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Abstract

Method and apparatus for forming bales. The baler (10) which performs the method includes a bale chamber (16) having a forward inlet end. Mounted forwardly of the bale chamber are conveying means (26) which may include a crop pickup (76). Feeding means (28) are disposed between the conveying means and the inlet end of the bale chamber, the feeding means simultaneously engaging opposed surfaces of a rearwardly conveyed mat of crop material while alternately feeding opposed surfaces of the mat in a rearward direction to a location adjacent the inlet end of the bale chamber. Moving means (46) are provided to move the fed mat of crop material back and forth across the inlet end of the bale chamber to form successive layers of folded crop material within the bale chamber. The feeding means includes a pair of parallel rollers (32) on which saw tooth like feed elements (40) are supported, the elements being so arranged that they more aggressively feed the mat when moved in a direction towards the inlet end of the bale chamber (16) than when moved away from the inlet end. The rollers are carried by common supports (48), and the moving means, which may be hydraulic cylinders (50), move the common supports and the rollers back and forth across the inlet end of the bale chamber.

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First Claim