Patent ID: 7036296

Claim:
In a forage harvester including a crop intake channel, an engine, length of cut gear box, a train of drive elements coupled between the engine and said length of cut gearbox, a crop harvesting header being mounted to said forage harvester and including a drive input gearbox, at least one mower and intake drive assembly for cutting off and transporting harvested crop, and a discharge conveyor located for receiving cut crop from said at least one mower and intake drive assembly and for delivering the crop to said intake channel of the forage harvester; an articulated drive shaft being coupled between said length of cut gearbox and said drive input gearbox, the improvement comprising: a drive shaft being coupled between said drive input gearbox and said at least one mower and intake drive assembly; and a mechanical shift gearbox with a variable transmission ratio being coupled for being driven by said drive input gearbox and being coupled for driving said discharge conveyor.