IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,557,735
Granted Patent B2
US 12,557,735 · App. 17/952,815 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Corn header for a forage harvester and forage harvester with such a corn header

Inventors: Josef Fischer (Biberach, DE); Martin Link (Hochdorf, DE)
Assignee: CLAAS Saulgau GmbH
A01D43/081
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,557,735
App. No.
17/952,815
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Corn header ( 4 ) for a forage harvester ( 1 ) having a plurality of mowing and infeed units ( 5 ), having a plurality of drum-like or chain-like mowing and infeed members ( 6 ), which are rotatable about a vertical axis and are drivable in a revolving manner, for severing the crop in a substantially horizontal direction, wherein the mowing and infeed members ( 6 ) arranged in the center between two sides ( 4 a, 4 b ) of the corn header ( 4 ) are drivable in a revolving manner to convey crop out of a gap ( 12 ), forwards away from an infeed ( 9 ) of the forage harvester ( 1 ), wherein a central separating member ( 13 ) for separating the crop is positioned in a substantially vertical direction in the region of the gap ( 12 ) between the mowing and infeed members ( 6 ) arranged in the center of the corn header ( 4 ).

Claims (18)

1 . A corn header ( 4 ) for a forage harvester ( 1 ) for harvesting stalk crops,

having a plurality of mowing and infeed units ( 5 ), which each have a plurality of drum-like or chain-like mowing and infeed members ( 6 ), which are rotatable about a vertical axis and are drivable in a revolving manner, for severing the crop in a substantially horizontal direction from a field to be cultivated,

wherein the mowing and infeed members ( 6 ) of a pair ( 11 ) of mowing and infeed units ( 5 ) arranged in the center between two sides ( 4 a, 4 b) of the corn header ( 4 ) are drivable in a revolving manner such that they have a tendency to convey crop out of a gap ( 12 ), which is formed between them, forwards away from an infeed ( 9 ) of the forage harvester ( 1 ),

characterized in that

a central separating member ( 13 ) for separating the crop is positioned in a substantially vertical direction in the region of the gap ( 12 ) between the mowing and infeed members ( 6 ) of the pair ( 11 ) of mowing and infeed units ( 5 ) arranged in the center of the corn header ( 4 ) and wherein the central separating member ( 13 ) is attached to a forward portion of the corn header.

2 . The corn header-according to claim 1 , characterized in that the central separating member ( 13 ) protrudes in particular substantially vertically upwards in relation to a separating plane of the mowing and infeed members ( 6 ).

3 . The corn header according to claim 1 , characterized in that the central separating member ( 13 ) has separating knives ( 8 ) which are movable substantially linearly with respect to one another forming a scissors-like separating cut.

4 . The corn header according to claim 1 , characterized in that the central separating member ( 13 ) has separating blades ( 14 ) which are rotatable about horizontal axes of rotation ( 15 ), are offset with respect to one another in the direction of their axes of rotation ( 15 ) and partially overlap.

5 . The corn header according to claim 1 , characterized in that a lateral separating member ( 7 ) for separating the crop is positioned in a substantially vertical direction laterally next to the mowing and infeed units ( 5 ) on at least one side ( 4 a , 4 b ), in particular on each side ( 4 a , 4 b ), of the corn header ( 4 ).

6 . The corn header according to claim 5 , characterized in that each of the lateral separating members ( 7 ) protrudes in particular substantially vertically upwards in relation to a separating plane of the mowing and infeed members ( 6 ).

7 . The corn header according to claim 5 , characterized in that each of the lateral separating members ( 7 ) has separating knives ( 8 ) which are movable substantially linearly with respect to one another forming a scissors-like separating cut.

8 . The corn header according to claim 5 , characterized in that each of the lateral separating members ( 7 ) has separating blades ( 14 ) which are rotatable about horizontal axes of rotation ( 15 ), are offset with respect to one another in the direction of their axes of rotation ( 15 ) and partially overlap.

9 . The corn header according to claim 5 , characterized in that each of the lateral separating members ( 7 ) is foldable or pivotable inwards into an approximately horizontal transport position.

10 . The corn header according to claim 5 , characterized in that each of the lateral separating members ( 7 , 13 ) is drivable hydraulically or electrically independently of the mowing and infeed members ( 6 ).

11 . The corn header according to claim 5 , characterized in that each of the lateral separating members ( 7 , 13 ) is drivable together with the mowing and infeed members ( 6 ).

12 . A forage harvester ( 1 ), with an attachment ( 2 ) in the form of a corn header ( 4 ) for harvesting stalk crops, characterized in that the corn header ( 4 ) is designed according to claim 1 .

13 . The corn header according to claim 1 , wherein the corn header is mounted in front of the forage harvester.

14 . The corn header according to claim 1 , wherein a bottom portion of the central separating member ( 13 ) is attached to a forward portion of the corn header.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2022
From: FISCHER, JOSEF; LINK, MARTIN
To: CLAAS SAULGAU GMBH
Reel/Frame 061743/0020 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 102021125044.7 · Sep 28, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230114778A1 · Apr 13, 2023
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