Patent ID: 8224534
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling deck plates of a harvesting unit of a corn header, comprising steps of: providing a harvesting unit having a first deck plate bounding one side of a stalk receiving channel, and a second deck plate bounding an opposite side of the channel and controlled by an actuator for movement toward the first deck plate for reducing a width of the channel, and movement away from the first deck plate for increasing the width of the channel; automatically monitoring by a processor an operating parameter of the header for information representative of occurrence of a predetermined event or condition and information representative of a force exerted against at least one of the deck plates, and if the information representative of the event or condition is present, then automatically controlling the actuator to increase the width of the channel, and then, after elapse of a predetermined time period or occurrence of a predetermined condition, and if the information representative of the force is indicative of the force being less than a predetermined value, then automatically reducing the width of the channel or the force to a predetermined value.