A continuous baler having a movable section having an open mode and a closed mode. In the closed mode, the movable section is joined to a baling half chamber and a tying half chamber to form a baling chamber and a tying chamber, respectively. In the open mode, the movable section is moved away from the baling half chamber and tying half chamber, in order to allow passage of a bale formed in the baling chamber from the baling half chamber to the tying half chamber.

A baling system may convey forage with at least one conveyance system through an uninterrupted gap extending from the at least one conveyance system to a vertical screed belt such that the forage is conveyed from an accumulation chamber into a baling chamber. The baling system may further or alternatively convey a mat of the forage having a first width to a rotary feeder having a second width less than the first width. Sides of the mat may be inwardly conveyed to the rotary feeder, wherein the rotary feeder lifts the forage into the baling chamber.

A crop harvesting system for continuous round baling is described that comprises a first and second bale chamber and a conveyor system in operable communication with the first and second bale chambers. The crop harvesting system can comprise a first bale chamber comprising a variable shape, defined by a first serpentine system comprising one or a plurality of endless belts in operable contact with one or a plurality of movable rollers to facilitate movement of the bale out of the first and into the second bale chamber. The second bale chamber comprises a fixed shape defined by a plurality of stationary rolls operably attached to a second set belt or belts. The crop harvesting system can be integrated into an agricultural harvester such as a baler or combine.

A non-stop round baler is towed by a towing vehicle and is divided into a collection chamber and a baling chamber. The collection chamber is disposed between a pick-up unit and the baling chamber. The collection chamber momentarily stores the crop material before being transferred to the baling chamber. A feed control gate is functionally disposed between the collection chamber and the baling chamber. The feed control gate is selectively switchable between a flow restricting configuration during a bale binding cycle and a bale ejection cycle, and a flow facilitating configuration during a bale forming cycle. When in the flow restricting configuration, the feed control gate blocks crop movement into the baling chamber. When in the flow facilitating configuration, the feed control gate facilitates crop movement into the baling chamber.

A round bale forming apparatus which includes a first bale forming chamber and a second bale forming chamber the second bale forming chamber being positioned rearwardly of the first bale forming chamber; each of the first and second bale forming chambers has components for forming a bale from a crop product; a feeding mechanism which feeds the crop product into the bale forming apparatus in order to form a bale from the crop product; a transfer mechanism for transferring a partially formed bale from the first bale forming chamber into the second bale forming chamber; and a directional mechanism for directing the crop product from the feeding mechanism into the first bale forming chamber or the second bale forming chamber such that a partially formed bale is formable in the first bale forming chamber and a fully formed bale is formable in the second bale forming chamber.

The invention provides an improved method of continuously forming round bales of forage material, and particularly round bales with compressed side walls, from windrowed harvested lines of forage and continuous baling apparatus including a continuous pickup, a continuous rotary chopper, an accumulation chamber with a compressed and chopped forage material entry slot and a decompressing exit slot plus a standard form intermittent round baler.

A bale forming device forms a bale in a bale forming chamber surrounded by a casing. A discharge gate actuator moves a discharge gate from a closed position into an opened position. The formed bale is ejected out of the casing and drops onto a ramp. A ramp sensor detects the bale dropping onto the ramp and triggers the discharge gate actuator to stop opening the discharge gate.

A baler-wrapper combination includes a bale forming device and at least one wrapping device with a bale support. The bale support being in the bale depositing position has a lateral offset to a vertical center plane of the bale forming device and is entirely positioned on one side of the vertical plane. A bale is moved on the bale support being in the bale receiving position and is wrapped. The wrapped bale is deposited from the bale support being in the bale depositing position on the ground.

A continuous round baler forms a cylindrically-shaped bale by spiral, coiled layers created by a conical portion of a bale-forming chamber and protruded upwardly from a cylindrical portion of the bale-forming chamber. The bale is circumferentially supported by netting applied to the bale in the cylindrical portion. A rotary feed table receives crop from the field and feeds the crop into the conical portion. The bale forming process can be interrupted if an insufficient volume of crop is collected on the rotary feed table. The netting material is provided on short rolls to facilitate loading onto the machine. A cutoff mechanism is coupled to the growth of the bale from the cylindrical portion to sever the bale at a predetermined length with end surfaces that are perpendicular to the axis of the bale. A bale density mechanism supports the distal end of the bale as the bale protrudes upwardly.

A continuous round baler forms a cylindrically-shaped bale by spiral, coiled layers created by a conical portion of a bale-forming chamber and protruded upwardly from a cylindrical portion of the bale-forming chamber. The bale is circumferentially supported by netting applied to the bale in the cylindrical portion. A rotary feed table receives crop from the field and feeds the crop into the conical portion. The bale forming process can be interrupted if an insufficient volume of crop is collected on the rotary feed table. The netting material is provided on short rolls to facilitate loading onto the machine. A cutoff mechanism is coupled to the growth of the bale from the cylindrical portion to sever the bale at a predetermined length with end surfaces that are perpendicular to the axis of the bale. A bale density mechanism supports the distal end of the bale as the bale protrudes upwardly.