Abstract: In an agricultural pick-up baler, forming rectangular bales of harvested agricultural material or field fodder like hay, straw, grass-silage, the agricultural material is loaded to a compressing device shredding and crushing the fodder to a highly densified tough layer, urged to a baling chamber via a press channel. The fed-in position of the layer is then additionally densified and compacted at its flat side by a pressing plate against the resistance of friction within the baling chamber with simultaneous extruding said rectangular bale through a rear discharge opening of said baling chamber. By the method and apparatus according to the invention properly shaped and highly densified bales are produced with relatively light-weighted and simple-driven compacting structural elements. Thus, the massive and expensive pitman-and-crank-assembly of conventional balers can be avoided.

Abstract: A mowing apparatus for mowing stalk-like crops independently of rows and conveying the mowed crop to a draw-in-box of a chopper, including two rotating mowing rollers with rigid entrainment fingers, the mowing rollers being arranged laterally in front of the draw-in-box of the chopper, and two rotating wipe-off-rollers provided with wipe-off-fingers and cooperating with the mowing rollers by overlapping of the tip paths of the entrainment fingers and of the wipe-off-fingers, wherein the entrainment fingers are hook-shaped and inclined forward with respect to the radial direction and the wipe-off-fingers having a greater circumference velocity than the entrainment fingers.

Abstract: A mechanical cabinet for storing and delivering inventory, wherein carrier units having inserts are selectively delivered to a delivery station by a conveyor mechanism which includes a vertical conveyor having an endless chain and sprocket wheels. The inventory items are contained within inserts in the carrier units, and when a carrier unit is located at the delivery station, an ejection device arranged on a side of the carrier unit opposite the delivery station operates to eject the inserts in order to make the inventory items available. The ejection device is provided with a drive which is switched to alternate with a drive which is provided for the carrier units.

Abstract: In a drum type chopper, a drum, rotatable about a stationary axis, mounts cutters which co-act with a counter knife in effecting a chopping action. A cylindrical grinding wheel is positioned to sharpen the cutters on the drum. The grinding wheel is movable between a rest position and a grinding position relative to the cutters. The grinding wheel has an axial length corresponding approximately to the axial length of the drum. Further, during the grinding operation, the grinding wheel is rotated and reciprocated relative to the same axis.

Abstract: In a chopper, at least one cutter rotates about an axis moving over a retaining wall of a chopper housing and past an opposing knife edge located at the inlet opening into the chopper. The opposing knife edge is adjustably supported on a support relative to the plane or circle of revolution of the cutter. An adjustment device actuatable at a location exterior of the chopper housing effects the adjustment of the opposing knife edge when a locking device is released. The locking device includes a clamping device for pressing the opposite ends of the opposing cutting edge against the support. A force accumulator provides an elastic force for maintaining the clamping action. The locking device also includes a releasing device acting against the force accumulator for releasing the clamping action.

Abstract: A protective device for movable mechanical shelves, such as paternoster shelves, discontinues movement of the shelves when obstructions are located in their path. The protective device includes light barriers positioned at the boundaries of an opening at which the shelves can be selectively positioned. Electric circuitry connects the light barriers and the motor for driving or moving the shelves. The electric circuitry permits the testing of the operational readiness of the overall protective device during the movement of the shelves.

Abstract: In a field chopper or chopper forage harvester, a disc wheel chopper is mounted within a housing for rotation about an axis with an elongated discharge tube opening from the radially outer surface of the housing. A crushing device is located within the discharge tube and is positioned to receive the material carried along the circumferentially inner surface of the housing by the disc wheel. The discharge tube forms an air transport duct located radially inwardly of the crushing device relative to the axis of the disc wheel chopper so that air flow generated by the disc wheel bypasses the crushing device and flows through the air transport duct for supporting the flow of material exiting from the crushing device.

Abstract: A forage or picking harvester for the rough grinding of grain has a housing with a cylindrically shaped outer wall. A cutting blade wheel is located within the housing coaxial with the cylindrically shaped wall. The housing has an inlet and an outlet with a discharge duct forming the outlet and extending outwardly from the cylindrically shaped wall. Blades are mounted on the cutting blade wheel and extend radially of the axis of the wheel with the radially outer ends moving along a circle located at the inside surface of the cylindrically shaped wall. A comb-like arrangement of bearing arms is located within the discharge duct adjacent to the opening from the housing so that the blades on the cutting wheel hurl the grains against the bearing arms whereby the arms effect a rough grinding of the grain.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting sheet metal plates from a supply source and positioning the plates at a plate shearing table includes a carrier capable of horizontal transport. A device is secured to the carrier for effecting up and down and turning movement. A gripper member is mounted on the device and moves with it. The gripper member includes at least one electromagnetic plate with an annular sealing lip in the surface of the plate. In combination with the surface of the plate, the sealing lip forms a suction space connected to vacuum producing equipment. A switch controls the electromagnetic plate and a control valve operates the vacuum producing equipment with the switch and control valve arranged in a parallel switching network.

Abstract: A forage or picking harvester unit includes a cylindrical cutter followed by an impeller fan with a crushing device in the path between the cutter and the fan. In the cylindrical cutter, the cutting wheel shaft is arranged perpendicularly relative to the shaft of the impeller fan. The crushing device is formed of crushing rollers with the roller axes extending parallel to the cutting wheel shaft. The crushing rollers are positioned in the path of the material flowing from the cylindrical cutter into the impeller fan. The circumferential surfaces of the crushing rollers are fluted in the direction parallel to the roller axes. The fluted surfaces form alternating teeth and recesses so that the circumferential surfaces of the crushing rollers can intermesh.

Abstract: Corn-earlage is processed so that the kernels and corn-cobs are finely chopped while the husks retain their raw fiber structure. The mixture of the finely chopped kernels and corn-cobs along with husks is placed in a silo to produce ensilage. If the ensilage is to be used to feed hogs, it is removed from the silo and passed through a screen or separating drum for adjusting the fiber content of the material. Depending on the fiber content desired, the material is introduced into the screen drum provided with a number of serially arranged rows of screen plates. Each row has a removable plate which can be replaced with other plates having larger or smaller openings for achieving the desired fiber content in the ensilage to be fed to the hogs. The drum axle is inclined to the horizontal and is adjustably supported at the inlet end of the drum so that its height relative to the outlet end can be varied.

Abstract: In a forage cutter, a cutting wheel is rotatably mounted within a housing. For an angular portion of the wheel relative to the housing, its outer circumferential periphery is positioned adjacent to a backing wall of the housing. Alternating knives and blades are attached to the cutting wheel about its circumferential periphery with the knives coacting with a stationary cutting plate to cut forage material introduced into the housing. After the material is cut it is carried downwardly to a space where it is crushed and the crushed material is moved upwardly by the blades on the cutting wheel to an outlet passageway. The crushing space is provided by diverging the backing wall outwardly from the outer circumferential periphery of the cutting wheel. Following the crushing space, the backing wall converges inwardly toward the outer circumferential periphery of the cutting wheel. The outlet passageway follows the inwardly converging backing wall in the direction of rotation of the cutting wheel.

Abstract: A multi-row corn cutter forage harvester and/or picker forage harvester, such as a forage harvester of the disc-wheel type, includes a first support bar arranged to be mounted on the three-part attachment linkage of a tractor. A second support bar, which mounts the harvester device, is connected to the first support bar by a swivel hinge. The second support bar can be pivoted relative to the first bar between a first position extending laterally outwardly from the first support bar and a second position where the second support bar is located behind the first support bar. In the first position, the harvesting device can be operated, while in the second position it is arranged for transport. It could be possible to operate the harvesting device in the second position. A belt drive for the harvesting device extends from a first pulley mounted on the first support bar to a second pulley mounted on the second support bar.

Abstract: To achieve a greater accuracy, an optoelectronic measuring method and an apparatus for measuring with optoelectronic instruments provides that one or two light rays of one or two light transmitters, such as lasers, are directed at an acute angle onto a surface to be shaped and that the distance covered from the starting position to the end position in the shaping operations is measured by means of a photodetector, e.g., a diode camera, which is set up perpendicular to the light spot or spots.

Abstract: A device for stacking plates or sheet metal blanks cut in guillotine shears includes a rotatable drum with radially outwardly extending partitions defining a number of compartments located around the circumferential outside surface of the drum and extending in the axial direction of the drum. Each compartment receives a cut plate in a first position, carries the plate to a second position where the plate is moved by a displacement device in the axial direction of the drum into a location corresponding to a stacking position, and then with further rotation of the drum, the compartment reaches a third position where the plate is removed to the stacking position. Further, conveyor belts can be used to receive plates from the compartments in the drum and to carry the plates to stacking positions spaced from the drum.

Abstract: Sheet metal shears are located at one end of a table over which sheet metal is moved toward the shears. A lateral stop of positioned along one of the table edges extending transversely of the shears. The table surface is inclined downwardly toward the lateral stop. Clamping members are located adjacent to and are movable along the edge where the lateral stop is located.

Abstract: A multi row corn cutter harvester is disclosed having two positions of operation when connected to a three point towing bracket of a tractor. The harvester may be connected either alongside the tractor in an operating mode or behind the tractor in a second operating mode. A system of drive including relative locations of input and output shafts and connections is disclosed.

Abstract: A press having a tamping tool with a hydraulic drive includes a top clamp bar and a structure which clears a working space accessible from three sides. The structure is asymmetrically stressed during operation. The press includes a table with lower tools carried on the table. At least two lower crossheads are connected and are located at the rear of the table. Upright columns are mounted on the lower crossheads and limit the working space from the rear. Upper crossheads are connected with the upright columns. The upright columns are constructed as tension-compression elements and may include tension rods. The table along with the upper and lower crossheads and possibly the upright columns can be cast of concrete.

Abstract: To cut strips in the length direction from long sheet metal plates, a table upports the plate and a cutting device moves along the length of the plate supported on the table for cutting the desired strip in a series of cutting steps. The cutting device includes a bottom cutter and a top cutter with the top cutter being movable toward and away from the bottom cutter for making partial cuts across the length of the plate. The cutting device is moved along the support table in the length direction of the plate. After completing the cutting of a strip, the cutting device can be reversed to cut another strip as it moves in the opposite direction. Movable clamps hold the plate down during the cutting operation. Further, movable members are provided in the support table to support the strip as it is cut in successive steps.

Abstract: In a shearing device for cutting plates, such as sheet metal plates, a pl feeding apparatus includes a carriage mounted for movement above and between a plate feeder and the shearing device. A rotatable carrier is mounted on the carriage for lifting and holding plates. The rotatable carrier can be turned through 360.degree.. A plurality of vacuum suction members are positioned on the carrier for holding the plates.