Corn harvesting machine

Claim 2

A corn plant harvesting mechanism comprising: a mobile frame adapted to advance along a row of corn plants; picking means mounted forwardly on the frame for receiving the plants in said row and removing the ears from the stalks; processing means mounted on the frame for receiving the ears from the picking means and removing the kernels from the cobs; means for receiving the kernels from the processing means and selectively operable to crack said kernels; cutting means mounted forwardly on the frame for severing the stalks of the plants in said row from the field; stalk conveyor means for receiving the stalks from the cutting means and conveying them rearwardly substantially simultaneously with the removal of the ears therefrom by the picking means; and chopping means mounted on the frame for receiving the stalks from the conveyor means and reducing said stalks following removal of the ears therefrom by the picking means.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 including husking means mounted on the frame for receiving the ears from the picking means and removing the husks therefrom.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 2 including husk conveyor means for receiving the husks from the husking means and conveying them to the chopping means to be reduced simultaneously with the stalks.

Claim 5

The invention defined in claim 1 including cob conveyor means for receiving the cobs from the processing means and conveying them to the chopping means to be reduced simultaneously with the stalks.

Claim 6

The invention defined in claim 1 including means for receiving the reduced stalks from the chopping means and conveying them either to an adjacent first container or to the ground.

Claim 7

The invention defined in claim 5 including means for receiving the kernels from the processing means and conveying them either to said first container to be mixed with the reduced stalks or to an adjacent second container.

Claim 8

A corn plant harvesting machine comprising: a mobile frame adapted to advance along a row of corn plants; picking means mounted forwardly on the frame for receiving the plants in said row and removing the ears from the stalks; processing means mounted on the frame for receiving the ears from the picking means and removing the kernels from the cobs; cutting means mounted forwardly on the frame for severing the stalks of the plants in said row from the field; stalk conveyor means for receiving the stalks from the cutting means and conveying them rearwardly substantially simultaneously with the removal of the ears therefrom by the picking means; chopping means mounted on the frame for receiving the stalks from the conveyor means and reducing said stalks following removal of the ears therefroM by the picking means; and cob conveyor means for receiving the cobs from the processing means and directing them into the chopping means to be reduced simultaneously with the stalks.

Claim 9

A corn plant harvesting machine comprising: a mobile frame adapted to advance along a row of corn plants; picking means mounted forwardly on the frame for receiving the plants in said row and removing the ears from the stalks; processing means mounted on the frame for receiving the ears from the picking means and removing the kernels from the cobs; cutting means mounted forwardly on the frame for severing the stalks of the plants in said row from the field; stalk conveyor means for receiving the stalks from the cutting means and conveying them rearwardly substantially simultaneously with the removal of the ears therefrom by the picking means; chopping means mounted on the frame for receiving the stalks from the conveyor means and reducing said stalks following removal of the ears therefroM by the picking means; and cob conveyor means for receiving the cobs from the processing means and directing them into the chopping means to be reduced simultaneously with the stalks.

Claim 10

The invention defined in claim 7 including husking means mounted on the frame for receiving the ears from the picking means and removing the husks therefrom, and husk conveyor means for receiving the husks from the husking means and directing them into the chopping means to be reduced simultaneously with the stalks and cobs.

Claim 11

The invention defined in claim 7 including means selectively operable to crack the kernels after their removal from the cobs by the processing means.

Claim 12

The invention defined in claim 7 including means for receiving the reduced stalks and cobs from the chopping means and conveying them to an adjacent first container, and means for receiving the kernels from the processing means and conveying them either to said first container to be mixed with the reduced stalks and cobs or to an adjacent second container.

Claim 13

A corn harvesting machine comprising: a mobile frame adapted to advance along a plurality of corn rows; picking means mounted forwardly on the frame for receiving the plants in the rows and removing the ears from the stalks; processing means mounted on the frame for receiving the ears from the picking means and removing the kernels from the cobs; cutting means mounted on the frame for severing the stalks from the ground; chopping means mounted on the frame for receiving the stalks from the cutting means and reducing said stalks after the ears have been removed; stover conveyor means for selectively conveying the chopped material from said chopping means either to an adjacent first container or to the ground; and grain conveyor means for selectively delivering the kernels from the processing means to either said first container to be mixed with the chopped material from the chopping means, or to an adjacent second container.

Claim 14

A corn harvesting machine comprising: a mobile frame adapted to advance along a plurality of corn rows; picking means mounted forwardly on the frame for receiving the plants in the rows and removing the ears from the stalks; processing means mounted on the frame for receiving the ears from the picking means and removing the kernels from the cobs; cutting means mounted on the frame for severing the stalks from the ground; chopping means mounted on the frame for receiving the stalks from the cutting means and reducing said stalks after the ears have been removed; stover conveyor means for selectively conveying the chopped material from said chopping means either to an adjacent first container or to the ground; and grain conveyor means for selectively delivering the kernels from the processing means to either said first container to be mixed with the chopped material from the chopping means, or to an adjacent second container.

Claim 15

The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said grain conveyor means comprises; an elevating section having an upper outlet portion and a lower inlet portion communicating with said processing means and adapted to receive kernels therefrom; and an outwardly extending discharge section mounted on said upper outlet portion for rotation about a generally vertical axis between alternate discharge positions associated with said first and second containers, respectively.

Claim 16

The invention defined in claim 12 wherein said second container includes a lower outlet portion, and further including conveyor means extending between said lower outlet portion and the lower inlet portion of said grain conveyor means, whereby the kernels held in said second container can be selectively conveyed from said container to said grain conveyor means.

Claim 17

A corn harvesting machine comprising: a mobile frame adapted to advance along a plurality of corn rows; picking means mounted forwardly on the frame for receiving the plants in the rows and removing the ears from the stalks; processing means mounted on the frame for receiving the ears from the picking means and removing the kernels from the cobs; cutting means mounted on the frame for severing the stalks from the ground; chopping means mounted on the frame for receiving the stalks from the cutting means and reducing said stalks after the ears have been removed therefrom; and conveyor means on said frame selectively operable to convey the kernels and the reduced stalks from the processing means and chopping means, respectively, either to separate areas or to a common container.

Claim 18

A corn harvesting machine comprising: a mobile frame adapted to advance along a plurality of corn rows; picking means mounted forwardly on the frame for receiving the plants in the rows and removing the ears from the stalks; processing means mounted on the frame for receiving the ears from the picking means and removing the kernels from the cobs; cutting means mounted on the frame for severing the stalks from the ground; chopping means mounted on the frame for receiving the stalks from the cutting means and reducing said stalks after the ears have been removed therefrom; and conveyor means on said frame selectively operable to convey the kernels and the reduced stalks from the processing means and chopping means, respectively, either to separate areas or to a common container.

Claim 19

The invention defined in claim 14 wherein said conveyor means comprises stover conveyor means selectively operable to convey said reduced stalks either to an adjacent first container or to the ground, and grain conveyor means selectively operable to convey said kernels to either said first container to be mixed with said reduced stalks or to an adjacent second container.

Claim 20

A corn harvesting machine comprising: a mobile frame adApted to advance along a plurality of corn rows; picking means mounted forwardly on the frame for receiving the plants in the rows and removing the ears from the stalks; processing means mounted on the frame for receiving the ears from the picking means and removing the kernels from the cobs; cutting means mounted on the frame for severing the stalks forming the rows from the field; a pair of transversely aligned chopping cylinders mounted on the machine for reducing the stalks following removal of the ears therefrom by the picking means; conveyor means for receiving the stalks from the cutting means and conveying at least two rows thereof into each of said chopping cylinders to be simultaneously reduced thereby; stover conveyor means for selectively conveying the reduced stalks from the chopping cylinders either to a first container or to the ground; and grain conveyor means for selectively conveying the kernels from the processing means to either said first container to be mixed with the reduced stalks, or to a second container.

Claim 21

A corn harvesting machine comprising: a mobile frame adApted to advance along a plurality of corn rows; picking means mounted forwardly on the frame for receiving the plants in the rows and removing the ears from the stalks; processing means mounted on the frame for receiving the ears from the picking means and removing the kernels from the cobs; cutting means mounted on the frame for severing the stalks forming the rows from the field; a pair of transversely aligned chopping cylinders mounted on the machine for reducing the stalks following removal of the ears therefrom by the picking means; conveyor means for receiving the stalks from the cutting means and conveying at least two rows thereof into each of said chopping cylinders to be simultaneously reduced thereby; stover conveyor means for selectively conveying the reduced stalks from the chopping cylinders either to a first container or to the ground; and grain conveyor means for selectively conveying the kernels from the processing means to either said first container to be mixed with the reduced stalks, or to a second container.

Claim 22

A corn harvesting machine comprising: a mobile frame adapted to advance along a plurality of corn rows; picking means mounted forwardly on the frame for receiving the plants in the rows and removing the ears from the stalks; processing means mounted on the frame for receiving the ears from the picking means and removing the kernels from the cobs; cutting means mounted on the frame for severing the stalks forming the rows from the field; a pair of transversely aligned chopping cylinders mounted on the machine for reducing the stalks following removal of the ears therefrom by the picking means; stalk conveyor means for receiving the stalks from the cutting means and conveying at least two rows thereof into each of said chopping cylinders to be simultaneously reduced thereby; and cob conveyor means for receiving the cobs from the processing means and directing them into the chopping cylinders to be reduced simultaneously with the stalks.

Claim 23

A corn harvesting machine comprising: a mobile frame adapted to advance along a plurality of corn rows; picking means mounted forwardly on the frame for receiving the plants in the rows and removing the ears from the stalks; processing means mounted on the frame for receiving the ears from the picking means and removing the kernels from the cobs; cutting means mounted on the frame for severing the stalks forming the rows from the field; a pair of transversely aligned chopping cylinders mounted on the machine for reducing the stalks following removal of the ears therefrom by the picking means; stalk conveyor means for receiving the stalks from the cutting means and conveying at least two rows thereof into each of said chopping cylinders to be simultaneously reduced thereby; and cob conveyor means for receiving the cobs from the processing means and directing them into the chopping cylinders to be reduced simultaneously with the stalks.