Net wrapping apparatus

Claim 2

In a round baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material having apparatus for wrapping said bales with netting material, said apparatus including a knife and a feed roller which may be selectively driven to dispense netting material from a supply roll into said round baler, said apparatus having a home position and a cutting position wherein said feed roller is latched and said knife is actuated, said apparatus also having a feeding position wherein said feed roller is driven, said apparatus comprising: a lever mounted for rotation about the axis of said feed roller, said lever having first means on one end thereof for effecting the driving of said feed roller and having second means on the other end thereof for effecting the latching of said feed roller.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first means comprises an idler pulley engageable with a belt to thereby tighten said belt so that said belt delivers driving power to a pulley connected to said feed roller.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second means comprises a rod for rotating a latch arm to latch and unlatch said feed roller.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuator connected to said lever for moving said apparatus between said home, feeding and cutting positions.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said knife is connected to said lever.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a latch arm which is rotatable for latching and unlatching said feed roller, and wherein said latch arm is rotated to unlatch said feed roller only when said apparatus is moved from said home position to said feeding position.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said latch arm is rotated to latch said feed roller when said apparatus is moved from said feeding position to said cutting position, and wherein said feed roller remains latched by said latch arm when said apparatus is moved from said cutting position to said home position.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said knife is connected to said lever, and wherein said knife is retracted when said apparatus is in said home and feeding positions but said knife being actuated when said apparatus is moved from said feeding position to said cutting position.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a lost motion connection between said lever and said knife.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a spring normally urging said knife into said retracted position.

Claim 12

In a round baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material having apparatus for wrapping said bales with netting material, said apparatus including a knife and a feed roller which may be selectively driven to dispense netting material from a supply roll into said round baler, said apparatus having a home position wherein said feed roller is latched and said knife is retracted and a cutting position wherein said feed roller is latched and said knife is actuated, said apparatus also having a feeding position wherein said feed roller is driven, said apparatus comprising: a lever mounted for rotation about the axis of said feed roller; said lever having an idler pulley on one end thereof engageable with a belt to thereby tighten said belt so that said belt delivers driving power to a pulley connected to said feed roller; said lever also having a rod on the other end thereof for rotating a latch arm to latch and unlatch said feed roller; an actuator connected to said lever for moving said apparatus between said home, feeding and cutting positions; said knife being connected to said lever; said latch arm being rotated to unlatch said feed roller only when said apparatus is moved from said home position to said feeding position; said latch arm being rotated to latch said feed roller when said apparatus is moved from said feeding position to said cutting position; said feed roller remaining latched by said latch arm when said apparatus is moved from said cutting position to said home position; and said knife being retracted when said apparatus is in said home and feeding positions but said knife being moved actuated when said apparatus is moved from said feeding position to said cutting position.

Claim 13

In a round baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material having apparatus for wrapping said bales with netting material, said apparatus including a knife and a feed roller which may be selectively driven to dispense netting material from a supply roll into said round baler, said apparatus having a home position wherein said feed roller is latched and said knife is retracted and a cutting position wherein said feed roller is latched and said knife is actuated, said apparatus also having a feeding position wherein said feed roller is driven, said apparatus comprising: a lever mounted for rotation about the axis of said feed roller; said lever having an idler pulley on one end thereof engageable with a belt to thereby tighten said belt so that said belt delivers driving power to a pulley connected to said feed roller; said lever also having a rod on the other end thereof for rotating a latch arm to latch and unlatch said feed roller; an actuator connected to said lever for moving said apparatus between said home, feeding and cutting positions; said knife being connected to said lever; said latch arm being rotated to unlatch said feed roller only when said apparatus is moved from said home position to said feeding position; said latch arm being rotated to latch said feed roller when said apparatus is moved from said feeding position to said cutting position; said feed roller remaining latched by said latch arm when said apparatus is moved from said cutting position to said home position; and said knife being retracted when said apparatus is in said home and feeding positions but said knife being moved actuated when said apparatus is moved from said feeding position to said cutting position.