Patent ID: 6502378
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
In a header, adapted for use with a forage harvester having a cutter drum for cutting stalk crops from the ground and delivering the stalks to the cutter drum for being chopped into pieces, the header including several intake and mowing arrangements arranged in side-by-side relationship to each other and being driven about respective upright axes for cutting and conveying the harvested crop, a transverse conveying channel being provided to the rear of the intake and mowing arrangements through which the harvested crop can be transported at least approximately transverse to a forward operating direction, and a discharge channel being located in the center of the header at downstream ends of portions of the conveying channel located on opposite sides of said center of the header, the improvement comprising: a centrally located conveying arrangement being mounted ahead of and above said transverse conveying channel at a location no farther forward than said intake and mowing arrangements; and a drive coupled to said conveying arrangement for driving it such as to cause any crop stalks which emerge from said transverse conveying channel in the vicinity of the conveying arrangement to be delivered toward said discharge channel.