A crop harvesting machine configured to move cut crop positively across a cutterbar and toward a conditioner element using an undershot rotating element or undershot auger. The crop harvesting machine includes a cutterbar having a plurality of rotary cutters having rotational axis aligned along a line transverse to a moving direction of the crop harvesting machine. The undershot rotating element is subtended by portions of the rotary cutters and is located between rotational axis lines of the rotating cutters and an exit of the crop harvesting machine. The undershot rotating element moves cut crop between the undershot rotating element and the plurality of rotary cutters and to a conditioner element which conditions the cut crop for placement of the conditioned cut crop in swaths on a field.

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.

In some instances, stalk conditioners for conditioning stalk stubble present in a field after harvesting of a crop may include a bracket configured to be secured to a piece of agricultural equipment, such as an implement; an arm pivotably coupled to the bracket; and a blade that is disposed in a slot formed in the arm. The blade may be rotatable relative to the arm. The blade and arm may be configured to engage stalks stubble within a field following harvesting of crops, including during the course of a harvesting operation, to break and cut the stalks so as to promote decomposition of the stalk stubble.

In some instances, stalk conditioners for conditioning stalk stubble present in a field after harvesting of a crop may include a bracket configured to be secured to a piece of agricultural equipment, such as an implement; an arm pivotably coupled to the bracket; and a blade that is disposed in a slot formed in the arm. The blade may be rotatable relative to the arm. The blade and arm may be configured to engage stalks stubble within a field following harvesting of crops, including during the course of a harvesting operation, to break and cut the stalks so as to promote decomposition of the stalk stubble.

A crop processing roll has the outer cylindrical surface thereof hardened differently at selected areas along the axial length of the crop processing roll. Typically, the high wear areas on at least one end of the crop processing roll have higher levels of hardening, while the low wear area at the central portion of the roll has a lesser level of hardening. The preferable system for hardening is a High Velocity Air Fuel system in which a powdered carbide and metal is mixed in a combustion chamber with air and fuel before applied through an injection gun at different flow rates to selected areas on the crop processing roll. Alternatively, the crop processing roll can be segmented with various segments having different levels of surface hardening, which can be done by conventional heat treating, electroplating or HVAF application of material, and assembled as appropriate to position hardened areas where needed.

A crop processing roll has the outer cylindrical surface thereof hardened differently at selected areas along the axial length of the crop processing roll. Typically, the high wear areas on at least one end of the crop processing roll have higher levels of hardening, while the low wear area at the central portion of the roll has a lesser level of hardening. The preferable system for hardening is a High Velocity Air Fuel system in which a powdered carbide and metal is mixed in a combustion chamber with air and fuel before applied through an injection gun at different flow rates to selected areas on the crop processing roll. Alternatively, the crop processing roll can be segmented with various segments having different levels of surface hardening, which can be done by conventional heat treating, electroplating or HVAF application of material, and assembled as appropriate to position hardened areas where needed.

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 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.

Systems and methods are provided for monitoring and controlling operation a conditioning system of or otherwise associated with an agricultural machine, which may include a mower conditioner. Sensor data indicative of a displacement associated with component(s) of the conditioning system is used to determine a measured displacement, which is compared with a target displacement for the component(s) and such a comparison is used to control an operational speed of one or more components associated with the conditioning system. The controllable component(s) can include the conditioning component(s), and the one or more controllers may be used to control the operational speed of the conditioning components and ultimately a level of conditioning applied to cut crop material passing through the conditioning system.