A harvesting machine 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 for cutting the stems of the plants. A crimper mechanism is positioned downstream of the bottom plate and is capable of compacting the cut stems into a moving web. A moisture removal mechanism is positioned after the crimper mechanism to lower the moisture in the cut stems. A crop converging mechanism is located downstream of the moisture removal mechanism and reduces the width of the moving web into a ribbon. A chopper then chops the ribbon into small pieces so that they can be blown into a storage wagon for transport.

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.

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.

A forage harvester cracker unit assembly for retention of first and second cracker rollers is disclosed, each of the first and second cracker rollers having first and second ends and sealing units fitted at each of the first and second ends. The forage harvester cracker unit assembly comprises an upper housing having left and right hand sides, and a lower housing having left and right hand sides. The forage harvester cracker unit assembly further comprises first and second sets of replaceable cracker roller sealing unit location plates, each set comprising an upper cracker roller sealing unit location plate and a lower cracker roller sealing unit location plate for location at a respective left or right hand side of a respective upper or lower housing.

A forage harvester cracker unit assembly for retention of first and second cracker rollers is disclosed, each of the first and second cracker rollers having first and second ends and sealing units fitted at each of the first and second ends. The forage harvester cracker unit assembly comprises an upper housing having left and right hand sides, and a lower housing having left and right hand sides. The forage harvester cracker unit assembly further comprises first and second sets of replaceable cracker roller sealing unit location plates, each set comprising an upper cracker roller sealing unit location plate and a lower cracker roller sealing unit location plate for location at a respective left or right hand side of a respective upper or lower housing.

An agricultural machine can include a plant processing apparatus for processing plant material. The plant processing apparatus includes a cylindrical drum rotatable about a drum axis, a rotary drive for rotating the drum about the drum axis, and a curved shell that extends around at least part of the circumference of the drum. The plant processing apparatus includes a processing channel provided between an outer surface of the cylindrical drum and an inner surface of the shell. The processing channel has an inlet end and an outlet end. Plant material is transported through the processing channel from the inlet end to the outlet end by rotation of the cylindrical drum. The drum and the shell each have sets of working elements that together process the plant material as it is fed through the processing channel.

An agricultural machine can include a plant processing apparatus for processing plant material. The plant processing apparatus includes a cylindrical drum rotatable about a drum axis, a rotary drive for rotating the drum about the drum axis, and a curved shell that extends around at least part of the circumference of the drum. The plant processing apparatus includes a processing channel provided between an outer surface of the cylindrical drum and an inner surface of the shell. The processing channel has an inlet end and an outlet end. Plant material is transported through the processing channel from the inlet end to the outlet end by rotation of the cylindrical drum. The drum and the shell each have sets of working elements that together process the plant material as it is fed through the processing channel.

A tubular for processing crops can include a body having an outer surface and protrusions extending outwardly from the outer surface. The protrusions can be arranged in bands that are spaced apart along the outer surface to define gaps therebetween that form grooves extending around a circumference of the body. Each band of protrusions can be positioned offset with respect to at least one adjacent band of protrusions such that the protrusions form a spiraling configuration around a longitudinal axis of the body.

A tubular for processing crops can include a body having an outer surface and protrusions extending outwardly from the outer surface. The protrusions can be arranged in bands that are spaced apart along the outer surface to define gaps therebetween that form grooves extending around a circumference of the body. Each band of protrusions can be positioned offset with respect to at least one adjacent band of protrusions such that the protrusions form a spiraling configuration around a longitudinal axis of the body.

An apparatus with a projection defining first and second openings and a channel between the openings. An interior surface adjacent the channel tapers inwardly from the first opening to the second opening, and a shearing edge is positioned adjacent the second opening. A method of using the apparatus to separate protuberances of a plant from an elongate portion of the plant by pulling the elongate portion through the channel. Another apparatus with first and second counter-rotating rollers. Each roller having alternating projecting portions and valleys and oriented so that projecting portions of one roller are aligned with valleys of the other roller as the rollers rotate. A method of using the rollers to deform an elongate portion of a plant between the projecting portions of one roller and the valleys of the other roller.