Device for actuating the clutch of a twine wrap device for balers

A baler having a baler frame mounting a bale length determining device, a twine wrap device including a clutch and a clutch actuating device cooperating with the clutch, the clutch actuating device including:

• a pawl attached to the clutch of the twine wrap device;
• a pivotably mounted shift lever pivotable into contact with the pawl and cooperating with the pawl, the shift lever having a contact region which controls the shift lever's movement;
• an electric motor;
• an electrical connection between the electric motor and the bale length determining device;
• a control device for the shift lever, the control device cooperating with the electric motor, and
• the control device including a cam connecting the control device with the contact region of the shift lever, whereby the shift lever is pivoted out of contact with the pawl to engage the clutch in response to a determined bale length.

A twine wrap mechanism of a baler, the twine wrap mechanism having a pawl actuated clutch, a shift lever cooperating with the pawl to selectively engage and disengage the clutch, the shift lever being pivotable into and out of contact with the pawl, the clutch disengaging when the pawl is in contact with the shift lever and the clutch engaging when the pawl is out of contact by the shift lever, the mechanism including a controller for the shift lever, the controller including an electric motor and an electrical connector effective to cooperate with a bale length determining mechanism of a baler to provide current to the electric motor and initiate operation of the controller at a predetermined bale length, the controller further including a cam driven by the electric motor, the shift lever pivoting about a point at an intermediate location along its length, the pawl contacting the shift lever at a first end of the shift lever and the cam contacting the shift lever at a second end of the shift lever, the controller further including a crank on the output shaft of the electric motor, the crank engaging the cam and cooperating therewith, the shift lever being biased against the cam by a spring, the spring applying a force urging the shift lever out of contact with the pawl, the cam having a first position holding the shift lever in contact with the pawl and a second position in which the shift lever contact with the pawl is released, whereby the clutch may be selectively engaged in response to a bale length determining mechanism by selective movement of the cam from its first position to its second position by the electric motor and crank.