Patent ID: 9392747
Filing Date: 2016-07-19
CPC Classification: A01D

Claim Text:
1. A crop feeding apparatus comprising: a rotatable roller mounted for rotation around a longitudinal axis such that an outer peripheral wall of the roller rotates; a plurality of finger units mounted within the roller at axially spaced positions along the rotatable roller; each finger unit comprising a pair of fingers and an inner finger member within the rotatable roller to which the pair of fingers are affixed so that movement of the inner finger member acts to drive the fingers to retracted and extended positions; the roller having in the peripheral wall thereof a plurality of pairs of finger guide holes at positions spaced axially of the roller with each pair of finger guide holes associated with respective ones the pair of fingers of a respective one of the finger units; each pair of finger guide holes being located at diametrically opposed positions of the rotatable roller; said pair of fingers of each respective finger unit extending diametrically; such that a first of said pair of fingers extends through and is slidable along its length in a first one of said pair of holes from a retracted position in which an end of the first one of the fingers is adjacent the peripheral wall to an extended position in which the end of the first one of the fingers is spaced outwardly of the peripheral wall; and such that a second of said pair of fingers extends through and is slidable along its length in a second one of said pair of holes from a retracted position in which an end of the second one of the fingers is adjacent the peripheral wall to an extended position in which the end of the second one of the fingers is spaced outwardly of the peripheral wall; said first and second of the said pair of fingers being connected to the inner finger member such that the first of the pair of fingers is moved to the retracted position as the second of the pair of fingers is moved to the extended position and vice versa; said inner finger member containing an elongate guide slot extending transversely to the axis of the roller and generally transverse to the longitudinal direction of movement of the first and second fingers of the pair of fingers; and a stationary guide member located within the roller and mounted within the guide slot at a position arranged to cause the inner finger member with said first and second ones of the fingers attached thereto to reciprocate during the rotation of the roller relative to the stationary guide member; wherein the guide slot of the inner member is shaped so as to comprise at least one curved lobe portion.