Extrusion type square baler having selective bale ejector

Abstract

Instead of using the compacting plunger of the baler to unload one or more bales from the bale chamber, an auxiliary ejector system may be utilized that enables the operator to select only the last bale for off-loading, or both the last bale and the next-to-last bale. A shuttle assembly housed almost entirely within hollow rails of the bale case has a number of ejector dogs that need not all be placed in operating position simultaneously, thus permitting the operator to choose to actuate only those dogs which are necessary to off-load the bale he selects. The shuttle is repeatedly actuated and retracted through ejecting and reset strokes until the selected bale or bales are fully off-loaded. During the reset strokes the spring-loaded dogs are yieldably folded down under the pressure of the overhead bale so as to avoid retrograde movement of the bale. An inclined bale chute that receives the discharging bales and guides them to the ground may be selectively raised into a folded up transport position using the same power cylinder that drives the ejector shuttle, such powered raising of the chute being enabled when a normally disengaged coupling between the power cylinder and the chute is selectively engaged by the operator.