Abstract: A crop processor for cracking kernels in a forage harvester, the crop processor including: a housing having an inlet and an outlet; and a first and a second comminuting roll mounted inside the housing, the comminuting rolls being arranged in parallel to define an opening between the rolls, the comminuting rolls being configured to rotate, during use, in opposing rotation directions to transport a flow of harvested crop, received from the inlet, through the opening towards the outlet, wherein the first comminuting roll is configured to rotate at a greater speed than the second comminuting roll; wherein the first and second comminuting rolls each include a plurality of teeth arranged on a circumferential surface of the comminuting roll, each of the plurality of teeth includes a leading edge which faces in the rotation direction of that comminuting roll.

Abstract: A controller for detecting an unwanted object in an agricultural machine. The agricultural machine includes a pair of rollers for receiving crop material therebetween. The pair of rollers define a variable roller opening therebetween. The controller is configured to: receive a roller-opening-value that is representative of the size of the roller opening; determine a strength-value based on the roller-opening-value and a roller-speed-value, wherein the roller-speed-value is representative of the rate of change of the roller-opening-value, with respect to time; compare the strength-value with a threshold-value; and if the strength-value exceeds the threshold-value, then provide an output signal that is indicative of an unwanted object being detected.

Abstract: A forage harvester including a frame, a cutting arrangement and a plurality of displacement mechanisms. The cutting arrangement includes a cutting drum that is rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the frame, and a shear bar holder configured to receive a shear bar attached thereto. Each of the displacement mechanisms including an actuator for displacing the shear bar with respect to the cutting drum and the frame. The displacement mechanisms include a sensor arrangement to measure one or more values representative of a force exerted on the shear bar and the shear bar holder when the cutting drum is rotating and cutting crops supplied to an area between the cutting drum and the shear bar.

Abstract: A forage harvester including a frame, a cutting arrangement and a plurality of displacement mechanisms. The cutting arrangement includes a cutting drum that is rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the frame, and a shear bar holder configured to receive a shear bar attached thereto. Each of the displacement mechanisms including an actuator for displacing the shear bar with respect to the cutting drum and the frame. The displacement mechanisms include a sensor arrangement to measure one or more values representative of a force exerted on the shear bar and the shear bar holder when the cutting drum is rotating and cutting crops supplied to an area between the cutting drum and the shear bar.

Abstract: A controller for detecting an unwanted object in an agricultural machine. The agricultural machine includes a pair of rollers for receiving crop material therebetween. The pair of rollers define a variable roller opening therebetween. The controller is configured to: receive a roller-opening-value that is representative of the size of the roller opening; determine a strength-value based on the roller-opening-value and a roller-speed-value, wherein the roller-speed-value is representative of the rate of change of the roller-opening-value, with respect to time; compare the strength-value with a threshold-value; and if the strength-value exceeds the threshold-value, then provide an output signal that is indicative of an unwanted object being detected.

Abstract: A vibration sensor is mounted on the central shaft, such that it senses vibrations induced into the feed roll assembly in a direction transverse to the rotational axis of the feed roll.

Abstract: A vibration sensor is mounted on the central shaft, such that it senses vibrations induced into the feed roll assembly in a direction transverse to the rotational axis of the feed roll.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester is disclosed having a crop processor movable into and out of the crop flow path and a service compartment arranged rearwardly of the crop flow path for accommodating an operator. A lifting mechanism is provided in the service compartment which is movable between a first position above the crop processor when the latter is withdrawn from the crop flow path and a second position outside the service compartment.

Abstract: A kernel cracking assembly comprises two frames each supporting a respective one of two rollers between which kernels are crushed. A hydraulically operated actuator acts to move the frame relative to frame to set the separation of the rollers. A position sensor coupled to the actuator forms part of a closed-loop feedback circuit which serves to maintain a predetermined separation of the rollers.

Abstract: A forage harvester is provided with a crop processor roll assembly that comprises a shaft and a removable crop processor roll having a fluted surface for cracking maize kernels. The roll has end plates, to which the shaft is connected by sleeves. The interior of the sleeve is joined to the shaft by two interference or press fits, and to the roll by a third press fit.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester is disclosed having a crop processor movable into and out of the crop flow path and a service compartment arranged rearwardly of the crop flow path for accommodating an operator. A lifting mechanism is provided in the service compartment which is movable between a first position above the crop processor when the latter is withdrawn from the crop flow path and a second position outside the service compartment.

Abstract: An agricultural machine is described with a screen for protecting a part of a cooling system of a motor mounted on the agricultural machine, the screen being mounted in its operational position adjacent the cooling system, wherein the screen is movable from the operational position next to the cooling system of the motor to a position in which the screen lies outside the envelope defining the outer form of the agricultural machine, the screen being hingedly connected to the agricultural machine so that the initial trajectory of the screen is horizontal and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the agricultural machine, and that a further second trajectory of the screen is horizontal and substantially circular, having its centre of curvature on or adjacent a first hinge position.

Abstract: The apparatus is a spring system on forage harvester feedrolls. The upper forward feedroll has two concentric springs on each side. The outer spring is operative over the whole range of displacement. The inner spring exerts tensioning force on the feedroll only as of a certain minimal lifting of the feedroll. The rear upper feedroll has one spring on each side. This one spring has a substantially smaller spring force than the forward spring package. The feedroll supporting linkages are arranged with complementary and cooperating cam surfaces which are disposed so that, when the forward feedroll is lifted above a predetermined minimum value, the rearward feedroll is also lifted thereby (to a lesser degree) without even any lifting force from the crop material passing therebelow.

Abstract: The apparatus is a spring system on forage harvester feedrolls. The Upper forward feedroll has two concentric springs on each side. The outer spring is operative over the whole range of displacement. The inner spring exerts tensioning force on the feedroll only as of a certain minimal lifting of the feedroll. The rear upper feedroll has one spring on each side. This one spring has a substantially smaller spring force than the forward spring package. The feedroll supporting linkages are arranged with complementary and cooperating cam surfaces which are disposed so that, when the forward feedroll is lifted above a predetermined minimum value, the rearward feedroll is also lifted thereby (to a lesser degree) without even any lifting force from the crop material passing therebelow.

Abstract: A forage harvester having a crop processor unit, a cutter unit operable to comminute crop material and a processor unit movably disposed between first and second positions. In the first position, the processing unit receives comminuted crop material from the cutter unit. In the second position, comminuted crop material from the cutter unit bypasses the crop processor unit. A blower unit is disposed to move with the crop processor between the first and second positions, the blower unit receiving the processed crop material directly form the crop processor unit when in the first position and directly from the cutter unit when in the second position, in both cases accelerating the processed crop material towards a handling apparatus.

Abstract: A forage harvester and a method of operating the same which comprises a crop processor unit located in a crop flow between a cutterhead and a blower rotor, the crop processor unit being for handling crop material including kernels, the crop processor comprising a pair of counter-rotating processor rolls arranged to crack kernels between the rolls when the rolls are in a first position, both processor rolls being movable away from each other to move each roll substantially out of the crop flow into a second position. A cover plate is preferably arranged to move and cover the lower roll when the rolls are in a second position and to isolate the lower roll from the crop flow. The processor rolls are preferably driven by independent drives. One of the drives can be a hydraulic motor supplied with pressure from a hydraulic pump which can also work as a motor. When used as a motor the cutterhead may be driven in the reverse direction for maintenance purposes.

Abstract: A forage harvester is provided with a front unit, comprising a rotatable cutterhead to which crop material is fed by feeding apparatus comprising stationary lower feedrolls and movable upper feedrolls. The upper feedrolls are suspended from the feeder frame by a pair of belts, which define the lowermost position of the movable feedrolls, under conditions where no or very little crop is introduced into the harvester. Inevitable accumulation of crop material or dirt on the components of the feeding apparatus will not influence the position to which the feedrolls may be lowered. A steady and even flow of crop material to the cutterhead can hence be maintained, even when little material is introduced.

Abstract: A forage harvester comprises a rotatable cutterhead (36), operable to comminute crop material and to deliver the same to a blower assembly (48, 49), which propels the material upwardly into a duct (52), which in turn directs it into a collecting vehicle, which is moved aside or behind the harvester. The blower assembly (48, 49) includes a rotatable blower (49) and a housing (48), which is attached to a support frame (60), affixed to the main frame (1) by three bolts (67, 65) only. The duct (52) is mounted onto a base plate (78), which is not connected to the blower (48, 49), and can be rotated at a variable speed with respect to the main frame (1). A set of pull rods (68) and studs (70) permit easy and precise adjustment of the rotor (49) to the housing (48). This arrangement prevents the deformation of the blower housing (48), during and after its assembly to the harvester, and eliminates the need for subsequent readjustment of the blower (49) to the housing (48), in order to restore the blower efficiency.

Abstract: A combine harvester having a threshing and separating mechanism and a grain cleaning mechanism disposed beneath the threshing and separating mechanism and including a grain pan fitted with a movable divider apparatus and operable to receive grain from the threshing and separating mechanism, sieve mechanism operable to receive grain from the grain pan, and a fan operable to blow air through the sieve mechanism, is disclosed wherein an inclination sensing mechanism for sensing the lateral inclination of the combine harvester is operatively associated with an actuator operatively coupled to the grain pan divider apparatus for positionally adjusting the grain pan divider apparatus in response to the output of the inclination sensing mechanism to compensate for any given lateral inclination of the harvester.