A harvesting work vehicle includes a conditioning arrangement configured to condition a crop material. A method of operating the work vehicle includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored conditioning setting for a variable parameter of the conditioning arrangement. The method also includes processing, by the processor, a conditioning control signal based, at least in part, on the stored conditioning setting. Furthermore, the method includes changing, with an actuator, the variable parameter of the conditioning arrangement according to the conditioning control signal.

A conditioner unit (6) for conditioning an agricultural crop material comprises a pair of rolls (20a, 20b) configured for rotation in opposite directions and providing a nip (22) through which crop material passes. An adjusting mechanism (31) is provided for adjusting a pressing force applied by the rolls (20a, 20b) to the crop material as it passes through the nip. The adjusting mechanism (31) includes at least one hydraulic actuator (30) connected to at least one of the rolls (20a, 20b) and a hydraulic circuit (33) that supplies hydraulic fluid to the actuator (30), the hydraulic circuit being configured so that in a first operational mode the rolls (20a, 20b) are pressed towards one another and in a second operational mode the rolls (20a, 20b) are pushed apart to provide a gap between the rolls.

A conditioner unit (6) for conditioning an agricultural crop material comprises a pair of rolls (20a, 20b) configured for rotation in opposite directions and providing a nip (22) through which crop material passes. An adjusting mechanism (31) is provided for adjusting a pressing force applied by the rolls (20a, 20b) to the crop material as it passes through the nip. The adjusting mechanism (31) includes at least one hydraulic actuator (30) connected to at least one of the rolls (20a, 20b) and a hydraulic circuit (33) that supplies hydraulic fluid to the actuator (30), the hydraulic circuit being configured so that in a first operational mode the rolls (20a, 20b) are pressed towards one another and in a second operational mode the rolls (20a, 20b) are pushed apart to provide a gap between the rolls.

A harvesting machine is disclosed along with a method of operating the harvesting machine. The harvesting machine includes a frame having a first end and a second end. A rotatable pick-up head is pivotally mounted on the first end and is capable of urging a crop into the machine. A cutting mechanism is mounted on a bottom plate of the frame for cutting the stems of the plants and forming a movable web. 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 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 said stems as the movable web is routed through the first and second nips.

An impeller conditioner for an agricultural mowing machine includes a rotor, an attachment device located on the rotor, a tine device pivotally attached to the rotor between a first end and a second end of the tine device via the attachment device, and a positioning device located on one of the rotor and the attachment device. The positioning device include a tapered portion which restricts the tine device in a first position to have less lateral movement than the tine device in a second position. The first position can be an operational position and the second position can be a non-operational position.

A harvesting header has a set of centrally disposed conditioner rolls comprising conditioning structure to condition crop and a rotary cutter bed. The rotary cutter bed has a plurality of rotary cutters extending across the path of travel of the header to define a cutting plane, each cutter being rotatable about an upright axis, the conditioner rolls being behind the cutter bed to condition crop cut by the rotary cutter bed. The header has a crop-directing header windguard configured to direct the crop down towards the conditioning rolls after the plurality of cutters have severed the crop, the header windguard extending in a rearwardly direction from a position forward of the cutter bed to a position proximate the conditioner rolls, and the header windguard extending transversely at least a width of the rotary cutter bed.

A harvesting header has a set of centrally disposed conditioner rolls comprising conditioning structure to condition crop and a rotary cutter bed. The rotary cutter bed has a plurality of rotary cutters extending across the path of travel of the header to define a cutting plane, each cutter being rotatable about an upright axis, the conditioner rolls being behind the cutter bed to condition crop cut by the rotary cutter bed. The header has a crop-directing header windguard configured to direct the crop down towards the conditioning rolls after the plurality of cutters have severed the crop, the header windguard extending in a rearwardly direction from a position forward of the cutter bed to a position proximate the conditioner rolls, and the header windguard extending transversely at least a width of the rotary cutter bed.

A roller shell for a conditioning roller includes a number of teeth which are distributed over the periphery thereof and which extend in an axial direction. Each of the teeth includes a leading flank, a trailing flank and a radial outer surface region having an angulation defined therein. The angulation may include a recess or a step in the outer surface region.

A roller shell for a conditioning roller includes a number of teeth which are distributed over the periphery thereof and which extend in an axial direction. Each of the teeth includes a leading flank, a trailing flank and a radial outer surface region having an angulation defined therein. The angulation may include a recess or a step in the outer surface region.

In one embodiment, a system, comprising: an interface configured to receive input defining a target windrow; a windrower comprising a windrow forming assembly configured to form a windrow; one or more sensors; and a computing system configured to control formation of the windrow according to the target windrow based on the input and further based on input from the one or more sensors.