Crop harvester having conditioning zone provided with enlarged end regions

摘要

A crop conditioning unit in a crop harvesting machine, such as a mower conditioner, has conditioning rolls configured to define a non- uniform crop conditioning zone which tapers or flares outwardly at opposite end regions thereof to a cross-sectional size greater than the generally uniform cross-sectional size of the remainder of the zone. Tapered end segments of the conditioning ribs on at least one of the rolls provide areas of relief at the opposite ends of the conditioning rolls which define the flared end regions of the non-uniform conditioning zone and accommodate passage of a correspondingly shaped crop layer through the zone without causing uneven loading of the rolls. As a result, uniform conditioning of the non-uniform crop layer can be achieved.