An assembly for rotating a chain or toothed belt includes a shaft and a sprocket rotatably mounted on the shaft. The sprocket includes a plurality of teeth configured to engage the chain or toothed belt. The assembly further includes a shield assembly covering at least a portion of the sprocket. The shield assembly has an interior groove formed therein defining an enclosed interior space. Each of the teeth of the sprocket rotate through the enclosed interior space during a full rotation of the sprocket.

An assembly for rotating a chain or toothed belt includes a shaft and a sprocket rotatably mounted on the shaft. The sprocket includes a plurality of teeth configured to engage the chain or toothed belt. The assembly further includes a shield assembly covering at least a portion of the sprocket. The shield assembly has an interior groove formed therein defining an enclosed interior space. Each of the teeth of the sprocket rotate through the enclosed interior space during a full rotation of the sprocket.

A harvesting apparatus includes a crop conditioning element coupled to a frame, and a hood moveable relative to the crop conditioning element. An actuating system moveably connects the hood to the frame. The actuating system includes a driven lever arm rotatably attached to the frame and including a first lever connection and a second lever connection positioned opposite each other across a lever rotation axis. A first pivot assembly is rotatably attached to the frame and includes a first pivot connection coupled to the first lever connection of the driven lever arm, and a second pivot connection coupled to a first lift location of the hood. A second pivot assembly is rotatably attached to the frame and includes a third pivot connection coupled to the second lever connection of the driven lever arm, and a fourth pivot connection coupled to a second lift location of the hood.

A harvesting apparatus includes a crop conditioning element coupled to a frame, and a hood moveable relative to the crop conditioning element. An actuating system moveably connects the hood to the frame. The actuating system includes a driven lever arm rotatably attached to the frame and including a first lever connection and a second lever connection positioned opposite each other across a lever rotation axis. A first pivot assembly is rotatably attached to the frame and includes a first pivot connection coupled to the first lever connection of the driven lever arm, and a second pivot connection coupled to a first lift location of the hood. A second pivot assembly is rotatably attached to the frame and includes a third pivot connection coupled to the second lever connection of the driven lever arm, and a fourth pivot connection coupled to a second lift location of the hood.

An automated system for moving a crop harvester relative to an obstacle in a crop field. The system includes a sensor that is configured to sense a presence of the obstacle in the crop field, and transmit a signal corresponding to the presence of the obstacle. A motor is configured to move the crop harvester relative to the agricultural vehicle. A controller is configured to activate the motor based upon the signal received from the sensor and thereby move the crop harvester relative to the agricultural vehicle to prevent physical contact between crop harvester and the obstacle.

An automated system for moving a crop harvester relative to an obstacle in a crop field. The system includes a sensor that is configured to sense a presence of the obstacle in the crop field, and transmit a signal corresponding to the presence of the obstacle. A motor is configured to move the crop harvester relative to the agricultural vehicle. A controller is configured to activate the motor based upon the signal received from the sensor and thereby move the crop harvester relative to the agricultural vehicle to prevent physical contact between crop harvester and the obstacle.

A header including a cutter bar configured to cut crop for harvesting and a header frame supporting the cutter bar. A transport assembly is operatively connected to the header frame. A support arm is rotatably coupled to an axle of the transport assembly and is pivotably coupled to a mounting frame coupled to the header frame. A cam linkage is disposed at the support arm to provide a mechanical advantage for an operator when moving the transport assembly from a transport position to a harvest position. The cam linkage includes a lift assist device having a first end connected to the mounting frame and a second end coupled to a cam arm. Extension of the second end from the first end of the lift assist device applies the cam arm to a cam surface of the support arm to move the transport assembly to the harvest position.

A forage harvester is disclosed that includes a cutterhead assembly and two frame parts between which the cutterhead assembly is rotatably suspended. The forage harvester assembly is held on both frame parts by a clamp bearing that defines a rotary axis. Contact points between an element on the frame part side and an element on the assembly side of the clamp bearing lie on a spherical surface centered on the rotary axis.

A forage harvester is disclosed that includes a cutterhead assembly and two frame parts between which the cutterhead assembly is rotatably suspended. The forage harvester assembly is held on both frame parts by a clamp bearing that defines a rotary axis. Contact points between an element on the frame part side and an element on the assembly side of the clamp bearing lie on a spherical surface centered on the rotary axis.

A harvesting machine is disclosed along with a method of operation. The harvesting machine includes a frame having a flail cutter mounted on a first end of the frame. The flail cutter can cut the stems of growing plants. A housing surrounding a portion of the flail cutter for directing the cut plants rearward. An idler roller is positioned rearward of the flail cutter. First and second moisture removal mechanisms are positioned downstream of the cutting mechanism, and each includes a suction roll and a press roll. A moving belt forms a closed loop around the idler roller and the pair of suction and press rolls, and has a plurality of apertures formed therethrough. The moving belt forms first and second nips between each pair of suction and press rolls for squeezing moisture out of the cut stems as the stems are routed therebetween.