WO2024261567A1

WO2024261567A1 - Agricultural baler

Info

Publication number: WO2024261567A1
Application number: PCT/IB2024/055392
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric John Herbers
Original assignee: Agco Corporation
Priority date: 2023-06-19
Filing date: 2024-06-03
Publication date: 2024-12-26

Abstract

An agricultural baler (2) comprising a baling chamber (18) and reciprocating piston plunger (20) operating within the baling chamber for compressing crop material (12) is disclosed. The agricultural baler is provided with measurement apparatus (30, 44) located at a threshold location at each of the left and right hand sides of the baling chamber, the measurement apparatus being actuated to provide a time duration measurement while the piston plunger (20) compresses the crop material and determining any difference between the time duration measurements. Any time difference between the time duration measurements is reflective of the loading of the piston plunger (20) and can be used to determine which side of the face of the piston plunger is consistently loaded more, and so which side of the baling chamber needs to receive additional cut crop.

Description

Agricultural Baler

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to an agricultural baler and related systems and methods for detecting uneven loading of a baling chamber of the agricultural baler.

BACKGROUND

[0003] It is known to collect cut crop, such as hay, straw or silage crop into a windrow on a field where the cut crop may subsequently be collected by an agricultural baler and processed into bales of cut crop. In a square baler, charges of cut crop are delivered by the pick up apparatus from the ground to a precompression chamber. The charges of cut crop are then transferred from the precompression chamber to a baling chamber where the charges are compressed into flakes by the action of a reciprocating piston plunger. Successive flakes are created and form a parallelepiped bale within the baling chamber. Once the forming bale has reached a predetermined length a tying mechanism is operated to encircle the bale with strands of binding material and to knot the strands to form a finished or formed bale which is subsequently ejected from the agricultural baler.

[0004] During operation of the agricultural baler it is desirable that the baling chamber is fed evenly with cut crop in order that straight, uniformly packed bales are produced. It is known, in large square balers, typically high density balers, that an operator is provided with feedback to advise the operator whether to drive to the left or the right of the windrow in order to yield even formation of a bale. This is typically achieved by measuring a difference in load from the left to the right side of the piston plunger, for example by the use of force sensors either inside connecting rods of the piston plunger, incorporated into a gearbox mounting or incorporated into a frame of the agricultural baler near the gearbox mounts.

[0005] However, it is not economically feasible to use such force sensors in small square balers. There are also practical difficulties. Most small square balers only use a single connecting rod between the piston plunger and the gear box. This only allows for force to be measured at the piston plunger itself which is a difficult region in which to reliably measure force. As such it is typically the case that the operator of a small square baler must use their skill and judgement to ensure that even bales are produced.

[0006] It is an advantage of the present invention that it allows for the direction of the operator of a small square baler when baling. Other advantages will be apparent from a reading of the description.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an agricultural baler comprises a baling chamber within which a bale is formed, a reciprocating piston plunger operating within the baling chamber for compressing cut crop material into compacted flakes of cut crop material and measurement apparatus located at a threshold location at each of the left and right hand sides of the baling chamber, the measurement apparatus being actuated to provide a time duration measurement while the piston plunger compresses the cut crop material and determine any difference between the time duration measurements at the left and right hand sides of the baling chamber.

[0008] Any time difference between the time duration measurements is reflective of the loading of the piston plunger in the region of the measurement apparatus and can be used to determine whether one side of the face of the piston plunger is consistently loaded more, and so which side of the baling chamber needs to receive additional cut crop. The time duration is also indicative of the thickness of the flake of cut crop material advanced past the measurement apparatus with each cycle of the reciprocating piston plunger.

[0009] Preferably, the measurement apparatus comprises sensors detecting the presence of crop material in the baling chamber behind a rear-dead-center position of the plunger. More preferably, the agricultural baler further comprises hay dogs extending into the baling chamber and in that the sensors of the measurement apparatus comprise switches actuated by movement of the hay dogs within the baling chamber.

[0010] Preferably the measurement apparatus is also located in an upper wall of the baling chamber.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the invention a control system for controlling operation of one or more controllable components of an agricultural baler according to the first aspect of the invention, the control system comprising one or more controllers configured to: receive data indicative of a time duration measurement from the measurement apparatus located at the threshold location while the piston plunger compresses crop material; determining, in dependence on the time duration measurement data, one or more values of flake thickness and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling one or more operational components associated with the baler in dependence on the one or more determined values of flake thickness.

[0012] According to a third aspect of the invention a method of controlling operation of one or more operational components of an agricultural baler according to the first aspect of the invention comprises the steps of: when the piston plunger compresses cut crop material receiving data indicative of a time duration measurement from the measurement apparatus located at the threshold location within the baling chamber; determining, in dependence on the time duration measurement data, one or more values of the flake thickness; and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling one or more operational components associated with the agricultural baler in dependence on the one or more values of the determined flake thickness.

[0013] Preferably, the one or more operational components comprises a user interface. The user interface may be operable to provide information indicative of the one or more values of determined flake thickness to an operator of the agricultural baler.

[0014] According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a system, comprising: an agricultural baler according to the first aspect of the invention; and a control system configured to direct operation of the agricultural baler in accordance with the one or more values of determined flake thickness according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0015] Preferably, the system further comprises an agricultural vehicle towing the agricultural baler, the agricultural vehicle including the user terminal.

[0016] According to a fifth aspect of the invention a control system for controlling operation of the one or more controllable components of an agricultural baler according to the first aspect of the invention, the control system comprising one or more controllers, and being configured to: receive data indicative of a time duration measurement from the measurement apparatus located at the threshold location while the piston plunger compresses crop material; determining, in dependence on the time duration measurement data, a directional strategy for collecting cut crop, the directional strategy including an indication of the direction the agricultural baler should be moved in response to the time duration measurement data; and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling the one or more operational components associated with the baler in dependence on the determined directional strategy.

[0017] According to a sixth aspect of the invention a method of controlling operation of the one or more operational components of an agricultural baler according to the first aspect of the invention comprising the steps of: when the piston plunger compresses cut crop material receiving data indicative of a time duration measurement from the measurement apparatus located at the threshold location within the baling chamber; determining, in dependence on the time duration measurement data, a directional strategy for collecting cut crop, the directional strategy including an indication of the direction the agricultural baler should be moved in response to the time duration measurement data; and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling one or more operational components associated with the baler in dependence on the determined directional strategy.

[0018] Preferably, the directional strategy comprised one of the following: move to the left, move to the right, or no change in direction required.

[0019] The user interface may be operable to provide information indicative of the determined directional strategy to an operator of the baler. Preferably, the control system may be configured to generate and output the one or more control signals for controlling operation of the user interface to provide information indicative of the determined baling strategy to an operator of the agricultural baler.

[0020] Alternatively, or additionally the one or more operational components comprises a drive means for controlling the direction of the agricultural apparatus towing the baler.

[0021] According to an eighth aspect of the invention there is provided a system, comprising: an agricultural baler according to the first aspect of the invention; and a control system configured to direct operation of the agricultural baler in accordance with a determined directional strategy according to the sixth aspect of the invention.

[0022] Preferably, the system includes an agricultural vehicle towing the agricultural baler, the agricultural vehicle including the user terminal. [0023] A further aspect of the invention provides computer software comprising computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause performance of a method in accordance with the third or seventh aspects of the invention to be performed on a baler in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

[0024] A yet further aspect of the invention provides a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising the computer software of the preceding aspect of the invention.

[0025] Within the scope of this application it should be understood that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out herein, and individual features thereof may be taken independently or in any possible and compatible combination. Where features are described with reference to a single aspect or embodiment, it should be understood that such features are applicable to all aspects and embodiments unless otherwise stated or where such features are incompatible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] FIG 1 shows a side view of an agricultural baler for use with the present invention;

[0028] FIG 2 shows a sectional side view of the agricultural baler of FIG 1;

[0029] FIG 3 shows a schematic side view of a baling chamber of an agricultural baler for use with the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a baling chamber of an agricultural baler for use with the present invention;

[0031] FIG 5 shows an example hay dog for use as a sensor for use in the present invention;

[0032] FIG 6 shows a diagrammatic representation of elements of a control system for the baler; [0033] FIG 7 shows a flow chart illustrating operation of a first control system for an agricultural baler;

[0034] FIG 8 shows a flow chart illustrating operation of a second control system for an agricultural baler; and

[0035] FIG 9 is a schematic diagram of a tractor-baler combination embodying aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The invention will now be described in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein preferred embodiments are described in detail to enable practice of the invention. Although the invention is described with reference to these specific preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. But to the contrary, the invention includes numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents as will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description.

[0037] Relative terms such as forward, rearward, transverse, lateral, longitudinal and sideways will be made with reference to the normal forward direction of travel of the baler. The terms vertical and horizontal will be made with reference to level ground upon which the baler is disposed. The terms "upstream" and "downstream" are made with reference of the general direction of crop flow along the material conveyance systems described.

[0038] Referring first to FIGS 1 and 2, an agricultural baler of the kind known as a small square baler is shown. The agricultural baler 2 is shown on flat ground 4. The agricultural baler 2 includes a pick up unit 6 to gather cut crop from a windrow of cut crop lying on the ground 4. A stuffer unit 8 directs the crop into a precompression chamber 10 to form a charge of cut crop.

[0039] Moving in a forwards direction, the agricultural baler 2 is operable to gather loose cut crop material, form it into an individual charge 12 of cut crop, and following introduction of the charge 12 of the cut crop through an opening in a bottom wall of the baling chamber 18, compress the individual charge into a flake. Successive flakes are compressed together to create a forming bale 14 (FIG 3). Once a forming bale 14 has reached a desired size to become a formed bale, a knotter mechanism 19 is actuated to tie off the formed bale, before a subsequent bale is formed within the baling chamber 18.

[0040] A baling system may broadly comprise a towing agricultural vehicle 16, such as a tractor, and the agricultural baler 2 (FIG 9). The towing agricultural vehicle 16 may include a cab wherein an operator may be located; an engine operable to move the towing agricultural vehicle; a steering mechanism to control the direction of travel of the towing vehicle and a Power Take Off arrangement (PTO) operable to transfer mechanical power from the engine to an agricultural baler or other connected machinery. The agricultural baler 2 may broadly comprise a frame mechanically coupled with the towing agricultural vehicle 16; a loose crop material receiving and stuffing component as noted above; a baling chamber 18; and a reciprocating piston plunger 20 having a plunger face 22. The towing agricultural vehicle 16 is also electrically and electronically coupled to the agricultural baler 2.

[0041] The piston plunger 20 moves in a reciprocating manner within the baling chamber 18 from a front-dead-center position in which the plunger face 22 of the piston plunger 20 is furthest from the forming bale 14 to a rear-dead-center position in which the plunger face 22 is compressing the forming bale. More specifically, the piston plunger 20 repeatedly extends into the baling chamber 18 such that the plunger face 22 contacts and compresses the charge 12 and the flakes that are already present therein, and retracts to allow the next charge 12 to enter the baling chamber 18 from the precompression chamber 10.

[0042] The baling system may further comprise one or more electronic control units or processors 50. Typically, the baling system comprises a processor associated with the baler 2 and a processor associated with the towing agricultural vehicle 14. However, a single processor may be used. The processors communicate with one another and other electrical components, as will be described below, by way of any suitable communications network 56. [0043] The baling chamber 18 of the agricultural baler 2 is adapted to receive the charge of cut crop through the bottom wall of the baling chamber 18 when the plunger face 22 is travelling forwards (towards the towing agricultural vehicle 14) so that the charge of cut crop is in position to be compressed by the plunger face 22 into a flake on the return stroke of the piston plunger 20. By generating multiple successive flakes in this manner a forming bale 14 is created. The baling chamber 18 is conveniently substantially rectangular in shape in order to facilitate the compression and forming process. The piston plunger 20 is operable to compress the charge 12 into the forming bale 14 by moving within the baling chamber 18. Once the forming bale 14 has reached a desired size, a knotter mechanism 19 is operated to encircle the bale with strands of binding material and to knot the strands of binding material to form a finished bale which is subsequently ejected from the agricultural baler 2 by way of a chute 26 at a rear end of the baling chamber 18.

[0044] It has been appreciated that a coarse load difference can be estimated by measuring the difference in time between the left and right hand sides of the piston plunger 20 aproaching a threshold location. Due to uneven load distribution it is understood that the plunger face 22 will deform slightly with more deformation being on the side that sees a higher load. As such there is a very small delay in which a trailing edge on that side of the plunger face 22 may cross a given threshold location near the rear of the stroke when the plunger face 22 is compressing the flake 12 into the forming bale 14. It has been further appreciated that a deflected hay dog in a region where the plunger face 22 is under higher load will be deflected for a longer period of time than a deflected hay dog in a region where the plunger face 22 is under a lesser load. This difference in duration of the deflection of the hay dogs between the left and right sides can measured to determine which side is consistently loaded more or if the loading is even.

[0045] The operation of hay dog assemblies 30 is used to provide a time duration measurement while the piston plunger compresses the crop material. In this example the threshold location will be understood to be located in the baling chamber 18 behind the rear- dead-center position of the piston plunger 20.

[0046] An example set of hay dog assemblies are shown by reference to FIGS 4 and 5. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of hay dog assemblies 30 are mounted to each side wall and a set of similar hay dog assemblies 30 are mounted to the top wall to each side of the baling chamber 18. The hay dog assemblies 30, as explained below, retain the most recently formed flake after its compression by the piston plunger 20 in order to prevent forward expansion of the compressed flake of crop material within the baling chamber 18 while the piston plunger 20 is retracting. Each hay dog assembly 30 comprises a hay dog 32 comprising a suitably shaped pivotable member projecting through a longitudinal slot in one of the side walls of the baling chamber 18.

[0047] As best shown in FIG 5, each hay dog 32 is mounted for pivoting movement about the shaft of vertical bolt 34 which is mounted through lugs 36 affixed to the outside of the baling chamber wall. A torsion spring 38 mounted on the bolt 34 has one end resting against the side wall of the baling chamber 18 and another against an outer rim of the hay dog 32. The torsion spring 38 acts to force the hay dog 32 inwardly into the baling chamber 18. The hay dog 32 has a forward edge extending at an acute angle from the side wall and a rearward edge 40 extending at a substantially right angle from the side wall when the hay dog 32 is in its rest position as shown in FIG 5. The hay dog assemblies 30 are mounted such that the rearward edges 40 of the hay dogs 32 are positioned in alignment with or slightly in front of the hindmost position of the plunger face 22 during the compression stroke of the piston plunger 20.

[0048] The hay dogs 32 are received in a series of longitudinal slots 42 in the sides of the baling chamber 18 such thatthey are not engaged by the piston plunger 20 during each stroke of the piston plunger 20. Consequently, when no fresh crop material is introduced into the baling chamber 18 and the agricultural baler 2 is running idle, the hay dogs 32 remain in their inward position shown in FIG. 5. [0049] However, when the stuffer mechanism 8 introduces a new charge 12 of crop material into the baling chamber 18, the charge 12 of crop material will be engaged by the plunger face 22 and shoved rearwardly along the hay dogs 32. The charge 12 of crop material slides along the forward edge of the hay dogs 32 and pushes the latter outwardly. At the end of the compression stroke, when all the crop material has been shoved beyond the hay dog assemblies 30, the action of the torsion springs 38 brings the hay dogs 32 back to their rest positions. When the piston plunger 20 retracts and starts travelling forwardly again, the compressed package of crop material, or formed flake, tends to dilate and its front face expands in the direction of the piston plunger 20. However, the flake is held back by the rear edges 40 of the hay dogs 32 on the left and right hand sides of the baling chamber 18. Consequently, the front face of the forming bale 14 is stabilized and the inlet opening in the bottom wall of the baling chamber 18 will not be blocked, such that further charges of crop material may be introduced into the baling chamber 18 without hindrance.

[0050] The hay dog assemblies 30 in the top wall are similar in structure and operation and are not described further.

[0051] The movement of the hay dog assemblies 30 is indicative of an introduction of a fresh charge of crop material into the baling chamber. This movement is sensed by means of a switch 44, which is mounted to a vertical support plate adjacent each hay dog 32 on the appropriate baling chamber wall (FIG. 5). The switch 44 is engaged by the hay dog 32 when pushed outwardly by a new charge 12 of crop material passing along this portion of the baling chamber wall. The passage of the charge of crop material along each portion of the baling chamber wall which is equipped with a hay dog assembly 30, triggers the switch 44 which remains triggered until the piston plunger 20 is withdrawn and the action of the torsion springs 38 brings the hay dogs 32 back to their rest positions so disengaging the switch 44. [0052] It will be understood that the actuation of the switches 44 by the hay dogs 32 will be dependent on the density of the crop material in the region of each hay dog. In an extreme case if no, or insufficient, crop material has been introduced to the baling chamber in the region of a hay dog 32, the hay dog will not move and the switch 44 will not be actuated.

[0053] An electronic control unit 50 is in electronic communication with each of the switches 44.

[0054] The electronic control unit 50 is also in electronic communication with a user terminal 52. Typically, the user terminal 52 may be located in the operator's cab of the towing agricultural vehicle 16. The electronic control unit 50 can generate control signals to the user terminal 52 to cause the user terminal 52 to communicate with or indicate to an operator either which side of the baling chamber is overloaded (if either) or to indicate in which direction the towing agricultural vehicle 16 (and the towed agricultural baler 2) should be driven to address any overloading.

[0055] The electronic control unit 50 can detect engagement of each switch, that is a start of a time duration measurement signal (step 100, FIG 7) and disengagement of each switch 44, that is an end of the time duration measurement signal (step 102). The electronic control unit is thus able to calculate a duration of the time duration measurement signal (step 104).

[0056] The electronic control unit 50 also has access to a memory 54. The memory 54 may conveniently store values associated with threshold values of the time difference between time duration measurement data signals from each of the left and right hand sides of the baling chamber 18, such that the time difference recorded between these signals will need to exceed a predetermined value before the electronic control unit 50 executes an instruction to generate a suitable control signal. The electronic control unit 50 can, on calculation of the duration of the time duration measurement signal, then compare the calculated value of each time duration measurement signal with the saved data in the memory 54 to determine whether there is overloading on one side or the other of the plunger face 22 (step 106) and execute an instruction to generate a suitable control signal (step 108). This process is repeated for each cycle of the reciprocating piston plunger 20.

[0057] The the electronic control unit 50 may generate a control signal to cause the user terminal 52 to communicate with or indicate to an operator, for example, by way of a screen display either which side of the baling chamber is overloaded (if either) or to indicate in which direction the towing agricultural vehicle 16 (and the towed agricultural baler 2) should be driven to address any overloading.

[0058] If no time duration measurement data signal is detected by the electronic control unit 50 (because the switch has not been actuated) this will be treated by the electronic control unit 50 as representative of a time duration measurement data signal indicating the absence of crop material in the threshold location.

[0059] In a further example, the electronic control unit 50 may generate a control signal to control the steering mechanism of the towing agricultural vehicle 16 to ensure that the agricultural baler 2 moves across the windrow in a desired fashion. This control signal may be instead of or in addition to the control signal to the user terminal 52.

[0060] The calculated value of the time duration measurement signal associated with deflection of each of the hay dogs (steps 200,202 and 204 of FIG 8) will also be understood to be indicative of the displacement caused by the flake as it is advanced by the piston plunger 20 and in turn indicative of the thickness of the flake passing over each hay dog 32. In FIG 8, the electronic control unit 50, following calculation of the time duration measurement signal by reference to data stored in the memory, is able to calculate the thickness of the flake (step 206) and by summing the values of the thickness of each flake in a forming bale, determine the length of the forming bale (step 208). [0061] The electronic control unit 50 then executes an instruction to generate a suitable control signal (step 210). In a preferred embodiment, the control signal causes the user terminal 52 to communicate with or indicate to an operator the length of the forming bale or the degree to which the forming bale has achieved an intended formed bale length. For example, the user terminal 52 may display a numeral indicating a percentage of the intended formed bale length achieved.

[0062] This process is repeated until the desired bale length has been achieved, or achieved within a desired margin, and the knotter mechanism 19 is actuated to finish the bale forming process and allow forming of a subsequent bale.

[0063] All references cited herein are incorporated herein in their entireties. If there is a conflict between definitions herein and in an incorporated reference, the definition herein shall control.

[0064] From reading the present disclosure, other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such modifications may involve other features which are already known in the field of square balers and component parts therefore and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1 An agricultural baler comprises a baling chamber within which a bale is formed, a reciprocating piston plunger operating within the baling chamber for compressing cut crop material into compacted flakes of cut crop material, operational components associated with the baler and measurement apparatus located at a threshold location at each of the left and right hand sides of the baling chamber, the measurement apparatus being actuated to provide a time duration measurement while the piston plunger compresses the cut crop material and determine any difference between the time duration measurements at the left and right hand sides of the baling chamber.

2 An agricultural baler according to claim 1, characterised in that the measurement apparatus comprises sensors detecting the presence of crop material in the baling chamber behind a rear-dead-center position of the plunger.

3 An agricultural baler according to claim 2, characterised in that the agricultural baler further comprises hay dogs extending into the baling chamber and in that the sensors of the measurement apparatus comprise switches actuated by movement of the hay dogs within the baling chamber.

4 An agricultural baler according to any of claim 1 to claim 3, characterised in that the measurement apparatus is located in an upper wall of the baling chamber.

5 An agricultural baler according to any of claim 1 to claim 4, characterised in that the one or more operational components comprises a user interface.

6 A control system for controlling operation of one or more controllable components of an agricultural baler according to any of claim 1 to claim 5, in which the control system comprises one or more controllers, configured to: receive data indicative of a time duration measurement from the measurement apparatus located at the threshold location while the piston plunger compresses crop material; determining, in dependence on the time duration measurement data, one or more values of flake thickness and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling one or more operational components associated with the baler in dependence on the one or more values of flake thickness when the piston plunger compresses crop material receiving data indicative of a time duration measurement from measurement apparatus located at a threshold location within a baling chamber; determining, in dependence on the time duration measurement data, one or more values of the flake thickness; and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling one or more operational components associated with the baler in dependence on the one or more values of the determined flake thickness.

7 A method of controlling operation of one or more controllable components of an agricultural baler according to any one of claim 1 to claim 5, comprising the steps of: when the piston plunger compresses cut crop material receiving data indicative of a time duration measurement from the measurement apparatus located at the threshold location within the baling chamber; determining, in dependence on the time duration measurement data, one or more values of the flake thickness; and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling one or more operational components associated with the agricultural baler in dependence on the one or more values of the determined flake thickness.

8 A control system according to claim 5 or a method according to claim 7, characterised in that where the one or more operational components comprises a user interface, the user interface is operable to provide information indicative of the one or more values of determined thickness to an operator of the agricultural baler.

9 A system, comprising: an agricultural baler according to any one of claim 1 to claim 5; and a control system configured to direct operation of the agricultural baler in accordance with the one or more values of determined flake thickness according to the second aspect of the invention. 10 A system according to claim 9, characterised in that the system further comprises an agricultural vehicle towing the agricultural baler, the agricultural vehicle including the user terminal.

11 A control system for controlling operation of the one or more controllable components of an agricultural baler according to any of claim 1 to claim 5, the control system comprising one or more controllers, and being configured to: receive data indicative of a time duration measurement from the measurement apparatus located at the threshold location while the piston plunger compresses crop material; determining, in dependence on the time duration measurement data, a directional strategy for collecting cut crop, the directional strategy including an indication of the direction the agricultural baler should be moved in response to the time duration measurement data; and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling the one or more operational components associated with the baler in dependence on the determined directional strategy.

12 A method of controlling operation of the one or more operational components of an agricultural baler according to any one of claim 1 to claim 5_comprising the steps of: when the piston plunger compresses cut crop material receiving data indicative of a time duration measurement from the measurement apparatus located at the threshold location within the baling chamber; determining, in dependence on the time duration measurement data, a directional strategy for collecting cut crop, the directional strategy including an indication of the direction the agricultural baler should be moved in response to the time duration measurement data; and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling one or more operational components associated with the baler in dependence on the determined directional strategy.

13 A control system according to claim 11 or a method according to claim 12, characterised in that the directional strategy comprises one of the following: move to the left, move to the right, or no change in direction required. 14 A control system according to any of claim 11 or claim 13, or a method according to claim 12 or claim 13 characterised in that the user interface is operable to provide information indicative of the determined directional strategy to an operator of the baler.

15 A control system according to any of claim 11, claim 13 or claim 14 or a method according to any of claim 12 to claim 14, characterised in that where the one or more operational components comprises a user interface, the user interface is operable to provide information indicative of the determined baling strategy to an operator of the agricultural baler.

16 A control system according to any of claim 11, claim 13, claim 14 or claim 15, characterised in that where the one or more operational components comprises a user interface, the control system is configured to generate and output the one or more control signals for controlling operation of the user interface to provide information indicative of the determined baling strategy to an operator of the agricultural baler.

17 A system comprising an agricultural baler according to any one of claim 1 to claim 5 and a control system according to any of claim 11, claim 13, claim 14, claim 15 or claim 16, configured to direct operation of the agricultural baler in accordance with a determined directional strategy.

18 A system according to claim 17, characterised in that system further comprises an agricultural vehicle towing the agricultural baler, the agricultural vehicle including the user terminal.

19 A system according to claim 18, characterised in that the one or more operational components further comprises a drive means for controlling the direction of the agricultural vehicle towing the agricultural baler.

20 Computer software comprising computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause performance of a method in accordance with claim 7 or claim 8 or a method in accordance with any of claim 12 to claim 15 to be performed on an agricultural baler according to any of claim 1 to claim 5. 21 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising the computer software of claim 20.