A method for identifying the weight of a transportation group of bales includes receiving, compressing and shaping crop material into a plurality of bales, wrapping each bale of the plurality of bales with a binding material and attaching an identification tag to each of the bales. A bale ID is crated for each bale and a weight value for each of the bales is associated with the bale ID of the respective bale. The identification tag on the bale for each bale is assigned to the bale ID. The method reads the identification tag of each of plurality of bales and assigns the plurality of bales to a transportation group with a local bale handling device. The plurality of bales in the transportation group are loaded onto a truck, and the total weight of the transportation group is determined by totaling the weight value of each bale in the transportation group.

A baling system comprising a first bale-forming area configured to form a first series of first individual bales, and a second bale forming-area configured to from a second series of second individual bales. The baling system additionally comprises a bale accumulator configured to receive the first and second individual bales from said first and second bale-forming areas and to manipulate the first and second individual bales into a group of four or more bales.

A baler system is operable to determine an initial quantity of a preservative stored in a tank and define an application rate of the preservative to be applied per bale during a harvest operation. A number of bales to be formed during the harvest operation may be estimated, and a determination made on whether or not the initial quantity of the preservative at the defined application rate is sufficient to treat the estimated number of bales to be formed during the harvest operation. When a controller determines that the initial quantity of the preservative is not sufficient to treat the estimated number of bales to be formed during the harvest operation, the controller may send a notification to a system manager requesting additional preservative be delivered to the baler implement. The status of the preservative may be continuously monitored and updated throughout the harvest operation.

A method and system for monitoring a bale shape. The method includes receiving a series of bale images from a camera, identifying the bale in the bale images, determining at least one bale shape parameter of the identified bale, and providing an electronic signal representative of the bale shape parameter. The bale images include a view of at least an outlet of a bale chamber of an agricultural baler, of a bale being ejected from the outlet, and of a field travelled by the agricultural baler during the ejection of the bale. The at least one bale shape parameter of the identified bale is then determined based on at least one of the bale images. The identifying of the bale may, at least partly, be performed using trained neural networks and other artificial intelligence algorithms.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for estimating remaining life in an agricultural baler comprising a reciprocating plunger for compressing gathered agricultural material into bales. A first sensor generates signals corresponding to force applied to the reciprocating plunger and any baling components configured to at least partially carry forces applied to the plunger. Based on input signals from at least the first sensor, forces associated with a load are recorded and a life state is estimated for the reciprocating plunger and/or at least one associated baler component. An output signal is then generated corresponding to the one or more estimated life states. In an embodiment, an input signal from a second sensor indicates completion of a bale, wherein an amount of life consumed from the plunger and/or baling components is determined in association with the bale, based at least in part on operating conditions of the baled material.

A baler is provided, including a baling chamber that includes a bale-forming channel including at least one adjustable friction control element; a plunger mounted within the channel; a rotary drive mechanism to drive reciprocating movement of the plunger; a control system to control operation of the baler and being configured to determine an actual maximum torque value (MTV) associated with the mechanism, to compare the actual MTV with a selected desired MTV, and to adjust the control element to regulate the actual MTV according to the selected desired MTV; a sensor that senses a force value; and a sensor that senses a cyclical position of a component of the mechanism, the control system being further configured to determine the actual MTV by measuring the force value, sensing the cyclical position of the component, and deriving the actual MTV from the measured force value and the sensed cyclical position.

A baler including a baling chamber that includes a bale-forming channel including an inlet end and an outlet end, a plunger mounted within the channel for compressing bale material in the channel and driving the compressed bale material towards the outlet end of the channel, and a rotary drive mechanism for driving reciprocating movement of the plunger, and an additional drive mechanism for driving the compressed bale material towards the outlet end of the channel, thereby reducing torque in the rotary drive mechanism.

An accumulator contents detection system for a harvester includes an accumulator, a plurality of metering rollers, and at least one sensor. The accumulator accumulates crop material. The plurality of metering rollers receives crop material from the accumulator. The plurality of metering rollers includes a drive metering roller. The at least one sensor detects a load transmitted to the drive metering roller.

A baling press for baling cotton gin trash and other particulate biomass feedstock. The baling press generally includes an infeed chute assembly, a compression ram assembly, an extrusion chamber assembly, a strapping storage and dispensing assembly, and a strapping insertion assembly. The present invention also relates to methods of producing a bale with the baling press and a bale generated by the baling press and described methods.

A baling press for baling cotton gin trash and other particulate biomass feedstock. The baling press generally includes an infeed chute assembly, a compression ram assembly, an extrusion chamber assembly, a strapping storage and dispensing assembly, and a strapping insertion assembly. The present invention also relates to methods of producing a bale with the baling press and a bale generated by the baling press and described methods.