The present invention involves a mechanism for collecting bales left in fields. The mechanism includes a bale collecting attachment configured for being operationally mounted on a vehicle, such as a skid skeeter, a tractor, wheel loader, all-terrain vehicle, or other off-road vehicle. The attachment includes a vehicle attachment portion. a frame support portion operably coupled to the vehicle attachment portion, and a bale securing portion pivotally mounted on the frame support. The bale securing portion has a spear, fork, clamp or similar mechanism to grab a bale in the field. In some embodiments, the bale securing portion is capable of pivotally moving the bale so that a bale may be picked up by the attachment, the vehicle may then move the attachment to a larger transport facility where the bale may be set down and unloaded.

A towed implement for use with a work machine includes a main frame having a pivot hole and at least one hitch mounting hole. A hitch frame is coupled with the main frame and includes a towed end. The hitch frame is pivotable relative to the main frame about a pivot axis at the pivot hole. The hitch frame includes a chamber having an interior periphery with a plurality of notches spaced about the interior periphery. A height adjustment arrangement is associated with the main frame and the hitch frame for adjusting a height of the hitch frame. The height adjustment arrangement includes a stop key positioned within the chamber of the hitch frame. The stop key has a hole arranged for receiving a fastener associated with the at least one hitch mounting hole, a cam surface, and at least one tooth extending from the cam surface. Each tooth is received in a corresponding notch of the interior periphery.

A bale collection system for use with a baler having an outlet through which a finished bale is ejected, the bale collection system including a holder coupled to the baler, the holder defining a support surface configured to support the finished bale, an operating barrier, and a holdback arm in operable communication with the holder and configured to 1) permit the finished bale to pass through the operating barrier in a first direction and 2) restrict movement of the finished bale through the operating barrier in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

An apparatus comprises a sensor (102) comprising a left camera (102a) and a right camera (102b). A processor (104) is coupled to the sensor. The processor is configured to produce an image and disparity data for the image, and search for a vertical object (122a, 122b) within the image using the disparity data. The processor is also configured to determine whether the vertical object is a bale of material using the image, and compute an orientation of the bale relative to the sensor using the disparity data. The sensor and processor can be mounted for use on an autonomous bale mover comprising an integral power system, a ground-drive system, a bale loading system, and a bale carrying system.

An accumulator is coupled to an agricultural baler and includes a frame having a first end, a second end, and a support structure positioned between the first and the second ends. The accumulator includes a crop package moving assembly moveably coupled to the frame in a first direction and in a second direction. The crop package moving assembly is configured to move a crop package in the first direction. The accumulator includes a carriage coupled to the first end of the frame and configured to move relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The carriage is configured to move into the extended position to support the crop package. The carriage is also configured to move from the extended position into the retracted position in response to the crop package being removed from the carriage and the crop package moving assembly moving in the second direction.

An accumulator is coupled to an agricultural baler and includes a frame having a first end, a second end, and a support structure positioned between the first and the second ends. The accumulator includes a crop package moving assembly moveably coupled to the frame in a first direction and in a second direction. The crop package moving assembly is configured to move a crop package in the first direction. The accumulator includes a carriage coupled to the first end of the frame and configured to move relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The carriage is configured to move into the extended position to support the crop package. The carriage is also configured to move from the extended position into the retracted position in response to the crop package being removed from the carriage and the crop package moving assembly moving in the second direction.

A crop-package transfer system has a flexible member supported by a support frame and is configured to support a crop package on a first side of the flexible member. A motive member is disposed on a second side of the flexible member. An actuator device is configured to move the motive member along the second side of the flexible member, such that the motive member transmits motive force from the actuator device to the crop package via the flexible member.

An apparatus, system and method for transporting bales is described. A system for transporting bales includes a hauling truck, a trailer pivotably coupled to the hauling truck by a gooseneck, the trailer comprising telescoping arches, wherein the telescoping arches move a cradle between a loading position, wherein tubular elongate skids slide into a space between a round bale and a ground in the loading position, and a transport position, wherein an angled portion of the tubular elongate skids lift the bale off the ground in the transport position, and wherein the gooseneck pivots the trailer to a driver's side of the hauling truck in the loading position, and wherein the hauling truck loads the bale while moving forward.

A method of grasping a bale of crop material and placing the bale in a bale wagon, the method comprising the steps of sensing, grasping and evaluating. The sensing step includes sensing a presence of a bale between grasping arms of a bale grasping mechanism. The grasping step includes grasping the bale with the grasping arms. The evaluating step includes evaluating a size of the bale that has been grasped.

A bale bundling system includes a frame (5) capable of being attached to and drawn by a tractor, a bale bundling chamber (4) disposed on the frame (5) to form a pack (3) of bales (2) disposed vertically in a longitudinal direction (Y) of the pack (3), a pushing device (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) disposed to insert bales (2) into the bundling chamber (4), a platform (19) for lifting bales mounted vertically displaceable inside the bundling chamber (4), and a retaining device (21) for retaining bales (2) in the upper position. The pushing device (13) includes a compressing surface (13a) adapted to apply on a layer (20) of bales (2) an active compression force in a transverse direction (X) of the pack (3), inside the bundling chamber (4), so that the compressing surface (13a) applies the active compression force on the layer (20) of bales (2), while the lifting platform vertically moves the layer (20) in the internal space of the bundling chamber (4).