Abstract: The system and method automatically controls the position of at least one deck plate of a harvesting unit of a corn header so as to increase the width of a stalk receiving channel or reduce pinching forces between the plates when entering a stand of corn to facilitate alignment with the corn rows, and to change the position after a suitable time period or other condition or event, to narrow the channel width and/or increase pinching force, to reduce kernel loss while also monitoring forces exerted against the plates by the stalks and responsively adjusting the plate position for maintaining a desired force on the stalks or width.

Abstract: Stalk rolls are used for a corn harvester having a body, an engine, a cab mounted to the body and a head mounted to a front of the body. The head includes an auger, row separators, corn stalk gathering assemblies between the row separators and ear removal devices. Each ear removal device includes a pair of stalk rolls. Each stalk roll has a core and longitudinally extending flutes spaced about a periphery of the core and extending along the core. Each stalk roll has a straight first section, a second section proximate a first end of the first section and having a first tapering profile, and a third section proximate the second section opposite the first section and having a second tapering profile.

Abstract: A tip for the leading end of a crop divider of a combine corn head comprises a tip body of a durable, low friction polymer which covers the snoot of the crop divider to reduce the incidents of clogging of the combine head as the head is advanced through the crop.

Abstract: A crop header for a harvesting machine including a frame and a plurality of rotary conveyors cooperatively supported by the frame along a first axis. The plurality of rotary conveyors pass crops between consecutive conveyors along the first axis.

Abstract: Parallelogram linkage apparatus for slidably shifting stripper plates in a corn head of a corn harvesting machine to widen or narrow the gap between opposed plates in a row harvester. Each slidable stripper plate has a parallelogram linkage which slidably connects the plate to a supporting frame. The linkage includes two bell cranks pivotably mounted in spaced apart relationship on the frame and connected by an interconnecting arm and having an actuation shaft extending upward from a lobe of each bell crank to engage motion-transforming members at the stripper plate for transforming the arcuate motion of the bell cranks into linear motion of the stripper plate. The upper ends of the actuation shafts are guided in guide elements at the stripper plate elongated in the direction parallel to an edge of the stripper plate.

Abstract: The cutting device proposed has cutting cells (3), located side by side, which collect the items to be cut. Each cell (3) contains a stationary element, which is designed to act as a support for the items to be cut and has a stop edge for the items, and a mobile element (4) which is designed to press the items together in the cell (3). During the cutting process, the mobile element is driven so that it remains substantially parallel to the support edge, and its motion during cutting is tangential to the items being cut. This tangential cutting action enables very considerable reductions to be made in energy consumption and noise generation. The cutting device is suitable for use in grass mowers, agricultural reaping and mowing machines and hedge clippers.