A chopper system and method for cutting crop material with a rotating first drum having first blades and a counter-rotating second drums having second blades. Blade pairs with one first blade and one second blade contact one another and cut the crop material. The blades of each blade pair contact one another for at least ten degrees of rotation. The blades can have beveled cutting edges, and the blade pairs can make bevel to bevel contact. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can form a swipe angle of 15 degrees or less. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can have the acute end of the first blade contact the second blade near the middle of the beveled edge. During each rotation, the acute end of the second blade can contact the back of the first blade.

A chopper system and method for cutting crop material with a rotating first drum having first blades and a counter-rotating second drums having second blades. Blade pairs with one first blade and one second blade contact one another and cut the crop material. The blades of each blade pair contact one another for at least ten degrees of rotation. The blades can have beveled cutting edges, and the blade pairs can make bevel to bevel contact. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can form a swipe angle of 15 degrees or less. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can have the acute end of the first blade contact the second blade near the middle of the beveled edge. During each rotation, the acute end of the second blade can contact the back of the first blade.

A mower cutting unit lift system includes a rotary motor connected to a power supply and turning an output shaft connected to a bell crank. A flexible link between the bell crank and a lift arm is used to lift a cutting unit to a transport position if the rotary motor turns the output shaft and the bell crank in a first direction, and lower the cutting unit to a mowing position if the rotary motor turns the output shaft and the bell crank in a second direction.

A mower cutting unit lift system includes a rotary motor connected to a power supply and turning an output shaft connected to a bell crank. A flexible link between the bell crank and a lift arm is used to lift a cutting unit to a transport position if the rotary motor turns the output shaft and the bell crank in a first direction, and lower the cutting unit to a mowing position if the rotary motor turns the output shaft and the bell crank in a second direction.

A lawn mower includes a housing with a baffle that defines an air path to produce a cross-flow. The baffle includes a vent to manipulate air pressures within the housing and facilitate movement of plant clippings. A hand-held device for trimming with a rotary blade assembly may also include a housing that defines an air path to produce a cross-flow. The hand-held trimming device may also a baffle with a vent to facilitate movement of plant clippings.

A chopper system and method for cutting crop material with a rotating first drum having first blades and a counter-rotating second drums having second blades. Blade pairs with one first blade and one second blade contact one another and cut the crop material. The blades of each blade pair contact one another for at least ten degrees of rotation. The blades can have beveled cutting edges, and the blade pairs can make bevel to bevel contact. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can form a swipe angle of 15 degrees or less. The initial contact of the blade pairs during each rotation can have the acute end of the first blade contact the second blade near the middle of the beveled edge. During each rotation, the acute end of the second blade can contact the back of the first blade.

A wide area mower with an open-box structure mower deck. The deck has a width from the left to right side of about 72 to 120 inches. The deck's length is about 24 to 70 inches. A left and right front wheel are positioned in front of the deck. The wide mower deck will flex, twist, or bend when one of the left or right wheels travels over uneven terrain while the rest of the mower travels over substantially level terrain. A cutting height adjustment mechanism is provided on the mower that allows an operator to raise or lower an entire left side or an entire right side of the mower deck to a selected cutting height. This is done simply by disengaging a locking mechanism and manipulating a lever on a four-bar linkage attached to each side of the deck and then re-engaging the locking mechanism.

A wide area mower with an open-box structure mower deck. The deck has a width from the left to right side of about 72 to 120 inches. The deck's length is about 24 to 70 inches. A left and right front wheel are positioned in front of the deck. The wide mower deck will flex, twist, or bend when one of the left or right wheels travels over uneven terrain while the rest of the mower travels over substantially level terrain. A cutting height adjustment mechanism is provided on the mower that allows an operator to raise or lower an entire left side or an entire right side of the mower deck to a selected cutting height. This is done simply by disengaging a locking mechanism and manipulating a lever on a four-bar linkage attached to each side of the deck and then re-engaging the locking mechanism.

A forage harvester including a chopping drum having a plurality of knife blades, a knife sharpening apparatus, a discharge spout, image capture apparatus for generating a series of captured images of processed crop in the discharge spout, an electronic control unit, and a memory. The electronic control unit determines data relating to aspects of crop flow from a first image or a first set of images in a series of captured images. The memory stores this data as control data. The electronic control unit then compares data relating to aspects of crop flow determined from subsequent captured images, with the control data. In the event of a predetermined deviation of the data relating to the aspects of crop flow, from the control data, the control unit generates a signal indicating that sharpening the knife blades is required.

A blade cartridge for a horizontal rotary mower includes airfoil blades and diverter blades that alter airflow within the blade cartridge and prevent grass clippings from accumulating. The horizontal rotary lawnmower may be adapted to engage a cleaning station with brushes or cleaning pads to remove grass clippings while the horizontal rotary lawnmower blade assembly is operated in reverse. The cleaning station may automatically engage a reverse operation. The cleaning station may also hone the blades of the blade assembly while operating in reverse.