Twine knife cover for tailless knotter for baler

Abstract

The invention is directed to a knotter assembly for use with a baler, the knotter assembly configured to form knots in strands of a binding material used to secure a formed bale. The knotter assembly includes a knife guard and a cam lobe formed on a twine disc. During a completing knot tie cycle, the strands are held in one of the notches of the twine disc, the knot is tied, and the strands are cut by the knife. During a leading knot tie cycle, the cam lobe causes the knife guard to pivot such that the knife guard moves ahead of a cutting edge on the knife. Instead of the knife cutting the strands as in the completing knot tie cycle, the strands are pulled out of the twine disc by the knife guard and are released uncut from the twine disc assembly.

Description

TWINE KNIFE COVER FOR TAILLESS KNOTTER FOR BALERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of Invention

[0001] This invention relates to agricultural balers and, more particularly, to a baler for forming rectangular bales having a bale knotting system using twine to bind the bales.Description of Related Art

[0002] Agricultural balers for binding bales of crop materials with strands of a binding material, such as twine, are well known in the art. Typically, balers are equipped with means to wrap twine around the formed bale and tie off the twine to secure the bale. This includes a knotter assembly having a knotter disc rotated by a powered drive shaft that controls a rotational movement of the components of the knotter assembly. Agricultural balers, utilizing knotter assemblies that form two knots on every loop for binding a bale have been available for many years. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,623, assigned to Hesston Corporation, which is now part of the assignee of this present application, discloses a knotter assembly of the double knotter type. The knotter assembly forms a loop made from two strands of binding material, i.e., one strand from a first supply of binding material along the normally top side of the bale and a second strand from a second supply of binding material along the normally bottom of the bale and its two opposite ends. The two strands thus fully circumscribe the bale and are circumferential complements of one another. Two knots are formed at those locations where the strands are substantially end-to-end. Such a knotter assembly uses a bill hook for forming the knot, a twine disc in combination with a retainer for retaining the strands when forming the knot, and a wiper arm with an integrated cutter for stripping the formed knot from the billhook in combination with the separation of the knot from the retained strands. When a bale reaches its desired length, a knot tying cycle is initiated. During this tying cycle, two knots are formed, a first knot for closing the loop of the finished bale and a second knot for starting the loop for the next bale.

[0003] In use, such conventional knotters, while being effective in binding bales with twine, result in small pieces of twine, commonly known as twine tails, being cut off after each knotting operation. These twine tails are obtained after the second knot is formed and stripped off the billhook by the wiper arm. Although the amount of twine wasted is not great, the twinetails may build up in the vicinity of the knotter and ultimately cause knotter-tying problems. Typically, the twine tails fall onto the formed bale and are removed from the baler when the formed bale is pushed out of the baler. The twine tails then may drop on the field where they may cause or contribute to environmental pollution. Today, many farmers use synthetic twine instead of natural fibers. Unlike natural fibers, synthetic twine will not be broken down by atmospheric influences, and therefore, the synthetic twine tails remains longer on the field and may be picked up the next harvesting season by a baler. Twine tails picked up with the baled material may be eaten by livestock, potentially causing harm to the animals’ heath. Additionally, these off-cuts limit the ability for balers to be used in certain conditions where foreign material isn't permitted in the bales.

[0004] While some knotter assemblies have been designed to operate with a knotting cycle that does not produce these twine tales, these designs use a mechanical solution that increases the complexity to the knotter assembly. It would be desirable to have an improved knotter assembly that could function in substantially the same manners as conventional double knotters while eliminating the production of twine tails during the knotting operation.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0005] The invention is directed to a knotter assembly for use with a baler, the knotter assembly configured to form knots in strands of a binding material used to secure a formed bale. In one aspect, the knotter assembly produces two successive knots, a completing knot, and a leading knot in a pair of strands of binding material during one full operating cycle of the knotter assembly. The knotter assembly includes a bill hook configured to perform at least a first rotation during formation of the completing knot and a second rotation during formation of the leading knot of said successive knots. The knotter assembly includes a twine holder for maintaining said pair of strands throughout the formation of the completing knot of said successive knots and to continue to maintain said pair of strands in a suitable position during an initial stage of the formation of the leading knot of said successive knots, and a twine disc assembly, the twine disc assembly including a plurality of parallel discs mounted for rotation on a shaft. Each disc of the plurality of discs has a plurality of notches spaced around an outer circumference of the twine disc. A pivoting wiper arm releases the strands from the twine disc assembly, and a knife cooperating with the twine holder severs the pair of strands after formation of completing knot. The knotter assembly further includes a knife guard that selectively covers the knife to prevent the knife from cutting the strands, and at least one camlobe formed in the outer circumference of at least one of the twine discs. The at least one cam lobe provides a protruding surface on the outer circumference of the twine disc configured to interact with the knife guard such that at certain positions during the rotation of the twine disc, the cam lobe contacts the knife guard and pivots the knife guard. During a completing knot tie cycle, the strands are held in one of the notches of the twine disc, the knot is tied, and the strands are cut by the knife. During a leading knot tie cycle, the twine disc places one of the at least one cam lobes into the path of the knife guard causing the knife guard to pivot such that the knife guard moves ahead of a cutting edge on the knife thereby causing the knife guard to interact with the strands held in the twine disc. Instead of the knife cutting the strands as in the completing knot tie cycle, the strands are pulled out of the twine disc by the knife guard and are released uncut from the twine disc assembly.

[0006] These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The above mentioned and other features of this invention will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0008] FIG. 1 is side elevation of a baler;

[0009] FIG. 2A is a diagrammatic view of a complete and a partial double-knotted loop as known from the prior art;

[0010] FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic view of a complete and a partial double-knotted loop without the forming of twine tails as seen on FIG. 2A as performed by the baler of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of the knotter assembly, needle, and associated mechanism in mid cycle;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of portions of the knotter assembly of FIG. 3;

[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of portions of the knotter assembly while tying the first knot;

[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates a back view of portions of the knotter assembly while tying the first knot;

[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of portions of the knotter assembly while tying the first knot;

[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of portions of the knotter assembly while tying the second knot;

[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates a back view of portions of the knotter assembly while tying the second knot; and

[0018] FIG. 10 illustrates a front view of portions of the knotter assembly while tying the second knot.

[0019] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings.

[0020] DETAILED. DES.CIUPTIQN

[0021] The invention will now be described in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein preferred embodiments are described in detail to enable practice of the invention. Although the invention is described with reference to these specific preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. But to the contrary, the invention includes numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents as will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description. Many of the fastening, connection, processes and other means and components utilized in this invention are widely known and used in the field of the invention described, and their exact nature or type is not necessary for an understanding and use of the invention by a person skilled in the art, and they will not therefore be discussed in significant detail. Also, any reference herein to the terms "left" or "right" are used as a matter of mere convenience and are determined by standing at the rear of the machine facing in its normal direction of travel. Furthermore, the various components shown or described herein for any specific application of this invention can be varied or altered as anticipated by this invention and the practice of a specific application of any element may already by widely known or used in the art by persons skilled in the art and each will likewise not therefore be discussed in significant detail. In the description which follows and in certain passages already set forth, the principles of the presentinvention will be described in terms of "twine" and "knots" formed in such twine. While twine is used in the exemplary embodiment, the term binding material is intended to mean not only twine made from natural or synthetic fibers but may also include metallic wire or other strapping material.

[0022] As used herein, the singular forms following “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the term “may” with respect to a material, structure, feature, or method act indicates that such is contemplated for use in implementation of an embodiment of the disclosure, and such term is used in preference to the more restrictive term “is” so as to avoid any implication that other compatible materials, structures, features, and methods usable in combination therewith should or must be excluded. As used herein, the term “configured” refers to a size, shape, material composition, and arrangement of one or more of at least one structure and at least one apparatus facilitating operation of one or more of the structure and the apparatus in a predetermined way.

[0023] As used herein, any relational term, such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “beneath,” “side,” etc., is used for clarity and convenience in understanding the disclosure and accompanying drawings, and does not connote or depend on any specific preference or order, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0024] As used herein, the term “about” used in reference to a given parameter is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the given parameter, as well as variations resulting from manufacturing tolerances, etc.). As used herein, the term “substantially” in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one skilled in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a small degree of variance, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property, or condition may be at least 90.0% met, at least 95.0% met, at least 99.0% met, or even at least 99.9% met.

[0025] Turning to the figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a baler 102 with a fore-and-aft extending baling chamber 104 mounted on a baler frame 106 within which bales of crop material are prepared. Crop material is collected with a pickup 108 below and slightly ahead of baling chamber 104and then loaded up into the bottom of the chamber 104. Baler 102 may be hitched to a towing vehicle (not shown) by a tongue 110, and power for operating the various mechanisms of the baler may be supplied by the towing vehicle, such as the vehicle's power takeoff shaft. The bale chamber 104 receives material though a curved duct 112. A plunger (not shown) reciprocates within the bale chamber 104 to intermittently pack fresh charges of material from the duct 112 rearwardly in the chamber 104.

[0026] When the bale reaches a predetermined size (this is determined by an appropriate bale length sensor (not shown)), a trigger engages a suitable clutch understood by one skilled in the art which in turn is connected to a knotter assembly 202. As will be appreciated, the knotter assembly 202 comprises a set of individual knotters 204 provided crosswise on top of the bale chamber 104 at spaced intervals. Each knotter 204 has an associated needle 206 for assisting in forming an individual loop around a finished bale. When the bale needs tying, the knotter 204 and its respective needle 206 is connected to a source of driving power to initiate the tying operation. As the individual knotters 204 all operate in an identical manner, it suffices to describe the present invention in relation to only one such knotter 204. The needle 206 is swingably mounted on the bale chamber 104 and is swung back and forth across the bale chamber 104 by a suitable linkage as is known in the art. The needle 206 has an "at-home" or rest position fully below the bale chamber 104 and a "full-throw" position extending completely across the bale chamber 104.

[0027] FIG. 2A shows a simplified drawing of the knotting process including a binding loop 208 for a completed bale with a leading knot 210 and a completing knot 212 as already known for many years in the prior art. To the left of loop 208 is a partial loop 214 for a bale which is in the process of being formed. The loop 208 is made from two strands of binding material, i.e., a top strand 216 along the top side of the bale and a bottom strand 218 along the bottom side of the bale and its two opposite, vertical ends. The strands 216 and 218 together form the continuous loop 208. Together, they fully circumscribe the bale and are circumferential complements of one another. The top strand 216 emanates from a first source of twine supply 220, while the bottom strand 218 emanates from an entirely separate, second source of twine supply 222. Two knots, a leading knot 210 and a completing knot 212 appear in the loop 208 at locations where the strands 216 and 218 are substantially end-to-end. This is typically in the area of the top corners of the bale. At the particular point in the sequence chosen for illustration, the leading knot 210 is in existence, and the bale is approaching thatlength where the needle 206 is ready to swing into operation and present the top strand 216 and bottom strand 218 to the knotter 204 to complete the completing knot 212 (not shown in FIG. 2A). It is also shown in FIG. 2A that twine tails 224 are obtained between the completing knot 212 of a first bale and the leading knot 210 of a next

[0028] In contrast therewith, FIG. 2B shows a binding loop 226 formed without the formation of twine tails 224 as obtained by the knotter assembly 202 of the present invention. In a finished bale, and still comparable to the prior art, the loop 226 is made from two strands of binding material, i.e., the top strand 216 along the top side of the bale and the bottom strand 218 along the bottom side of the bale and its two opposite, vertical ends. However, in contrast with the prior art, the leading knot 210 of a bale according to the present invention does not include a cut that creates the twine tails 224. This means that the ends of the top strand 216 and the bottom strand 218 are released from their retained position and pulled into the leading knot 210. The leading knot 210 itself, thus holds the ends of the strands 216 and 218 and twine tails need not be cut off and dropped on the bale.

[0029] The knotter assembly 202 is similar in many respects to the knotter assembly shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,623. Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, portions of the knotter assembly 202 are shown. The knotter assembly 202 is configured to take the two strands 216, 218 of twine, broadly binding material, and bind the strands with the two knots 210 and 212. The knotter assembly 202 comprises a generally circular knotter gear 307 that is secured to a drive shaft (not shown) for rotation with the latter. The knotter assembly 202 includes a frame 302 that supports a rotary bill hook 304 for rotation about an inclined axis 306 and a twine disc assembly 308 comprising a plurality of individual discs is positioned rearwardly adjacent the bill hook 304 for holding strands 216 and 218 in position for engagement by the bill hook 304 during rotation of the latter. The strands 216 and 218 are held in the twine disc assembly 308 by a retainer or twine holder 310. As known previously, a wiper arm 312 pivotably mounted to the frame 302 releases the connected strands from the twine disc assembly 308. The lower end of the wiper arm 312 is forked, defining a crotch 314 that opens away from the twine disc assembly 308 beneath the bill hook 304. The crotch 314 carries a knife 316 between the bill hook 304 and the twine disc assembly 308 for severing the strands 216, 218 in response to swinging movement of the wiper arm 312 in the proper direction. Such movement of the wiper arm 312 to operate the knife 316 also serves to engage the proximal areas of the crotch 314 with a knot formed on the bill hook 304 for stripping such knot off the bill hook 304.

[0030] To transmit driving power from the knotter gear 307 to the bill hook 304, the latter is provided with a pinion gear 318 which is disposed for meshing engagement with a pair of circumferentially spaced gear stretches 320 and 322 on the knotter gear 307. Similarly, driving power is transmitted to the discs of the twine disc assembly 308 through a worm gear drive 324 and a bevel gear 326 in position for sequential meshing engagement with a pair of circumferentially spaced gear sections 328 and 330 on the knotter gear 307. Power to swing the wiper arm 312 about its pivot bolt 332 is obtained through a cam follower 334 at the upper end of the wiper arm 312 beyond the pivot bolt 332 which is disposed within a cam track 336 on the twine disc assembly 308. A pair of circumferentially spaced cam 338 and 340 in the cam track 336 are positioned to sequentially engage the cam follower 334 to operate the latter. As many aspects of the knotter assembly 202 are well known in the art, further details about known aspects of the knotter assembly 202 need to be explained herein.

[0031] With this short explanation in mind, the details of the embodiment according to the present invention and as illustrated primarily in FIGS. 5-10 will now be described. The twine disc assembly 308 comprises a plurality of parallel twine discs 402 (only one of which is seen) mounted for rotation on shaft 404. Desirably, the shaft 404 is driven by the worm gear drive 324 and bevel gear 326 best seen in FIG. 4. Each twine disc 402 has a plurality of notches 406 spaced around an outer circumference 506 of the twine disc 402. In one embodiment, the plurality of notches 406 includes a first set of notches labeled 406A having a first shape such as a U-shape and a second set of notches labeled 406B having a second shape different than the first shape just as a J-hook shape as disclosed in commonly assigned US Patent Application No. 17 / 930,654 entitled Tailess Knotter for Baler. However, the notches 406 in the twine discs 402 may all have the same shape or may have other shapes. In the illustrated embodiment, the twine disc 402 is configured with two notches being of the type of the first set of notches 406A positioned on the twine disc 402 so as to be on opposite sides of the twine disc 402 from each other, and with two notches being of the type of the second set of notches 406B positioned on the twine disc 402 so as to be on opposite sides of the twine disc 402 from each other such that the type of notches 406 A and 406B alternate around the outer circumference 506 of the twine disc 402. The twine disc assembly 308 is timed such that one of the first notches 406A is configured to retain the strands 216 and 218 when the knotter assembly 202 is forming the completing knot 212 for the bale that is being completed which is tied first in the tying cycle, and one of the second notches 406B is configured to be used when holding the strands 216 and218 when the knotter assembly 202 is forming the leading knot 210 for the next bale to be formed in the bale chamber 104 which is tied second in the tying cycle.

[0032] The knotter assembly 202 performs first knotting cycle in which the notch 406A of the twine disc 402 holds the twine to tie the completing knot 212 to finish the bale like a conventional double knotter such as the one shown in the US 4,074,623 patent. In presenting the strands 216 and 218, the needle 206 drapes the twines across the bill hook 304 and thence into one of the notches 406A of the twine disc assembly 308. Rotation of the twine disc assembly 308, in combination with the pressing twine holder 310, causes the strands 216 and 218 to be firmly griped preventing their escape as the bill hook 304 begins its rotation. Typically, the twine disc assembly 308 rotates a quarter of a turn and clamps the twines firmly together in one of the notches 406A. The needle 206 then moves downward. During the down travel of the needle 206, the two strands 416 and 418 on the back of the needle are placed in the next adjacent notch 406B of the twine disc assembly 308 for the second leading knot 210. During formation of the first completing knot 212, the wiper arm 312, and hence the knife 316, swings across the portion of the strands 216 and 218 between the bill hook 304 and the twine disc assembly 308, thereby severing the same.

[0033] According to the invention, knotter assembly 202 is configured with a knife guard 502 that selectively covers the knife 316 to prevent the knife 316 from cutting the strands 216 and 218. In the illustrated embodiment, the knife guard 502 is pivotably attached to the wiper arm 312 such that the knife guard 502 mounts against the knife 316. At least one of the twine discs 402 is shaped to have at least one cam lobe 508 formed in the outer circumference 506 of the twine disc 402 that acts as a cam during rotation of the twine disc 402. In the illustrated embodiment, the twine disc 402 has two cam lobes 508 positioned between the notches 406A and 406B such that the cam lobes 508 are located 180 degrees apart on the twine disc 402. Each cam lobe 508 provides a protruding surface on the outer circumference 506 that extends outward from the traditional diameter of the twine disc 402. The knife guard 502 has a guard leg 504 formed to interact with the cam lobe 508 on the twine disc 402 as perhaps best seen in FIG. 8. At certain positions during the rotation of the twine disc 402, the cam lobe 508 contacts the guard leg 504 and pivots the knife guard 502.

[0034] During the first tie cycle to tie the completing knot 212, the strands 216 and 218 are held in the notch 406A of the twine disc 402 and the knot is tied as traditionally done and described above. When the twine disc 402 concludes its revolution on the leading knot 210, itwill place one of the cam lobes 508 down into the path of the knife guard 502 on the wiper arm 312. The wiper arm 312 begins its final swing for the leading knot 210 and the cam lobe 508 interacts with the guard leg 504 to pivot the knife guard 502 such that the knife guard 502 is moved ahead of the cutting edge 602 on the knife 316. This allows the knife guard 502 to interact with the strands 216 and 218 held in the twine disc 402 and instead of cutting the strands with the knife 316, as would happen in a prior art knotter, the strands 216 and 218 are pulled out of the twine disc 402 by the knife guard 502. Thus, when it is time that the cut would have happened on a conventional knotter assembly, the strands 216 and 218 are released uncut from the twine disc assembly 308. The twine holder 310 is shaped such that when the notch 406B is holding the strands 216 and 218 to form the leading knot 210 and the twine disc 402 reaches the end of its rotation, there is little tension on the strands and all tension can easily be overcome when strands are pulled by the knife guard 502 on the wiper arm 312 from the twine disc assembly 308 instead of cutting them. Desirably, the knife guard 502 puts an active element in place to remove the twine from the twine disc 402 instead of relying on tension settings alone as described in US Patent Application No. 17 / 930,654.

[0035] In one embodiment, the knife guard 502 is configured to pivot freely on the wiper arm 312. Accordingly, when the twine disc 402 is rotationally positioned such that the cam lobe 508 does not interact with the knife guard 502, there is nothing holding the knife guard 502 in front of the cutting edge 602 of the knife 316. In this condition, the twine strands will push the knife guard 502 out of the way, exposing the knife 316 during the tie cycle forming the completing knot 212 and allowing the strands 216 and 218 to be cut. In an alternate embodiment, a biasing member ma y be used to return the knife guard 502 to the condition where the knife 316 is exposed.

[0036] The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A knotter assembly 202 for use with a baler 102, the knotter assembly operable to produce two successive knots, a completing knot 212 and a leading knot 210 in a pair of strands 216, 218 of binding material during one full operating cycle of the knotter assembly, the knotter assembly comprising a bill hook 304 configured to perform at least a first rotation during formation of the completing knot and a second rotation during formation of the leading knot of said successive knots, a twine holder 310 for maintaining said pair of strands throughout the formation of the completing knot of said successive knots and to continue to maintain said pair of strands in a suitable position during an initial stage of the formation of the leading knot of said successive knots, a twine disc assembly 308, the twine disc assembly comprising a plurality of parallel discs 402 mounted for rotation on a shaft 404, wherein each disc of the plurality of discs has a plurality of notches 406 spaced around an outer circumference 506 of the twine disc and the strands are held in the twine disc assembly by the twine holder, a wiper arm 312 pivotably mounted on the knotter assembly and configured to release the strands from the twine disc assembly and a knife 316 co-operating with said twine holder for severing the pair of strands after formation of completing knot of said successive knots, wherein the knotter assembly further comprises: a knife guard 502 that selectively covers the knife 316 to prevent the knife 316 from cutting the strands; and at least one cam lobe 508 formed in the outer circumference of at least one of the twine discs, wherein the at least one cam lobe provides a protruding surface on the outer circumference of the twine disc configured to interact with the knife guard such that at certain positions during the rotation of the twine disc, the cam lobe contacts the knife guard and pivots the knife guard; wherein during a completing knot tie cycle, the strands are held in one of the notches of the twine disc, the knot is tied and the strands are cut by the knife, and wherein during a leading knot tie cycle, the twine disc places one of the at least one cam lobes into the path of the knife guard causing the knife guard to pivot such that the knife guard moves ahead of a cutting edge 602 on the knife thereby causing the knife guard to interact with the strands held in the twine disc, and instead of the knife cutting thestrands as in the completing knot tie cycle, the strands are pulled out of the twine disc by the knife guard and are released uncut from the twine disc assembly.

2. The knotter assembly of claim 1 the knife guard is pivotably attached to the wiper arm 312 such that the knife guard 502 mounts against the knife 316.

3. The knotter assembly of claim 1 the plurality of notches including a first set of notches 406A having a first shape and a second set of notches 200B having a second shape different than the first shape.

4. The knotter assembly of claim 3 wherein the first set of notches has a U shape, and the second set of notches has a long J-hook shape.

5. The knotter assembly of claim 4 wherein the twine disc is configured with two notches being of the type of the first set of notches positioned on the twine disc so as to be on opposite sides of the twine disc from each other, and with two notches being of the type of the second set of notches positioned on the twine disc so as to be on opposite sides of the twine disc from each other such that the type of notches alternate around the outer circumference of the twine disc.

6. The knotter assembly of claim 2 or 4 wherein the twine disc has two cam lobes positioned between the notches such that the cam lobes are located 180 degrees apart on the twine disc.

7. The knotter assembly of claim 2 or 6 wherein the knife guard has a guard leg 504 formed to interact with the cam lobe.

8. The knotter assembly of claim 2 wherein the knife guard is configured to pivot freely on the wiper arm such that when the twine disc is rotationally positioned such that the at least one cam lobe does not interact with the knife guard, there is not a cam lobe holding the knife guard in front of the cutting edge of the knife and the strands push the knife guard exposing the knife during the tie cycle forming the completing knot and allowing the strands to be cut.

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