Abstract:
A draper header has a transverse main frame supporting center, left side and right side belt conveyors and including a plurality of transversely spaced knife support members that extend forwardly beneath the belt conveyors from right and left lower rear main frame members and have forward ends on which a transversely extending knife is supported. Each belt conveyor includes a frame disposed within an endless belt and having a rear side hinged to a respective lower rear main frame member for pivoting upwardly between operating and belt-changing positions. Brackets are removably fixed across the length of the knife and have rear edges extending above front edges of the belts when the conveyors are in their operating positions. At least one height adjuster is mounted between the main frame and each conveyor frame for moving each conveyor to its belt-changing position once the associated brackets are removed from the knife.

Description:
FIELD 
     The invention relates to draper headers. More particularly it relates to side draper conveyors. Even more particularly it relates to pivoting side conveyors. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Draper headers employ endless belt conveyors to convey crop from a reciprocating knife or cutter bar to the combine harvester vehicle that supports the draper header and carries the draper header through the agricultural field. Once in the combine harvester vehicle, the crop is threshed, separated, and cleaned. 
     Draper headers have endless belt conveyors that carry the crop laterally (the left and right side conveyors) to a center portion of the draper, and a center conveyor that receives the crop from these side conveyors and transmits it to rearward and to the combine harvester. 
     The endless belts for the draper header periodically wear out. When they wear out they must be replaced. The typical method of replacing the endless belts is to break them longitudinally at a splice and work them out of the machine, around rollers and through narrow spaces. This process is time consuming. It has been proposed, therefore to leave the belt intact in the form of an endless loop, to disconnect the forward ends of the rollers and to slide the endless belts of the left and right side conveyors off the rollers that support the endless belt. 
     Given the size and weight of the left and right side conveyors, this process can be difficult if not impossible for a single person, or even for a pair of people to do. It would therefore be beneficial to provide draper conveyors with mechanical assistance capable of lifting and/or holding the rollers to/in an elevated position as the belts are removed. It is an object of this invention to provide such an arrangement. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a draper header is provided comprising: a main draper frame having left and right sides; a left side draper conveyor pivotally coupled to the left side of the main draper frame; a right side draper conveyor pivotally coupled to the right side of the main draper frame; wherein the left and right side draper conveyors are comprised of, a side draper conveyor frame, at least one hinge coupling the side draper conveyor frame to the main draper frame, wherein each side draper conveyor frame includes a generally planar framework, a first roller supported on an inner end of the side draper conveyor framework, a second roller supported on an outer end of the side draper conveyor framework, an endless belt extending about and supported on the first and second rollers, the endless belt having an upper surface disposed to receive crop severed from the ground and to transport it laterally toward a central portion of the main draper frame, the endless belt further defining a forward edge disposed to move in a recirculating path adjacent to the reciprocating knife, and further defining a rear edge disposed to move in a recirculating path adjacent to the at least one hinge, and at least one height adjuster that has an adjustable working length and is disposed to pivot the side draper conveyor frame upward about an axis of rotation defined by the at least one hinge when the working length of the at least one height adjuster is changed. 
     The height adjuster may be a threaded fastener. The height adjuster may be disposed below the at least one hinge. The at least one hinge may constrain the side draper conveyor frame to pivot with respect to the main draper frame about a first axis that extends parallel to a lateral extent of the draper header. The threaded fastener may abut the side draper frame at a point below the first axis. The side draper conveyor framework may comprise an elongate front member disposed adjacent to a forward edge of the endless belt and an elongate rear member that is disposed adjacent to a rear edge of the belt. The elongate front member and elongate rear member may be generally parallel. The draper header may further comprise at least one bracket removably fixed to the reciprocating knife and defining a rear edge that extends over the forward edge of the endless belt. The at least one bracket may be disposed above the left side draper conveyor and the right side draper conveyor such that the endless belts of the conveyors cannot be slidably removed from the left side draper conveyor frame and the right side draper conveyor frame until the at least one bracket is removed. The at least one bracket may be a crop ramp that is disposed to carry crop from the reciprocating knife over the forward edge of the endless belts. 
     In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a side draper conveyor for a draper header having a left side and a right side, a laterally extending main frame, and a reciprocating knife fixed to and extending forward from a forward edge of the main frame, may be provided, the side draper conveyor comprising: a side draper conveyor frame, at least one hinge configured to couple the side draper conveyor frame to the main draper frame, the side draper conveyor frame including a generally planar framework, a first roller supported on an inner end of the side draper conveyor framework, a second roller supported on an outer end of the side draper conveyor framework, an endless belt extending about and supported on the first and second rollers, the endless belt having an upper surface disposed to receive crop severed from the ground and to transport it laterally toward a central portion of the main draper frame, the endless belt further defining a forward edge disposed to move in a recirculating path adjacent to the reciprocating knife, and further defining a rear edge disposed to move in a recirculating path adjacent to the at least one hinge, and at least one height adjuster that has an adjustable working length and is disposed to pivot the side draper conveyor frame upward about an axis of rotation defined by the at least one hinge when the working length of the at least one height adjuster is changed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a right side perspective view of a draper header in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary right side perspective view of the draper header of  FIG. 1  with the right end of the draper header removed and the endless belt of the right side draper conveyor removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a detail view of the right side draper conveyor shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary rear right side perspective view of the right side of the draper header of the foregoing figures. 
         FIG. 5  is a detail view of the view of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view through the draper header of  FIG. 5  taken at section line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmentary right side view of the draper header of the foregoing figures showing the right side draper conveyor in a lowered operating position and in a raised belt-changing position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the description below, the terms “forward”, “front” “in front of” and the like refer to the direction of travel of the header when it is traveling through the field in a straight line harvesting crop. This direction is identified in the figures by arrow “V”. The terms “backward”, “rearward”, “to the rear”, “behind” and similar terms refer to a direction opposite to the forward direction. 
     In  FIG. 1 , draper header  100  comprises a main draper frame  102 , a left side draper conveyor  104 , a right side draper conveyor  106 , a central conveyor  108  and a reciprocating knife  110 . 
     The main draper frame  102  supports the left side draper conveyor  104 , the right side draper conveyor  106 , the central conveyor  108  and the reciprocating knife  110 . As can best be seen in  FIG. 4 , a lower rear main frame member  112  and an upper rear frame member  113  of the main draper frame  102  are interconnected by a plurality of laterally spaced upright frame members  115  and are configured to be supported on a feederhouse of a combine harvester (not shown) in a conventional manner. In this way, the draper header  100  is carried through an agricultural field in a direction “V” that is perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the draper header  100  and parallel to the ground. 
     The left side draper conveyor  104  and right side draper conveyor  106  extend perpendicular to the direction of travel, and convey crop in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the draper header  100  as indicated by the arrows superimposed on the conveyors. 
     The central conveyor  108  extends generally parallel to the direction of travel. The endless belt that comprises the central conveyor  108  travels rearward in a direction indicated by the arrow superimposed on the conveyor. The central conveyor  108  receives crop material falling off the inner ends of the left side draper conveyor  104  and the right side draper conveyor  106 . Material falling onto the central conveyor  108  is carried rearward through an aperture in the main draper frame  102 . This material is carried rearward into the feederhouse (not shown) and into the combine harvester (not shown) for further processing. 
     The reciprocating knife  110  is supported on the main draper frame and extends laterally across substantially the entire width of the main draper frame  102 . The reciprocating knife  110  is disposed close to the ground in order to sever crop plants at their roots, and permit the upper portion of the severed plants to fall onto the left side draper conveyor  104 , the right side draper conveyor  106 , and the central conveyor  108 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the draper header  100  of  FIG. 1  in which the crop divider at the right end of the draper header  100  is removed and the endless belt that forms the moving surface of right side draper conveyor  106  is also removed. 
     The left side draper conveyor  104  and the right side draper conveyor  106  are identically constructed but in mirror image relationship about a plane that extends vertically and fore and aft through the lateral midpoint of the draper header  100 . 
     Main draper frame  102  comprises the lower rear a main frame member  112 , the upper rear main frame member  113 , the upright members  115 , knife supports  114 , and back sheets  116 . 
     Main frame member  112  is generally tubular and extends laterally across the bottom rear of the draper header  100 . A plurality of knife supports  114  are fixed to the main frame member  112  and extend forward therefrom. They are spaced apart across the width of the draper header  100 . At their forward ends they are fixed to reciprocating knife  110 . Knife supports  114  hold reciprocating knife  110  in a fixed position forward of the main frame member  112 . Knife supports  114  hold reciprocating knife  110  parallel to and generally forward of main frame member  112 . 
     The right side draper conveyor  106  comprises an endless belt  118  ( FIG. 1 ) and a side draper conveyor frame  120 . Endless belt  118  is removed in  FIG. 2  to more easily view side draper conveyor frame  120 . 
     Endless belt  118  is typically comprised of a fabric belt embedded in an elastomeric compound. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , side draper frame  120  comprises a generally planar framework  122 , a first roller  124  and a second roller  126 . Generally planar framework  122 , first roller  124 , and second roller  126  are coupled together to form a generally rectangular planar structure about which endless belt  118  is wrapped. First roller  124  is driven in rotation by a motor (not shown). Second roller  126  is an idler roller. The motor (not shown) that drives the first roller and the second roller causes the planar top surface of endless belt  118  to move in a direction indicated by the arrow superimposed on endless belt  118  in  FIG. 1 . 
     First roller  124  and second roller  126  are supported on generally planar framework  122  such that their longitudinal and rotational axes are parallel, with first roller  124  located at the innermost end of generally planar framework  122 , and second roller  126  located at the outermost end of generally planar framework  122 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , generally planar framework  122  includes a rear frame member  128 , front frame member  130 , connecting members  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142 , and tensioning mechanism  144 . 
     Rear frame member  128  extends parallel to the main frame member  112  and is hingeably coupled to the main frame member  112 . Rear frame member  128  is an elongate member that is supported on hinges to pivot with respect to main frame member  112  about an axis that extends generally parallel to the longitudinal extent of the main frame member  112  and the longitudinal extent of the rear frame member  128 . Connecting members  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142  extend generally fore-and-aft and are fixed at their rear ends to rear frame member  128 . Connecting members  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142  are fixed at their forward ends to front frame member  130 . Front frame member  130  extends generally parallel to rear frame member  128 . 
     First roller  124  is supported on the inner ends of rear frame member  128  and front frame member  130  for rotation about a central longitudinal axis of first roller  124 . Second roller  126  is supported on the outer ends of the rear frame member  128  and front frame member  130  to slide laterally inwardly and outwardly with respect to the outer ends of the frame members  128 ,  130 , and to rotate about a central longitudinal axis of second roller  126 . 
     Tensioning mechanism  144  comprises an adjustment member  146 , a belt crank  148 , a connecting link  149 , and a tensioning arm  150 . Adjustment member  146  extends through a hole in the back wall of draper header  100  such that it can be rotated by the operator to increase or decrease the tension in endless belt  118 . As adjustment member  146  is rotated, it moves in the direction indicated by arrow  152 . This movement causes bell crank  148  to pivot about bell crank mount  153 . This pivoting movement of bell crank  148 , in turn, causes tensioning arm  150  to move laterally with respect to the other components of generally planar framework  122 . This lateral movement of tensioning arm  150 , causes second roller  126 , which is supported for rotation on tensioning arm  150  to move laterally inwardly and outwardly (depending on the direction of movement of tensioning arm  150  and indicated by arrow  154 ). This inward and outward lateral movement, in turn, increases and decreases, respectively, the distance between first roller  124  and second roller  126 . Thus, when the operator manipulates the adjustment member  146  he can selectively increase or decrease the tension in endless belt  118 , including decreasing the tension sufficient to permit endless belt  118  to go completely slack, and therefore to be slidingly removed from side draper conveyor frame  120 . 
     Two elongate belt supports  155 ,  156  are supported on and above the upper surfaces of connecting members  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142  to provide a smooth, and relatively low friction surface that is capable of supporting the bottom surface of the upper run of endless belt  118  for sliding relative movement as endless belt  118  is driven in recirculating movement about the first and second rollers  124 ,  126 . 
     The side draper conveyor frame  120  is supported on hinges to pivot up and down with respect to main frame member  112 . This pivoting movement is prevented during normal operation by fixing front frame member  130  to the reciprocating knife  110 . Specifically, brackets  157  are fixed to the reciprocating knife  110  and extend rearward therefrom, partially overlapping the endless belt  118 . The brackets  157  are fixed to stationary portions of reciprocating knife  110  by threaded fasteners  158 . In  FIG. 3 , two of these brackets  157  are shown, each being fixed to reciprocating knife  110  with three threaded fasteners  158 . Four more of these brackets are provided to secure substantially the entire length of front frame member  130  to the reciprocating knife  110 . These additional four brackets being removed for convenience of illustration. The brackets  157  cover a gap  160  that is provided between front frame member  130  and reciprocating knife  110 . The brackets  157  function as a crop ramp to carry crop from the reciprocating knife over the gap  160 , and onto the surface of the endless belt. If all six of brackets  157  were illustrated in  FIG. 3 , brackets  157  would extend across the forward edge of front frame member  130 , would cover substantially the entire forward edge of the endless belt, and would substantially prevent crop from falling into the gap  160  or being inserted into the space between the forward edge of the endless belt and front frame member  130 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , four hinges  162 ,  164 ,  166 ,  168  are fixed to brackets  170  that form a portion of main frame member  112 . Hinges  162 ,  164 ,  166 ,  168  are provided to pivotally couple rear frame member  128  (and hence side draper conveyor frame  120  and right side draper conveyor  106 ) to the brackets  170  and hence to main frame member  112  of the main draper frame  102 . Hinges  162 ,  164 ,  166 ,  168  constrain side draper conveyor frame  120  to pivot with respect to main frame member  112  about a generally horizontal and longitudinally extending axis passing through and defined by all four hinges that is parallel to main frame member  112  and to rear frame member  128 . 
     In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , hinge  166  can be seen in greater detail. Hinge  164  is identically constructed but spaced apart from hinge  166  near the opposite (inner) end of rear frame member  128 . The description below therefore applies to both hinge  164  and hinge  166 , although only hinge  166  is illustrated. The hinge  166  includes a hinge pin  172  about which the side draper conveyor frame  120  pivots with respect to main frame member  112 . Alternatively, three (or fewer) of the hinges can be removed thereby supporting the side draper conveyor frame on at least one hinge (or more). 
     Height adjuster  174  has an adjustable working length and is engaged to both bracket  170  and rear frame member  128 . The working length of the height adjuster  174  refers to the distance between the height adjuster&#39;s connection to the main frame (in this case a threaded through-hole) and the height adjuster&#39;s connection (in this case its abutment) to the side draper conveyor frame  120 . 
     Height adjuster  174  is shown herein as a threaded member, e.g. a jackscrew, and end changes its working length as it is rotated. As it is rotated, it therefore changes the distance between side draper conveyor frame  120  and bracket  170  of main frame member  112  and therefore changes the angle therebetween. 
     In the embodiment shown here, as height adjuster  174  is screwed into bracket  170 , its other end (the working end of height adjuster  174 ) is moved farther away from bracket  170 . The working end of height adjuster  174  abuts rear frame member  128  below hinge pin  172 . As the height adjuster  174  increases its working length, it causes rear frame member  128  to pivot upward with respect to side draper conveyor frame  120 , pivoting about the longitudinal axis defined by hinges  162 ,  164 ,  166 ,  168 , and thereby changing their relative angular positions. 
     In an alternative arrangement, the height adjuster  174  and the hinge pin  172  could have exchanged their positions such that height adjuster  174  is above the hinge pin  172 . In these relative positions, decreasing the working length of height adjuster  174  would serve to lift the forward edge of side draper conveyor frame  120  by decreasing the distance between the upper portion of rear frame member  128  and bracket  170 . 
     Two hinges, hinge  164  and hinge  166 , are identically constructed, each having an associated height adjuster  174 . In order to minimize the amount of weight exerted on each height adjuster  174 , it is beneficial to provide more than one height adjuster  174 , although either one of the height adjusters  174  would work by itself. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the two height adjusters  174  are spaced roughly 20% in from the opposing ends of side draper conveyor frame  120 . If a single height adjuster were desired, that height adjuster may also be disposed at the midpoint between opposite ends of the side draper conveyor frame  120 . 
     Hinges  162  and  168  are constructed identically to hinges  164  and  166 , but with a narrower bracket  170  and no height adjusters  174 . In an alternative embodiment, each of hinges  162  and  168  could be constructed identically to the hinges  164  and  166  and either one or both could be provided with height adjusters  174 . In these arrangements there would be three or four height adjusters  174 , total. The only practical limit on the number of height adjusters  174  provided for each side conveyor is the amount of time it would take to adjust them during the lifting process. The more height adjusters  174  that are provided, the less the load on each height adjuster  174  and therefore the easier to adjust any individual height adjuster  174 , which is a benefit. However, the more height adjusters  174  that are provided, the longer the time it takes to adjust them, therefore increasing the amount of time it takes to lift the side draper conveyor frame  120 , which is a disadvantage. 
     In  FIG. 7 , the relative positions of side draper conveyor frame  120  can be seen when the height adjuster  174  is in two different positions. In the first position, position  176 , height adjuster  174  has been retracted, it&#39;s working length decreased, and the forward edge of side draper conveyor frame  120  lowered to its operating position. In the second position, position  178 , height adjuster  174  has been extended, its working length increased, and the forward edge of side draper conveyor frame  120  is lifted into its belt-changing position. 
     In typical practice, the operator first removes all a threaded fasteners  158  that hold the forward edge of the brackets  157  to the reciprocating knife  110 . The operator then moves to the rear of the draper header  100  and manipulates the adjustment member  146  at the back of the draper header  100  to slacken the endless belt  118  on the first and second rollers  124 ,  126 . Once slackened, the operator then manipulates the height adjusters  174  by increasing their working length and thereby pivoting the side draper conveyor frame  120  and the first and second rollers  124 ,  126  up into the air as shown in  FIG. 7  in phantom lines. 
     Alternatively, the operator can lift the leading edge of the side conveyors manually, and someone else can change (in this embodiment increase) the working length of the height adjusters  174  to hold the side conveyors in the selected position. By lifting the leading edge of the side conveyors and pivoting them upward, the load on the height adjusters  174  is eliminated. This adds an additional step to the process, but is faster since it removes the load from the height adjusters  174 , which makes it easier and faster to increase the length of each height adjuster  174 . 
     Once raised, the operator slides endless belt  118  forward and off the side draper conveyor frame  120  without having to cut or otherwise separate the belt to form one or more elongate sheets. The operator can then slide a replacement belt onto the side draper conveyor frame  120  and follow the steps in reverse order to secure the side draper frame and new endless belt in their operating positions. 
     This process provides a quick and easy way to replace an endless side draper conveyor belt on a draper header. By providing height adjusters  174 , the operator is free to move around to the front of the draper platform once the side draper conveyor frame is lifted into the air and to remove and replace the belt single-handedly. 
     The various devices described in this specification suggest several ways to practice the invention. Other ways of practicing the invention are also possible as long as they fall within the scope of the claims.