Patent ID: 8286411
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
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 an 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 defining 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; the cutter bar having at each end of the cutter bar at least one outer cutter disk of the plurality of cutter disks, at least part of which is located outwardly of a respective end of the discharge opening; at each end of the cutter bar there being provided a respective crop converging auger element arranged to receive crop cut by the cutter disks at the respective end of the cutter bar and arranged to move the crop inwardly toward the discharge opening, each auger element including a rotating surface with an auger flight on the surface; each auger element being arranged generally longitudinal of the cutter bar with an outer end thereof spaced outwardly of the respective end of the discharge opening so as to carry the cut crop longitudinally of the cutter bar behind the cutter disks to the discharge opening; wherein the auger elements form part of a common rotary member extending across the discharge opening and arranged to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the common rotary member in a direction with a front face of the common rotary member turning upwardly and rearwardly; the header frame providing on each side of the discharge opening components thereof mounted behind the respective auger element at a position so as to co-operate with at least the lower rear quadrant of the respective auger element.