Systems and methods for detecting knotter misties

A mistie detection system for a square baler, wherein the baler is configured to form square bales from crop material, wherein the baler includes a least one baling chamber configured to compress crop material into bales and at least one knotter assembly configured to tie securement lines around the bales, wherein the knotter assembly comprises a first knotting mechanism and a second knotting mechanism, each being configured to tie a securement line around the bales, such that the knotter assembly is configured to tie two securement lines around the bales, said system comprising:

• cameras mounted to the baler and configured to monitor the securement lines and the bales;
• and
• a computing device configured to process image data from the cameras to determine if a mistie event has occurred,
• wherein said cameras comprise a first camera and a second camera aimed towards an interior of said baling chamber, wherein the first camera is configured to obtain images or video of knots of a first of the two securement lines having been tied onto the bales, and wherein the second camera is configured to obtain images or video of knots of a second of the two securement lines having been tied onto the bales,
• wherein said computing device is configured to determine if a mistie event has occurred by analyzing the images or videos of the knots of the securement lines having been tied around the bales.

A method for identifying misties of securement lines around bales of crop material, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) picking up crop material from a windrow;
• (b) forming the crop material within a baling chamber into square bales;
• (c) tying, using a knotter assembly, two securement lines around the bales, wherein the knotter assembly comprises a first knotting mechanisms and a second knotting mechanism each being configured to tie a securement line around the bales;
• (c) obtaining, via image sensors, images or video of the securement lines tied around the bales, wherein the image sensors comprise a first image sensor and a second images sensor aimed towards an interior of the baling chamber, wherein the first image sensor is configured to obtain images or video of knots of a first of the two securement lines having been tied onto the bales, and wherein the second image sensor is configured to obtain images or video of knots of a second of the two securement lines having been tied onto the bales;
• and
• (d) determining via the images or video whether a mistie event has occurred for at least one of the securement lines.