A stripper plate system is provided that includes a first stripper plate movably mounted to a frame, a second stripper plate movably mounted to the frame in an opposing orientation to the first stripper plate, and an elongated gap in-between the first and second stripper plates. A first tensioning mechanism biases a proximal end of the first stripper plate toward a center of the elongated gap, a second tensioning mechanism biases a distal end of the first stripper plate toward the center of the elongated gap, a third tensioning mechanism biases a proximal end of the second stripper plate toward the center of the elongated gap, and a fourth tensioning mechanism biases a distal end of the second stripper plate toward the center of the elongated gap. A biasing force of the first and third tensioning mechanisms is lower than a biasing force of the second and fourth tensioning mechanisms.

A system for modifying a row unit of a harvesting head, the system including at least one cutting disk, a right angle gear set configured for being drivingly connected to the cutting disk, and a drive shaft between a row unit gear box and the right angle gear set. The system may drive two counter-rotating cutting disks that can be positioned either at near the rear or the front of the row unit. A method for modifying the row unit includes removing existing stalk rolls and housings, installing a cover plate over a gearbox to which the housings were mounted, removing existing trash knives, drilling holes in the row unit frame for mounting the cutting disks, installing the cutting disks.

Modifications to row unit that result in a greatly reduced loss of kernels due to chatter include substituting stripper plates that have rails upwardly projecting guard rails at the edges of the stripper plates that define their working gap to thereby inhibit escape of loose kernels. Further, the ear transport paddles are modified so as to reduce shelling due to chatter and to move loose kernels collected on the stripper plates to the machine's auger so that these loose kernels become part of the yield. Specifically, a cushioning device is attached to each of the paddles and the paddles further support brushes or scrapers that sweep loose kernels into the auger.

A mechanical harvester for harvesting a produce with a stem/core planted in a field includes a chassis, and a cutting device and a transport assembly connected to the chassis. The cutting device is configured to cut the stem/core of the produce. The transport assembly is configured to transport the produce using a movable first belt with a first set of produce grippers and a movable second belt with a second set of produce grippers. When the produce is held between the first set and second set of produce grippers, a portion of the first set of produce grippers opposes a portion of the second set of produce grippers. The opposing produce grippers are configured to compress and exert a force on the produce to hold the produce between the movable first and second belts.

A corn head row unit gearbox includes an input shaft, that rotates about a first axis of rotation and that drives a set of bevel gears. The bevel gears transfer rotation of the input shaft into rotation of a set of gathering chain output shafts about a second axis of rotation, generally transverse to the first axis of rotation. The gathering chain drive shafts each rotate within a bushing mounted within a frame structure of the gearbox. The frame structure defines a bore that communicates with a bevel gear cavity, in which at least one of the sets of bevel gears rotates, and an interior of the bushings mounted on the gathering chain drive shafts. Rotation of the bevel gears carries lubricant to an inlet aperture on the bore and drives the lubricant through the bore into the bushings.

An adjustable row unit for a header of an agricultural harvester, the adjustable row unit including a movable deck plate. The movable deck plate is connected to a row unit frame extending in a fore and aft direction of the header. A pivot shaft extends in the fore and aft direction and is pivotably connected to the row unit frame and the deck plate. A rocker assembly connects the deck plate to the pivot shaft for enabling selective positioning of the deck plate relative to the row unit frame in a direction substantially transverse to the fore and aft direction and whereby parallelism between the deck plate and an opposing deck plate is maintained throughout the crop harvesting process.

An adjustable gathering chain assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester is disclosed as is a header including such an assembly and methods for adjusting the length of the gathering chain assembly. The assembly includes a drive unit, a driven unit spaced from and movable with respect to the drive unit and an endless gathering chain extending between the drive unit and the driven unit. An adjustment unit including an idler member in engagement with the gathering chain is operable to move the idler member with respect to the drive unit in order to move the driven unit between first and second positions relative to the drive unit whereby the header may effectively harvest both standing crop and downed or lodged crop depending on harvesting conditions.

Stalk rolls are used for a corn harvester or combine having a chassis, an engine, a cab mounted to the chassis with a head mounted at the front of the body. The head includes an auger, row separators, corn stalk gathering assemblies between the row separators and ear removal assemblies. Each ear removal device includes a pair of stalk rolls. Each stalk roll has a core and longitudinally extending flutes about a periphery of the corn extending along the core. Each stalk roll has a straight first section and a tapered second section. The flutes on each stalk roll have different lengths and end at different locations at the front of the stalk roll. The flutes of the stalk roll may also have notches and different shaped leading edges.

A system for modifying a row unit of a harvesting head, the system including at least one cutting disk adapted for being rotatably mounted to the frame of the row unit between a gathering chain drive sprocket and idler sprocket. The cutting disk includes a sprocket attached thereto for being engaged and driven by the gathering chain in order to rotate the cutting disk. Two counter-rotating cutting disks may be provided, each being driven by a separate gathering chain. A method for modifying a row unit includes loosening the gathering chains, removing existing stalk rolls and housings, installing a cover plate over a gearbox to which the housings were mounted, removing existing trash knives, drilling holes in the row unit frame for mounting the cutting disks, installing the cutting disks, and tightening the gathering chains such that the gathering chains engage sprockets attached to the cutting disks.

Modifications to row unit that result in a greatly reduced loss of kernels due to chatter include substituting stripper plates that have rails upwardly projecting guard rails at the edges of the stripper plates that define their working gap to thereby inhibit escape of loose kernels. Further, the ear transport paddles are modified so as to reduce shelling due to chatter and to move loose kernels collected on the stripper plates to the machine's auger so that these loose kernels become part of the yield. Specifically, a cushioning device is attached to each of the paddles and the paddles further support brushes or scrapers that sweep loose kernels into the auger.