Patent ID: 6446548
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: A01F

Abstract:
A bale wrapping system for wrapping a rotating bale of crop material with at least one strand of twine, said bale wrapping system comprising:at least one twine dispensing arm for presenting at least one strand of twine so that an end of said strand may dangle from said arm, said arm being movable between a home position and a twine insert position where said end of said strand dangles adjacent said rotating bale; a twine pusher movable between a first position at which it cuts said strand and a second position at which it pushes said dangling end of said strand toward said rotating bale; a bale sensor for sensing a bale parameter which increases as said rotating bale is being formed so as to reach a desired value when said rotating bale is fully formed; a controller responsive to said bale sensor for controlling a bale wrapping cycle during which said controller controls said twine dispensing arm to move from said home position to said twine insert position, said controller being responsive to said bale sensor for controlling said twine pusher to push said dangling end of said strand toward said rotating bale; and, a twine motion sensor for sensing motion of said strand when said dangling end is caught up in said rotating bale; said controller being responsive to said twine motion sensor when said dangling end is not caught up in said rotating bale to automatically abort said bale wrapping cycle and initiate a new bale wrapping cycle.