Patent ID: 7752829
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A row unit for use in a corn head attached to a combine having the combination of a first auger and elongated trough aligned generally transverse to the direction of travel of the 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 intake end for receiving corn stalks and an opposed outlet end and said stalk rolls rotate in opposite directions, and wherein each stalk roll includes plural cutting elements disposed on its outer surface in a spaced manner for reducing the corn stalks to small pieces, and wherein each stalk roll further includes a respective first outer fluting for displacing the corn stalks from the stalk roll's intake end toward its outlet end, and wherein said cutting elements and said stalk rolls urge the corn stalks downward in a space between said first and second stalk rolls; first and second rotating pick-up cones respectively disposed forward of and in closely spaced relation to said first and second stalk rolls for engaging and lifting corn stalks lying on the ground and providing these down corn stalks to said first and second stalk rolls, wherein each of said first and second rotating pick-up cones includes a respective second outer fluting; a stripper plate disposed above and in closely spaced relation to said first stalk roll and extending substantially the length of said first stalk roll from its intake end to its outlet end; and a second auger disposed above and in closely spaced relation to said second stalk roll and extending substantially the length of said second stalk roll from its input end to its outlet end, wherein said second auger is further disposed in closely spaced relation to said stripper plate, and wherein said stripper plate removes ears of corn from the corn stalks and said second auger displaces the thus removed ears of corn rearwardly to the first auger and trough combination.