rollers surrounding the winding space assist in the formation of the bale. When the bale is complete it is bound with twine, a door is raised by a ram and the bale is discharged. As soon as winding of a bale in one of the spaces is complete, the pick-up device in whole or part is moved relatively laterally with respect to the winding spaces so that crop is then fed to the other winding space while the completed bale is bound and discharged.

Abstract: A baling machine, towed by a tractor, for forming large cylindrical bales of hay has a baling chamber defined by oppositely moving runs of belts trained over rolls.In order to avoid stray hay wrapping round the ends of one of the rolls supporting the belts and then being ingested in bearings supporting opposite ends of the roll, a scraper assembly is provided at each end of the roll. The assemblies each comprise a spiral which is welded to the roll and which moves the stray crop away from the end of the roll, and a scaper in light contact with the spiral preventing the crop being carried round the roll by the spiral. Possible crop buildup at the scraper in wet conditions is reduced further by an auger which is disposed just above the scraper and which is driven, e.g. by one of the belts, to move crop away from the scraper.

Abstract: An automatic twine-wrapping mechanism for a large round baler. The mechanism comprises (1) a twine dispensing mechanism for dispensing twine into the bale-forming chamber of the baler, (2) a reversible hydrualic drive means for cycling a twine arm of the dispensing mechanism back and forth in front of the chamber, (3) a twine wrapping control mechanism (a) for initiating a twine wrapping cycle by sensing the growth of a bale to a predetemined diameter by automatically actuating a pump drive means for driving a hydraulic pump and by positioning a hydraulic control valve to condition the hydraulic drive means to cycle the twind arm and (b) for terminating a twine wrapping cycle by deactivating the hydraulic drive means following the wrapping of twine around the bale. The twine is automatically severed by a twine cutter responsive to the movement of the twine arm following completion of the wrapping of the twine around the bale.

Abstract: This press for forming cylindrical or round bales comprises sets of bands or belts which, in a conventional manner, define a chamber for forming a bale by rolling up, as well as a pickup designed to transfer harvest products gathered on the ground as far as a bale-forming chamber through an entry opening for the products, and a starting roller located on that side of the opening that is remote from the pickup. According to the invention, a scraper is arranged to cooperate with the starting roller in such a manner as to resist any rolling up of the harvest products around the roller. If the roller is a smooth circular section roller, the scraper may be stationary. It may be arranged in conjunction with fingers extending between the bands or belts as far as to the immediate vicinity of the starting roller on the side of the roller remote from the scraper. In the case of a noncircular starting roller, the scraper is mounted so as to be movable, especially pivotable.

Abstract: A press for forming large cylindrical bales includes a forward bale chamber for forming a bale core during the time a full sized bale located in a main bale chamber is being tied and discharged. A set of belts are mounted on a vertically shiftable roller so as to form a loop that delimits a rear portion of the forward chamber and a rear portion of the main chamber when the roller is in a lowered position and which is moved out of the way to permit a formed bale core to move from the forward chamber into the main chamber when the roller is in a raised position. In one embodiment a conveyor delimits the bottom of the forward chamber and cooperates with a first pickup to feed crop material to the forward chamber. A second pickup is arranged for delivering crop material directly into the main chamber. In a variant to the first embodiment a longer conveyor is used and the second pickup is omitted. The first pickup and longer conveyor cooperate to deliver crop material to the main chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus (52) is provided for wrapping bales with twine in a type of round baler (1) having bale forming mechanism comprised of a plurality of conveying members such as rollers (36a-36f). The twine wrapping apparatus (52) includes a twine dispensing member (56) mounted for pivoting movement to dispense twine through a gap (35) between two of the conveying members (36d and 36e). A stationary member (88) guides the twine into the gap (35) during the pivoting movement of the twine dispensing member (56).

Abstract: This cylindrical bale-forming press comprises sets of belts, bands or the like which define a chamber for forming a bale by rolling up crop products. At least one stationary roller drives the belts and is itself driven from a main drive shaft. Some of the guide rollers are movable and are subjected to a biasing action by hydraulic cylinders so as to maintain the belts under tension. According to the invention, a torque sensor is provided on the main drive shaft of the press and operates to provide an electrical output signal which is operatively connected to electrically responsive valve means in the hydraulic circuitry for controlling the hydraulic cylinders so as to reduce or eliminate the tension in the belts when an excessive resisting torque on the main driving shaft is sensed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for packaging flexible compressible strips of mineral fibers into rolls comprises an endless belt, means for supporting the belt in a manner to define a loop inside which the strips can be rolled, and a compression member from maintaining the strip in compression upstream from the loop, where the compression member is mounted for movement toward and away from the loop.

Abstract: A roll baler includes upper and lower bale forming devices that cooperate with each other to define a bale starting zone, and a pickup device to deliver crop material toward the bale starting zone. The upper bale forming device preferably constitutes a series of belts extending around a plurality of guide members, one of which is an indexing guide member located in a home position to dispose the upper bale forming device proximate to the lower bale forming device at the rear of the bale starting zone. The baler further includes a pair of disks for moving the indexing guide member from its home position in a substantially circular path of travel generally about the periphery of a roll bale that was started in the bale starting zone.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming roll bales of crop material in a roll baler having upper and lower bale forming devices that cooperate with each other to define a bale starting zone. The upper bale forming device extends around an indexing guide member which has a home position for disposing the upper bale forming device proximate to the lower bale forming device at the rear of the bale starting zone. The indexing guide member is held in its home position while a roll bale is started in the bale starting zone. When the roll bale reaches a predetermined diameter, the indexing guide member is moved in a substantially circular path of travel generally about the periphery of the roll bale. The indexing guide member is subsequently returned to its home position and is held there again while the first-mentioned roll bale is disengaged from the baler and another roll bale is simultaneously started in the bale starting zone.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a roll baler having upper and lower bale forming devices that cooperate with each other to define a bale starting zone. The upper bale forming device extends around a drive member and around an indexing guide member which has a home position for disposing the upper bale forming device proximate to the lower bale forming device at the rear of the bale starting zone. The drive member is engaged with a power source such as a tractor PTO to move the upper bale forming device in a direction to start a roll bale in the bale starting zone. When the roll bale reaches a predetermined diameter, the indexing guide member is moved in a substantially circular path of travel generally about the periphery of the roll bale. The drive member is disengaged from the power source when the indexing guide member has moved to another position. Subsequently, the drive member is reengaged with the power source when the indexing guide member has returned to its home position.

Abstract: A roll baler includes upper and lower bale forming devices that cooperate with each other to define a bale starting zone, and a pickup device to deliver crop material toward the bale starting zone. The upper bale forming device preferably constitutes a series of belts extending around a plurality of guide members, one of which is an indexing guide member located in a home position to dispose the upper bale forming device proximate to the lower bale forming device at the rear of the bale starting zone. The indexing guide member is connected between a pair of disks, and drive means such as sprockets are provided for engagement with the peripheral edges of the disks to rotate the disks in a direction to cause movement of the indexing guide member in a substantially circular path of travel.

Abstract: A baling machine, towed by a tractor, for forming large cylindrical bales of hay has a baling chamber defined by oppositely moving runs of belts trained over rolls.In order to avoid stray hay wrapping around the ends of a roll and then being ingested in bearings supporting the ends of the roll, an anti-wrap assembly is provided at each end of the roll. The assemblies each comprise a spiral which is welded to the roll and which moves the stray crop away from the end of the roll, and a scraper mounted so as to have an edge thereof located very close to or in light contact with the spiral for preventing the crop from being carried around the roll by the spiral.

Abstract: A crop baling machine of the type for producing round bales and in which a cylindrical bale forming compartment receives crop material from a pickup device, the bale-forming compartment being defined by an endless apron which extends around inner and outer sets of guide rollers. The endless apron also extends respectively around drive sprockets and takeup guide sprockets which are spaced apart to provide an inlet to the bale forming compartment, the takeup guide sprockets being mounted for limited movement against springs to maintain the apron taut but also permit limited expansion of the inner portion of the apron which extends around the inner set of guide rollers when the bale forming compartment is filled to a desired degree, and the movement of the takeup guide sprockets causing additional mechanism to disconnect the pickup device from the power source which drives it and thereby automatically prevent structural damage to the machine.

Abstract: The apparatus for binding rolled bales comprises at least one reel of twine, a twine guiding device for guiding the hank of twine along the surface of the bale to be bound and a control device for the twine guiding device, comprising a rope sheave and a set of gears. The twine guiding device comprises two spaced twine guiding arms staggered with respect to one another which may be pivoted in the opposite direction one from the other from an initial position, in which the two arms cross over one another, to a maximum position, in which the two ends of the bale are simultaneously bound, to an end position, which corresponds essentially to the initial position.

Abstract: A round hay baler includes a forward pick-up assembly and hold down tines for gathering and introducing a layer of material into the baler. The hold down assembly includes fluid discharge tines extending from a hollow manifold connected to a reservoir that contains preservatives, nutrients or biological inhibitors, for example, which are added to the inside of the layer forming the round hay bale.

Abstract: Apparatus is presented for slicing a large round bale into two parts prior to discharge from the baler. Slicing is accomplished by inserting a knife blade into the bale forming chamber during or subsequent to the tying-off event while the bale rotates. The knife is inserted between the belts which encircle the periphery of the baling chamber. The butt end of a more than two foot long knife blade is secured to the center of a T-shaped crossbar. One end of the crossbar is hinge mounted to the top rear midpoint of the baler. The second end of the crossbar is pivotally mounted to the piston shaft of a hydraulic cylinder. The base end of the hydraulic cylinder is pivotally mounted to the top front midpoint of the baler. In the unactivated state of the cylinder wherein the shaft is in its extended position, the top edge of the knife blade will clear the lower edge of the top front roller of the baling chamber.