A baler (24) for forming crop material into at least one bale, the baler (24) comprising:
- a compression chamber (28) in which the crop material is compressed into said at least one bale (31), the compression chamber (28) being partially defined by a floor (86) with slots (51) therein;
- a plunger (26) for compressing the crop material;
- a plunger subassembly (27) configured to move the plunger (26) between extended and retracted positions thereof in the compression chamber (28), to compress the crop material into said at least one bale in the compression chamber (28) when the plunger is in the extended position, wherein the plunger locates said at least one bale in a predetermined compression position in the compression chamber when the plunger is in the extended position;
- a feeder assembly (29), for feeding the crop material into the compression chamber when the plunger is in the retracted position thereof;
- a knotter mechanism (22), for knotting twine (37) that has been pulled onto said at least one bale in the predetermined compression position;
- a knotter control assembly (20) for controlling the knotter mechanism (22), the knotter control assembly being configured to move between a home condition thereof in which the knotter mechanism is deactivated, and an engaged condition thereof in which the knotter mechanism is activated, the knotter control assembly comprising:
- a drive sprocket (32) defining an axis (X) thereof, the drive sprocket being rotatable about the axis (X) in timed relationship with movement of the plunger (26) between the extended and retracted positions thereof;
- a clutch plate (34) coaxially connected to the drive sprocket (32) by at least one rubber bushing (35), the clutch plate comprising a roller path (36) with a drive cam (38) formed in the roller path (36);
- a knotter shaft (40) positioned coaxial to the clutch plate, the knotter shaft being operatively connected with the knotter mechanism, wherein rotation of the knotter shaft in a predetermined direction about the axis (X) activates the knotter mechanism, to knot the twine wrapped onto said at least one bale;
- an actuation subassembly (42) for engaging and disengaging the clutch plate (34) with the knotter shaft (40);
- a bale length mechanism, for activating the actuation subassembly when said at least one bale is located in the predetermined compression position,
- wherein, when the actuation subassembly is activated, the actuation subassembly engages the clutch plate with the knotter shaft to move the knotter control assembly (20) to the engaged condition thereof, thereby activating the knotter mechanism, wherein the knotter mechanism knots the twine on said at least one bale, and
- wherein, upon the knotter mechanism completing knotting the twine, the actuation subassembly disengages the knotter shaft from the clutch plate, to deactivate the knotter mechanism.