Patent ID: 8220237
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A pair of stalk rolls to be mounted upon a corn harvesting header comprising: a. a first stalk roll cooperatively engaged with a first stalk roll drive shaft for rotation in a first direction, said first stalk roll comprising: b. a second stalk roll cooperatively engaged with a second stalk roll drive shaft for rotation in a second direction, wherein said second direction is opposite said first direction, said second stalk roll comprising: c. a cornstalk slot having an infinite height and a width defined by the distance between two parallel vertical lines, wherein a first vertical line is tangent said cylindrical shell of said first stalk roll on the surface of said first stalk roll that faces said second stalk roll, wherein a second vertical line is tangent said cylindrical shell of said second stalk roll on the surface of said second stalk roll that faces said first stalk roll, and wherein a length of said cornstalk slot is less than the length of said cylindrical shell of either said first or said second stalk roll; and, d. a stalk engagement gap formed in said cornstalk slot during rotation of said first and second stalk rolls, wherein said stalk engagement gap is defined as a moment in time during which none of said flutes on said first stalk roll and none of said flutes on said second stalk roll are positioned within said cornstalk slot.