Patent ID: 7930870
Filing Date: 2011-04-26
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A row unit for use in a corn head attached to a combine, said row unit comprising: first and second cylindrical rotating stalk rolls laterally disposed in closely spaced relation to one another, wherein each stalk roll has an input end for receiving corn stalks and an opposed output end and said stalk rolls rotate in opposite directions, and wherein each stalk roll includes outer spiral fluting extending outwardly from and along at least a portion of the length of said stalk roll, wherein said outer fluting includes first portions extending generally parallel to a longitudinal rotational axis of said stalk roll and second portions extending at an angle to said axis, wherein said second portions of said fluting are oriented at an inclined angle relative to the longitudinal axis of its associated stalk roll and said first and second portions are arranged in an alternating manner in the fluting, and wherein said first and second portions of the fluting are generally flat and curvilinear, respectively, and wherein the generally flat first portions of the fluting each include a respective sharpened distal edge portion to facilitate reduction of the plant residue to small pieces, and wherein said outer fluting is in the form of a thin, sheet-like material extending generally radially from a lateral outer surface of a stalk roll, wherein rotation of said stalk rolls positions harvested corn plants above and intermediate said first and second stalk rolls; a stripper arrangement disposed above said first and second stalk rolls for receiving corn plants and separating ears of corn from plant residue; wherein the first portions of said fluting reduce and displace the crop residue to a space between said stalk rolls for discharge from the combine and the second portions of said outer fluting direct ears of corn from the input end to the output end of the stalk rolls and to the combine; first and second corn plant pick-up cones respectively disposed adjacent the inlet ends of said first and second stalk rolls, wherein each of said first and second pick-up cones includes respective spiral outer fluting disposed on the pick-up cone's outer surface; and a drive mechanism coupled to said first and second stalk rolls and to said first and second pick-up cones for rotationally displacing said stalk rolls and pick-up cones, wherein said drive mechanism includes plural gears and first and second coaxial drive shafts respectively coupling said first stalk roll and said first pick-up cone to said gears and third and fourth coaxial drive shafts respectively coupling said second stalk roll and said second pick-up cone to said gears for rotating said first stalk roll and said first pick-up cone in opposite directions and said second stalk roll and said second pick-up cone in opposite directions.