Round baler having improved bale core starting structure

Abstract

A round baler includes an expansible, upwardly converging wedge shaped bale chamber having an opening at its bottom and being formed in part by first and second belt runs that respectively converge upwardly from first and second belt support rolls respectively located at the front and rear of the inlet opening. Expansion of the baling chamber works against a downwardly biased tensioning frame pivotally mounted to opposite side walls, the first and second belt runs extending between a fixed and a pivotal roll carried by the frame with the pivotal roll being controlled to move closer to the fixed roll as the tensioning frame is forced upwardly by a growing bale. A fingered rake structure bridges the gap between the fixed and pivotal rolls to keep crop material from exiting the chamber. A crop braking structure is mounted above the first belt support roll and includes fingers projecting downwardly between the belts of the first run of belts and into the opening to the chamber to impede the flow of crop being carried downwardly by the first run of belts. An alternate feeding structure may be mounted to the baler below and rearwardly of the first belt support roll and includes feeding lugs extending through slots defined by stripper vanes, the vanes having ends of the crop braking fingers received therein and cooperating with the fingers to form a smooth crop engaging surface.