Square baler for forming sliced bales
A baler is described for forming square bales made up of several separately tied slices. The baler has a bale chamber and a plurality of needles movable in unison through the bale chamber to pass respective strands of twine from one side of the bale chamber to associated knotters located on the opposite side of the bale chamber. A first set of permanently operative knotters knot strands of twine tied around individual slices on each occasion that the needles are moved through the bale chamber. A second set of knitters configured to be selectively disabled by movement of a frame carrying their twine engaging components to a position out of reach of the tip of the needles, knot the remaining strands of twine only at the end of the formation of a complete bale.
1. A baler having a bale chamber and a plurality of needles movable through the bale chamber to pass respective strands of twine from one side of the bale chamber to associated knotters located on the opposite side of the bale chamber, the knotters having inclined frames carrying twine engaging components comprising:
a first set of permanently operative knotters means for knotting strands of twine tied around individual slices on each occasion that the needles are moved through the bale chamber;
a second set of knotters means having knotters means for knotting the associated strands of twine only at the end of the formation of a complete bale; and
a linkage means for moving the inclined frames upwardly to a position out of reach of the associated strands of twine to selectively disabling the second set of knotters means.
2. A baler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the strands of twine are guided such that one of the two runs of twine straddling the tip of the needle passes around a guide near the base of each needle which is movable with the needle, and the other strand passes around a stationary guide located near the tip of the needle when the latter is retracted from the bale chamber.
3. A baler as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a roller is provided on the underside of the needle near its base and a loop of twine is guided into the lower part of the needle.
4. A baler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the frames of the bale tying knotters carrying the twine engaging components of the knotter are pivotable about an axis of a drive shaft of the knotter by the linkage means, the linkage means connected to an electric motor, a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic jack.
5. A baler as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the linkage means comprises an articulated arm pivotally connected between the frame and a stationary point on the baler.