MONITORING APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR DETECTING CORRECT CIRCUMFERENTIAL WRAPPING OF A BALE OF MATERIAL

摘要

A baler (1) comprising a housing (10) having a stationary part (12) and a moveable part (14), both of which carry bale rotating rollers (20) which define a bale forming chamber (16) within which a bale (2) of forage material is formed and circumferentially wrapped with wrapping film (3). Monitoring apparatus (4) for detecting correct circumferential wrapping of the bale (2) in the bale forming chamber (16) comprises a pressure transducer (66) which monitors pressure in a pair of hydraulic rams (43) which urge the stationary part (12) and the moveable part (14) of the housing (10) together during formation and wrapping of the bale (2) in the bale forming chamber (16). On the pressure detected by the pressure transducer (66) being indicative of a reduction of the radial outward pressure being exerted by the bale on the bale rotating rollers (20) being greater than a predefined pressure drop, which corresponds to correct circumferential wrapping of the bale (2), a signal processor (67) which reads signals from the pressure transducer (66) produces a signal indicative of correct circumferential wrapping of the bale so that circumferential wrapping of the bale can continue.