A bale binding mechanism is configured to form crop material into a bale. The bale binding mechanism includes a baling needle and a twine tensioner. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element. The guide element is shiftable into and out of a twine feed position associated with upward advancement of the tensioned twine section, with the guide element operable to define an offset twine section offset from the twine feed axis in the twine feed position. The twine tensioner includes a cutting device that severs the offset twine section when a twine over-tension condition causes the guide element to shift out of the twine feed position toward the twine feed axis.

A bale binding mechanism is configured to form crop material into a bale. The bale binding mechanism includes a baling needle and a twine tensioner. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element. The guide element is shiftable into and out of a twine feed position associated with upward advancement of the tensioned twine section, with the guide element operable to define an offset twine section offset from the twine feed axis in the twine feed position. The twine tensioner includes a cutting device that severs the offset twine section when a twine over-tension condition causes the guide element to shift out of the twine feed position toward the twine feed axis.

A bale binding mechanism is configured to form crop material into a bale. The bale binding mechanism includes a baling needle and a twine tensioner. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element. The guide element is shiftable into and out of a twine feed position associated with upward advancement of the tensioned twine section, with the guide element operable to define an offset twine section offset from the twine feed axis in the twine feed position. The twine tensioner includes a cutting device that severs the offset twine section when a twine over-tension condition causes the guide element to shift out of the twine feed position toward the twine feed axis.

A twine knotter arrangement for knotting twine to tie a bale, the twine knotter arrangement including: a twine knotter (1), a deflection roller (41) adjustable relative to the twine knotter (1), via which twine (42, 43) coming from the bale is deflected in the direction of the twine knotter (1), and an adjusting device (54) for adjusting the position of the deflection roller (41) in dependence on the force (F.sub.R) exerted by the twine (42, 43) on the deflection roller (41).

A twine knotter arrangement for knotting twine to tie a bale, the twine knotter arrangement including: a twine knotter (1), a deflection roller (41) adjustable relative to the twine knotter (1), via which twine (42, 43) coming from the bale is deflected in the direction of the twine knotter (1), and an adjusting device (54) for adjusting the position of the deflection roller (41) in dependence on the force (F.sub.R) exerted by the twine (42, 43) on the deflection roller (41).

An intermittent drive system includes a rotatable output component, a rotating input component with a driving engagement element, a synchronizing ring and a decoupling ring. The synchronizing ring is coupled to the output element to rotate therewith. The synchronizing ring has a driven engagement element configured to selectively engage with the driving engagement element. The synchronizing ring has an alignment feature configured to rotationally align the driving engagement element with the driven engagement element and has a decoupling feature configured to selectively disengage the driving engagement element from the driven engagement element. The decoupling ring is selectively coupled to the input component and has a decoupling feature configured to selectively engage the decoupling feature of the synchronizing ring. The driving engagement element engages the driven engagement element only when both the alignment feature is rotationally oriented to align the driving engagement element with the driven engagement element and the decoupling features are rotationally oriented to allow the driving engagement element to engage the driven engagement element.

An intermittent drive system includes a rotatable output component, a rotating input component with a driving engagement element, a synchronizing ring and a decoupling ring. The synchronizing ring is coupled to the output element to rotate therewith. The synchronizing ring has a driven engagement element configured to selectively engage with the driving engagement element. The synchronizing ring has an alignment feature configured to rotationally align the driving engagement element with the driven engagement element and has a decoupling feature configured to selectively disengage the driving engagement element from the driven engagement element. The decoupling ring is selectively coupled to the input component and has a decoupling feature configured to selectively engage the decoupling feature of the synchronizing ring. The driving engagement element engages the driven engagement element only when both the alignment feature is rotationally oriented to align the driving engagement element with the driven engagement element and the decoupling features are rotationally oriented to allow the driving engagement element to engage the driven engagement element.

A baler including a needle yoke driven via a needle coupling device including a connection member pivotally mounted around a fixed pivot axis for swinging around the fixed pivot axis. The swinging corresponds to movement of the needle yoke. The connection member is cooperative with the needle yoke by (i) a shearbolt adapted to transfer a force from the connection member to the needle yoke during a forward movement and (ii) by a protrusion, formed at one of the connection member and the needle yoke, to abut against the other one of the connection member and the needle yoke during a backward movement of the needle yoke.

An intermittent drive system includes a rotatable output component, a rotating input component with a driving engagement element, a synchronizing ring and a decoupling ring. The synchronizing ring is coupled to the output element to rotate therewith. The synchronizing ring has a driven engagement element configured to selectively engage with the driving engagement element. The synchronizing ring has an alignment feature configured to rotationally align the driving engagement element with the driven engagement element and has a decoupling feature configured to selectively disengage the driving engagement element from the driven engagement element. The decoupling ring is selectively coupled to the input component and has a decoupling feature configured to selectively engage the decoupling feature of the synchronizing ring. The driving engagement element engages the driven engagement element only when both the alignment feature is rotationally oriented to align the driving engagement element with the driven engagement element and the decoupling features are rotationally oriented to allow the driving engagement element to engage the driven engagement element.

An intermittent drive system includes a rotatable output component, a rotating input component with a driving engagement element, a synchronizing ring and a decoupling ring. The synchronizing ring is coupled to the output element to rotate therewith. The synchronizing ring has a driven engagement element configured to selectively engage with the driving engagement element. The synchronizing ring has an alignment feature configured to rotationally align the driving engagement element with the driven engagement element and has a decoupling feature configured to selectively disengage the driving engagement element from the driven engagement element. The decoupling ring is selectively coupled to the input component and has a decoupling feature configured to selectively engage the decoupling feature of the synchronizing ring. The driving engagement element engages the driven engagement element only when both the alignment feature is rotationally oriented to align the driving engagement element with the driven engagement element and the decoupling features are rotationally oriented to allow the driving engagement element to engage the driven engagement element.