Shield fixed over crop conveyor wheel of machine for mowing stalk-like crops

In a machine for mowing stalk-type crops including a conveyor wheel mounted for rotation about an approximately vertical axis and being provided with recesses that are distributed over its circumference and designed as receptacles for plant stalks, and a stationary shield that shields part of the surface of the conveyor wheel being fixed directly above the conveyor wheel, the improvement comprising:

• said shield having inner and outer regions spaced radially from each relative to said vertical axis, with said inner region being located centrally above said conveyor wheel;
• an arc shaped cutout being formed between said inner and outer regions of said shield;
• said shield further having a leading edge, as considered relative to a direction of rotation of said conveyor wheel for introducing crop materials into the machine, extending from said inner region of said shield to a location above said circumference of said conveyor wheel, whereby, as said conveyor wheel rotates past said leading edge, it clears the plant parts that lie on the conveyor wheel outwardly and re-introduces said plant parts into a crop flow received by the machine.