A method and system for monitoring a bale shape. The method includes receiving a series of bale images from a camera, identifying the bale in the bale images, determining at least one bale shape parameter of the identified bale, and providing an electronic signal representative of the bale shape parameter. The bale images include a view of at least an outlet of a bale chamber of an agricultural baler, of a bale being ejected from the outlet, and of a field travelled by the agricultural baler during the ejection of the bale. The at least one bale shape parameter of the identified bale is then determined based on at least one of the bale images. The identifying of the bale may, at least partly, be performed using trained neural networks and other artificial intelligence algorithms.

A method and system for monitoring a bale shape. The method includes receiving a series of bale images from a camera, identifying the bale in the bale images, determining at least one bale shape parameter of the identified bale, and providing an electronic signal representative of the bale shape parameter. The bale images include a view of at least an outlet of a bale chamber of an agricultural baler, of a bale being ejected from the outlet, and of a field travelled by the agricultural baler during the ejection of the bale. The at least one bale shape parameter of the identified bale is then determined based on at least one of the bale images. The identifying of the bale may, at least partly, be performed using trained neural networks and other artificial intelligence algorithms.

A knotter system of a baler for performing a knotter cycle including at least a first knot forming cycle and a second knot forming cycle. The knotter system includes a needle; a tucker arm; a billhook assembly including a billhook with a lower lip and an upper lip mounted pivotally with respect to lower lip; and a driver to make the billhook perform at least a first full rotation and a second full rotation. The billhook assembly is configured to position the upper lip away from the lower lip in a first angular range and to position the upper lip away from the lower lip in a second angular range of at least one of the first and second full rotation. The first angular range is located within a range between 0° and 160°, and the second angular range is located within a range between 160° and 360°.

A knotter system of a baler for performing a knotter cycle including at least a first knot forming cycle and a second knot forming cycle. The knotter system includes a needle; a tucker arm; a billhook assembly including a billhook with a lower lip and an upper lip mounted pivotally with respect to lower lip; and a driver to make the billhook perform at least a first full rotation and a second full rotation. The billhook assembly is configured to position the upper lip away from the lower lip in a first angular range and to position the upper lip away from the lower lip in a second angular range of at least one of the first and second full rotation. The first angular range is located within a range between 0° and 160°, and the second angular range is located within a range between 160° and 360°.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for estimating remaining life in an agricultural baler comprising a reciprocating plunger for compressing gathered agricultural material into bales. A first sensor generates signals corresponding to force applied to the reciprocating plunger and any baling components configured to at least partially carry forces applied to the plunger. Based on input signals from at least the first sensor, forces associated with a load are recorded and a life state is estimated for the reciprocating plunger and/or at least one associated baler component. An output signal is then generated corresponding to the one or more estimated life states. In an embodiment, an input signal from a second sensor indicates completion of a bale, wherein an amount of life consumed from the plunger and/or baling components is determined in association with the bale, based at least in part on operating conditions of the baled material.

A baler is provided, including a baling chamber that includes a bale-forming channel including at least one adjustable friction control element; a plunger mounted within the channel; a rotary drive mechanism to drive reciprocating movement of the plunger; a control system to control operation of the baler and being configured to determine an actual maximum torque value (MTV) associated with the mechanism, to compare the actual MTV with a selected desired MTV, and to adjust the control element to regulate the actual MTV according to the selected desired MTV; a sensor that senses a force value; and a sensor that senses a cyclical position of a component of the mechanism, the control system being further configured to determine the actual MTV by measuring the force value, sensing the cyclical position of the component, and deriving the actual MTV from the measured force value and the sensed cyclical position.

A baler is provided, including a baling chamber that includes a bale-forming channel including at least one adjustable friction control element; a plunger mounted within the channel; a rotary drive mechanism to drive reciprocating movement of the plunger; a control system to control operation of the baler and being configured to determine an actual maximum torque value (MTV) associated with the mechanism, to compare the actual MTV with a selected desired MTV, and to adjust the control element to regulate the actual MTV according to the selected desired MTV; a sensor that senses a force value; and a sensor that senses a cyclical position of a component of the mechanism, the control system being further configured to determine the actual MTV by measuring the force value, sensing the cyclical position of the component, and deriving the actual MTV from the measured force value and the sensed cyclical position.

A baler including a baling chamber that includes a bale-forming channel including an inlet end and an outlet end, a plunger mounted within the channel for compressing bale material in the channel and driving the compressed bale material towards the outlet end of the channel, and a rotary drive mechanism for driving reciprocating movement of the plunger, and an additional drive mechanism for driving the compressed bale material towards the outlet end of the channel, thereby reducing torque in the rotary drive mechanism.

A baler including a baling chamber that includes a bale-forming channel including an inlet end and an outlet end, a plunger mounted within the channel for compressing bale material in the channel and driving the compressed bale material towards the outlet end of the channel, and a rotary drive mechanism for driving reciprocating movement of the plunger, and an additional drive mechanism for driving the compressed bale material towards the outlet end of the channel, thereby reducing torque in the rotary drive mechanism.

A conveying and collecting device for a crop press has a conveying and collecting unit switchable from a collecting mode into a lifting mode. A first cam track for rotating feed tines of a feed bar is switchable from a fixed state, in which it is stationary and the conveying and collecting unit is in collecting mode, into a moving state, in which it is driven by the conveying and collecting unit that is in lifting mode. A coupling device for operatively coupling the first cam track with the conveying and collecting unit is provided, and a switching device triggers or prevents coupling based on the filling level of the collecting chamber that is detected by a sensor unit. Triggering or preventing of the coupling process is mechanically independent of the detected filling level. A crop press is provided with such a conveying and collecting device.