Apparatus for gathering bales that aligns itself during bale pick-up. Methods for transferring bales that use such an apparatus are also provided.

Apparatus for gathering bales that aligns itself during bale pick-up. Methods for transferring bales that use such an apparatus are also provided.

A crop cart loading system for loading a crop. The crop cart loading system generally includes a hopper having a floor and a sidewall extending from the floor to an upper edge thereof. The sidewall defines a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an interior space for accommodating a crop. A conveyor is mounted to the hopper and configured to receive a crop at one of the first and second ends, and to longitudinally translate the crop above the floor toward the other of the first and second ends.

A crop cart loading system for loading a crop. The crop cart loading system generally includes a hopper having a floor and a sidewall extending from the floor to an upper edge thereof. The sidewall defines a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an interior space for accommodating a crop. A conveyor is mounted to the hopper and configured to receive a crop at one of the first and second ends, and to longitudinally translate the crop above the floor toward the other of the first and second ends.

A grasping mechanism for an agricultural bale wagon has a fixed grasping arm and a movable grasping arm. The movable grasping arm is translatable toward and away from the fixed grasping arm. The movable grasping arm can be rotated to define varying angular relationships between the fixed grasping arm and the movable grasping arm. Rotation and translation of the movable grasping arm are effected by an actuator. A resilient bumper between the fixed grasping arm and movable grasping arm is adjustable automatically to span the adjusted width between the fixed grasping arm and movable grasping arm.

A commodity cart includes at least one storage tank and a transfer arm having a product chute, a tube portion coupled to the product chute. The tube portion ends in a product outlet. A hydraulic system is coupled to the transfer arm and configured to move the transfer arm to a product loading position wherein the product chute is positioned at a location on the ground. A controller is configured to determine a desired fill vehicle position and generate an indication of the desired fill vehicle position.

A commodity cart includes at least one storage tank and a transfer arm having a product chute, a tube portion coupled to the product chute. The tube portion ends in a product outlet. A hydraulic system is coupled to the transfer arm and configured to move the transfer arm to a product loading position wherein the product chute is positioned at a location on the ground. A controller is configured to determine a desired fill vehicle position and generate an indication of the desired fill vehicle position.

A control system for an agricultural harvester includes a crop inlet with infeed rollers for collecting crop from a pickup assembly connected to the harvester; and a lift assembly for moving the pickup assembly from an operational configuration, in which the pickup assembly is operable to pick up crop from the ground and to convey the picked-up crop to the crop inlet of the harvester, to a non-operational configuration. The control system includes a detector for detecting a foreign object in the collected crop; and one or more controllers configured to (i) receive a signal from the detector that is indicative of a foreign object in the collected crop while the pickup assembly is in the operational configuration; and (ii) control the lift assembly to raise the pickup assembly, away from the crop on the ground, to the non-operational condition, in dependence on the received signal.

A control system for an agricultural harvester includes a crop inlet with infeed rollers for collecting crop from a pickup assembly connected to the harvester; and a lift assembly for moving the pickup assembly from an operational configuration, in which the pickup assembly is operable to pick up crop from the ground and to convey the picked-up crop to the crop inlet of the harvester, to a non-operational configuration. The control system includes a detector for detecting a foreign object in the collected crop; and one or more controllers configured to (i) receive a signal from the detector that is indicative of a foreign object in the collected crop while the pickup assembly is in the operational configuration; and (ii) control the lift assembly to raise the pickup assembly, away from the crop on the ground, to the non-operational condition, in dependence on the received signal.

Apparatus for gathering bales that include a forward-looking sensor to sense the bale are disclosed. The apparatus may also include a control system that is configured to alter a portion of the apparatus to lift the bale based on output from the forward-looking sensor. Methods for transferring bales that use such an apparatus are also provided.