Abstract: An annular baler for agricultural use includes at least one annular baler belt made of rubber or rubber-like materials with an embedded core defining a reinforcement. The annular baler belt has ventilation bores which are distributed in a regular or irregular pattern around the periphery thereof and extend through the annular baler belt.

Abstract: An automated method and system includes an automatic guidance system (AGS) and swath pattern. The AGS steers a vehicle towing a rotary baler in an “S”, or oscillatory pattern around a predetermined approximate centerline of the swath path. The oscillatory pattern may be user defined. By steering the vehicle in an oscillatory pattern referenced to the A-B line, a windrow of crop material may be distributed into an even and optimal bale size and density by the baler. Bale chamber sensors detect an imbalance of crop density and in response, AGS adjusts an interval or amplitude of oscillatory pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to an agricultural piston bale press. This press includes a pressing piston arranged in a bale chamber, an intake device to take in crop material, and a stuffing device, wherein the stuffing device includes a feed passage and a stuffing mechanism, the stuffing mechanism includes an arm supporting tines, wherein said arm is movable by a first driving device to at least move the tines in and out of the feed passage and wherein said arm is pivotably supported by a fulcrum, the fulcrum being displaceable to selectively move the arm along the stuffing trajectory or load trajectory. The stuffing device includes a second driving device to displace the fulcrum, and in that the second driving device is mechanically independent of the main driving mechanism.

Abstract: A continuous baler includes a round baler and an accumulation conveyor for providing crop to the round baler. The accumulation conveyor may include a conveyor belt. A controller determines an operational mode of the baler and manipulates the accumulation conveyor in response to the operational mode. For example, the controller operates the accumulation conveyor in a feed direction during a bale-forming mode of the baler and operate the conveyor from an initialized position at a slower speed in the feed direction during a non-bale-forming mode. A pickup may provide crop material to the accumulation conveyor during both bale-forming and non-bale-forming modes.

Abstract: A pickup for a combine-towed baler. In one embodiment, crop material such as the residue or material other than grain (MOG) from the back of the combine is directly projected toward a target on a baler collection device. A tailboard with deflection panels may be used to alter the direction of the crop residue from the combine. The tongue of the baler is configured to not obstruct the crop material as the crop material is projected toward the baler. One or more knives of a chopper coupled to the combine may be configured to optimally project MOG toward the baler. Also, the stuffer chute of the baler may be configured to facilitate the flow of crop material such as MOG and therefore minimize obstructions. The crop material is transferred from the combine to the baler without the use of a conveyor.

Abstract: A non-contacting bale size sensor for an agricultural round baler having bale-forming chamber partially defined by a plurality of continuous side-by-side belts trained around a plurality of fixed guide rolls and at least one moveable roll connected to a belt take up arm. The bale size sensor detects the position of the belt take up arm by measuring distance between a fixed position and the take up arm and a connected control unit determines the size of the bale within the bale-forming chamber.

Abstract: A round baler has bale chamber partly covered by a web spanning at least the distance between its side walls. The web is guided slideably on a path following the shape of the bale chamber.

Abstract: A collector coupled to a baler defining a target for receiving crop material projected toward the baler from a combine harvester.

Abstract: An agricultural implement having an infeed cutter is operable to automatically accommodate large objects that pass through the infeed cutter and detect and counteract jams that occur or might otherwise occur in the infeed cutter. The implement includes a plurality of knives mounted on a vertically moveable knife bed. The bed is associated with a hydraulic load-sensing system that is operable to lower the bed if a load threshold has been reached and raise the bed when the load has decreased sufficiently. Each knife is also associated with a hydraulic load-sensing system that is operable to lower the respective knife if a load threshold has been reached and raise the respective knife when the load has decreased sufficiently.

Abstract: A cutting unit for agricultural machines, including a rotor carrying on a base body spaced apart tine arrangements with circumferential phase shifts between adjacent tine arrangements. Each tine arrangement includes at least one tine with a base secured to the rotor base body and an outwardly protruding triangular tine tip forming a conveying flank leading in the rotor rotation direction and extending from the tine end to a transition into the base. A cutting unit bottom forms a lower boundary of a conveying channel. Cutting blades protrude from the cutting unit bottom through the conveying channel besides moving paths of the tine tips. Scrapers are placed in a conveying direction through the conveying channel behind the rotor. A compression surface provided at the base of the tine ahead of the conveying flank in the rotor rotation direction gradually ascends at least substantially up to the transition into the conveying flank.

Abstract: A combination rake and hay baling apparatus including a baler, a hay rake with extendable sweep arms and a plurality of rakes having tines attached to the sweep arms mounted to a tow bar pulling the baler, and a windrow diverter mounted to the tow bar behind the rake and in front of a hay pick-up of the baler, all of which is pulled and powered simultaneously by a single tractor.

Abstract: A baling apparatus for towing behind a combine, said baling apparatus comprising a tongue to enable said towing, said baling apparatus defining a target for receiving at least a portion of material discharged directly from the combine across a gap extending the distance from a rear of the combine to a front of said baling apparatus to impact on said target of said baling apparatus through an opening defined by forward frame members and a cross member connected to the tongue rather than impacting the ground.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a continuous baler includes a round baler and an adjustable conveyor for providing crop to the round baler. The adjustable conveyor may include a conveyor belt and a controller for manipulating the conveyor belts. In one example embodiment, the speed of the conveyor is adjusted in accordance with the operation of the baler.

Abstract: A pickup for a combine-towed baler. In one embodiment, crop material such as the residue or material other than grain (MOG) from the back of the combine is directly projected toward a target on a baler collection device. A tailboard with deflection panels may be used to alter the direction of the crop residue from the combine. The tongue of the baler is configured to not obstruct the crop material as the crop material is projected toward the baler. One or more knives of a chopper coupled to the combine may be configured to optimally project MOG toward the baler. Also, the stuffer chute of the baler may be configured to facilitate the flow of crop material such as MOG and therefore minimize obstructions. The crop material is transferred from the combine to the baler without the use of a conveyor.

Abstract: An agricultural piston bale press includes a pressing piston, a main driving mechanism, an intake device to take in crop material, and a stuffing device. The stuffing device includes a feed passage and a stuffing mechanism that has a tine arm supporting tines that can be moved along a stuffing trajectory, and a drive mechanism for driving the tine arm. The drive mechanism is configured to move the tine arm in a cyclic movement along a constant trajectory, and that the tines are movably supported on the tine arm so that the tines can be arranged in different positions with respect to the tine arm to follow different trajectories.

Abstract: A continuous baler includes a round baler and an accumulation conveyor for providing crop to the round baler. The accumulation conveyor may include a conveyor belt. A controller may determine an operational mode of the baler and manipulate the accumulation conveyor in response to the operational mode. For example, the controller may be configured to operate the accumulation conveyor in a feed direction during a bale-forming mode of the baler and operate the conveyor from an initialized position at a coincident speed during a non-bale-forming mode. A pickup may provide crop material to the accumulation conveyor during both bale-forming and non-bale-forming modes.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a system, apparatus, and method for cutting, windrowing, and baling material in a single pass. More specifically, the present invention provides an assembly that connects a windrower and a baler in series and a mechanism for conveying material, such as crop material and/or material-other-than-grain, from the windrower to the baler directly, without discharging the material onto the ground after it has passed through the windrower.

Abstract: A biomass harvesting system for harvesting agricultural plant growth from agricultural fields comprises a power source for providing mechanical and electric power to the system, a biomass accumulator for producing discrete units of accumulated biomass, a windrower for feeding biomass to the accumulator, a biomass quality analyzer for sensing and transmitting a set of quality characteristics of the biomass, a ground cover residue monitor for sensing and transmitting an optimal quantity of biomass residue to remain on the field, an active tracking system for identifying individual ones of the discrete units of accumulated biomass, and a central processing unit including a memory module storing an executable instruction set therein. The central processing unit executes the instruction set and integrates the sensed biomass quality characteristics and the sensed optimal quantity of biomass residue to remain on the field to determine a biomass quality index of the discrete units of accumulated biomass.

Abstract: An improved crop pickup apparatus for a round baler in which the pickup apparatus substantially wider than the bale chamber inlet opening. The pickup apparatus includes a transversely aligned, overshot crop feed rotor positioned longitudinally between the forwardly disposed pickup tine reel and the rearwardly disposed floor roll. The feed rotor comprises a plurality of generally radially extending feed fingers that intermesh with a plurality of circumferential grooves on the floor roll and tines on the tine reel thereby enabling the spacing between the rotational axes of the floor roll, tine reel, and feed rotor to be reduced compared to a non-intermeshing arrangement. The intermeshed relationship also strips crop from the feed rotor without the use of a separate crop stripping device. The feed rotor further comprises a pair of tapered feed augers arranged on the feed rotor rotational axis positioned outboard of the inlet opening.

Abstract: A mechanism for connecting outboard gathering wheels to a moveable crop pick-up assembly on a round baler that incorporates a multi-element linkage to enable the rate of vertical movement of the gathering wheels to be different than the rate of vertical movement of the pick-up assembly. As the pick-up assembly is moved vertically by an actuator, the linkage interconnecting the gathering wheels and the pick-up causes the gathering wheels to also move vertically, but at a rate that is different, usually less, than the rate of vertical movement of the pickup. The linkage enables the pick-up to be raised sufficiently for transport without causing the gathering wheels to impinge upon the baler frame as occurs when both are raised at the same rate. Use of tension members in the linkage allows the gathering wheels to up float during operation without damaging the linkage.

Abstract: A method of responding to obstacles encountered by a harvesting pickup apparatus that moves in the harvesting direction, the method including the steps of driving a pickup reel, pivoting at least one structural member, and positioning a path of continuous loop device. The driving of a pickup reel step includes driving the reel with a continuous loop device about a first axis. The pivoting step includes pivoting the at least one structural member about a second axis, the pickup reel being supported by the structural member. The positioning step includes positioning a path of the continuous loop device so that a tight side of the device is located in the harvesting direction from both the first axis and the second axis. This step also includes configuring the harvesting pickup apparatus so that the structural member is pivoted about the second axis in a generally upward direction when the harvesting pickup apparatus encounters an obstacle.

Abstract: A crop converging apparatus for a round baler having a pickup unit wider than the bale chamber. The converging apparatus comprises a pair of converging augers laterally situated along a common axis on opposing sides of the pickup unit feed table and forwardly adjacent to the bale chamber infeed opening. The converging augers and related shrouds are configured to shift the lateral converging zone of the augers rearward in relation to the auger structure to a position behind the plane of the infeed opening.

Abstract: An end wrap adjustment that may be used with an agricultural baler twine wrapping system. More particularly, an end wrap adjustment for improved adjustment of the end wrap location, without the use of tools. The end wrap adjustment provides for the adjustment of the location of the twine at the ends of the bale depending on one or more factors, such as the crop type, storage conditions, operator preference, etc. On one side, the twine dispensing assembly may include a first end wrap adjustment for controlling the position of the twine arm, and hence the twine with respect to an end or side of the bale when the bale wrapping system is in an extended position. On an opposite side, the twine cutting assembly may include a second end wrap adjustment for controlling the position of the twine with respect to an opposite end or side of the bale when the bale wrapping system is in a home position.

Abstract: An improved crop pickup apparatus for a round baler in which the pickup apparatus substantially wider than the bale chamber inlet opening. The pickup apparatus includes a transversely aligned, overshot crop feed rotor positioned longitudinally between the forwardly disposed pickup tine reel and the rearwardly disposed floor roll. The feed rotor comprises a plurality of generally radially extending feed fingers that intermesh with a plurality of circumferential grooves on the floor roll and tines on the tine reel thereby enabling the spacing between the rotational axes of the floor roll, tine reel, and feed rotor to be reduced compared to a non-intermeshing arrangement. The intermeshed relationship also strips crop from the feed rotor without the use of a separate crop stripping device. The feed rotor further comprises a pair of tapered feed augers arranged on the feed rotor rotational axis positioned outboard of the inlet opening.

Abstract: A control system for managing the operation of a tractor PTO using input conditions occurring in a connected baler. Baler conditions such as tailgate position, crop pickup position, bale wrapper status, and driveline torque are sensed in the baler, and communicated to an implement-mounted controller whereupon control signals are initiated and communicated to a tractor-mounted controller to manage operation of the tractor's PTO. Safety may be maintained through the use of operator acknowledgements in order to prevent unexpected engagement of the PTO and a manual override capability allows an operator to suspend automated operation at any time.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a continuous baler includes a round baler and an adjustable conveyor for providing crop to the round baler. The adjustable conveyor may include a conveyor belt and a controller for manipulating the conveyor belts. In one example embodiment, the speed of the conveyor is adjusted in accordance with the operation of the baler.

Abstract: A method of electronically sensing the fill of material in a stuffer chute and tripping a stuffer of a baler. A combine harvester and baler for biomass collection. In one embodiment, crop material such as the residue or material other than grain (MOG) from the back of the combine is directly projected toward a target on a baler collection device. A tailboard with defection panels may be used to alter the direction of the crop residue from the combine. The tongue of the baler is configured to not obstruct the crop material as the crop material is projected toward the baler. One or more knives of a chopper coupled to the combine may be configured to optimally project MOG toward the baler. Also, the stuffer chute of the baler may be configured to facilitate the flow of crop material such as MOG and therefore minimize obstructions. The crop material is transferred from the combine to the baler without the use of a conveyor.

Abstract: A round baler is provided for producing bales. The baler has a bale-forming chamber, at least one roller that is driven and that defines a part of an extent of the bale-forming chamber and that is mounted on a moving holder. Continuous, flexible bale forming elements are driven and define another part of the extent of the bale-forming chamber. The bale forming elements contact a first rotating body and a second rotating body, of which the first rotating body is mounted on the holder. It is proposed that the second rotating body is coupled with the holder with respect to motion by a drive connection, so that both move together with the growing bale.

Abstract: An intelligent stuffer trip mechanism is configured to detect a characteristic of a charge within a stuffer chute and actuate the stuffer in response to the characteristic. A user interface may receive desired characteristics of a charge from a user, a sensor may be used to detect characteristics of a charge in a stuffer chute and a controller configured to actuate the stuffer in accordance with a predetermined scheme and the detected characteristics of the charge.

Abstract: A combination biomass harvester and baler, in some embodiments, can include a self-propelled vehicle base, an engine compartment, a fuel and radiator compartment, a movement mechanism operably connected to the self-propelled vehicle base, a cutting head assembly, a transfer assembly, and a baler assembly. The baler assembly may be configured to consolidate the biomass into one or more bales. A bale carrying platform is provided to store the bales while the combination biomass harvester and baler continues to move.

Abstract: A crop pickup apparatus for a round baler in which the pickup apparatus substantially wider than the bale chamber inlet opening. The pickup includes a pair of large crop converging augers situated along a common axis, one each on opposing sides of the crop inlet, and forwardly adjacent to the bale chamber infeed throat. The pickup apparatus also include a secondary crop feeding roll having a plurality of generally radially extending fingers that upwardly extend into the crop mat in an area adjacent to the converging augers to convey crop material from a forwardly disposed pickup tine reel to the inlet opening. The fingers are arranged to partially overlap with tines on the tine reel so that the crop material is generally continuously urged along the entire longitudinal feed path into the inlet opening.

Abstract: An automated method and system includes an automatic guidance system (AGS) and swath pattern. The AGS steers a vehicle towing a rotary baler in an “S”, or oscillatory pattern around a predetermined approximate centerline of the swath path. The oscillatory pattern may be user defined. By steering the vehicle in an oscillatory pattern referenced to the A-B line, a windrow of crop material may be distributed into an even and optimal bale size and density by the baler. Bale chamber sensors detect an imbalance of crop density and in response, AGS adjusts an interval or amplitude of oscillatory pattern.

Abstract: A baling press for producing large square high-density bales has a pick-up device picking up crop, a cutting device downstream of the pick-up device, a conveying device downstream of the cutting device, and a pressing channel disposed downstream of the conveying device and receiving the crop from the conveying device. The crop is shaped to high-density bales in the pressing channel. A tying device is provided that, for ensuring a permanent cohesion of the bales and completing the bales, ties tying medium strands, connected in endless loops, in longitudinal direction of the bales about the bales. A spacing of outermost tying medium strands, disposed next to outer parallel longitudinal bale edges, relative to the outer parallel longitudinal bale edges, respectively, is at least as large as or greater than an average spacing between neighboring tying medium strands in a transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal bale edges.

Abstract: An improved crop converging apparatus for a round baler having a pickup unit substantially wider than the bale chamber. The converging apparatus comprises a pair of converging augers laterally situated along a common axis on opposing sides of the pickup unit feed table and forwardly adjacent to the bale chamber infeed opening. The converging augers and related shrouds are configured to shift the lateral converging zone of the augers rearward in relation to the auger structure to a position behind the plane of the infeed opening thereby improving crop inflow to the bale chamber and reducing the need for a secondary crop conveyor.

Abstract: Tines of a baler pre-cutter rotor each include a plate having a plurality of points disposed at equally spaced locations about a rotation axis of the rotor, with each point having a leading region reinforced by a pair of straps fixed in sandwiching relationship to the point. In one embodiment, the pair of straps is also applied to opposite sides of a trailing region bordering a circular mounting hole of the plate. In another embodiment, a second pair of straps abuts each first pair of straps and reinforces a leading region bordering the circular mounting hole. Instead of the second pair of straps, a ramp may be provided on a side surface of the plate for deflecting crop towards a pre-cutter stationary cutting knife. Instead of including separate straps, the tines can be cast or forged as identical sections including a tine point.

Abstract: A method of converting a conventional round baler to a round baler with an accumulator chamber is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wrapping device to wrap an object in foil material including a frame, a wrapping table mounted on the frame and configured to support the object during wrapping, one or more roll support devices to support one or more rolls of foil material to be rotated about the object during wrapping, a carrying structure mounted on the frame and configured to carry the one or more roll support devices, and a clamping and cutting device to clamp the foil material after wrapping of an object, and to cut the clamped foil material, wherein the clamping and cutting device is mounted on the carrying structure, and wherein the carrying structure is pivotable about a substantially horizontal pivot axis with respect to the frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wrapping device to wrap an object, such as a bale, in foil material, including at least one clamping and cutting device to clamp the foil material after wrapping of the object, and to cut the clamped foil material, wherein the clamping and cutting device includes a catch element having a curved guiding element which is guided in a bearing, wherein the catch element is translatable between a catch position to catch the foil material and a clamp position in which the foil material can be clamped in order to facilitate cutting of the foil material.

Abstract: An improved tine reel for a round baler pickup unit that allows tine position to be altered dependant of rotational position of the tine reel and the lateral position of the tine on the pickup. A plurality of tine bars are mounted on the tine reel, with separate tine bars provided for the centrally located tines and the outboard located tines. Separate cams control rotation of the centrally located inboard tine bars and the outwardly located outboard tine bars so that outboard tine position can be optimized without limitation by the inboard tines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically calibrating a bale size indicator by using inputs from existing bale wrapper material monitors to determine the linear amount of wrapping material necessary to encircle the bale one time. Balers with wrapping mechanisms may include a sensor for measuring the linear amount of wrapper dispensed as a means to alert the operator when the supply of wrapper material is low. Such balers may also have additional sensors for verifying that wrapping material completely encircles the bale prior to allowing the bale to be ejected from the baler. Using inputs from each of these sensors, a control system on the baler can determine the amount of wrapping material necessary to cover one revolution of the bale, also an indication of the bale circumference, and use the measurement to calibrate the display of bale diameter also generated from the control system.

Abstract: A conveyor provides a link between a combine harvester and a baler which is towed behind the combine harvester. The conveyor has a front inlet end positioned to receive trash flowing from the trash outlet of the combine harvester. The conveyor also has a rear outlet end positioned to deliver the trash to the inlet of the baler so that the trash can be baled without ever touching the ground.

Abstract: A baler for making large cylindrical bales is equipped with a device for controlling the placement of a bale after it is discharged. The bale control device is coupled to fixed forward side wall sections of the baling chamber and is selectively operated such that front and rear bale control members of the device are respectively located behind and forward of a space into which a completed bale may be discharged. Thereafter, the bale control members are moved to the rear in to a location wherein the front bale control member holds the discharged bale to the rear of a path traced by the discharge gate when it swings between a raised discharge position and a lowered baling position. The rear bale control member engages a discharged bale so as to halt the rolling inertia imparted to the bale during discharge, the front and rear bale control members thus cooperating for locating the bale at rest.

Abstract: A square baler includes a crop feed duct defining a pre-compression chamber which is curved upwardly and rearwardly from an open forward end and an inlet located across the bottom of a baling chamber. A pair of vertical partitions extend between top and bottom walls of the pre-compression chamber and divide it into three equal sized channels. Respectively located in fore-and-aft alignment with front edges of the pair of partitions is a pair of stationary knives forming part of a crop cutter arrangement including a pre-cutter rotor carrying two pairs of blades, with one of each pair cooperating with one of the stationary knives to cut incoming crop into three segments which are respectively moved into the three channels by a packer arrangement.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for directing movement of a plurality of side-by-side belts in a round baler wherein a bale chamber is optimally configured for bale core formation thereby reducing the need for an aggressive surface on the belts to initiate rotation of the incoming crop material. As the bale expands, the improved mechanism enables the unguided span of belts surrounding the periphery of the bale to be minimized by positioning intermediate guide rolls generally equidistantly from idler rolls bounding the belt guides defining the bale forming chamber. Further, the improved mechanism reduces the friction force between the crop and the belts necessary to initiate crop rolling for bale core formation enabling smooth-surfaced belts to be used which reduce trash generation.

Abstract: An improved roll belt guide mechanism for directing movement of a plurality of side-by-side belts in a round baler wherein adjacent belts are staggered to create opening through which trash mass pass to prevent trash accumulation behind the belts. A pair of offsetting rolls is positioned between two guide rolls defining the normal belt path. The offsetting rolls are aligned on axes that are parallel to the normal guide roll axes and arranged so that one offsetting roll is positioned generally forward of the other. One or more belts are directed around the forward offset roll while the remainder of the belts is directed around the rearward offsetting roll. The alignment and separation of the offsetting rolls is configured to allow roll belts of equal lengths to be used regardless of routing around the offsetting rolls. Trash removal may be improved by the addition of an auger in the space between the offset belts to urge the trash laterally, generally along the length of the offsetting rolls.

Abstract: An improved roll belt guide mechanism for directing movement of a plurality of side-by-side belts in a round baler wherein adjacent belts are staggered to create opening through which trash mass pass to prevent trash accumulation behind the belts. A pair of offsetting rolls is positioned between two guide rolls defining the normal belt path. The offsetting rolls are aligned on axes that are parallel to the normal guide roll axes and arranged so that one offsetting roll is positioned generally forward of the other. One or more belts are directed around the forward offset roll while the remainder of the belts is directed around the rearward offsetting roll. The alignment and separation of the offsetting rolls is configured to allow roll belts of equal lengths to be used regardless of routing around the offsetting rolls. Trash removal may be improved by the addition of an auger in the space between the offset belts to urge the trash laterally, generally along the length of the offsetting rolls.

Abstract: A combine harvester for separating grain from trash is attached to a towable baling apparatus for converting trash into compacted bales, by a conveyor, a forward end of the conveyor being pivotally attached to the combine harvester proximate the rear such that a trash outlet of the combine is disposed above the trash inlet of the conveyor. The rear end of the conveyor is attached to the baling apparatus in a way that causes a large percentage of the trash from the combine harvester trash outlet to enter the baling apparatus inlet without ever touching the ground. The conveyor is supported from the rear of the combine harvester by a towbar which is fixed to the chassis proximate the support for the forward and rearward set of ground wheels. A nozzle is provided to spray water onto the crop before it enters the baler.

Abstract: An automated system and method are provided for application of inoculant products onto forage material. Real time data measurements are taken for relative humidity and moisture content of the forage material in order to timely adjust the dispense rate of the inoculant applied to the forage material. Data gathering capabilities are provided with this system controller to enable an operator to view, adjust, and record various production records, as well as detailed information as to the amounts of inoculant applied. The components associated with the system of the present invention includes an inoculant bin or container including a dispense auger which dispenses a controlled amount of inoculant which is then conveyed to the intake opening of the baling machine the forage material enters the machine. The control system includes various sensors positioned at the intake opening of the baling machine which measures moisture content, and optionally the mass or volume of the incoming forage material.

Abstract: An automated bale wrapping control system for a round baler that includes a simplified remotely installable operator interface for installation on a tractor. The simplified operator interface includes manual operated, mechanical input switches for selecting system on/off, number of wraps, twine or net wrapper selection, manual extension/retraction of the wrapping mechanism, and/or manual wrap cycle initiation. An audible alarm provides feedback to the operator for monitoring the baling and wrapping processes and for alerting the operator to abnormal conditions in the baling and/or wrapping processes.

Abstract: A device is provided for monitoring the correct functioning of a crop pick-up mechanism. The device features a sensor that monitors the crop pick-up mechanism and/or a region situated in front thereof referred to the forward moving direction. The sensor is connected to a signal processing device that derives information on crop accumulations upstream of the crop pick-up mechanism that do not occur during proper operation from the signals of the sensor and generates an error signal in case of a crop accumulation.