Patent ID: 6604352
Filing Date: 2003-08-12
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A forage harvester for handling crop material including kernels, the forage harvester comprising:a cutter unit for comminuting said crop material; and a processing unit which is movable between a first and a second position, said unit comprising: a crop processor unit disposed adjacent said cutter unit for receiving comminuted crop material from the cutter unit and cracking kernels in the crop material when said processing unit is in said first position, and disposed remote from said cutter unit for letting the comminuted crop material from the cutter unit bypass the crop processor unit when said processing unit is in said second position; a blower unit for accelerating the processed crop material towards a subsequent handling apparatus, the blower unit being disposed for receiving the processed crop material directly from the crop processor unit when the processing unit is in said first position and for receiving the crop material directly from the cutter unit when the processing unit is in the second position; and a first drive power connection from a power unit for providing drive power to at least one of the blower unit and the crop processor unit, the power unit comprising a belt drive remote from the processing unit, characterized in that: said movable processing unit further comprises a frame which is rotatably journalled at one point, said blower unit being mounted to said frame; said crop processor unit mounted to said movable frame; said frame being connected to said crop processor unit for moving therewith as the processing unit is moved from the first to the second position; a housing surrounding both the blower unit and the crop processor unit when the processor unit is in the first position; a second drive power connection for providing drive power to the other one of the blower unit and the crop processor unit; and said first drive power connection to the at least one of the blower unit and the crop processor unit is operable to remain substantially operational as the processing unit is moved from the first to the second position.