A forage harvester with at least one work assembly is disclosed. The forage harvester has a corn cracker to process grain components and a driver assistance system. The driver assistance system controls the corn cracker by adjusting the machine parameters of the corn cracker. In particular, the driver assistance system has an optimization model which includes a multidimensional characteristic map that represents a relationship between a processing quality of the grain components and at least three parameters that comprise an input parameter representing a current harvesting process state and at least one machine parameter of the corn cracker as an output parameter. Thus, the driver assistance system determines the output parameter in the control routine during the harvesting process based on the varying input parameter from the optimization model and adjusts it in the corn cracker to achieve a uniform given processing quality of the grain components during the harvesting process.

A forage harvester with at least one work assembly is disclosed. The forage harvester has a corn cracker to process grain components and a driver assistance system. The driver assistance system controls the corn cracker by adjusting the machine parameters of the corn cracker. In particular, the driver assistance system has an optimization model which includes a multidimensional characteristic map that represents a relationship between a processing quality of the grain components and at least three parameters that comprise an input parameter representing a current harvesting process state and at least one machine parameter of the corn cracker as an output parameter. Thus, the driver assistance system determines the output parameter in the control routine during the harvesting process based on the varying input parameter from the optimization model and adjusts it in the corn cracker to achieve a uniform given processing quality of the grain components during the harvesting process.

Crop processing rolls for operative use in forage harvesters are formed from independent segments having 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 for operative use in forage harvesters are formed from independent segments having 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.

A system and computer-implemented method for sensing an amount of free water in cut crop material and automatically adjusting an operating parameter of a mower conditioner to optimize the amount of free water. A sensor located at the exit of a conditioning mechanism measures an actual free water content value of the material as it exits the conditioning mechanism, a processor compares the actual value to maximum and minimum values, and if the actual value is outside this range, automatically adjusts an operating parameter, such as a gap between pairs of conditioning rollers, a pressure exerted by the rollers, or a speed of the mower conditioner, to optimize the actual value. Another sensor may be located at the entrance of the conditioning mechanism. The processor may take into account an operator-selectable value weighting the actual free water content versus a dry down time when adjusting the operating parameter.

A system and computer-implemented method for sensing an amount of free water in cut crop material and automatically adjusting an operating parameter of a mower conditioner to optimize the amount of free water. A sensor located at the exit of a conditioning mechanism measures an actual free water content value of the material as it exits the conditioning mechanism, a processor compares the actual value to maximum and minimum values, and if the actual value is outside this range, automatically adjusts an operating parameter, such as a gap between pairs of conditioning rollers, a pressure exerted by the rollers, or a speed of the mower conditioner, to optimize the actual value. Another sensor may be located at the entrance of the conditioning mechanism. The processor may take into account an operator-selectable value weighting the actual free water content versus a dry down time when adjusting the operating parameter.

An agricultural machine includes a chassis, a crop-cutting member coupled to the chassis; and a crop-conditioning member coupled to the chassis and positioned rearward of the crop-cutting member. The crop-conditioning member includes a first macerator assembly and a second macerator assembly. The first macerator assembly includes a first roll configured to rotate about a first rotational axis, a second roll configured to rotate about a second rotational axis, and a first endless member surrounding and engaged with the first roll and the second roll. The second macerator assembly is spaced apart from the first macerator assembly; and a maceration zone is defined between the first macerator assembly and the second macerator assembly. The endless member rotates to macerate crop disposed between the first macerator assembly and the second macerator assembly.

A cracker roller disc has a first portion radially outward of the centre of substantially constant thickness, and a second portion radially outward of the first portion which second portion tapers towards the periphery of the disc. A plurality of upstanding ridges extending radially outward across the second portion on opposed faces of the disc are machined to define respective conical surfaces forming radially extending edges on opposed faces of the disc. The disc is provided with one or more circular or spiral grooves which cut across the edges in a substantially perpendicular direction to the edges. The grooves extend the effective length of each edge.

A conditioning roller assembly includes two conditioning rollers which are rotatably mounted on associated bearing arrangements, and a holder which includes a first holder component and a second holder component that are connected together by a hinge and a spring arrangement for providing a pre-tensioning of the conditioning rollers. The first holder component is releasably connected to the first bearing arrangement, the second holder component is releasably connected to the second bearing arrangement, and the conditioning rollers, with the bearing arrangements, are detachable in each case from the components without the holder being disassembled.

A conditioning roller assembly includes two conditioning rollers which are rotatably mounted on associated bearing arrangements, and a holder which includes a first holder component and a second holder component that are connected together by a hinge and a spring arrangement for providing a pre-tensioning of the conditioning rollers. The first holder component is releasably connected to the first bearing arrangement, the second holder component is releasably connected to the second bearing arrangement, and the conditioning rollers, with the bearing arrangements, are detachable in each case from the components without the holder being disassembled.