Baler and method and apparatus for determining uniformity of the density of a round bale

A baler comprising:

• a first part and a second part comprising a pressing means defining a bale chamber and for rotating and pressing a round bale during formation thereof in the bale chamber,
• the second part being moveable relative to the first part and being operable between
• a closed state with the pressing means operable to rotate and press a bale, and
• an open state for discharging the bale from the bale chamber,
• two retaining devices for releasably retaining the second part of the baler in the closed state, the retaining devices being spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the bale chamber, each retaining device comprising:
• a receiver comprising a latch pin extending from one of the first and second parts of the baler, the latch pin of each receiver extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and being secured to the one of the first and second parts adjacent the proximal end thereof, and projecting therefrom to the distal end, and
• a latch coupled to the other one of the first and second parts of the baler and being releasably engageable with the latch pin of the corresponding retaining device for releasably retaining the second part in the closed state,
• a monitoring means for monitoring a characteristic indicative of the forces induced in the respective retaining devices when the latches are engaged with the corresponding receivers latch pins retaining the second part in the closed state by monitoring a characteristic indicative of the deflections of the latch pins of the respective retaining devices at a location spaced apart from the proximal ends thereof, and for producing signals indicative of the monitored characteristic indicative of the deflections of the latch pins of the respective retaining devices, and
• a signal processor configured
• to read the signals produced by the monitoring means indicative of the monitored characteristic indicative of deflections of the latch pins of the respective retaining devices, and
• to determine uniformity of a density of the bale across an axial length thereof in response to the signals read from the monitoring means as a function of the monitored characteristic indicative of the deflections of the latch pins of the respective retaining devices.