Patent ID: 8413413

Claim:
An implement for a harvester comprising a cross auger and a plurality of row units, said plurality of row units and said cross auger defining a feeder plane therebetween, said plurality of row units comprising; a first row unit having a first gathering auger, said first gathering auger conveying useable parts from a crop stalk into the cross auger when in said feeder plane and at least a portion of said first gathering auger moveable out of said feeder plane for maintenance such that a distal end of said first gathering auger does not communicate with the cross auger, wherein said first row unit further comprises a first stripper plate below said first gathering auger at least partially defining a first crop passage and said first gathering auger cooperating with said first stripper plate to remove useable parts from crop stalks gathered in said first crop passage and to convey the stripped useable parts remaining above the stripper plate rearward into the cross auger, wherein said first gathering auger is supported and rotationally driven from its front in a cantilevered manner such that the useable parts are unobstructed into the cross auger, said first row unit further comprising a second gathering auger and a second stripper plate below said second gathering auger, said second stripper plate at least partially defining a second crop passage and said second auger cooperating with said second stripper plate to remove useable parts from crop stalks gathered in said second crop passage and to convey the stripped ears of corn rearward into the cross auger; a second row unit, said second row unit having a third stripper plate opposing said first stripper plate of said first row unit to further define said first crop passage between said first and second row units, wherein said second row unit is otherwise free of gathering augers; and a third row unit, said third row unit having a forth stripper plate opposing said second stripper plate of said first row unit to further define said second crop passage between said first and third row units, wherein said third row unit is otherwise free of gathering augers.