A rectangular baler including a baling chamber, an intake duct, a pick-up mechanism for picking up crop material and introducing it into the intake duct, and a stuffer mechanism to selectively execute a packer stroke to advance crop material partially along the intake duct and a stuffer stroke to transfer the crop material accumulated in the intake duct into the baling chamber. The stuffer mechanism includes a tine bar extending between two stuffer assemblies at each side of the baler. Each stuffer assembly includes a first stuffer arm connected at a first pivot point to a first crank arm of a first drive mechanism, a second stuffer arm connected at a second pivot point to a second crank arm of a second drive mechanism, and a coupling plate pivotally mounted around a stationary pivot point. The coupling plate couples the first stuffer arm with the second stuffer arm.

The present invention relates generally to wood chippers and baling machines and methods of operation therefor, and more specifically, to an apparatus and a method for chipping tree branches and the like and baling wood chips formed from such chipping activities. The apparatus includes a chipper assembly having a chipping mechanism operable to reduce the trimmed branches to wood chips. Also provided is a bale forming assembly operatively connected to the chipper assembly. The bale forming assembly has a housing and a baling mechanism contained within an interior space of the housing. The housing has an opening defined therein for receiving wood chips from the chipper assembly. The opening provides access to the interior space of the housing. The baling mechanism is operable to form a bale from the wood chips produced by the chipper assembly.

A baler implement includes a lower passage wall defining a lower boundary of a pre-compression passageway. The lower passage wall includes a forward portion and an access panel. A pivotable connection interconnects the forward portion and the access panel at a lower and forward transverse edge of the access panel such that a rearward and upper transverse edge of the access panel moves vertically to provide access into the pre-compression passageway. Access is obtained from the rear of the baler implement, between the rearward transverse edge of the access panel and a bottom wall of the compression chamber, without the access panel hanging down from the compression chamber and obscuring access into the pre-compression passageway.

A crank-operated packer mechanism includes a crank shaft including crank pins and crank arms. At least some of the crank arms are shaped in a way that deviates from a straight shape to such an extent that the crank shaft is statically balanced. The arms may, for example, be curved or hook-shaped. The crank shaft further includes crank pins and crank arms assembled by a tapered spline connection. The connection includes tapered spline features on outer ends of the crank pins and in openings provided at outer ends of the crank arms, which interlock when the crank pins are inserted in the openings.

A crank-operated packer mechanism includes crank pins and crank arms assembled by a tapered spline connection. The connection includes tapered spline features on outer ends of the crank pins and in openings provided at outer ends of the crank arms, which interlock when the crank pins are inserted in the openings. The connection further includes a locking feature for locking the connection, such as a locking nut screwed onto a threaded outer end of the crank pins when inserted into the opening. Fixing of rotary bearings onto the crank pins is done by a fixing nut which at the same time serves as a disassembling aid for the spline connection. The crank arms are shaped in a way that deviates from a straight shape to such an extent that the crank shaft is statically balanced about its central rotation axis. Also a baler including the aforementioned packer mechanism.

A crank-operated packer mechanism includes crank pins and crank arms assembled by a tapered spline connection. The connection includes tapered spline features on outer ends of the crank pins and in openings provided at outer ends of the crank arms, which interlock when the crank pins are inserted in the openings. The connection further includes a locking feature for locking the connection, such as a locking nut screwed onto a threaded outer end of the crank pins when inserted into the opening. Fixing of rotary bearings onto the crank pins is done by a fixing nut which at the same time serves as a disassembling aid for the spline connection. The crank arms are shaped in a way that deviates from a straight shape to such an extent that the crank shaft is statically balanced about its central rotation axis. Also a baler including the aforementioned packer mechanism.

A crank-operated packer mechanism includes a crank shaft including crank pins and crank arms. At least some of the crank arms are shaped in a way that deviates from a straight shape to such an extent that the crank shaft is statically balanced. The arms may, for example, be curved or hook-shaped. The crank shaft further includes crank pins and crank arms assembled by a tapered spline connection. The connection includes tapered spline features on outer ends of the crank pins and in openings provided at outer ends of the crank arms, which interlock when the crank pins are inserted in the openings.

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 conveying and collecting device for a crop press has a conveying and collecting unit switchable from a collecting mode into a lifting mode. A first cam track for rotating feed tines of a feed bar is switchable from a fixed state, in which it is stationary and the conveying and collecting unit is in collecting mode, into a moving state, in which it is driven by the conveying and collecting unit that is in lifting mode. A coupling device for operatively coupling the first cam track with the conveying and collecting unit is provided, and a switching device triggers or prevents coupling based on the filling level of the collecting chamber that is detected by a sensor unit. Triggering or preventing of the coupling process is mechanically independent of the detected filling level. A crop press is provided with such a conveying and collecting device.

A square baler comprising a first bale-forming area in which are formed a first series of first individual bales, and a second bale-forming area in which are formed a second series of second individual bales. The square baler additionally comprises a singulator configured to receive the first and second individual bales from the first and second bale-forming areas and to form a single row of the first and second individual bales.