US Patent 9560804 Stalk roll with flutes defining a recess

One embodiment of a stalk roll to be mounted upon a stalk roll drive shaft of a corn harvesting header comprises a cylindrical shell with a recess in the main cylinder, wherein reduced flutes are not present in the recess, but full flutes are present therein. This embodiment includes a stalk slot having a length equal to the length of the recess. Additionally, the flutes may be configured such that a stalk engagement gap is present at least once during a full revolution of two opposing stalk rolls.