Abstract: A feeding and picking device having a rotating feeding device that is rotated about a vertical axis. The device is able to work in fields not planted in rows and is designed to grasp plant stalks and feed them into a picking device. The picking device comprises a snapping channel formed by snapping bars under which is located at least one snapping roll. The feeding device comprises a disc having fingers that overlap the snapping channel. The feeding device is therefore designed to transport the plant throughout the effective length of the picking device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a harvesting apparatus (10), particularly a corn picker, comprising two drawing-in and picking units (18), each of which is provided with a picking gap (24) and a drawing-in device (26) that can be operated so as to draw plants into the picking gap (24) by means of which the infructescences can be separated from the plants. The inventive harvesting apparatus (10) further comprises a stalk chopper (32) that is disposed downstream of the drawing-in device (26), is used for comminuting the plant stalks, and is provided with a knife (36) which can be rotated about a shaft extending at least approximately in a vertical direction. The invention is characterized in that the envelope circle (38) described by the knife (40) of the stalk chopper spans at least the drawing-in devices (26) of two adjacent drawing-in and picking units (18).

Abstract: A gathering and picking device comprising a picking gap, which is used to separate fruits from plants standing on a field. The gathering and picking device is provided with a first feed element operating at a first feeding speed and a second feed element operating at a second feeding speed. Both feed elements are located adjacent to the input region of the picking gap. The second feed element is arranged above the first feed element. Both feed elements cooperate to convey the plants into the picking gap. The second feeding speed is higher than the first feeding speed to slope the plants rearward as they engage the feeding elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a harvesting apparatus (10), particularly a corn picker, comprising two drawing-in and picking units (18), each of which is provided with a picking gap (24) and a drawing-in device (26) that can be operated so as to draw plants into the picking gap (24) by means of which the infructescences can be separated from the plants. The inventive harvesting apparatus (10) further comprises a stalk chopper (32) that is disposed downstream of the drawing-in device (26), is used for comminuting the plant stalks, and is provided with a knife (36) which can be rotated about a shaft extending at least approximately in a vertical direction. The invention is characterized in that the envelope circle (38) described by the knife (40) of the stalk chopper spans at least the drawing-in devices (26) of two adjacent drawing-in and picking units (18).

Abstract: A combination of a harvesting machine, a crop picking head, and a vehicle to support the crop picking head. The vehicle features a mount and at least one wheel extending down from the mount that supports the crop picking head and alleviates the weight on the front wheels of the self-propelled harvesting machine when driving on the road. The vehicle is attached to the crop picking head when driving on the road and detached from the crop picking head when harvesting a field. The crop picking head includes a support frame which supports the harvesting equipment. In the preferred design, the mount is connected such that the support forces of the vehicle pass directly to the support frame rather than load more fragile components of the crop picking head.

Abstract: A vehicle for supporting a crop picking head attached to a self-propelled harvester during over-the-road transportation in order to reduce the load on the wheels of the harvester in order to meet regulatory requirements. The vehicle is attached to the crop picking head in preparation for road travel and detached before harvesting a field. The vehicle features a mount and at least one wheel supported downward from the mount. Furthermore, the wheel is suspended from the mount through a spring element capable of absorbing irregularities in the road surface. Preferably the spring element is a hydraulic cylinder connected to a pressure reservoir, wherein the pressure reservoir operates independently of the harvester's hydraulic system, provides damping for the hydraulic cylinder, and may be set at various pressures based on the load and road conditions.

Abstract: A vehicle for the support of a harvesting attachment during over-the-road transportation. The vehicle features a frame and at least one wheel extending downward from the frame. The vehicle supports the harvesting attachment to reduce the load on the front wheels of a self-propelled harvester during on road transit and is detachable from the harvesting attachment when harvesting a field. Furthermore, protective equipment is installed on the vehicle for covering and/or illuminating the harvesting attachment during over-the-road transportation.

Abstract: A feeding and picking device is provided with a rotating feeding device defining a feeding radius. The feeding device is rotated about a vertical feeding axis. The picking device comprises a snapping channel formed by snapping bars under which is located at least one snapping roll. A chopping device is located beneath the picking device. The chopping device defines a chopping radius that overlies the feeding radius of the feeding device. The chopping device is rotated about a vertical axis.

Abstract: A forage harvester header is coupled to a forage harvester and is equipped with at least one mower and intake drive assembly for cutting crop and transporting the cut crop to a discharge conveyor which delivers the crop to a feed channel of the forage harvester. The drive arrangement for the header is such that the velocity of the discharge conveyor can be varied relative to the velocity of the mower and intake drive assembly.

Abstract: A forage harvester is equipped with a harvesting platform including a plurality of side-by-side mounted rotary collection and mowing drums that operate to feed stalk-like crops into a transport conduit located behind the collection and mowing drums. A pair of transport devices are mounted for rotating about respective axes located on opposite sides of a feed channel leading to an infeed channel of the forage harvester. The axes of rotation of the transport devices are tilted forward from the vertical and the transport devices include entrainment elements formed of disks having a plurality of long teeth formed thereabout, the long teeth projecting into the transport channel.

Abstract: A forage harvester header is coupled to a forage harvester and is equipped with at least one mower and intake drive assembly for cutting crop and transporting the cut crop to a discharge conveyor which delivers the crop to a feed channel of the forage harvester. The drive arrangement for the header is such that the velocity of the discharge conveyor can be varied relative to the velocity of the mower and intake drive assembly.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester has a relatively wide mowing implement attached to its forward end and including right and left hand rotary mowing and drawing in drums together with right and left hand rotary conveying drums. A drive transmission for driving these drums includes a pair of identical slip clutches having respective first sections defined in principal part by a fluid tight cylindrical container having opposite end plates and through the respective centers of which a drive element extends, with the drive element of one clutch being coupled to the drive element of the other clutch by a central drive shaft assembly. The clutches include respective second sections which are in the form of a housing which has a ring-like hub at one end adapted for being coupled to an associated right-angle transmission unit that is in turn coupled for driving the mowing and drawing in drums at that side.

Abstract: A header of a crop harvester is equipped with a plurality of side-by-side arranged intake and mowing drums, including two adjacent intake and mowing drums at one side of a crop outlet of the header, which rotate such that the one closest the outlet rotates to deliver crop first inward and then to the rear directly into a conveying channel located at the rear of the closest intake and mowing drum, while the other drum rotates to deliver crop first outward and then to the rear. A second crop conveying channel is located for receiving the crop harvested by the outer intake and mowing drums and for keeping this crop separate from that harvested by the inner intake and mowing drum until the separate streams merge at the crop outlet after being elevated there by a slope conveyor provided for lifting the crop from the working height of intake and cutting drums to the crop outlet, which is at a height above the working height.

Abstract: A crop harvester header includes a plurality of intake and mowing drums mounted in side-by-side relationship to each other across the width of the header. Located to the rear of the intake and mowing drums for receiving crop delivered to the rear by them are a pair of slope conveyor drums respectively located on opposite sides of a longitudinal center plane of the header and at opposite sides of an inlet passage leading to feed rolls for introducing the crop into a chopper drum of the harvester.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester has a relatively wide mowing implement attached to its forward end and including right and left hand rotary mowing and drawing in drums together with right and left hand rotary conveying drums. A drive transmission for driving these drums includes a pair of identical slip clutches having respective first sections defined in principal part by a fluid tight cylindrical container having opposite end plates and through the respective centers of which a drive element extends, with the drive element of one clutch being coupled to the drive element of the other clutch by a central drive shaft assembly. The clutches include respective second sections which are in the form of a housing which has a ring-like hub at one end adapted for being coupled to an associated right-angle transmission unit that is in turn coupled for driving the mowing and drawing in drums at that side.

Abstract: A machine for mowing stalk-like crop includes a plurality of intake and mowing arrangements mounted in side-by-side relationship to each other and operative to deliver the mowed crop to a transverse crop conveying channel located behind the intake and mowing arrangements. The width of the channel available for carrying harvested crop is constructed so as to be variable in accordance with the amount of crop being conveyed at any location along the channel so that a positive conveyance of the crop always takes place without plugging.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester has a relatively wide mowing implement attached to its forward end and including right and left hand rotary mowing and drawing in drums together with right and left hand rotary conveying drums. A drive transmission for driving these drums includes a pair of identical slip cluthes having respective first sections defined in principal part by a fluid tight cylindrical container having opposite end plates and through the respective centers of which a drive element extends, with the drive element of one clutch being coupled to the drive element of the other clutch by a central drive shaft assembly. The clutches include respective second sections which are in the form of a housing which has a ring-like hub at one end adapted for being coupled to an associated righ-angle transmission unit that is in turn coupled for driving the mowing and drawing in drums at that side.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a machine including several transversely spaced feed and mowing devices for mowing stalk-type crops. A transverse conveyor channel, through which the harvested crop can be conveyed at least approximately transverse to the forward driving direction, is provided on the rear side of the aforementioned feed and mowing devices, and a feed channel, through which the harvested crop can be fed to a chopping device, is arranged on the downstream end of the transverse conveyor channel. Provided and an intersection of the transverse conveyor channel and the feed channel is a deflector element that is mounted for deflecting downwardly and/or rearwardly plants that protrude out of the transverse conveyor channel such as to prevent them from becoming jammed in front of the feed channel.

Abstract: A forage harvester is equipped with a harvesting platform including a plurality of side-by-side mounted rotary collection and mowing drums that operate to feed stalk-like crops into a transport conduit located behind the collection and mowing drums. A pair of transport devices are mounted for rotating about respective axes located on opposite sides of a feed channel leading to an infeed channel of the forage harvester. The axes of rotation of the transport devices are tilted forward from the vertical and the transport devices include entrainment elements formed of disks having a plurality of long teeth formed thereabout, the long teeth projecting into the transport channel.

Abstract: An intake and plucking arrangement comprises a rotatable intake device that grasps a standing plant and directs it to a plucking gap. The plucking gap is located above parallel first and second stalk rolls that pull the stalk of the plant downwardly so that the plucking gap can separate the useful parts of the plant from the stalk. The upstream end of the first stalk roll is provided with a lower screw conveyor. A conveyor element is drivingly connected to the screw conveyor. The conveying element comprises an upper screw conveyor that is located above the lower screw conveyor. Both screw conveyors are located upstream from and above the inlet end of the plucking slot. The conveying element working in conjunction with the rotatable intake device direct standing plants into the plucking slot.