Patent Description:
For many years harvesters, such as agricultural balers, have been used to consolidate and package crop material to facilitate the storage and handling of the crop material for later use. Usually, a mower-conditioner cuts and conditions the crop material for windrow drying in the sun. When the cut crop material is properly dried, a harvester, such as a round baler, travels along the windrows to pick up the crop material and form it into cylindrically-shaped round bales.

More specifically, pickups of the baler gather the cut and windrowed crop material from the ground, then convey the cut crop material into a bale-forming chamber within the baler. A drive mechanism operates to activate the pickups, augers, and a rotor of the feed mechanism. A conventional baling chamber may include a pair of opposing sidewalls with a series of belts that rotate and compress the crop material into a cylindrical shape.

When the bale has reached a desired size and density, a wrapping system may wrap the bale to ensure that the bale maintains its shape and density. For example, a net may be used to wrap the bale of crop material. A knife or severing mechanism may be used to cut the net once the bale has been wrapped. The wrapped bale may be ejected from the baler and onto the ground by, for example, raising a tailgate of the baler. The tailgate is then closed and the cycle repeated as necessary and desired to manage the field of cut crop material.

Wrapping the bale in material helps maintain the shape of the formed bale and protect the bale from, for example, rain or other harmful external conditions. However, wrapping the bale with too little or too much wrapping material can also be harmful. Excessively wrapping the bale provides little, if any, benefit and wastes wrapping material, which can reduce the amount of time the baler can operate before needing to replace the wrapping material roll.

<CIT> is disclosing a round baler with a twine wrapping mechanism. Sensors are installed to indicate when wrapping material is causing the pulleys to rotate, thus indicating that wrapping material is being placed around the bale. The rotation of the pulleys is used by a controller to determine how much rotations of the pulleys is needed to provide adequate wrapping material around the bale. Additionally, these sensors are used to identify malfunctioning of the wrapping mechanism. When pulses are continued to be generated after the cutting signal is given, this will be an indication that the cutting operation did not function accordingly. What is needed in the art is a baler that can address at least some of the previously described issues with known balers.

The invention is directed to a wrapping system with a controller that is configured to determine when a length of wrapping material drawn from a material roll exceeds a threshold length and output an excessive wrap signal.

The wrapping system for an agricultural baler includes: a material roll configured to hold a roll of wrapping material; a knife assembly comprising a movable knife that is configured to cut wrapping material that comes off the material roll; a sensor associated with the material roll and configured to output a drawn material signal that is indicative of wrapping material being drawn from the material roll; and a controller operatively coupled to the knife assembly and the sensor. The controller is configured to: receive the drawn material signal; determine a length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll; output a cut signal to the knife assembly when the drawn length of wrapping material reaches a defined length; determine a length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll after outputting the cut signal; and output an excessive wrap signal when the length of wrapping material drawn after outputting the cut signal exceeds a threshold length.

The invention is also directed to an agricultural baler including: a chassis; a baling chamber carried by the chassis and configured to form a bale; and a wrapping system configured to wrap a formed bale in the baling chamber. The wrapping system includes: a material roll configured to hold a roll of wrapping material; a knife assembly comprising a movable cutter that is configured to cut wrapping material that comes off the material roll; a sensor associated with the material roll and configured to output a drawn material signal that is indicative of wrapping material being drawn from the material roll; and a controller operatively coupled to the knife assembly and the sensor. The controller is configured to: receive the drawn material signal; determine a length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll; output a cut signal to the knife assembly when the drawn length of wrapping material reaches a defined length; determine a length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll after outputting the cut signal; and output an excessive wrap signal when the length of wrapping material drawn after outputting the cut signal exceeds a threshold length.

According to the invention, a method of controlling a wrapping system of an agricultural baler is provided. The method is performed by a controller and includes: determining a length of wrapping material that is wrapped around a bale in a baling chamber; outputting a cut signal to a knife assembly when the drawn length of wrapping material reaches a defined length; determining a length of wrapping material that is wrapped around the bale after outputting the cut signal; and outputting an excessive wrap signal when the length of wrapping material wrapped around the bale after outputting the cut signal exceeds a threshold length.

One possible advantage that may be realized by exemplary embodiments disclosed herein is that the controller can detect when the wrapping assembly is not functioning properly by determining that excess wrapping material is being applied to the bale after outputting the cut signal.

Another possible advantage that may be realized by exemplary embodiments disclosed herein is that the controller can stop further wrapping of the bale after detecting that an excessive amount of wrapping material has been wrapped around the bale.

Agricultural balers, such as round balers, are well known in the agricultural industry, and the instant invention can be used with substantially any of such machines. Reference is made, for example, to <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT> that illustrate such balers. For illustrative purposes, details of an exemplary round baler in which the features of the present invention may be used are disclosed in and will be described here in part with reference to <CIT>.

<FIG> depicts an exemplary agricultural round baler, generally designated <NUM>, in which embodiments of the present invention may be employed. As previously noted, crop in the field is usually arranged in a windrow as it is engaged by the baler <NUM> being pulled along the windrow of cut crop material by a tractor (not shown).

<FIG> illustrates a fixed chamber round baler <NUM> having a wrapping system <NUM> for wrapping a cylindrical package of crop material (not shown) formed in a round baler <NUM>. More particularly, the wrapping system <NUM> of baler <NUM> comprises a wrapping assembly <NUM> and a knife assembly <NUM> that includes a movable knife <NUM> for cutting wrapping material, such as net, issued from a material roll <NUM>.

As shown, round baler <NUM> includes a chassis <NUM> with a main support beam <NUM> on which a pair of wheels <NUM> (only one shown) are rotatably affixed. The chassis carries a cylindrical baling chamber including sidewalls <NUM>. For the purposes of clarity only one wall <NUM> is shown in <FIG> and the elements mounted inwardly thereof are shown in full lines for clarity. For illustrative purposes reference letter B is used to designate a bale, shown in cross section in the chamber.

Baler <NUM> also includes a tongue <NUM> extending from the forward portion of chassis <NUM> for conventional connection to a tractor (not shown). Pivotally connected to the sidewalls of chassis <NUM> by a pair of stub shafts <NUM> is tailgate <NUM> which may be closed, as shown throughout the drawings, during bale formation or pivoted open about stub shafts <NUM> to discharge a completed bale. The tailgate includes tailgate walls <NUM> coextensive with side walls <NUM>. A pickup assembly <NUM> mounted on chassis <NUM> in a suitable manner includes a plurality of fingers or tines <NUM> movable in a predetermined path to lift crop material from the ground, generally depicted by direction arrow a, and deliver it rearwardly (arrow b) toward a transverse inlet <NUM> in the chamber defined by a floor roll <NUM> and a transverse stripper roll <NUM>, both of which rolls are rotatably supported on chassis <NUM> between sidewalls <NUM>.

As shown, the baling chamber is defined primarily by an apron assembly <NUM> comprising a pair of support chains <NUM> mounted to travel along a continuous path, the inner run of which is defined on sidewalls <NUM> and tailgate walls <NUM> by front and rear sections <NUM>, <NUM> of a continuous chain guide track that separates at a point of track adjacent the stub shaft <NUM> during bale discharge. The apron further comprises a plurality of parallel tubular crop engaging slats <NUM> extending between chains <NUM> to provide a cage-like periphery of the cylindrically shaped chamber. Radially outward of the inner run of apron assembly <NUM> are front and rear sections <NUM>, <NUM> of continuous cylindrical bale chamber wall. These sections, also separable during bale discharge, are mounted between side walls <NUM> and tailgate walls <NUM>, respectively, for maintaining integrity between the outer and inner runs of chain <NUM>. Operatively engaged with chain <NUM> are drive sprocket <NUM> mounted between sidewalls <NUM>, idler sprockets <NUM> also mounted between sidewalls <NUM> on shaft <NUM>, and idler sprocket <NUM> mounted between tailgate walls <NUM>. A conventional chain drive system for drive sprocket <NUM> is provided via appropriate coupling to gearbox <NUM> in a conventional manner, diagrammatically depicted in phantom outline outwardly of sidewall <NUM>. The baling chamber is further defined by the outer conveying surfaces of floor roll <NUM> and stripper roll <NUM>, both of which are driven in a direction opposite that of the bale chamber direction by conventional drive means appropriately coupled to gear box <NUM>. In <FIG>, floor roll <NUM> receives bale material at its forward surface, moving the bale material upward and rearward, clockwise as shown in <FIG>. Bale material leaves the floor roll <NUM> and enters the baling chamber which rotates moving the bale material from a lower position, rearward and upward in a circular motion, counterclockwise as shown in <FIG>. These rolls <NUM>, <NUM> may be provided with ribs <NUM>, <NUM> to enhance their ability to convey crops in the chamber as a bale is being formed. Other forms of aggressive surface structure may be used to accommodate various types of crops and conditions.

<FIG> show an exemplary embodiment of the wrapping system <NUM> provided according to the present disclosure and comprising wrapping assembly <NUM> and knife assembly <NUM>. As shown, the wrapping assembly <NUM> includes a material roll <NUM>, a duckbill assembly <NUM> including at least one duckbill roll, illustrated as multiple duckbill rolls <NUM>, carried by a duckbill <NUM>, and a duckbill actuator <NUM> coupled to the duckbill <NUM>. Bale chamber rolls <NUM> facilitate the forming of the bale and wrapping of the bale with the net. (Reference numeral 55a is used to denote the location of the axis of a bale chamber roll, which is not shown, for clarity. ) The knife assembly <NUM> may include a movable knife <NUM> and a knife duckbill <NUM> for moving the knife <NUM>.

The wrapping assembly <NUM>, including the duckbill assembly <NUM> and its associated structure and mechanisms may be conventional and common to the structure and operation described in the baler patents referenced above.

As shown, the wrapping material, such as net, may be fed from the material roll <NUM> and travel over the duckbill rolls <NUM> and exit a tip <NUM> of the duckbill <NUM>. The tip <NUM> of the duckbill <NUM> serves to pinch the net and prevent the net from snapping back through the duckbill <NUM> once it is cut. Typically, a portion of net will extend out of the tip after a net knife action. For example, it is common for a section of net that hangs out of the tip of the duckbill and that net tail is where it grabs on to the bale when the duckbill <NUM> is inserted for the next net wrapping cycle.

As shown, the duckbill actuator <NUM> may be dedicated to the duckbill <NUM>, and operation of the duckbill actuator <NUM> functions to insert the duckbill <NUM> to commence a net wrapping cycle and then to retract the duckbill <NUM> at the end of the wrapping cycle once the net has been cut. The duckbill actuator <NUM> is thus configured to move the duckbill <NUM> between a first position, which may be an insert position, and a second position, which may be a home position, during retraction of the duckbill <NUM>. The duckbill actuator <NUM> may be, for example, a motor that is powered by electricity, hydraulics, and/or pneumatics, as is known. The duckbill rolls <NUM> function to define the path of the net as it weaves through the duckbill assembly <NUM> and to ensure the net is stretched to one side of the bale to the other side of the bale. In the operation of the illustrated wrapping assembly <NUM>, the net comes off the bottom of the material roll <NUM>, which, in the figure, rotates clockwise, and goes around the upper side of the upper duckbill roll <NUM> and then makes essentially an <NUM>-degree turn and then goes on the material roll side of the lower duckbill roll <NUM> and then through the tip <NUM> of the duck bill <NUM>. The rotational direction of the material roll <NUM> is unimportant, but ultimately determines the location where the net leaves the roll, and/or the number and placement of additional rolls needed to direct the net appropriately to the duckbill, and eventually rearward, toward the baling chamber. The front of the baler is indicated by arrow <NUM>.

The bale chamber roll <NUM> closest to the up-cut knife assembly <NUM> may include ribs <NUM> disposed about the outside of the roll. A bale chamber roller <NUM> positioned above this roller (not shown) may also include ribs. A gap or clearance may be formed between these two bale chamber rollers <NUM> to allow access for the tip <NUM> of the duckbill <NUM>. As the bale chamber roll <NUM> rotates, the net pinches between the rolls and the bale and ribs <NUM> help grabs the net and feed it into the bale chamber and onto the bale. In the illustrated embodiment, the bale may rotate such that the top material moves forward and downward, with respect to the baler, clockwise as shown in the figure, in the chamber and the bale chamber rolls <NUM> rotate in the opposite direction, here counterclockwise.

<FIG> illustrates the wrapping assembly <NUM> and the knife assembly <NUM> in the home position. <FIG> illustrates the duckbill <NUM> in the insert position. <FIG> illustrates the wrapping assembly <NUM> again in the home position with the knife assembly <NUM> in the cut position.

During a net wrapping cycle, the wrapping assembly <NUM> moves through two positions: the home position to the insert position and back to the home position. In the home position (<FIG>), the duckbill <NUM> of the wrapping assembly <NUM> is in the raised or home position. The home position is typically employed at the time a bale is being formed. At some point in time, the bale forming operation is completed and the time to wrap the bale occurs. At this time, the duckbill <NUM> of the wrapping assembly <NUM> is lowered to the insert position (<FIG>), where the duckbill <NUM> rotates into the baling chamber. The duckbill tip <NUM> fits in between upper and lower bale chamber rolls <NUM> (the upper roll is not shown for clarity, but its location is marked 55a), and the net is pinched between the bale and the lower roll causing the net to start to feed on to the bale. Sensors (not shown) may be provided to determine when the net is flowing on to the bale. Once it is determined that the net has started wrapping on the bale, the duckbill <NUM> is retracted out of the bale chamber and returns to the duckbill home position (<FIG>). Completion of the net wrapping may be determined using sensors and/or via passage of a specified time period. At this point in the net wrapping cycle, the net is still flowing out of the duckbill <NUM> to the bale chamber. It is also time to cut the net, the operation of which is performed by the knife assembly <NUM> moving the knife <NUM> to the cut position.

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a baling system <NUM> provided according to the present disclosure. The baling system <NUM> includes the baler <NUM> with a baler controller <NUM> and a tractor <NUM> with a tractor controller <NUM> and a display <NUM> accessible by an operator in the tractor <NUM>. The display <NUM> allows for the operator to see various control and status information as well as to enter and configure information for use by the tractor controller <NUM> and the baler controller <NUM>. The tractor controller <NUM> and the baler controller <NUM> are operatively coupled to one another for messaging and data communication, as is known. The display <NUM> is operatively coupled to the tractor controller <NUM> and may be operatively coupled to the baler controller <NUM> directly or indirectly through the tractor controller <NUM>. In some embodiments, the tractor controller <NUM> and the baler controller <NUM> are integrated in an ISOBUS system; in such embodiments, the controllers <NUM>, <NUM> may communicate on the ISOBUS network. It should thus be appreciated that an ISOBUS network may also be the "controller" referred to herein.

In other embodiments, the baler <NUM> is not connected to the tractor <NUM> but is connected to other equipment, such as, for example, a harvester or a part of a harvester, such as a cotton picker, or the like. In these embodiments, the other equipment (e.g., harvester) may include a controller, similar to the tractor controller <NUM>, and an operator interface, similar to the display <NUM>.

In known balers, the controller normally signals for a wrapping cycle to begin after determining that the formed bale has reached a certain size. Once the wrapping cycle begins and wrapping material is wrapped around the bale, the controller can, for example, keep track of how much time has elapsed before signaling for the knife assembly to cut the wrapping material. It has been found that this is not effective in situations where the knife assembly does not fully cut through the wrapping material, which may be due to the motor that moves the knife stalling or the knife not being sharp enough to cut the material. In such instances, the material roll may continue to rotate and apply an excessive amount of wrapping material to the bale or, in some cases, the bale may be ejected without the wrapping material being fully cut. If the wrapping material is not fully cut, the bale can pull wrapping material from the material roll when released to the field. In either scenario, an excess of wrapping material is pulled from the material roll, resulting in wasted material and time.

To address some of the previously described issues, and referring to <FIG> again, the wrapping system <NUM> includes a sensor <NUM> that is associated with the material roll <NUM> and a controller that is operatively coupled to the knife assembly <NUM> and the sensor <NUM>. The controller may be, for example, the baler controller <NUM>, the tractor controller <NUM>, a separate dedicated controller, and/or an ISOBUS network that incorporates the controllers <NUM>, <NUM>. For ease of description, the baler controller <NUM> is hereafter referred to as "the controller," but it should be appreciated that the controller provided according to the present disclosure can be a variety of different controllers. The sensor <NUM> is configured to output a drawn material signal that is indicative of wrapping material being drawn from the material roll. For example, the sensor <NUM> may comprise a wheel that wrapping material travels across as the wrapping material is drawn from the material roll <NUM>. As the wrapping material is drawn from the material roll <NUM> across the sensor <NUM>, the sensor <NUM> rotates and outputs the drawn material signal during rotation. In some embodiments, the sensor <NUM> is configured to output the drawn material signal after a rotation interval so the controller <NUM> is able to keep track of how many revolutions the sensor <NUM> has undergone and keep track of the length of material that has been drawn from the material roll. For example, the sensor <NUM> may be configured to output the drawn material signal every <NUM>° of rotation, so the controller <NUM> can determine that each output drawn material signal corresponds to a length of wrapping material being drawn that is equal to a circumference of the sensor <NUM> divided by <NUM>. It should be appreciated that many other types of sensors can be utilized to output the drawn material signal, such as optical sensors, and the foregoing description of a sensor <NUM> comprising a wheel is exemplary only.

The controller <NUM> is configured to receive the drawn material signal and determine a length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll. The controller <NUM> can determine the length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll as previously described, or in other ways. When the drawn length of wrapping material reaches a defined length, the controller <NUM> outputs a cut signal to the knife assembly <NUM> to signal for the knife assembly <NUM> to move into position and cut the wrapping material. The controller <NUM> determines a length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll <NUM> after outputting the cut signal. When the length of wrapping material drawn after the controller <NUM> outputs the cut signal exceeds a threshold length, the controller <NUM> outputs an excessive wrap signal.

Outputting the excessive wrap signal from the controller <NUM> can result in a variety of different functions. In some embodiments, the controller <NUM> is configured such that the output excessive wrap signal prevents rotation of the material roll <NUM>. Preventing rotation of the material roll <NUM> may be accomplished, for example, by the controller <NUM> outputting the excessive wrap signal to an operatively coupled power take off (PTO) <NUM> such that the output excessive wrap signal causes the PTO <NUM> to decouple from a power source, such as a corresponding shaft of the tractor <NUM>, to prevent rotation of the material roll <NUM>. The PTO <NUM> may be the primary source of power for the baler <NUM> or, alternatively, may be a secondary PTO that provides power to the material roll <NUM> to rotate the material roll <NUM>. Alternatively, the controller <NUM> can be operatively coupled to a brake <NUM> that is associated with the material roll <NUM> and can apply a braking force to the material roll <NUM> to prevent rotation of the material roll <NUM>. It should thus be appreciated that the excessive wrap signal output by the controller <NUM> can prevent rotation of the material roll <NUM> in a variety of ways.

In some embodiments, the controller <NUM> is configured to output the excessive wrap signal such that an alarm is trigged. The alarm being triggered may be alternatively, or in addition, to rotation of the material roll <NUM> being prevented when the excessive wrap signal is output. Referring specifically to <FIG>, the controller <NUM> can be configured to operatively couple to the display <NUM> and output the excessive wrap signal to the display <NUM> to cause the display <NUM> to present a warning. The warning may be, for example, in the form of a warning graphic <NUM> that is presented on the display <NUM> and alerts an operator to excessive wrapping material being drawn from the material roll <NUM> without being cut. The excessive output signal may also cause the display <NUM> to present a stop wrapping icon <NUM> that, when selected, causes the display <NUM> to output a stop wrapping signal, to the controller <NUM> or elsewhere, that causes wrapping of the bale to terminate. In some embodiments, the triggered alarm is an audible alarm, rather than a visual one, that warns an operator that excessive wrapping material is being drawn from the material roll <NUM>. It should thus be appreciated that an operator can be alerted to excessive wrapping material being wrapped around the bale in a variety of ways.

In some embodiments, the controller <NUM> is configured to set the threshold length. The threshold length may be set, for example, to be equal to a circumference of the forming bale. Making the threshold length equal to a circumference of the bale forming in the baling chamber can allow the controller <NUM> to determine when a substantial amount of excess wrapping material is wrapped around the bale, rather than a small amount, and take the appropriate responsive action. It should be appreciated that the threshold length may be set to other values by the controller <NUM>, either automatically or due to a manual input by an operator, to determine when an excessive length of wrapping material has been drawn from the material roll <NUM> after outputting the cut signal.

In some embodiments, the controller <NUM> is configured to output a wrapping cycle start signal to the duckbill actuator <NUM> and determine the length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll <NUM> after outputting the wrapping cycle start signal. Outputting the wrapping cycle start signal to the duckbill actuator <NUM> can indicate that a wrapping cycle is beginning and act as the starting point for the controller <NUM> to determine the length of wrapping material being drawn from the material roll <NUM>. After outputting the cut signal, the controller <NUM> no longer receiving the drawn material signal indicates that the knife assembly <NUM> has cut through the drawn wrapping material so wrapping material is no longer being drawn from the material roll <NUM> and the wrapping cycle has completed. The controller <NUM> can then reset wrapping cycle monitoring in anticipation of another wrapping cycle starting. However, the controller <NUM> continues to receive the drawn material signal as long as wrapping material is drawn from the material roll <NUM>, allowing the controller <NUM> to keep track of the length of wrapping material drawn from the material roll <NUM> after outputting the cut signal and determine that excessive amounts of wrapping material have been drawn from the material roll <NUM>.

From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the controller <NUM> determining the length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll <NUM> after outputting the cut signal allows the controller <NUM> to determine how much wrapping material, if any, is drawn after the wrapping cycle should have ended. If the amount of wrapping material drawn from the material roll <NUM> exceeds the threshold length after the controller <NUM> outputs the cut signal, this indicates that the knife assembly <NUM> has failed to cut the wrapping material and excess wrapping material is being wrapped around the bale. The controller <NUM> may then output the excessive wrap signal to prevent further rotation of the material roll <NUM> and/or trigger an alarm to alert an operator that excessive wrapping material is being applied. In either scenario, the controller <NUM> can reduce the risk of excessive wrapping material being applied, reducing the risk of wasting wrapping material and time.

Referring now to <FIG>, an exemplary embodiment of a method <NUM> of controlling a wrapping system <NUM> of an agricultural baler <NUM> provided according to the present disclosure is illustrated. The method <NUM> is performed by a controller, such as the baler controller <NUM>, the tractor controller <NUM>, another controller, and/or an ISOBUS network and includes determining <NUM> a length of wrapping material that is wrapped around a bale in a baling chamber. The controller <NUM> outputs <NUM> a cut signal to a knife assembly <NUM> when the drawn length of wrapping material reaches a defined length. The controller <NUM> determines <NUM> a length of wrapping material that is wrapped around the bale after outputting the cut signal. The controller <NUM> outputs <NUM> an excessive wrap signal when the length of wrapping material wrapped around the bale after outputting <NUM> the cut signal exceeds a threshold length, as previously described. In some embodiments, outputting <NUM> the excessive wrap signal prevents further wrapping of wrapping material around the bale. The excessive wrap signal may prevent further wrapping by, for example, causing a PTO <NUM> to decouple from a power source or by causing a brake <NUM> to apply sufficient braking force to the material roll <NUM> to prevent rotation of the material roll <NUM>. In some embodiments, outputting <NUM> the excessive wrap signal triggers an alarm. The alarm may be a warning graphic <NUM> presented on a display <NUM> and/or an audible alarm. The controller <NUM> may also both cause prevention of further rotation of the material roll <NUM> and cause triggering of an alarm. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> further includes setting <NUM> the threshold length. The threshold length may be set <NUM> to be equal to, for example, a circumference of the bale in the baling chamber.

It is to be understood that the steps of the method <NUM> are performed by the controller <NUM>, <NUM> upon loading and executing software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium, such as on a magnetic medium, e.g., a computer hard drive, an optical medium, e.g., an optical disc, solid-state memory, e.g., flash memory, or other storage media known in the art. Thus, any of the functionality performed by the controller <NUM>, <NUM> described herein, such as the method <NUM>, is implemented in software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium. The controller <NUM>, <NUM> loads the software code or instructions via a direct interface with the computer readable medium or via a wired and/or wireless network. Upon loading and executing such software code or instructions by the controller <NUM>, <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, <NUM> may perform any of the functionality of the controller <NUM>, <NUM> described herein, including any steps of the method <NUM> described herein.

Claim 1:
A wrapping system (<NUM>) for an agricultural baler (<NUM>), comprising:
a material roll (<NUM>) configured to hold a roll of wrapping material; and
a knife assembly (<NUM>) comprising a movable knife (<NUM>) that is configured to cut wrapping material that comes off the material roll (<NUM>);
a sensor (<NUM>) associated with the material roll (<NUM>) and configured to output a drawn material signal that is indicative of wrapping material being drawn from the material roll (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>, <NUM>) operatively coupled to the knife assembly (<NUM>) and the sensor (<NUM>), characterised in that the controller (<NUM>, <NUM>) is configured to:
receive the drawn material signal;
determine a length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll (<NUM>);
output a cut signal to the knife assembly (<NUM>) when the drawn length of wrapping material reaches a defined length;
determine a length of wrapping material that is drawn from the material roll (<NUM>) after outputting the cut signal; and
output an excessive wrap signal when the length of wrapping material drawn after outputting the cut signal exceeds a threshold length.