Abstract: An agricultural baler includes a bale chamber for the compression of crop material into bales. The bale chamber has a floor that comprises an inlet opening. The baler also has a plunger for forcing the crop material from an inlet end of the bale chamber towards an outlet end, and a feeder duct communicating with the bale chamber through the inlet opening. The feeder duct has an upper end facing generally upwardly and communicating with the inlet opening in the bale chamber and a lower end facing generally in a forward direction. The feeder duct also has a top wall and a bottom wall extending between the lower end and the upper end of the feeder duct. The baler also has one or more actuators that are configured to move the top wall and/or the bottom wall; and a controller configured to activate the one or more actuators during a baling operation in order to adjust the volume of the feeder duct.

Abstract: A baling system including a first bale-forming area configured to form a first series of first individual bales, and a second bale forming-area configured to from a second series of second individual bales. The baling system further includes a bale bundler configured to receive the first and second individual bales from the first and second bale forming-forming areas and to tie a group of at least six bales together to form a bale bundle.

Abstract: A tractor includes a controller configured to make a determination as to whether stopping control is necessary and to start the stopping control, based on a relation between a target bale size and a current bale size and a stopping distance corresponding to a vehicle speed and a surrounding environment.

Abstract: A crop harvesting system for continuous round baling is described that comprises a first and second bale chamber and a conveyor system in operable communication with the first and second bale chambers. The crop harvesting system can comprise a first bale chamber comprising a variable shape, defined by a first serpentine system comprising one or a plurality of endless belts in operable contact with one or a plurality of movable rollers to facilitate movement of the bale out of the first and into the second bale chamber. The second bale chamber comprises a fixed shape defined by a plurality of stationary rolls operably attached to a second set belt or belts. The crop harvesting system can be integrated into an agricultural harvester such as a baler or combine.

Abstract: A knotter system for performing a first knot forming cycle and a second knot forming cycle. The knotter system includes a needle for delivering a needle twine, a tucker arm for delivering a tucker twine, a twine receiver for holding the needle twine and the tucker twine, a billhook, a cutting arm, a twine finger for guiding at least the needle twine. The system further includes a drive to make the billhook perform first and second full rotations during the first and second knot forming cycles, respectively, and to move the twine finger at least a first time during the first knot forming cycle and a second time during the second knot forming cycle. The twine finger is configured such that during the second knot forming cycle the needle twine is moved away from the tucker twine in order to drape it adjacent to the tucker twine on the billhook.

Abstract: A bale forming apparatus and a bale forming method form cylindrical bales. A bale forming chamber is surrounded by a bale forming mechanism. A bale is formed in this bale forming chamber. This bale is pushed onto a bale supporting construction. This bale supporting construction buffers the bale. A further bale is created in the bale forming chamber. One pushing member pushes the old bale from the bale forming chamber onto the bale supporting construction. This pushing member is connected with a holding device and performs a movement on a circular path for pushing the bale. The drive rotates the holding device around a rotating axis. A pivotal guiding member is pivoted into a guiding position and contributes to provide a bale forming chamber for the new bale.

Abstract: The invention relates to a baling device to form bales of crop material, including a frame, an intake device, a bale forming device for forming a bale of the crop material, the bale forming device including at least one endless belt to delimit a baling chamber, and a number of guiding elements to guide the endless belt, wherein the outlet of the intake device is located at a fixed position with respect to the frame, and that at least three guiding elements are movably mounted with respect to the outlet of the intake device to position for subsequent bales different pairs of two guiding elements of the at least three movable guiding elements at the opposite sides of the outlet.

Abstract: A crop harvesting system for continuous round baling is described that comprises a first and second bale chamber and a conveyor system in operable communication with the first and second bale chambers. The crop harvesting system can comprise at least three bale carriers, at least two serpentine systems to facilitate movement of the bale into and out of the first and second bale chambers. The crop harvesting system can be integrated into an agricultural harvester such as a baler or combine.

Abstract: A tractor comprises an electronic tractor controller. A baler comprises a crop receiver, a baling chamber, a rear door, a rear door actuator, a bale size sensor associated with the baling chamber, and an electronic baler controller. The baler controller is operable to submit a halt signal to the tractor controller when a bale size signal provided by the bale size sensor indicates that a bale has reached a size corresponding to a predetermined size. The tractor controller then halts the tractor and the bale is wrapped. The rear door is opened automatically after the bale has been wrapped, but only if an obstacle sensor detects no obstacle in a detection zone behind the baler.

Abstract: A large square baler is equipped with a plunger drive incorporating a flywheel configured as a fan which creates a flow of air within a housing disposed about the flywheel. A duct arrangement is coupled between the housing and a knotter table housing so that air is directed across and maintains a plurality of knotters located at the knotter table free of debris.

Abstract: A baler has a bale chamber and a needle movable through the bale chamber to pass a strand of twine from one side of the bale chamber to a knotter located on the opposite side, the twine being engaged by a tip of the needle. In the invention, pressurized air is directed at the needle tip. The supply of pressurized air may be discontinuous and timed to coincide only with certain phases of the needle operating cycle. The air stream avoids crop material being caught up in the knots formed by the knotter.

Abstract: A baler has a bale chamber and a needle movable through the bale chamber to pass a strand of twine from one side of the bale chamber to a knotter located on the opposite side, the twine being engaged by a tip of the needle. In the invention, pressurized air is directed at the needle tip. The supply of pressurized air may be discontinuous and timed to coincide only with certain phases of the needle operating cycle. The air stream avoids crop material being caught up in the knots formed by the knotter.

Abstract: A crop baler having a bank of knotters employs a cross flow blower to produce a full width stream of air transversely across the line of knotters to keep them free of debris and residue. The blower is hingedly mounted on an enclosure over the knotters for selective movement between a lowered operating position and a raised access position.

Abstract: A baler having an inlet area for receiving netwrap wherein it is a short distance between the drum roller and the closest belt roller. The netwrap guide at bottom of baler includes a feed pan having flexible net guides that are narrower than the bale forming belts. This netwrap guide has supporting cross members underneath it but there are no cross members in close vicinity to the lower belt roller to keep excess crop from accumulating there. There is also a netwrap guide at front of the baler for feeding netwrap material into contact with the periphery of a formed bale, including a guide positioned generally above the pickup for directing crop material previously inserted into the bale formation chamber and the netwrap material away from the pickup. The baler also has a novel netwrap feeding and cutting mechanism.

Abstract: In a method and a device for compressing square large bales for stalk material on large baling presses by using twines that engage across longitudinal sides and end faces of bales and are tied together, wherein compressed large bales can be formed by a number of adjacently positioned, individually compressed and tied small bales, a first tying unit and a second tying unit at a pressing channel of a large baling press are provided, wherein the first and second tying units have knotters. The first tying unit for tying individual small bales can be activated. Alternatively, the first and second tying units can be activated individually together for simultaneously tying several small bales to form a large bale, wherein the first and second tying units interact with the same knotters.

Abstract: A device for determining and controlling a bale length on a pick-up baler for agricultural harvested material has a pick-up device, a feed channel connected to the pick-up device, and a pressing channel with pressing piston connected to the feed channel. A conveying device conveys the harvested material through the feed channel into the pressing channel. The pressing piston compacts the harvested material. A sensor detects a bale growth resulting upon compression of the harvested material during the feed stroke from the feed channel into the pressing channel. An electronic evaluation device is connected to the sensor that supplies a bale growth value to the electronic evaluation device where it is converted into an averaged operand or a statistical operand for determining a required number of feed strokes for reaching the nominal bale length. After the computed number of feed strokes is reached, the binding device is triggered for tying the finished bale.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the throughput of a parallelepiped agricultural baler. The baler has a feed duct communicating between a crop pick-up assembly and a baling chamber and the feed duct serves as a pre-compression chamber to accumulate crop to a predetermined density before the crop is transferred to the baling chamber. The transfer of the crop from the feed duct (pre-compression chamber) to the baling chamber is accomplished by a stuffer mechanism actuated in response to a crop density sensor associated with the feed duct (pre-compression chamber). The baler further has a plunger mechanism that compresses the crop into a column to form a bale in the baling chamber. The invention senses when the crop in the feed duct (pre-compression chamber) has reached a predetermined density for transfer to the baling chamber and when the plunger has attained a home position that allows for transfer of crop from the feed duct (pre-compression chamber) into the baling chamber.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a device and procedure to regulate the bale length in a square baler. Sensors determine both the forward and backward movement of the crop bundle and transfer these measurements to an evaluation electronic. The evaluation electronic adds the measurements and triggers the tying process when the actual length value is reached. The procedure includes the steps of: sensing both the forward and backward movement of a crop bundle in a baling chamber; adding the measured forward and backward movements to determine an actual length value of the crop bundle; and triggering the tying device once a pre-set target actual length value is reached.

Abstract: A binding device for a baler including at least one twine needle, a knotter shaft for driving the needle, a one-stop clutch for connecting the knotter shaft with the plunger drive and for intermittently driving the knotter shaft, and a transmission unit provided between the one-stop clutch and the knotter shaft and including elements which insure that for one complete revolution of the one-stop clutch, the knotter shaft also performs one complete revolution but with a higher speed than the one-stop clutch.

Abstract: A round baler for agricultural harvested crop and including a variable volume bale chamber having a delivery opening and limited, in an axial direction, by side walls of the baler housing and, in a radial direction, by at least one flexible transporting and pressing belt, which is guided over deflection rolls, and by at least one pressing roller which is arranged adjacent to a respective deflection roll, a pivot device supported in the baler housing for pivoting the transporting and pressing belt, with increase of a bale diameter, from a start position of the transporting and pressing belt into its end position, and elements for positively shifting a radial position of at least one pressing roller or the respective deflection roll relative to the bale chamber dependent on the pivotal movement of the pivot device.

Abstract: A device for actuating the clutch of a twine wrap device in a big square baler for harvested crops has a pawl attached to the clutch, a shift lever pivotable into the orbit of the pawl, a control device for the shift lever, and an electric motor which is drive-connected with the control device for the shift lever. The electric motor may be connected via an electric circuit with a device for determining the bale length.

Abstract: A round baler comprising a baling chamber mounted on a main frame for forming cylindrical packages of crop material therein, the baling chamber being at least partially defined by a pair of side walls and an apron assembly having an inner run which is guided at the inside of a cylindrically shaped continuous wall, and an outer run which is guided at the outside of said continuous wall. The continuous wall is provided with an opening for the recuperation into the chamber of crop material which has been entrained by the apron assembly when the latter left the baling chamber and entered its outer run.

Abstract: An agricultural baler comprising a baling chamber and a mechanism for loading successive charges of crop material into the chamber. The baler also comprises a tying mechanism for forming a plurality of loops of binding material around the packages of crop material formed in the baling chamber. The movement of the strands of binding material is monitored by sensors and compared. In case the movement of a strand deviates substantially from the movement of the other strands a mistie indication is generated. Such mistie detection system is operable to detect a wide range of mistie conditions.

Abstract: An agricultural baler having a main frame, a stuffer for loading successive charges of crop material into a baling chamber installed on the frame and a plunger for compressing the charges into packages of crop material. When the package has reached a predetermined length, a trip mechanism actuates a tying mechanism to tie a series of strands around the package to form a finished bale. The drive line to the tying mechanism comprises a dog clutch assembly including a continuously rotated hub and a dog lever positioned for possible engagement of a cam lobe on the inner surface of the hub. In between tying cycles a lever of the trip mechanism keeps the dog lever away from the hub surface. A timing cam cooperating with a roller on the lever precludes the actuation of the dog clutch when the cam lobe passes in the vicinity of the dog lever.

Abstract: A drive system for an agricultural large baler having a rearwardly open bale pressing chamber arranged in a longitudinal direction, a pressing piston reciprocatingly movable in the bale pressing chamber, devices for picking up of a harvested product from ground, a transporting passage for collecting a discharge portion of the harvested product and transporting the discharged portion into the bale pressing chamber by an additional transporting device, a binding device for binding a finally pressed bale as well as a drive for driving operational elements, the pressing piston having a crank arm forming a crank circle and provided with a drive shaft element for driving the pressing piston, an input shaft and a transmitting element through which a drive force is transmitted from the input shaft, and intermediate shaft to which the driving force is transmitted through the transmitting element from the input shaft, toothed gears fixedly connected with the intermediate shaft to which the drive force is transmitted, a

Abstract: The knotter clutch control prevents the driven dog of the clutch from flipping out into its actuated position for engagement with the driving lug of the clutch unless the lug is in a position wherein positive driving engagement between the lug and the dog is assured. A strategically positioned control lobe on the cam ring of the drive sprocket for the clutch blocks release of the dog into its extended position when the driving lug is at the lug pickup point on its path of travel. The dog is free to be released when the lug is at all other positions on its path of travel so as to be in position for engagement with the lug when it next arrives at the pickup point. The dog is reset into its retracted position after a single revolution of the knotter drive shaft.

Abstract: A self propelled baler includes a front pick-up device (10), a forward mounted cab (4), and engine (5) behind the cab and above a drive mechanism for the baler ram reciprocatable in a baling chamber. The crop picked up by the pick-up device is conveyed by a conveying device (20), positioned between the front drive wheels, rearwardly to a feeding device (30) which feeds the crop upwardly into the baling chamber.

Abstract: An agricultural baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material. The baler includes a sledge assembly moveable between core starting and full bale positions. A plurality of rollers on the sledge assembly cooperate with an apron to define a bale forming chamber. Wrapping is accomplished via a system that includes a dispensing mechanism carried on the sledge assembly for dispensing sheet material, such as net or the like, into the bale forming chamber whereupon it is wrapped circumferentially around a formed cylindrical package of crop material as it is rotated in the chamber. A baffle is mounted on the dispensing mechanism between the sheet material and the bale forming chamber to shield the sheet material from stray crop material and other debris.

Abstract: A baling apparatus is provided for forming large rectangular bales of fibrous material. The apparatus includes a rectangular bale chamber having an inlet for receiving baling material beneath the bale chamber and an outlet for discharging completed bales at the top of the bale chamber. Balable material is gathered from the surface of the field of by the pickup mechanism, formed into a mat by clamping rollers and transported toward the bale chamber by a conveying mechanism. A conveyor sweep apparatus detaches a segment of the mat on the conveyor and feeds it to a compressing mechanism located beneath the bale chamber inlet. The clamping rollers ensure that the mat separates cleanly when engaged by the sweep apparatus. The compressing structure then compresses the segment of baling material in a slow upward compression stroke into the bale chamber inlet. As a result, a rectangular bale comprising successive horizontal layers is formed within the bale chamber.

Abstract: A rectangular baler is disclosed comprising a bale case (6) into which successive charges of crop material are introduced; a plunger (7) disposed for reciprocating movement in the bale case (6) to compact the charges while advancing the compacted charges toward an exit opening in the bale case; and a knotter (8) for tying a flexible binding material, such as twine, in a form-stabilising manner around successive increments of compacted crop material while they advance in the bale case (6) to form bales. An elongated sensor (48), disposed on the knotter (8) in the trajectory of the flexible material (49) projecting from a twine holder (32) towards a billhook (33), is operable to detect the tensile forces occurring in the binding material during bale formation and to produce signals, which are processed by a microprocessor (24) to, if found necessary, lower the density of the bales in order to avoid twine failure.

Abstract: A round baler having a main frame, a tailgate pivotally connected to the main frame and an apron extending around a plurality of guide rolls disposed in the main frame and the tailgate. A pair of take up arms, rotatably mounted on the main frame, carry at least one additional guide roll for the apron. A bale forming chamber, including the apron, varies in size from a bale starting position to a full bale position. A pair of levers, connected to rotate with the take up arms, have attached thereto a tensioning mechanism to urge the take up arms to the bale starting position of the apron. The machine is provided with apparatus for wrapping the formed bale with twine and a unique system that operates in conjunction with the levers to automatically trip the wrapping apparatus when the bale formed in the chamber has attained a desired size.

Abstract: In an agricultural pick-up baler, forming rectangular bales of harvested agricultural material or field fodder like hay, straw, grass-silage, the agricultural material is loaded to a compressing device shredding and crushing the fodder to a highly densified tough layer, urged to a baling chamber via a press channel. The fed-in portion of the layer is then additionally densified and compacted at its flat side by a pressing plate against the resistance of friction within the baling chamber with simultaneous extruding said rectangular bale through a rear discharge opening of said baling chamber.By the crop baler according to the invention properly shaped and highly densified bales are produced with relatively light-weighted and simple-driven compacting structural elements. Thus, the massive and expensive pitman-and-crank-assembly of conventional balers can be avoided.

Abstract: In a baler having a plunger reciprocating in a bale case and knotters for tying strands of twine around bales, two trip mechanisms are provided for automatic actuation of the knotters. A first trip mechanism is capable of preventing operation of the knotters until a bale of desired length is formed. A second trip mechanism is operatively associated with the plunger in a manner so that the plunger does not prevent the second trip mechanism from permitting operation of the knotters provided the plunger is moving in a direction in the bale case to compress crop material into bales. A locking device coupled to the first trip mechanism is cooperable with the second trip mechanism for controlling the position thereof in accordance with the position of the first trip mechanism.

Abstract: A twine feeding assembly for round hay baling machines which incorporates one or more twine feed members which cooperate with freely rotatable first sheaves mounted intermediate sections of the main hay feed press roller and second freely rotatable sheaves mounted intermediate sections of the main hay feed or belt drive drum which sheaves are operative to guide and feed a single wrap of twine about the hay as it is rolled after which the twine is knotted and cut and the tied bale discharged from the machine.

Abstract: The baler has a twine monitoring assembly which generates a pulsating signal in response to twine being dispensed during bale wrapping operations. The twine is wrapped around the periphery of a monitor wheel and, during dispensing, the twine rotationally drives the wheel. As the wheel rotates, a magnet affixed to the wheel at a location adjacent the periphery thereof, travels past a stationary, magnetically operated, normally open switch thereby briefly closing the switch and temporarily turning on an indicator light until the magnet moves sufficiently far enough away from the switch. During wrapping of the bale, twine is rapidly dispensed, causing the wheel to rapidly rotate and as a consequence, causing the light to pulsate, indicating to the operator that twine is being dispensed.

Abstract: A device for controlling the binding of bales of material such as straw or fodder formed on an agricultural baling press fitted with a binding system, in which the loop of a binding material is made around the bale progressively during compression of the material, wherein a motor member cooperates with a second finger in order to return it from its retracted position to its active position, in response to the raising of a first finger by the binding material, and wherein a signal emitter is adapted to be energized in function of the rotation of the axle under the effect of the movement of the second finger, in such a manner as to indicate the absence or the rupture of the binding material during formation and knotting of the binding loop.

Abstract: An agricultural baler for making cylindrical bales of crop material having a sledge assembly movable between bale starting and full bale positions. The sledge assembly includes a plurality of rollers which cooperate with an apron to define a bale forming chamber. A dispensing mechanism is carried on the sledge assembly for dispensing sheet material, such as net or plastic film, into the bale forming chamber so that it is wrapped circumferentially around a cylindrical bale of crop material disposed in the bale forming chamber. The dispensing mechanism is movable into a dispensing position wherein a tail of the sheet material is inserted through a gap between the apron and one of the rollers of the sledge assembly.

Abstract: The round baler for cut stalk crops with a hinge-type pressing chamber comprises an inlet opening for the stalk crops and a tying arrangement for the completed bale, as well as a pick-up device for the stalk crops with a feed drum which is disposed between the pick-up device and the inlet opening and whose length corresponds to the width of the bale to be tied, as well as a cutting device which is provided in the feed channel and includes a plurality of pivotally supported knives which in their cutting position project into the feed channel and are arranged in at least one row, and which are held in their cutting position by means of spring-loaded knife levers and adapted to be pivoted singly or as a whole against the spring load up to a position in which they have no cutting effect on the stalk crops.

Abstract: A hay baler including a trailer frame with a hitch for attachment to a prime mover and support wheels. A crop pick-up unit moves cut crop into a material storage area, from where it is moved into a bale chamber and is compacted by a compression unit and tied with twine before being discharged to ground from the rear of the trailer frame.

Abstract: A system for collecting twine tails on an agricultural baler includes a suction fan connected by hoses to mouth devices which partially envelop the knotters on the baler. Another hose connects the suction fan to a container. During operation, the suction fan acts to convey twine tails from the knotters into the container where they are collected. The container has an open mesh lid allowing egress of dust and small particles of debris but preventing egress of the twine tails and large particles of debris.

Abstract: A baling machine according to the invention has a frame having walls defining an elongated compaction chamber having a front end provided with a transversely open intake to which a stream of crop is fed substantially continuously. At least one compacting member is periodically displaced in the chamber between a front position forward of the intake and a back position rearward of the intake by an appropriate drive so as to rearwardly compact crop in the chamber. A plurality of pushers are each displaceable between an advanced position projecting into the chamber and only partially blocking the intake and a retracted position substantially out of the chamber by a linkage that advances the pushers into their advanced position only when the member is rearward of the intake and of the pushers. Thus advance of the pushers into the advanced position immediately after movement of the compacting member rearward past the pushers parts the stream of crop between the pushers and compacting member.

Abstract: A baling press for agricultural products has a pressing chamber limited by a plurality of winding rollers, and a device for wrapping a finished bale with a wrapping material, which is provied for its threading into the pressing chamber with guiding elements between wrapping material drawing rollers and the pressing chamber.

Abstract: The apparatus for binding rolled bales comprises at least one reel of twine, a twine guiding device for guiding the hank of twine along the surface of the bale to be bound and a control device for the twine guiding device, comprising a rope sheave and a set of gears. The twine guiding device comprises two spaced twine guiding arms staggered with respect to one another which may be pivoted in the opposite direction one from the other from an initial position, in which the two arms cross over one another, to a maximum position, in which the two ends of the bale are simultaneously bound, to an end position, which corresponds essentially to the initial position.

Abstract: A roll bale press apparatus for rolling and wrapping harvested agricultural material comprises a prechamber that is disposed forward of a press region. A variable position pickup device is operative in a first position thereof to direct harvested agricultural material through a first inlet orifice into the press region, and is operative in a second position thereof to direct harvested agricultural material into the prechamber. The apparatus includes a second inlet orifice above the first inlet orifice, between the prechamber and press region, through which harvested agricultural material may pass from the prechamber into the press region, and the prechamber includes a transport mechanism for conveying material in the prechamber upwardly to the second inlet orifice.

Abstract: Baling apparatus including a support portion including a carriage section with a base section, a pair of upstanding sections and a hitch section; a forage pickup portion including a generally cylindrical rake rotatably disposed below the base section on a transverse horizontal shaft; a bale forming portion including a substantially rectangular chamber pivotally connected between the upstanding sections, a bale compressor slidably disposed transversely within the chamber and movably supported at each of its corners, pairs of arm members extending longitudinally of the base section in opposite directions from the chamber adjacent the lower end thereof, a pair of the arm members remote from the hitch section being pivotally connected to the chamber, a supporting member extending between the free ends of each pair of arm members, a pair of spaced drums rotatably disposed transversely of the base section above the forage pickup portion, a plurality of closely spaced flexible longitudinal strips extending between e

Abstract: Method and apparatus for delivering twine to a baler knotter. The baler (10) which performs the method includes a bale chamber (16) having a forward inlet end. A knotter (64) is disposed to one side of the bale chamber and the baler is of the type having feeding means including a pair of rollers (36) which are moved back and forth across the inlet end of the bale chamber. A portion (90) of the twine is supported on the lower feed roller as the rollers are moved back and forth across the inlet end of the bale chamber. A pickup needle (110 or 302) is associated with the knotter, and at the initiation of the tying cycle moves from an at rest position towards the lower roller to pick up the twine and then to a position above the twine disks (140) of the knotter to deliver the twine to the knotter and then returns to its at rest position. The twine is tensioned by a twine drag (144) and a pigtail type tensioning mechanism (146) both during the formation of a bale and during tying.

Abstract: An apparatus for coordinating the operation of the bale tying mechanism with the feeding apparatus of a baler. The baler (10) includes a bale chamber (16), feeding means (26) including a pair of feed rollers (36) which are moved back and forth across the inlet end by reciprocating means (46, 48) including a hydraulic cylinder. The bale tying means includes a knotter (64), a pickup needle (110), and a knotter shaft (76) capable of driving the knotter and the needle. The actuating means which is capable of actuating the bale tying means includes a bale length metering mechanism (202 to 218), a constantly driven sprocket (230), and a single revolution clutch (220), the actuating means being capable of initiating the operation of the clutch (220) to cause rotation of the knotter shaft (76) when the bale length has been achieved.

Abstract: A device for baling cut crop, comprising a baling chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port and a compression member adapted to move in the baling chamber, the compressing stroke of the compression member extends along the inlet port to near the outlet port and is equal to or slightly larger than the distance between the inlet and outlet ports; a construction of the device according to the invention is suitable for making bundles having a materially higher "specific weight" than the generally known "straw bales".

Abstract: A knot tying mechanism with improved operational capabilities is disclosed. A twine disc rotatably mounted about a central fixed hub is angularly arranged to position the twine-gripping area for better acceptance of twine from the needle and thereby reduce the incidence of misties due to inadequate gripping. A billhook shaft extends through the fixed hub to properly support the billhook adjacent the twine-gripping area, and to transmit rotational power from the shaft to the twine disc.

Abstract: An improved knotter primarily for use with a crop baling machine is disclosed. As is known in the art, a quantity of compacted crop material is encircled with a length of twine, or similar binding material, and a knot is tied in primary and secondary portions thereof to produce a discrete package of material. The improved knotter includes a rotatable twine holder for gripping the primary and secondary portions of twine and holding them in a side-by-side relationship extending along a predetermined path. A rotatable billhook is mounted adjacent the twine holder and positioned to intersect the predetermined path. Drive means interconnecting the twine holder and billhook rotate the two elements in timed relation such that during a first cycle of the billhook the twine portions are positioned thereabout, and during a second cycle of the billhook a knot is tied therein.