Abstract: A material spreader comprising a mobile tank for receiving and discharging waste material, such as manure. The spreader includes a conveying assembly comprising one or more augers rotatably mounted in the tank for conveying material received in the tank to a discharge area. An opening in the vicinity of the discharge area permits material to be dispensed to a slinger assembly mounted outside the tank adjacent the opening. Material is distributed by the slinger in a controlled pattern as the tank is transported over a field.

Abstract: A material debagging apparatus includes a receptacle movable between upright loading and inverted dumping positions. The receptacle defines a bagged material holding chamber with a closed bottom and an open top. A rupturing mechanism in the form of a pair of generally parallel drums having circumferential rows of teeth thereon is carried on the receptacle adjacent the closed bottom of the chamber. The rupturing mechanism is operable for rupturing a bag at least partially filled with material and disposed in the chamber with the bottom of the bag overlying the rupturing mechanism. A drive mechanism is coupled to the drums of the rupturing mechanism for transmitting rotary power thereto to cause counterrotation of the drums. A clamping device normally disposed in a clamping condition is mounted on the receptacle adjacent the open top of the chamber.

Abstract: A material debagging apparatus includes a receptacle movable between upright loading and inverted dumping positions. The receptacle defines a bagged material holding chamber with a closed bottom and an open top. A rupturing mechanism in the form of a pair of generally parallel drums having circumferential rows of teeth thereon is carried on the receptacle adjacent the closed bottom of the chamber. The rupturing mechanism is operable for rupturing a bag at least partially filled with material and disposed in the chamber with the bottom of the bag overlying the rupturing mechanism. A drive mechanism is coupled to the drums of the rupturing mechanism for transmitting rotary power thereto to cause counterrotation of the drums. The rupturing mechanism includes a grate-like structure consisting of a plurality of laterally spaced bars disposed above the drums for supporting the bag while it is being ruptured.

Abstract: A disc cutter forming a part of a disc cutterbar used on harvesting implements such as disc mower-conditioners is configured to permit a movement of the disc member relative to the driven shaft on which it is mounted. The disc member, which carries knives for rotation within a path of travel at a generally high speed to sever standing crop material by impact action, is clamped in a split hub by a spring-loaded fastener. At least one-half of the split hub is affixed to the driven shaft for rotation therewith. The disc member is frictionally held in place by the spring-loaded fastener which permits movement of the disc member relative to the split hub upon impact with a substantial object restricting rotative movement. The spring-loaded fastener can be in the form of an assembly of cupped washers compressed by a nut threaded onto the driven shaft of the disc cutter.

Abstract: A disc cutterbar for use on a harvesting implement such as a disc mower-conditioner is driven by an endless belt entrained around sheaves corresponding to each disc cutter within the transmission casing. To prevent interference between overlapping knives on adjacent disc cutters, alternating disc cutters are obliquely mounted on the transmission casing and positioned slightly forwardly of adjacent upright disc cutters so that the path of travel of the knife thereon is within a plane spaced vertically within the overlap area relative to the path of rotation of the knives of the adjacent upright disc cutters. The obliquely mounted disc cutters are positioned such that the forward periphery of the path of rotation of the knives thereof is in substantially the same plane as the path of rotation of the upright disc cutters so that the disc cutterbar will attain a substantially uniform level of cut.

Abstract: A disc cutterbar for use on a harvesting implement, such as a disc mower-conditioner, is driven by an endless timing belt entrained around toothed sprockets corresponding to each disc cutter within the transmission casing. The positive engagement between the toothed timing belt and the corresponding toothed sprocket provides a means for timing the rotation of adjacent disc cutters to minimize the possibility of interference between rotating knives. The toothed timing belt, however, is capable of movement relative to the toothed sprocket should the corresponding disc cutter become restricted in its rotation, such as by impact with a substantial object.

Abstract: A tobacco leaf stripping machine is provided having an improved tobacco stripping roller that has a radially contoured nose, a transition area and a base portion which primarily engages the tobacco leaf for stripping so as to permit tobacco leaves to be continuously fed along a nip formed by a pair of counter-rotating stripping rollers as well as permitting the stripping rollers to be easily removed from the stripping machine for cleaning.

Abstract: A roll forming machine picks up crop material and forms, twine wraps and discharges rolls or large round bales thereof as the machine is continuously moving across the field. The machine has front and rear roll forming chambers. Crop material is being continuously delivered either through the front chamber to the rear chamber of the machine wherein formation of a roll is being completed or to the front chamber of the machine wherein formation of a roll is being initiated as the completely formed roll located in the rear chamber is being twine wrapped and then discharged from the machine. Once the rear roll has been wrapped and discharged from the rear chamber and when the roll in the front chamber reaches a predetermined diameter size, the partially formed roll in the front chamber is then transferred to the rear chamber where formation thereof is continued.