AGRICULTURAL BALER INCLUDING CROP PACKAGE BANDING SYSTEM  AND METHOD
FIG2 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the reconfiguration and banding system of FIG1 taken along line 2-2
As best shown in FIG2, the channel 105 is defined by an opening 120 in the abutting or support surface 110 of the bottom support plate 75. The illustrated channel 105 is also defined by a first surface 125 positioned opposite a second surface 130 and a third surface 135 extending between the first and second surfaces 125, 130 (e.g., the third surface 135 is positioned opposite the opening 120). In other embodiments, the third surface 135 can be omitted causing the channel 105 to extend completely through the bottom support plate 75. In the illustrated embodiment, the second surface 130 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the support surface 110 of the bottom support plate 75, and the third surface 135 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the second surface 130. In other embodiments, the second surface 130 can be obliquely oriented relative to the support surface 110, and/or the third surface 135 can be obliquely oriented relative to the second surface 130. With reference to FIG2, each banding element 185 is rectangular in cross section (in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 115 of a corresponding channel 105) to define a width 190 and a height 195 with the width 190 being greater than the height 195. In the illustrated embodiment, the height 195 of each banding element 185 is less than the first width 150 of the channel 105, the width 190 of each banding element 185 is greater than the first width 150 of the channel 105, and the width 190 of each banding element 185 is less than the second width 165 of the channel 105. In one embodiment, the width 190 of each banding element 185 is between about 0.5 inches and about 0.75 inches, and the height 195 of each banding element 185 is between about 0.01 inches and about 0.2 inches. In other embodiments, each banding element 185 can define a different cross sectional geometry (e.g., circular, ovular, square, triangular, etc.), and/or define different cross sectional dimensions. In some embodiments, each banding element 185 can be made of a flexible metallic material, a flexible plastic material, etc.
cross-sectional view
45
accumulator
20
wheels
90
180
outer surface
115
longitudinal axis
175
compartment
55
side sections side section
30
gate
25
tongue
10
baler
185
banding element banding elements
170
bander units bander unit
80
first side support plate
15
chassis
110
surface surfaces
75
support plate support plates
165
second width
35
gate axis
100
pivot axis
105
channel channels
85
second support frame
50
section
65
banding system banding systems
135
third surface third surfaces
['1. A banding system for an agricultural baler (10), the banding system (65) configured to move a banding element (185) around a crop package to band the crop package, the banding system (65) comprising: a support member (75, 80, 90, 95) including a support surface (110) configured to support the crop package, the support member (75, 80, 90, 95) including a channel (105) defined by an opening (120) in the support surface (110), the channel (105) further defined by a first surface (125) opposite a second surface (130) and a third surface (135) extending between the first and second surfaces (125, 130), wherein a distance between the first and second surfaces (125, 130) varies from the third surface (135) to the opening (120); and a bander unit (170) configured to move the banding element (185) within the channel (105) to band the crop package.', '5. The banding system according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the channel (105) defines a longitudinal axis (115), and wherein the banding element (185) is configured to extend within the channel (105) along the longitudinal axis (115), and wherein the banding element (185) defines a width greater than a height, and wherein the width and the height are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (115), and wherein a width of  the channel (105) defined between the apex (145) of the angled surface and the second surface (130) is greater than the height of the banding element (185) and less than the width of the banding element (185).', '11. The banding system according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the first surface (125) includes a protrusion (140) extending toward the second surface (130) such that a first width of the channel (105) defined by the opening (120) is equal to or greater than a second width of the channel (105) defined between the protrusion (140) and the second surface (130), and a bander unit (170) configured to move a banding element (185) within the channel (105) to band the crop package.']