DEVICE FOR HARVESTING STALK-LIKE STEM CROPS

The present invention relates to a device (2) for harvesting stalk-like stem crops, having a number of picking units (4) which are arranged alongside one another on the frame (6) of the device (2) and each have picking plates (12), laterally delimiting a picking gap (14), and picking rotors (16) located therebeneath, conveying units which are assigned to the respective picking units (4), are configured as continuous conveyors (22) that are driven in circulation, are arranged on opposite sides above a picking gap (14) and are configured with drivers (18) fastened to the circulating elements, and a transverse conveying device (8) arranged downstream of the conveying units. In order to find an arrangement for the continuous conveyors which results in a reduced overall width without the intake of laid maize being substantially impaired, it is proposed that the axes of rotation (24) of front deflection wheels (26) of the continuous conveyors (22) be positioned obliquely at an angle (32) transversely to the working width of the device (2) and to the picking plane (28), which is defined by the mutually facing front edges of the picking plates (12) assigned to a picking gap (14), such that the axes of rotation (24), considered to be lengthened, intersect above the picking plates (12) at a distance from the picking plane (28), and the drivers (18) formed on the continuous conveyors (22) are for their part positioned upwardly at an angle (30) to the axis of rotation (24) of the deflection wheels (26).