Patent ID: 7578118

Claim:
A machine for mowing crops having stalks including a plurality of mowing and intake devices for cutting and conveying the crop, a transverse conveying means for conveying the cut crop transversely, at least approximately perpendicular to a forward direction of travel of said machine and in a direction towards a longitudinal midplane of said machine, and a deflection channel, which curves rearward in an arc from a direction extending perpendicular to said forward direction of travel toward an intake channel centered along said midplane, the improvement comprising: an additional conveying means formed separate from said mowing and intake devices, which is mounted for rotation about an upright axis arranged forward of, and adjacent to, a front side of said deflection channel, said front side of said deflection channel being delimited by a deflection skid, and includes drivers which project within, and move relative to, said deflection channel and deflection conveying means arranged adjacent a rear side of said deflection channel and being equipped with drivers; said deflection conveying means being mounted for rotating about an approximately vertical axis during operation; and said deflection conveying means and said additional conveying means being so located relative to each other that their respective drivers travel in overlapping paths wherein said mowing and intake devices include conveying wheels which move in paths which do not overlap respective paths traveled by drivers of adjacent ones of said additional conveying means.