Patent ID: 7296393

Claim:
A stuffer mechanism for a round baler, said stuffer mechanism comprising: a frame assembly connected to said baler, said frame assembly having spaced apart opposing first and second end plates defining a stuffer width therebetween; at least two feeder finger assemblies, each having an elongate base with an orbital axis of rotation and a plurality of feeder fingers extending away from said base generally parallel to and uniformly spaced therealong, said axes of rotation of said at least two feeder finger assemblies being generally parallel; a crankshaft having spaced apart first and second ends and a central axis of rotation, said first and second ends being rotatably supported and axially restrained, respectively, by said first and second end plates; at least two generally parallel and equal length elongate crankpins spaced axially apart and generally end to end between said first and second end plates, each of said at least two crankpins rotatably connected to one of said bases along said orbital axis of rotation; and at least one crankshaft support structure supported by said frame assembly, located between said at least two crankpins and respective said at least two feeder finger assemblies, said crankshaft support structure defining a thickness dimension along said central axis of rotation as being no greater than said uniform spacing between adjacent feeder fingers, said at least one crankshaft support structure having a first crank arm plate, a second crank arm plate, a connector shaft connecting said first and second crank arm plates, a bearing rotatably supporting and axially restraining said connector shaft, a bearing housing supporting said bearing, and a support plate connecting said bearing housing to said frame assembly wherein said first and second crank arm plates may move axially relative to said connector shaft during rotation of said crankshaft.