A bale processor has a towed body that includes one or two hay bale shredders in the form of a flail drum. The bale processor is self-loading such that bales may be loaded in the processing tubs by a set of rear mounted arms and various conveyor chains. The processor also includes a grain tank, a grain metering system, and a grain cracker, all mounted in series. The grain cracker may have a choice of outputs, including back to the grain tank. The cracked grain is fed into the tub to be mixed with other feed materials, such as shredded straw, and is then discharged to the opposite side of the unit. There may be a feed chopper mounted downstream of the tub, such that the feed chopper receives both the grain material and the shredded hay feed. The feed chopper and the grain cracker operate independently, and may have different setting of size, speed, and weight or volume per minute or per unit of distance travelled. The output may have a curtain assembly to facilitate deposit in windrows.

The present invention concerns an apparatus for loosening fiber material packed in bales, comprising a conveyor region for conveying the fiber material along a conveyor direction. The conveyor region includes a feed portion, a buffer portion and a discharge portion. A first roller arrangement is arranged in the transitional region between the feed portion and the buffer portion and a second roller arrangement is arranged in the transitional region between the buffer portion and the discharge portion.

The present invention concerns an apparatus for loosening fiber material packed in bales, comprising a conveyor region for conveying the fiber material along a conveyor direction. The conveyor region includes a feed portion, a buffer portion and a discharge portion. A first roller arrangement is arranged in the transitional region between the feed portion and the buffer portion and a second roller arrangement is arranged in the transitional region between the buffer portion and the discharge portion.

A shield to prevent crop material from wrapping around the shaft of a rotary conveyor of a harvester, such as a baler, includes a body. The body is positioned between a stripper finger and a shaft of the rotary conveyor and has an end surface facing the shaft. A lug is positioned at the opposite end of the body from the end surface and is attached to the housing of the rotary conveyor. The body has opposite side surfaces positioned in spaced relation at a distance substantially equal to the width of the separation fingers of the rotary conveyor.

An apparatus and method for processing blocks or bales of feed includes a movable mixing bin and a store room with a fixed floor for one or more rows of the blocks or bales of feed. A separator is configured to feed the full length of a cutting face which extends downwards from the top of the block or the bale. A conveyor is configured to move the separator in the direction of the cutting face. A discharger moves separated feed to the mixing bin.

An apparatus and method for processing blocks or bales of feed includes a movable mixing bin and a store room with a fixed floor for one or more rows of the blocks or bales of feed. A separator is configured to feed the full length of a cutting face which extends downwards from the top of the block or the bale. A conveyor is configured to move the separator in the direction of the cutting face. A discharger moves separated feed to the mixing bin.

An agricultural harvesting machine having a multiple stage compression system includes first and second compression systems. The first compression mechanism partially compresses the crop material in a compression chamber. The second compression system having 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 first compartment is aligned with the compression chamber and the second compartment is operatively positioned with a second compression mechanism. The second compression system has a second 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 includes a binding system operatively associated with the second compression mechanism. At least one of the first and second compartments rotate between the first and second positions.

An agricultural harvesting machine having a multiple stage compression system includes first and second compression systems. The first compression mechanism partially compresses the crop material in a compression chamber. The second compression system having 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 first compartment is aligned with the compression chamber and the second compartment is operatively positioned with a second compression mechanism. The second compression system has a second 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 includes a binding system operatively associated with the second compression mechanism. At least one of the first and second compartments rotate between the first and second positions.

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.

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.