A self-propelled forage harvester is disclosed that includes a blade sharpening and shear bar adjusting device, a monitoring device configured to cyclically generate information on the state of the cutterhead chopping glades and the distance of the shear bar to the cutting edge, and a control unit. The control unit evaluates the information provided by the monitoring device about the state of wear of the chopping blades and the distance, compares it with a limit value for the state of wear and/or the distance, where the limit value forms a lower limit for an optimum range to be maintained by the blade sharpening and shear bar adjusting device, of the instantaneous cutting sharpness of the chopping blades or of the distance and, when the limit value is reached, automatically triggers a sharpening process and/or of a shear bar adjustment by the blade sharpening and shear bar adjusting device.

A lawn mower (10) includes a rotating shaft (16) that is connected to a lawn mowing motor (17) and extends in a substantially vertical direction; a blade (15) that rotates integrally with the rotating shaft (16); and a housing (18) that rotatably accommodates the blade (15) and has an open bottom. The housing (18) is provided with a grindstone (32) capable of coming into contact with the blade (15) from below the blade (15), and the grindstone (32) is capable of moving between a maintenance position where the grindstone is capable of coining into contact with the blade (15) and a standby position where the grindstone is not capable of coming into contact with the blade (15).

A lawn mower (10) includes a rotating shaft (16) that is connected to a lawn mowing motor (17) and extends in a substantially vertical direction; a blade (15) that rotates integrally with the rotating shaft (16); and a housing (18) that rotatably accommodates the blade (15) and has an open bottom. The housing (18) is provided with a grindstone (32) capable of coming into contact with the blade (15) from below the blade (15), and the grindstone (32) is capable of moving between a maintenance position where the grindstone is capable of coining into contact with the blade (15) and a standby position where the grindstone is not capable of coming into contact with the blade (15).

A method for sharpening cutting knives carried by a cutter drum in a housing of an agricultural vehicle includes: rotating the cutter drum while keeping a sharpening door closed so an overpressure is created inside the housing, the sharpening door shielding a sharpening stone from the cutting knives while creating the overpressure; opening a transition door of the housing below the cutter drum to eject crop material through the open transition door; opening the sharpening door to expose the cutting knives to the sharpening stone and closing the transition door; grinding one or more of the cutting knives with the exposed sharpening stone; and closing the sharpening door to shield the sharpening stone from the cutting knives after grinding.

A lawn mower includes: a rotation shaft coupled to a power source and extending in an approximately vertical direction; a blade configured to rotate integrally with the rotation shaft; and a housing having a downward opening and accommodating the blade such that the blade is rotatable; and a maintenance tool provided on the housing, the maintenance tool being contactable with the blade from the above. A cutting portion of the blade is capable of moving between a maintenance position at which the cutting portion is contactable with the maintenance tool and an operating position at which the cutting portion mows a lawn.

A lawn mower includes: a rotation shaft coupled to a power source and extending in an approximately vertical direction; a blade configured to rotate integrally with the rotation shaft; and a housing having a downward opening and accommodating the blade such that the blade is rotatable; and a maintenance tool provided on the housing, the maintenance tool being contactable with the blade from the above. A cutting portion of the blade is capable of moving between a maintenance position at which the cutting portion is contactable with the maintenance tool and an operating position at which the cutting portion mows a lawn.

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 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.

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.