Abstract: A cutting mechanism for a maize cutter having several divider plates and at least one outside deflector for directing cornstalks into the maize cutter; the maize cutter also having entry chains or entry bands disposed between the divider plates and also between the divider plates and the outside deflector for holding the cornstalks fast and feeding the cornstalks to the cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism is a double cutter including upper sets of cutter blades and co-acting associated lower sets of cutter blades, with each of the upper and associated lower cutter blades being arranged in a column. The upper and associated lower sets of cutter blades are laterally spaced from each other to define bladeless sections therebetween. The sets of cutter blades are disposed between the divider plates and also between the divider plates and the outside deflector, respectively, with the bladeless sections being disposed under the divider plates.

Abstract: A pair of cooperating elongated cutting members is mounted on the frame of a harvester for reciprocation along a common plane located intermediate the cutting members by means of arms pivotally connected to the frame and to the cutting members. A lever is pivoted to each of the cutting members and to the frame and has the same effective length as the associated arm, the pivot points of the associated arm and lever being located in the corners of an imaginary parallelogram. A crank drive moves a pair of connecting rods which are articulated to the respective levers intermediate the pivot points thereof. The cutting members have a plurality of recesses which are laterally bounded by cutting edges extending transversely of the elongation of the respective cutting members so that the objects which enter into the recesses are cut by the cutting edges in the common plane. The axis of rotation of the crank may be vertical, while the levers and arms may reciprocate in parallel horizontal planes.