Crop parameter dependent bale chamber configuration adaptation

A method for preparing bales of harvested crop material with a baler having a bale chamber comprising a first part having a fixed configuration, and a second part comprising four sides defining a substantially rectangular opening through which a bale is urged along a bale travel axis from a front end inlet opening towards a rear end outlet opening, the four sides comprising a pair of chamber doors arranged along two opposing sides of the bale chamber, each of said pair of chamber doors being pivotably connected at one end to the first part of the bale chamber and extending rearwards therefrom in a manner to allow the pair of chamber doors to be selectively pivoted inwards and outwards relative to the bale travel axis, wherein at least one of the chamber doors comprises at least two side sections which are pivotably connected relative to one another, thus defining a door angle between them at a pivotable connection, the method comprising the steps:

• obtaining at least one crop parameter;
• selecting a value for the door angle of the bale chamber based on the obtained crop parameter to thereby establish a suited pressure profile to be exerted upon the bale being compacted while moving through the bale chamber during bale manufacturing;
• and
• adapting the position of the side sections with respect to one another in accordance with the selected door angle value.

A control system for controlling a baler having a bale chamber comprising a first part having a fixed configuration and a second part comprising four sides defining a substantially rectangular opening through which a bale is urged along a bale travel axis from a front end inlet opening towards a rear end outlet opening, the four sides comprising a pair of chamber doors arranged along two opposing sides of the bale chamber, each of said pair of chamber doors being pivotably connected at one end to the first section of the bale chamber and extending rearwards therefrom in a manner to allow the pair of chamber doors to be selectively pivoted inwards and outwards relative to the bale travel axis, wherein at least one of the chamber doors comprises at least two side sections which are pivotably connected relative to one another, thereby defining a door angle at a pivotable connection, the control system comprising:

• a configuration selector for obtaining at least one crop parameter and for selecting a door angle value defined by the position of the at least two side sections with respect to one another, the selection of the configuration being based on the obtained crop parameter, to thereby establish a suited pressure profile to be exerted upon the bale being compacted while moving through the bale chamber during bale manufacturing;
• and
• a signal generator for generating at least one steering signal for adapting the position of the at least two side sections with respect to one another in accordance with the selected door angle value.