System and method for baling agricultural crop material
An agricultural baler disposed on a movable agricultural implement is provided. The baler includes a first plunger and a second plunger. The baler also includes a strap feeding assembly and a track assembly disposed within a first slot formed on a first material-facing surface of the first plunger, a second slot formed on a second material-facing surface of the second plunger, a third slot formed on a third material-facing surface of a first wall of the baling chamber, and a fourth slot formed on a fourth material-facing surface of a second wall of the baling chamber. The first plunger is configured to compress material within the baling chamber, and the strap feeding assembly is configured to propel a strap through the track assembly, around the baling chamber, and into a sealing assembly configured to seal the strap into a loop around the bale.
1. An agricultural baler disposed on a movable agricultural implement comprising:
a first plunger and a second plunger, positioned on an opposite longitudinal end of a baling chamber from the first plunger;
a strap feeding assembly; and
a track assembly disposed within a first slot formed on a first material-facing surface of the first plunger, a second slot formed on a second material-facing surface of the second plunger, a third slot formed on a third material-facing surface of a first wall of the baling chamber, and fourth slot formed on a fourth material-facing surface of a second wall of the baling chamber, wherein the first and second walls are positioned on opposite lateral or vertical sides of the baling chamber;
wherein the first plunger is configured to compress material within the baling chamber into a bale, and the strap feeding assembly is configured to propel an end of a strap through the track assembly, around the baling chamber, and into a sealing assembly configured to bind a first portion of the strap to a second portion of the strap to seal the strap into a loop around the bale within the baling chamber, and wherein the agricultural baler is disposed on a movable agricultural implement.
2. The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein the track assembly comprises a gated channel.
3. The agricultural baler of claim 2 , wherein the gated channel comprises spring-loaded gates.
4. The agricultural baler of claim 2 , wherein the gated channel comprises actuated gates.
5. The agricultural baler of claim 2 , wherein the gated channel comprises gates recessed within the first slot, the second slot, the third slot, or the fourth slot.
6. The agricultural baler of claim 5 , comprising an actuator configured to enable the second plunger to move in a second direction to control the density of the bale.
7. The agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein the strap feeding assembly is disposed proximal to a first end of the baling chamber and the sealing assembly is disposed distal from the first end of the baling chamber.
8. The agricultural baler of claim 1 , comprising one or more dogs configured to hold the bale within the baling chamber as the first plunger moves in a first direction.