US 12,250,908 B2
Stuffer assembly for an agricultural baler
Dries Liefooghe, Alveringem (BE); and Jeroen Devroe, Izegem (BE)
Assigned to CNH Industrial America LLC, Holland, PA (US)
Filed by CNH Industrial America LLC, New Holland, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/084,940.
Claims priority of application No. 21216921 (EP), filed on Dec. 22, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0189715 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. A01F 15/10 (2006.01); A01D 69/08 (2006.01); A01F 15/08 (2006.01)
CPC A01F 15/10 (2013.01) [A01D 69/08 (2013.01); A01F 15/0841 (2013.01); A01F 2015/102 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A stuffer assembly for an agricultural baler comprising:
a stuffer chute for collecting and precompressing a charge of crop material therein;
a stuffer configured to transfer the charge of crop material collected within the stuffer chute into a baling chamber of the agricultural baler, the stuffer comprising a stuffer arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein a tine bar is mounted on the second end of the stuffer arm; and
a drive mechanism for driving the stuffer, the drive mechanism comprising an input shaft connectable to a power source, an output shaft coupled to the first end of the stuffer arm, and a clutch assembly for selectively coupling the input shaft to the output shaft,
wherein the clutch assembly comprises:
a first rotary element and a second rotary element, wherein one of the first rotary element and the second rotary element is provided on the input shaft and the other one of the first rotary element and the second rotary element is provided on the output shaft,
a plurality of engagement elements, wherein each engagement element of the plurality of engagement elements is configured to selectively engage with both of the first rotary element and the second rotary element, and
an electronically controllable actuator configured to engage and disengage the plurality of engagement elements with both of the first rotary element and the second rotary element.