Patent ID: 9095096
Filing Date: 2015-08-04
Classification: A01F

Abstract:
1. A stuffer system of a baler, comprising: a stuffer chute having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end proximal to a bale chamber; and a conveyor assembly disposed along the stuffer chute, the conveyor assembly comprising pivotally-biased elements coupled along a moveable link, wherein elements on a portion of the link disposed within the stuffer chute are pivotable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the conveyor assembly is switchable between a conveying mode and a transfer mode, wherein the conveying mode has the movable link operate in a base position along the stuffer chute such that the conveying mode comprises conveyor assembly operations corresponding to filling the stuffer chute between the inlet end and the outlet end with crop material, wherein the transfer mode comprises transferring the crop material from the stuffer chute to the bale chamber by moving at least a portion of the link positioned at the inlet end into a transfer position, wherein the elements extend further into the stuffer chute when the link is in the transfer position than when the link is in the base position, and wherein each element pivots to the element's retracted position when crop material proximal the element reaches a predetermined density and the conveyor assembly is in the conveying mode, and each element pivots to or remains in the element's extended position when the conveyor assembly is in the transfer mode.