Automatic tie system for baler

A tying assembly for an automatic tie system, the baler having a reciprocating ram for pushing a bale of compressible material along a path and into a continuous strand of baling wire supplied from at least two supply rolls on each side of the path and including an inserter arm for engaging the continuous strand and moving the strand across an end of the bale to form a partial wire loop having an apex and an upstream wire section and downstream wire, the tying assembly comprising:

• a gripper mechanism including a first gripper arm operable to grip the upstream section of said loop and a second gripper arm operable to grip the downstream section of said loop;
• a cutting mechanism for cutting said loop proximate the apex, the inserter being operable to move in a direction away from the cut loop;
• the second gripper arm being operable, after the loop is cut, for moving the downstream loop section adjacent the bale into a position proximate a section of wire from one of said baling wire supply rolls to create a bale wire overlap and the first gripper arm operable for moving the upstream loop section into a position proximate an incoming section of wire from one of said baling wire supply rolls to create a supply wire overlap;
• a twisting mechanism operable to engage said bale wire overlap and twist the bale wire overlap to tie the bale and further operable to engage said supply wire overlap and twist the supply wire overlap to reform a continuous strand of baling wire between the rolls to engage and wrap another bale whereby successive bales may be automatically and continuously tied.

A method for tying a bale of compressible material within an automatic baler comprising the steps of:

• pushing the bale along a path through the baler;
• engaging a front end of the bale with a continuous strand of baling wire which extends generally transverse to the path such that the strand wraps around the bale as it is pushed along said path, the strand operably coupling together two supply rolls of baling wire which are positioned on opposite sides of said path;
• engaging said continuous strand and moving the strand across a back end of the bale in a direction generally transverse to said path to form a partial loop having an apex and an upstream wire section and a downstream wire section;
• gripping the upstream section of said loop and gripping the downstream section of said loop;
• cutting said loop proximate the apex;
• after the loop is cut, moving the downstream section of said loop adjacent to the bale into a position proximate a section of wire from one of said baling wire supply rolls to create a bale wire overlap and moving the upstream section of said loop into a position proximate an incoming section of wire from one of said baling wire supply rolls to create a supply wire overlap;
• twisting the bale wire overlap to tie the bale;
• twisting the supply wire overlap to reform a continuous strand of baling wire between the rolls to engage and wrap another bale whereby successive bales may be automatically and continuously wrapped and tied.

A method for tying a bale of compressible material comprising the steps of:

• wrapping a portion of a continuous baling wire strand around a bale;
• cutting the continuous baling wire strand such that the strand portion around the bale has opposing free ends;
• positioning the opposing free ends adjacent each other generally parallel one with the other to form a bale wire overlap.
• twisting the generally parallel free ends of the bale wire overlap for tying the bale and forming an elongated twist with opposing end sections, that have opposite hand twisting directions to create a strong twist to tie the bale.

An automatic tie system for a baler for tying a bale of compressible material, the automatic tie system comprising:

• a reciprocating ram for pushing a bale along a path through a baler;
• a supply of baling wire for presenting a strand of baling wire transverse to the path to engage a front end of the bale and wrap around the bale as it is pushed along said path;
• an inserter mechanism operable for engaging said wire strand and moving the strand across a back end of the bale to form an upstream wire section and a downstream wire section;
• a gripper mechanism operable for engaging the upstream section of said wire strand and engaging the downstream section of said strand, the gripper mechanism further operable for moving the downstream loop section into a position proximate another section of the baling wire strand to create a bale wire overlap and operable for moving the upstream loop section into a position proximate a section of wire from said baling wire supply to create a supply wire overlap;
• a twisting mechanism operable to engage said bale wire overlap and twist the bale wire overlap to tie the bale and further operable to engage said supply wire overlap andtwist the supply wire overlap to reform a strand of baling wire between the rolls to engage and wrap another bale;
• the twisting mechanism including a rotating roller having a slot formed therein to receive wire sections from at least one of said wire overlaps, the roller being operable to rotate and twist the overlap wire sections to form a wire twist, the roller including a sloped surface formed therein proximate at least one end of the slot, the sloped surface engaging the wire sections of said wire overlap and directing the overlap sections inwardly to a center section of the roller to twist the overlap;
• whereby successive bales may be automatically and continuously tied.