Abstract: A baler includes: a bale forming channel, a reciprocating plunger configured to compress bale material in the bale forming channel to form a bale, and a binding system for binding a bale in the bale forming channel with a pair of twines that pass around opposite sides of the bale. The binding system includes a knotter that includes a rotary bill hook, a twine holder, a twine cutter and a stripper element. The bill hook includes a catching element that is configured to adopt an open configuration to release a retained twine from the bill hook after a knot formed by the knotter is removed from the bill hook by the stripper element, so that the cut end of the twine is not pulled through the knot. The catching element is moved to the open configuration by an opening element that acts against the resilient biasing element, without rotating the bill hook beyond the second position.

Abstract: A rotary drive transmission is provided for a baler including a bale chamber, a plunger that compresses bale material in the bale chamber, a drive mechanism that drives reciprocating movement of the plunger, and a flywheel connected to a rotary input of the drive mechanism. The rotary drive transmission includes a rotary drive part, a rotary driven part that drives rotation of the flywheel, and a torsional drive transfer device that transfers rotary drive between the rotary drive part and the rotary driven part. The torsional drive transfer device includes a resilient element and is configured to allow limited relative rotation in the drive direction between the rotary drive part and the rotary driven part against a reaction force provided by the resilient element.