Round baler crop pickups

A round baler comprising:

• a bale formation chamber;
• a rotor device having a plurality of teeth connected to a rotor, the teeth having outer tips that define a circumferential path of travel of the rotor device;
• and
• a crop pickup device comprising a plurality of pickup tines, having a constant radial length, connected to a pickup reel having a constant outer diameter about an axis of rotation and a plurality of stripper bands having an outer profile, wherein each of the plurality of pickup tines has a distal end defining a constant circumferential path of travel of the crop pickup device, each of the plurality of pickup tines passing through a gap formed between adjacent stripper bands, the crop pickup device having:
• an engagement zone within which the plurality of pickup tines extend beyond the outer profile of the plurality of stripper bands by a first carry distance and at a first carry angle, wherein the stripper bands includes a radial curve in the engagement zone that is co-axial with the axis of rotation of the crop pickup device;
• and
• a release zone within which the plurality of stripper bands are shaped such that the pickup tines extend beyond the outer profile of the plurality of stripper bands by a second carry distance and at a second carry angle, the release zone extending from the engagement zone to a position at which each of the plurality of pickup tines pass through the outer profile of the stripper bands,
• wherein each of the plurality of stripper bands is a monolithic component, wherein each of the stripper bands has a first width in the engagement zone, and wherein, in the release zone, each of the plurality of stripper bands includes at least one upward and outward projecting sidewall such that the stripper bands have a second width in the release zone that is greater than the first width in the engagement zone;
• and
• wherein the release zone is adjacent to the circumferential path of travel of the rotor device such that the rotor device and the pickup reel rotate and cooperate to convey crop material from the crop pickup device towards the bale formation chamber.