NESTED PIN DESIGN FOR COMMON PIVOT

An agricultural baler pivot assembly having: a tailgate pin extending along a rotation axis and having a tailgate pin bore extending along the rotation axis, a first outer face portion extending along the rotation axis and a second outer face portion extending along the rotation axis; a tailgate bushing configured to receive and rotationally support the outer face of the tailgate pin; an arm pin having a respective first outer face portion extending along the rotation axis and a respective second outer face portion extending along the rotation axis; and an arm pin bushing configured to fit radially between the tailgate pin bore and the first outer face portion of the arm pin and support the arm pin for rotational motion relative to the tailgate pin about the rotation axis. Agricultural balers including a pivot assembly and methods for assembling the pivot assembly are also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to agricultural balers.

Agricultural harvesting machines, such as balers, are used to consolidate and package crop material so as to facilitate the storage and handling of the crop material for later use. In the case of hay or silage, a mower-conditioner is typically used to cut and condition the crop material. In the case of straw, an agricultural combine discharges non-grain crop material from the rear of the combine defining the straw (such as wheat or oat straw) which is to be picked up by the baler. The cut crop material typically is raked into a windrow, and a baler, such as a large square baler or round baler, straddles the windrows and travels along the windrows to pick up the crop material and form it into bales.

A round baler may generally include a frame, supported by wheels, a hydraulic system, a pickup unit to engage and lift the crop material into the baler, a cutting assembly, a main bale chamber for forming a bale, and a wrapping mechanism for wrapping or tying a material around the bale after it has been formed in the main bale chamber. As the baler is towed over a windrow, the pickup unit lifts the crop material into the baler. Then, the crop material may be cut into smaller pieces by the cutting assembly. As the crop material enters the main bale chamber, multiple carrier elements, e.g. rollers, chains and slats, and/or belts, will begin to roll a bale of hay within the chamber. These carrier elements are movable so that the chamber can initially contract and subsequently expand to maintain an appropriate amount of pressure on the periphery of the bale. After the bale is formed and wrapped by the wrapping mechanism, the rear of the baler is configured to open for allowing the bale to be discharged onto the field.

The carrier elements typically include a serpentine take-up arrangement to allow them to expand to accommodate the growing bale. For example, a belt may be mounted on a combination of stationary rollers and movable rollers. The movable rollers (typically two) are mounted on one or more arms (sometimes called “serpentine arms”) to allow them to move away from the center of the bale. The serpentine arms are biased by tensioners (e.g., mechanical or pneumatic springs) or the like to resist movement away from the bale. The belt is wrapped around the movable rollers and a number of stationary rollers in a serpentine manner, so as to stay in contact with the rollers as the movable rollers move. As the bale increases in size, the portion of the belt that wraps around the bale increases in length. The serpentine portion of the belt that wraps around the stationary rollers and movable rollers decreases in length to provide additional belt length that allows the bale to increase in diameter. As the bale grows, the movable rollers move towards the stationary rollers, reducing the serpentine belt length (i.e., the length wrapping around and extending between the fixed and corresponding movable rollers), and increasing the length of the belt wrapping around the circumference of the bale. During this operation, the movable rollers, and more specifically the tensioner acting on the serpentine arm, generates belt tension that compresses the bale to the desired density.

In a typical baler, the arms are mounted to the baler frame at one pivot location, while the tailgate is mounted to the frame at a different pivot location. This allows the parts to be assembled together one at a time, and can provide benefits to allow greater flexibility in placement of the movable rollers. It is also known to mount a roller on the tailgate pivot, which leads to some assembly issues due to the need to install both the tailgate and the roller at the same location.

The inventors have determined that further improvements can be made to agricultural baler machines.

This description of the background is provided to assist with an understanding of the following explanations of exemplary embodiments, and is not an admission that any or all of this background information is necessarily prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one exemplary aspect, there is provided an agricultural baler pivot assembly comprising: a first tailgate pin extending along a rotation axis and having a first tailgate pin bore extending along the rotation axis, a respective first outer face portion extending along the rotation axis and a respective second outer face portion extending along the rotation axis; a first tailgate bushing configured to receive and rotationally support the first outer face of the first tailgate pin; a first arm pin having a respective first outer face portion extending along the rotation axis and a respective second outer face portion extending along the rotation axis; and a first arm pin bushing configured to fit radially between the first tailgate pin bore and the first outer face portion of the first arm pin and support the first arm pin for rotational motion relative to the first tailgate pin about the rotation axis.

In another exemplary aspect, there is provided an agricultural baler pivot assembly comprising: a frame having a frame bore; a tailgate having a tailgate bore; an arm having an arm bore; a tailgate pin extending along a rotation axis and having a tailgate pin bore extending along the rotation axis, a respective first outer face portion extending along the rotation axis and a respective second outer face portion extending along the rotation axis, wherein the respective second outer face portion is fixed in the frame bore; a tailgate bushing positioned radially between the tailgate bore and the first outer face of the tailgate pin to support the tailgate for rotational movement relative to the tailgate pin about the rotation axis; an arm pin having a respective first outer face portion extending along the rotation axis and a respective second outer face portion extending along the rotation axis, wherein the respective second outer face portion is fixed in the arm bore, and wherein the arm pin is rotationally fixed to the pivot roller; an arm pin bushing positioned radially between the tailgate pin bore and the first outer face portion of the arm pin to support the arm pin for rotational movement relative to the tailgate pin about the rotation axis; and a pivot roller mounted to the arm pin for rotational movement relative to the arm pin about the rotation axis.

In another exemplary aspect, there is provided a method for assembling an agricultural baler frame having a frame bore, a tailgate having a tailgate bore, an arm having an arm bore, and a pivot roller, to provide relative rotation between the frame, tailgate, arm, and pivot roller about a rotation axis, the method comprising: (a) positioning the tailgate adjacent to the frame with the tailgate bore aligned with the frame bore along the rotation axis; (b) installing a tailgate pin having a tailgate pin bore along the rotation axis into the frame bore and the tailgate bore; (c) positioning the arm adjacent to the frame with the arm bore aligned with the frame bore along the rotation axis; (d) installing an arm pin having an arm pin bore along the rotation axis into the arm bore and the tailgate pin bore; (e) positioning the pivot roller with a bearing of the pivot roller aligned with the rotation axis; and (f) installing a roller shaft along the rotation axis into the arm pin bore and the bearing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments are described herein as a baler including a serpentine pivot roll, which can provide greater ability to handle relatively large bales. However, embodiments can provide other benefits, regardless of the bale size, and it will be understood that embodiments are not limited to particular dimensional or functional requirements unless specifically claimed with such limitations. Additionally, embodiments may be used with any type of agricultural baler, including, for example, those that are configured as towed balers and those that are configured as self-driving balers.

The terms “forward,” “rearward,” “left” and “right,” when used in connection with the agricultural baler and/or components thereof are usually determined with reference to the direction of forward operative travel of the towing vehicle, but they should not be construed as limiting. The terms “longitudinal” and “transverse” are determined with reference to the fore-and-aft direction of the driving and are equally not to be construed as limiting.

A typical prior art agricultural round baler10is shown inFIG.1, in a configuration to be towed in a forward direction F behind a tractor14or other vehicle. In examples herein, the transverse direction extends orthogonal to the page. Crop material is lifted from windrows into the baler10by a pickup unit16. The pickup unit16includes a rotating pickup reel18with tine bars and tines20that move the crop rearward toward a variable bale chamber22. The reel18is rotatable in an operating direction for lifting the crop material off of the ground and may also be operable in a reverse direction, i.e., opposite to the operating direction.

The bale chamber22is configured as a variable bale chamber22having stationary rollers24, movable rollers26, and at least one belt28that wraps around the rollers24,26. For purposes of this explanation, the term “belt” refers to any type of movable conveyance that is used to wrap the bale, such as chains, woven belts, linked belts, slats, and the like, and also refers to any number of such belts as may be arranged to operate in parallel (e.g., multiple belts wrapped around the rollers24,26and positioned adjacent to each other in the transverse direction). Similarly, a “roller” includes any number of rollers spaced in the transverse direction along a common rotation axis, and rollers having any surface structure (e.g., smooth, cogged, ribbed, etc.). The rollers24,26may comprise a floor roller, starter roller, stationary roller(s), pivot roller(s), stripper roller, follower roller(s), and so on. The movable rollers26are mounted on movable supports, typically pivotable arms40, and tensioners42(e.g., one or more mechanical springs or pneumatic accumulators connected to hydraulic cylinders to form a pneumatic spring) are provided to bias the movable rollers26to a starting position when there is no bale in the bale chamber22. One or more actuators44may be provided to positively control the positions of the serpentine arms40and thus the movable rollers26.

Together, the rollers24,26and the belt(s)28create a circulating chamber22that expands between an empty bale position and a full bale position for engaging and rolling the bale. As the bale grows inside the chamber22it begins to act upon the belts28such that the belts28pull the serpentine arms40against the springs42, which in turn causes the movable rollers26to move away from the center of the bale so that the variable bale chamber22incrementally expands with the size of the bale.

When the bale reaches a predetermined size, the bale is wrapped with a wrapping material (e.g., mesh, twine or polymer sheet) by a wrapper. Then, once fully wrapped, the bale is ejected out of the tailgate12. The tailgate12may pivot upwardly about pivot30to open the bale chamber22. In examples herein, the pivot30defines a rotation axis30athat extends in the transverse direction. Then, ejected bale rolls out of the bale chamber22and onto a bale ejector or kicker32, which pushes the bale rearwardly away from the baler10so that the tail gate12may pivot back down without hitting the ejected bale.

The baler10can further include an electrical processing circuit34, e.g., a controller34with a memory36, for conducting various baling procedures. For instance, the controller34can be configured for carrying out the bale discharge operation. Hence, the controller34may open the tailgate12via accompanying actuators upon sensing a full bale condition by a bale-size sensor.

The baler10has a main frame38that supports the various components of the baler10, including the roller fixation points, drives, tailgate pivot30, and other features, such as a tow arm46, power take-off48, and the like.

The foregoing structures and additional features are generally known in the art, and need not be described herein in more detail.

Referring toFIG.2, the inventors have determined that a baler10can be construed with a pivot roller50that is concentric to the tailgate pivot30. This construction can allow benefits, such as providing the ability to form a larger bale without making significant changes to the geometry or structure of the arm40, tensioner42, actuator44and frame38. However, providing a pivot roller50that is concentric with the pivot30leads to particular difficulties in constructing the parts in a manner that is both functional and easily and conveniently assembled and serviceable using conventional means available to agricultural baler operators and technicians. Nevertheless, the inventors have determined that a suitable construction can be made as described in the following examples.

FIG.3shows a baler10with various parts removed. Primarily shown are the frame38, tailgate12, movable roller arm40, one tensioner42, and one actuator44(an additional tensioner42and an additional actuator44may be provided on the other side of the baler10). The frame38, tailgate12and arm40are secured together by an assembly that forms a common pivot30having a rotation axis30aabout which the tailgate12, arm40and pivot roller50rotate. As shown inFIG.3, the pivot30may be defined by two pivot assemblies30a,30bthat are spaced apart along the pivot's rotation axis30a. The pivot assemblies30a,30bmay be identical or different.FIG.4is a detail view of the region around one pivot assembly.

FIG.5shows the exemplary arm40in more detail. The arm40is made up of two outer arms40a, two inner arms40b, and a torsion bar40c. The outer arms40ahave respective arm bores40dby which the arm40is rotatably secured to the frame38, as discussed in more detail below. In this example, each arm bore40dcomprises a tubular shaft that extends through two parallel plates that form each outer arm40a, but other constructions may be used. The outer arms40aalso include various fitting connections40eto which the tensioners42and actuators44are secured, thus making the outer arms40aoperative as levers to apply torsion loads to the inner arms40b. The inner arms40bare elongated to support the ends of the movable rollers26. The torsion bar40cinterconnects the outer arms40aand inner arms40bto form a rigid assembly. When assembled to the rest of the baler10, the outer arms40aare located outside the baler chamber22, and the inner arms40bare located inside the baler chamber22.

FIGS.6-10illustrate additional details of a first exemplary pivot assembly30a, shown in various states of an assembly process.

As shown inFIG.6, the frame38includes a frame bore38a, which is formed as a tubular shaft that is secured between parallel plates forming the local region of the frame38. Similarly, the tailgate12has a tailgate bore12athat is formed as a tubular shaft that is secured between parallel plates forming a local region of the tailgate12. In each case (as well as the case of the arm bore40das described above), the shown construction provides a strong and relatively lightweight structure. However, in each case, any other suitable construction for a bore may be used.

FIG.6shows the pivot assembly30ain an early assembly stage, in which the tailgate12has been positioned adjacent to the frame38with the tailgate bore12aaligned with the frame bore38aalong the rotation axis30a. A tailgate pin52is inserted by sliding it along the rotation axis30ainto the frame bore38aand tailgate bore12ato hold the tailgate12to the frame38, while also allowing the tailgate12to rotate relative to the frame38about the rotation axis30a. The tailgate pin52has a first outer face portion52athat is surrounded by the tailgate bore12a, and a second outer face portion52bthat is surrounded by the frame bore38a. The first and second outer face portions52a,52bmay be respective cylindrical surfaces having the same diameter (e.g., two regions of a single continuous cylindrical outer face) but this is not strictly required.

One or both of the first outer face portion52aand second outer face portion52bis configured to provide a rotating bearing surface to allow the tailgate12to rotate relative to the frame38. In this case, the first outer face portion52ais cylindrical, and a tailgate bushing54(e.g., a lubricated low-friction bushing) is installed between the first outer face portion52aand the frame bore38ato provide a rotating connection. In other cases, roller bearings or ball bearings may be used instead of a bushing, and other options will be readily appreciated in view of this disclosure. For example, the first outer face portion52amay be formed as an inner race of a bearing that is fixed to the remainder of the tailgate pin52(e.g., in a manner shown in relation to the pivot roller bearing50adescribed below). The second outer face portion52bmay be rotationally fixed inside the frame bore38a, such as by securing it with a friction fit, by metal-to-metal fitment without lubrication, or by forming the second outer face portion52band frame bore38awith rotationally-interlocking geometries (e.g., complementary square, hexagonal, oval, or other cross-sectional profiles as viewed along the rotation axis30a). Alternatively, the second outer face portion52bmay be rotatably mounted in the frame bore38ausing a bushing or bearing. In still other cases, the second outer face portion52bmay be rotationally mounted in the frame bore38a, and the first outer face portion52amay be rotationally fixed in the tailgate bore12a. Other alternatives and embodiments will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.

The tailgate pin52has a tailgate pin bore52cthat extends along the rotation axis30a, and an arm bushing56may be inserted into the tailgate pin bore52c.

FIG.7shows a subsequent state of assembly. Certain features identified by reference numbers are not labeled inFIG.7to clarify the explanation. In this state, the arm40is positioned adjacent to the frame38with the arm bore40daligned with the frame bore38aalong the rotation axis30a. An arm pin58is installed by sliding it along the rotation axis30ainto the arm bore40dand the tailgate pin bore52c. The arm pin58holds the arm40to the frame38and the tailgate12, while allowing the arm40to rotate relative to the frame38and tailgate12about the rotation axis30a. The arm pin58has a first outer face portion58aand a second outer face portion58bthat extend along the rotation axis30a, with the first outer face portion58bbeing received in the tailgate pin bore52c, and the second outer face portion58bbeing received in the arm bore40d. The first and second outer face portions58a,58bmay be respective cylindrical surfaces having the same diameter (e.g., two regions of a single continuous cylindrical outer face) but this is not strictly required.

Similar to the tailgate pin52, one or both of the first outer face portion58aand second outer face portion58bof the arm pin58is configured to provide a rotating bearing surface to allow the arm40to rotate relative to the frame38and tailgate12. In this case, the first outer face portion58ais cylindrical, and is installed within the tailgate pin bore52c, with the arm bushing56providing a rotating bearing surface. As with the tailgate pin52, roller bearings or ball bearings may be used instead of a bushing, and other options will be readily appreciated in view of this disclosure. For example, the first outer face portion58amay be formed as an inner race of a bearing that is fixed to the remainder of the arm pin58(e.g., in a manner shown in relation to the pivot roller bearing50adescribed below). The second outer face portion58bof the arm pin58may be rotationally fixed inside the arm bore40d, such as by securing it with a friction fit, by metal-to-metal fitment without lubrication, or by forming the second outer face portion58band arm bore40with rotationally-interlocking geometries (e.g., complementary square, hexagonal, oval or other cross-sectional profiles as viewed along the rotation axis30a). Alternatively, the second outer face portion58bof the arm pin58may be rotatably mounted in the arm bore40d, and the first outer face portion58amay be rotationally fixed in the tailgate pin bore52c. Other alternatives and embodiments will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.

FIG.7also shows the arrangement of the inner and outer arms40a,40brelative to the frame38and tailgate12. Specifically, the frame38and tailgate12are located between the outer arm40aand inner arm40b. A portion of the inner arm40bmay be located along the rotation axis30a, in which case an opening40emay be provided through the inner arm40bto allow parts to pass, as explained below.

In the shown example, the second outer face portion58bof the arm pin58is rotationally fixed to the arm40by an arm pin lock60that engages the second outer face portion58b. In this case, the arm pin lock60is a plate having arms that fit into linear grooves58ccut along opposite sides of the second outer face portion58b, to provide a rotationally-interlocking geometric connection. The arm pin lock60is secured to the arm40by bolts or other fasteners to thereby lock the arm pin58against rotation about the rotation axis30arelative to the arm40. The arm pin lock60also may be configured to axially fix the arm pin58against movement along the rotation axis30arelative to the arm40. For example, the grooves58cin the shown example capture the arms of the plate-like arm pin lock60along the rotation axis30ato prevent relative axial movement. Other alternatives and embodiments will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure. For example, the arm pin58may include an integrally-formed flange that extends radially to lie flush with the side of the arm40, and the flange may have holes through which bolts can be passed to prevent the arm pin58from rotating relative to the arm40.

FIG.8shows another subsequent state of assembly. Here, the pivot roller50is positioned with a bearing50aof the pivot roller50aligned with the rotation axis30a. The bearing50ais operatively connected to the pivot roller50in a known manner to rotationally support the operating outer face of the pivot roller50. The inner race of the bearing50amay have a bore50bwith a non-circular cross-sectional profile as viewed along the rotation axis30a, such as a hexagonal profile as shown. In addition, the arm pin58may have an arm pin bore58dwith a non-circular cross-sectional profile as viewed along the rotation axis30a, which may match that of the bearing bore50b.

FIG.9shows another subsequent state of assembly, in which a roller shaft62is inserted along the rotation axis30athrough the arm pin bore50dand the pivot roller bearing50a. The roller shaft62holds the pivot roller50on the rotation axis50a. The roller shaft62may comprise a simple cylindrical rod, but in the shown example, the outer surface62aof the roller shaft62has a non-circular cross-sectional profile as viewed along the rotation axis30a(e.g., hexagonal) that rotationally interlocks with the cross-sectional profiles of one or both of the arm pin bore50dand pivot roller bearing50a. The rotationally interlocking profiles prevent the roller shaft62from rotating relative to the arm pin58and inner race of the bearing50a, thereby eliminating the possibility of unwanted relative rotation and possible friction-induced damage between the parts. In other embodiments, different mechanisms may be used to rotationally fix the roller shaft62to the arm pin50or other parts, or the roller shaft62may be freely rotatable relative to the arm pin50or other parts. Other alternatives and embodiments will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.

FIG.10shows a final state of assembly in which the roller shaft62is axially fixed to the arm40. In this case, the end of the roller shaft62has one or more grooves62bthat receive a roller shaft lock64. The roller shaft lock64comprises a plate-like structure having arms that fit into the grooves62b, and holes to receive bolts or other connectors that join the roller shaft lock64to the arm40. The arms are captured in the grooves62balong the rotation axis30a, and thereby prevent the roller shaft62from moving relative to the arm40along the rotation axis30a.

The roller shaft lock64may be connected directly to the arm40, or secured to the frame40through an intermediate part such as the arm pin lock60. An example of this kind of arrangement is best shown inFIG.4, in which the arm pin lock60is bolted to the arm40, and the roller shaft lock64is stacked on the arm pin lock60and secured to the arm40by bolts that pass through aligned holes through the roller shaft lock64and the arm pin lock60.

Embodiments of agricultural balers10may include one or more pivot assemblies as described above. For example, a baler10may have two essentially identical, but mirror image pivot assemblies that are positioned on respective sides of the baler10to secure each side of the tailgate12, arm40, and pivot roller50to the frame38, to provide relative rotation between all four of these parts about the rotation axis30a.

In other cases, a baler10may have one or more pivot assemblies as described above, that are used in combination with pivot assemblies having different constructions. For example, in the embodiment ofFIG.3, pivot assembly30amay be constructed according to one of the foregoing embodiments, and pivot assembly30bmay be constructed as shown in the embodiment ofFIG.11.FIG.11shows a pivot assembly that is generally the same as that ofFIGS.6-10, but differs in the manner in which the roller shaft62is supported by the arm pin62. Here, the roller shaft62terminates at a cylindrical outer surface62c, and the arm pin62has a cylindrical bore58ethat receives and supports the cylindrical outer surface62c. The arm pin62preferably is rotationally locked to the arm40by an arm pin lock60or the like, so that the roller shaft62does not rotate relative to the arm pin62. In addition, because the roller shaft62is axially fixed at the other end, it is not strictly necessary to axially fix this end of the roller shaft to the arm40or other parts, but some kind of axial fixation or limitation on movement may be provided (e.g., a pin or circular clip). It has been found that this type of alternative construction for the second pivot assembly30bcan be helpful to allow the roller shaft62to align with and insert into the arm pin62, particularly if the roller shaft62has a non-circular profile that might twist along its length and therefore be misaligned in the rotation direction with a matching non-circular bore of the arm pin58.

The foregoing examples provide a convenient and effective way to assemble, disassemble and service a pivot roller50that is concentric with the tailgate rotation axis30. Briefly stated, and as shown inFIG.12, in one embodiment the pivot roller50can be assembled according to the following steps.

In step S100, the tailgate12is positioned adjacent to the frame38with the tailgate bore12aaligned with the frame bore40aalong the rotation axis30a.

In step S102, the tailgate pin52is installed by sliding it along the rotation axis30ainto the frame bore38aand the tailgate bore12a. The tailgate pin52may be installed from either direction, but it may be more convenient to slide the tailgate pin52through the frame bore38aside first. This step also may include installing the tailgate bushing54between an outer cylindrical surface52aof the tailgate pin52and the tailgate bore12.

In step S104, the arm40is positioned adjacent to the frame38with the arm bore40daligned with the frame bore38aalong the rotation axis30a.

In step S106, the arm pin58is installed by sliding it along the rotation axis30ainto the arm bore40dand the tailgate pin bore52c. At this point, a first outer surface58aof the arm pin58is positioned concentrically within the tailgate pin bore52cand the frame bore38a. The arm pin58may be installed in either direction along the rotation axis30a, but it is expected to be most convenient to install the arm pin58by sliding it through from the arm bore40dside first. This step also may include installing the arm bushing56between an outer cylindrical surface58aof the arm pin and the tailgate pin bore52c.

In step S108, the pivot roller50is positioned with its bearing50aaligned with the rotation axis30a.

In step S110, the roller shaft62is inserted along the rotation axis30athrough the arm pin bore58dand the bores50bof the pivot roller bearings50a(any number of bearings50amay be used, but preferably there are at least two bearings50awith one at or near each end of the pivot roller50). As the roller shaft62is installed, it optionally may engage matching rotationally-interlocking shapes between the outer surface62aof the roller shaft62and the arm pin bore58dand bearing bores50bto prevent relative rotation therebetween. Also, as the roller shaft62is installed, it eventually emerges from the other end of the pivot roller50, and is set into a rotationally supporting receptacle (e.g., as shown inFIG.11or otherwise), to support that end of the roller shaft62.

A similar process may be used to install a pivot assembly of the same or other construction at the other transverse side of the baler10. When this is complete, the frame38, tailgate12, arm40and pivot roller50are all movable relative to each of the others about the rotation axis30a.

The method may further include, in step S112, rotationally and axially fixing the arm pin58to the arm40, such as by installing an arm pin lock60as described herein.

The method also may include, in step S114, axially fixing the roller shaft62to the arm40, such as by installing a roller shaft lock64as described herein.

The foregoing apparatus and method address the problem of aligning the various parts of a baler10having a pivot roller50, but also can be applied to other assembly processes, such as a baler having an arm40and tailgate12that rotate relative to the frame38about a common pivot axis30a. The process allows the operator to align and secure the parts in stages, rather than all at once, which greatly simplifies the procedure and allows the use of conventional equipment such as a single hoist or the like, or simply using manpower where the parts do not have an excessive weight. Thus, the method and apparatus improve ease of assembly, disassembly, and service of the parts.

It will be understood from this disclosure that embodiments may be modified in various ways. For example, the arm pivot58could be secured to the roller shaft62before assembling the arm pivot58into the arm bore40dand tailgate pin bore52c. The arm pivot58also may be integrally formed with the arm pivot58, such as by providing the two parts as a welded or machined assembly. Other alternatives and embodiments will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure describes a number of inventive features and/or combinations of features that may be used alone or in combination with each other or in combination with other technologies. The embodiments described herein are all exemplary, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. It will be appreciated that various aspects of the embodiments described herein may be provided as component parts or as subassemblies. It will also be appreciated that the inventions described herein can be modified and adapted in various ways, and all such modifications and adaptations are intended to be included in the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims.

It will also be understood that the description herein and the claims describe features that may be combined with other features not specifically described. For example, a counterknife as described and claimed herein may be used in conjunction with other, conventional counterknives, and so on. Also, features identified in the singular or by a specific number are not intended to be limited to a single features or the described number of features unless specifically recited as being present only in the specified quantity.