Patent ID: 9173347
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: A01F

Abstract:
1. A baler comprising: a pick-up assembly configured to pick up crop material; a compression assembly supported by a frame of the baler, the assembly located prior to art inlet to a bale chamber or pre-chamber and positioned upstream of the pick-up assembly for receiving the crop material from the pick-up assembly, the compression assembly comprising at least one pair of opposing compression rollers configured to generate a pressure on the crop material passed therethrough, the at least one pair of opposing compression rollers defining an adjustable gap between an upper crop engaging surface of a lower one of the at least one pair of compression rollers and a lower crop engaging surface of an upper one of the at least one pair of compression rollers, the compression assembly being configured to crush and generally flatten the crop material passed through the gap, wherein the pressure on the crop material defines an amount by which the crop material is crushed to decrease the structural integrity of the crop material; the bale chamber, configured to receive the crushed crop material from the compression assembly and form a bale comprised of the crushed crop; and a controller and at least one sensor providing an input to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust the position of least one of the at least one pair of compressions rollers changing the size of the gap using an actuator wherein the controller adjusts the actuator based on at least the sensor input and the type of crop material such that a crushing pressure is maintained on crop passing through the gap.