Abstract: A chopper system and method for cutting crop material with a rotating first drum having first blades and a counter-rotating second drums having second blades. Blade pairs with one first blade and one second blade contact one another and cut the crop material. The blades of each blade pair contact one another for at least ten degrees of rotation. The blades can have beveled cutting edges, and the blade pairs can make bevel to bevel contact. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can form a swipe angle of 15 degrees or less. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can have the acute end of the first blade contact the second blade near the middle of the beveled edge. During each rotation, the acute end of the second blade can contact the back of the first blade.

Abstract: A forage harvester including a frame, a cutting arrangement and a plurality of displacement mechanisms. The cutting arrangement includes a cutting drum that is rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the frame, and a shear bar holder configured to receive a shear bar attached thereto. Each of the displacement mechanisms including an actuator for displacing the shear bar with respect to the cutting drum and the frame. The displacement mechanisms include a sensor arrangement to measure one or more values representative of a force exerted on the shear bar and the shear bar holder when the cutting drum is rotating and cutting crops supplied to an area between the cutting drum and the shear bar.

Abstract: A work vehicle includes a cutter device for cutting plant in a field, a storage section for storing plant cut by the cutter device, an inclination angle sensor for detecting an inclination angle ((?d)) of the vehicle body, a display device for displaying the inclination angle detected by the inclination angle sensor, and a reporting device for reporting the inclination angle exceeding a permissible inclination angle ((?a)).

Abstract: Bale opener for use in a feeding line of a biomass energy plant, the bale opener (1) comprising at least two disintegration members (2), wherein each disintegration member (2) is rotatable around a respective rotation axis (5) and in the direction of that rotation axis (5) has a first end (3) and a second end (4), an inlet (17) for feeding bales (28) in a feeding direction (33) to the disintegration members (2), an outlet (18) for discharging loosened bale material from the disintegration members (2), a drive system (6) being operable to drive the disintegration members (2) to rotate around their respective rotation axis (5), wherein each disintegration member (2) is provided with a plurality of blades (8) that are radially disposed in a mill-wheel arrangement, the blades (8) extending outwardly from a radially inner edge (9) to a radially outer edge (10) and from a first edge (11) at the first end (3) of the disintegration member (2) to a second edge (12) in a direction towards the second end (4) of the disi

Abstract: A crop processing and/or conveying element for a forage chopper has a body that can be mounted on a carrier that can be set in rotation and is furnished with a hard material layer that comes into contact with crop during operation. The hard material layer is connected in a form-fitting manner to the body.

Abstract: A shifting method for an inline shaft system of a chopper system of an agricultural harvester is described and illustrated. The method includes the steps of detecting, temporarily rotating and engaging. The detecting step detects a failure to properly engage a shift collar with a splined component. The temporarily rotating step temporarily rotates the inline shaft system. The engaging step engages the shift collar with the splined component.

Abstract: Sugar cane stalks are conveyed along a path passing between upper and lower chopper drums equipped with chopper blades extending lengthwise of the drums and located so that blades of one drum intermesh with those of the other so as to cut the cane stalks into billets. The cutting diameter of the blades of the upper chopper drum is greater than that of the blades carried by the lower blade resulting in the peripheral speed of the upper chopper drum being greater than that of the lower chopper drum. The cutting edge of each of the blades is defined at one side by a compound bevel with the blades being disposed on the drums so that they overlap and mesh bevel-to-bevel. The compound bevels are chosen so as to both satisfy the requirement that the blades be self-sharpening and have close to a zero timing angle.

Abstract: A conveyor (16) includes a plurality of conveyor disks (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) that are arranged coaxial to one another and are rotatable about a common central rotational axis, wherein teeth are distributed around the edge of said conveyor disks. A first conveyor disk (20), and a second conveyor disk (22) situated directly adjacent to the first conveyor disk (20), are spaced apart by a smaller axial clearance than that between the second conveyor disk (22) and a third conveyor disk (24) that is situated directly adjacent to the second conveyor disk (22) and arranged on a side of the second conveyor disk (22) that faces away from the first conveyor disk (20).

Abstract: Sugar cane stalks are conveyed along a path passing between upper and lower chopper drums equipped with chopper blades extending lengthwise of the drums and located so that blades of one drum intermesh with those of the other so as to cut the cane stalks into billets. The cutting diameter of the blades of the upper chopper drum is greater than that of the blades carried by the lower blade resulting in the peripheral speed of the upper chopper drum being greater than that of the lower chopper drum. The cutting edge of each of the blades is defined at one side by a compound bevel with the blades being disposed on the drums so that they overlap and mesh bevel-to-bevel. The compound bevels are chosen so as to both satisfy the requirement that the blades be self-sharpening and have close to a zero timing angle.

Abstract: A conveyor (16) includes a plurality of conveyor disks (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) that are arranged coaxial to one another and are rotatable about a common central rotational axis, wherein teeth are distributed around the edge of said conveyor disks. A first conveyor disk (20), and a second conveyor disk (22) situated directly adjacent to the first conveyor disk (20), are spaced apart by a smaller axial clearance than that between the second conveyor disk (22) and a third conveyor disk (24) that is situated directly adjacent to the second conveyor disk (22) and arranged on a side of the second conveyor disk (22) that faces away from the first conveyor disk (20).

Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.

Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.

Abstract: A method for collecting biomass, such as straw, and for producing a pyrolysis liquid, such as oil or tar, from the biomass, includes the step of collecting the biomass from a growth site, e.g. a field, by means of a mobile unit. The biomass is continuously fed into a pyrolysis apparatus accommodated by the mobile unit, as the mobile unit is moved across the growth site. While the biomass is processed in the pyrolysis apparatus, further biomass is simultaneously being collected. The pyrolysis apparatus may be a flash pyrolysis or fast pyrolysis apparatus relying on centrifugal forces for forcing biomass towards a reactive surface in a pyrolysis reactor. The mobile unit may be self-propelled.

Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.

Abstract: The rotary crimper for elevated crop beds is designed to crimp and mulch a field of crops with an elevated bed-type structure. The rotary crimper has a tubular inner roller and a plurality of crimping members extending from the inner roller. The crimping members have at least two projecting portions and at least one non-projecting portion. Structural support braces are disposed between the crimping members and crimping plates extend from the support braces. Additional crimping structures also extend the length of the inner tubular roller between the crimping members. In operation, the non-projecting portions of the crimping members and the crimping structures crimp the crops on the elevated portion of the beds, and the crimping member projecting portions and the crimping plates crimp the crops in the furrows between the elevated beds.

Abstract: A machine which provides for both leaf stripping and grading can be used to process plants, such as burley tobacco plants, by continuously moving the plants in a first direction while simultaneously varying the position of the plants in a second direction relative to a defoliating apparatus. The plants may be moved horizontally through a machine by a transporter engaging the plant stalks while the vertical distance between the transporter (and thus the plants) is varied relative to the defoliating apparatus. The transporter and defoliating apparatus may be positioned at an angle to one another. Due to the changing amount of vertical distance, leaves from different sections of the plants, such as leaves at different stalk heights, can be contacted and removed at different corresponding horizontal locations in the machine. Accordingly, leaves can be graded based on the location(s) from which they are retrieved after removal.

Abstract: A counter knife bank or knife rank for use with a stationary knife assembly, such as by attachment to a knife mounting assembly of the stationary knife assembly, of a chopper assembly of an agricultural combine, including a plurality of individual double-sided knife blades or elements joined together, such as by a spline connector that extends through aligned openings in the base body portions of the knife blades or elements, in an aligned columnar arrangement to form a knife formation that is connected to a support member, such as to an underlying member having an inverted U-shape, that is removably connectable to a depending side wall of the knife mounting assembly to permit initial use of the first cutting edges of the knife blades or elements, easy reversal of the counter knife bank or rank at a later time, and subsequent use of the second cutting edges of the knife blades or elements.

Abstract: In an agricultural machine, for example a round baler, rollers are provided. The roller bodies are composed of a stably configured mounting and a casing which can be fastened thereon. This enables the casings to be manufactured more simply and at lower cost.

Abstract: The invention relates to a traveling device, which can be preferably mounted on a vehicle, provided for completely removing and reducing the size of trees, particularly fruit trees, which are growing in a row, including their roots. The device comprises a cutting tool for reducing the size of the trees fed thereto, an ejector, which is mounted on the cutting tool and provided for ejecting the trees cut in the cutting tool, and a feed device that, in a direction of travel, is located in front of the cutting tool and provided for feeding the trees to be cut into the cutting tool. The feed device comprises two driven, vertical draw-in rollers, which are located close to the ground and form a gap. When operating the device, these rollers seize trees that are pushed down in the direction of travel, squeeze them inside the gap and push them toward the cutting tool. The feed device also comprises at least one driven clearing roller placed in the ground whereby being situated transversal to the direction of travel.

Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a pick-up unit for picking up the harvested crop, a cutting device that is equipped with at least one cutting edge that cooperates with a counter-cutter for cutting and/or chopping the harvested crop, and a monitoring device, which can be operated to generate a signal containing information about the sharpness of the edge and/or its distance to the counter-cutter, with the sharpness and distance each being compared to a target value. The monitoring device receives signals generated by an optical sensor, which visually monitors the cutting device and/or the cut harvested crop, wherein the signal of said sensor is used so that the monitoring device can deduce information about the sharpness of the edge and/or its distance to a counter-cutter, and send out a control signal for effecting automatic sharpening of the cutting edge and/or adjustment of the counter-cutter.

Abstract: A crop residue chopper for an agricultural combine including a spaced array of stationary knives. A rotor of the chopper is rotatable about an axis therethrough and includes mounting elements in axially spaced relation, and a plurality of offset knives, each of the offset knives including a mounting end portion fixedly mountable on one of the mounting elements and a an opposite free end portion disposed so as to extend radially outwardly in axially offset relation to the mounting end portion when mounted on the mounting element.

Abstract: A residue handling system for an agricultural combine including a residue chopper that provides enhanced air flow for evenly distributing crop materials onto a crop field. A hub and blade assembly accurately positions flail blades and resists fatigue stresses. Each flail blade includes an outer portion that is angled longitudinally away from a plane transverse to the axis of rotation. In a mated blade pair embodiment, the leading edges of the paired flail blades may be closer to each other than the trailing edges, or vice versa. Also, the leading edges of the flail blade pair may be the same distance away as the trailing edges of the pair, beneficially directing discharge sideways in a preferred common direction. The assembly includes a mounting support post that has a width substantially equal to the distance between two mated blades. The mated blades are installed directly against the sides of the mounting support, without spacer bushings, using only three connector elements.

Abstract: A baler for making rectangular crop bales has a generally horizontally disposed fore-and-aft extending baling chamber. The pickup of the baler is disposed underneath the baling chamber in line with the path of travel of a reciprocating plunger in the overhead chamber. An in-line transfer duct leads generally upwardly and rearwardly from the pickup to the bottom of the chamber. An enclosed crop flow passage is defined from a point immediately behind the pickup to a point located at the opening in the bottom of the baling chamber and presents a forwardmost cutting zone, a packing zone behind the cutting zone, and an accumulating zone behind the packing zone. Cutter apparatus within the cutting zone reduces the crop materials into smaller pieces as they flow through the cutting zone, whereupon a separate packer takes the materials from the rear side of the cutter apparatus and packs them in a downstream direction toward the accumulating zone where they form into a charge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a harvesting machine, especially a self-propelled pick-up chopper for picking up and chopping corn, wilted grass, green feed and similar harvested material, with a chopper device disposed after pick-up and feed organs. The chopper device comprises a chopper drum (1) with cutting tools (3) disposed in the circumferential direction of the chopper drum (1) at a distance from one another. In order to be able to make available a harvesting machine with an advantageous vibrational behavior and lower power requirements, the cutting tools (3) are constructed with an overlapping dimension “U” with respect to the cutting tools disposed ahead and behind in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A harvesting machine 1, especially a self-propelled pick-up chopper with a feeder housing 8, which can be driven, has supplying elements 9 and can be transferred from a swiveled-in operating position about an axle 11 into a swiveled-up maintenance position. In order to be able to transfer the feeder housing 8 rapidly into the swiveled-up maintenance position, the feeder housing 8 can be swung out of the way forward towards the ground in the driving direction about an essentially horizontal axle 11, which is aligned transversely to the traveling direction of the machine. The supplying elements 9 of the feeder housing 8 can be driven over a drive shaft 10, which can be swiveled regionally in the same direction with the feeder housing 8 and is constructed telescope-like regionally.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for harvesting stalk crops, with at least one conveying device revolving around deflecting elements for conveying the crop along at least one snapping roller constructed in one or more parts and associated with a snapping gap which is variably adjustable with snapping gap plates arranged in guides, wherein the conveying element of the conveying device provides traction with a tensioner running in a guide portion, preferably a chain, which is at least partly surrounded by guide elements, at least one of the displaceable snapping gap plates, or at least one tensioner and are made of elastic vibration-damping material. As a result the number of parts to be assembled or to be exchanged in case of damage is considerably reduced, and by the use of an elastic vibration-damping material, besides a reduction of wear-increasing vibrations, a reduction in the whole weight of the front attachment is achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing plant stalks after harvesting includes a frame structure supported from a ground surface for translatory movement at a predetermined rate and in a predetermined direction along a row of plant stalks and at least one pair of pneumatic tires having their peripheries in pressure contact with each other and thus forming a nip for receiving plant stalks therein. The rotating pneumatic tires are disposed at a predetermined angle relative to the ground surface, and the pair of pneumatic tires being rotated at a predetermined peripheral speed. The predetermined speed of the pneumatic tires is determined by and less than the rate of movement of the frame structure. The nip of the pneumatic tires thereby grasps the plant stalks for a sufficient period of time and for a sufficient distance of movement of the frame structure such that the plant stalks are pulled from the ground surface with their roots substantially attached thereto.

Abstract: A slip clutch and cutter blade apparatus for cane stalk harvesters provides a machine frame with a cutting mechanism in the form of cutter shafts powered by hydraulic motors. The cutter shafts have a plurality of knives thereon that pinch the cane therebetween as the shafts rotate to chop the cane wholestalks into billets. A flywheel is mounted on a flywheel shaft. A gearbox interfaces the flywheel and cutter blades. A flywheel clutch is used as a overload protection device for the chopper system. If overloading occurs, the flywheel slips and therefore limits the torque. The flywheel is placed on the bushing and clamped between the friction linings with the aid of the thrust plate, the cup springs, brake plate, brake plate cover, and bolts. The more the cup springs are compressed by the bolts; the higher the torque at which the flywheel slips.

Abstract: A cane harvester having at least two basecutter assemblies disposed so as to harvest cane stalks from at least two rows simultaneously. The harvester comprises a first basecutter assembly for severing a first row of cane stalks and at least a second basecutter assembly arranged so as to severe cane stalks in a row substantially parallel to the first row of cane stalks. The cane stalks severed by the second base cutter assembly are transported by a conveying means to a position proximate the first row of cane stalks so that the cane stalks can then be fed into the harvester.

Abstract: A stalk chopping adapter has a frame which can be attached to the front end of a harvester combine and supports two forwardly extending downwardly inclined parallel rotors which are driven in opposite directions. The rotors have longitudinally extending axially parallel or helical blades which cooperate to draw delivered stalks downwardly and to crush and/or sever the stalks. Alternatively, the blades of one of the rotors are slotted and only this rotor cooperates with stationary knives to sever stalks which are advanced toward the ground of a field for crops to be harvested under the combined action of the blades on the two rotors. The knives can be mounted on a cover which is pivotally mounted on the frame is adjacent the underside of the rotor having unslotted blades.

Abstract: A sugar cane harvester in which the base cutting assembly is configured and mounted to the harvester so as to allow convenient removal and/or servicing of the base cutting assembly. The base cutting assembly has a gearbox which extends across the space between the side walls, above a path along which the sugar cane is caused to move, and which projects beyond at least one of the side walls; a pair of drive shafts which extend downwardly from the gearbox in the space between the side walls, with each of the drive shafts carrying base cutting blades; and a motor for driving the base cutting assembly which is mounted to the outwardly projecting part of the gearbox. The base cutting assembly may be mounted to one or both of the side walls, preferably with fasteners and onto a mounting provided on the side walls. One or both of the side walls may have a cut-away portion which allows the base cutting assembly to be withdrawn laterally from between the side walls for servicing.

Abstract: A harvester thresher or combine has a picking slot through which grain stalks are pulled to separate the stalks from the grain heads. Two oppositely rotated, parallel shafts are located at opposite sides of the picking slot. Each shaft has at least one cutting disk in close cutting relationship with the cutting disk of the other shaft. A vaned crusher element is mounted adjacent to each cutting disk and has its radial vanes arranged for intermeshing with the vanes of the element on the other shaft. The tips of the vanes project outward farther than the periphery of the adjacent cutting disk for assisting in pulling the stalks through the picking slot for chopping and crushing by the cutting disks and crushing elements.

Abstract: A harvester thresher has a housing, several straw shakers located after the threshing device having a discharge end, a threshing and separating device having two lateral product outlet openings, a chopper having two opposite ends, and passages each connected with a respective one of the product outlet openings of the threshing and separating device and having an end located above a respective one of the ends of the chopper.

Abstract: Corn sterilizing machine of the type using rotary blades. The machine uses a castrating head in the form of a case enclosing a rotary blade. The front surface of the case has a slot allowing for the introduction of the panicle to be cut. Each one of the vertical edges of the slot has a pivotable shutter having two upper and lower ramps, respectively.

Abstract: A harvesting arrangement for harvesting corn and other grain fruits and formed as a front implement of a harvester thresher, the harvesting arrangement comprises drawing devices for drawing harvested product from the field, a picking gap for separating ears from stalks, a picking roller which is only one for each stalk row, the picking roller including a substantially cylindrical base body with a casing provided with a plurality of impact plates having cut outs, a cutting device including a plurality of individual cutters each having a free-running end which faces toward the base body and an opposite end which faces away from the base body, the casing of the base body having a plurality of recesses in which the free running ends of the cutters are introduced, and holding elements arranged to support the opposite ends of the cutters adjustably relative to the base body.

Abstract: Individual stalk shredder units are mounted beneath the frame between the wheels of a cotton harvester. The shredder units are connected to a shredder bar which is attached to the frame by support arms. The height of shredder bar in use is regulated by gauge wheels. The shredder bar is raised and lowered by a power lift mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine which is pulled or attached to a three-point attachment on a tractor and used for the harvesting of corn or similar stalk-like crops. The machine has a cutting device and a chopping blower arranged subsequent thereto with slide-in rollers to which the crop is supplied by a cross-conveyor running transversely to the direction of travel of the tractor. The cross-conveyor is designed as a cutting and supplying device, cutting the crop at any point in the working area, holding it above the cut area and supplying it in an approximately upright or inclined position, opposite to the conveying direction, to the slide-in rollers or a chopping machine with simultaneous release.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for harvesting corn or other cereals with a harvester, particularly a combine attachment for a thresher-harvester, in which the ears of corn or other grains are separated from the plants by way of a single-sided draw of the crop through a gap and is characterized in that a mincing of the crop plants is effected simultaneously with the single-sided draw-through operation. The mincing occurs by a movement of the drawn crop plants relative to a stationary comminution device.

Abstract: A device to adjust the length of billets in a cane harvester. Hydraulic motors of different fluid throughput capacity drive chopper rolls which are mechanically connected. The outlet of one of the motors conveys fluid through a connection to the feed rolls which convey the cane to the chopper rolls. The outlet connection of a second of the hydraulic motors is interchangeable so that the fluid from either motor may pass to the feed rolls as desired.

Abstract: A machine for gathering and disintegrating standing, row-planted, trash stems of crops such as cotton, pineapples etc., comprises a frame adapted to be travelled along a row of trash stems and direct them into the nip of rotating resilient rollers in mutual contact. The rollers are mounted on parallel shafts which are tilted so that the upper ends of the shafts are further ahead in the direction of machine travel than are their lower ends; thus, trash stems caught up between the rollers are uprooted and then presented to an array of scissoring blades whereby the stems are cut into short easily-disposable fragments.

Abstract: An agricultural slasher for cutting bushy plants, such as cotton plants, after harvesting, has a tractor-mounted main frame carrying a series of parallel laterally spaced driven cutter shafts inclining from bottom to top in the direction of travel, each carrying, one above the other, a series of rotary cutters each having a number of radiating blades. Guides on the main frame define guideways to guide plants to be slashed, as the main frame is advanced, towards the rotary cutters which co-act, near to the rear of the guideways, with fixed cutters on the main frame. The inclined assemblies of rotary cutters, coacting with the fixed cutters, cut the branches of the bushes into small pieces before the trunks of the bushes are severed near ground level, and the lowermost of the rotary cutter blades penetrate the soil and chop the roots of the bushes.

Abstract: A separator for separating plant stalks into components includes a feeder in the form of opposite endless conveyors which propel stalks against a splitter. The splitter comprises two oppositely traveling, notched bands which are in contact to define a cutting edge. Stalk sections have at least their pith removed by a milling roll disposed opposite a slower traveling hold-back belt, the latter controlling the speed of the stalk sections. The milling roll includes removable blades which are held in place by wedges and pairs of blades are adjusted by tiltable members at each blade end. The tiltable members move the blades into contact with reference surfaces on the milling roll to define a proper blade location. Stalks are fed to the separator by being dropped onto a chute which guides the stalks into separate feed passages, the latter being maintained throughout stalk travel through the separator.

Abstract: A machine for cutting the tops of plants into predetermined uniform lengths, includes a support structure and moving means for moving the support structure relative to the plants. The machine further includes a first cutter for cutting the plants from the ground at a first length, a second cutter for cutting the plants at an intermediate length, gripper and conveyor for gripping the plants and conveying them from the first cutter to the second cutter so that the plants can be cut at an intermediate length, third cutter for cutting the tops of the plants into the predetermined uniform lengths, and aligner and conveyor for receiving the plants from the gripper and conveyor and aligning the tops thereof and conveying the plants to the third cutter.