Gathering chains for row crop harvester heads

A pair of gathering chains adapted to mount to a row unit of a row crop harvester head, the row unit having first and second stripper plates laterally spaced to define a slot therebetween, the slot having a width and defining a longitudinal path of travel along which crop stalks pass as the row unit moves forwardly through a field harvesting the row crop, the pair of gathering chains comprising:

• a first continuous loop adapted to rotate above the first stripper plate, forwardly to rearwardly along a first side of the slot;
• a second continuous loop adapted to rotate above the second stripper plate, forwardly to rearwardly along a second side of the slot;
• a plurality of bristle blocks removably attached to the first and second continuous loops, each of the plurality of bristle blocks includes bristles extending laterally therefrom, wherein the bristles include fine bristles and coarse bristles, and wherein the coarse bristles are shorter in length than the fine bristles;
• whereby the bristles of the plurality of bristle blocks attached to the first continuous loop provide a first substantially continuous lateral conveying surface above and along the first side of the slot, and whereby the bristles of the plurality of bristle blocks attached to the second continuous loop provide a second substantially continuous lateral conveying surface along a second side of the slot, and wherein the bristles providing the first and second substantially continuous lateral conveying surfaces effectively close an area above and across the width of the slot.