Patent ID: 9027316
Filing Date: 2015-05-12
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A corn harvesting header apparatus for an agricultural combine harvester, the apparatus comprising: a knife assembly comprising a knife bar extending along a front lower edge of a cutting header, with triangular knife sections attached along the bar such that the apex of the triangle extends forward from the bar, and a plurality of guards attached to the front lower edge of the header, the guards comprising pointed guard fingers extending forward and substantially equally spaced along the front lower edge of the cutting header; a plurality of divider pans extending forward from the front lower edge of the header, each divider pan having substantially parallel side edges such that a slot is formed between side edges of adjacent divider pans, and wherein front portions of the side edges converge to form a point at a front end of each divider pan; wherein each divider pan comprises a mounting bracket extending down from a rear portion of a bottom surface of the divider pan and attached to forward end portions of a pair of adjacent guard fingers, leaving rear portions of these guard fingers exposed; wherein the divider pans are attached along the front lower edge of the cutting header to alternating pairs of guard fingers such that a pair of bare guard fingers extends forward under and laterally adjacent to edges of each slot; and wherein the bottom surface of each divider pan is above the guard fingers an elevated distance that is greater than a spacing distance between the guard fingers.