Patent ID: 7222478
Filing Date: 2007-05-29
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. In a crop harvesting header, for harvesting crops having stalks, including a plurality of intake and mowing devices arranged laterally one next to the other for cutting and conveying the harvested crops, with a first intake and mowing device being located laterally adjacent to a second intake and mowing device at a location between said second intake and mowing device and a longitudinal center plane of the header, a deflection conveyor unit having an upright rotational axis, which is inclined slightly forwards, bridging a vertical distance between a working plane of the intake and mowing devices and a plane of an outlet channel defined in a rear wall of said harvesting header, in centered relationship to said center plane, with said deflection conveyor being located behind said intake and mowing devices and proximate said outlet channel for delivering cut harvested crops through said outlet channel for being introduced into an intake channel of a harvesting machine, said first and second intake and mowing devices being adapted for being driven such that they convey cut harvested crops first inward toward said center plane and then rearward, said first intake and mowing device being rotatable about a first axis, the improvement comprising: a cross conveyor channel extending behind said first intake and mowing device from a location adjacent said second intake and mowing device to a location adjacent said deflection conveyor unit; and a cross conveyor element mounted for rotation about an upright axis in a direction opposite to that of said second intake and mowing device and being sized and positioned for sweeping through said cross conveyor channel so as to convey harvested crop, cut by said second intake and mowing device, to said deflection conveyor independently of said first intake and mowing device and said cross conveyor element being rotatable about a second rotational axis approximately parallel to said first rotational axis, said first intake and mowing device having at least two vertically spaced conveying disks provided with recesses for receiving plant stalks; and said cross conveyor element including at least one conveyor disk provided with recesses for receiving plant stalks and arranged in the vertical direction between said at least two conveying disks of said first intake and mowing device and the header further including a transmission arrangement for driving said first intake and mowing device; said transmission arrangement including upper and lower gear housings; a connection element extending between and interconnecting said upper and lower gear housings; a hollow shaft received on said connection element; and said lower housing containing drive elements connected for driving said hollow shaft; and said upper housing including drive elements coupled between said hollow shaft and an upper one of said at least two vertically spaced conveying disks.