# US 4,399,746 A · Staggered rolls and belts for round baler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,399,746 A - Document ID: US4399746A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/285,178 - Filed: 1981-07-20 - Granted: 1983-08-23 - Earliest claimed: 1981-07-20 - Assignees: Deere & Company - Inventors: Jean Viaud - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4399746A ## CPC - A01F 15/07: Rotobalers, i.e. machines for forming cylindrical bales by winding and pressing - A01F 2015/078: {Pressing chamber formed exclusively by flexible elements, e.g. belts} - A01F 2015/0795: {Pressing chamber with variable volume} - A01F: PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE (devices for topping or skinning onions or flower bulbs A23N15/08) ## Abstract A baler for making round bales is provided with a plurality of rolls and belts constituting a bale chamber having a crop inlet to which hay and the like is fed via a conventional pick-up mechanism. Two of the rolls are arranged as a set of first and second closely spaced apart, parallel rolls. Some of the belts are trained about only one roll of the set and about a group of common rolls in the baler. In one embodiment the other the belts are trained about both the first and second rolls and about the common rolls. The roll set is provided at the crop inlet in the area where the core of the bale is initiated. In a second embodiment the other belts are trained about only the second roll of the set and about the common rolls. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a round baler comprising (1) a pair of spaced sides; (2) a plurality of parallel, spaced rolls supported by said sides, said plurality of rolls comprised of a set of two adjacent rolls and a group of common rolls; and (3) a plurality of side-by-side belts supported by said plurality of rolls, defining a bale forming chamber having a crop inlet and defining a volume contiguous of said chamber; the improvement comprising at least one belt entrained about only one roll of said set of rolls and about said group of rolls to define an opening in a lower portion of said volume between said at least one belt and one of said plurality of belts adjacent to said at least one belt, said opening permitting crop material to escape from said volume. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The baler of claim 1 wherein others of said plurality of belts are trained about only the other roll of said set and about the group of rolls. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The baler of claim 1 wherein others of said plurality of belts are trained about both rolls of said set and about the group of rolls. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 3) A round baler as in claim 1 or 3, wherein that said set of rolls is arranged at the crop inlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A round baler as in claim 2, wherein every other belt is trained about said one roll and the remaining belts are trained about said other roll. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The baler of claim 3 wherein every other belt is trained about only said one roll and about said group of rolls and the remaining belts are trained about both rolls of said set and about said group of rolls. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A round baler as in claim 6, wherein that said set of rolls is arranged at the crop inlet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A round baler as in claim 1 wherein that said set of rolls is fixed as to location in the supporting structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A round baler as in claim 1, wherein said one roll is spaced forwardly of the other of said set; said one belt is adjacent to one of said sides; a second of said plurality of belts is located adjacent to the second of said sides and is entrained about said one roll; said one, said second a third and fourth of said plurality of belts adjacent, respectively, to said one and second belts form a pair of said openings spaced inwardly and away from said sides. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The baler of claim 9 wherein others of said plurality of belts are entrained about the other roll of said set and about the group of rolls. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The baler of claim 9 wherein others of said plurality of belts are trained about both rolls of said set and about the group of rolls. ### Claim 12 A round baler comprising (1) a pair of spaced sides; (2) a plurality of parallel, spaced rolls supported by and extending between said sides, said plurality of rolls comprised of a set of two adjacent rolls and a group of common rolls; and (3) a plurality of side-by-side belts between said sides and supported by said plurality of rolls, and defining a bale forming chamber having a crop inlet; the improvement comprising at least two of said plurality of belts entrained about only one roll of said set of rolls and about said group of rolls. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The baler of claim 10 wherein the others of said plurality of belts are entrained about only the roll of said set and about the group of rolls. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The baler of claim 10 wherein others of said plurality of belts are entrained about both rolls of said set and about the group of rolls. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12, 13) The round baler of either claims 12, 13, or 14 wherein said set of rolls is adjacent to the crop inlet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12, 13) The round baler of either claims 12, 13, or 14 wherein: said plurality of belts define a volume contiguous with said bale forming chamber. said one roll is spaced forwardly of the other roll of said set; said at least two belts are located respectively adjacent to one of said pair of sides; said plurality of belts includes a third and fourth belt respectively adjacent to one of said at least two belts entrained about said one roll; and said at least two belts and said third and fourth belts adjacent thereto form in said volume a pair of openings spaced inwardly and away from said sides, said openings permitting crop material to escape from said volume.