Baler Knotter System Third Rotation Bill Hook Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing knotter systems for balers face difficulties in easily removing the second knot from the bill hook at the end of an operation cycle due to the formation of longer twine ends, which hinder the removal process.
Innovation Solution
The knotter system incorporates a mechanism where the bill hook performs a third full rotation and maintains the cutting arm in an extended position during part of this rotation, allowing the second knot to be removed without interference from the cutting arm's return to its rest position, facilitated by a pinion and gear system and a cam track mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cutting arm returns to rest position immediately after the second rotation of the bill hook, then the knotting cycle is completed faster, but the second knot cannot be removed from the bill hook due to interference from the cutting arm
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting arm is made dynamically adjustable in its timing sequence. The control system allows the cutting arm to be maintained in the extended position for a predetermined period after the second rotation of the bill hook, rather than returning immediately to rest position. This dynamic timing adjustment resolves the contradiction by optimizing the removal phase without significantly impacting the overall knotting cycle speed.
2Ease of operation
If the upper lip is moved away from the lower lip during the predetermined period, then the removal of the second knot is facilitated, but the structural complexity of the bill hook increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper lip is made movable relative to the lower lip through a positioning means that can shift the upper lip away from the lower lip during the predetermined period when the second knot needs removal. This dynamic adjustment creates additional clearance space that facilitates knot removal, while the positioning mechanism is designed to be simple and integrated into the existing bill hook structure.
3Ease of operation
If the cutting arm is maintained in extended position during part of the third rotation, then the second knot can be removed easily, but the operation time of the cutting arm cycle is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting arm is maintained in the extended position for only a predetermined period during the third rotation, which is sufficient to allow second knot removal, but not for the entire rotation cycle. This partial extension approach provides just enough time for knot removal without unnecessarily extending the overall cutting arm cycle time, thus minimizing time loss while achieving the removal objective.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~12A
Figure 3A
AI summary
Knotter system comprising a bill hook (82), a twine receiver (220, 86, 200, 210, 302, 304), a cutting arm (88) and drive means (76, 96, 98, 100, 101, 110, 112). The twine receiver is adapted to let the twines slip during a second full rotation of the bill hook so that cutting of the twines is avoided when forming the second knot. The drive means are adapted to maintain the cutting arm in the extended position after the second rotation of the bill hook for a predetermined period which is sufficient to allow removal of the second knot from the bill hook.