Automatic bale ejection drive override means

In a crop roll forming machine having a reversibly rotatable upper bale forming means, lower bale forming means and a drive means there is provided a control means affixed to the frame movable between at least a first position and a second position for cooperative interaction with the drive means and the upper and lower bale forming means to selectively cause the lower bale forming means to be driven in a generally rearward direction when the control means is moved from the first position to the second position so that a partially formed crop roll is ejected rearwardly from the machine onto the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a machine for forming large cylindrical bales of 
crop material, commonly called round bales, in a roll forming region above 
the ground. More specifically, it is concerned with apparatus which 
permits the completed bale to be discharged from the roll forming region 
onto the ground by the automatic reversing of the bale forming means or 
upper apron. 
Historically, it has been the custom to harvest forage crops by mowing the 
particular crop, letting it dry in the field, forming the dried crop 
material into windrows and passing a hay-baling machine over and along 
these windrows to form the crop material into rectangular bales. Recent 
practice has shown that the formation of crop material into large compact 
rolls, rather than rectangular bales as formerly done, permits the crop 
material to be deposited in roll form and left in fields for extended 
periods of time. The ability to leave these rolled bales in fields 
obviates the additional steps required in the traditional rectangular 
baling process of gathering the bales and transporting them to a storage 
area protected from the elements. This new technique of forming large 
round bales has created a baling systen that can be conducted by one 
person. This is in marked contrast to the traditional practice of forming 
rectangular bales where the labor of several people was required to effect 
the cutting, drying, windrowing, baling, gathering and storing of the crop 
material. 
Several methods of forming compact cylindrical rolls of crop material have 
evolved through the years. The most successful of these methods involves 
the forming of crop rolls by picking up a swath or windrow of material 
from the field and directing it onto a lower conveyor. This conveyor 
transports the material to a roll or bale forming region where an upper 
apron or flight of belts, usually positioned above and adjacent the 
conveyor, moves in a suitable direction to rotate the crop material with 
which it is brought into contact. The increasing popularity of these crop 
roll forming machines has seen their use broaden from rolling wintering 
forage for livestock to rolling high protein crops, such as alfalfa, for 
dairy livestock. Therefore, these machines are the focal point of many 
ideas for developing both labor-saving and time-saving apparatus. 
Crop roll forming machines that produce large cylindrical crop rolls 
utilize some form of a tailgate which is pivotally mounted to the frame of 
the machine. The tailgate is elevated upon completion of the crop roll or 
when it is desired to discharge a less than full size bale for any of a 
variety of reasons from the roll forming region. The tailgate follows a 
predetermined arc of travel, generally pivoting about a fixed point on the 
frame. 
Prior crop roll forming machines require the operator, who is located in 
the operator's area of a prime moving vehicle, such as a tractor, to 
perform a series of manual operations after completing the formation of 
the large crop roll and prior to recommencing the roll forming process or 
cycle. Generally these manual steps require the stopping of the roll 
forming machine and the towing tractor, the initiation of the wrapping of 
the completed crop roll, stopping the power takeoff shaft from the 
tractor, opening the tailgate, restarting the power takeoff shaft to power 
the roll forming machine's components to assist in discharging the bale, 
closing the tailgate and finally, restarting the forward motion of the 
tractor and the roll forming machine. Recently developed crop roll forming 
machines have reduced the number of manual steps which the machine 
operator must perform after the completion of the formation of each bale. 
These recently developed crop roll forming machines generally discharge the 
completed crop material package from the roll forming region by pivoting 
the tailgate rearwardly and upwardly, thereby permitting the upper bale 
forming means to automatically cease rotation in a first direction and 
commence rotation in an opposing second direction. This automatic reversal 
of the upper bale forming means simultaneously occurs with the declutching 
of the lower bale forming means or conveyor. A completed crop roll thus is 
urged rearwardly out of the machine onto the ground with the operator 
being required only to stop the towing tractor, initiate the wrapping of 
the roll and opening and then closing the tailgate. Under certain 
conditions, such as when the supply of crop material to be baled has been 
exhausted or when the core of the roll has broken down, it is necessary to 
eject a partially formed roll of relatively small diameter. Usually the 
mere reversing of the upper bale forming means will not effect the 
ejection of the crop roll under these conditions since the partially 
formed bale or core of crop material presents too little surface area for 
engagement with the upper bale forming means and occupies too little of 
the bale forming region. Any rolling motion imparted to the core or 
partially formed bale will be insufficient to propel the bale out of the 
bale forming region and onto the ground. It then becomes necessary to 
impart a more positive ejection force to the core. 
The foregoing problems are solved in the design of the machine comprising 
the present machine by providing drive means for discharging the completed 
crop roll automatically with the raising motion of the tailgate. The drive 
means is provided with a selectively actuatable control means to permit 
the roll forming machine operator to override the automatic reversing of 
the upper bale forming means and prevent the declutching of the lower bale 
forming means, thereby causing the lower bale forming means to continue to 
move rearwardly to convey a partially formed crop roll rearwardly out of 
the bale forming region and onto the ground at the rear of the machine. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide in a crop roll forming 
machine apparatus that will permit the machine operator to discharge the 
core of an incompletely formed crop roll from the bale forming region. 
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a drive system for a 
roll forming machine which will permit the operator to override the clutch 
which automatically disengages the lower bale forming means to permit the 
lower bale forming means to be engaged so that it is driven rearwardly to 
eject an incompletely formed crop roll. 
It is a further feature of this invention that there is imparted to the 
incompletely formed crop roll sufficient force to eject it from the bale 
forming region. 
It is an advantage of the present invention that the clutch which 
automatically disengages the lower bale forming means cannot be overriden 
beyond a predetermined point in the elevation of the tailgate to preclude 
damage from occurring to the bale forming machine's drive system. 
These and other objects and advantages are obtained by providing in a crop 
roll forming machine adapted to be towed across a field control means 
affixed to the frame movable between at least a first position and a 
second position for cooperative interaction with the drive means and the 
upper and lower bale forming means to selectively cause the lower bale 
forming means to be driven in a generally rearward direction when the 
control means is moved from the first position to the second position so 
that in conjunction with the upper bale forming means a partially formed 
crop roll is ejected rearwardly from the roll forming machine onto the 
ground.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring generally to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is 
shown a general representation of the crop roll forming machine 10 of the 
type illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,909 to Mast, dated Jan. 14, 1975. 
The crop roll forming machine 10 is illustrated in position to be fastened 
to a towing vehicle such as a tractor which has a power takeoff shaft (not 
shown) providing the rotary driving force for the mechanically operated 
components of the crop roll forming machine. The machine 10 is 
appropriately fastened via the towing hitch 14 mounted on the draft member 
15 of the roll forming machine 10 to the hitch member of the tractor (not 
shown). The tractor hydraulic lines 18 provide the necessary fluid from 
the tractor's hydraulic reservoir (not shown) for the hydraulically 
operated components of the roll forming machine 10. The drive means for 
the roll forming machine 10 is indicated generally by the numeral 19. 
The roll forming machine 10, shown in FIG. 1, comprises generally an upper 
frame 20 and a lower frame 21. Lower frame 21 has mounted to its forward 
portion a pickup 22, normally tined, for collecting crop material 
deposited in preformed windrows on a field and delivering it to the roll 
forming machine 10. The lower frame 21 includes a horizontal beam member 
24 to which is suitably fastened a floor 25. The floor 25 alternatively 
may be in the form of sheet metal with appropriate channels (not shown) 
having conveying chains running therealong, as illustrated in the 
aformentioned patent to Mast, or may consist of one or more conveyor belts 
rotatably mounted or any other means suitable for supporting crop material 
once it is delivered thereto by the pickup 22. Horizontal beam member 24 
is connected at its forward end to a generally vertical beam member 26. A 
diagonal brace member 28 is appropriately fastened to the top of vertical 
beam member 26 and extends downwardly and rearwardly until it joins 
fixedly with a bracing member at the rearward portion of the side sheet 
covering member 29. A diagonal bracing member 30 extends upwardly and 
forwardly from the rear of side sheet covering member 29 until it is 
fixedly fastened to vertical member 26. This lower frame 21 is mobilely 
mounted to a pair of wheels 31 (only one of which is shown) via a suitable 
axle and support beam indicated generally by the numeral 32. 
Upper frame 20, shown in solid lines in a partially elevated position in 
FIG. 1, consists of a tailgate pivotable about its mounting point 34 at 
the top of vertical member 26. The tailgate or upper frame 20 is formed 
from a series of interconnected bracing members 35,36,37,38 and 39 and is 
encased by side sheet members 40 and rear sheet members (not shown). The 
upper frame 20 is raised and lowered by means of a pair of hydraulic 
cylinders 41, only one of which is shown. As best seen in FIG. 1, the 
hydraulic cylinders 41 are mounted one on each side of the frame with the 
barrel end 42 being fastened to the vertical beam member 26 of the lower 
frame 21 and the rod end 44 being fastened to the bracing member 35 of the 
upper frame 20. Suitable hydraulic lines (not shown) are connected to 
opposite ends of the cylinders 41 to supply the fluid from the 
aforementioned tractor hydraulic reservoir for the selective activation of 
the hydraulic cylinders. As best seen in the elevated position of FIG. 1, 
the upper frame has an elongated section 45 of the type shown and 
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,505 assigned to the assignee of the 
present invention. 
The upper bale forming means or upper apron 46 travels about the periphery 
of the roll forming machine 10 on a series of appropriately mounted idler 
sprockets 48,49,50,51 and a drive sprocket (not shown) mounted about a 
reversible rotatable shaft 52. Shaft 52 is suitably rotatably affixed or 
mounted to vertical frame member 26. A takeup mechanism indicated 
generally by the numeral 54 in FIG. 1 is fastened to bearing brackets 55 
which are in turn secured to the upper portion of vertical member 26. The 
takeup mechanism 54 further includes a pair of pivotable parallel arms 56, 
one being positioned on each side of the frame. The takeup mechanism 
pivots about a bearing 58 and thereby allows the upper apron 46 to be 
played out and about the periphery of expanding crop roll R. The upper 
apron 46 passes about sprockets 59 mounted on the end of each of the 
takeup arms 56. The upper apron 46 is preferably comprised of a pair of 
roller link chains (not shown) transversely spaced apart on opposing sides 
of the machine 10. These chains are interconnected by a series of spaced 
apart parallel crop engaging members which combine with the roller link 
chains to form a rotatable curvilinear crop engaging member. 
The details of the roll forming machine are not described in further detail 
at this point because they are old and well known to one of ordinary skill 
in the art. It should be noted, however for the purpose of the invention 
to be described hereinafter, that the upper apron 46 could equally well 
comprise the aforementioned roller link chains, as well as a series of 
expandable belts or a series of rollers of cylindrical or hexagonal cross 
section arranged to form a movable curvilinear surface. 
Drive means 19 is connected to the power takeoff shaft of the towing 
tractor through a series of connecting shafts and gearboxes. Connecting 
shaft 60 of FIG. 1 connects to the power takeoff shaft of the tractor 
above draft member 15. Shaft 60 then joins input shaft 61 via a universal 
joint 63. Input shaft 61 is rotatable fastened to draft member 15 via 
support bracket 64. Rearwardly of bracket 64 draft member 15 separates 
into two members, only one of which is shown as 65 in FIG. 2, to generally 
form an A-frame type of structure. These two members are fixedly fastened 
to a horizontal support member 68, briefly shown best in FIG. 2, which 
extends tranversely across the width of the roll forming machine 10. Input 
shaft 61 then is joined with a right angle gearbox 69 suitably fastened 
atop horizontal support member 68. The rotary power is transferred within 
gearbox 69 through a set of bevel gears (not shown) to an output shaft 71. 
As evident from FIGS. 2 and 3, shaft 71 extends through side member 72 and 
at its extremity has mounted thereabout a multi-grooved drive sheave 74. 
The sheave 74 and output shaft 71 are continuously driven during the 
operation of the roll forming machine 10 without disengaging the power 
takeoff shaft of the tractor. As best shown in FIG. 3, the rotary power 
being transferred from the tractor power takeoff shaft through the gearbox 
69 to the sheave 74 is transferred via drive belt 75 to sheave 76 and then 
to shaft 78 about which sheave 76 is mounted. 
The transfer of rotary power is best seen in FIG. 2 where in enlarged scale 
the drive means 19 is first shown in solid lines with the components in 
position to drive the upper apron 46 in a first direction utilized during 
the formation of a bale; and secondly, in phantom in position to drive the 
upper apron 46 in an opposing second direction utilized during the 
discharge of the bale, respectively. Interiorly of the sheave 76 shaft 78 
has a sprocket 79 mounted thereabout which is connected via chain 80 to 
driven pickup sprocket 81 which is mounted about pickup drive shaft 82. 
Shaft 82 than drives the tined pickup 22 which is pivotally mounted to the 
lower frame 21 of FIG. 1. 
Drive sheave 74 also has a second driving belt 84 mounted thereabout 
interiorly of the drive belt 75. Belt 84 is wrapped about multiply grooved 
driving sheave 85 which is mounted about reversibly driven shaft 52 which, 
in turn, drives the upper apron 46. Bracket 77 has a belt guide pin 
extending outwardly over sheave 85 which aids in keeping belt 84 properly 
seated about its sheaves. Interiorly of multiply grooved sheave 85 and 
coaxially mounted about shaft 52 is a sprocket 86 about which is wrapped a 
chain 88. Chain 88 drives the lower bale forming means or apron 89, 
illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, drive belt 75 and driving belt 84 are maintained 
with the proper amount of tension to transmit rotary power from output 
shaft 71 via drive sheave 74 to both sheave 76 and multiply grooved sheave 
85 by means of a series of movable tensioning idlers. The relationships of 
these idlers to belts 75 and 84 during the roll forming cycle and the roll 
ejection cycle also are shown in FIG. 2, the former positioning being 
shown in solid lines and the latter positioning in phantom lines, 
respectively. 
Drive belt 75 is tensioned by a pair of rotatable idlers 90 and 91 which 
are movable separately with respect to each other. Idler 90 is rotatably 
mounted to arm 92 which is pivotally affixed to side sheet member 94 via 
bushing 95 and pin 96. Idler 90 is spring biased via spring 101 which is 
fastened via a suitable clevis 102 mounted to bracket 104. Bracket 104 is 
fixedly fastened to horizontal beam member 24. Spring 101 serves to keep 
belt 75 under the proper amount of tension to transmit rotary drive power 
when the upper frame or tailgate 20 is in the closed position and a crop 
roll R is being formed within the machine in a region commonly known as 
the roller bale forming region. Idler 91 is fastened to an extensible 
support arm attached at the upper end to the tailgate 20 and which is 
indicated generally by the numeral 98. A connecting link 93 is pivotally 
affixed to bracket 106 suitably fastened to side sheet member 94. 
Connecting link 93 is mounted to bracket 106 by bushing 97 and pin 103. On 
its opposing end link 93 rotatably supports idler 91 by bushing 87 and pin 
120, best shown in the broken away view of idler 91 in FIG. 3. Link 93 and 
support arm 98 are joined via bushing 87 and pin 120 for coordinated 
movement as the tailgate 20 is raised to control the positioning of idler 
91. 
Driving belt 84 is tensioned by movable idler 99 which is rotatably affixed 
to a second extensible support arm also attached at its upper end to the 
tailgate 20 and indicated generally by the numeral 100. As best seen in 
FIG. 3, pivot arm 107 is suitably journalled on one end to roller pin 116 
at the base of support arm 100. On its opposing end pivot arm 107 is 
journalled in side sheet member 94 by bushing 113 and pin 117, thus 
permitting it to pivot upwardly with idler 99 as support arm 100 is lifted 
by the raising of the tailgate 20. 
A control plate 139 is fixedly fastened to pivot arm 107 so that it follows 
the pivotal movement of arm 107 and idler 99 when the tailgate 20 is 
opened. Projecting outwardly from plate 139 generally intermediately of 
its length is a lifting pin 140. Pin 140 slides beneath the upper run of 
belt 84 when the idler 99 is raised by the lifting of the tailgate to 
insure that the tension applied to the belt 84 is sufficiently reduced to 
stop the transfer of rotary power between drive sheave 74 and multiply 
grooved sheave 85. A pull line or rope 141 is suitably fastened to the 
bottom portion of control plate 139 at location 142. Pull line 141 runs 
forwardly from the front of roll forming machine 10 to the operator's area 
of the tractor (not shown). Control plate 139 has connecting arm 143 
connected generally intermediately thereto between roller pin 116 and 
lifting pin 140. Connecting arm 143 is slidably and movably joined at its 
opposing end to angle arm 144. The angle arm 144 is fixedly fastened to 
link 93 and therefore always maintains the angular relationship therewith 
shown in FIG. 2. The slot shown in the bottom portion of connecting arm 
143, in conjunction with the designed limitation in pivotal motion of link 
93 upwardly and rearwardly when the tailgate is raised, limits the amount 
of rotation upwardly which pivot arm 107 can achieve during operation. 
Angle arm 144 has at its uppermost end a suitably sized aperture to 
rotatably fit about bushing 97 and pin 103. The inward angling of angle 
arm 144 permits connecting arm 143 to be movably journalled so that it 
extends upwardly interiorly of movable idler 99. Connecting arm 143 is 
fastened on the interior side of control plate 139. Spring 105, suitably 
anchored on one end to control plate 139 and on its opposite end to 
bracket 77, serves to relieve the tension on belt 84 by lifting control 
plate 139 and idler 99 as the tailgate 20 is elevated beyond a 
predetermined point in its arcuate path to the raised or open position. 
Extensible support arms 98 and 100, as shown in FIG. 1, are suitably 
fastened at their upper ends to bracing member 35 of the upper frame or 
tailgate 20 by a stub pin 108 and bushing (not shown). Support arm 100 has 
an upper base member with a spring (both not shown) inserted within its 
hollow upper portion. The opposing end of arm 100 has inserted therein a 
telescoping portion 114 which has at its lower end a bracket 115 suitably 
fastened thereto, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Idler 99 is rotatably 
mounted about roller pin and bushing 116 which passes through the legs of 
bracket 115. A spring within the upper base member (both not shown) of 
support arm 100 serves to keep sufficient tension via idler 99 on belt 84 
to permit the transfer of rotary drive power when the tailgate 20 is in 
the closed position. Support arm 98 similarly is mounted about pin 108 and 
its associated bushing at the upper portion of its base member (not shown 
in detail). Inserted within the hollowed lower end of the base member of 
support arm 98 is the telescoping portion, best shown in the cut away view 
of FIG. 3. The lower portion of telescoping member 119 has a roller pin 
120 fixed thereto and about which the idler 91 is rotatably mounted. The 
most exterior or outboard end of roller pin 120 has connecting link 93 
affixed thereto. The telescoping portions 119 and 114 of support arms 98 
and 100, respectively, are movably within their respective base members to 
permit some lost motion to occur in the movement of the idlers 91 and 99 
as the tailgate is raised. This permits the required amount of tension to 
be maintained on the belts 75 and 84 until certain predetermined points in 
the elevational path of the tailgate are reached. 
The arcuate movement of the tailgate, in conjunction with spring 105, 
causes the idler 99 to be sufficiently raised to reduce the required 
tension to interrupt the transfer of the rotary drive power transmitted 
via belt 84. Belt 75 is continuously maintained under tension as the 
tailgate 20 is raised by the cooperative pivotal effect of idlers 90 and 
91 and spring 101 so that rotary driving force is continuously transferred 
from sheave 74 to sheave 76. As the tailgate continues to be raised 
towards its fully extended position, a second predetermined point is 
reached where the arm 98 is in a position which causes the idler 91 to 
pull the drive belt 75 sufficiently upwardly and rearwardly that it back 
wraps about multiply grooved sheave 85. The combined cooperative effect of 
idlers 90,91, spring 101 and arm 98 creates greater tension on the back 
wrapped drive belt 75 when the tailgate is in the raised position than 
when it is in the lowered or closed position. The effect of this back 
wrapping will be further explained hereinafter. 
A support shelf (not shown) may be suitably affixed to side sheet member 94 
to support the lower run of driving belt 84 when the tailgate is raised 
beyond the predetermined point that removes the tension from driving belt 
84 to interrupt the transfer of rotary power between the drive sheave 74 
and multiply grooved sheave 85. 
Shaft 52 has a one-way clutch 124 mounted about it inwardly of multiply 
grooved sheave 85. Clutch 124 is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The interior 
of hub 126 has a pawl or dog 129 fastened to it by pin 130. The pawl is 
spring biased by a compression spring inserted in a suitable slot cast in 
the hub. The clutch 124 seats within the sheave 85 and has ratcheting 128 
circumferentially cast about the entire interior circumference. The 
ratcheting 128 cooperates with pawl 129 so that when the sheave 85 is 
rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the clutch is disengaged and the 
pawl 129 rides over the ratcheting 128. When the sheave 85 turns and 
rotates in a clockwise direction, the pawl 129 engages ratcheting 128 and 
causes the sprocket (not shown) about which the chain 88 of the lower bale 
forming means or lower apron passes to correspondingly rotate. This 
sprocket is bolted or pinned to the clutch 124. The rotation of the lower 
apron sprocket causes lower apron chain 88 to be driven and accordingly 
drives the lower apron 89, briefly shown in FIG. 1. The end of shaft 52 
preferably is splined and interfits with the splined center of sheave 85. 
The sheave 85 is securely fastened to the exterior of shaft 52 in FIG. 3 
by a locking bolt 135 and washer 136, or in another suitable fashion. 
Alternately, the interior of hub 126 could be composed of ratcheting 128 
circumferentially cast about the entire interior circumference of the 
sheave 85. The ratcheting 128 would then cooperate with the pawl or dog 
129 fastened to the clutch by a pin 130. In this configuration when the 
sheave 85 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the clutch would be 
disengaged and the pawl 129 would ride over the ratchets 128. A driving 
relationship would exist between the ratcheting 128 and the pawl 129 when 
the sheave 85 turns in a counterclockwise direction. 
In operation the roll forming machine 10 is towed across a field that has 
arranged thereon in preformed windrows a suitable crop material that has 
been previously cut. The tined pickup 22 gathers the windrowed crop 
material, picks it up from the ground and transports it upwardly into the 
forward portion of the floor 25. The crop material is then transported by 
the lower apron 89 rearwardly into contact with the moving upper apron 46. 
The upper apron 46 causes the crop material to be rolled at the rear of 
the floor 25 in what is commonly called the bale forming region and 
initiates the formation of a core of crop material. The crop material is 
continually fed into the bale forming region where it is formed into a 
progressively increasing sized core. The upper bale forming means 46 
expands about the crop roll R as the roll increases in size by means of 
the rotation of the takeup means 54 which permits the playing out of more 
of the upper bale forming means to accommdate the increased bale size. 
Once the crop roll R has reached the desired size, the operator stops the 
machine 10 and, if desired, wraps the roll R with a wrapping or binding 
material. Upon completion of the roll forming and wrapping cycles, the 
operator elevates the upper frame or tailgate 20 in preparation for 
discharging the completed crop roll R onto the ground. 
Initially while the upper frame 20 is being raised the support arms 98 and 
100 maintain sufficient pressure on the idlers 91 and 99 to cause belts 75 
and 84 to continue to transfer rotary force. However, beyond a first 
predetermined point in the elevation of the upper frame 20 the lost motion 
built into the telescoping portion 119 of the support arm 98 has reached 
its limit and the idler 91 begins to be raised sufficiently to affect the 
manner in which the transfer of rotary power through the belt 75 is 
achieved. Similarly, at a second predetermined point in the elevation of 
upper frame 20 the tension spring within the support arm 100 reaches its 
limit of expansion and idler 99 begins to be raised, thereby decreasing 
the tension on driving belt 84 until it causes the sheave 85 to cease to 
be driven. This in turn stops the rotation of shaft 52 which is connected 
to the sprocket which drives the upper bale forming means 46. As the 
tailgate or upper frame 20 continues to be raised idler 91 on the lower 
end of support arm 98 is pivoted upwardly and rearwardly about the pivot 
point of connecting ling 93. This pivotal motion of idler 91 in turn 
causes idler 90 to be pivoted upwardly in a generally clockwise rotation 
about the pivot pin 96 of idler arm 92. During this entire time rotary 
drive continues to be transmitted via drive belt 75 from the drive sheave 
74 to sheave 76. At the first predetermined point in the elevation of the 
tailgate or upper frame 20 the idler 91 is pulled sufficiently upwardly 
and rearwardly to cause the belt 75 to begin to back wrap about the now 
stationary sheave 85. Once the belt 75 is back wrapped about sheave 85 
with sufficient tension, the continued movement of belt 75 imparts a 
counterclockwise motion to sheave 85, thereby causing the one-way clutch 
124 to disengage as pawl 129 passes over the ratcheting 128. Because of 
the splined connection of of sheave 85 to shaft 52, the shaft 52 also 
rotates in a counterclockwise direction transmitting this rotary drive to 
a sprocket (not shown) about which is mounted one of the chains of the 
upper bale forming means 46. The counterclockwise rotation of this 
sprocket causes the upper bale forming means 46 to reverse its normal 
direction of travel and impart topspin to the completed crop roll R as it 
urges the roll R out of the roll forming machine's bale forming region. 
However, the disengagement of the one way clutch 124 causes the lower bale 
forming means or apron 89 to normally remain in a position of rest during 
discharge. Upon completion of the ejection of the completed crop roll R 
the upper frame or tailgate 20 is lowered, thereby causing the idlers 99 
and 91 to be driven generally downwardly and forwardly into the position 
generally shown in solid lines in FIG. 2. As the idler 91 is lowered it 
causes the belt 75 to lose contact with the sheave 85 and, therefore, 
allows the upper bale forming means 46 to cease turning in its reverse 
direction. As the idler 99 is lowered with the closing of the tailgate or 
upper frame 20, it comes into contact again with belt 84 and supplies 
sufficient tension to permit the rotary drive force to be transferred from 
the continuously turning sheave 74 to sheave 85 via the belt 84 so that 
the sheave 85 drives the shaft 52 in a clockwise direction. This allows 
the upper apron or bale forming means 46 to be driven in the direction 
illustrated in FIG. 1. 
However, on rare occasions when, for example, the core of the crop roll may 
break down or the supply of crop material is exhausted, it becomes 
necessary for the machine's operator to discharge a substantially less 
than fully formed crop roll or bale. The automatic reversing of the upper 
bale forming means 46 is not effective to discharge the incomplete bale 
because of the relatively small amount of the roll's surface area which 
the upper bale forming means 46 can frictionally engage. On these 
occasions the operator pulls the pull line or rope 141, causing the 
control plate 139 to pivot on pivot arm 107 about pin 117 generally 
downwardly and forwardly. This prevents the idler 99 from riding upwardly 
on arm 100, thereby maintaining the tension on belt 84. Thus, the 
disengaging of the lower bale forming means 89 is avoided while the 
tailgate 20 is raised to the predetermined height generally indicated by 
the solid line position shown in FIG. 1. Since the lower bale forming 
means 89 continues to be driven rearwardly, the partially formed crop roll 
r is carried out of the bale forming region and out the rear of the roll 
forming machine 10. The elevating of the tailgate 20 raises the upper bale 
forming means 46 sufficiently so that it does not contact the partially 
formed crop roll r even though it continues to be driven in its first 
driven direction, indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1. 
Should the operator attempt to activate the override mechanism by pulling 
on the pull line 141 after the tailgate 20 has been raised above the 
predetermined point in its arcuate path of travel, the mechanical 
advantage and design of the connecting arm 143, angle arm 144, control 
plate 139, and the drive means 19 prevents the override from being 
activated. This is effected by the force of the hydraulic cylinders 41 
lifting the tailgate 20 and the attached idlers 91 and 99 beyond points in 
their respective pivotal paths of travel from which the operator can lower 
them to override the automatic reversing of the upper bale forming means 
46. Since the belt 75 is back wrapped about the sheave 85 when the 
tailgate 20 is elevated above the previously mentioned second 
predetermined point, any attempts to activate the override mechanism above 
this second predetermined point in effect would be an attempt to drive the 
upper bale forming means 46 in two directions at the same time. Thus, the 
override mechanism is protected from damaging the drive means 19 by its 
design and the interaction of the tailgate 20 and the drive means 19. 
It should be noted at this point that the instant invention is equally well 
employed on a roll forming machine which either does not utilize the 
movement of the upper bale forming means or in fact does not use the 
movement of the upper bale forming means in its original direction of 
travel to eject a partially or fully formed crop roll from the machine 
with the lower bale forming means disengaged. The overriding of the 
disengagement of the lower bale forming means will permit the lower bale 
forming means to discharge the crop roll generally regardless of any 
movement of the upper bale forming means. 
While the preferred structure in which the principles of the present 
invention have been incorporated is shown and described above, it is to be 
understood that the invention is not to be limited to the particular 
details thus presented but, in fact, widely different means may be 
employed in the practice of the broader aspects of this invention. The 
scope of the appended claims is intended to encompass all obvious changes 
in the details, materials and arrangements of parts that will occur to one 
of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of this disclosure.