Patent ID: 8402727

Claim:
A stalk-chopper, in particular for a machine for harvesting maize, comprising: a hollow casing having a central portion and two box-section arms that extend in cantilever fashion from the central portion according to a U-shaped configuration, the box-section arms being set at a distance from one another in a transverse direction and having respective distal ends set at a distance from the central portion in a longitudinal direction; two rotating output members projecting on the outside of said box-section arms at the respective distal ends of said box-section arms, the output members being carried in a rotatable way by the respective arms about respective mutually parallel axes of rotation; two rotary cutting devices connected to respective output members and having respective cutting diameters partially overlapping one another; and a transmission device housed within said hollow casing and provided for driving said output members in rotation in concordant directions, wherein said transmission device comprises a central gear in said central portion, an output gear connected to each said rotating output member, and a series of return gears that are disposed within each said box section arm and are cascaded between said central gear and said output gears.