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.

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.

An apparatus for roughage processing includes a first platform for placing of a first type of roughage, a first cutting mechanism for processing the first type of roughage, a first chain for cutting the first type of roughage from the first platform to the first cutting mechanism; and a second platform, a second cutting mechanism, and a second chain for performing similar tasks with a second type of roughage. The first chain and the first cutting mechanims and the second chain are driven at a different speed to provide concurrent cutting of the first and second types of roughages at different cut sizes. The apparatus further includes a conveyor an auger for concurrently collecting the first type of roughage and the second type of roughage after respective processing by the first cutting mechanism and the second cutting mechanism for effective blending of the two types of roughages, each of which has been cut differently to obtain its optimum particle size for ruminant consumption. The apparatus can be powered by a very small horse power motor. It also includes a mechanism that will stop the floor chains carrying the roughage into the knife drums when the power load force that is detected by the knife drum power load reading device reaches a predetermined amount. This predetermined amount is still within, but near the upper limits of, the available horsepower range of the small motor powering it.

An apparatus for roughage processing includes a first platform for placing of a first type of roughage, a first cutting mechanism for processing the first type of roughage, a first chain for cutting the first type of roughage from the first platform to the first cutting mechanism; and a second platform, a second cutting mechanism, and a second chain for performing similar tasks with a second type of roughage. The first chain and the first cutting mechanims and the second chain are driven at a different speed to provide concurrent cutting of the first and second types of roughages at different cut sizes. The apparatus further includes a conveyor an auger for concurrently collecting the first type of roughage and the second type of roughage after respective processing by the first cutting mechanism and the second cutting mechanism for effective blending of the two types of roughages, each of which has been cut differently to obtain its optimum particle size for ruminant consumption. The apparatus can be powered by a very small horse power motor. It also includes a mechanism that will stop the floor chains carrying the roughage into the knife drums when the power load force that is detected by the knife drum power load reading device reaches a predetermined amount. This predetermined amount is still within, but near the upper limits of, the available horsepower range of the small motor powering it.

A transmission device and an agricultural harvesting machine include a first drive input element, a second drive input element, a shift sleeve configured as a hollow shaft, and a drive output shaft. The shift sleeve is mounted axially displaceably on the drive output shaft and is configured to be moved by axial displacement into one of a first position, a second position, and a third shift position. An internal toothing is formed on each of the first drive input element and the second drive input element. An external toothing and an internal toothing are formed on the shift sleeve. An external toothing is formed on the drive output shaft.

A transmission device and an agricultural harvesting machine include a first drive input element, a second drive input element, a shift sleeve configured as a hollow shaft, and a drive output shaft. The shift sleeve is mounted axially displaceably on the drive output shaft and is configured to be moved by axial displacement into one of a first position, a second position, and a third shift position. An internal toothing is formed on each of the first drive input element and the second drive input element. An external toothing and an internal toothing are formed on the shift sleeve. An external toothing is formed on the drive output shaft.

A crop cutting device comprising a crop guiding surface including slots extending in a direction of travel of the crop over the crop guiding surface; knives pivotally mounted below the crop guiding surface, each knife aligned with a respective slot and pivotable about a knife axis extending perpendicular to the slots between a retracted inoperative position in which it is located below the guiding surface and an extended operative position, wherein a cutting edge of each knife projects above said guiding surface; operating units associated with a respective knife and configured to being operated to bring the associated knife from the retracted inoperative position into the extended operative position; a selector mechanism to selectively engage the operating units, the selector mechanism including a rotatable shaft extending to the slots between two side plates and carrying engagement elements configured to engage with the respective operating unit.

A crop cutting device comprising a crop guiding surface including slots extending in a direction of travel of the crop over the crop guiding surface; knives pivotally mounted below the crop guiding surface, each knife aligned with a respective slot and pivotable about a knife axis extending perpendicular to the slots between a retracted inoperative position in which it is located below the guiding surface and an extended operative position, wherein a cutting edge of each knife projects above said guiding surface; operating units associated with a respective knife and configured to being operated to bring the associated knife from the retracted inoperative position into the extended operative position; a selector mechanism to selectively engage the operating units, the selector mechanism including a rotatable shaft extending to the slots between two side plates and carrying engagement elements configured to engage with the respective operating unit.