An apparatus and method for processing a crop residue, which includes but is not limited to, destroying weed seeds present in the crop residue. The apparatus (10) comprises an elongate housing (12) having an inlet (20) for receiving crop residue N and an outlet (22) for discharging the crop residue. The apparatus (10) also has one or more rotors (24), (26) located in the elongate housing (12). Each rotor (24), (26) comprises a plurality of radially extending impact members (28a), (28b), (28c), (28d), (28e), (28f) which rotate with the one or more rotors (24), (26) and impact against the crop residue, so that lighter material of the crop residue is subjected to less impacts and denser material of the crop residue is subjected to relatively more impacts.

A bale processing apparatus include a frame, a bale hopper defining a bale chamber for receiving a bale, a bale shredding assembly including a shredding rotor rotatable in a rotor chamber, and a bale movement assembly configured to move a bale in the bale chamber toward the bale feed opening and the shredding rotor. In embodiments, the apparatus may be mountable on support arms of a loader such that the bale processing apparatus is liftable off of the ground surface, and may include a rotor operating assembly may be mounted on the frame and configured to rotate the shredding rotor, and the operating assembly may include an engine fully mounted on the frame such that the frame and the engine may be removed as a unit from the loader. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A bale processing apparatus include a frame, a bale hopper defining a bale chamber for receiving a bale, a bale shredding assembly including a shredding rotor rotatable in a rotor chamber, and a bale movement assembly configured to move a bale in the bale chamber toward the bale feed opening and the shredding rotor. In embodiments, the apparatus may be mountable on support arms of a loader such that the bale processing apparatus is liftable off of the ground surface, and may include a rotor operating assembly may be mounted on the frame and configured to rotate the shredding rotor, and the operating assembly may include an engine fully mounted on the frame such that the frame and the engine may be removed as a unit from the loader. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A bale processing apparatus include a frame, a bale hopper defining a bale chamber for receiving a bale, a bale shredding assembly including a shredding rotor rotatable in a rotor chamber, and a bale movement assembly configured to move a bale in the bale chamber toward the bale feed opening and the shredding rotor. In embodiments, the apparatus may be mountable on support arms of a loader such that the bale processing apparatus is liftable off of the ground surface, and may include a rotor operating assembly may be mounted on the frame and configured to rotate the shredding rotor, and the operating assembly may include an engine fully mounted on the frame such that the frame and the engine may be removed as a unit from the loader. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A bale processing apparatus include a frame, a bale hopper defining a bale chamber for receiving a bale, a bale shredding assembly including a shredding rotor rotatable in a rotor chamber, and a bale movement assembly configured to move a bale in the bale chamber toward the bale feed opening and the shredding rotor. In embodiments, the apparatus may be mountable on support arms of a loader such that the bale processing apparatus is liftable off of the ground surface, and may include a rotor operating assembly may be mounted on the frame and configured to rotate the shredding rotor, and the operating assembly may include an engine fully mounted on the frame such that the frame and the engine may be removed as a unit from the loader. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A harvesting machine including a frame, a rotor assembly rotatably coupled to the frame configured to move crop material, and a plurality of knives movably attached to the harvesting machine. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of spaced apart rotating blades, wherein one or more of the plurality of knives extends into the spaces between the blades. Each of the plurality of knives includes a knife body and a cutting edge having a plurality of teeth, wherein each of the teeth includes a scallop or valley. Each one of the plurality of valleys extends from the knife body to the leading edge of one of the plurality of teeth, wherein adjacent valleys are located on opposite sides of the knife body. The valleys are lined with a wear resistant material to increase the longevity of the cutting edge and cutting ability.

A harvesting machine including a frame, a rotor assembly rotatably coupled to the frame configured to move crop material, and a plurality of knives movably attached to the harvesting machine. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of spaced apart rotating blades, wherein one or more of the plurality of knives extends into the spaces between the blades. Each of the plurality of knives includes a knife body and a cutting edge having a plurality of teeth, wherein each of the teeth includes a scallop or valley. Each one of the plurality of valleys extends from the knife body to the leading edge of one of the plurality of teeth, wherein adjacent valleys are located on opposite sides of the knife body. The valleys are lined with a wear resistant material to increase the longevity of the cutting edge and cutting ability.

An apparatus for trimming plant material includes a housing having at least one receptacle configured to removably receive at least one cutting reel system to rest unsecured therein. The housing includes a closeable lid having retention structure configured to operably secure the at least one cutting reel system in the at least one receptacle when the lid is closed. In some embodiments, the housing is further configured to removably receive a knife assembly to rest unsecured in the housing, and the retention structure of the closeable lid further includes a knife retention structure configured to operably secure the knife assembly in engagement with the at least one cutting reel system when the lid is closed.

A knife and blade for agricultural machines, in particular mower knife blades, straw chopper knives, corn header knives, feed mixer knives, loader wagon knives and baler knives, has at least one toothed cutting edge extending from a cutting edge beginning to a cutting edge end on a blade surface. The cutting edge has a straight or curved configuration and the blade surface has a mounting section. The toothing of the cutting edge is varied along its length with regard to the tooth pitch and/or the tooth geometry.

A knife and blade for agricultural machines, in particular mower knife blades, straw chopper knives, corn header knives, feed mixer knives, loader wagon knives and baler knives, has at least one toothed cutting edge extending from a cutting edge beginning to a cutting edge end on a blade surface. The cutting edge has a straight or curved configuration and the blade surface has a mounting section. The toothing of the cutting edge is varied along its length with regard to the tooth pitch and/or the tooth geometry.