A method for assigning information to an identification tag on a bale includes receiving, compressing and shaping crop material into a plurality of formed bales. At least one sensor parameter for the formed bales is detected with at least one sensor. Each bale is wrapped with a binding material and an identification tag is attached to each of the formed bales. A bale ID is created for each of the formed bales. The identification tag on the bale for each bale is assigned to the bale ID. The operator selects to have either the sensor parameter for the tagged bale associated with the bale ID or have a semi-randomized code not containing the sensor parameter associated with the bale ID.

A method for forming a bale of crop material in an agricultural baler. The method includes rotating a baler power-take-off (PTO) shaft at a rotational speed, rotating a bale of crop material in a bale chamber, and sensing, by at least one sensor, at least one bale ejection condition. The at least one sensor is configured to provide at least one bale ejection condition value corresponding to the at least one sensed bale ejection condition. The method further includes receiving, by a controller, the at least one bale ejection condition value, and adjusting, by the controller, the rotational speed of the baler PTO shaft responsive to the at least one bale ejection condition value.

A bale identification assembly for use with an agricultural baler (18) includes a first supply roll mounted on the baler providing a binding material (52) used by the knotter system to bind the formed bale, the binding material (52) on the first supply roll comprising identification tags (62) at spaced intervals along the binding material. The bale identification assembly includes a second supply roll mounted on the baler (18) providing a binding material without identification tags, wherein the knotter system combines the binding material with identification tags (62) from the first supply roll with the binding material without identification tags from the second supply roll to bind the formed bale. The bale identification assembly includes a read module with one or more antennas configured to transmit interrogator signals and also receive authentication replies from the identification tags (62).

A control system for controlling a cutting operation performed by at least one controllable components of an agricultural baler on a wrapping material incorporating a plurality of electronic identifiers is disclosed. The control system ensures that an electronic identifier is not damaged when the cutting operation is performed.

A method of monitoring a component of a work machine includes establishing fault threshold range of the component including a range of values of electromagnetic radiation indicative of a potential failure of the component. A controller is configured for receiving data from an infrared sensor related to a current electromagnetic radiation value emitted from the component, and comparing the current electromagnetic radiation value to the fault threshold range of the component. The controller may automatically communicate a first control signal to a machine control device when the current electromagnetic radiation value is within the fault threshold range of the component. The first control signal may include a message warning of potential failure of the component, or may control a drive associated with the component to alter or stop operation of the component prior to failure.

A baler implement a tag installer operable to attach an RFID identification tag to a bale. A reader is positioned to interrogate the identification tag for receiving data from the identification tag. The reader is operable to emit an interrogation signal for interrogating the identification tag in accordance with a pre-defined timing sequence. The reader emits the interrogation signal regardless of a position of the bale in the baling chamber or on the baler implement. As such, the interrogation signal is emitted based on the pre-defined timing sequence. The pre-defined timing sequence may include a repeated on/off interrogation sequence, or continuously scanning interrogation sequence.

A bale monitoring system includes an imaging device that is operable to capture a stereoscopic image of a bale. A computing compares the stereoscopic image of the bale to a three-dimensional standard to identify a deviation of the bale from the three-dimensional standard. The computing device may then assign the bale a shape quality score based on the deviation of the bale from the three-dimensional standard. The shape quality score may indicate a magnitude of the deviation of the bale from the three-dimensional standard. Additionally, the stereoscopic image may be analyzed to identify characteristics of the bale, such as a broken wrap material or an improperly formed bale.

An apparatus and a method for forming and wrapping a bale in a bale forming chamber into wrapping material includes a wrapping material conveying device that conveys a web of wrapping material towards a wrapping material inlet. A severing device severs the web at a severing location. The wrapping material conveying device moves the web towards the inlet, forms a leading segment of the web, and keeps the leading segment in an intermediate web providing position between the wrapping material inlet and the severing location without moving the leading segment. For starting the wrapping procedure, the web is conveyed towards the inlet.

A sensor arrangement located on a baler for detecting rotation of a dispensing reel of wrapping material and including a rotary element having a textured surface and a sensor mounted on a displaceable mounting bracket wherein the rotary element is rotated by the dispensing reel during baling.

The application discloses a bale wrapping apparatus (100), comprising a wrapping table with bale rotating means (112, 122) to hold, control and rotate a bale for the application of a wrapping material, and dispenser means (300) configured to dispense the wrapping material from rolls, and a dispenser means rotational support (116) configured to rotate the dispensed wrapping material around a uniform and/or non-uniform bale of material around a central rotating axis, and a wrapping control system configured to power, control, adjust and/or regulate the dispensed wrapping material through the dispenser means (300) to a predefined stretch ratio within acceleration and/or deceleration zones within one or more 360 degree rotations of the dispenser means rotational support (116). Furthermore, the application discloses a method for wrapping a bale (200) made from a crop product by a bale wrapping apparatus (100).