Patent ID: 8286410
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A non-row sensitive harvesting unit for a corn head, comprising: a frame supporting a pair of spaced apart, forwardly and rearwardly extending stalk handling elements defining a stalk processing channel therebetween, the stalk handling elements having spaced apart forward end portions disposed at a first elevation and defining a forwardly facing inlet opening therebetween connecting with the stalk processing channel; a row divider located laterally outwardly of, and extending forwardly from, the forward end portion of one of the stalk handling elements, defining a forwardly open stalk receiving area connecting with the stalk processing channel through the inlet opening, the row divider being operable for contacting and supporting stalks in contact therewith as the header is moved forwardly relative to the stalks; a tine wheel including a hub having a rotational axis therethrough and a plurality of elongate tines extending radially outwardly from the hub at angularly spaced locations around the rotational axis, each of the tines having a radial outermost tip portion, the tine wheel being supported on the frame such that the hub is located adjacent to the forward end portion of the one of the stalk handling elements, such that at least one of the tines extends downwardly and generally forwardly into a side portion of the stalk receiving area and the tip portion of the at least one of the tines is located at about the first elevation, and such that when the tine wheel is rotated about the rotational axis in a direction for moving the at least one tine farther into the stalk receiving area, the tip portion thereof will move along an arcuate path rearwardly and upwardly through the side of the stalk receiving area toward a second elevation higher than the first elevation and adjacent to the inlet opening so as to contact any stalk in the side portion of the stalk receiving area at about the first elevation and move progressively upwardly and forwardly about the stalk for progressively pushing the stalk upwardly and rearwardly toward the inlet opening, wherein the one of the stalk handling elements comprises a gathering chain configured and supported to move sidewardly along a rear end of the stalk receiving area toward the inlet opening and rearwardly therethrough into the stalk processing channel, the chain having plurality of fingers which project forwardly into the stalk receiving area and sweepingly move along a path through the inlet opening with the movement of the chain, the fingers being configured to grasp and carry any stalk in the path thereof toward the inlet opening, and wherein the tine wheel is positioned and oriented such that when the tine wheel is rotated the tip portions of the tines will move in a rearward and upward direction to push stalks in contact therewith into the path of the fingers so as to be grasped and carried thereby through the inlet opening into the stalk processing channel.