Patent ID: 8307620
Filing Date: 2012-11-13
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A crop harvesting header comprising: a header frame arranged to be transported across ground on which there is a standing crop for harvesting; a cutter bar mounted on the header frame across a width of the header for movement across the ground for harvesting the standing crop; a plurality of generally horizontal cutter disks mounted on the cutter bar at positions spaced transversely of the header with the disks being mounted on the cutter bar for driven rotation about respective generally upright axes spaced along the cutter bar; 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 the respective axis of the disk causes a standing crop to be cut by the blade as the blade rotates around the axis on the disk; the header frame including a discharge opening behind the cutter bar into which the cut crop enters so that the crop is discharged behind the discharge opening for forming a swath behind the header; the discharge opening having ends which are spaced inwardly from ends of the cutter bar so that the discharge opening is narrower than the cutter bar; at each end of the cutter bar, the cutter bar having at least one outer cutter disk of said plurality of cutter disks at least part of which is located outwardly of the respective end of the discharge opening; a common rotary member having a generally cylindrical rotating surface extending across the header behind the cutter disks; the common rotary member including at each end a respective end auger element extending to a position outward of the discharge opening and arranged generally longitudinal of the cutter bar so as to carry the cut crop longitudinally of the cutter bar behind the cutter disks to the discharge opening; each end auger element including an auger flight on the rotating surface of the common rotary member; the common rotary member being arranged to rotate in a direction with a front face thereof turning upwardly and rearwardly; wherein each end auger element is located with the outer end thereof spaced inwardly of the respective end of the cutter bar.