and to actuate the knotting device at the desired time which in turn automatically operates the bale cut off device it is situated upon the upper side 16 of the bale discharge chute which includes a conventional pressure beam 17 pivoted adjacent the rear end as at 18 thereof and extending forwardly between the sides of the bale chute in a conventional manner a shaft 19 is journalled for rotation between two triangular brackets 20 one upon each upper side edge 20 of the bale chute sides 21 thus positioning the shaft above the pressure beam 17 the shaft is journalled within bearings 22 so that it may rotate and one end 23 is screw threaded as shown in fig5 a pulley 24 engages this screw threaded end and is secured thereto by means of a nut and washer combination 26 see fig4 a chain sprocket 27 is also secured to this shaft 19 intermediate the ends thereof and acts to rotate the shaft as will hereinafter be described a support bracket collectively designated 28 includes a bearing sleeve 29 which freely engages over shaft 19 which thereby supports same a bracket portion 30 extends from the bearing sleeve 29 and terminates in a stub shaft 31 which is welded to the distal end of the bracket portion 30 and extends on one side thereof a further sprocket 32 is freely mounted upon the stub shaft 31 and is secured to a star wheel 33 so that rotation of the star wheel rotates sprocket 32 and hence via a sprocket chain 34 sprocket 27 the star wheel is provided with a plurality of equidistantly spaced projecting teeth 35 and a spring 36 reacts between the bracket portion 30 and one of.