Patent ID: 7478522
Filing Date: 2009-01-20
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A reciprocating knife cutter system for an agricultural cutting platform, comprising: a first reciprocating knife cutter further comprising a first cutter bar having a first end, and a first reciprocating bar, the first reciprocating bar having a first plurality of knife sections fixed thereto, a driven end and a free end; a second reciprocating knife cutter further comprising a second cutter bar with a second end adjacent the first end, and a second reciprocating bar, the second reciprocating bar having a second plurality of knife sections fixed thereto, a driven end and a free end, and further wherein the first reciprocating bar overlaps the second reciprocating bar; and a coupler configured to couple the first end of the first cutter bar to the second end of the second cutter bar, wherein the coupler is configured to hold the first and second ends coplanar in the vicinity of the coupler and to limit relative movement of the free ends to movement in a single linear direction, wherein the coupler is pivotally coupled to the cutting platform at a point behind the cutter bars to permit the first and second ends of the cutter bars to translate up and down with respect to the cutting platform while preventing the first and second ends from translating in a fore-and-aft direction with respect to the cutting platform.