Patent ID: 8434290
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
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 cutter disks being mounted on the cutter bar for driven rotation about respective generally upright axes spaced along the cutter bar; each cutter disk having mounted thereon at a position spaced outwardly from the respective axis thereof at least one cutter blade such that rotation of the cutter disk about the axis of the respective cutter disk causes a standing crop to be cut by the blade as the blade rotates around the axis on the cutter disk; the header frame including 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 first and second ends which are spaced inboard of respective first and second ends of the cutter bar so that the discharge opening is narrower than the cutter bar and so as to define first and second end portions of the cutter bar which are located outboard of the first and second ends of the discharge opening; the cutter disks defining a first end disk located such that a first imaginary line extending forwardly from the first end of the discharge opening intersects the first end disk at a position thereon inboard of the axis of the first end disk so that the axis of the first end disk is outboard of the first end of the discharge opening; the cutter disks defining a second end disk located such that a second imaginary line forwardly from the second end of the discharge opening intersects the second end disk at a position thereon inboard of the axis of the second end disk so that the axis of the second end disk is outboard of the second end of the discharge opening; at the first end portion of the cutter bar there being provided at least one additional first cutter disk located outboard of the first end disk; at the second end portion of the cutter bar there being provided at least one additional second cutter disk located outboard of the second end disk; behind each end portion of the cutter bar there being provided a respective crop converging auger element arranged to receive crop cut by the cutter disks and arranged to move the crop inwardly toward the discharge opening, each auger element including a rotating surface with a 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; each auger element being arranged to rotate in a direction with a front face thereof turning upwardly and rearwardly; wherein the first end disk is arranged to rotate in a direction so that a rear of the first end disk moves inwardly toward the first end of the discharge opening so to cooperate with the respective auger element in moving the crop inwardly to the discharge opening; and wherein the second end disk is arranged to rotate in a direction so that a rear of the second end disk moves inwardly toward the second end of the discharge opening so to cooperate with the respective auger element in moving the crop inwardly to the discharge opening.