A round baler includes a bale chamber in which a round bale can be produced, and a wrapping device with which a completely pressed round bale can be wrapped with a first film in the bale chamber, and a feed device for introducing the first film into the bale chamber. The round baler also includes a feed point at which the first film can be fed to the bale chamber, and an ultrasonic sensor which is arranged at the bale chamber. The ultrasonic sensor is arranged at the bale chamber in such a way that with the ultrasonic sensor it is possible to determine whether the film is present on a surface of the round bale.

The present disclosure relates to a round baler (10) including a baling chamber (12) for forming a bale (26) and a first wrapping mechanism (32) mounted to the baling chamber (12). The first wrapping mechanism (32) includes a feed system that feeds the wrap material (30a) into the baling chamber (12). The round baler (10) further comprises a second wrapping mechanism (34) mounted to the baling chamber (12) which includes a feed system that feeds the wrap material (30b) into the baling chamber (12). Further, the round baler (10) includes an inlet (40) wherein wrap material (30a) from the first wrapping mechanism (32) and wrap material (30b) from the second wrapping mechanism (34) enter the baling chamber (12). The first wrapping mechanism (32) and second wrapping mechanism (34) are configured to be operated independently.

A system and method for grouping crop bales. A constituent sensor can sense properties of a crop material of a crop bale, with the sensed data being stored as a dataset. An operator can select a classification goal, each selectable classification goal having multiple categories that relate to different levels within the selected classification goal. Classification goals can assign weightages to properties of the datasets. A bale grouping computing device can group the datasets using a k-means clustering analysis, with each category of the selected classification goal providing a different cluster for the k-means clustering analysis. The assigned weightages can influence a determination as to a centroid location for each cluster. The cluster to which a dataset is assigned indicates the category to which the crop bale belongs. Crop bales assigned to the same cluster can be grouped together as having similar characteristics for purposes of the selected classification goal.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to baling materials. In some embodiments, there is provided a method for baling recyclable materials including placing mixed type recyclable materials inside a baling machine while not adding one or more layers of cardboard header materials inside the baling machine, the one or more layers of cardboard header materials normally used to structurally enhance a compressed shape of materials; compressing, by the baling machine, the mixed type recyclable materials into a shape suitable for at least one of storage and transportation; twining and securing the shape of the mixed type recyclable materials that have been compressed by the baling machine with one or more strings of baling wires resulting in a bale comprising twined and compressed mixed type recyclable materials; and wrapping the bale with a shrink film.

A system and method for controlling a wrapping process of a round bale is disclosed. The round bale rotates in a bale chamber of a round baler with elastic wrapping material being removed from a supply roller using a tensioning device and guided during the wrapping process by at least one guide roller. The round bale is wrapped with the wrapping material pretensioned by the tensioning device with an adjustable wrapping tension predetermined by the control unit. A sensor assembly may sense the actual value for a force resulting from the wrapping tension, which is compared with a target value for the force resulting from the wrapping tension, which is determined during the performance of at least one preceding wrapping operation and specific to the wrapping material. The control unit controls the tensioning device depending on the deviation determined by the comparison of the actual value and the target value.

A round baler includes a pick-up unit for picking up crop material from the ground, a baling chamber which receives the crop material from the pick-up unit, and a press mounted within the baling chamber for forming a bale during a bale formation cycle. The baler also includes a binding unit for dispensing a binding material for binding the bale, a tailgate displaceable by an actuator from a closed position at the beginning of a bale formation cycle to an open position to dispense the bale after the binding cycle. A sensor detects a first tailgate position after the bale formation cycle and before the binding cycle, and detects a second tailgate position after the binding cycle and before displacing the tailgate to the opened position. A controller is responsive to the sensor by determining a tailgate position change between the second tailgate position and the first tailgate position.

A system and a method for moving wrap material in a baler are described. A motor can be secured to the baler and can be configured to rotate a wrap roller of the baler. The motor can be caused to rotate the wrap roller in a first direction, such that the wrap roller moves the wrap material towards a crop package contained by the baler. The motor can also be caused, during application of the wrap material to the crop package, to brake the wrap roller relative to the first roller direction or to rotate the wrap roller in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, in order to stretch the wrap material.

A system for wrapping a material around a bale in a baler includes a feed system to direct the material through a feed path. A knife mechanism with a fixed knife and a counter-knife alternately cuts the material, and moves out of the feed path for feed of the material. The feed system includes a roll element configured to direct the material between the fixed knife and the counter-knife when the counter-knife is moved out of the feed path. A cylindrical brush rotates freely and is disposed between the roll element and the knife mechanism, the brush having a cylindrical shape. The brush is configured to remove debris when rotated

A system for wrapping a material in a baler includes a feed element for feeding the material through a feed path. A drive element intermittently drives the feed element. A linking element couples the drive element with the feed element. A tensioning lever operates to vary tension on the linking element to intermittently drive or not drive the feed element. A knife mechanism operates to intersect the feed path to cut the material. An actuator is engageable with the tensioning lever and with the knife mechanism. The actuator operates to move the tensioning lever and the knife mechanism independent of one another.

A system for wrapping a material in a baler includes a feed element for feeding the material through a feed path. A drive element intermittently drives the feed element. A linking element couples the drive element with the feed element. A tensioning lever operates to vary tension on the linking element to intermittently drive or not drive the feed element. A knife mechanism operates to intersect the feed path to cut the material. An actuator moves the tensioning lever and the knife mechanism. A spring limits motion of the actuator based on a threshold magnitude of the tensioning lever so that the linking element is not over tensioned.