Abstract: The present invention is related to a self-propelled forage harvester (1) comprising one or more sensors (15) mounted on the spout (30) of the harvester, and configured to measure the speed of the crop flow passing through the spout. The harvester is further equipped with a feed roll control unit (8) configured to receive a signal from the sensor and further configured to stop the rotation of the feed rolls (4,5) when the speed is lower than a pre-defined threshold, indicating that a blockage has occurred in the spout. According to an embodiment, the harvester is further provided with a hatch door arranged in the bottom of the spout. The hatch door enables the removal of the blocked crops after a blockage has occurred. In this way, a blockage can be detected quickly and removal of the blockage may also be realised in a fast and efficient way.

Abstract: An agricultural implement system includes: a work vehicle with an engine carried by a vehicle chassis and a PTO coupler coupled to the engine; an agricultural implement including a power take-off coupled to the PTO coupler, a feeder configured to feed crop material, a pickup configured to convey crop material to the feeder, and a plug sensor associated with at least one of the feeder or the pickup and configured to output a plug signal; and a control system including a controller coupled to the plug sensor. The controller is configured to: receive the plug signal to determine a plug condition exists; output a PTO decouple signal when the plug condition exists; output a stop signal when the plug condition exists; and output a plug clear signal so the power take-off is recoupled to the PTO coupler and the work vehicle resumes moving when the plug condition no longer exists.

Abstract: A bale retriever for retrieving bales which includes a bale pick up configured to contact and pick up a bale, a steering assembly configured to steer the bale retriever, at least one sensor configured to sense at least one bale feature of the bale, and a controller operatively coupled to the steering assembly and the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to receive bale drop location information, receive at least one bale feature signal from the at least one sensor, identify an exact bale location of the bale based at least partially on the bale drop location information and the at least one bale feature signal from the at least one sensor, generate a steering control signal based at least partially on the exact bale location, and output the steering control signal to the steering assembly.

Abstract: A system for supporting a cutterbar of a crop harvesting header includes a first arm pivotably secured to the header. The first arm includes a first portion configured to support the cutterbar. The first arm includes a second portion including a torsion device having a mass of elastic material connected to an adjustment assembly. The second portion is configured to be pivotably rotatable about an axis by the adjustment assembly to selectably increase or decrease a force appliable to the first portion in order to raise or lower the first portion with respect to the header. A load limiting apparatus limits an amount of torsional force that is applied to the mass of elastic material by pivotable rotation of the second portion about the axis.

Abstract: A system for supporting a cutterbar of a crop harvesting header includes an adjustment assembly including a first arm pivotably secured to the header. The first arm includes a first portion configured to support the cutterbar, and a second portion including a torsion device having a mass of elastic material connected to the adjustment assembly. The second portion is configured to be pivotably rotatable about a first axis by the adjustment assembly to selectably increase or decrease a force appliable to the first portion in order to raise or lower the first portion with respect to the header. The system further includes a connecting lever having one end pivotally connected to an interconnecting member and another end coupled to the second arm, wherein the connecting lever has a pivot portion for rotation about a second axis, the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.

Abstract: A system for supporting a cutterbar of a crop harvesting header includes an adjustment assembly including a first arm pivotably secured to the header. The first arm includes a first portion configured to support the cutterbar, and a second portion including a torsion device having a mass of elastic material connected to the adjustment assembly. The second portion is configured to be pivotably rotatable about a first axis by the adjustment assembly to selectably increase or decrease a force appliable to the first portion in order to raise or lower the first portion with respect to the header. The system further includes a connecting lever having one end pivotally connected to an interconnecting member and another end coupled to the second arm, wherein the connecting lever has a pivot portion for rotation about a second axis the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.

Abstract: A header for a harvesting machine with a movable cutterbar includes a belt drive mechanism connecting a stationary pulley mounted on the frame of the header and a relatively movable pulley mounted on the movable part of the header. The belt drive mechanism includes two guide pulleys, a belt mounted along said pulleys, and a pivot assembly mounted on the auger shaft. The guide pulleys are mounted on opposite lever arms of the pivot and said belt drive mechanism further includes a tensioning mechanism.

Abstract: A header for a harvesting machine having a frame, a cutterbar mounted on the frame operable to cut standing crop, the cutterbar being adjustable relative to the frame in a fore-and-aft direction, and a reel rotatably supported between a pair of reel arms pivotally mounted on the frame and operable to sweep crop material towards and over the cutterbar, a hydraulic cylinder extending between each reel arm and a corresponding side wall of the header frame to effect a generally vertical movement of the reel, comprising an interlock mechanism operably interconnecting the cutterbar and the hydraulic cylinder at each side of the header for adjusting the vertical position of the reel in response to a fore-and-aft movement of the cutterbar to maintain substantially constant the spacing and avoiding interference between the reel and the cutterbar.

Abstract: A header for a harvesting machine with a movable cutterbar includes a belt drive mechanism connecting a stationary pulley mounted on the frame of the header and a relatively movable pulley mounted on the movable part of the header. The belt drive mechanism includes two guide pulleys, a belt mounted along said pulleys and a pivot assembly mounted on the auger shaft. The guide pulleys a are mounted on opposite lever arms of the pivot and said belt drive mechanism further includes a tensioning mechanism.

Abstract: A header for a harvesting machine having a frame, a cutterbar mounted on the frame operable to cut standing crop, the cutterbar being adjustable relative to the frame in a fore-and-aft direction, and a reel rotatably supported between a pair of reel arms pivotally mounted on the frame and operable to sweep crop material towards and over the cutterbar, a hydraulic cylinder extending between each reel arm and a corresponding side wall of said header frame to effect a generally vertical movement of said reel, comprising an interlock mechanism operably interconnecting the cutterbar and the hydraulic cylinder at each side of the header for adjusting the vertical position of the reel in response to a fore-and-aft movement of the cutterbar to maintain substantially constant the spacing and avoiding interference between the reel and the cutterbar.

Abstract: In a header having a movably mounted knife and a guard for shielding the moving and rotating components operating the knife, the guard preferably comprising two interconnected parts of which the first part is mounted on the header so as not to move with the knife and the second part is coupled for movement with the knife. In this way, the area shielded by the guard automatically expands and contracts with movement of the knife.