Baler Knotter Billhook Passive Knot Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knotter systems for balers require an additional rotation to remove the second knot from the billhook, increasing complexity and wear, and making it difficult to detach the knot without twine tails.
Innovation Solution
The knotter system configures the billhook, cutting arm, and twine finger to utilize the bale's pulling force to remove the second knot passively, eliminating the need for a third rotation and reducing wear by positioning the twines to open the billhook and support the knot for removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the billhook completes a third rotation to remove the second knot, then the knot can be removed from the billhook, but the device complexity increases and additional wear occurs on components
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the bale's own pulling force to automatically remove the second knot from the billhook, eliminating the need for an additional third rotation. The billhook, cutting arm, and twine finger are configured to position the twines so that when the bale moves forward, it exerts a pulling force that opens the billhook and removes the knot passively.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the knot removal function from the rotational cycle of the billhook. Instead of requiring the billhook to rotate a third time to remove the knot, the system uses the bale's pulling force to separate the knot from the billhook during the normal operational cycle, removing the unnecessary rotational step.
2Ease of operation
If the billhook completes a third rotation for knot removal, then the knot is removed, but the time required for the knotter cycle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The knot removal process is integrated into the continuous operational cycle of the baler. The bale's pulling force acts continuously during the normal operation to remove the knot, rather than requiring a separate, discrete third rotation that would interrupt the continuous workflow and add time to the cycle.
3Ease of operation
If the billhook completes a third rotation for knot removal, then the knot is removed, but the wear and tear on components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the bale's own pulling force to automatically remove the second knot from the billhook, eliminating the need for an additional third rotation. The billhook, cutting arm, and twine finger are configured to position the twines so that when the bale moves forward, it exerts a pulling force that opens the billhook and removes the knot passively.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the knot removal function from the rotational cycle of the billhook. Instead of requiring the billhook to rotate a third time to remove the knot, the system uses the bale's pulling force to separate the knot from the billhook during the normal operational cycle, removing the unnecessary rotational step.
4Quantity of substance
If the second knot is formed without twine tails, then more twine is incorporated in the knot, but the knot cannot be easily removed from the billhook
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the billhook (upper lip and lower lip configuration) and the positioning of the cutting arm and twine finger to create a mechanism where the pulling force from the bale can effectively open the billhook and remove the knot, even when no twine tails are present for manual pulling.
Data Source
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AI summary
Knotter system for a baler comprising a needle (42) and a tucker arm (154) for delivering a needle twine and tucker twine respectively, a twine receiver (86, 220) for holding the needle and the tucker twine, a billhook assembly comprising a billhook (82, 100) with a lower (102) and an upper lip (101) being mounted rotatably around an axis (106) and being arranged for receiving the needle and the tucker twine, a twine finger (118) for guiding the twine. Further, drive means are foreseen to make the billhook (82) perform a first full rotation during the first knot forming cycle and a second full rotation during the second knot forming cycle. The knotter system being configured such that, at the end of the second knot forming cycle, a bale movement of a bale in the baler exerts a pulling force on the twines which removes the twines from the billhook.