Crop processing rolls for operative use in forage harvesters are disclosed. The crop processing rolls are formed with a plurality of first grooves that are oriented in a parallel manner with second smaller grooves intersecting the ridges to form discrete teeth from the ridges. The ridges can be formed vertically, horizontally or in a spiraled pattern with the smaller second grooves oriented into a spiraled pattern to form the discrete teeth. Crop processing roll segments can be formed in this manner and assembled into full processing rolls with the spiraled second grooves being oriented in opposing directions from adjacent segments. The number of segments can vary from two to eight individual segments with the second grooves breaking ridges into discrete teeth on adjacent segments forming a chevron pattern at intersecting positions along the longitudinal length of the processing roll.

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 vertical 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.

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 vertical 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 conveying and conditioning roller for a harvesting machine is provided on the surface thereof with teeth in the form of toothed strips which extend over the longitudinal extent of the roller and in each case have a leading tooth flank and a trailing tooth flank as well as a tooth edge. The roller is provided with wear protection zones continuously or in partial regions, the wear resistance thereof being greater than that of the material of the base body of the roller. The base body has a tooth structure determining the shape of the teeth and tooth wear protection zones are formed on the trailing tooth flanks by a high energy radiation process, substantially maintaining the geometry of the tooth structure, roller wear protection zones being formed together thereby on the rollers, as well as a method for producing such a roller wear protection zone.

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for developing appropriate settings for a windrower implement or forage harvester implement, to obtain a desired crop conditioning profile for a target crop. Field crop conditions may vary due to soil conditions, moisture content, and the operator may wish to get crop uniformity when collected. As such, a profile can be developed that provides adjustment data to actuators to adjust machine setting, to provide for a conditioning systems to obtain a desired result. The adjustment data can be generated based on such as the moisture content of the target crop, the target moisture content, and the dry-down characteristics for the crop. The profile can help set the harvesting system to provide appropriate cut and crimp to result in a desired dry-down time to get uniformity in the collected crop.

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for developing appropriate settings for a windrower implement or forage harvester implement, to obtain a desired crop conditioning profile for a target crop. Field crop conditions may vary due to soil conditions, moisture content, and the operator may wish to get crop uniformity when collected. As such, a profile can be developed that provides adjustment data to actuators to adjust machine setting, to provide for a conditioning systems to obtain a desired result. The adjustment data can be generated based on such as the moisture content of the target crop, the target moisture content, and the dry-down characteristics for the crop. The profile can help set the harvesting system to provide appropriate cut and crimp to result in a desired dry-down time to get uniformity in the collected crop.

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.

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.

An agricultural machine includes a plant processing apparatus for processing plant material to improve the biodegradability or the digestibility of the plant material. The plant processing apparatus comprises a cylindrical drum (10) that is rotatable about a drum axis (X), a rotary drive (12) for rotating the drum about the drum axis, and a curved shell (20) that extends around at least part of the circumference of the drum. A processing channel (22) is provided between an outer surface of the cylindrical drum and an inner surface of the shell, said processing channel having an inlet end (22a) and an outlet end (22b). In use plant material is transported through the processing channel from the inlet end to the outlet end by rotation of the cylindrical drum. The drum (10) has on its outer surface a first set of working elements (16) and the shell (20) has on its inner surface a second set of working elements (30), said first and second sets of working elements being configured to process the plant material as it is fed through the processing channel.

An agricultural machine includes a plant processing apparatus for processing plant material to improve the biodegradability or the digestibility of the plant material. The plant processing apparatus comprises a cylindrical drum (10) that is rotatable about a drum axis (X), a rotary drive (12) for rotating the drum about the drum axis, and a curved shell (20) that extends around at least part of the circumference of the drum. A processing channel (22) is provided between an outer surface of the cylindrical drum and an inner surface of the shell, said processing channel having an inlet end (22a) and an outlet end (22b). In use plant material is transported through the processing channel from the inlet end to the outlet end by rotation of the cylindrical drum. The drum (10) has on its outer surface a first set of working elements (16) and the shell (20) has on its inner surface a second set of working elements (30), said first and second sets of working elements being configured to process the plant material as it is fed through the processing channel.