Abstract: A knotter drive apparatus for a baler includes a knotter gear drive shaft having a drive shaft axis and a shaft outside diameter. A plurality of knotter assemblies are mounted on the knotter gear drive shaft. Each assembly includes a first knotter gear sector including a first sector hub portion and a first sector radial portion. The first sector hub portion includes a central passage at least partly defined in the first sector hub portion for receiving the knotter gear drive shaft. The first sector radial portion extends radially outward from the first sector hub portion relative to the drive shaft axis, and has defined thereon a plurality of intermittent gear tooth segments. The first sector hub portion has a circumferential gap defined therein greater than the shaft outside diameter such that the first knotter gear sector is removable radially, relative to the drive shaft axis, from the knotter gear drive shaft.

Abstract: A baler apparatus includes a baling chamber including at least one adjustable wall for adjusting compression of a body of bale material. A reciprocating plunger is operable to compress the bale material and a binding device binds the compressed material to form a bale by use of twine loops. An adjustment mechanism including a guide or rollers varies a length of the twine loops when binding the bale to reduce compression within part of the body of bale material and avoid twine breakage that can otherwise occur as a bale is ejected from the baler.

Abstract: A baler apparatus includes a baling chamber including at least one adjustable wall for adjusting compression of a body of bale material. A reciprocating plunger is operable to compress the bale material and a binding device binds the compressed material to form a bale by use of twine loops. An adjustment mechanism increases as a length of outer twine loops when binding the bale relative to the inner twine loops, to reduce compression within part of the body of bale material and avoid twine breakage that can otherwise occur as a bale is ejected from the baler.

Abstract: A bale press includes a pressing channel in which a piston is displaceable for forming a bale from crop material supplied to the pressing channel. The bale press includes a yarn supply and a knotter device arranged at a side of the pressing channel. The knotter device has a first holder for releasably holding an end portion of a yarn, a yarn deflecting member and a knotter beak. The yarn extends between the first holder and the yarn supply across the deflecting member and a side of the bale facing away from the piston. The knotter beak ties a knot in a first stretch of the yarn extending between the first holder and the deflecting member. A second holder holds the yarn at the deflecting member in an initial phase of bale formation.

Abstract: A round bale baling apparatus includes an accumulator for rolling crop material into a round bale, a twine dispenser adapted to hold and dispense twine, and a twine tensioner. The twine tensioner is adjustable and includes an energizable actuator and switch for operating the actuator to adjust the twine tension. Specifically, the switch can be manipulated to selectively decrease tension on the twine during initial gripping of the free end of the twine by a rolling loose bale, and to selectively increase tension on the twine once the twine is sufficiently wrapped onto the bale to provide a secure pulling force. The actuator can be electric, such as a reversible DC motor or solenoid, or can be another energizable device actuable from a remote position. Methods related to the above are also defined.

Abstract: An automatic baler for creating a bale of compressible material comprises a mechanism for compressing an amount of the material into a bale and moving the bale along a path past a continuous strand of wire which extends across the path to engage a front end of the bale and wrap around the bale as it moves along said path. Opposing arm elements positioned on opposite sides of the path are movable toward each other to engage the path and are operable for engaging sections of the continuous wire strand. The opposing arm elements form at least two overlapped sections of wire proximate the rear end of the bale, and a twisting mechanism with twister pinions engages the overlapped wire sections to simultaneously tie the overlapped wire sections to both secure the wire wrapped around the bale and to reform a continuous strand of wire to engage the next bale.

Abstract: A baler of crop material which forms bales by encircling compressed crop material with twine. The twine is formed in loops around the bale and knotted. The baler includes a bale compression chamber into which successive charges of crop material are introduced, a plunger for reciprocating movement in the bale compression chamber which serves to compact the charges and advance the compacted charges towards an exit. It also includes a knotter for tying twine in a form stabilizing manner around successive increments of compacted material after they have been compacted to form bales. A knotter position adjuster changes the position of the knotter in order to accomplish adjustment of tension on the twine during compression and before knotting.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying loosely-defined soft packages is described. A means for gathering or firming the loosely-defined package is fixed to a frame to which is also fixed a means for holding the gathered packages. A tying means, mounted on the frame, is actuated by a sensing means designed such that the tying means is actuated at the same relative position for each package tied.

Abstract: Bales are successively formed in the baling chamber of the machine by intermittently packing an additional charge of new material against the trailing end of a forming bale to progressively push the bales toward the discharge end of the chamber. When the bale reaches its predetermined size, a needle swings across the bale chamber behind the trailing end of the bale and presents a binding strand to a knotter. The knotter unites the presented end of the strand with an end previously held by the knotter during a packing cycle such as to form a secure, tied loop about the bale. As the needle retracts from the knotter, it places a new length of strand across the bale chamber in preparation for the loop around the next, succeeding bale, and it is during such retraction of the needle that a slackening device draws a supply of slack in the strand and lays the same along the proximal side of the preceding bale.