Twine feed and cutting mechanism for a baler

In a baler adapted for forming twine-wrapped cylindrical bales, an improved twine dispensing and cutting mechanism, comprising:

• a twine feed tube pivotally mounted on the baler and having a dispensing end swingable to and from a home position wherein the twine depends downwardly therefrom;
• a knife mounted on the baler proximate to the twine depending from said dispensing end when in said home position;
• a twine hook pivotally mounted on the baler for pulling the twine against said knife to cut the same;
• and means linking said twine feed tube and said hook for pivoting said hook to effect cutting of the twine in response to movement of said tube to its home position.

In a baler including means for conveying hay rearwardly into a zone wherein a cylindrical bale is formed, and further including frame structure disposed above the conveying means, an improved mechanism for dispensing twine onto a bale being formed and cutting the twine, comprising:

• a twine feed tube pivotally mounted on said frame structure and having a twine-dispensing end swingable in an arc forwardly of said zone to and from a home position for feeding twine into the hay being conveyed into the zone for wrapping onto the bale being formed;
• a twine cutting knife fixed on said frame structure proximate to the twine dispensed from said dispensing end when in said home position;
• a twine-engageable hook pivotally mounted on said frame structure for actuation in a twine-pulling stroke to pull the twine over said knife to cut the twine;
• an arm pivotally mounted on said frame structure coaxially with said twine feed tube;
• a rod connected between said arm and said hook for pivoting said hook through said twine-pulling stroke in response to pivotal movement of said arm;
• and means operatively interconnecting said tube and said arm for conjoint pivoting movement in response to movement of said tube into its home position, whereby the twine is automatically severed.