Harvesting machine

Claim 1

A mower-conditioner comprising: (a) a chassis including an upper transversely extending rigid beam member; (b) stationary ground engageable skid means connected via frame members to said beam; (c) one or more drum type mower units mounted for rotation between said upper transversely extending beam and said stationary ground engageable skid means; (d) said mower units each comprising a substantially cylindrical body portion, an annular flange extending from the vicinity of the lower end of said main body portion, and at least one cutter blade for cutting standing crop by impact under conditions where the mower units are rotated; (e) drive means for rotating said drum mower units; and (f) crop conditioner means mounted rearwardly of the mower units and between the upper beam and the rear of said skid means for receiving severed crop material as it is being conveyed rearwardly by the mower units, said conditioner means including two intermeshing generally horizontal rolls with one roll mounted for movement towards and away from the other roll about an axis located above and rearwardly of said one roll when the latter is in the normal operating position, said axis being defined by a torsion bar, the ends of which are interconnected with the respective ends of said one roll by arms, means being provided for urging said one roll towards said other roll, the mower units being operable to deliver crop material directly to the conditioner rolls.