Abstract: A baler having a baler frame, a main drive assembly that includes a starter roll drive shaft mounted to rotate on the baler frame, and a pick-up assembly connected to the baler frame is disclosed. The pick-up assembly has a reverse control apparatus for reversing the direction of rotation of a conveying rotor to disimpact any impacted plug of cut crop material from the rotor. The reverse control apparatus can be operated remotely from a tractor connected to the baler.

Abstract: An overload and overfill protection system for a round baler includes a selectively engageable drive mechanism located between a rotary input member of the baler and an input driven member, such as a sprocket, which drives a pickup mechanism forming a part of the round baler. The selectively engageable drive mechanism includes a fixed drive member mounted to the rotary input member, and a shiftable engagement member mounted to the sprocket for movement between an engaged position for transferring power to the pickup mechanism, and a disengaged position in which power from the rotary input member is not transferred to the sprocket. The fixed drive member is in the form of a shear bolt, which is sheared by an overload force applied to the engagement member when the pickup mechanism is overloaded so as to disable the pickup mechanism. The overfill protection system is in the form of a clutching mechanism interconnected between a movable member of the baler, e.g.

Abstract: A round bale baling apparatus includes an accumulator for rolling crop material into a round bale, a twine dispenser adapted to hold and dispense twine, and a twine tensioner. The twine tensioner is adjustable and includes an energizable actuator and switch for operating the actuator to adjust the twine tension. Specifically, the switch can be manipulated to selectively decrease tension on the twine during initial gripping of the free end of the twine by a rolling loose bale, and to selectively increase tension on the twine once the twine is sufficiently wrapped onto the bale to provide a secure pulling force. The actuator can be electric, such as a reversible DC motor or solenoid, or can be another energizable device actuable from a remote position. Methods related to the above are also defined.

Abstract: The device consists of a replaceable windguard tine for a windguard assembly on an agricultural round baler. The windguard tine comprises a first tine portion parallel to a second tine portion. A support region connects the first tine portion and second tine portion. The windguard pipe has a series of tine apertures through which the first and second tine portions are inserted. The support region is bound to the windguard pipe by using a clip. The clip has a tine catch and a pipe release to allow for easy removal and installation of the windguard tine.

Abstract: A baling chamber for a large round baler includes a discharge gate having opposite side walls which meet respective side walls of the main frame along a line of separation that inclines downwardly and to the rear from top to bottom. The bottom of the baling chamber is defined in part by a bottom conveyor which slopes downward to the rear from a front end which delimits a lower side of an inlet through which crop is fed into the baling chamber. The discharge gate carries a lower front roll that supports an endless tension element arrangement and that is itself supported on a tensioning arm arrangement that pivoted to the discharge gate for movement against the resistance of a yieldable spring arrangement so as to permit the lower front roll to move rearwardly from a first position adjacent the inlet, which it occupies at the beginning of bale formation, as the bale grows.

Abstract: In a piston press for bales of harvested material, comprising a plunger piston (K) movable forwards and backwards, a feeding channel (Z) including a reel (R), driven by a crank mechanism, with reel levers (10) on a crankshaft journal (8) of the crank mechanism, a control drive, and a switching device (V) for changing the movement path (l, f) of the reel tips between loading and feeding strokes, wherein a control arm (11) elongating the reel lever (10) is coupled with a control rod (13) supported in a displaceable control joint (G) and the control joint (G) is fixable in at least one position corresponding to a feeding stroke movement path, the control joint (G) is fixed only in the position for a feeding stroke (l) while it remains freely movable during each loading stroke (f).

Abstract: A large rectangular baler includes pick-up and packer rotors, a pivotable stuffer, a plunger head, a knotter shaft and a needle yoke, and tension panels that are all driven hydraulically and independently controlled through electrically controlled valves that actuate the various hydraulic power devices used to power the various functions. An electronic control unit is coupled to each of the control valves and receives feedback signals from the controlled functions which are compared with values representing desired function results so as to further control the valves to attain the desired results. In addition to the feedback signals from the powered functions, signals from a bale length sensor and a ground speed sensor are also coupled to the electronic control unit for use in controlling the powered functions.

Abstract: A crop material feeding and directing system for use with an agricultural implement having a crop pickup which is wider than a crop inlet associated with the agricultural implement. A lower roller member includes a central portion which extends across the crop inlet, and auger sections at its ends located outwardly of the crop inlet. A pair of upper stub augers are located above the end auger sections of the lower roller member. The stub augers and the end auger sections of the lower roller member cooperate to inwardly direct crop material which is supplied by the pickup mechanism to a location outwardly of the crop inlet, and the central portion of the lower roller member functions to move the inwardly directed crop material rearwardly into the crop inlet.

Abstract: The invention produces equipment for drying bales of forage comprising: at least one unit for generating hot air (30) channeled onto at least one pair of treatment units (A, B) stack one over the other, each having a rectangular bottom chamber (2, 5) and top chamber (4, 6), kept apart by spacing devices (40, 41; 60, 61; 103, 104) supporting the top chamber above the bottom chamber, and where one or more telescopic columns (A1, A2, A3; B1, B2, B3) set between the bottom chamber and the top chamber transfer the hot air from the bottom chamber to the top one. The bales are set in each treatment unit between the bottom chamber (2, 5) and the top chamber (4, 6) stacked in two layers so that they can be dried by the countercurrent flow of hot air. One or more of the telescopic columns (A3; A1, A2) is provided with shutoff dampers (20; 101, 102) suited to opening/closing the air flow from the bottom treatment unit (A) to the top treatment unit (B).

Abstract: A cutting device for agricultural harvesting machines, such as, for instance, self-loading forage boxes or baling presses with a conveyor channel, in which a number of cutting blades mounted in rotatable fashion, arranged at least in a single row and protruding into the conveyor channel in a cutting position interact with a driven rotating conveyor mechanism equipped with conveying prongs and aligned along a horizontal axis crosswise to the travel and work direction for the purpose of cutting stalk products. A support mechanism provides elastic support to each individual cutting blade in the cutting position, and a control device releases the support mechanism, thereby allowing all or a number of cutting blades to rotate into a non-cutting position.

Abstract: A large round baler is equipped with a pick-up mounted to the baler frame for being raised and lowered relative to the ground by operation of a hydraulic cylinder. The pick-up is maintained at a desired working height by a control arrangement including at least one height sensor which sends a signal corresponding to the instant height of the pick-up above the ground to a signal processing unit which compares the height signal with a stored value corresponding to a desired height, the signal processing unit the sending a control signal for controlling a solenoid-operated valve in such a way that the hydraulic cylinder is caused to move the pick-up in the required direction for maintaining the desired height.

Abstract: Cotton receiving structure includes a receptacle supported on a wheeled frame and a floor conveyor moving cotton towards an upright set of fingered rotors which feed the cotton into an upright hopper. The fed cotton is directed into a baler mounted on the frame for forming and wrapping. The compact wrapped bale is discharged from the baler and loaded onto a transport device using conventional bale handling equipment such as a tractor-mounted loader. The baler can be mounted directly on the frame with the receptacle and the hopper for movement as a unit to the desired field location for receiving cotton from the harvester basket. In an alternate embodiment, the baler can be a separate unit towed behind or towed independently of the frame and the receiver and hopper.

Abstract: The expansible baling chamber of a large round baler is constructed so as to have chamber-forming elements that act to bias a forming bale away from the chamber inlet so that harvest entering the inlet will be more easily wrapped onto the bale, these chamber-forming elements, in some embodiments, also acting to increase the tension of tensioning mechanism forming part of the baling chamber. Also aiding in the delivery of harvest to the baling chamber is a conveyor having portions located within the chamber inlet.

Abstract: A large rectangular baler is provided with a crop material feeding arrangement including curved duct defining a pre-compression chamber from which a pre-compressed crop material charge is ejected, through an inlet of a baling chamber, by a stuffer arrangement. The duct includes a rear section curved about a horizontal, transverse axis and a stuffer frame, that carries a reciprocable tine arrangement, is mounted for rotation about this axis. A double acting injection cylinder reciprocates the tine arrangement between retracted and extended positions, respectively, wherein transversely spaced tines are withdrawn from, and extended into, slots provided in a top wall of the duct rear section. A double-acting hydraulic lift cylinder is provided for controlling the pivoting of the frame for effecting lifting of a pre-compressed charge of crop material and ejecting it through the baling chamber inlet.

Abstract: A large round baler includes a pick-up which delivers crop to a transport assembly including a guide wall and tined rotor, together with a rotor stripper, which cooperate to move harvest material from the pick-up to the inlet of a baling chamber. Various embodiments are disclosed for moving one or more of the guide wall, rotor or stripper for effecting adjustments narrowing or expanding the cross section of a guide channel for the harvest material defined in part by the guide wall, rotor and stripper. These adjustments can be done manually or with power and can be made in response to computer generated information or command signals resulting from collected and/or stored data indicating various conditions of the harvested material.

Abstract: A baler pick-up includes a pair of support wheels, each of which is connected to the pick-up by a mounting arrangement permitting the wheel to be selectively moved from a working position outboard of the pick-up to an inboard, elevated transport or non-working position. Each mounting arrangement comprises a holder fixed to the pick-up and including a transverse pipe and a projection formed from a plate and spaced outwardly from and end of the pipe. The arrangement further comprises a wheel mounting bracket including a cylindrical tube pivotally and slidably received in the pipe and in a hole provided in the projection, the tube carrying a ring captured between the end of the pipe and the projection and containing a throughbore aligned with one of a pair of crossbores provided in the tube and receiving a linchpin bolt for retaining the wheel mounting bracket so as to dispose the wheel in a selected one of its positions.

Abstract: The device consists of a mechanism to place netwrap over the edge of a cylindrical bale that is created in a variable/fixed baling chamber of an agricultural round baler. The invention consists of a netwrap delivery system having of a pair of arms pivotally affixed to the outside of the baling chamber sidewalls. Also attached to the arms is an assembly frame. An actuator controls the pivoting motion of the delivery system inserting the netwrap between the stationary dimple roll and the pivot roll of the sledge assembly. Positioned outside the sidewall and between the outer frame member is a transition area. The netwrap is inserted between the stationary dimple roll and the pivot roll as well as into the transition area. Because the width of the delivery assembly is wider than that of the cylindrical bale, a portion of the netwrap is inserted over the edge by use of the transition area.

Abstract: A round baler, including a front housing, a rear housing pivotally connected with the front housing by an upper axle secured in the front housing and supporting the rear housing for a pivotal movement relative to the front housing, and a locking device for latching the rear housing to the front housing in a closed operational position of the rear housing and releasable upon a pressure acting on the rear housing reaching a predetermined value, and including an element for latchingly connecting the rear housing with the front housing in a partially open position of the rear housing.

Abstract: The wet leaf gathering and compressing machine includes a main frame supported by wheels and adapted to be moved along a path parallel to a leaf windrow. A leaf gathering and compressing frame is pivotally attached to the main frame. A leaf gathering assembly, a leaf elevator and a leaf compressor are attached to the leaf gathering and compressing frame. The leaf compressor includes a pair of cantilevered parallel driven augers. Leaves are deposited on top of a forward portion of the parallel driven augers. the rear portion of the driven augers cooperate with a compression housing to compress leaves and force the compressed leaves into the lower portion of a leaf storage bin.

Abstract: A large round baler is equipped with a device for wrapping a bale formed in the baling chamber of the baler with a web of plastic sheeting or net wrapping medium. A supply roll of the wrapping medium is located in a box mounted forward of the baling chamber for movement along a fore-and-aft extending guide rail between a standby position, wherein a free end of the wrapping medium is supported by a guide surface at a location spaced forward of the baling chamber, and a wrapping position, wherein the free end of the wrapping medium is located for being grabbed by rotating rollers and/or the formed bale so that a length of the wrapping medium is pulled from the supply roll as it is wrapped about the bale. A power operated brake operates on the supply roll so as to provide a constant tension in the wrapping medium during wrapping operation.

Abstract: An overshot rotary conveyor includes a plurality of sets of flat tines welded to a cylindrical shaft at respective locations spaced across the shaft, each tine including a curved leading edge. Located on the opposite sides of each flat tine and having forward ends received about the cylindrical shaft is a stripper including upper and lower halves. The lower half is shaped to provide a clearance zone below flat planar sides of the upper half, and to provide a stripper edge at each side which is at the front of the clearance zone and acts to push crop carried over by the adjacent tine into the clearance zone where the crop drops away. Located ahead of the stripper edges at the opposite sides of the lower stripper half in the vicinity of the cylindrical shaft is a notch having the purpose engaging, and deflecting away from the conveyor shaft, any crop that may be carried past the stripper edge by the conveyor tine.

Abstract: A rotor includes a tube having an outer cross section which is non-circular onto which is assembled one-piece drivers provided with central openings of the same shape and size as the outer circumferential surface of the tube and thereby create a connection, fixed against rotation, between these parts. The rotor is shown used in a crop reducing arrangement of a large round baler.

Abstract: A non-stop, large round baler is provided with transversely spaced side walls having peripheries which are not connected to any structure or to the chassis and mounted so as to be adjusted transversely to increase or decrease the width of a bale forming chamber formed between them. Furthermore flexible bale forming elements are trained over rolls carried on the free end of revolving arms mounted outside the side walls, the rolls moving along the periphery of the side walls so as to define between them separate expansible chamber sections permitting one chamber section to begin filling with oncoming crop while the other chamber is being emptied of a completed bale.

Abstract: A baler is described which has a collection chamber or duct and a baling chamber. Crop material enters the duct until a pre-determined level has been reached at which time a stuffer transfers the pre-compressed crop to the baling chamber. A control system is provided for calculating the ratio between the amount of crop material which should be formed into bales under optimal conditions and the rate of flow of crop material entering the duct. This ratio can be displayed and used to control the speed of the towing vehicle. The present invention uses the duct as a kind of measuring cylinder to determine the rate at which crop material is entering the baler.

Abstract: A round baler has strategically located deflecting surfaces in the intake region of the machine to direct incoming crop materials away from sidewalls of the baler. In a preferred embodiment, the materials are directed away from clearance gaps between the outer edges of forming belts and the sidewalls of the baler. Each deflecting surface may be part of a deflector in the nature of a hollow wedge with an upright, angled-in deflecting surface, an upright rear wall, and a horizontal, triangular top wall. A fastening bolt may attach the deflector to the sidewall.

Abstract: A large round baler, designed as a non-stop baler, includes a mobile chassis supporting a lower baling chamber section, defined by a floor conveyor arrangement, and an upper baling chamber section. The upper baling chamber section, together with opposite side walls, is mounted for fore-and-aft movement relative to the lower baling chamber section between a rear location, wherein it cooperates with the floor conveyor arrangement to define a rear baling chamber, and a front location wherein it cooperates with the floor conveyor arrangement to define a front baling chamber. The upper chamber section includes front and rear wall portions which are mounted for being raised once a bale is formed in the rear baling chamber so that the upper section may be moved to its forward location.

Abstract: A wide pick-up of a large round baler is mounted for floating or pivoting vertically about the axis of rotation of a rotary secondary conveyor that includes a pair of centering augers at its opposite ends. Provided at each side of the pick-up is a float spring assembly including a coil tension spring and an L-shaped link. Each coil tension spring has its upper end coupled to the baler main frame by a bracket receiving a rod joined to a spring end retainer, and has its lower end defined by a hook which is received in a hole provided in an upper end of the L-shaped link. The lower end of the link is defined by a short leg which projects forwardly beneath lower rear structure of the pick-up frame and contains a kidney-shaped aperture in which a cylindrical coupler is received, the coupler being fixed to a side member of the pick-up frame.

Abstract: An agricultural implement, such as a baler comprises a main frame and a hitch for attachment of the implement to a towing vehicle. The frame is supported on a bogie comprising a pair of steerable wheels. A pair of hydraulic rams can block these wheels in a fore-and-aft position for reversing the baler or for preventing fluttering during road transport. Hydraulic circuitry, which is used for controlling functions of said implement, such as the retraction of a bale chuteor the operation of a bale eject apparatus can be used to actuate the rams. The rams are loaded by providing pressurized oil to the return line and using a non-return valve for making the oil flow to the guiding the said circuitry to the rams.

Abstract: A baler (10) for wrapping a rotating bale (52) of crop material (16) with strands of twine (72) has two twine tubes (68) through which the twine is fed so that ends of the strands dangle from the tubes. A bale density sensor (36) senses bale density and a controller (42) compares the sensed density with a desired density selected by an operator via an operator control panel (34). When the sensed density reaches about half the desired density the twine tubes are moved to a twine insert position so that the ends of the strands dangle adjacent the rotating bale. When a full bale has been formed, the controller automatically actuates a duckbill (60) to push the ends of the strands toward the bale where they are caught up in the crop material. If either strand is not caught up in the rotating bale, a new wrap cycle is automatically initiated.

Abstract: A baler is described which has a collection chamber or duct and a baling chamber. Crop material enters the duct until a pre-determined level has been reached at which time a stuffer transfers the pre-compressed crop to the baling chamber. A control system is provided for calculating the ratio between the amount of crop material which should be formed into bales under optimal conditions and the rate of flow of crop material entering the duct. This ratio can be displayed and used to control the speed of the towing vehicle. The present invention uses the duct as a kind of measuring cylinder to determine the rate at which crop material is entering the baler.

Abstract: A baler is described which has a collection chamber or duct and a baling chamber. Crop material enters the duct until a pre-determined level has been reached at which time a stuffer transfers the pre-compressed crop to the baling chamber. A control system is provided for calculating the ratio between the amount of crop material which should be formed into bales under optimal conditions and the rate of flow of crop material entering the duct. This ratio can be displayed and used to control the speed of the towing vehicle. The present invention uses the duct as a kind of measuring cylinder to determine the rate at which crop material is entering the baler.

Abstract: A reverser which, in a preferred embodiment, has a hydraulic cylinder supported by a chopper baler frame. The opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder is attached to the reverser driver. When activated by hydraulics on a tractor, the hydraulics will extend the cylinder, causing the sprockets to be disengaged. Further extension of the cylinder will cause the reverser driver to engage the reverser sprocket and turn the rotor backwards slightly. After full extension, the cylinder will then be retracted. This process can be repeated a couple of times in order to remove the blockage. The reverser enables the operator to restore the baler to its working condition from the tractor seat. Being able to disengage the rotor from the rest of the machine enables the bale to be wrapped if a major blockage occurs. Also a controlled reversing motion is beneficial, so over-reversing does not occur.

Abstract: A pick-up baler for agricultural produce with a compression piston 9 and a rotary conveyor, which rotates about an axis of rotation 18, comprises rakes 21, 22, which have axes 23 extending approximately parallel to the axis of rotation 18 of the rotor, convey the harvested crop through a supply channel 13, can be swiveled about their rake axes 18 under the control of curves and of which at least one acts as a conveying rake 21, the swiveling of at least one further rake, which functions as a supply rake 22, being controllable as a function of the degree of filling of the supply channel 13 in such a manner that, when a specified degree of filling of the supply channel 13 is reached, the harvested crop, collected there, is conveyed over a baling channel inlet opening 12 into a baling channel 11. The supply rake 22 is guided in a curved path 39, which can be moved from a conveying position into a supplying position, whereas the conveying rakes 21 are guided in an immovable curved path 34.

Abstract: A round baler has strategically located deflecting surfaces in the intake region of the machine to direct incoming crop materials away from sidewalls of the baler. In a preferred embodiment, the materials are directed away from clearance gaps between the outer edges of forming belts and the sidewalls of the baler. Each deflecting surface may be part of a deflector in the nature of a hollow wedge with an upright, angled-in deflecting surface, an upright rear wall, and a horizontal, triangular top wall. A fastening bolt may attach the deflector to the sidewall.

Abstract: An on-board cotton harvester baling system includes first and second balers mounted side-by-side on the frame of a cotton harvester adjacent a single accumulator that extends generally the width of the balers. One of two sets of metering rollers located at the bottom of the accumulator is selectively activated to feed cotton to the first baler. A reversible auger extending the width of the accumulator moves cotton withing the accumulator towards the activated set of metering rolls to assure a continued supply of material for the operating baler. When the first bale is fully formed, the opposite set of metering rolls and the second baler are activated, and the auger is reversed. The completed bale can be easily unloaded while the second baler operates so that cotton harvester operation.

Abstract: A harvester includes an integral two-section baling device with the section movement designed to provide both a bale discharge function and a transport height reduction function. In one embodiment, one section of the device includes rollers which follow a downwardly sloped ramp as the sections are opened relative to each other. The sloped ramped additionally serves as a portion of a finished bale handler and bale support. In a second embodiment, an additional hydraulic cylinder system controls the downward movement of the opened sections towards the transport position. Existing baler functions are advantageously utilized to provide transport height reduction with a minimal amount of additional hardware, and the operator can switch between transport and operational modes quickly and easily.

Abstract: A large round baler includes an expansible baling chamber having an inlet at a forward location thereof and defined in part by a lower run of a flexible, endless component arrangement of an upper conveyor, and by an upper run of a flexible, endless component arrangement of a bottom conveyor. In each of two embodiments, the bottom conveyor includes a moveable roller which operates to selectively deflect the upper run of the bottom conveyor so that it cooperates with a lower run of the upper conveyor so as define a baling chamber having a cross section conducive to starting a bale core at the beginning of the baling process and moveable to a discharge position for allowing a completed bale to roll onto the ground. In the second embodiment, the upper conveyor also includes a moveable roller operates to yieldably resist expansion of the lower run of the upper conveyor.

Abstract: A baling chamber for a large round baler includes a discharge gate having opposite side walls which meet respective side walls of the main frame along a line of separation that inclines downwardly and to the rear from top to bottom. The bottom of the baling chamber is defined in part by a bottom conveyor which slopes downward to the rear from a front end which delimits a lower side of an inlet through which crop is fed into the baling chamber. The discharge gate carries a lower front roll that supports an endless tension element arrangement and that is itself supported on a tensioning arm arrangement that pivoted to the discharge gate for movement against the resistance of a yieldable spring arrangement so as to permit the lower front roll to move rearwardly from a first position adjacent the inlet, which it occupies at the beginning of bale formation, as the bale grows.

Abstract: The expansible baling chamber of a large round baler is constructed so as to have chamber-forming elements that act to bias a forming bale away from the chamber inlet so that harvest entering the inlet will be more easily wrapped onto the bale, these chamber-forming elements, in some embodiments, also acting to increase the tension of tensioning means forming part of the baling chamber. Also aiding in the delivery of harvest to the baling chamber is a conveyor having portions located within the chamber inlet.

Abstract: A square baler has a generally horizontally disposed baling chamber, a reciprocating plunger within the chamber, and an underslung loading duct projecting downwardly and forwardly from the bottom of the chamber to a pickup apparatus. A stuffer is operable through successive stuffing strokes within the duct to both transfer material from the pickup apparatus into the baling chamber and precompress the material within the duct. The stuffer includes a pair of fore-and-aft mutually spaced apart forks presenting a leading fork and a trailing fork with respect to the direction of travel of the stuffer during a stuffing stroke. The leading fork has a generally kidney-shaped path of travel that begins its upstroke rearwardly of the forwardly facing inlet of the duct, while the trailing fork has a generally kidney-shaped path of travel that begins its upstroke forwardly of the inlet of the duct.

Abstract: A large round baler is equipped with a pick-up mounted to the baler frame for being raised and lowered relative to the ground by operation of a hydraulic cylinder. The pick-up is maintained at a desired working height by a control arrangement including at least one height sensor which sends a signal corresponding to the instant height of the pick-up above the ground to a signal processing unit which compares the height signal with a stored value corresponding to a desired height, the signal processing unit the sending a control signal for controlling a solenoid-operated valve in such a way that the hydraulic cylinder is caused to move the pickup in the required direction for maintaining the desired height.

Abstract: A square baler has a generally horizontally disposed baling chamber, a reciprocating plunger within the chamber, and an underslung loading duct projecting downwardly and forwardly from the bottom of the chamber to a pickup apparatus. A stuffer is operable through successive stuffing strokes within the duct to both transfer material from the pickup apparatus into the baling chamber and precompress the material within the duct. The stuffer includes a pair of fore-and-aft mutually spaced apart forks presenting a leading fork and a trailing fork with respect to the direction of travel of the stuffer during a stuffing stroke. The leading fork has a generally kidney-shaped path of travel that begins its upstroke rearwardly of the forwardly facing inlet of the duct, while the trailing fork has a generally kidney-shaped path of travel that begins its upstroke forwardly of the inlet of the duct.

Abstract: A large round baler includes a wide pick-up which lifts crop from the ground and transfers it to a rotary conveyor including crop centering augers which narrow the crop flow to the width of the baling chamber before it passes through the chamber inlet. The augers are each equipped with crop lifters and associated with each auger is an auger pan structure formed in such a way as to include a relief area into which foreign objects engaged by the crop lifters may go before they are ejected by the rotating crop lifters.

Abstract: A baler for making large cylindrical bales is equipped with a cutting device for cutting picked up crop into pieces before it enters the baling chamber. The cutting device includes a plurality of cutting knives that are pivotable about a horizontal transverse axis between an working position for cutting crop, wherein the knives each project upwardly through respective slits provided in a guide sheet, and a non-working position wherein the knives are withdrawn to a non-working position substantially below the guide sheet. A plurality of knife positioning elements are respectively associated with the knives and mounted for pivoting about a second horizontal transverse axis such that when the positioning elements are in a first position corresponding to the working position of the knives rollers respectively carried by the positioning elements are in engagement with a recess in a surface provided on the rear of the associated knife.

Abstract: A baler for making rectangular crop bales has a generally horizontally disposed fore-and-aft extending baling chamber. The pickup of the baler is disposed underneath the baling chamber in line with the path of travel of a reciprocating plunger in the overhead chamber. An in-line transfer duct leads generally upwardly and rearwardly from the pickup to the bottom of the chamber. An enclosed crop flow passage is defined from a point immediately behind the pickup to a point located at the opening in the bottom of the baling chamber and presents a forwardmost cutting zone, a packing zone behind the cutting zone, and an accumulating zone behind the packing zone. Cutter apparatus within the cutting zone reduces the crop materials into smaller pieces as they flow through the cutting zone, whereupon a separate packer takes the materials from the rear side of the cutter apparatus and packs them in a downstream direction toward the accumulating zone where they form into a charge.

Abstract: A large round baler includes a pick-up which delivers crop to a transport assembly including a guide wall and tined rotor, together with a rotor stripper, which cooperate to move harvest material from the pick-up to the inlet of a baling chamber. Various embodiments are disclosed for moving one or more of the guide wall, rotor or stripper for effecting adjustments narrowing or expanding the cross section of a guide channel for the harvest material defined in part by the guide wall, rotor and stripper. These adjustments can be done manually or with power and can be made in response to computer generated information or command signals resulting from collected and/or stored data indicating various conditions of the harvested material.

Abstract: A round baler for agricultural harvested crop and including a variable volume bale chamber having a delivery opening and limited, in an axial direction, by side walls of the baler housing and, in a radial direction, by at least one flexible transporting and pressing belt, which is guided over deflection rolls, and by at least one pressing roller which is arranged adjacent to a respective deflection roll, a pivot device supported in the baler housing for pivoting the transporting and pressing belt, with increase of a bale diameter, from a start position of the transporting and pressing belt into its end position, and elements for positively shifting a radial position of at least one pressing roller or the respective deflection roll relative to the bale chamber dependent on the pivotal movement of the pivot device.

Abstract: A baler pick-up reel includes a reel shaft to which is fixed a center toothbar support. A first set of toothbars are located to one side of the center toothbar support and respectively have stub shafts at first ends which are respectively received in a first set of equi-angularly spaced bosses forming part of the toothbar support and projecting in a direction opposite to the first set of toothbars. Similarly, a second set of toothbars are located on an opposite side of the center toothbar support and respectively include stub shafts at first ends that are respectively received in a second set of equi-angularly spaced bosses forming part of the toothbar support and projecting in a direction opposite to the second set of toothbars. A plurality of teeth are mounted to each toothbar and have tines which are evenly spaced across the working width of the reel.

Abstract: A method of controlling the combination of a baler and a tractor includes the steps of advancing the baler combination through a swath or windrow of biological crop matter with the tractor PTO operating at a generally constant speed to power the baler and the baler operating to take up biological matter while monitoring the flow rate of the biological matter through the baler. A microprocessor compares the assessed flow rate with an optimal flow rate and varies the travel speed of the tractor to maximize the flow rate of crop material through the baler. Preferably, the speed of operation of the tractor is accomplished through changing transmission speeds so that the PTO shaft speed is maintained at a substantially uniform rotational speed. The apparatus provided for carrying out the method of controlling the combination of a tractor and a baler increases the work rate of baling operations.

Abstract: A stripper for lifting crop off flat rigid tines of a rotary conveyor is molded of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The stripper is oval-shaped in side view and is constructed of identical halves which each include a pair of spaced apart, parallel side walls that have marginal portions defined by rims which have a thickness greater than that of the side walls. An intermediate, concave wall extends between and is joined to the bases of the rims, which have a height measured from the respective base that is approximately twice the thickness of the associated side walls.