A twine knotter (10) for forming two knots (16, 33) in a pair of twine strands comprising: a drive pulley (20), a bill hook (9) rotatably driven by the drive pulley (20) about a knotter axis (K) to form two successive knots (16, 33) in the pair of twine strands (5, 7), a twine holding device (18) for clamping the pair of twine strands (5, 7) between a first clamping element (21) and a second clamping element (22), and a twine knife (13) for cutting the pair of twine strands (5, 7). The second clamping element is driven rotatably about a twine holder axis (G) by the drive pulley such that the rotatable second clamping element completes two rotations for one rotation of the drive pulley, and the twine holder axis (G) and the knotter axis (K) enclose an angle of less than 45° with one another.

Baling apparatus including a baling chamber having a splitting knife for dividing crop material picked up from a field to discharge divided bales simultaneously. Bale depth control means allows production of bales of predetermined selected depths (or widths) by repositioning the roof of the baling chamber, using extensions to alter the crop-engaging surface of a plunger movable in the baling chamber and repositioning the splitting knife.

An image-based position assessment method is performed in conjunction with a mechanism onboard an agricultural machine and containing a traveling component. In embodiments, the method includes receiving, at an image processing system, camera images captured by a diagnostic camera mounted to the agricultural machine. A field of view of the diagnostic camera at least partially encompasses an intended motion path along which the traveling component is configured to travel. The image processing system analyzes the camera images to determine whether a recorded time-dependent component position of the traveling component deviates excessively from an expected time-dependent component position of the traveling component, as taken along the intended motion path. The image processing further generates, or causes generation of, a first notification on a display device indicating that a positional adjustment to the traveling component is recommended if the recorded time-dependent component position deviates excessively from the expected time-dependent component position.

A bale binding mechanism is configured to form crop material into a bale. The bale binding mechanism includes a baling needle and a twine tensioner. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element. The guide element is shiftable into and out of a twine feed position associated with upward advancement of the tensioned twine section, with the guide element operable to define an offset twine section offset from the twine feed axis in the twine feed position. The twine tensioner includes a cutting device that severs the offset twine section when a twine over-tension condition causes the guide element to shift out of the twine feed position toward the twine feed axis.

A square baler comprising a gear box configured to receive power from a rotating power source. The baler additionally comprises first and second drive shaft sections extending outwardly from generally opposite sides of the gear box. The gear box is configured to rotate said first and second drive shaft sections using power from the rotating power source. The baler further comprises first and second reciprocating plungers respectively coupled to the first and second drive shaft sections in a manner such that rotation of the first drive shaft section causes reciprocation of the first plunger and rotation of the second drive shaft section causes reciprocation of the second plunger.

A square baler comprising a gear box configured to receive power from a rotating power source. The baler additionally comprises first and second drive shaft sections extending outwardly from generally opposite sides of the gear box. The gear box is configured to rotate said first and second drive shaft sections using power from the rotating power source. The baler further comprises first and second reciprocating plungers respectively coupled to the first and second drive shaft sections in a manner such that rotation of the first drive shaft section causes reciprocation of the first plunger and rotation of the second drive shaft section causes reciprocation of the second plunger.

The present invention relates to an automatic bale strapping mechanism for dispensing, cutting, and securing strapping material around a bale of material being formed by a baling press. The automatic bale strapping mechanism can be an integral component or series of components to a conventional baling press. The bale strapping mechanism includes a draw and cutter assembly comprising a mobile draw carriage that draws strapping material a predetermined distance for cutting. The bale strapping mechanism can also include a dispensing mechanism which dispenses strapping material and an insertion assembly which carries strapping material through an extrusion chamber chute of a baling press. Methods of automatically drawing and cutting strapping material are also an aspect of the present invention.

The present invention relates to an automatic bale strapping mechanism for dispensing, cutting, and securing strapping material around a bale of material being formed by a baling press. The automatic bale strapping mechanism can be an integral component or series of components to a conventional baling press. The bale strapping mechanism includes a draw and cutter assembly comprising a mobile draw carriage that draws strapping material a predetermined distance for cutting. The bale strapping mechanism can also include a dispensing mechanism which dispenses strapping material and an insertion assembly which carries strapping material through an extrusion chamber chute of a baling press. Methods of automatically drawing and cutting strapping material are also an aspect of the present invention.

A bale binding mechanism is configured to secure a strand of binding material around a bale of severed crop material. The bale binding mechanism includes a chassis, a knotter head assembly, and a captive lock. The knotter head assembly is operable to form at least one knot in the strand of binding material. The knotter head assembly includes a knotter head frame swingably mounted relative to the chassis and rotatable into and out of an operating position where the knotter head assembly can form the at least one knot. The captive lock is shiftably supported by one of the chassis and the knotter head frame. The captive lock is removably engaged with the other one of the chassis and the knotter head frame to secure the knotter head assembly in the operating position, with the captive lock being releasable to permit rotation of the knotter head assembly out of the operating position.

A method of identifying a bale of material includes capturing an initial image of a region of an initial bale with an initial image sensor and identifying a unique band pattern of at least one multi-colored band of the initial bale. The identified unique band pattern is associated with the initial bale. Data related to the initial bale is associated with the identified unique band pattern. The identified unique band pattern of the initial bale may then be used as an identifier of the initial bale. A second image of the bale is captured and analyzed to determine if the second image includes the unique band pattern of the at least one multi-colored band, thereby identifying the bale in the second image as the initial bale. The data associated with the initial bale may then be retrieved by an operator.