When using a cross auger assembly on a crop harvesting header with a flexible frame having end frame sections pivotal relative to a centre frame section, mounting devices are coupled between the bearing housings at opposing ends of the cross auger assembly and the outer ends of the end frame sections. Each mounting device includes a first mounting structure fixed relative to the outer end of the end frame section, a second mounting structure fixed to a portion of the respective bearing housing, and a flexible mounting arrangement between the mounting structures to accommodate variation in lateral positioning of the bearing housings relative to the ends of the flexible frame as the flexible frame flexes over varying ground contours without requiring a telescoping shaft arrangement on the cross auger assembly.

When using a cross auger assembly on a crop harvesting header with a flexible frame having end frame sections pivotal relative to a centre frame section, mounting devices are coupled between the bearing housings at opposing ends of the cross auger assembly and the outer ends of the end frame sections. Each mounting device includes a first mounting structure fixed relative to the outer end of the end frame section, a second mounting structure fixed to a portion of the respective bearing housing, and a flexible mounting arrangement between the mounting structures to accommodate variation in lateral positioning of the bearing housings relative to the ends of the flexible frame as the flexible frame flexes over varying ground contours without requiring a telescoping shaft arrangement on the cross auger assembly.

The invention relates to a bale breaker (1) for a bale (2) of hay, straw, litter and/or fodder, comprising support means (3) for the bale (2) and breaker means (4) adapted to detach hay, straw, litter and/or fodder from a bale (2) provided on the support means (3) and to transport it to discharge means (5) arranged downstream of the breaker means (4), wherein feed means (6) for feeding a bale (2) provided on the support means (3) in a feed direction (Z) toward the disintegrating means (4) are associated with the support means (3), and wherein feed drive means (7) for driving the feed means (6) and disintegrating drive means (8) for driving the disintegrating means (4) are further provided, wherein control devices (9) are associated with the feed drive devices (7) and/or the opening drive devices (8) and/or the discharge devices (5), which are designed to control the feed drive devices (7) and/or the opening drive devices (8) and/or the discharge devices (5) in such a way that a malfunction or disturbance, such as in particular a jam or a blockage by the bale (2), in particular at the opening devices (4) and/or the discharge devices (5), is avoided or eliminated. Furthermore, the invention relates to a bale unraveling method in which a bale (2) of hay, straw, litter and/or fodder is transported on support devices (3) by means of their feed devices (6) driven by feed drive devices (7) to unraveling devices (4) driven by unraveling drive devices (8), which unravel hay, straw, litter and/or fodder from the bale (2) and transport it to output devices (5), wherein the feed drive devices (7) and/or the unraveling drive devices (8) and/or the dispensing devices (5) are controlled by means of control devices (9) in such a way that a malfunction or disturbance, such as in particular a jam or a blockage by the bale (2), in particular at the unraveling devices (4) and/or the dispensing devices (5), is avoided or eliminated.

The invention relates to a bale breaker (1) for a bale (2) of hay, straw, litter and/or fodder, comprising support means (3) for the bale (2) and breaker means (4) adapted to detach hay, straw, litter and/or fodder from a bale (2) provided on the support means (3) and to transport it to discharge means (5) arranged downstream of the breaker means (4), wherein feed means (6) for feeding a bale (2) provided on the support means (3) in a feed direction (Z) toward the disintegrating means (4) are associated with the support means (3), and wherein feed drive means (7) for driving the feed means (6) and disintegrating drive means (8) for driving the disintegrating means (4) are further provided, wherein control devices (9) are associated with the feed drive devices (7) and/or the opening drive devices (8) and/or the discharge devices (5), which are designed to control the feed drive devices (7) and/or the opening drive devices (8) and/or the discharge devices (5) in such a way that a malfunction or disturbance, such as in particular a jam or a blockage by the bale (2), in particular at the opening devices (4) and/or the discharge devices (5), is avoided or eliminated. Furthermore, the invention relates to a bale unraveling method in which a bale (2) of hay, straw, litter and/or fodder is transported on support devices (3) by means of their feed devices (6) driven by feed drive devices (7) to unraveling devices (4) driven by unraveling drive devices (8), which unravel hay, straw, litter and/or fodder from the bale (2) and transport it to output devices (5), wherein the feed drive devices (7) and/or the unraveling drive devices (8) and/or the dispensing devices (5) are controlled by means of control devices (9) in such a way that a malfunction or disturbance, such as in particular a jam or a blockage by the bale (2), in particular at the unraveling devices (4) and/or the dispensing devices (5), is avoided or eliminated.

A residue management system of a combine harvester includes a tailboard with a guide surface and guide fins for spreading of the residue to the sides. At least one of the fins includes a leading portion which is smoothly concavely curved up to a trailing portion which intersects with the leading portion at a change in direction or defined bend in the sheet metal. The trailing portion thus extends across and intersects with a path of the residue as it passes along the concave side surface at the leading portion and leaves the end of the leading portion to apply increased pressure on the stream and thus increase the spreading action. The trailing edge of the trailing portion is also inclined to a line across the trailing portion at right angles to the tailboard surface which causes the residue to leave the trailing edge at different angles.

A residue management system of a combine harvester includes a tailboard with a guide surface and guide fins for spreading of the residue to the sides. At least one of the fins includes a leading portion which is smoothly concavely curved up to a trailing portion which intersects with the leading portion at a change in direction or defined bend in the sheet metal. The trailing portion thus extends across and intersects with a path of the residue as it passes along the concave side surface at the leading portion and leaves the end of the leading portion to apply increased pressure on the stream and thus increase the spreading action. The trailing edge of the trailing portion is also inclined to a line across the trailing portion at right angles to the tailboard surface which causes the residue to leave the trailing edge at different angles.

Straw chopper assemblies are provided for a harvesting combine of the type having a rotor and cage threshing assembly. The straw chopper assemblies are located on each side of the rotor discharge for accepting material exiting the rotor. Each straw chopper assembly is formed from a curvilinear cage having and interior opening to accept the rotor discharged material, and an opening to distribute chopper straw outside of the harvesting combine. A rotating knife assembly is housed within each curvilinear cage. A stationary knife assembly is movable for the rotating knives to pass between adjacent pairs of stationary knives. Outlets are provided in material communication with the curvilinear cage openings for discharging chopped straw onto the ground adjacent to the harvesting combine. Hoods are located over each of the outlets to directing the discharged chopped straw onto the ground.

Straw chopper assemblies are provided for a harvesting combine of the type having a rotor and cage threshing assembly. The straw chopper assemblies are located on each side of the rotor discharge for accepting material exiting the rotor. Each straw chopper assembly is formed from a curvilinear cage having and interior opening to accept the rotor discharged material, and an opening to distribute chopper straw outside of the harvesting combine. A rotating knife assembly is housed within each curvilinear cage. A stationary knife assembly is movable for the rotating knives to pass between adjacent pairs of stationary knives. Outlets are provided in material communication with the curvilinear cage openings for discharging chopped straw onto the ground adjacent to the harvesting combine. Hoods are located over each of the outlets to directing the discharged chopped straw onto the ground.

An apparatus for disintegrating large rectangular bales of forage or bedding material and reforming the disintegrated material into small rectangular bales includes an inclined conveyor having spikes projecting therefrom to remove slices of material from the large bale and a spiked roller to move the slice rearwardly onto a tumbler bed that receives the slice and affects disintegration thereof. The tumbler bed includes a plurality of transverse assemblies having disks interleaving with the disks on adjacent assemblies, each assembly rotating faster than the assembly immediately forwardly thereof. The disintegrated material falls through the tumbler bed as discrete components that land on a collecting conveyor that conveys the material rearwardly to a small rectangular baler for repackaging. The apparatus further includes a hold-down mechanism that presses the slices toward the tumbler bed to enhance disintegration. An approach conveyor feeds the large rectangular bales loaded thereon to the inclined conveyor for processing.

An apparatus for disintegrating large rectangular bales of forage or bedding material and reforming the disintegrated material into small rectangular bales includes an inclined conveyor having spikes projecting therefrom to remove slices of material from the large bale and a spiked roller to move the slice rearwardly onto a tumbler bed that receives the slice and affects disintegration thereof. The tumbler bed includes a plurality of transverse assemblies having disks interleaving with the disks on adjacent assemblies, each assembly rotating faster than the assembly immediately forwardly thereof. The disintegrated material falls through the tumbler bed as discrete components that land on a collecting conveyor that conveys the material rearwardly to a small rectangular baler for repackaging. The apparatus further includes a hold-down mechanism that presses the slices toward the tumbler bed to enhance disintegration. An approach conveyor feeds the large rectangular bales loaded thereon to the inclined conveyor for processing.