HAY CONDITIONER

摘要

Apparatus for conditioning plant material in the production of hay. The apparatus comprises a conditioning path (12) through which plant material can be passed to be subjected to compression for fracturing the stalks thereof. The conditioning path (12) has an intake end (21) and a discharge end (23). The conditioning path (12) is defined between two compression surfaces (26, 28), one of which is defined by an endless belt (25) moveable through a cyclic path about rollers (31, 32). The rollers (31, 32) are mounted on a common support (33). The compression surfaces (26, 28) are arranged for movement with respect to each other for varying the size of the intake end (21) relative to the discharge end (23). Typically, the common support (33) for the rollers (31, 32) comprises a beam (33) which is angularly moveable, and wherein control means (43) are provided for controlling angular movement of the beam (33).