An agricultural harvesting machine having a multiple stage compression system includes first and second compression systems. The first compression system includes a first compression mechanism which partially compresses the crop material in a compression chamber. The second compression system includes first and second compartments each having at least one open end and positioned rearward of the compression chamber. The second compression system has a first position in which the second compartment is aligned with the compression chamber and the first compartment is operatively positioned with a second compression mechanism. The second compression system has a second position in which the second compartment is operatively positioned with a third compression mechanism and the first compartment is aligned with the compression chamber. The second compression system includes a binding system operatively associated with the second compression mechanism.

A baler apparatus includes a baling chamber including at least one adjustable wall for adjusting compression of a body of bale material. A reciprocating plunger is operable to compress the bale material and a binding device binds the compressed material to form a bale by use of twine loops. An adjustment mechanism including a guide or rollers varies a length of the twine loops when binding the bale to reduce compression within part of the body of bale material and avoid twine breakage that can otherwise occur as a bale is ejected from the baler.

A baler includes a baling chamber that includes a bale-forming channel including at least one adjustable friction control element, a plunger mounted within the channel, and a rotary drive mechanism for driving reciprocating movement of the plunger. A control system controls operation of the baler, the control system configured to determine an actual maximum torque value associated with the rotary drive mechanism, compare the actual maximum torque value with a selected desired maximum torque value, and adjust the friction control element to regulate the actual maximum torque value according to the desired maximum torque value.

A baler having a compression system for forming a bale includes a plunger that reciprocates within a baling chamber between an extended position and a retracted position. The baler also includes a controller configured to detect and calculate the amount of work exerted by the plunger as it reciprocates within the baling chamber. The controller generally calculates the work exerted by the plunger by determining the force applied to the plunger and the distance the plunger has traveled with respect to the baling chamber.

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 baler including a frame, a feed assembly coupled to the frame, an auger housing defining a volume therein, where the volume of the auger housing is configured to receive crop material from the feed assembly during operation, and one or more augers at least partially positioned within the volume and rotatable with respect to the auger housing, where the one or more augers define an auger inlet plane. The baler also including a plurality of strippers coupled to the auger housing and configured to engage crop material, where each stripper includes a leading edge, and where the leading edge of at least one stripper is positioned upstream of the auger inlet plane.

A baler including a frame, and a compression system coupled to the frame, where the compression system at least partially defines a compression chamber. The baler also includes a feed pan at least partially defining a pre-compression chamber in operable communication with the compression chamber, where the feed pan includes an inlet defining an inlet area and an outlet defining an outlet area, and where the outlet of the pre-compression chamber is open to the compression chamber of the compression system. The baler also includes at least one actuator coupled to the feed pan, and a controller in operable communication with the at least one actuator, and where the controller is configured to adjust the inlet area and the outlet area independently.

A baler for use with a forming bale having a first bale attribute. The baler including a frame, and a compression system coupled to the frame where the compression system at least partially defines a compression chamber sized to receive at least a portion of the forming bale therein. The baler also includes a feed pan at least partially defining a pre-compression chamber, and where the shape of the pre-compression is adjustable, and where the pre-compression chamber is open to the compression chamber. The baler also includes a sensor configured to output signals representative of the first bale attribute, and a controller in operable communication with the feed pan and the sensor, and where the controller is configured to actively adjust the shape of the pre-compression chamber based at least in part upon the first bale attribute of the forming bale.

A binding material for binding a bale (14) of crop material has bale (14) identification tags (62) used to identify properties of the bale (14) that is bound by the binding material. The binding material (52) includes at least one strand of a non-identifying filament and one strand of an identifying filament incorporating the identification tag (62). The non-identifying filament and the identifying filament are wound together before the binding material (52) is used to bind the bale. The identifying filament has an RFID inlay having conducting wires of an antenna connected to an RFID chip, with the length of the inlay between 10 and 24 cm. The RFID inlay comprises a segment of the identifying filament with adjacent RFID inlays spaced along the identifying filament at a desired interval. The identifying strand incorporating the RFID inlay is wound during a binding material production process with the at least one non-identifying filament into a single twine strand.

An agricultural baler for producing rectangular bales, having a reciprocating plunger moving back and forth in the enclosure formed by walls, thereby compressing crop material and forming rectangular bales, and further including at least one actuator for adapting the cross-section of the enclosure depending on the required pressure that needs to be exerted on the advancing bale. Actuators can apply their force on the sidewalls along transversal support beams or brackets forming the density belt. The baling chamber is provided with one or more friction or moisture sensors which are placed at the location or in the immediate vicinity of one or more side wall reinforcements.