Patent ID: 8833046
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A crop harvesting header comprising: a header frame arranged to be transported in a forward working direction over ground having a standing crop for harvesting; a plurality of generally horizontal cutter disks mounted at positions spaced transversely of the header for driven rotation about respective generally upright axes; each disk having mounted thereon at a position spaced outwardly from the respective axis thereof at least one cutter blade such that rotation of the disk about its axis causes the standing crop to be cut by the blade as it rotates around the axis on the disk; a pair of conditioner rolls mounted transversely to the header frame, the conditioner rolls including a top conditioning roll and a bottom conditioning roll which are parallel and arranged for driven counter-rotation about respective top and bottom conditioner rotation axes such that the crop passes rearwardly through a nip between the top and bottom conditioning rolls, the top and bottom conditioner rolls being arranged such that the nip is located behind the disks with the top conditioner rotation axis situated rearwardly of the bottom conditioner rotation axis; and a rear crop deflector mounted transversely to the header frame behind the pair of conditioner rolls and arranged to deflect the cut crop upwardly as said cut crop moves rearwardly from the conditioner rolls; wherein the rear crop deflector is maintained in a position that is free of any contact with either of the conditioner rolls, is in non-intermeshing relationship with each of said conditioning rolls at a distance spaced rearwardly therefrom, is intersected by a bisecting plane that bisects the nip, and has a forwardmost point that is located at a spaced distance downwardly from the bisecting plane in order to impart upward and rearward movement through the bisecting plane on crop material arriving at said forwardmost point of the rear crop deflector from the nip of the conditioning rolls.