Patent ID: 6295797
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: A01D,A01F

Abstract:
In an agricultural harvesting machine having a crop intake apparatus for picking up crop material from a field and feeding it to the inlet of a crop collecting and/or processing device and a crop retainer mechanism mounted above said intake apparatus for engaging the upper portion of said crop material whilst it is being fed to said inlet, said retainer mechanism being moveable between a lower position assumed when no crop is present on said crop intake apparatus and an upper position when a considerable amount of crop material is present on said crop intake apparatus, the improvement comprising:a dampening mechanism for dampening the motion of the said crop retainer mechanism, the retainer mechanism includes a plurality of parallel, longitudinally arranged tines, the parallel tines are affixed to a transverse support member which is mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis, wherein said dampening mechanism are operable to damp the motion of said retainer mechanism in the upward and the downward direction.