A grass mower includes a blade shaft for rotating a blade within a mower deck supported to a vehicle body, a power transmission mechanism for supplying rotational power to the blade shaft, a duct for air-conveying cut grass pieces from the mower deck to the grass collecting bag and a flow boosting device incorporated in the duct. The flow boosting device increases a speed of air flow inside the duct by feeding air through a nozzle opening adjacent an inner circumferential face of the duct along a flow direction of the air flow.

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 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 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 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 mower deck discharge chute includes a flexible member attached with a hinge to a multi-blade mower deck, and a drive belt tunnel through the flexible member that an attachment drive belt passes through when the flexible member is pivoted up to a generally vertical position. The attachment drive belt may be on a single plane to engage a drive sheave on the multi-blade mower deck, a driven sheave on the belt driven attachment, and an idler.

A mower deck discharge chute includes a flexible member attached with a hinge to a multi-blade mower deck, and a drive belt tunnel through the flexible member that an attachment drive belt passes through when the flexible member is pivoted up to a generally vertical position. The attachment drive belt may be on a single plane to engage a drive sheave on the multi-blade mower deck, a driven sheave on the belt driven attachment, and an idler.

An Invasive Weed Seed Removal System, and a method for making an Invasive Weed Seed Removal System are disclosed. More particularly, an invasive weed seed removal device is provided including a weed seed removal nozzle which works in conjunction with a combination vacuum and a venturi effect cutting blade configuration, to cut and vacuum invasive weed seed pods, thereby effectively and economically removing them from the environment before the weed seeds reach the ground, whereby the annual cycle of invasive weeds is broken, and areas of land are cleared for native plants to grow and thrive. The Invasive Weed Seed Removal System can be configured as a hand-held unit, a backpack weed whacker type unit, a lawn mower type unit and a heavy equipment type tractor attachment, to enable several methods of controlled cutting and removal of the seed pods of invasive weeds and noxious imported grasses and other plants, by adjusting the height of a unique cutting and vacuum nozzle.

An Invasive Weed Seed Removal System, and a method for making an Invasive Weed Seed Removal System are disclosed. More particularly, an invasive weed seed removal device is provided including a weed seed removal nozzle which works in conjunction with a combination vacuum and a venturi effect cutting blade configuration, to cut and vacuum invasive weed seed pods, thereby effectively and economically removing them from the environment before the weed seeds reach the ground, whereby the annual cycle of invasive weeds is broken, and areas of land are cleared for native plants to grow and thrive. The Invasive Weed Seed Removal System can be configured as a hand-held unit, a backpack weed whacker type unit, a lawn mower type unit and a heavy equipment type tractor attachment, to enable several methods of controlled cutting and removal of the seed pods of invasive weeds and noxious imported grasses and other plants, by adjusting the height of a unique cutting and vacuum nozzle.

A rotary mower cutting deck has a downwardly opening space and rear discharge opening. A center blade and a first side blade rotating in one direction and a second counter-rotating side blade are within the space. A front flow control baffle has a first V-shaped apex located between the unidirectional blades and a second V-shaped apex between the center blade and the counter-rotating side blade. A first V-shaped flow deflector mounted to the first apex points downwardly to cause many grass clippings from the first side blade to be directed to the rear discharge opening without passing to the center blade. A second V-shaped flow deflector mounted to the second apex points upwardly to disrupt the convergence of the air flows and clipping streams from the center and second side blades to maintain the quality of cut and reduce blow out.

A rotary mower cutting deck has a downwardly opening space and rear discharge opening. A center blade and a first side blade rotating in one direction and a second counter-rotating side blade are within the space. A front flow control baffle has a first V-shaped apex located between the unidirectional blades and a second V-shaped apex between the center blade and the counter-rotating side blade. A first V-shaped flow deflector mounted to the first apex points downwardly to cause many grass clippings from the first side blade to be directed to the rear discharge opening without passing to the center blade. A second V-shaped flow deflector mounted to the second apex points upwardly to disrupt the convergence of the air flows and clipping streams from the center and second side blades to maintain the quality of cut and reduce blow out.

A system and related method of applying forage treatment material to harvested forage is provided. The system can include a mobile forage harvester having a chute, a vacuum source that produces a vacuum, and a bin that stores granular treatment material for dispensation. The chute can be joined with a catch tube having a catch opening. A tube can extend from the bin toward the catch tube, but can be separated from the catch opening by an open gap. The material can be dispensed from the tube into the open gap, and drawn across the open gap and into the catch opening with the vacuum so the material mixes with the harvested forage moving along the pathway in the chute under force of the vacuum. The bin, tubes and the open gap can be located in an interior compartment to protect them from the elements. A related method is provided.