Bale ejection system for large square baler

A bale ejection system for a baler implement, the bale ejection system comprising:

• a frame rail extending along a longitudinal axis;
• an outer carrier plate and an inner carrier plate moveably supported by the frame rail for movement relative to the frame rail along the longitudinal axis;
• a linear actuator attached to the inner carrier plate and operable to extend during a push stroke to move the inner carrier plate and the outer carrier plate in a first longitudinal direction parallel to and along the longitudinal axis, and operable to retract during a return stroke to move the inner carrier plate and the outer carrier plate in a second longitudinal direction opposite to the first longitudinal direction and parallel to and along the longitudinal axis;
• a bale spear coupled to the outer carrier plate via a linkage bar, wherein the linkage bar is configured to move the bale spear relative to the outer carrier plate and the inner carrier plate between a retracted position and an extended position along a spear axis, wherein the spear axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the frame rail;
• a push stroke latch system interconnecting the frame, the inner carrier plate and the outer carrier plate, wherein the push stroke latch system is configured to secure the outer carrier plate relative to the frame during an initial portion of the push stroke while allowing the inner carrier plate to move along the longitudinal axis in the first longitudinal direction during the initial portion of the push stroke, whereby the linkage bar moves the bale spear along the spear axis from the retracted position into the extended position for penetrating into a bale;
• and
• a return stroke latch system interconnecting the frame, the inner carrier plate and the outer carrier plate, wherein the return stroke latch system is configured to secure the outer carrier plate relative to the frame during an initial portion of the return stroke while allowing the inner carrier plate to move along the longitudinal axis in the second longitudinal direction during the initial portion of the return stroke, whereby the linkage bar moves the bale spear along the spear axis from the extended position into the retracted position for disengaging from the bale.