DOUBLE KNOTTER AND BALER WITH A DOUBLE KNOTTER

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a twine knotter designed as a double 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-making 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 together a binding material strand surrounding a crop bale. 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] US 2015 / 272011 A1 discloses a knotter comprising a knotting hook, a twine holder for holding twine, and a cutting arm. The cutting arm cuts the twine between the knotting hook and the twine holder when moved from a rest position to an extended position.

[0004] The document DE 12 31 947 B discloses a yarn holder for a single knotter, in which a continuous yarn thread is held frictionally between a tongue of a spring-loaded clamping plate and a disc.

[0005] The document US 4 161 097 A discloses a baler with a single knotter in which a movable mouth is opened and closed depending on a cam attached to a spindle.

[0006] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a twine knotter and a baler with such a twine knotter, in which the accumulation of twine residues during the production of two immediately consecutive knots is reliably avoided, wherein the essential functional components of a twine knotter according to the state of the art are retained.

[0007] This object is achieved with a twine knotter according to the features of independent patent claim 1, with a baler with a twine knotter according to the features of independent patent claim 12 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 13. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0008] 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 rotary-driven 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 yarn holding disc is guided along the knife blade during rotation, so that the binding material strands are severed as they pass the knife blade. According to the invention, the at least one second drive means is designed such that the yarn holding disc is stopped before the second knot is completed, before the binding material strands pass the knife blade, so that the binding process takes place in such a way that only a single cut of the binding material strands occurs between the production of the first and second knots.

[0009] 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.

[0010] Since the position of the knife blade is selected according to the invention so that the binding agent strands are guided past the knife blade and cut by rotating the twine holding disc, the tying process can be carried out in such a way that only a single cut of the binding agent strands occurs between the creation of the first and second knots. Furthermore, the twine holding disc is stopped before a second cut occurs shortly before the second knot is completed. This eliminates any binding agent residue during the creation of both knots.

[0011] To prevent the binding agent strands from being severed during the production of the second of the immediately successive knots, the invention provides for the twine knotter to be assigned a knife blade that is arranged essentially stationary in the twine knotter. This means that the knife blade is not moved to severe 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 towards the knife blade, thereby severed 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the twine knotter, a holding arrangement is provided which comprises a twine clamping lever, wherein the twine clamping lever interacts with the twine holding disc to firmly hold the binding agent strands in a recess in the twine holding disc. The twine 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 twine holding disc in the direction of rotation about a twine holding disc axis. A first recess of this pair of recesses serves to receive the binding agent strands fed to the twine knotter by a tying needle to form the first of the two immediately successive knots, while the second recess of this pair, 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.

[0014] 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 for continuous drive of the twine holding disc is attached to the knotting disc as the second drive means. 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, set it in motion for a further rotational movement. However, both rotational movements together also extend over a rotation angle of 180°.

[0015] 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 knotting process to form a binding loop. This gap assists in stripping the knots from the clamping wings at the end of each knotting 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, with respect to a second spatial direction, a pivotable clamping wing with a molded portion extending into the gap is located between the fixed clamping wings 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 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.

[0016] 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 baled, 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.

[0017] The object of the invention is further achieved by a method to be carried out with the twine knotter described above, in which the binding material strands are severed between a first and a second knot to form two consecutive knots for holding together a binding material surrounding a crop bale. The method is characterized in that the twine holding disc is stopped before the binding material strands pass through the knife blade and before the second knot is completed. The second drive means is designed for this purpose.

[0018] The invention is described below with reference to figures. The figures are merely exemplary and do not limit the general inventive concept. They show Fig. 1 in (a) schematically shows a baler and in (b) a knotter assembly for the baler of (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 assembly of 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) a further perspective view of the twine knotter of Fig. 2 ; and in (b) a perspective view of another embodiment of a twine knotter for the knotter assembly of Fig. 1 (b) .

[0019] Fig. 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] The baler 25 has a pick-up as a receiving device 28 for picking up crop from the ground 27. The crop 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. 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 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 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] For feeding the upper threads 4.1, the binding device 22 has an upper thread needle 47 (see Fig. 2 ). Furthermore, the binding 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.

[0025] A crop bale 2 is tied when a target value for a bale length is reached or exceeded.

[0026] 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.

[0027] Fig. 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 2 (j) .

[0028] 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.

[0029] The Fig. 2 (a) - (e) , (g) - (i) and (k)show the twine knotter 1 in the same perspective view 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 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°.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] The knotter hook 5 is in the Fig. 3 (c) und (d) shown separately. It has two fixed clamping wings 18 spaced apart from one another in a third spatial direction 22, which 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 23, which extends against 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) shows, the formation 23 dips at least slightly into the gap 17. The pivotable clamping wing 19 is pivotally mounted in a pivoting wing bearing 59, which is arranged in the third spatial direction 22 above the fixed clamping wings 18.

[0033] 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) ) unrolls. 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 unrolls 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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 when producing one of the two knots 3. With respect to a rotational movement of the yarn holding disk 7 in the direction of rotation 41 of the yarn holding disk about the yarn holding disk 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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 one another 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 recesses 15.1, 15.2. In addition, the recesses 15.1, 15.2 are at the same angle of rotation (see Fig. 3 (b) ) are arranged.

[0038] The holding arrangement further comprises a yarn clamping lever 14 (see Fig. 3 (a) , 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. The yarn clamping lever 14 has at least one clamping strut 14.1 for this purpose, 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 just one clamping strut 14.1.

[0039] 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.

[0040] The yarn clamping lever 14 is pressed against the stop in a clamping direction 52 by the force of a spring (not shown) about a clamping axis 51. 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 secure holding of the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 when making the knot 3.

[0041] 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 rotatably attached. The first drive means 9.1, 9.2 are designed as toothed segments which, as the knotter disc 8 rotates, engage with teeth (not designated) of the drive wheel 54, 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.

[0042] 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 latter 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 fastened in a rotationally fixed manner. The twine holding disk 7 therefore rotates with the disk gear 57 when the disk gear 57 is driven.

[0043] 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 with 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.

[0044] 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 pivoting direction 49 about a pivot bearing 64 through which a pivot axis 48 extends.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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 link 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.

[0047] 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 agent strands 4.1, 4.2 can be pulled out of the holding arrangement to complete the second knot 3.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] Fig. 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 knotter hook 5. In the zero position, neither the drive wheel 54 for driving the knotter 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 knotter disk 8. The knotter hook 5 and the twine holding disk 7 are therefore not driven in the zero position. The stripping lever 11 is in the zero position in a position slightly pivoted about the pivot axis 48 in the pivot direction 49. A top thread 4.1 is

[0052] Upper 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.

[0053] 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 stripper 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 direction. 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. 2 (b) shows the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2 inserted into the first recess 15.1. Therefore, insertion takes place in the upward motion of the lower needle 36.

[0054] Fig. 2 (c) shows the twine knotter 1 rotated by 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.

[0055] 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 at the rear of the knotter hook 5 and is intended to drive the pivoting clamping wing 19.

[0056] 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.

[0057] Fig. 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 23 of the pivoting clamping wing 19.

[0058] The yarn holding disc 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.

[0059] Furthermore, the bobbin thread needle 36 has already pivoted back slightly against the feed direction 50. It is therefore in downward motion.

[0060] Fig. 2 (e) shows the twine knotter 1 rotated by 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, harvest bale-side binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 and the second, lower-needle-side binding material strands 4.1, 4.2.

[0061] The lower needle-side binder strands 4.1, 4.2 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 forming the second knot 3, the binder strands 4.1, 4.2 are therefore inserted into the yarn holding disc 7 during the downward movement of the lower needle 36.

[0062] Fig. 2 (f) shows an enlarged section of the Fig. 2 (e) . The binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 on the crop bale side, which are wrapped around the knotting hook 5, are visible immediately before the first knot 3 is pulled off the knotting hook 5. When the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 are pulled off the knotting hook 5, the binding 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 binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 wrapped around the knotting hook 5 with the aid of the formed portion 23 on the pivoting clamping wing 19. The first knot 3 is formed in the process.

[0063] The binding agent 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.

[0064] 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 the gap 17 onto the crop bale.

[0065] Fig. 2 (g) shows the yarn knotter 1 rotated through 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.

[0066] Fig. 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.

[0067] The stripping lever 11 is in Fig. 2 (h) pivoted back against the pivoting direction 48. In addition, the bobbin thread needle 36 is pivoted back against the feed direction 50 at this angle of rotation.

[0068] 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.

[0069] Fig. 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.

[0070] Fig. 2 (j) shows this in an enlarged section. It is visible 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. In addition, 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.

[0071] Fig. 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 to the crop bale. The stripping lever 11 is pivoting against the pivoting direction 49.

[0072] In Fig. 2 (k) the tensile force 73 directed towards the crop bale, with which the knot 3 is pulled by the knotting hook so that it falls off, is shown schematically.

[0073] 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).

[0074] 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.

[0075] 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°.

[0076] 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.

[0077] Fig. 3 (c) shows the knotting hook 5 for the twine knotter 1 in a side view, Fig. 3 (d) in a top view, 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.

[0078] The fixed clamping wings 18 extend from a body 66 of the knotting hook 5 to a free end (not labeled). 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.

[0079] 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 to 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.

[0080] The pivotable clamping wing 19 is arranged laterally offset from both fixed clamping wings 18, at least towards 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.

[0081] 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, in a plan view, at least at its ends between the two fixed clamping wings 18. As a result, the projection 23 is positioned laterally between the two fixed clamping wings 18. 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 20, 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.

[0082] 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.

[0083] 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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] 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 opened state or back.

[0086] 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.

[0087] 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 material 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 only 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.

[0088] 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.

[0089] 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.

[0090] The pivoting clamping wing 19 is overall narrower than the gap 17. This embodiment 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.

[0091] 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.

[0092] 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.

[0093] 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.

[0094] 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) .

[0095] The binding process of the twine knotter 1 of the Fig. 4 (a) To create the two nodes 3 includes the following steps: a. Inserting the binding material 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 during upward movement of the lower needle 36; b. Rotating the yarn holding disc 7 and thereby clamping the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2; c. During the rotation of the yarn holding disc 7, rotating the knotting hook 5, whereby the pivotable 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 pivotable clamping wing 18, 19; d. During rotation of the yarn holding disc 7, insertion of the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 into the second recess 15.2 of the two recesses 15.1, 15.2 of the pair 16.1 as the lower needle 36 moves downwards; e. During further rotation of the yarn holding disc 7, passing of the knife blade 12, whereby the binding material 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 knotter hook 5; g. Stopping the twine holding disc 7 when the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 have arrived in front of the cutting edge of the knife blade 12; h. Rotating the knotter hook 5 analogously to (c); i. Pivoting the stripping lever 11 to pull the ends 4.3 of the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 with the extractor 13 of the stripping lever 11 out of the holding arrangement and to strip the second knot 3 from the knotter hook 5; j. Pulling the knot 3 out of the twine knotter 1 while pulling on the knot 3 against the second direction 21, in particular caused by advancing the crop bale 2.

[0096] 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.

[0097] 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 disc 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.

[0098] 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 production 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 then held by the holding arrangement above a cutting edge of the knife blade 12 and are not cut.

[0099] 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 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.

[0100] In the design of the Fig. 4 (b) The length of the binding agent strands 4.1, 4.2, which is held between the production of the first knot 3 and the production of the second knot 3 by the holding arrangement on the back of the twine holding disc 7, corresponds to the angle of rotation that the twine holding disc 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 twine holding disc 7 in the embodiment of the twine 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 design 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 the Fig. 4 (b) therefore proved to be beneficial.

[0101] Compared to the above-described binding process of the twine knotter 1 of the Fig. 4 (a) includes making the two knots 3 at the yarn knotter 1' of the Fig. 4 (b) hence the steps: a. Inserting the binding material 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 disk 7 during upward movement of the lower needle 36; b. Rotating the yarn holding disk 7 and clamping the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2; c. During the rotation of the yarn holding disk 7, rotating the knotting hook 5, whereby the pivotable 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 pivotable clamping wings 18, 19; d. Further rotating the yarn holding disk 7, whereby the binding material strands 4.1, 4.2 pass the knife blade 12 and are severed in the process; e. Pivoting the stripping lever 11 to strip the first knot 3 from the knotting hook 5; f. Stopping the twine 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. Further rotation of the twine holding disc 7; i. Rotation of the knotter hook 5 analogously to (c); j. Extraction of the ends of the binding material strands 4.3 with the extractor 13 of the stripping lever 11 from the holding arrangement and stripping of the second knot 3 from the knotter hook 5; k. Extraction of the knot 3 from the twine knotter 1 by pulling on the knot 3 against the second direction 21, in particular caused by the advancement of the crop bale 2.

Claims

1. Double knotter (1) for a baler (25) for forming two successive knots (3) in order to hold together a binding agent (4.1, 4.2) surrounding a crop bale (2), comprising • a knotting hook (5) for knotting the ends of the binding agent (4.1, 4.2), which is rotatably mounted in a knotting frame (6), • a holding arrangement having a twine holding disk (7), the twine holding disk (7) being rotatably mounted on the knotting frame (6) and being provided for temporarily conveying two binding agent strands (4.1, 4.2) of the binding agent, • a rotatingly drivable knotting disk (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 disk (7) are arranged, • a stripping lever (11) for stripping the knots (3) from the knotting hook (5), and • a knife blade (12) for severing the binding agent strands (4.1, 4.2), which blade is held in the twine knotter (1), characterized in that the twine holding disk (7) is guided during rotation or by rotation along the knife blade (12) arranged substantially stationary in the double knotter (1), so that the binding agent strands (4.1, 4.2) are severed or cut as they pass the knife blade (12), the at least one second drive means (10.1) being designed such that the twine holding disk (7) is stopped before the second knot (3) is completed, before the binding agent strands (4.1, 4.2) pass the knife blade (12), so that the binding process takes place such that only a single cut of the binding agent strands (4.1, 4.2) takes place between the production of the first and the second knot (3).

2. Double knotter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the twine holding disk is stopped before a second cut is made shortly before the second knot is completed.

3. Double knotter (1) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that an extractor (13) for extracting the binding agent (4.1, 4.2) is provided on the stripping lever (11).

4. Double knotter (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the holding arrangement comprises a twine clamping lever (14), the twine clamping lever (14) cooperating with the twine holding disk (7) in order to firmly hold the binding agent strands (4.1, 4.2) in a recess (15.1, 15.2) of the twine holding disk (7).

5. Double knotter (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the knife blade (12) is fastened to the twine clamping lever (14).

6. Double knotter (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the knife blade (12) is fastened to the knotting frame (6).

7. Double knotter (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the twine holding disk (7) has, on the outer contour thereof, 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 (a) greater than 90° with respect to a rotational movement of the twine holding disk (7) in the direction of rotation (41) about a twine holding disk axis (42).

8. Double knotter (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that two pairs (16.1, 16.2) of recesses (15.1, 15.2) are attached to the twine holding disk (7).

9. Double knotter (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the pairs (16.1, 16.2) of recesses (15.1, 15.2) on the twine holding disk (7) are arranged rotated by 180° relative to one another.

10. Double knotter (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that two second drive means (10.2, 10.3) are provided for driving the twine holding disk (7), which drive means are designed as toothed segments (10.2, 10.3) attached to the knotting disk (8).

11. Double knotter (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the knotting hook (5) has a gap (17).

12. Baler comprising a plurality of double knotters (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Method for forming two successive knots (3) in order to hold together a binding agent (4.1, 4.2) surrounding a crop bale (2), comprising a double knotter according to any of claims 1 to 11, the binding agent strands (4.1, 4.2) being severed between the first and second knots (3), characterized in that the at least one second drive means (10.1) is designed such that the twine holding disk (7) is stopped before the second knot (3) is completed, before the binding agent strands (4.1, 4.2) pass the knife blade (12).