Method for clearing a blockage in the intake duct of a square baler

1. A method for clearing a blockage in the intake duct of a square baler having a baling chamber with an inlet for the introduction of crop material, an intake duct for transporting crop material to the inlet; and a stuffer comprising tines movable to follow a generally kidney shaped first path to load the crop in the intake duct into the baling chamber through the inlet comprising the steps of:

detecting a blockage in the intake duct;

modifying the path of movement of the tines from the first path to a second path in response to the detected blockage whereby only a fraction of the crop material accumulated in the intake duct is loaded into the baling chamber; and

restoring the path of the tines to the normal path.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising loading the remainder of the crop in the intake duct into the baling chamber before feeding new crop material into the intake duct.

3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising

introducing new crop material into the intake duct;

loading the new crop material together with the remainder of the crop material that caused the blockage into the baling chamber.

4. A square baler comprising

a baling chamber with an inlet for the introduction of crop material, an intake duct for transporting crop material to the inlet;

a stuffer comprising tines movable to follow a generally kidney shaped first path to load the crop in the intake duct into the baling chamber through the inlet and a second path wherein the stuffer is configured to move the tines to enter the duct at a point closer to the inlet than when following the first path whereby only a fraction of the crop material accumulated in the intake duct is loaded into the baling chamber; and

a mechanical linkage having a variable geometry, wherein the tines of the stuffer are movable by the mechanical linkage to modify the path of the tines between the first and second paths,

wherein the tines are mounted on levers of which one end is connected for rotation by a crank, the levers engaged by journals mounted on pivot plates that each oscillate about a pivot point in synchronism with the rotating crank to cause the tips of the tines to follow the kidney shaped first path; and in that

the journals are adjustably mounted on the pivot plates in order to vary the geometry of the mechanical linkage and wherein the journal is closer to the pivot point when the tines are following the second path than the first path.

5. A square baler according to claim 4 , wherein each journal forms part of a separate member that is adjustably mounted on the pivot plate.

6. A square baler comprising

a baling chamber with an inlet for the introduction of crop material, an intake duct for transporting crop material to the inlet;

a stuffer comprising tines movable to follow a generally kidney shaped first path to load the crop in the intake duct into the baling chamber through the inlet and a second path whereby only a fraction of the crop material accumulated in the intake duct is loaded into the baling chamber; and

a mechanical linkage having a variable geometry, wherein the tines of the stuffer are movable by the mechanical linkage to modify the path of the tines between the first and second paths;

wherein the tines are mounted on levers of which one end is connected for rotation by a crank, the levers engaged by journals mounted on pivot plates that each oscillate about a pivot point in synchronism with the rotating crank to cause the tips of the tines to follow the kidney shaped first path; and in that the journals are adjustably mounted on the pivot plates in order to vary the geometry of the mechanical linkage;

wherein the journal forming part of a separate member that is adjustably mounted on the pivot plate; and

wherein the separate member is a disc retained by bolts engaged in elongated slots in the pivot plate.

7. A square baler as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the separate member is a lever pivotally mounted on the pivot plate.

8. A square baler as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the separate member is a repositionable disc retained in a hole in the pivot plate.