Round baler tailgate latch

In an agricultural round baler having a forward end, an opposing rear end and opposing first and second sides, a bale-forming chamber, a rearwardly disposed tailgate movable between opposing open and closed positions, an actuator for selectively moving the tailgate, and a latch mechanism for selectively securing the tailgate in the closed position, the improvement in said latching mechanism comprising:

• an elongate latch arm having a first end pivotally connected to the tailgate, said latch arm having a catch surface and a release surface disposed generally adjacent to a second end generally opposing said first end, said latch arm pivotable about a first axis between a latched position and a released position;
• a release arm connected to one of said sides adjacent to said latch arm and configured for pivotal movement about a second axis between generally opposing first and second positions, said pivotal movement controlled by the actuator;
• and
• a spring assembly interconnecting said latch arm and the tailgate in a manner biasing said latch arm toward said latched position;
• said latch arm and said release arm being configured such that movement of said release arm toward said first position causes said release arm to contact said release surface and move said latch arm toward said released position, and movement of said release arm toward said second position allows said spring assembly to move said latch arm toward said latched position.