A large square baler for performing a baling operation to form square bales includes a pickup unit for picking up crop lying on the ground, a cutter unit for cutting picked up crop into at least one predetermined cut length, a pre-compression chamber, a stuffer device, a bale chamber for forming a square bale from flakes of crop pre-compressed in the pre-compression chamber, and a tying system for binding the square bale. The stuffer device is configured to pre-compress the crop into the flakes in the pre-compression chamber and transport the flakes into the bale chamber. The cutter unit is controlled in dependence on a tying operation conducted by the tying system and on at least one parameter representing the square bale size.

A large square baler for performing a baling operation to form square bales includes a pickup unit for picking up crop lying on the ground, a cutter unit for cutting picked up crop into at least one predetermined cut length, a pre-compression chamber, a stuffer device, a bale chamber for forming a square bale from flakes of crop pre-compressed in the pre-compression chamber, and a tying system for binding the square bale. The stuffer device is configured to pre-compress the crop into the flakes in the pre-compression chamber and transport the flakes into the bale chamber. The cutter unit is controlled in dependence on a tying operation conducted by the tying system and on at least one parameter representing the square bale size.

A tangential feed material processing chamber for a material processing system has an axis, an axially extending inlet opening, and an axially extending outlet opening which is circumferentially spaced from the inlet opening. An inner surface of the chamber has a first portion extending circumferentially from a first side of the inlet opening to a first side of the outlet opening, and a second portion extending from a second side of inlet opening to a second side of the outlet opening. The first and second surface portions are formed with different surface finishes. A rotor is mounted along the axis to impact and direct material entering the inlet to flow tangentially about the axis to the outlet. A material processing system is also provided.

A tangential feed material processing chamber for a material processing system has an axis, an axially extending inlet opening, and an axially extending outlet opening which is circumferentially spaced from the inlet opening. An inner surface of the chamber has a first portion extending circumferentially from a first side of the inlet opening to a first side of the outlet opening, and a second portion extending from a second side of inlet opening to a second side of the outlet opening. The first and second surface portions are formed with different surface finishes. A rotor is mounted along the axis to impact and direct material entering the inlet to flow tangentially about the axis to the outlet. A material processing system is also provided.

A pre-cutter assembly includes a first set and a second set of knives. A controller is coupled to a first actuator and a second actuator for moving the first set and the second set of knives between a retracted position and a deployed position respectively. The controller may determine a current baler operating parameter and a status of the first and second sets of knives. The controller may then define a desired positional setting for the first and second sets of knives based on the current baler operating parameter and the status of the first and second sets of knives. The controller may then communicate a control signal to the first and second actuators to control the first and second actuators to position the first and second sets of knives in the desired position setting for the first and second sets of knives.

A cutting assembly is described that comprises two oppositely facing sidewalls and two loading systems, each loading system comprising a transverse member that extends between and through the sidewalls, and two trays of knives. Rotation of a transverse member causes the associated tray of knives to move between a loaded and an unloaded position, wherein the loaded position the knives protrude into a crop collection channel of a harvester for the cutting of crop material.

A cutter bar has a cutter body with a substantially rectangular cross section formed by an upper face, two side faces and a lower face. The upper face together with at least one side face defines a cutting edge, which is formed by one or more hard metal profile strips fastened in a groove in the cutter body. The wall of the groove which adjoins the upper face of the cutter body encloses with the upper face of the cutter body an angle less than 90, preferably 89 to 15, particularly preferably 80 to 40. The wall of the groove which adjoins the lateral face of the cutter body encloses with the lateral face of the cutter body an angle less than 90, preferably 89 to 15, particularly preferably 80 to 40. The hard metal profile strip or hard metal profile strips is or are positively inserted in the groove.

A cutter bar has a cutter body with a substantially rectangular cross section formed by an upper face, two side faces and a lower face. The upper face together with at least one side face defines a cutting edge, which is formed by one or more hard metal profile strips fastened in a groove in the cutter body. The wall of the groove which adjoins the upper face of the cutter body encloses with the upper face of the cutter body an angle less than 90, preferably 89 to 15, particularly preferably 80 to 40. The wall of the groove which adjoins the lateral face of the cutter body encloses with the lateral face of the cutter body an angle less than 90, preferably 89 to 15, particularly preferably 80 to 40. The hard metal profile strip or hard metal profile strips is or are positively inserted in the groove.

A chopping blade for cutting against a shear bar has a main body made of hardened steel. The blade body is formed with at least one cutting-edge region, a fastening region for fastening the blade to a carrier and in each case a transition region between the cutting-edge region and the fastening region. The main body bears a hard material coating in the cutting-edge region. The hardness of the main body is uniform throughout over all regions. A chopping drum carries a multiplicity of these chopping blades on its periphery and, upon rotation of the chopping drum, the chopping blades cut material upon running up against a stationary shear bar.

A crop processing and/or conveying element for a forage chopper has a body that can be mounted on a carrier that can be set in rotation and is furnished with a hard material layer that comes into contact with crop during operation. The hard material layer is connected in a form-fitting manner to the body.