Crop mowing implement and a converging drum therefor

A converging drum for a crop mowing implement, the converging drum comprising:

• a body having an exterior surface and extending along a central longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, wherein the body is configured to rotate about the central longitudinal axis in a defined rotational direction;
• at least one ramp feature attached to and extending radially outward from the exterior surface of the body relative to the central longitudinal axis, and disposed between the first end and the second end of the body;
• wherein the at least one ramp feature is arranged to form an acute angle relative to a reference plane disposed orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis;
• and
• wherein the acute angle is open toward the defined rotational direction to present a descending ramp operable to direct crop material in a downward direction along the central longitudinal axis.

A mowing implement for cutting a crop material, the mowing implement comprising:

• a frame forming a work area including a forwardly located inlet zone and a rearwardly located discharge zone;
• a cutter bar supported by the frame between the inlet zone and the discharge zone, and extending along an axis disposed generally transverse to a direction of travel, the cutter bar including a plurality of spaced apart knife-carrying rotary discs disposed in the work area for rotation about respective vertical axes;
• a crop conditioning system attached to the frame and having an upper conditioner roll and a lower conditioner roll, and positioned to receive crop material therebetween from the cutter bar;
• at least one converging drum attached to one of the frame and the cutter bar, and operable to move crop material laterally along the axis of the cutter bar toward the discharge zone, the at least one converging drum including:
• a body having an exterior surface and extending vertically along a central longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, wherein the body is configured to rotate about the central longitudinal axis in a defined rotational direction, and with the second end of the body positioned vertically above the first end of the body along the central longitudinal axis;
• at least one ramp feature attached to and extending radially outward from the exterior surface of the body relative to the central longitudinal axis, and disposed between the first end and the second end of the body;
• wherein the at least one ramp feature is arranged to form an acute angle relative to a reference plane disposed orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis;
• the at least one ramp feature includes a first group of ramp features and a second group of ramp features;
• wherein each of the first group of ramp features is disposed adjacent the second end of the body and vertically above each of the second group of ramp features along the central longitudinal axis;
• and
• wherein each of the first group of ramp features includes the respective acute angle of each ramp feature of the first group of ramp features open toward the defined rotational direction to present a descending ramp operable to direct crop material in a downward direction along the central longitudinal axis.