Abstract: A conditioning device for a forage harvester is equipped with a first roller, profiled in the axial direction, and a second roller, also profiled in the axial direction. The two rollers are rotated, around their axes, in opposite directions and are aligned parallel to one another. An element, profiled, in the axial direction, in a manner complementary to the profile of the first roller and adjacent to the circumference of the first roller, for the removal of crop residues from the roller, extends in a circular arc over a part of the circumference of the first roller.

Abstract: A conditioning device for a forage harvester is equipped with a first roller, profiled in the axial direction, and a second roller, also profiled in the axial direction. The two rollers are rotated, around their axes, in opposite directions and are aligned parallel to one another. An element, profiled, in the axial direction, in a manner complementary to the profile of the first roller and adjacent to the circumference of the first roller, for the removal of crop residues from the roller, extends in a circular arc over a part of the circumference of the first roller.

Abstract: A discharge arrangement of an agricultural harvesting machine comprises a retaining arrangement, a housing removably mounted onto the retaining arrangement, and a measuring device mounted within the housing. The measuring device is adapted to detect properties of the harvested crop. A cover arrangement is pivotably mounted onto the retaining arrangement to enclose the housing and the measuring device such that the housing and the measuring device are positioned between the cover arrangement and the discharge arrangement.

Abstract: The agricultural harvesting machine having a crop picking head includes a pickup conveyer which can be driven so as to pick up the harvested crop at a first adjustable speed, a discharge conveyer which can be driven so as to receive the harvested crop picked up by the pickup conveyer, transport the harvested crop, and discharge the harvested crop at a second adjustable speed, and a feed-in conveyer disposed in a feed-in channel of the harvesting machine that can be driven so as to receive the harvested crop from the discharge conveyer, transport the harvested crop, and discharge the harvested crop to a harvested crop processing unit at a third adjustable speed. The third speed and the first speed are independent of one another, and the second speed is defined by the first and third speeds and falls in a range between the first and third speeds.

Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting machine having an internal combustion engine, a propulsion system that can be operated to cause the harvesting machine to move across a field with a propulsion speed, a crop material pick-up device for picking up the crop material from a field, a crop material processing device for processing the crop material that has been picked up, a control unit for specifying the speed of the internal combustion engine, and a through-put measurement device for determining the through-put of the harvesting machine. The control unit can be operated to vary the speed of the internal combustion engine depending on the signal from the through-put measurement device. In this manner the RPM of the internal combustion engine that is most favorable in terms of fuel consumption and that corresponds to the power to be applied at a given through-put can be specified.

Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement for the adjustment of the position of a shearbar with respect to knives of a chopper assembly. The arrangement includes a first adjusting drive to position the first end of the shearbar at a predetermined first spacing from the knives and a second adjusting drive to position the second end of the shearbar with respect to the knives until a spacing measurement arrangement indicates that the spacing between the shearbar and the knives is less than a threshold value. An analogous procedure is applied to the first adjusting drive. On the basis of the measurement values the shearbar is brought into a position that corresponds to a desired gap between the shearbar and the knives. Each of the first spacing and the second spacing are greater than the desired gap between the shearbar and the knives.

Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting machine having an internal combustion engine, a propulsion system that can be operated to cause the harvesting machine to move across a field with a propulsion speed, a crop material pick-up device for picking up the crop material from a field, a crop material processing device for processing the crop material that has been picked up, a control unit for specifying the speed of the internal combustion engine, and a through-put measurement device for determining the through-put of the harvesting machine. The control unit can be operated to vary the speed of the internal combustion engine depending on the signal from the through-put measurement device. In this manner the RPM of the internal combustion engine that is most favorable in terms of fuel consumption and that corresponds to the power to be applied at a given through-put can be specified.

Abstract: The agricultural harvesting machine having a crop picking head includes a pickup conveyer which can be driven so as to pick up the harvested crop at a first adjustable speed, a discharge conveyer which can be driven so as to receive the harvested crop picked up by the pickup conveyer, transport the harvested crop, and discharge the harvested crop at a second adjustable speed, and a feed-in conveyer disposed in a feed-in channel of the harvesting machine that can be driven so as to receive the harvested crop from the discharge conveyer, transport the harvested crop, and discharge the harvested crop to a harvested crop processing unit at a third adjustable speed. The third speed and the first speed are independent of one another, and the second speed is defined by the first and third speeds and falls in a range between the first and third speeds.

Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement for the adjustment of the position of a shearbar with respect to knives of a chopper assembly. The arrangement includes a first adjusting drive to position the first end of the shearbar at a predetermined first spacing from the knives and a second adjusting drive to position the second end of the shearbar with respect to the knives until a spacing measurement arrangement indicates that the spacing between the shearbar and the knives is less than a threshold value. An analogous procedure is applied to the first adjusting drive. On the basis of the measurement values the shearbar is brought into a position that corresponds to a desired gap between the shearbar and the knives. Each of the first spacing and the second spacing are greater than the desired gap between the shearbar and the knives.

Abstract: A discharge arrangement of an agricultural harvesting machine comprises a retaining arrangement, a housing removably mounted onto the retaining arrangement, and a measuring device mounted within the housing. The measuring device is adapted to detect properties of the harvested crop. A cover arrangement is pivotably mounted onto the retaining arrangement to enclose the housing and the measuring device such that the housing and the measuring device are positioned between the cover arrangement and the discharge arrangement.

Abstract: A grinding arrangement for sharpening knives carried by a chopper drum includes a movement arrangement for moving a grinding stone along the chopper drum during a grinding process. A force measurement arrangement is provided which measures the force applied to the knife by the grinding stone, during the grinding process, and provides a signal representing this force for controlling a movement arrangement which moves the grinding stone as a function of the signal received from the force measurement arrangement. The manner of measuring the force is by way of a force measurement cell inserted in the power flux connection between the grinding stone and the chopper drum.

Abstract: A crop chopping arrangement for a forage harvester includes a shearbar mounted adjacent a path swept by chopping knives of a chopper drum and being selectively adjustable toward and away from said path so as to adjust the distance between the shearbar and knives as they pass by the shearbar. An arrangement for measuring and/or checking the distance between the shearbar and the knives includes a vibration sensor located to measure the mechanical vibrations in the shearbar produced by the moving knives, and an electronic evaluation circuit. The evaluation circuit is operable for performing a frequency analysis of the signal provided by the vibration sensor so as to derive information indicative of the distance between the shearbar and knives.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor for detecting the presence of a crop flow in a harvesting machine. The sensor is designed to emit an output signal containing information on whether crop material is passing through the harvesting machine or not. It is suggested that the sensor be designed to detect vibrations produced during the processing and/or transporting of the crop flow in the harvesting machine. Such a sensor is especially suitable for use with arrangements for calculating the area from which crop is being harvested and for mapping yields.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester includes an overload clutch inserted into the driveline of a crop conveying element of crop pick-up arrangement of the harvesting machine. The overload clutch generates acoustic and/or mechanical vibrations when a defined torque is exceeded, and a knock sensor is provided for sensing when the overload clutch is operating in an overloaded condition. The knock sensor sends a signal to a control arrangement including a signal processor which recognizes a vibration pattern representative of an overload, and in response to such a pattern, sends a control signal for shutting off the drive to various driven components of the harvester.

Abstract: A crop chopping arrangement for a forage harvester includes a shearbar mounted adjacent a path swept by chopping knives of a chopper drum and being selectively adjustable toward and away from said path so as to adjust the distance between the shearbar and knives as they pass by the shearbar. An arrangement for measuring and/or checking the distance between the shearbar and the knives includes a vibration sensor located to measure the mechanical vibrations in the shearbar produced by the moving knives, and an electronic evaluation circuit. The evaluation circuit is operable for performing a frequency analysis of the signal provided by the vibration sensor so as to derive information indicative of the distance between the shearbar and knives.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester includes an overload clutch inserted into the driveline of a crop conveying element of crop pick-up arrangement of the harvesting machine. The overload clutch generates acoustic and/or mechanical vibrations when a defined torque is exceeded, and a knock sensor is provided for sensing when the overload clutch is operating in an overloaded condition. The knock sensor sends a signal to a control arrangement including a signal processor which recognizes a vibration pattern representative of an overload, and in response to such a pattern, sends a control signal for shutting off the drive to various driven components of the harvester.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor for detecting the presence of a crop flow in a harvesting machine. The sensor is designed to emit an output signal containing information on whether crop material is passing through the harvesting machine or not. It is suggested that the sensor be designed to detect vibrations produced during the processing and/or transporting of the crop flow in the harvesting machine. Such a sensor is especially suitable for use with arrangements for calculating the area from which crop is being harvested and for mapping yields.

Abstract: A chopper drum includes a plurality of knives distributed along its width and about its circumference. A grinding device is provided for automatically sharpening the knives, with a grinding stone of the grinding device having its movement automatically controlled by a microprocessor, which receives signals from an actual shape sensor and compares it with a stored desired shape and generates control signals, such that it shapes the profile of the chopper drum to at least approximate the desired shape.

Abstract: A forage harvester includes a cutting drum equipped with a plurality of cutting knives. A grinding arrangement is provided for sharpening the knives. Different embodiments of a wear sensing device are provided which include sensing circuit elements that are either embedded in the sharpening stone or carried by the backing plate of the sharpening stone assembly. In either case, the sensing circuit elements are located so as to make or break a circuit when a predetermined amount of the sharpening stone has worn away.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a crop intake arrangement including either a reel or a crop hold down which operate to aid in the advancement of harvested crop into the machine for further processing. In the event of a jam or the presence of metal occurring, the crop intake arrangement may be operated in reverse so as to expel the jam and/or sensed metal. An actuator is provided for moving the reel or crop hold down between non-operating and operating positions and a first sensor for sensing a jam condition and/or the presence of metal is provided which sends a signal when such a condition exists, this signal being used to effect automatic operation of said actuator so as to move the reel or hold down to a non-operating position so as not to interfere with the expulsion of the jam and/or metal. Other controls are provided and other parameters are sensed for delaying and/or overriding the automatic positioning of the reel or crop hold down in their non-operating position.