Abstract: A narrow row head unit may include a back plate secured to a left gearbox and a right gearbox, which gearboxes may be positioned adjacent one another. Each gearbox may provide rotational power to a pair of stalk rolls and a drive sprocket for a gathering chain. A right mounting tab may be secured to the back plate and the right gearbox, and a left mounting tab may be secured to the back plate and left gearbox. A right plate and leg may extend outward from the back plate adjacent the right mounting tab and a left plate and leg may extend outward from the back plate adjacent the left mounting tab. A narrow row head unit positioned left-of-center on a header may have the gathering chain positioned substantially over the right plate, and right-of-center substantially over the left plate.

Abstract: A stalk roll may be configured to be mounted upon a stalk roll drive shaft of a corn harvesting header, wherein the stalk roll drive shaft has a generally square cross-sectional shape. The stalk roll may comprise a main cylinder with a plurality of flutes extending radially from the main cylinder along the length of the main cylinder. A taper may be positioned toward the front end of the main cylinder. The flutes may be configured such that a bladeless area on each of two stalk rolls of an opposing pair cooperate to form at stalk engagement gap in at least one moment in time per revolution of the stalk rolls.

Abstract: A hybrid flute for a stalk roll may be configured with a sharp edge positioned between a first blunt edge and a second blunt edge along a length of the flute edge. The flute edge may extend radially outward from a main cylinder of the stalk roll. The flute edge may be engaged with a radius at the base of the flute edge, and a flute base may extend from the radius. A plurality of flute bases positioned adjacent to one another may be configured to form a main cylinder for the stalk roll.

Abstract: A stalk roll may be configured to be mounted upon a stalk roll drive shaft of a corn harvesting header, wherein the stalk roll drive shaft has a generally square cross-sectional shape. The stalk roll may comprise a main cylinder with a plurality of flutes extending radially from the main cylinder along the length of the main cylinder. A taper may be positioned toward the front end of the main cylinder. The flutes may be configured such this with differing edges to facilitate stalk movement into and through the ear separation zone to the plant separation zone. The flutes may be configured such that a bladeless area proximate to the nose cone on each of two stalk rolls of an opposing pair cooperate to form at stalk engagement gap in at least one moment in time per revolution of the stalk rolls.

Abstract: One embodiment of a stalk roll to be mounted upon a stalk roll drive shaft of a corn harvesting header comprises a cylindrical shell with a recess in the main cylinder, wherein reduced flutes are not present in the recess, but full flutes are present therein. This embodiment includes a stalk slot having a length equal to the length of the recess. Additionally, the flutes may be configured such that a stalk engagement gap is present at least once during a full revolution of two opposing stalk rolls.

Abstract: One embodiment of a stalk roll to be mounted upon a stalk roll drive shaft of a corn harvesting header comprises a hybrid flute, a full flute positioned adjacent the hybrid flute, a reduced flute positioned adjacent the full flute, a second reduced flute positioned adjacent the reduced flute, and a short flute positioned adjacent the second reduced flute.

Abstract: One embodiment of a stalk roll to be mounted upon a stalk roll drive shaft of a corn harvesting header comprises a cylindrical shell with a recess in the main cylinder, wherein reduced flutes are not present in the recess, but full flutes are present therein. This embodiment includes a stalk slot having a length equal to the length of the recess. Additionally, the flutes may be configured such that a stalk engagement gap is present at least once during a full revolution of two opposing stalk rolls.

Abstract: Four (4) methods to reduce stalk shear in a corn head row unit utilize a non-variable or dependent drive system. The four methods described include altering the gearbox ratio, increasing the lengths of the fluted portion of the stalk roll, increasing stalk roll diameter or reducing the size of the gathering chain drive sprocket. A method for reducing the size of the gathering chain drive sprocket includes the steps of providing a kit with a kit gathering chain drive sprocket of reduced size and replacing the gathering chain drive sprocket with the kit gathering chain drive sprocket.

Abstract: A stalk roll may be configured to be mounted upon a stalk roll drive shaft of a corn harvesting header, wherein the stalk roll drive shaft has a generally square cross-sectional shape. The stalk roll may comprise a main cylinder with a plurality of flutes extending radially from the main cylinder along the length of the main cylinder. A taper may be positioned toward the front end of the main cylinder. The flutes may be configured such that a bladeless area on each of two stalk rolls of an opposing pair cooperate to form at stalk engagement gap in at least one moment in time per revolution of the stalk rolls.

Abstract: A narrow row head unit may include a back plate secured to a left gearbox and a right gearbox, which gearboxes may be positioned adjacent one another. Each gearbox may provide rotational power to a pair of stalk rolls and a drive sprocket for a gathering chain. A right mounting tab may be secured to the back plate and the right gearbox, and a left mounting tab may be secured to the back plate and left gearbox. A right plate and leg may extend outward from the back plate adjacent the right mounting tab and a left plate and leg may extend outward from the back plate adjacent the left mounting tab. A narrow row head unit positioned left-of-center on a header may have the gathering chain positioned substantially over the right plate, and right-of-center substantially over the left plate.

Abstract: A narrow row head unit may include a back plate secured to a left gearbox and a right gearbox, which gearboxes may be positioned adjacent one another. Each gearbox may provide rotational power to a pair of stalk rolls and a drive sprocket for a gathering chain. A right mounting tab may be secured to the back plate and the right gearbox, and a left mounting tab may be secured to the back plate and left gearbox. A right plate and leg may extend outward from the back plate adjacent the right mounting tab and a left plate and leg may extend outward from the back plate adjacent the left mounting tab. A narrow row head unit positioned left-of-center on a header may have the gathering chain positioned substantially over the right plate, and right-of-center substantially over the left plate.

Abstract: Four (4) methods to reduce stalk shear in a corn head row unit utilize a non-variable or dependent drive system. The four methods described include altering the gearbox ratio, increasing the lengths of the fluted portion of the stalk roll, increasing stalk roll diameter or reducing the size of the gathering chain drive sprocket. A method for reducing the size of the gathering chain drive sprocket includes the steps of providing a kit with a kit gathering chain drive sprocket of reduced size and replacing the gathering chain drive sprocket with the kit gathering chain drive sprocket.

Abstract: One embodiment of a stalk roll to be mounted upon a stalk roll drive shaft of a corn harvesting header comprises a cylindrical shell with a recess in the main cylinder, wherein reduced flutes are not present in the recess, but full flutes are present therein. This embodiment includes a stalk slot having a length equal to the length of the recess. Additionally, the flutes may be configured such that a stalk engagement gap is present at least once during a full revolution of two opposing stalk rolls.

Abstract: One embodiment of a narrow row head unit may include a back plate secured to a left gearbox and a right gearbox, which gearboxes may be positioned adjacent one another. Each gearbox may provide rotational power to a pair of stalk rolls and a drive sprocket for a gathering chain. A right mounting tab may be secured to the back plate and the right gearbox, and a left mounting tab may be secured to the back plate and left gearbox. A right plate and leg may extend outward from the back plate adjacent the right mounting tab and a left plate and leg may extend outward from the back plate adjacent the left mounting tab. A narrow row head unit positioned left-of-center on a header may have the gathering chain positioned substantially over the right plate, and right-of-center substantially over the left plate.

Abstract: In one embodiment of a stalk roll to be mounted upon a stalk roll drive shaft of a corn harvesting header, the stalk roll comprises a cylindrical shell, at least four flutes affixed to and extending radially from said cylindrical shell, wherein the flutes are arranged in a first group and a second group, wherein the first group and the second group contain an equal number of said flutes, and wherein a peripheral distance between the first group and the second group is greater than a peripheral distance between the flutes within either the first group or the second group.

Abstract: A stalk roll to be mounted upon a stalk roll drive shaft of a corn harvesting header is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stalk roll comprises a cylindrical shell, at least four flutes affixed to and extending radially from said cylindrical shell, wherein the flutes are arranged in a first group and a second group, wherein the first group and the second group contain an equal number of said flutes, and wherein a peripheral distance between the first group and the second group is greater than a peripheral distance between the flutes within either the first group or the second group.

Abstract: A stripper plate for use with a corn head row unit includes a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion is substantially flat such that the lateral surface of the front portion is parallel to the ground surface. The rear portion is integrally formed with the first portion and is beveled downward toward the ground surface. The interface between the front portion and the rear portion may be a gradually beveled area wherein the downward slope of the stripper plate increases along its length from the front thereof to the rear thereof.

Abstract: A stalk roll to be mounted upon a stalk roll drive shaft of a corn harvesting header in one embodiment comprises a cylindrical shell, at least four flutes affixed to and extending radially from the cylindrical shell, wherein the flutes are arranged in a first group and a second group, wherein the first group and the second group contain an equal number of said flutes, and wherein a peripheral distance between the first group and the second group is greater than a peripheral distance between the flutes within either the first group or the second group.

Abstract: Four (4) methods to reduce stalk shear in a corn head row unit utilize a non-variable or dependent drive system. The four methods described include altering the gearbox ratio, increasing the lengths of the fluted portion of the stalk roll, increasing stalk roll diameter or reducing the size of the gathering chain drive sprocket. This novel idea provides an apparatus and method to which genetically improved taller and healthier corn plants can be harvested with minimal amounts of material other than ears ultimately being transferred to the threshing unit.

Abstract: A stripper plate having for use with a corn head row unit includes a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion is substantially flat such that the lateral surface of the front portion is parallel to the ground surface. The rear portion is integrally formed with the first portion and is beveled downward toward the ground surface. The interface between the front portion and the rear portion may be a gradually beveled area wherein the downward slope of the stripper plate increases along its length from the front thereof to the rear thereof.