Patent ID: 7959193

Claim:
An apparatus for knotting at least one string of material having a first end and second end comprising: a) a fixed knotter plate having a first surface and a second surface, each surface having an aperture such that a conduit is formed from the first aperture on the first surface to the second surface; b) a primary knotter plate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein: i) each surface of the primary knotter plate has an aperture such that a conduit is formed from the first surface to the second surface of the primary knotter plate; ii) the first surface of the primary knotter plate includes a primary pathway formed thereon having a first end aligned with the aperture of said second surface of the fixed knotter plate and a second end c) a secondary knotter plate having a first surface, a second surface and a third surface, the third surface having formed therein a secondary pathway extending to the second surface forming two apertures, wherein when the apertures of the second surface of the secondary knotter plate are aligned with the primary pathway and the aperture of the first surface of the primary knotter plate, thereby forming a closed conduit from the first aperture of the fixed knotter plate to the second aperture of the primary knotter plate; d) a press shoe having a first surface and a second surface, each press shoe surface having an aperture such that a conduit is formed from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the aperture of said first surface of said press shoe is aligned with second aperture of said primary knotter plate; and e) a vacuum source.