A bale forming apparatus including a bale forming device providing a bale forming chamber, a rotatable driving member, a shaft, and a free-wheel clutch provided between the shaft and the rotatable driving member. The shaft drives at least temporarily the rotatable driving member. The free-wheel clutch transfers a rotation of the shaft onto the driving member. The rotated driving member drives at least one part of the bale forming device. The bale forming device forms a bale in the provided bale forming chamber. At least one time the rotatable driving member is rotated with respect to the shaft. The free-wheel clutch enables this rotation of the rotatable driving member.

An apparatus and a method for forming a bale from loose material are disclosed. A feeder feeds loose material to a bale former. The bale former forms a bale from loose material. A feeding-side output shaft drives the feeder. A forming-side output shaft drives the bale former. An input shaft drives both output shafts. A torque measuring arrangement measures a value indicative of the input torque provided by the input shaft. If the input torque value exceeds a given torque threshold, a control unit triggers the bale former for reducing the torque consumption taken from the forming-side output shaft.

A method for unloading a first and a second bale from a round baler onto a field. The round baler includes a bale chamber and a bale holder. The method successively includes steps of: growing the second bale in the bale chamber, while the first bale is carried by the bale holder; unloading the first bale from the bale holder onto the field a period of time before finishing growing the second bale, the first bale defining a first position on the field; finishing growing the second bale; transporting the second bale to the bale holder; and unloading the second bale onto the field. The second bale defines a second position on the field. The period of time is determined such that a distance between the first position and the second position is smaller than a sum of the diameters of the first bale and second bale.

A method for unloading a first and a second bale from a round baler onto a field. The round baler includes a bale chamber and a bale holder. The method successively includes steps of: growing the second bale in the bale chamber, while the first bale is carried by the bale holder; unloading the first bale from the bale holder onto the field a period of time before finishing growing the second bale, the first bale defining a first position on the field; finishing growing the second bale; transporting the second bale to the bale holder; and unloading the second bale onto the field. The second bale defines a second position on the field. The period of time is determined such that a distance between the first position and the second position is smaller than a sum of the diameters of the first bale and second bale.

A harvester and a crop accumulator combination. The harvester is configured to transfer a harvested crop to the crop accumulator. The crop accumulator comprises at least one actuator to selectively discharge the harvested crops onto a field. A GPS unit is configured with at least one virtual trip line. An ECU is in communication with the GPS unit. The ECU is configured to selectively command the actuator of the crop accumulator to discharge harvested crop onto the field when the ECU receives a signal from the GPS unit when at least one of the virtual trip line is being approached, the virtual trip line is being crossed, and the virtual trip line has been crossed.

A harvester and a crop accumulator combination. The harvester is configured to transfer a harvested crop to the crop accumulator. The crop accumulator comprises at least one actuator to selectively discharge the harvested crops onto a field. A GPS unit is configured with at least one virtual trip line. An ECU is in communication with the GPS unit. The ECU is configured to selectively command the actuator of the crop accumulator to discharge harvested crop onto the field when the ECU receives a signal from the GPS unit when at least one of the virtual trip line is being approached, the virtual trip line is being crossed, and the virtual trip line has been crossed.

A system for controlling the speed of harvested crop as it is discharged from a crop accumulator onto a field comprising a discharge mechanism for imparting a desired rearward travel speed to the harvested crop as it is being discharged from the crop accumulator and a speed measurement device for measuring forward travel speed of the crop accumulator. A processor is in communication with the discharge mechanism and the speed measurement device and is operable to adjust the discharge mechanism for imparting the desired rearward travel speed or the forward travel speed of the crop accumulator, to discharge harvested crop with a rearward travel speed that is substantially equal to the forward travel speed such that the harvested crop has a substantially net zero speed as it contacts the ground.

A system for controlling the speed of harvested crop as it is discharged from a crop accumulator onto a field comprising a discharge mechanism for imparting a desired rearward travel speed to the harvested crop as it is being discharged from the crop accumulator and a speed measurement device for measuring forward travel speed of the crop accumulator. A processor is in communication with the discharge mechanism and the speed measurement device and is operable to adjust the discharge mechanism for imparting the desired rearward travel speed or the forward travel speed of the crop accumulator, to discharge harvested crop with a rearward travel speed that is substantially equal to the forward travel speed such that the harvested crop has a substantially net zero speed as it contacts the ground.

An apparatus and a method are disclosed for forming a cylindrical bale in a bale forming chamber. An endless pressing mechanims partially surrounds the bale forming chamber. A first tensioning member and a second tensioning member together tension the pressing mechanism by at least two guiding elements. A tensioning actuator is biased to pivot the second tensioning member away from the first tensioning member.