Patent ID: 6892632

Claim:
A bale kicker assembly for a round baler having a bale-forming chamber and a tailgate movable between a closed position during formation of the bale within the bale-forming chamber and an open position for discharging the bale from the bale-forming chamber, comprising: an inner kicker section located below of the bale-forming chamber, wherein the inner kicker section defines an inner end and an outer end, wherein the inner end of the inner kicker section is pivotably mounted to the baler and wherein the inner kicker section is movable between a lowered discharge position and a raised position, and wherein movement of the inner kicker section between the lowered discharge position and the raised position moves the outer end of the inner kicker section vertically between a lowered position and a raised position; an outer kicker section having an inner end pivotably mounted to the outer end of the inner kicker section and an outer end spaced rearwardly therefrom, wherein the outer kicker section is adapted to engage the ground when the inner kicker section is in its lowered position, and is raised above the ground when the inner kicker section is in its raised position; and a lifting and lowering arrangement interconnected with the inner kicker section for moving the inner kicker section between its raised and lowered positions; wherein, when the inner kicker section is in its lowered position and the outer end of the outer kicker section is engaged with the ground, a bale discharged from the bale-forming chamber is received by the inner kicker section and moves away from the bale-forming chamber on the inner kicker section and the outer kicker section and, when the inner kicker section is moved to its raised position from its lowered position, the bale is moved off the outer kicker section and the outer end of the outer kicker section is positioned so as to prevent the bale from rolling toward the baler.