Patent ID: 7047876
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: A01F

Abstract:
1. In a round baler for movement across the ground and formation of cylindrical bales of crop material, the baler having a wheel assembly including a transverse axle, a clam shell-like bale-forming chamber supported on the axle and including a forward portion and a tailgate vertically pivotable between a closed position for forming round bales and an open position for bale ejection, a bale kicker generally vertically pivotably connected to the axle for contacting a bale during its ejection from the bale-forming chamber and for propelling it rearwardly of the baler, the improvement comprising: the bale kicker including: a generally flat table-like ramp affixed to the axle for generally free vertical pivotal movement between a closed position where it is approximately horizontal or slightly above horizontal, and an open position where it is below horizontal, generally in contact with the ground; a first generally transverse torsion bar with a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the transverse axle and having a first end affixed to the axle, and an opposing second end affixed to the ramp, said torsion bar further having a multifaceted portion on each of the first and second ends a pair of spaced-apart axle brackets are rigidly affixed to the axle and extend generally rearwardly away therefrom and are pivotably connected to the ramp such that the ramp may pivot vertically about the axle brackets; a support arm is rigidly affixed to the axle and extends generally rearwardly away therefrom generally between and parallel to the pair of axle brackets; and the support arm has a hole therethrough matching the multifaceted shape of the first end of the torsion bar, and the first end of the torsion bar extends through the hole in the axle bracket, whereby pivotal movement of the ramp from the closed position toward the open position imparts a twist to the torsion bar such that movement of the ramp between the closed position and the open position imparts a twist to the torsion bar that provides a kick to the ejected bale as it moves off the ramp onto the ground, that kick being the impetus for bale ejection.