Patent Abstract:
An agricultural baler including a base unit, a plurality of ground engaging devices supporting the base unit and at least one tie system mounted to the base unit. The at least one tie system including a tucker finger and a cap. The tucker finger being rotatable about an axis relative to the base unit. The cap covering a portion of the tucker finger being proximate to the axis.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an agricultural baler, and, more particularly, to an apparatus to protect the tucker finger of an agricultural baler. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A cut and raked crop that has been dried or otherwise prepared in a field, such as hay, straw or other agricultural material is often gathered, compressed and shaped by an agricultural baler. There are several types of balers that are commonly used, each resulting in different types of bales. Some are rectangular and some are cylindrical of various sizes. Bales can be bound with netting, strapping, wire or traditionally twine using a tie system to connect ends of the twine. Large square balers often use a double tie knotting system. The double tie knotter ties two knots, one to complete the previous bale, and another to start the next or current bale. Twine is then directly fed out of the twine galls during bale formation. A typical large square bale weighs between 800 and 1,600 pounds and is often dropped in the field by the baler, for later retrieval, as the baling system proceeds though the field. 
     A baler that produces small rectangular bales, often also called square bales, produce bales that are typically wrapped with two strands of knotted twine. The bales are light enough for easy handling and typically weigh from 40 to 80 pounds each. A bale is formed by a series of processes performed by the square baler including lifting the windrowed material, hereinafter referred to as hay, by way of the pickup portion of the baler. The hay is then moved by way or an auger into a chamber that has a feeding fork. The feeding fork moves the hay in front of a sliding plunger with a cutting edge that cuts the hay and moves the hay in the chamber into previously packed hay therein causing the hay to be compressed. Once a predetermined amount of hay has been gathered in the chamber, as measured by the amount being extruded through the opening at the rear of the chamber, a mechanism is triggered causing the twine to be threaded through the hay, cut and then knotted thereby forming the hale and one portion of the twine is retained to start to receive hay for the next bale. As the bales are moved through the compression channel out to the rear of the baler, the baled hay is then either loaded onto a wagon or dropped into the field for later retrieval. 
     To operate properly the tie system of either a large or small square baler requires the twine to move properly without snagging on parts of the baler so that the twine is positioned for proper knotting by the tie system. The tie system itself carries out a choreographed sequence of operations, which is subject to malfunction if the twine is snagged or it debris from the baling process interferes with any one of the tie system elements. 
     What is needed in the art is a baler that configures the tucker finger of the tie system to preclude the compromising of the tucker finger by debris. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a protective device for the tucker finger of an agricultural baler. 
     The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural baler including a base unit, a plurality of ground engaging devices supporting the base unit and at least one tie system mounted to the base unit. The at least one tie system including a tucker finger and a cap. The tucker finger being rotatable about an axis relative to the base unit. The cap covering a portion of the tucker finger proximate to the axis. 
     The invention in another form is directed to at least one tie system used in an agricultural baler. The at least one tie system includes a tucker finger and a cap. The tucker finger being rotatable about an axis relative to the baler. The cap covering a portion of the tucker finger proximate to the axis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective partially sectioned view of a haling system including an embodiment of a tie system of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a tucker finger assembly of the tie system used in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of tile tucker finger assembly of the tie system of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a sectioned view of the tucker finger assembly of the tie system of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a baling system  10  including a tractor  12 , and a baler  14 . Baler  14  is connected to tractor  12  by way of hitch  16  thereby providing towing for the movement of baler  14 . Tractor  12  additionally has a power takeoff (PTO) unit  18  providing rotational power by way of PTO shaft  20  to mechanisms in baler  14 . 
     Baler  14  includes a base unit  22 , ground engaging devices  44  and a transmission  26  connected to base unit  22 . PTO shaft  20  connects to transmission  26  providing rotational power to transmission  26 . A tie system  28  is powered indirectly by power transmitted to baler  14  by shaft  20 , and tie system  28  may have several knotting mechanisms associated with baler  14 . For example, a large square baler with a width of 4 feet and a height of 3 feet typically has 6 knotting mechanisms to tie the twine strands that extend around the large square bale. 
     Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , there is shown a tucker finger assembly that is part of tie system  28  and specifically the tucker finger assembly having a base plate  30 , a tucker finger  32 , a bearing  34 , a snap ring  36 , a washer  38 , a nut  40  and a cap  42 . Bearing  34  is inserted into a through hole  44  of tucker finger  32  and is retained therein with snap ring  36 . Through hole  44  has a shoulder against which part a bearing  34  rests, so that bearing  34  is retained between the shoulder and snap ring  36 . A threaded stud, which may be welded to base plate  30 , extends from base plate  30  and though bearing  34 , with washer  38  and nut  40  being used to secure the tucker finger assembly to base plate  30 . Washer  38  is sized so that it engages the inner race of bearing  34  to allow tucker finger  32  to rotate about axis A. A connecting rod (not shown for purposes of clarity) is connected to the remaining hoe on tucker finger  32  to thereby control the rotational movement of tucker finger  32  about axis A. The connecting rod is adjustable to allow for changing rotational position of trucker finger  32 . Base plate  30  has two slots through which threaded fasteners extend so that base place  30  can be laterally adjustably positioned. 
     An annular groove  46  is positioned on tucker finger  32  that is substantially concentric with axis A and with through hole  44 . Cap  42  has an annular protrusion  48  that extends from an underneath side of cap  42 . Annular protrusion  48  is sized to engage groove  46  such that cap  42  is thereby retained by tucker finger  32 . Protrusion  48  may be positioned on cap  42  so that one side of protrusion  48  is biased against a side of groove  46 . It is also contemplated that both sides of protrusion  48  may engage both sides of groove  46 . A bevel along an outer portion of protrusion  48  allows for case of insertion of protrusion  48  into groove  46 . It is additionally contemplated that sonic other retention regime may be used to hold cap  42  to tucker finger  32 . 
     An outer surface  50  of cap  42  has a generally hemispheric or semi-hemispheric shape, with the interior being generally parallel thereto so that the interior clears nut  40  and any extension of the threaded stud. Surface  50  provides a smooth outer presentation so that twine, which my rub thereover, will not snag or be cut by otherwise exposed parts underneath cap  42 . Surface  50  is so contoured to be substantially flush or to smoothly meld with the outer surface of tucker finger  32 . 
     Tucker finger  32  may be a casting that is formed to accept cap  42 . Cap  42  may alternatively be made to interface with an inner diameter of through hole  44  so as to be retained thereby. Cap  42  advantageously allows twine to pass and rub over surface  50  and also protects the hardware below cap  42  from the build up of debris. Cap  42  is easily removed by using a prying action of a fiat bladed screwdriver and is easily replaced. It is also contemplated that cap  42  may be threaded and screwed onto a portion of tucker finger  32 , or onto a portion of the threaded stud that extends from base plate  30  and through nut  40 . 
     While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0