Abstract: A crop conditioner for crimping cut crops to enhance rapid drying. The conditioner includes two crimper roller members mounted to a frame. One roller member is radially movable with respect to the other and has a constant bias toward the stationary roller when under load. The conditioner includes a drive mechanism at each end for positive drive of both roller members from both ends. The biasing means permits independent radial motion of each end of the movable roller member.

Abstract: A pull-type mower-conditioner has a main frame including a pair of laterally spaced, downwardly projecting legs. A lower conditioner roll has opposite ends rotatably mounted to the main frame while an upper conditioner roll is mounted for arcuate movement towards and away from the lower roll by means of a pair of laterally spaced, L-shaped roll support arms that are respectively vertically pivotally mounted to the pair of main frame legs and have forwardly projecting legs in which opposite ends of the upper roll are rotatably mounted. A header is suspended from the main frame for vertical floating movement by a pair of four-bar linkages respectively coupled to opposite ends of the header and coupled directly between upstanding legs of each of the roll support arms and a bottom link of each of the four-bar linkages is a float spring that acts to simultaneously exert a lifting force on the header and a downwardly biasing force on the upper conditioner roll.

Abstract: In an agricultural machine movable over the ground in a prearranged direction and capable of conditioning stalked goods, including a rotor member defining a periphery and rotatable in use about a main axis substantially parallel to the ground, and a channel forming member adjacent the rotor member and establishing therewith a guide channel for guiding goods therethrough, a brush arrangement is mounted on one of the members operatively conditioning and sweeping the goods through the guide channel, and conveying prongs are connected to the rotor member at selected portions of its periphery.

Abstract: The device for mowing and conditioning crops including a plurality of juxtaposed mowing rotors and a conditioner rotatably arranged around a horizontal axis immediately behind and extending substantially across the width of the mowing rotors. The conditioner includes a shaft with left and right pitched auger flights which join at approximately the longitudinal center of the shaft so that the cut hay is directed into a single narrow swath in the center behind the conditioner. Conditioning tools are secured along the outer edge of the auger flights and the conditioner is rotated in a direction causing an overshot movement of the hay from the mowing rotors.

Abstract: A mowing machine having cutting elements and a beam for attaching to a tractor, and an intermediate structure to which is connected the beam, the cutting elements comprising a first and a second cutting group each group extending on the opposite side of the intermediate structure. The cutting groups are removably mounted on the intermediate structure and optionally are associated with conditioning members for further handling harvested produce.

Abstract: A mowing machine for cutting crop comprises a chassis, cutting members supported by the chassis, and an intermediate structure on the chassis which at least partially supports the cutting members. The cutting members extend on both side of the intermediate structure. The mowing machine also comprises members, such as rotary drums or separating surfaces, which prevent attachment of the crop to the intermediate structure. In a preferred embodiment, the mowing machine further includes conditioning members so that the cutting members and conditioning members comprise a cutting-conditioning group.

Abstract: A mowing machine comprises cutting members which are rotatable about upwardly extending axes and drivable via a change-speed mechanism which enables their speed of rotation to be adjusted, for example to suit the characteristics of the crop being mown. The machine also has crushing member driven via a mechanism having replaceable gears for adjusting speed, said crushing member mounted behind the cutting members to rotate about a horizontal axis and having an adjustable head.

Abstract: A crop engaging device for conveying and/or treating crop comprises a support and a plurality of crop engaging elements extending outwardly from the base. The device may be a stationary array of elements protruding into a crop flow, or a rotor which may be driven to convey or retard crop, or may be freely rotating. The crop engaging elements may be outwardly extending fins, or transversely extending ribs, or discs perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The crop engaging elements may have specified yielding characteristics, being yieldable in a preferred direction and being yieldable predominantly at a region spaced from the outer tip. Each fin may be inclined relative to the direction of crop flow to impart lateral movement to the crop. Two cooperating rotors may have crop engaging elements which intermesh so that ribs or discs on one rotor press crop onto sharp tips of brushes or fins on the other rotor to condition the crop. Transverse ribs may be radially sprung to avoid damage.

Abstract: Standing crops severed by sickle mechanism at the leading edge of the machine are swept upwardly and rearwardly along a platform by a rotating reel to a lower, center-gathering auger and an upper, spaced distributing auger that converge the materials centrally and distribute them evenly across a discharge opening ahead of rearwardly positioned conditioning rolls. As severed materials pass through the machine, the flow is gently and progressively converged vertically due to the distances between the reel and the underlying platform, the two augers, and the conditioning rolls becoming progressively smaller.

Abstract: A device for conditioning agricultural products, such as fodder, by generating sparks or electrical discharges at electrodes is disclosed. The device comprises at least one group of electrodes, said electrodes of said group being connected in parallel to each other, and an electrical control system connected to at least said one group of electrodes. The electrical control system supplies at any given moment to at least said one group of electrodes the voltage necessary to produce a spark or an electric discharge at at least one of the electrodes. In a preferred embodiment, the conditioning device is mounted on a tractor in advance of a cutting mechanism so that the agricultural product can pass through the conditioning device immediately prior to cutting.

Abstract: A hay pre-conditioner mounted on a hay-baler so as to be disposed in front thereof and raisable thereto, wherein the hay pre-conditioner is comprised of an elongated, box-like structure having a plurality of transversely mounted steam outlet nozzles for conditioning a windrow of hay in front of the baler.

Abstract: A basic snowblower unit powered by an engine has a rectangular shroud housing a fan with a drive member associated with it. A considerable number of special units including lawnmower, vacuum-and-bagger, leaf picker, edger, rotary tiller, leaf blower, sprayer, electric generator, hydraulic pump, and air compressor, are individually attachable for support and powering by the basic snowblower unit, providing for all-year use of it, compact storage and economy in purchase and ownership.

Abstract: A method of preparation or conditioning of stalk agricultural products includes formation of a field or a space in which an electrical potential difference forms current- and spark shocks. An arrangement includes supports provided with electrodes which are arranged in pairs opposite to one another, and the support forms therebetween a feeding passage for the product. One of the supports can be formed as a driven organ. The arrangement can be associated with a mowing mechanism.

Abstract: In a forage cutter, a cutting wheel is rotatably mounted within a housing. For an angular portion of the wheel relative to the housing, its outer circumferential periphery is positioned adjacent to a backing wall of the housing. Alternating knives and blades are attached to the cutting wheel about its circumferential periphery with the knives coacting with a stationary cutting plate to cut forage material introduced into the housing. After the material is cut it is carried downwardly to a space where it is crushed and the crushed material is moved upwardly by the blades on the cutting wheel to an outlet passageway. The crushing space is provided by diverging the backing wall outwardly from the outer circumferential periphery of the cutting wheel. Following the crushing space, the backing wall converges inwardly toward the outer circumferential periphery of the cutting wheel. The outlet passageway follows the inwardly converging backing wall in the direction of rotation of the cutting wheel.

Abstract: A processing apparatus for agricultural stalk-shaped products, and wherein the products are adapted to be formed into a stream of products following cutting thereof from the ground, includes a rotatably driven conveyor element with a plurality of approximately radially outwardly extending conveyor tools separated from one another by gaps, and operatively defining a trajectory, a guidance element defining a plurality of openings, cooperating with the conveyor element for guiding the products, and forming with the conveyor element a guidance channel extending transversely to the stream of products, and wherein the guidance element intersects the trajectory near the front end and near the rear end of the guidance channel, so that the conveyor tools project at least partially outwardly through corresponding openings in the guidance element.

Abstract: A fodder conditioner, also known as a fodder squeezer, includes at least two horizontal rotating rollers, kinematic and constructional devices for securing the rollers in a mutual substantially parallel relationship, spaced apart at preset positions with respect to each other and to the ground, and a motor kinetically coupled to the rollers. At least one of the rollers is formed from an elastomeric material such as rubber, is of hollow construction, and is secured, mechanically and in an air-tight manner, to a shaft extending coaxially with the rotation axis of the rollers, with the two ends of the shaft protruding out of the roller ends.

Abstract: A mowing device comprises a frame movable across a field and a cutter bar carried by said frame and having a plurality of cutting members rotatably driven about standing shafts through a transmission housed in said bar, said frame being adapted to accommodate crop crushing means at a higher level than the cutter bar, wherein a common main drive rotates one of the outermost cutting members and, if necessary, the crushing means through an intermediate drive arranged in a rotating drum on top of said outermost cutting member.In order to limit the disadvantage of crop winding around the drum at low numbers of revolution and to minimize the imbalance of fast rotating cutting members the drum of the mowing device is constructed in the form of two coaxial, aligned drum parts, between which a gap-shaped space is left free.

Abstract: Lawn clippings are pelletized and distributed back onto the lawn directly, for example, as part of a mowing operation. For this purpose the lawn clippings are supplied into the top of a chamber wherein compression rollers press the clippings through a stationary apertured plate for extruding the clippings in the form of compressed strands. A rotating distribution disk is arranged below the plate for breaking up the strands into pellets and for throwing or distributing the pellets over the lawn as it is being mowed. The pressure applied to the grass clippings is adjusted to be sufficient for the extrusion, but insufficient for squeezing the natural juices out of the grass clippings. To avoid clogging and positive extrusion at all times during the operation, the compression rollers are preferably driven positively by a double drive system for rotation about a vertical and horizontal axis.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for applying a weed killer to selected areas of a harvested crop in combination with the harvester employed to do the said harvesting.

Abstract: Roll opening apparatus for separating the crop conditioning rolls of a mower conditioner is presented. The mower conditioner is of the type wherein a wheel supported main frame has mounted thereto by pivotal linkage a transversely disposed header having a sickle spanning its forward edge, a rotary reel for rearwardly sweeping the crop cuttings across a platform, and an auger at the rear of the platform for delivering the crop cuttings to the nip of a pair of laterally extending upper and lower crop conditioning rolls. The lower conditioning roll is rotatably mounted to the header on a fixed axis. The upper conditioning roll is mounted on lever arms pivoted to the header and biased by tension springs to an operating position adjacent the lower roll. Each lever arm is fitted with a hydraulic cylinder mounted so that extension of its piston causes the upper conditioning roll to open against the force of the tension springs.

Abstract: Apparatus for picking up cut crop from the ground or from a mower comprises a rotor driven so that the rotor picks up crop and carries the crop upwardly and rearwardly over the rotor. A hood extends over the front of the rotor and defines therewith a crop flow passage along which the crop is conveyed by the rotor. The hood is pivotally mounted by arms to side plates of the frame, and is movable along a predetermined path which is eccentric relative to the axis of the rotor. The hood is movable in response to and by the effect of the crop to effect automatic adjustment of the clearance at the entrance to the crop flow passage. An increased crop load moves the hood upwardly and rearwardly against the effect of gravity and optionally against a biasing spring. In other examples, only a front portion of the hood moves, and this may comprise a transverse roller suspended on a hinge above the entrance to the crop flow passage.

Abstract: In apparatus for conditioning crops such as grass, one or more conditioning devices engage crop passing through a passage and condition the crop by relative movement between the conditioning device and the crop. Preferably each conditioning device is a brush having a multiplicity of stiff, resilient, elongated elements which are yieldable in more than one plane in response to engagement by the crop by bending of the elements. One brush may form a rotary conveying device for conveying crop through the passage, and another brush may accelerate or retard the crop relative to the first brush. The second brush may be stationary or may be another rotary brush. The conditioning apparatus may be mobile or stationary, and when mobile may include cutting means for cutting crop to be conditioned.

Abstract: A linkage for equalizing the biasing forces exerted on the opposing transverse ends of the upper conditioning roll in a mower-conditioner is disclosed wherein a separate torsion bar is utilized to bias each respective end of the upper conditioning roll toward the lower conditioning roll, each torsion bar being connected to a biasing force equalization member for equalizing the pressure exerted on the opposing transverse ends of the upper conditioning roll. The equalization member includes a pair of arms interconnected by a trunnion to permit a limited relative movement between the two arms to accommodate differences in manufacturing tolerances in the torsion bars. An adjustment crank is connected to the trunnion to effect a selective simultaneous movement of the arms to vary the roll pressure.

Abstract: A mower-conditioner having a pair of rotatable conditioning rolls cooperable to condition severed crop material passing therebetween is disclosed wherein the bearings rotatably supporting each conditioning roll are recessed into the end of the conditioning roll. The recessed bearings are mounted within a cup-shaped housing, the conditioning roll drive shaft being affixed to a support plate recessed from the end of the conditioning roll to permit the recessed mounting of the bearings. Hexagonal bore bearings and short throated clamp yokes are utilized to eliminate the need for locking devices and minimize the overall transverse width of the mower-conditioner. Timing flanges to permit a timed intermeshing relationship between the conditioning rolls is formed as a part of the conditioning roll drive shaft.

Abstract: A disc mower-conditioner having rotatable disc cutter units for severing standing crop material by impact action and a rotatable conditioning mechanism disposed rearwardly of the disc cutters to condition severed crop material is disclosed wherein a hat-shaped baffle is disposed above the disc cutters to restrict the movement of light crop material above the disc cutters and assist the feeding of crop material into the conditioning mechanism. The light hay baffle extends transversely and is mounted on opposing side sheets of the disc mower-conditioner. The light hay baffle includes an upper section having forwardly and rearwardly sloped portions meeting in an upper apex and a lower section having a generally planar horizontal portion and an upwardly sloping portion connected to the upper section. This baffle construction restricts the air turbulence caused by rotation of the disc cutters and conditioning mechanism and prevents material from accumulating on top of the baffle.

Abstract: A crop engaging rotor for conveying and/or conditioning crop comprises support members and a plurality of outwardly extending crop engaging elements. Each crop engaging element comprises an elongate strip of stiff resilient synthetic plastics material folded to form two outwardly extending arms generally in a V-shape. The folded strip is secured to a first flange of a channel-section transverse mounting bar which forms part of the rotor. The arms of the conditioning element protrude through openings in the support member which provide guide surfaces and, which maintain the folded strip in the V configuration against the outward bias of the arms. The arms are yieldable to move rearwardly under excess load conditions by a rocking movement about the bolt and by sliding movement of the arms along the guide surfaces.

Abstract: A crop cutting and conditioning apparatus has two vertical axis rotary drum cutters 13, each having an upper rotor with a crop conveying surface 19 and a lower rotor carrying knives 21. Gears drive the upper and lower rotors at different peripheral velocities. The lower rotor has an annular rim 18 having an upper surface shaped to continue the outline of the conveying surface 19. The knives 21 protrude outwardly from beneath the rim 18 and rotate with the rim. The upper rotor has conditioning elements comprising brushes 35 (or sheets of plastics material), for conveying crop and conditioning crop by relative movement between the brushes and the crop. The outer tips of the brushes 35 (or the edges of the sheet or rib-like elements) lie along one or more helical or part helical paths around the rotor axis. Preferably the lower end of each helix leads during the rotation so as to exert a lifting action on crop engaged by the rotors.

Abstract: A disc mower-conditioner having a disc cutterbar provided with transversely spaced rotatable cutter units operable to sever standing crop material by impact action and a flexible curtain extending around the perimeter of the disc cutterbar is disclosed wherein a transverse deflector panel is supported by the mower-conditioner frame between the disc cutterbar and the flexible curtain to restrict the movement of the forward transverse portion of the flexible curtain toward the cutterbar. The deflector panel is pivotally mounted for fore-and-aft movement about a generally transverse axis and has sufficient mass to resist movement of the curtain induced by an air flow created by rotation of the disc cutters. The deflector panel includes a lower curved portion to facilitate the passage of crop material therebeneath for presentation to the disc cutterbar.

Abstract: Two cooperating rotors are mounted for counter rotation about parallel axes for passage of crop between the rotors. At least one rotor has stiff, resilient, outwardly directed crop engaging elements having sharp tips on the outer ends for treating crop. The rotors rotate with the outer perimeters of the rotors overlapping and with regular inter-meshing of crop engaging elements on one rotor with crop engaging elements on the other rotor. Crop engaging elements of one rotor press crop into gaps between crop engaging elements on the other rotor so that the crop is laid across the sharp tips of the elements to treat the crop by a spiking action. The crop engaging elements may be outwardly extending fins, or transversely extending ribs of discs perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The crop engaging elements may have specified yielding characteristics, being yieldable in a preferred direction and being yieldable predominantly at a region spaced from the outer tip.

Abstract: A satellite mower-conditioner comprising a frame, a pair of rotary members mounted on the frame and rotatable about generally upright axes with each rotary member having mounted thereon for rotation therewith a plurality of rotary cutter units rotatable also about respective generally upright axes offset from the rotational axis of the rotary member, two sets of tines stationarily mounted on the frame and associated with the respective rotary members such that the tines of one set define, generally between the rotary members, an angle with the corresponding tines of the other set, and at least two additional sets of tines mounted for rotation with the respective rotary members.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hay conditioner of basically typical construction in which the improvement lies in adjustable stop means for use in setting and varying the clearance between the upper and lower conditioning rolls. There is provided at each side of the machine a means including a lever arm disposed below a support for the upper roll and pivoted at one end on the adjacent side of the machine frame, the other end being connected to a screw-threaded adjustment link effective to elevate the lever for engagement with the upper roll support and thus to selectively limit downward movement of the upper roll under action of the usual biasing means. Thus, the upper roll is free to move upwardly in response to crops passing between the rolls, but its downward movement is limited to the stopped position selected by the adjustment link. The link extends upwardly to a free end that is easily accessible to receive a force-applying tool.

Abstract: An improved rotor comb construction (and method of assembly) for a power lawn rake has a plurality of spring tines axially stacked along a tubular rotor shaft. Each of the tines has a retention coil portion and a working coil portion spaced therefrom. The retention coil portion frictionally engages the outer surface of the rotor shaft. The working coil portion has a radially-extending ground-engaging element. A radially-inturned end of the retention coil portion is received in a respective radial hole in the shaft, thereby keying the tines to the shaft for conjoint rotation. Each hole in the rotor shaft is displaced circumferentially from its adjacent hole, preferably by an angle .theta. which equals 360 degrees divided by the number of holes. With this construction, the holes and hence the spring tines are arranged in a substantially uniform helical formation about the axis of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: A rectangular baler has a preservative applicator for applying a fluid preservation to crop material as it is being baled as a function of the baling rate. The application rate is determined by a control circuit which repetitively measures the displacement of a charge of crop material through the baling for each cycle of the plunger and which repetitively opens solenoid controlled valves regulating a pressurized source of fluid preservative for a length of time proportionate to the magnitude of the displacement signal for one plunger cycle.

Abstract: A compost processing machine for separating, mixing and stacking compost includes a pick-up drum at its forward end which picks up the compost and discharges it to feed means which in turn feeds the compost to a beater drum at the back end of the machine with the feed means and beater drum being formed in three distinct sections so as to provide a staggered type of feeding from the feed means to the beater drum and then a staggered type of discharge from the beater drum to the pile of compost being formed therefrom.

Abstract: An improved mounting means is provided for the driven pulley of a power lawn rake. The driven pulley has a through axial bore. The rotor shaft is received in the bore and extends therethrough. A central tubular hub is formed on the inner face of the driven pulley and has a pair of diametrically-opposed openings formed therein. A transverse pin is carried by the rotor shaft and has radially-projecting end portions received in the openings in the hub, thereby keying the driven pulley to the rotor shaft. A self-locking retaining ring is received over the extending portion of the rotor shaft and resiliently bears against the outer face of the driven pulley, thereby retaining the pulley on the rotor shaft.

Abstract: An improvement in mower-conditioners for forage crops such as hay, in which a pair of ribbed rollers is used to crimp the stems of the crop passing between, to promote drying of the crop.The improvement comprises the use of additional pairs of ribbed rollers, synchronized such that each additional pair of rollers positioned to crimp the crop stems at a different point from the preceding pairs.

Abstract: A mower conditioner having a conditioning rotor (22) which is supported at its ends in bearing units (51) that are secured to side support walls (24) by releasable fastening means (56) including a pair of coaxial fasteners defining an axis (68), parallel to that of the rotor axis (23), about which the bearing units (51) and rotor (22) can swing downwards until the rotor (22) contacts the ground, thereby facilitating removal and re-attachment of the conditioning rotor (22). The rotor axis and axis of the fasteners may lie in a plane that is inclined upwards and rearwards from the ground. The rotor (22) may be driven at one end by a spindle (81) that is axially disengageable from the rotor. The spindle (81) may be driven by a chain drive mechanism (71, 76) including an intermediate double ring sprocket (73) that is reversible on its shaft (86) to allow two drive ratios to be selected.

Abstract: An agricultural implement, particularly a pick-up wagon, comprises a pick-up member for picking up crop lying on the ground, an advance mechanism located behind the pick-up member, viewed in the intended direction of displacement of the crop and stationary cutters arranged behind the advance mechanism, between which stationary cutters the crop can be passed on with the aid of the advance mechanism, whereby the advance mechanism comprises a plurality of additional cutters adapted to rotate about a rotary axis during operation so that these rotating cutters displace the crop in the direction towards the stationary cutters and fingers adapted to reciprocate during operation and pushing the crop also in the direction towards the stationary cutters during operation, the arrangement being such that the rotating cutters move in between the reciprocating fingers.

Abstract: The preferred and illustrated embodiment of this disclosure sets forth a harvesting device for stalk crops such as sweet sorghum or sugar cane. The apparatus incorporates a pair of spaced counter-rotating cutter blades which include cutters or splines which pinch the stalks at many places to feed the stalks. They feed the stalks toward an extraction drum. The extraction drum crushes the stalks cooperative with a pair of counter-rotating rollers. This squeezes the recoverable liquid and pulp from the stalk, and that flows downwardly into the bottom of the apparatus where a container collects it and it is subsequently removed. The dry, broken pieces of the stalks are then fed out of the apparatus into a chopper and then into a large centrifial blower which blows the pulp and chopped pieces away from the apparatus.

Abstract: In apparatus for conditioning crops such as grass, one or more conditioning devices engage crop passing through a passage and condition the crop by relative movement between the conditioning device and the crop. Preferably each conditioning device is a brush having a multiplicity of stiff, resilient, elongated elements which are yieldable in more than one plane in response to engagement by the crop by bending of the elements. One brush may form a rotary conveying device for conveying crop through the passage, and another brush may accelerate or retard the crop relative to the first brush. The second brush may be stationary or may be another rotary brush. The conditioning apparatus may be mobile or stationary, and when mobile may include cutting means for cutting crop to be conditioned.

Abstract: A cooperative roll hay conditioner in which the rolls are pneumatic tired wheels and one of the pneumatic tired wheels is snuggly surrounded by a steel cage to effect the crimping of harvested hay as the hay passes between the cooperative pneumatic tired wheels.

Abstract: The windrower, which may be of the mower or mower-conditioner type, is provided with a double windrowing attachment at the rear thereof which may be lowered into a double windrowing mode or raised into a non-operative position for single windrowing. Severed crops are converged centrally of the machine from opposite sides of the cutting path taken by the machine so as to be discharged onto the ground in a single, centrally disposed windrow when the attachment is in its raised position. Actuation of the hydraulic circuitry associated with the attachment to lower the same into its operating position during a next pass around the field causes a conveyor of the attachment to intercept the centrally and rearwardly discharged crop so as to instead divert and convey the same to a laterally outboard position in order that the windrow of that crop cutting pass will be laid adjacently alongside of the previously formed single windrow for the next preceding pass.

Abstract: Straw spreaders are normally controlled manually by the operator and it is therefore extremely difficulty to continually adjust the speed of the spreader so that the straw layer is reasonably even because the density of the straw varies continuously across the average field. The present device includes a rheostat sensor at the straw walker that controls the speed of the orbital motor driving the spreader blade assemblies. This results in a relatively even spread of straw taking place regardless of the variation in straw density as the motor slows down under a light load and speeds up when heavy straw is encountered. The operator can, of course, control the on/off functions from the cab if, for example, it is desired to spread alternate swaths.

Abstract: A low damage beet cleaner and elevator for a beet harvester is described. Beets are lifted elevationally between a lugged, endless elevator draper and an endless, upwardly inclined belt having flexible, finger-like projections. The draper and the belt are driven through their respective circuits with the belt being driven at a speed faster than that of the draper. The speed differential between the belt and the draper causes the finger-like projections to flexibly engage with the beets producing a brushing effect on the beets to clean them while they are being elevated for loading.

Abstract: Apparatus for recovering grain from a mixture of grain and straw in a combine harvester capable of conveying the mixture to a cute arranged at the discharge end of the conveyor. From the cute the mixture is carried to a trough covered by a grille at the lower end of the cute. Grain is then collected by the trough and the straw passes over it with the aid of a rotor located at the rear end of the cute. The rotor is adjustable towards any away from the chute to vary the space therebetween for different types of crops and crop conditions.

Abstract: A light weight hand-held power actuated tool for aiding an operator do work such as raking, thatching, cultivating, hoeing and sweeping.A main member with handles for operator support has a motor attached. The motor activates a mechanism which holds a working tool such as a rake, thatching tool, cultivator, hoe or broom. The mechanism is such that the working tool is driven in a continuous oscillating motion similar to conventional hand raking, thatching, cultivating, hoeing or sweeping.

Abstract: A forage harvester, otherwise of generally typical construction, is modified to include kernel-processing means in the form of a pair of cooperative compressor rolls situated in close proximity to the cutterhead and adapted to receive from the cutterhead fragmented crops and to further reduce the crops and especially to crack the kernels. The compressor rolls are of the type usually employed in a roller mill and have corrugated cylindrical outer surfaces particularly adapted to crack the kernels.

Abstract: A highly nutritive, storage-stable forage plant material in mat configuration having a moisture content of 20% by weight. The mat includes forage plant material in a cut and fiberized form in which substantially all plant cells of the plant material have been ruptured and the natural juices expressed therefrom reintroduced onto the mat prior to drying on the stubble to replace nutrients contained in the natural juices. The fiberized plant material includes fibers which have been exposed and at least partially separated so that they mechanically interlock and intertwine to produce a mat which is cohesive and shape-sustaining so as to be collectable from a field and stored without substantial tearing or breaking.

Abstract: A self-propelled crop harvester having a header for harvesting crop material, a macerator for shredding the crop into small particles, a press for separating the crop material into liquid and fibrous fractions, a blower for conveying the fibrous fraction into a trailing wagon, a separator for separating the liquid fraction into a protein portion and a heated deproteinized juice, and a system for directing the deproteinized juice in a high pressure flow to cut the standing crop at the header. In another embodiment the heated juice is applied to the standing crop to moisten and heat the crop for more efficient subsequent processing.

Abstract: A mower-conditioner for cutting and conditioning grass or other fodder comprises in combination a housing accommodating a cutting device (for example a bottom-driven disc-type rotary scythe device or a reciprocating cutter bar device) and a first conditioning device (for example a flail drum rotating about a horizontal axis and provided with pivotally-mounted flails), and a second conditioning device (for example a belt-driven fluted drum). The said first and second devices have at least one element (for example the said flail drum and driving belts or the like) in common. There are combs and grids to act on the cut fodder, and the mower-conditioner is readily adjustable for the treatment or production of different kinds of fodder.