Round baler with variable bale chamber

A round baler comprising:

• a main frame;
• a tailgate pivotally connected to said main frame;
• a sledge assembly mounted on said main frame for movement between a bale starting position and a full bale position, said sledge assembly including a plurality of rollers extending transversely of said main frame, said sledge assembly carrying idler means at one end thereof;
• an apron movably supported on a drive member which is rotatably mounted in said main frame and on a plurality of guide members which are rotatably mounted in said tailgate, said apron engaging said idler means and having an inner course extending between one of said plurality of guide members and said idler means while cooperating with said rollers of said sledge assembly to define a bale starting chamber when said sledge assembly is in said bale starting position;
• arm means carrying an additional guide member for supporting said apron, said arm means being movable between an inner position and an outer position as said sledge assembly moves between said bale starting and full bale positions, respectively;
• said idler means being located rearwardly of said drive member when said sledge assembly is in said bale starting position;
• said idler means and said additional guide member moving in substantially opposite directions relative to said one guide member upon movement of said sledge assembly from aid bale starting position toward said full bale position and upon movement of said arm means from said inner position toward said outer position;
• and
• said idler means being located forwardly of said drive member when said sledge assembly is in said full bale position.