Patent ID: 8291686
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A draper canvas for use with a crop header arranged for cutting and transporting a standing crop, wherein the header comprises: a header frame; an elongate cutter bar arranged along a front edge of the frame; a knife mounted on the cutter bar for cutting the standing crop; a draper assembly mounted on the header frame rearwardly of the cutter bar such that cut crop falls onto the draper assembly for transportation longitudinally of the header; the draper assembly including a first and a second draper guide roller each arranged at a respective end of the draper assembly spaced apart along the cutter bar with an axis of each guide roller arranged substantially at right angles to the cutter bar; wherein the draper canvas forms a continuous loop of flexible material arranged to be wrapped around the rollers so as to define an upper run of the draper canvas on top of the rollers and a lower run of the draper canvas below the rollers; wherein the draper canvas includes a front edge of the upper run of the draper canvas arranged underneath the cutter bar, and a rear edge of the upper run of the draper canvas arranged at a position spaced rearwardly of the cutter bar; the draper canvas including at least one layer of fabric and a covering of a rubber material; the draper canvas having a main center portion and an edge portion at least at a front of the main center portion extending up to a front edge of the draper canvas; the draper canvas having an upper surface and a lower surface spaced downwardly from the upper surface; at least a part of the upper surface of the edge portion at the front edge of the draper canvas being arranged to engage underneath the cutter bar with the lower surface of the edge portion facing away from the cutter bar; wherein the draper canvas is molded into a shape so that, when lying unsupported, the edge portion of the canvas is canted upwardly at an angle relative to the main center portion; the upper surface of the canted edge portion being at an angle upwardly relative to the upper surface of the center portion; the lower surface of the canted edge portion, when lying unsupported, being at an angle upwardly relative to the lower surface of the center portion.