Yarn knotter and baler with a yarn knotter

Abstract

Double knotter (1) for a baler (25) for forming two consecutive knots (3) for holding together a binding agent (4.1, 4.2) surrounding a bale of harvested crop (2), • with a knotter hook (5) for knotting the ends of the binding material (4.1, 4.2), which is rotatably mounted in a knotter frame (6), • with a holding arrangement comprising a yarn holding disc (7), wherein the yarn holding disc (7) is rotatably mounted on the knotter frame (6) and is designed for the temporary conveying of two strands (4.1, 4.2) of the binder, • with a continuously driven knotter disc (8) on which first drive means (9.1, 9.2) for driving the knotter hook (5) are arranged for each of the knots (3), and on which at least one second drive means (10.1) for driving the yarn holding disc (7) is arranged, • with a stripping lever (11) for stripping the knots (3) from the knotter hook (5), and • with a knife blade (12) for cutting the binding strands (4.1, 4.2) which is held in the double knotter (1), characterized in that the yarn retaining disc (7) is guided along the knife blade (12) when rotating, so that the binding strands (4.1, 4.2) are cut when passing the knife blade (12).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a twine knotter for producing knots of a binding material surrounding a crop bale, such as a binding twine. The twine knotters in question form one of the assemblies used in balers with a cuboid-shaped baling channel. These knotters serve to knot the binding material surrounding a crop bale at the end of a bale production process, preventing the finished crop bale from falling apart after being ejected from the baling channel. Numerous embodiments of twine knotters installed in such balers are known in practice.

[0002] EP 2 496 070 B1 discloses a twine knotter unit for producing two consecutive knots that hold a binding material strand surrounding a crop bale together. To produce the knots that hold a binding material strand together, the twine knotters consist of a knotter drive disk mounted on a drivable knotter drive shaft and a knotter chassis likewise mounted on the knotter drive shaft, with the knotter chassis forming the receiving unit for the knotter assembly consisting of knotter hook, knife lever, and twine holder. In the knotter assembly disclosed here, it is clear that a knife lever is used to sever the binding material strands. This knife lever, controlled by the knotter drive disk, is moved toward the binding material strands clamped in the twine holder, thereby severing them.When two knots are made in immediate succession, it is evident that the binding strand in the area of ​​the twine holder is cut twice, and thus a twine residue is created each time two knots are made in immediate succession, which either pollutes the fodder during feeding or pollutes the environment when these twine residues fall onto the field soil after the knots have been made.

[0003] The document DE 60 2005 000 693 T2 discloses a tying mechanism for a baler to produce two consecutive knots, wherein the tying mechanism has a release device for releasing the binding agent strands before the complete completion of the second knot.

[0004] The document DE 1 231 947 B discloses a twine holder for knotters of balers consisting of two discs arranged at a distance from each other, wherein a driver plate is arranged between the discs and the passing thread is held between a tongue and the clamping plate.

[0005] The publication WO 2015 / 014 616 A1 discloses a knotter for forming a first and a second consecutive knot. Furthermore, it is disclosed that the twine disc is provided with at least a first and a second notch for receiving the twines, wherein the twine disc is provided with a protruding web arranged behind the second notch as viewed in a rotational direction of the twine disc, such that the twine holder is pushed away by the protruding web during and / or after the formation of the second knot. The object of the invention is therefore to provide a twine knotter and a baler having such a twine knotter, in which the accumulation of twine residues during the production of two immediately consecutive knots is reliably avoided, while retaining the essential functional components of a twine knotter according to the prior art.

[0006] This object is achieved with a twine knotter according to the features of independent patent claim 1, with a baler with the twine knotter according to the features of independent patent claim 11 and with a method for forming two successive knots for holding together a binding agent surrounding a crop bale with the features of independent claim 12. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to the invention, a twine knotter for a baler for forming two consecutive knots for holding together a binding agent surrounding a crop bale is proposed, which is provided with a knotter hook for knotting the ends of the binding agent, which is rotatably mounted in a knotter frame, with a holding arrangement comprising a twine holding disc, wherein the twine holding disc is rotatably mounted on the knotter frame and is provided for temporarily conveying two binding agent strands of the binding agent, with a rotatingly drivable knotter disc, on which first drive means for driving the knotter hook are arranged for each of the knots, and on which at least one second drive means for driving the twine holding disc is arranged, with a stripping lever for stripping the knots from the knotter hook, and with a knife blade for severing the binding agent strands, which is held in the twine knotter,The twine holding disc is guided along the knife blade as it rotates, so that the binding strands are severed as they pass the knife blade. The twine knotter is designed as a double knotter.

[0008] The invention thus provides a twine knotter for a baler which advantageously retains the essential functional components of the knotter and, with only minimal expenditure on a few components, avoids the accumulation of twine residues when producing two immediately consecutive knots.

[0009] Because the knife blade is positioned so that the binding material strands are guided past the knife blade and cut by the rotation of the twine holding disc, the tying process can be carried out in such a way that only a single cut of the binding material strands occurs between the creation of the first and second knot. Furthermore, the twine holding disc is stopped before a second cut is made shortly before the second knot is completed. This eliminates any binding material residue during the creation of both knots.

[0010] To prevent the binding agent strands from being severed during the production of the second of the immediately consecutive knots, it is advantageously provided that the twine knotter is assigned a knife blade that is arranged essentially stationary in the twine knotter. This means that the knife blade is not moved to sever the binding agent strands. Rather, the separation process of the binding agent strand is initiated by rotating the twine holding disc, with the binding agent strands clamped in a recess, toward the knife blade, thereby severing the binding agent strands. In a preferred embodiment, the knife blade is attached to a twine clamping lever that interacts with the twine holding disc.In this context, it should be noted that the position of the twine clamping lever, which interacts with the twine holding disc, is only slightly altered by the clamped binding material, so that the position of the knife blade relative to the twine holding disc remains virtually unchanged. In a further advantageous embodiment, it is conceivable to attach the knife blade to the knotter frame, thus achieving a fixed arrangement in the twine knotter.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, a stripping lever with an extractor for extracting the binding agent strands comprising a bobbin thread and a top thread from one of the recesses in the yarn holding disc of the yarn knotter is provided on the yarn knotter. According to the invention, the extraction of the binding agent strands from which the second of the immediately consecutive knots is formed takes place shortly before the final completion of this second knot. This reliably prevents the separation of the parts of the binding agent strands located on a rear side of the yarn holding disc between the recess receiving the binding agent strands for the first knot and the recess receiving the binding agent strands for the second knot.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the yarn knotter, a holding arrangement is provided which comprises a yarn clamping lever, wherein the yarn clamping lever interacts with the yarn holding disc in order to firmly hold the binding agent strands in a recess in the yarn holding disc. The yarn holding disc comprises at least one pair of two recesses which are arranged rotated counterclockwise by an offset angle of greater than 90° with respect to a rotational movement of the yarn holding disc in the direction of rotation about a yarn holding disc axis. A first recess of this pair of recesses serves to receive the binding agent strands fed to the yarn knotter by a tying needle in order to form the first of the two immediately successive knots, while the second recess of this pairing, which is arranged rotated by the offset angle, serves to receive the binding agent strands for the second of the two immediately successive knots.In an advantageous development of the invention, two pairs each with two recesses can be assigned to the yarn holding disc, wherein these two pairs of recesses are mounted rotated by 180° to each other.

[0013] A preferred embodiment of the twine knotter has at least one second drive means associated with the knotting disc. In a first advantageous embodiment, a toothed segment is attached to the knotting disc as the second drive means for continuously driving the twine holding disc. The twine holding disc is rotated through an angle of 180°. This means that the recesses on the twine holding disc are rotated from a position in which the binding material strands for the first knot are received to a position in which the binding material strands for the second knot are received, and then beyond that until the respective recess, with the clamped binding material strands for the second knot, stops in front of the knife blade.In another conceivable embodiment for driving the twine holding disc, the knotting disc is provided with two second drive means designed as toothed segments. However, these second drive means initially cause a first rotational movement on the twine holding disc and then, after a temporary interruption of the drive movement of the twine holding disc, initiate a further rotational movement. However, both rotational movements together also extend over a rotation angle of 180°.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the twine knotter is provided with a knotting hook having a gap between two fixed clamping wings, which are provided during the knot-forming process to form a binding loop. This gap assists in stripping the knots from the clamping wings at the end of each knot-forming process. To form the binding loop, the two binding strands are wrapped around the knotting hook as it rotates. The binding loop therefore encompasses both binding strands.This knotting hook is preferably designed such that a pivotable clamping wing with a molded portion extending into the gap is located between the fixed clamping wings with respect to a second spatial direction and is configured to complete the knotting process by the free ends of the binding material strands that have been cut off or pulled out of a recess in the twine holding disk by the stripping lever of the twine knotter being drawn into the binding material loop with the aid of the molded portion when the binding material loop is stripped off from the fixed clamping wings of the knotting hook. Tightening the binding material loop completes the knotting process. As the binding material loop is tightened, the knot is pulled through the gap between the fixed clamping wings in the direction of the crop bale and thus leaves the area of ​​the twine knotter.An advantageous design of the gap between the fixed clamping wings of the twine knotter has a keyhole-like shape.

[0015] The object of the invention is further achieved by a baler that, in addition to the functional assemblies known from the prior art, such as a receiving device for receiving the crop to be compressed, a conveying and cutting device for conveying the crop into a preferably cuboid-shaped baling channel in which a reciprocatingly driven pressing piston ensures the compaction of the crop, is equipped with a plurality of the twine knotters according to the invention. The number of twine knotters installed on a baler depends, for example, on the bale width of the crop bale or on the required compaction of the crop in the bale.

[0016] The object of the invention is also achieved by a method in which, in order to form two successive knots for holding together a binding agent surrounding a crop bale, the binding agent strands are severed between a first and a second knot and the twine holding disc is stopped before passing the knife blade of the binding agent strands before the second knot is completed.

[0017] The invention is described below with reference to figures. The figures are merely exemplary and do not limit the general concept of the invention. They show Fig. 1 in (a) schematically a baler and in (b) a knotter arrangement for the baler from (a) with a plurality of twine knotters; Fig. 2 in (a) - (k) each show one of the twine knotters or an enlarged partial view of the twine knotter of the knotter arrangement of the Fig. 1 (b) in a perspective view; Fig. 3 in (a) an enlarged partial view of the twine knotter of the Fig. 2; in (b) a twine holding disc for the twine knotter from (a); in (c) a knotter hook for the twine knotter from (a) in a side view; in (d) a plan view of the knotter hook from (c), and in (e) a perspective view of the knotter hook from (c); and Fig. 4 in (a) another perspective view of the yarn knotter of the Fig. 2; and in (b) a perspective view of another embodiment of a twine knotter for the knotter assembly of Fig. 1 (b).

[0018] Fig. Figure 1 (a) shows a schematic of a baler 25, in this case a square baler. In the following, the terms "baler 25" and "square baler" are used synonymously.

[0019] The baler 25 is intended to be pulled by a tractor (not shown). For this purpose, it has a trailer coupling 26 at the front in a direction of travel FR. However, the invention is also applicable to self-propelled balers.

[0020] The baler 25 has a pick-up as a receiving device 28 for picking up crop material from the ground 27. The crop material is fed to a cutting device (not designated) which is arranged downstream of the receiving device 28 in a crop flow direction EG. After cutting, it is fed to a conveying and collecting device 29 which is provided for collecting and pre-compressing the crop material. The conveying and collecting device 29 has a collecting chamber 30 for this purpose. A pressing channel 31 is provided downstream of it in the crop flow direction EG. Once the crop material has been sufficiently pre-compacted, it is conveyed into the pressing channel 31 by means of a rake of the conveying and collecting device 29 which is designed as a feeder rake (not designated). There it is pressed into a square bale 2 by a pressing piston 32 which is cyclically moved back and forth in the pressing channel 31.

[0021] The square baler 25 comprises a binding device 33, which is provided for binding the square bale 2 so that it no longer falls apart. For this purpose, the binding device 33 comprises a knotter arrangement 34 with a plurality of twine knotters 1 (see Fig. 1(b)). The yarn knotters 1 are each provided for tying binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 made of a thread-like binding material, namely an upper thread 4.1 and a lower thread 4.2, together to form a knot 3 (see Fig. 2 (k)). The twine knotters 1 are arranged on an upper side 38 of the baler 25 above the pressing channel 31.

[0022] In the context of this invention, the term binder strand is used synonymously for the upper thread 4.1 and the lower thread 4.2.

[0023] For feeding the upper threads 4.1, the binding device 22 has an upper thread needle 47 (see Fig. 2). Furthermore, the tying device 33 comprises a bobbin yarn guide 35, which is provided for guiding the bobbin threads 4.2. The bobbin yarn guide 35 is arranged below the pressing channel 31. It comprises a bobbin yarn needle 36 for each of the yarn knotters 1. When the bobbin yarn guide 35 is driven, the bobbin yarn needles 35, and with them the bobbin threads 4.2, are each guided to the yarn knotter 1 assigned to them.

[0024] A crop bale 2 is tied when a target value for a bale length is reached or exceeded.

[0025] Fig. 1 (b) shows the knotter arrangement 34 for the baler 25 from Fig. 1 (a). The knotter assembly 34 is arranged on the top side 38 of the baler 25 and includes a plurality of twine knotters 1. The twine knotters 1 are arranged spaced apart from one another along a knotter shaft 37.

[0026] Fig. Figure 2 shows in (a) - (k) one of the twine knotters 1 or an enlarged partial view of the twine knotter 1 of the knotter arrangement 34 of the Fig. 1 (b). The enlarged views show the Fig. 2 (f) and Fig. 2 (j).

[0027] The twine knotter 1 has a knotting disc 8, which is non-rotatably mounted on the knotting shaft 37. The knotting disc 8 therefore rotates with the knotting shaft 37 when driven. Furthermore, the twine knotter 1 has a knotting frame 6, which is rotatably mounted on the knotting shaft 37 relative to the latter, so that it does not rotate with the knotting shaft 37 when driven and is fixedly mounted in the baler 25.

[0028] The Fig. 2 (a) - (e), (g) - (i) and (k) show the twine knotter 1 in the same perspective view, each in different drive states, which it passes through when driving the knotter shaft 37, wherein the drive states differ from each other by a rotation angle (not designated) by which the knotter disc 8 has rotated with it relative to a zero position. Fig. 2 (f) shows an enlarged section of the Fig. 2 (e) and Fig. 2 (j) shows an enlarged section of the Fig. 2 (i), where Fig. 2 (f) and Fig. 2 (j) each show another perspective view. The Fig. 3 (a) shows an enlarged section of the yarn knotter 1 of the Fig. 2 without the binder strands 4.1, 4.2 at a rotation angle of approximately 320°.

[0029] The twine knotter 1 is designed to form two consecutive knots 3, which are intended to connect the upper thread 4.1 and the lower thread 4.2 of the binding means surrounding the crop bale 2. It is thus a double knotter. The terms twine knotter 1 and double knotter are therefore used synonymously within the scope of this invention.

[0030] For this purpose, the twine knotter 1 has a knotting hook 5 for knotting the ends 4.3 of the binding means 4.1, 4.2, which is mounted in the knotting frame 6 so as to be rotatable about a knotting hook axis 44 in a knotting hook rotation direction 43.

[0031] The knotter hook 5 is in the Fig. 3 (c) and (d) are shown separately. It has two fixed clamping wings 18 which are spaced apart from one another in a third spatial direction 22 and have an extension component (not shown) in a first spatial direction 20. The third spatial direction 22 is arranged transversely to the first spatial direction 20. An approximately keyhole-shaped gap 17 is provided between the fixed clamping wings 18. In a second spatial direction 21, a pivotable clamping wing 19 is also arranged at a height offset from the fixed clamping wings 18. The second spatial direction 21 extends transversely to the first spatial direction 20 and transversely to the third spatial direction 22. The pivotable clamping wing 19 has a hook-shaped projection 20 which extends opposite the second spatial direction 21, so that it points in the direction of the gap 17. In an unopened state (not labeled), which the Fig. 3 (c), the projection 20 extends at least slightly into the gap 17. The pivotable clamping wing 19 is pivotably mounted in a pivoting wing bearing 59, which is arranged in the third spatial direction 22 above the fixed clamping wing 18.

[0032] In order to pivot the pivotable clamping wing 19 from the unopened to an open state (not shown), the knotting hook 5 has a control roller 46 which, when the knotting hook 5 rotates about the knotting hook axis 44, moves along a control link 63 (see Fig. 3 (a)). The control roller 46 is arranged on a side of the knotting hook 5 facing away from the fixed clamping wings 18 (not labeled). It is attached to the pivoting clamping wing 19 and shaped such that the latter pivots in and against a wing pivoting direction 61 according to the contour of the control link when the control roller 46 rolls along the control link. When the pivoting clamping wing 19 pivots in the wing pivoting direction 61, it opens relative to the fixed clamping wings 18. In this open state, binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 can be inserted into the space (not labeled) between the fixed clamping wings 18 and the pivoting clamping wing 19. When pivoting back from the open state to the unopened state, the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 are clamped between the fixed clamping wings 18 and the pivoting clamping wing 19.

[0033] The twine knotter 1 also has a holding arrangement (not designated) provided for holding the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2. The holding arrangement has a twine holding disc 7, which is mounted on the knotter frame 6 for rotation about a twine holding disc axis 42 in a twine holding disc rotation direction 41. The twine holding disc 7 is provided for temporarily conveying the two binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 of the binding agent.

[0034] On its outer contour 62 (see Fig. 3 (c)), it has at least a first pairing 16.1 of two recesses 15.1, 15.2. Each of the two recesses 15.1, 15.2 is provided for receiving the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 during the production of one of the two knots 3. With respect to a rotational movement of the yarn holding disc 7 in the direction of rotation 41 of the yarn holding disc about the yarn holding disc axis 42, the recesses 15.1, 15.2 are arranged counterclockwise relative to one another by an offset angle α that is greater than 90°. The recess 15.1 which is earlier with respect to the rotational movement in the direction of rotation of the yarn holding disc 41 is intended to receive the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 for the first of the two knots 3, and the recess 15.2 which is later with respect to the rotational movement in the direction of rotation of the yarn holding disc 41 is intended to receive the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 for the second of the two knots 3.The offset angle α exceeding 90° enables a safe reinsertion of the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 into the yarn holding disc 7 for the production of the second knot 3.

[0035] The yarn holding disc 7 used here also has a second pairing 16.2 of recesses 15.1, 15.2, which is intended for producing a subsequent pair of knots 3. For this purpose, the two pairings 16.1, 16.2 of recesses 15.1, 15.2 are arranged on the yarn holding disc 7 rotated by 180° relative to each other.

[0036] The yarn holding disc 7 comprises two parallel discs 7.1, 7.2 (see Fig. 3 (a)) of the same size, which are spaced apart from each other and between which a stop (not shown) extends concentrically around the yarn holding disc axis 42. Both discs 7.1, 7.2 of the yarn holding disc 7 therefore have both pairs 16.1, 16.2 of recesses 15.1, 15.2. In addition, the recesses 15.1, 15.2 are at the same angle of rotation (see Fig. 3 (b)).

[0037] The holding arrangement further comprises a yarn clamping lever 14 (see Fig. 3 (a), Fig. 2 (f)), wherein the yarn clamping lever 14 cooperates with the yarn holding disk 7 to hold the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 in one of the recesses 15.1, 15.2. For this purpose, the yarn clamping lever 14 has at least one clamping strut 14.1, which is arranged between the disks 7.1, 7.2 of the yarn clamping disk 7. In the present exemplary embodiment, it also has a further clamping strut 14.2, which is arranged essentially parallel to the at least one clamping strut 14.1. The second clamping strut 14.2 improves the holding of the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 compared to only one clamping strut 14.1.

[0038] The at least one clamping strut 14.1 is arranged between the two discs 7.1, 7.2 of the yarn clamping disc 7. It rests against the stop of the yarn holding disc 7 when no binding agent strand 4.1, 4.2 is inserted into the yarn holding disc 7.

[0039] The yarn clamping lever 14 is pressed against the stop by the force of a spring (not shown) about a clamping axis 51 in a clamping direction 52. When the yarn holding disk 7 is rotated, the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 inserted into the recess 15.1, 15.2 are clamped between the yarn holding disk 7 and the yarn clamping lever 14. Since the yarn clamping lever 14 is pressed against the stop solely by the force of the spring, it can deflect at least slightly against the clamping direction 52, particularly with thicker binding materials. However, the force of the spring is provided to be sufficiently large to ensure that the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 are securely held when the knot 3 is made.

[0040] Furthermore, the twine knotter 1 has the rotatingly driven knotting disc 8. The knotting disc 8 extends concentrically around a knotting disc axis 40, which extends in the direction of the knotting shaft 37. First drive means 9.1, 9.2 for driving the knotting hook 5 are arranged on the knotting disc 8 for each of the two knots 3. To drive the knotting hook 5, a shaft 24 (see Fig. 3 (c)) of the knotter hook 5, a drive wheel 54 is rotationally fixed. The first drive means 9.1, 9.2 are designed as toothed segments that engage with teeth (not designated) of the drive wheel 54 as the knotter disc 8 rotates, so that the drive wheel 54 is driven in a direction of rotation 30 as the knotter disc 8 rotates. As a result, the knotter hook 5 is rotated about the knotter hook axis 44 in the knotter hook rotation direction 43.

[0041] In addition, at least one second drive means 10.1 for driving the twine holding disc 7 is arranged on the knotter disc 8. The second drive means 10.1 is also designed as a toothed segment. To drive the twine holding disc 7, a pinion 55 is attached to the knotter frame 6 (see Fig. 4(a)), the teeth of which (not labeled) engage with the second drive means 10.1 as the knotter disk 8 rotates. This drives the pinion 55. The pinion 55 is arranged at the end of a pinion shaft (not shown), at the opposite end (not labeled) of which a worm gear 56 is provided. The worm gear 56 meshes with a disk gear 57, so that when the worm gear 56 is driven, the disk gear rotates about the twine holding disk axis 42 in the twine holding disk rotation direction 41. The disk gear 57 is also arranged at the end of a disk shaft (not shown), at the opposite end (not labeled) of which the twine holding disk 7 is non-rotatably fastened. The twine holding disk 7 therefore rotates with the disk gear 57 when the disk gear 57 is driven.

[0042] The second drive means 10.1, designed as a toothed segment, the pinion 55, the worm gear 56, and the disk gear 57 are coordinated to one another in such a way that a slower gear ratio of 1:4 is achieved. However, depending on a diameter (not designated) of the knotter disk 8, a diameter (not designated) of the twine holding disk 7, and the number of teeth (not designated) on these components, a different gear reduction can also be provided.

[0043] The twine knotter 1 further comprises a stripping lever 11 for stripping the knots 3 from the knotter hook 5. The stripping lever 11 is pivotable in and against a pivot direction 49 about a pivot bearing 64 through which a pivot axis 48 extends.

[0044] The stripping lever 11 is approximately L-shaped. It has an arm 76 (see Fig. 2 (a)), which extends from the pivot bearing 64 to a cross plate 65 extending approximately transversely to it.

[0045] A stripping link 45 is arranged on the knotter disc 8, on which a roller 60 (see Fig. 4 (a)), which is arranged on the stripping lever 11. The stripping lever 11 is pivoted about the pivot axis 48 in the pivot direction 49 and back depending on the course of the stripping guide 45. Pin-shaped pullers 53 are arranged on the stripping lever 11 and are spaced apart from one another. The distance (not designated) between the pullers 53 is slightly greater than a width B (see Fig. 3 (d)) of the knotter hook 5. The pullers 53 are provided for pulling a knot 3 from the knotter hook 5. For this purpose, the stripping lever 11 is pivoted in the pivoting direction 49. After pulling, the stripping lever 11 is pivoted back again.

[0046] Furthermore, the stripping lever 11 has an extractor 13. The extractor 13 extends approximately parallel to the arm 76 and is spaced apart from it. It is attached to the cross plate 65. With the extractor 13, the ends 4.3 of the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 can be pulled out of the holding arrangement to complete the second knot 3.

[0047] To sever the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2, a knife blade 12 is also mounted in the twine knotter 1. The knife blade 12 is positioned such that the twine holding disk 7 is guided along the knife blade 12 when rotating in the twine holding direction of rotation 41. As a result, the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 inserted into the holding arrangement are severed as they pass the knife blade 12. For this purpose, the knife blade 12 can be essentially fixed in the twine knotter 1, in particular on the knotter frame. In the embodiment shown here, it is attached to the twine clamping lever 14. In this embodiment, it can move slightly with the twine clamping lever 14 when it deflects, depending on the thickness of the binding agent used. Therefore, in this embodiment, the knife blade 12 is not fixed in the twine knotter 1, but moves with the twine clamping lever 14 when it deflects.The wording “essentially” takes this fact into account in the context of this invention.

[0048] In order to produce the two consecutive knots 3 without generating a binder residue for each binder strand 4.1, 4.2, the present invention provides that the binder strands 4.1, 4.2 are severed only once between the first and second knot 3. Furthermore, the present invention provides that the yarn holding disk 7 is stopped during the completion of the second knot 3, before the binder strands 4.1, 4.2 pass the knife blade 12. Since the yarn holding disk 7 stops before the binder strands 4.1, 4.2 pass the knife blade 12 again, the binder strands 4.1, 4.2 are not severed at all during the production of the second knot 3. As a result, no binder residue is produced per binder strand 4.1, 4.2 during the production of this knot 3.

[0049] The production of the two knots 3 with the yarn knotter 1 is described below using the Fig. 2 (a) - (k) explained step by step.

[0050] Fig. Figure 2 (a) shows the twine knotter 1 in the zero position. In the zero position, a knot 3 can be released from the knotter hook 5 when a tensile force 73 acts on it, which is caused in particular by the crop bale 2 and which has an extension component against a second spatial direction 21, in which a shaft 24 (see Fig. 3 (c) - (e)) of the knotting hook 5. In the zero position, neither the drive wheel 54 for driving the knotting hook 5 nor the pinion 55 for driving the twine holding disk 7 are engaged with one of their drive means 9.1, 9.2, 10.1 on the knotting disk 8. The knotting hook 5 and the twine holding disk 7 are therefore not driven in the zero position. In the zero position, the stripping lever 11 is in a position where it is still slightly pivoted about the pivot axis 48 in the pivot direction 49. A top thread 4.1 is guided through the top yarn needle 47. As a result, a recess (not designated) provided in the stripping lever 11, in particular an approximately U-shaped recess, is arranged below the knotting hook 5.

[0051] Fig. 2 (b) shows the yarn knotter 1 in a position rotated by a rotation angle of 150°. Even in this position, neither the knotter hook 5 nor the yarn holding disk 7 have rotated. The stripping lever 11 has pivoted back against the pivoting direction 49. In addition, the bobbin thread needle 36 has pivoted into the yarn knotter 1 in a feed direction 50. The bobbin thread needle 36 is therefore in an upward motion. It carries the bobbin thread 4.2 with it. Furthermore, when pivoting into the yarn knotter 1, it takes the upper thread 4.1 with it. When the bobbin thread needle 36 is pivoted in, the upper thread 4.1 and the lower thread 4.2 are inserted into the first recess 15.1 of the two recesses 15.1, 15.2 of the first pair 16.1 of the yarn holding disk 7. Fig. Figure 2 (b) shows the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 inserted into the first recess 15.1. Therefore, insertion occurs in the upward motion of the lower needle 36.

[0052] Fig. Figure 2 (c) shows the twine knotter 1 rotated through a rotation angle of 185°. In this position, the twine holding disc 7 is rotated so far that the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 are clamped in the holding arrangement between the twine holding disc 7 and the twine clamping lever 14. The twine clamping lever 14 clamps the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 using the force of the spring.

[0053] In addition, in this position, the drive wheel 54 is engaged with the first of the two first drive means 9.1, 9.2 on the knotter disc 8, so that the knotter hook 5 is driven by the knotter disc 8 and rotates about the knotter hook axis 44 in the knotter hook rotation direction 43. Visible here is the control roller 46, which is arranged on the rear side of the knotter hook 5 and is intended to drive the pivoting clamping wing 19.

[0054] During rotation, the binding strands 4.1, 4.2 are wrapped around the knotting hook 5. This creates a loop (not marked) around the knotting hook 5. Fig. Figure 2 (d) shows the twine knotter 1 rotated through a rotation angle of 205°. In this position, the knotter hook 5 has rotated completely around its knotter hook axis 44. The control roller 46 of the knotter hook 5 has been guided completely along the control link 63 for opening and closing the pivoting clamping wing 19. The binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 have been inserted between the fixed clamping wings 18 and the pivoting clamping wing 19 and are located in front of the molded portion 20 of the pivoting clamping wing 19.

[0055] The yarn holding disk 7 has also rotated so far that the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 clamped in the holding arrangement are now arranged in front of a cutting edge of the knife blade 12.

[0056] Furthermore, the bobbin thread needle 36 has already pivoted back slightly against the feed direction 50. It is therefore in downward motion.

[0057] Fig. Figure 2 (e) shows the twine knotter 1 rotated through a rotation angle of 220°. In this position, the twine holding disc 7 has rotated so far that the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 have passed the knife blade 12 and have been severed by it. The binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 now divide into the first crop bale-side binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 and the second lower needle-side binding material strands 4.1, 4.2.

[0058] The binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 on the lower needle side were also inserted into the second recess 15.2 of the first pair 16.1 of recesses 15.1, 15.2 as the yarn holding disc 7 continued to rotate. When the second knot 3 is formed, the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 are therefore inserted into the yarn holding disc 7 during the downward movement of the lower needle 36.

[0059] Fig. 2 (f) shows an enlarged section of the Fig. 2 (e). Visible are the tying material strands 4.1, 4.2 wound around the knotter hook 5 on the crop bale side immediately before the first knot 3 is pulled off the knotter hook 5. When the tying material strands 4.1, 4.2 are pulled off the knotter hook 5, the tying material strands 4.1, 4.2 inserted between the fixed clamping wings 18 and the pivoting clamping wing 19 are pulled through the loop of the tying material strands 4.1, 4.2 wrapped around the knotter hook 5 with the aid of the formed portion 20 on the pivoting clamping wing 19. The first knot 3 is formed in the process.

[0060] The binding material strands 4.1, 4.2, or the first knot 3, are pushed off the knotter hook 5 by means of the stripping lever 11. For this purpose, the roller 60 of the stripping lever 11 is guided along the stripping guide 45. The stripping guide 45 has two cams (not designated) so that the stripping lever 11 is pivoted forward twice during one revolution of the knotter disk 8, in order to push one knot 3 off the knotter hook 5 at a time. The spaced-apart, pin-shaped pullers 53 of the stripping lever 11 are used to push the knot 3 off the knotter hook 5.

[0061] To allow knot 3 to fall onto the crop bale, a gap 17 is provided in the knotter hook. The finished knot 3 falls through gap 17 onto the crop bale.

[0062] Fig. Figure 2 (g) shows the yarn knotter 1 in a position rotated by a rotation angle of 240°. In this position, the stripping lever 11 is pivoted in the pivoting direction 49 and has pushed the knot 3 off the knotter hook 5. The lower needle 36 is pivoted back even further against the feed direction 50.

[0063] Fig. Figure 2 (h) shows the twine knotter 1 rotated through a rotation angle of 280°. In this position, the twine holding disc 7 is in its final position. It is no longer driven during the current rotation of the knotter disc 8. The binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 clamped in the holding arrangement are arranged directly in front of the knife blade 12.

[0064] The stripping lever 11 is in Fig. 2 (h) pivoted back against the pivoting direction 49. In addition, the bobbin thread needle 36 is pivoted back against the feed direction 50 at this angle of rotation.

[0065] The second of the first drive means 9.2 on the knotter disc 8 has reached the drive wheel 54 of the knotter hook 5. As a result, the drive wheel 54 engages with this first drive means 9.2. The twine knotter 1 is thus immediately before forming the second knot 3.

[0066] Fig. Figure 2 (i) shows the twine knotter 1 rotated through a rotation angle of 330°. The knotter hook 5 has completed its second complete rotation around the knotter hook axis 44. Therefore, a loop has been formed around the knotter hook 5, and the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 have also been inserted under the pivoting clamping wing 19. The illustration therefore shows the second knot 3 immediately before being pushed off by the stripping lever 11.

[0067] Fig. Figure 2 (j) shows this in an enlarged section. It can be seen that the stripping lever 11 is pivoting in the pivoting direction 49. Since the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 are still clamped in the holding arrangement, the extractor 13 attached to the stripping lever 11 comes into contact with the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 and pulls the ends 4.3 of the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 out of the holding arrangement during the pivoting movement of the stripping lever 11. Furthermore, the second knot 3 is pushed off the knotting hook 5 by means of the pin-shaped extractors 53, analogous to the first knot 3.

[0068] Fig. Figure 2 (k) shows the twine knotter 1 rotated through a 360° angle. It is in the zero position (see Fig. 2 (a)). The extractor 13 has pulled the ends 4.3 of the binding strands 4.1, 4.2, and the pullers 53 have pushed the second knot 3 off the knotter hook 5. The second knot 3 also falls against the second direction 21 through the gap 17 in the knotter hook 5 toward the crop bale. The stripping lever 11 is pivoting against the pivoting direction 49.

[0069] In Fig. 2 (k) schematically shows the tensile force 73 directed towards the crop bale, with which the knot 3 is pulled by the knotter hook so that it falls off the latter.

[0070] Fig. 3 shows in (a) an enlarged partial view of the twine knotter 1 of the Fig. 2 (b), in (b) a twine holding disc 7 for the twine knotter 1 from (a), in (c) a knotter hook 5 for the twine knotter 1 from (a) in a side view, in (d) a plan view of the knotter hook 5 from (c), and in (e) a perspective view of the knotter hook from (c).

[0071] Fig. 3 (b) shows one of many possible embodiments of the yarn holding disc 7 in a side view. The yarn holding disc 7 shown here is designed for the production of two pairs of knots 3. One of the discs 7.1 is visible, the yarn holding disc 7 with the two pairs 16.1, 16.2 of recesses 15.1, 15.2. The yarn holding disc 7 can also be designed for just one pair of knots 3, or for three or more pairs of knots 3. In principle, it is also possible to design the yarn holding disc 7 for an odd number of knots 3, so that a recess 15.1, 15.2 of the yarn holding disc 7 is used alternately for the production of the first of the two knots 3 and then for the production of the second of the two knots 3.

[0072] In the illustrated twine holding disc 7, an offset angle α of 100° is provided between the recesses of each knot pair 3. With the selected reduction ratio between the knotter disc 8 and the twine holding disc 7, an offset angle α of greater than 90° is required to insert the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 into the second of the two recesses 15.2. However, the offset angle α can also be significantly greater than 90°, and in particular, up to approximately 150°.

[0073] A supplementary angle β of 80° is provided between the two pairs 16.1, 16.2 of recesses 15.1, 15.2. This results in a rotationally symmetrical arrangement of the pairs 16.1, 16.2 of recesses 15.1, 15.2.

[0074] Fig. 3 (c) shows the knotter hook 5 for the twine knotter 1 in a side view, Fig. 3 (d) in a plan view from above, and Fig. 3 (e) in a perspective view. The knotting hook here has two fixed clamping wings 18. It also has a pivotable clamping wing 19. The clamping wings 18, 19 have an extension component in a same first spatial direction 20. An embodiment of a knotting hook 5 can also be used that has only one fixed clamping wing 18 and the pivotable clamping wing 19.

[0075] The fixed clamping wings 18 extend from a body 66 of the knotting hook 5 to a free end (not designated). The pivoting clamping wing 19, however, is pivotably mounted in a pivoting wing bearing 59 provided in the body 66 of the knotting hook 5 about a wing pivot axis 69 in and against a wing pivot direction 61. The pivoting clamping wing 19 also has a free end 74.

[0076] The pivotable clamping wing 19 has a projection 23 that is raised toward the fixed clamping wing 18. The projection therefore extends toward the second spatial direction 21. It is arranged here at the free end 74 of the pivotable clamping wing 19. In principle, however, the pivotable clamping wing 19 can also extend beyond the projection 23 toward its free end 74. For this purpose, the projection 19 also extends at a substantially right angle δ to a pivoting wing 77 of the pivotable wing 19 on which it is arranged. It is hook-shaped, here triangular.

[0077] The pivotable clamping wing 19 is arranged laterally offset from both fixed clamping wings 18, at least toward the free end of the clamping wings 18, 19, in a third spatial direction 22, which extends transversely to the first spatial direction 20 and transversely to the second spatial direction 21. The fixed clamping wings 18 are arranged mirror-symmetrically to a fictitious line (not shown) extending centrally through the pivotable clamping wing 19. The fixed clamping wings 18 have the same length LF. In addition, the pivotable clamping wing 19 is shorter than the fixed clamping wings 19.

[0078] Furthermore, the two fixed clamping wings 18 are spaced apart from one another at least at their ends, so that a gap 17 is formed between them. In addition, the pivotable clamping wing 19 is arranged at least at its ends between the two fixed clamping wings 18 in a plan view. As a result, the projection 23 is positioned between the two fixed clamping wings 18 to the side. The gap 17 extends between the fixed clamping wings 18 and below the pivotable clamping wing 19 against the first spatial direction 20 even beyond the projection 23. As a result, a free space is provided not only below but also behind the projection 23, viewed against the first spatial direction 21, through which free space a knot 3 completed with the knotting hook 5 can fall in this direction 21, particularly when a tensile force 73 acts on it against the second spatial direction 21.

[0079] The pivotable clamping wing 19 is therefore only partially offset in height from the fixed clamping wings 18 in a second spatial direction 21, which extends transversely to the first spatial direction 20. As a result, the molded portion 23 engages slightly in the gap 17 between the fixed clamping wings 18.

[0080] In principle, the gap 17 can be U- or V-shaped. However, a keyhole-like widening 75 of the gap 17 has proven advantageous, whereby the gap 17 is widened at an end facing the pivoting wing bearing 59. This provides more space for the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2, and the knot 3 can be released from the knotter hook 5 more easily and quickly.

[0081] The pivoting clamping wing 19 can be pivoted from an unopened state to an open state by pivoting in the wing pivoting direction 61. In the open state, the free end 74 of the pivoting clamping wing 19 is further spaced from the fixed clamping wings 18 than in the unopened state. In the open state, the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 can be inserted between the fixed and pivoting clamping wings 18, 19. The formed portion 23 is intended to pull the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 inserted between the fixed and pivoting clamping wings 18, 19 through a binding material loop formed from the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2, which is looped around the body 66 of the knotting hook 5. For this purpose, the pivoting clamping wing 19 is closed and the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 are clamped between the fixed and the pivoting clamping wing 18, 19.

[0082] To accomplish the pivoting of the pivotable clamping wing 19, a control roller 46 is provided at an end opposite the free end 74 of the pivotable clamping wing 19. The control roller 46 is arranged on a side of the pivoting wing bearing 59 facing away from the free end (not labeled). Therefore, when the control roller 46 is adjusted, the pivotable clamping wing 19 is pivoted from the unopened to the open state or back.

[0083] In the twine knotter 1, the control roller 46 is moved along a control link 63 (see Fig. 3 (a)), which is fixedly arranged on the knotter frame 6. The control link 46 enables a one-time opening from the unopened to the open state and closing from the open to the unopened state of the pivoting clamping wing 19 for each of the knots 3.

[0084] The stability of the knotting hook 5 is increased by the body 66 extending below the pivoting clamping wing 19. A length LS of the gap 17 or a length LK of the fixed clamping wings 18 is related to a length LR of the body 66 in a holding area 68 of the knotting hook 5, which is provided for clamping binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 between the fixed clamping wings 18 and the pivoting clamping wing 19, preferably at least in a ratio of 1:1 or greater, preferably 2:1 or 3:1 or even greater. The body 66 extending below the pivoting clamping wing 19 is therefore very short in relation to the gap 17 or the clamping wings 18, 19. Preferably, the body 66 serves solely to stabilize the knotting hook 5 there.The shorter the body 66 extends below the pivoting clamping wing 19, the larger the gap 17 and the easier it is for knots 3, in particular made of relatively thick binding material, to be pulled from the knotting hook 5 at the end of the knotting process.

[0085] The body 66, which extends in the holding area 68 below the pivoting clamping wing 19, also has a recess 70 that provides space for the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 clamped between the pivoting clamping wing 19 and the fixed clamping wings 18. To prevent the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 from being worn down, the recess 70 can be rounded.

[0086] In order to further facilitate the pulling of the knot 3 from the knotting hook 5, it is further preferred that an end wall 71 of the gap 17 extends substantially in the second spatial direction 21, so that a completed knot 3 does not get caught on the end wall 71 or an edge (not designated) of the end wall 71, or rubs against it.

[0087] The pivoting clamping wing 19 is designed overall to be narrower than the gap 17. This design is advantageous when pulling the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 through the binding material loop and when stripping the knot 3 from the knotting hook 5.

[0088] In order to rotatably mount the knotter hook 5 in the twine knotter 1, the knotter has a shaft 24 for mounting in the twine knotter 1. The shaft 24 is arranged at an angle γ relative to the fixed clamping wings 18. Since the binding loop for the knot 3 requires a full rotation of the knotter hook 5 around the knotter hook axis 44, a free space (not designated) is required in the twine knotter 1 for the knotter hook 5 that corresponds to a length (not designated) of the fixed clamping wings 18. The angular arrangement of the clamping wings 18 to the shaft 24 therefore saves space.

[0089] The required bend 72 in the hull 66 is rounded so that the hull 66 has no edges in the bend 72 and the binder strands 4.1, 4.2 cannot rub against the bend 72.

[0090] The formation of the binding loop around the body 66 of the knotting hook 5 is facilitated by a ramp-shaped widening 67 of the body 66 below the shaft 24, through which the binding loop wraps around the body 66 below the control roller 46 when the knotting hook 5 rotates.

[0091] Fig. 4 shows in (a) another perspective view of the twine knotter 1 of the Fig. 2, and in (b) a perspective view of another embodiment of a twine knotter 1' for the knotter arrangement 34 of Fig. 1 (b).

[0092] The binding process of the yarn knotter 1 of the Fig. 4 (a) comprises the following steps to create the two nodes 3: a. Inserting the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 into the first recess 15.1 of the first pair 16.1 of recesses 15.1, 15.2 on the yarn holding disc 7 in the upward motion of the lower needle 36; b. Rotation of the yarn holding disc 7 and clamping of the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2; c. During the rotation of the twine holding disk 7, rotation of the knotting hook 5, whereby the pivoting clamping wing 19 is pivoted once from the unopened to the open state and back again in order to place the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 between the fixed and the pivoting clamping wing 18, 19; d. During the rotation of the yarn holding disc 7, insert the binding strands 4.1, 4.2 into the second recess 15.2 of the two recesses 15.1, 15.2 of the pair 16.1 during the downward movement of the lower needle 36; e. As the yarn holding disc 7 continues to rotate, it passes the knife blade 12, whereby the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 are severed by the knife blade 12; f. pivoting the stripping lever 11 to strip the first knot 3 from the knotting hook 5; g. Stopping the yarn holding disc 7 when the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 have reached the cutting edge of the knife blade 12; h. Rotation of the knotting hook 5 analogous to (c); i. Pivoting the stripping lever 11 to pull the ends 4.3 of the binding strands 4.1, 4.2 out of the holding arrangement with the extractor 13 of the stripping lever 11 and to strip the second knot 3 from the knotting hook 5; j. Pulling the knot 3 out of the twine knotter 1 when pulling on the knot 3 against the second direction 21, in particular caused by advancing the crop bale 2.

[0093] The method for forming the two successive knots 3 therefore comprises the essential features that the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 are severed between the first and the second knot 3, and that the yarn holding disc 7 is stopped before the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 pass the knife blade 12 during the production of the second knot 3.

[0094] The design of the twine knotter 1' of the Fig. 4 (b) has not only a single second drive means 10.1 for driving the yarn holding disk 7, but two second drive means 10.1, 10.2. The second of the two second drive means 10.1, 10.2 is also designed as a toothed segment.

[0095] With the twine holding disc 7 provided here, the twine knotter 1' rotates analogously to the design of the Fig. 4 (a) per knot pair 3 by 180°. However, in this embodiment of the twine knotter 1', the first of the two second drive means 10.1 causes the twine holding disk 7 to rotate through a 135° angle of rotation during the formation of the first knot 3. The twine holding disk 7 guides the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 along the knife blade 12 so that they are severed. During the formation of the second knot 3, the twine holding disk 7 rotates through the remaining 45° angle of rotation. The second of the two second drive means 10.2 is provided for this purpose. The binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 are subsequently held by the holding arrangement above a cutting edge of the knife blade 12 and are not cut.

[0096] Therefore, the method for forming the two successive knots 3 also includes, in this embodiment of the twine knotter 1', the essential features that the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 are severed between the first and the second knot 3, and that the twine holding disk 7 is stopped before the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 pass the knife blade 12 during the production of the second knot 3.

[0097] In the design of the Fig. 4 (b), the length of the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2, which is held by the holding arrangement on the rear side of the yarn holding disk 7 between the production of the first knot 3 and the production of the second knot 3, corresponds to the angle of rotation that the yarn holding disk 7 undergoes when driven by the first of the two second drive means 10.1 before the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 are cut. This angle of rotation is 135° here. In contrast, the yarn holding disk 7 in the embodiment of the yarn knotter 1 of the Fig. 4 (a) only a rotation angle of 100° before the binding strands 4.1, 4.2 are cut. The ends 4.3 of the binding strands 4.1, 4.2 held in the holding arrangement for forming the second knot 3 are in the embodiment of the twine knotter 1' of the Fig. 4 (b) therefore longer than the embodiment of the twine knotter 1 of the Fig. 4 (a). In order to save binding material, the design of the Fig. 4 (a) compared to that of Fig. 4 (b) has therefore proved to be advantageous.

[0098] Compared to the above-described binding process of the yarn knotter 1 of the Fig. 4 (a) comprises the making of the two knots 3 at the yarn knotter 1' of the Fig. 4 (b) therefore the steps: a. Inserting the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 into the first recess 15.1 of the first pair 16.1 of recesses 15.1, 15.2 on the yarn holding disc 7 in the upward motion of the lower needle 36; b. Rotation of the yarn holding disc 7 and clamping of the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2; c. During the rotation of the twine holding disk 7, rotation of the knotting hook 5, whereby the pivoting clamping wing 19 is pivoted once from the unopened to the open state and back again in order to place the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 between the fixed and the pivoting clamping wing 18, 19; d. Further rotation of the yarn holding disc 7, whereby the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 pass the knife blade 12 and are severed; e. Pivoting the stripping lever 11 to strip the first knot 3 from the knotting hook 5; f. Stopping the yarn holding disc 7; g. Inserting the binding strands 4.1, 4.2 into the second recess 15.2 of the two recesses 15.1, 15.2 of the pair 16.1 during the downward movement of the lower needle 36; h. Continue turning the yarn holding disc 7; i. Rotation of the knotter hook 5 analogous to (c); j. Pulling the ends of the binding strands 4.3 out of the holding arrangement using the puller 13 of the stripping lever 11 and stripping the second knot 3 from the knotting hook 5; k. Pulling out the knot 3 from the twine knotter 1 when pulling on the knot 3 against the second direction 21, in particular caused by the advance of the crop bale 2.

Claims

[1] Double knotter (1) for a baler (25) for forming two successive knots (3) to hold together a binding agent (4.1, 4.2) surrounding a crop bale (2), • with a knotting hook (5) for knotting the ends of the binding means (4.1, 4.2), which is rotatably mounted in a knotting frame (6), • with a holding arrangement comprising a twine holding disc (7), wherein the twine holding disc (7) is rotatably mounted on the knotter frame (6) and is provided for temporarily conveying two binding agent strands (4.1, 4.2) of the binding agent, • with a rotatingly drivable knotting disc (8), on which first drive means (9.1, 9.2) for driving the knotting hook (5) are arranged for each of the knots (3), and on which at least one second drive means (10.1) for driving the twine holding disc (7) is arranged, • with a stripping lever (11) for stripping the knots (3) from the knotting hook (5), and • with a knife blade (12) for cutting the binding strands (4.1, 4.2), which is held in the double knotter (1), characterized by that the yarn holding disc (7) is guided along the knife blade (12) when rotating, so that the binding agent strands (4.1, 4.2) are severed when passing the knife blade (12). [2] Double knotter (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that an extractor (13) for extracting the binding agent (4.1, 4.2) is provided on the stripping lever (11). [3] Double knotter (1) according to at least one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by in that the holding arrangement comprises a yarn clamping lever (14), wherein the yarn clamping lever (14) cooperates with the yarn holding disc (7) in order to firmly hold the binder strands (4.1, 4.2) in a recess (15.1, 15.2) of the yarn holding disc (7). [4] Double knotter (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that the knife blade (12) is attached to the yarn clamping lever (14). [5] Double knotter (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the knife blade (12) is attached to the knotter frame (6). [6] Double knotter (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the yarn holding disc (7) has on its outer contour a first pairing (16.1) of at least two recesses (15.1, 15.2) which are arranged rotated counterclockwise relative to one another by an offset angle (α) greater than 90° with respect to a rotational movement of the yarn holding disc (7) in the direction of rotation (41) about a yarn holding disc axis (42). [7] Double knotter (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that two pairs (16.1, 16.2) of recesses (15.1, 15.2) are provided on the yarn holding disc (7). [8] Double knotter (1) according to claim 7, characterized by that the pairs (16.1, 16.2) of recesses (15.1, 15.2) on the yarn holding disc (7) are arranged rotated by 180° to each other. [9] Double knotter (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that two second drive means (10.2, 10.3) are provided for driving the twine holding disc (7), which are designed as toothed segments (10.2, 10.3) attached to the knotting disc (8). [10] Double knotter (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the knotting hook (5) has a gap (17). [11] Baler (25) with a plurality of double knotters (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 10. [12] Method for forming two successive knots (3) for holding together a binding agent (4.1, 4.2) surrounding a crop bale (2), wherein the binding agent strands (4.1, 4.2) are severed between the first and second knots (3), characterized by that a yarn holding disc (7) is stopped before the second knot (3) is completed, before the binding agent strands (4.1, 4.2) pass a knife blade (12).

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