Patent ID: 8757055

Claim:
A method for removing a twist-module sub-assembly in a knotter assembly on a material baling apparatus, the knotter assembly including a frame having a base plate and a pair of parallel opposed side walls, a knotter cover arm assembly including a pair of opposed knotter cover arms coupled, at a first end of each arm, to a knotter cover, and pivotably coupled, at a second end of each arm, to a shaft such that rotation of the arms about the shaft causes the knotter cover to at least partially extend from a first side of the knotter assembly, the method comprising: rotating the knotter cover arm assembly outwardly from the first side of the knotter assembly; securing the knotter cover arm assembly in a raised rotated position; accessing, through the first side of the knotter assembly, one or more coupling devices securing the first twist-module sub-assembly to the knotter assembly; removing the one or more coupling devices; extracting the first twist-module sub-assembly as a unit from the knotter assembly substantially via the first side of the knotter assembly; inserting a second twist-module sub-assembly into the knotter assembly substantially via the first side of the knotter assembly; installing the one or more coupling devices; releasing the knotter cover arm assembly from the raised rotated position; and rotating the knotter cover arm downwardly to a substantially vertical original position.