A rectangular baler having a bale-forming chamber, a piston that is reciprocatable in the bale-forming chamber for compressing biomass to form bales. The dimensions of part of the interior of the bale-forming chamber are adjustable under the influence of at least one actuator the energization of which is controllable. A controller for controlling the energization of the at least one actuator is adapted for generating a least a first control signal in accordance with a target pressure mode of the baler, a second control signal in accordance with a target force mode of the baler, and a third control signal in accordance with a target weight mode of the baler.

A device and method for tracking and marking bailed forage material is provided. The moisture content of forage material entering the intake of a processing machine is measured prior to the forage material being transferred to a baling chamber of the machine. As the forage material passes through the machine, the locations of discrete portions or flakes of the forage material are linearly tracked so that each portion may receive pre-selected markings indicative of measured parameters of each portion. A plurality of sensor stations is incorporated within the machine to track the locations of the portions of material. After the forage material is baled, a marking station generates markings applied to each bale which corresponds to the observed parameters for the corresponding discrete portions. Observed parameters may include moisture content for each flake, an amount and type of conditioning inoculant applied to each flake, among others. Multiple markings can be applied to each bale to indicate moisture content for selected portions of the bale since moisture content may differ between flakes in the bale.

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.

An agricultural baler has a baling chamber with a plunger that is provided to reciprocally move in the baling chamber, the baling chamber walls separating the baling chamber from the environment, wherein the baling chamber walls include fluid channels formed at the environment side of the wall and directly adjacent to the baling chamber in such a manner that, during operation of the agricultural baler, heat is transferred from the baling chamber wall to fluid in the fluid channels, and the fluid is moved along said fluid channels during operation of the agricultural baler.

An agricultural baler having a baling chamber, an intake duct leading into the baling chamber and a stuffer mechanism for transferring slice of crop in the intake duct into the baling chamber, wherein the baler comprises a wall segment positioned substantially in line with an inner wall surface of the baler, the wall segment being suspended from the inner wall surface via at least one load measurement sensor in such a manner that both a load perpendicular to, and a load parallel to the inner wall are derivable.

A sensor detects a characteristic of accumulated crop material and a controller manipulates the speed of a baling chamber in response thereto. The speed of a baling chamber of a variable speed baler is manipulated in response to a characteristic of an accumulated crop material. For example, the height of accumulated crop material in an accumulation area may be detected and the speed of the baling chamber manipulated in response thereto. The rate of growth of the bale may also be determined and used in manipulating the speed of the baling chamber.

A baler having a frame, a feed system coupled to the frame, and a compression assembly in operable communication with the feed system. Where the compression assembly includes a baling chamber, a gearbox having an output shaft, and a crank arm defining a first mounting point and a second mounting point spaced a distance from the first mounting point, where the first mounting point of the crank arm is coupled to and rotatable with the output shaft of the gearbox. The compression assembly also includes a plunger positioned within and reciprocally movable with respect to the baling chamber, where the plunger defines a third mounting point thereon, and where the distance between the second mounting point and the third mounting point is variable during a baling process.

A baler including a frame, a feed system coupled to the frame, a baling chamber, a gearbox, a crank arm driven by the gearbox, a plunger at least partially positioned within and reciprocally movable with respect to the baling chamber, and a connecting rod extending between and coupled to both the crank arm and the plunger, where the connecting rod defines a connector length, and where the connecting rod defines a fluid volume therein. The baler also including a hydraulic system in operable communication with the connecting rod, a pump, a first feed line extending between and in fluid communication with the fluid volume of the connecting rod and the pump, and a lockout valve adjustable between a first configuration in which the fluid volume is in fluid communication with the pump, and a second configuration in which the fluid volume is not in fluid communication with the pump.

A baler implement includes an upper compression panel and a first side compression panel. A compression frame is disposed around the upper compression panel and the first side compression panel. A panel support structure includes a top portion positioned proximate the upper compression panel, and a first side portion attached to the top portion and positioned proximate the left side compression panel. An actuator interconnects the compression frame and the panel support structure. The actuator is operable to extend to move the panel support structure and the upper compression panel in a first vertical direction along a first compression axis. A first wedging system includes a wedge for converting movement of the first side portion in the first vertical direction along the first compression axis into movement of the first side compression panel in a first horizontal direction along a second compression axis.

A device and method for tracking and marking bailed forage material is provided. Predetermined parameters are measured as the forage material enters the intake of a processing machine and prior to the forage material being transferred to a baling chamber of the machine. As the forage material passes through the machine, the locations of discrete portions or flakes of the forage material are linearly tracked so that each portion may receive pre-selected markings indicative of measured parameters of each portion. A plurality of sensor stations is incorporated within the machine to track the locations of the portions of material. After the forage material is baled, a marking station generates markings applied to each bale which corresponds to the measured parameters for the corresponding discrete portions. Observed parameters may include moisture content, volume, density, temperature, nutritional content, an amount and type of conditioning inoculant applied to each flake, among others. Multiple markings can be applied to each bale to indicate moisture content for selected portions of the bale since moisture content may differ between flakes in the bale.