Light discharge gate for large round baler

In a large round baler, having chassis-supporting components forming an expansible baling chamber and including at least one endless, flexible bale-forming means, that is conducted over rotary bodies with stationary axes and rotary bodies with movable axes, and that generally surrounds the circumference of a baling chamber with said rotary bodies with stationary axes including a first rotary body with a fixed axis being located at a forward side of an inlet leading to a baling chamber having a circumference otherwise surrounded by said flexible bale-forming means, and having opposite sides defined by opposite side walls, the improvement comprising:

• a) a carrier mounted to said opposite side walls exteriorly of said baling chamber for pivoting vertically between a lowered operating position, and a raised bale discharge position;
• b) said rotary bodies with movable axes including first, second, and third rotary bodies with respective movable axes mounted to said carrier, with said first rotary body with a movable axis being positioned at a location adjacent an opposite side of said inlet from said first rotary body with a fixed axis when said carrier is in said operating position, and with said second and third rotary bodies with movable axes being mounted adjacent each other at a location spaced rearward from said first rotary body with a moveable axis and forming a slot between the last-named second and third rotary bodies;
• c) at least one tensioning mechanism including a least a fourth rotary body with movable axis;
• d) a first span of said bale-forming means extending between said first and fourth rotary bodies with movable axes and forming a rear expansible section of the circumference of said baling chamber, with its tension being determined at least in part by said at least one tensioning mechanism;
• and
• e) a second span of the bale-forming means extending rearwardly from said first rotary body with a moveable axis through said slot, whereby movement of said carrier to said bale discharge position will result in said first and second spans of said bale-forming means being elevated so as to permit a completed bale to be discharged from said baling chamber.