Abstract: A cylindrical baler has a bale discharge ejector movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the ejector is engageable with a bale discharged on the ground underneath a bale discharge gate of the baler and is operable to move the bale rearwardly of the gate as the ejector is moved to its extended position. The ejector is retained in the extended position while the gate is closed to insure that the bale remains clear of the gate during closing. With such an ejector, the method of bale discharge is simplified. The method includes the steps of opening the gate to discharge the bale on the ground underneath the gate; moving the ejector from a retracted position to an extended position to move the bale from underneath the gate; closing the gate; and retracting the ejector.

Abstract: A rake wheel attachment for a harvesting machine such as a cylindrical baler comprises a wheel for engaging and moving crop material laterally of the path of the baler. The wheel is rotatably supported by a wheel support and is pivotably mounted on an arm attached to the machine about the axis of the arm which is generally perpendicular to the axis of the rotation. The rake wheel is biased into an operative position by a spring connected between the wheel support and the arm. The spring is yieldable to permit the wheel to pivot about the arm axis responsive to the engagement of the wheel with a rock or other foreign bodies.