Pick-up floatation suspension

Abstract

A wide pick-up of a large round baler is mounted for floating or pivoting vertically about the axis of rotation of a rotary secondary conveyor that includes a pair of centering augers at its opposite ends. Provided at each side of the pick-up is a float spring assembly including a coil tension spring and an L-shaped link. Each coil tension spring has its upper end coupled to the baler main frame by a bracket receiving a rod joined to a spring end retainer, and has its lower end defined by a hook which is received in a hole provided in an upper end of the L-shaped link. The lower end of the link is defined by a short leg which projects forwardly beneath lower rear structure of the pick-up frame and contains a kidney-shaped aperture in which a cylindrical coupler is received, the coupler being fixed to a side member of the pick-up frame. The side members of the pick-up frame extend upward and rearward beside respective inner ends of the centering augers and respectively carry the coupling which pivotally mounts the pick-up frame for pivoting about the axis of rotation of the secondary conveyor. A pan structure includes separate front and rear sections with a lower rear portion of the front section forming a gap with the rear section and being oriented so that it retains small crop pieces during normal operation and so that crop pieces slide through and water drains through the gap when the pick-up is in its raised transport position.