Patent ID: 9532502
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: A01D

Claim:
1. A sickle drive for a plant cutting machine comprising: a first sickle knife assembly supported for side to side reciprocating movement along a forward end of the machine, a rotary power input for driving the first sickle knife assembly, a rotatable first input element for rotation about a generally upstanding first rotational axis by the rotary power input, a rotatable second input element adjacent to the first input element for rotation about a generally upstanding second rotational axis by the rotary power input, a first eccentric element in connection with the first input element for rotation thereby in eccentric relation to the first rotational axis about a generally upstanding first eccentric axis laterally offset relative to the first rotational axis, a second eccentric element in connection with the second input element for rotation thereby in eccentric relation to the second rotational axis about a generally upstanding second eccentric axis laterally offset relative to the second rotational axis, a first drive arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end being connected to the first eccentric element for rotation about the first eccentric axis and eccentric rotation about the first rotational axis, the first drive arm extending in a first direction from the first end to the second end, the second end pivotally connecting eccentrically to a first pivot element supported for rotation about a generally upstanding first pivotal axis, such that the first pivot element will be pivoted about the first pivotal axis by the rotation of the first input element about the first rotational axis, and the first pivot element being configured for connection to the first sickle knife assembly, such that the first sickle knife assembly will be reciprocatingly moved relative to the drive by the pivoting of the first pivot element, and a second drive arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the second drive arm being connected to the second eccentric element for rotation about the second eccentric axis and eccentric rotation about the second rotational axis, the second drive arm extending in a second direction from the first end thereof to the second end thereof, the second end of the second drive arm pivotally connecting eccentrically to a second pivot element supported for rotation about a generally upstanding second pivotal axis, such that the second pivot element will be pivoted about the second pivotal axis by the rotation of the second input element about the second rotational axis, and the second pivot element being configured for connection to a second sickle knife assembly, such that the second sickle knife assembly will be reciprocatingly moved relative to the drive by the pivoting of the second pivot element, wherein the first drive arm extends sidewardly of and generally forwardly of and across the second input element, and the second drive arm extends sidewardly of and generally rearwardly of and across the first input element.