A cryogenic processing system includes a cryogenic fluid source, and an auger, which includes an auger vessel containing at least one screw assembly. The screw assembly includes a flighting and a hollow shaft radially inward of the flighting. The shaft is in fluid communication with the cryogenic fluid source and includes one or more nozzles for dispensing cryogenic fluid within the auger vessel.

A cryogenic processing system includes a cryogenic fluid source, and an auger, which includes an auger vessel containing at least one screw assembly. The screw assembly includes a flighting and a hollow shaft radially inward of the flighting. The shaft is in fluid communication with the cryogenic fluid source and includes one or more nozzles for dispensing cryogenic fluid within the auger vessel.

An image capture device captures an image of crop after it has been processed by a kernel processing unit on a forage harvester. A size distribution indicative of the distribution of kernel fragment sizes in the harvested crop is identified from the image captured by the image capture device. A control system generates control signals to control a speed differential in the speed of rotation of kernel processing rollers based on the size distribution. Control signals can also be generated to control a size of a gap between the kernel processing rollers.

An image capture device captures an image of crop after it has been processed by a kernel processing unit on a forage harvester. A size distribution indicative of the distribution of kernel fragment sizes in the harvested crop is identified from the image captured by the image capture device. A control system generates control signals to control a speed differential in the speed of rotation of kernel processing rollers based on the size distribution. Control signals can also be generated to control a size of a gap between the kernel processing rollers.

An impact processing system (10) having a central opening (12) enabling material flow into a primary impact zone (14) in which is located an impact mechanism (16) rotatable about a rotation axis (18). An impact structure (20) provided with a plurality of holes (22) surrounds the impact mechanism (16). The rotatable impact mechanism (16) impacts material entering the primary impact zone (14) from the central opening (12) and accelerate the impacted material in a radial outward direction toward the impact structure (20) to effect fragmentation of the impacted material so that when sufficiently fragmented the material is able to pass through the holes (22). An optional outer structure (30) is radially spaced from the impact structure (20) and may comprise one or more segments that cumulatively extend about the axis of rotation (18) for an angle from 30 and 270 inclusive. A rotatable set of impact members (50) may be located between the impact structure and the outer structure. One or more gaps (28) may be provided in the impact structure (20) to allow the passage of large and/or hard objects that cannot otherwise be fragmented. The outer structure (30) is positioned to span across the gaps (28) so that material passing there thought is directed onto the outer structure (30).

An impact processing system (10) having a central opening (12) enabling material flow into a primary impact zone (14) in which is located an impact mechanism (16) rotatable about a rotation axis (18). An impact structure (20) provided with a plurality of holes (22) surrounds the impact mechanism (16). The rotatable impact mechanism (16) impacts material entering the primary impact zone (14) from the central opening (12) and accelerate the impacted material in a radial outward direction toward the impact structure (20) to effect fragmentation of the impacted material so that when sufficiently fragmented the material is able to pass through the holes (22). An optional outer structure (30) is radially spaced from the impact structure (20) and may comprise one or more segments that cumulatively extend about the axis of rotation (18) for an angle from 30 and 270 inclusive. A rotatable set of impact members (50) may be located between the impact structure and the outer structure. One or more gaps (28) may be provided in the impact structure (20) to allow the passage of large and/or hard objects that cannot otherwise be fragmented. The outer structure (30) is positioned to span across the gaps (28) so that material passing there thought is directed onto the outer structure (30).

Crop processing rolls are provided for operative use in forage harvesters wherein the crop processing rolls are formed with spiraled grooves that are oriented in opposing slopes extending from the opposite ends of the crop processing roll toward the center of the roll. The formation of these spiraled grooves defines teeth from the ridges created with the formation of horizontal grooves into the circumferential surface of the crop processing roll. In one configuration, the spiraled grooves meet at the center of the crop processing roll in a V-shaped intersection to provide a chevron shape to the spiraled grooves. In a second configuration, the spiraled grooves do not intersect at the center and form a semi-chevron pattern that does not form a short tooth that the chevron configuration creates at the V-shaped intersection.

A drive arrangement of a conditioning apparatus of a forage harvester having two conditioning rollers, with at least one of the conditioning rollers able to be driven at variable speed via an electrical drive train, includes an electric motor/generator for driving the conditioning roller. The electric motor/generator is able to be operated as a generator for braking the conditioning roller and to return the generated electrical energy into a drive system of the forage harvester.

A cryogenic processing system includes a cryogenic fluid source, and an auger, which includes an auger vessel containing at least one screw assembly. The screw assembly includes a flighting and a hollow shaft radially inward of the flighting. The shaft is in fluid communication with the cryogenic fluid source and includes one or more nozzles for dispensing cryogenic fluid within the auger vessel.

A cryogenic processing system includes a cryogenic fluid source, and an auger, which includes an auger vessel containing at least one screw assembly. The screw assembly includes a flighting and a hollow shaft radially inward of the flighting. The shaft is in fluid communication with the cryogenic fluid source and includes one or more nozzles for dispensing cryogenic fluid within the auger vessel.