Patent Description:
As is described in <CIT>, a typical header of an agricultural combine includes one or more cutters, e.g., cutter bars with reciprocating knives, which cut the crop material that is harvested from the field. Once the crop material is cut, a conveyor system, which is positioned rearwardly of the cutter(s), transports the crop material to the feeder housing. Modern headers generally have cutters and attachments which are specifically optimized to harvest a particular kind of crop material. For instance, the header may include a rotating reel with tines or the like to sweep the crop material towards the cutter(s). Alternatively, the header may include snouts and row units instead of a rotating reel and cutter bar(s).

A draper header is typically used to harvest fluffy or bushy crop material such as soy beans or canola. A draper header generally includes a conveyor that is in the form of one or more flat belts, known as draper belts, to convey the crop material to the feeder housing. Typically, a draper header may include two lateral draper belts that convey the crop material longitudinally inward and a center feed belt that conveys the crop material into the feeder housing. Each draper belt may be wrapped around rollers, for example various combinations of drive rollers and idler rollers. The draper belts may include cleats extending transversely across the full width of the header, which contact the crop material to help facilitate its transportation into the feeder housing.

It has been found that crop material has a tendency to get carried around the inner most ends of the lateral draper belts, and/or accumulate around the belt rollers or other areas. Such accumulation of crop material can hinder movement of the draper belts. It has also been found that momentarily reversing the direction of the draper belts will dislodge the accumulated crop material. For example, the <CIT> and <CIT> disclose draper headers for combine harvesters, with draper belts that can be driven in a forward and a reverse direction.

Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a convenient and automated system for an operator of a combine to momentarily reverse the direction of the draper belts without necessitating the operator to leave the cab of the combine.

According to one aspect of the invention, a system for reversing a movement direction of a laterally extending conveyor of a draper header of an agricultural machine is provided. The system comprises a fluid line for delivering fluid to a motor that is configured to drive the laterally extending conveyor. A directional flow control valve is connected to the fluid line and movable between a first state in which the directional flow control valve is configured to deliver the fluid to the motor in a first fluid direction to cause the motor to move the laterally extending conveyor in a first movement direction, and a second state in which the directional flow control valve is configured to deliver the fluid to the motor in a second fluid direction that is different from the first fluid direction to cause the motor to move the laterally extending conveyor in a second movement direction that is opposite to the first movement direction. The directional flow control valve is maintained in the first state during a harvesting operation, and the directional flow control valve is maintained in the second state during an operation to dislodge crop material from the laterally extending conveyor.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of reversing a movement direction of a laterally extending conveyor of a draper header of an agricultural machine is provided. The method includes delivering fluid through a fluid line to a motor in a first fluid direction such that the motor drives the laterally extending conveyor in a first movement direction during a harvesting operation, while a directional flow control valve connected to the fluid line is maintained in a first state; and switching the directional flow control valve to a second state to deliver the fluid to the motor in a second fluid direction that is different from the first fluid direction thereby causing the motor to move the laterally extending conveyor in a second movement direction that is opposite to the first movement direction for dislodging crop material wedged in the laterally extending conveyor.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a system for reversing the direction of a laterally extending conveyor of a draper header of an agricultural machine comprises a motor that is configured to move the laterally extending conveyor in a harvesting direction, and means for causing the motor to move the laterally extending conveyor in a direction that is opposite to the harvesting direction for a pre-determined period of time.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

The terms "forward", "rearward", "left" and "right", when used in connection with the agricultural combine and/or components thereof are usually determined with reference to the direction of forward operative travel of the combine, but again, they should not be construed as limiting. The terms "longitudinal" and "transverse" are determined with reference to the fore-and-aft direction of the combine and are equally not to be construed as limiting.

Referring now to the drawings, as is described in <CIT>, <FIG> illustrates an agricultural harvester applicable to the subject application in the form of a combine harvester <NUM> to which is attached a draper header <NUM>. The draper header <NUM> has a crop cutter or knife assembly <NUM> arranged close the ground. The knife assembly can include a stationary blade and a reciprocating blade which together act as shears that cut the crop near the ground. A harvesting reel <NUM> having tines <NUM> rotates about a horizontal axis adjacent to the knife assembly <NUM> to gather the cut crop and feed it into unillustrated processing machinery of the harvester.

Turning to <FIG>, there are shown several views of another draper header <NUM>. The header <NUM> includes a crop cutter and harvesting reel <NUM> (<FIG>) followed rearwardly by a crop or grain conveyor system. The harvesting reel <NUM> gathers the crop cut by the crop cutter <NUM> and delivers the cut crop to a conveyor system. The conveyor system typically includes a header conveyor constructed as a pair of opposed, laterally extending conveyors <NUM> which extend from the lateral ends of the header frame or chassis <NUM> (shown in cross-section in <FIG>) toward a generally central region of the chassis. As indicated by arrows <NUM> of <FIG>, cut crop is delivered by conveyors <NUM> toward a centrally located infeed conveyor <NUM>. Infeed conveyor <NUM> extends substantially perpendicular to conveyors <NUM> and is driven by conventional belt drive means (not illustrated) to move crop in the direction of arrows <NUM> toward an outlet <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>) which leads to a feederhouse <NUM>.

As seen in <FIG>, before reaching outlet <NUM>, the cut crop first encounters a centrally located rotatable infeed auger <NUM> which impels the crop or grain through the outlet <NUM>. More specifically, the cut crop is engaged by the helical vanes or flights <NUM> of the infeed auger <NUM> and is pushed thereby through outlet <NUM>.

It has been observed that conventional conveyor systems suffer certain disadvantages. As noted above, it has been found that crop material has a tendency to get carried around the inner most ends of the laterally extending conveyors <NUM>, and/or accumulate around the belt rollers of those conveyors or other areas. Such accumulation of crop material can hinder movement of the laterally extending conveyors <NUM>. It has also been found that momentarily reversing the direction of the laterally extending conveyors <NUM> will dislodge the accumulated crop material.

<FIG> is a hydraulic schematic of a system <NUM> for reversing the direction of the laterally extending conveyors <NUM>. The system <NUM> comprises a reservoir <NUM> for containing hydraulic fluid (or other fluid). A gear pump <NUM>, which is controlled by a controller <NUM>, is provided for drawing fluid from the reservoir <NUM> and directing the fluid through a forward path fluid line <NUM> toward two side draper motors <NUM> and <NUM>. The side draper motor <NUM> is configured to move one of the conveyors <NUM>, and the side draper motor <NUM> is configured to move the other conveyor <NUM>. The motors <NUM> and <NUM> are fluidly connected together in series. A return path fluid line <NUM> is connected to a fluid port of the motor <NUM> for returning fluid to the reservoir <NUM>. A relief valve <NUM> is fluidly connected between the fluid lines <NUM> and <NUM> for relieving excess pressure in the forward path fluid line <NUM>. The fluid lines <NUM> and <NUM> may also be referred to herein as fluid conduits. A pressure compensated fluid valve <NUM> is also fluidly connected between the fluid lines <NUM> and <NUM>. A manual bypass <NUM> permits an operator to deactivate the side conveyors <NUM> for service or repair of the header.

It is noted that the system <NUM> is shown in a harvesting mode in <FIG>, wherein fluid is freely delivered by the pump <NUM> to side draper motors <NUM> and <NUM>, such that the motors <NUM> and <NUM> rotate the conveyors <NUM> to deliver crop material to infeed conveyor <NUM>.

A proportional flow control valve <NUM> is fluidly connected to the fluid line <NUM> at a location downstream of the pump <NUM>. The valve <NUM> is movable between two states. In the open state shown in <FIG>, the valve <NUM> permits the passage of fluid through the line <NUM> and toward the motor <NUM>. In the open state of the valve <NUM>, the orifice size of the valve <NUM> of <FIG> may be adjusted to control the flow rate of the fluid through the valve <NUM>. Specifically, the duty cycle of the valve <NUM> is adjustable by the controller <NUM> to change the pressure and/or flow rate of the fluid delivered downstream of the valve <NUM> (i.e., in the direction of the motors <NUM> and <NUM>). Thus, the setting of the valve <NUM> dictates the flow rate of the fluid to the motors <NUM> and <NUM>. In the closed state (not shown in <FIG>), the valve <NUM> operates as a check valve to prevent the passage of fluid in the downstream direction from the pump <NUM> to the motor <NUM>. Together, the valves <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to provide constant flow to the motors <NUM> and <NUM> regardless of pressure fluctuations in the system <NUM>.

A directional flow control valve <NUM> is fluidly connected to both fluid lines <NUM> and <NUM>. The valve <NUM> is connected to the fluid line <NUM> at a location downstream of the valve <NUM>. The valve <NUM> is configured to drive the motors <NUM> and <NUM> in either a forward rotational direction or a reverse rotational direction. More particularly, the valve <NUM> is movable between two states by the controller <NUM>. In the normal state shown in <FIG>, which corresponds to the harvesting mode of the combine, the valve <NUM> permits the passage of fluid from the valve <NUM> and toward the motor <NUM>, and also permits the passage of fluid from the motor <NUM> back to the reservoir <NUM>. In the reverse state (not shown in <FIG>, but is denoted by the crossing arrows in the valve <NUM>), the valve <NUM> directs the fluid from the valve <NUM> to the motor <NUM>, and the valve <NUM> also directs the fluid from the motor <NUM> back to the reservoir <NUM>. The motors <NUM> and <NUM> are normally driven in a forward direction during a harvesting operation. Driving the motors <NUM> and <NUM> in the reverse rotational direction causes the conveyors <NUM> to move in the opposite direction for dislodging the accumulated crop material on the conveyors <NUM>.

It is noted that the valves <NUM> and <NUM> are biased by springs to a normally-open position, as shown in <FIG>. The valves <NUM> and <NUM> may also be controlled by the controller <NUM>. Thus, in the event of an electrical failure of the system <NUM>, the combine may continue to be used in a harvesting mode.

<FIG> depicts a hydraulic schematic of another system <NUM> for reversing the direction of the lateral draper belts of the header of <FIG>. The system <NUM> is substantially similar to the system <NUM> and the primary differences therebetween will be described hereinafter.

Unlike the gear pump <NUM>, the pump <NUM> of the system <NUM> is a piston pump. The manual bypass <NUM> and the relief valve <NUM> are omitted from system <NUM> due at least in part to the different pump styles. The valve <NUM> is normally closed, and opens upon activation of the system <NUM>. A conduit <NUM> connects the downstream side of valve <NUM> with the input of the valve <NUM>. Thus, the pressure at the downstream side of valve <NUM> is communicated to the valve <NUM> thereby at least partially dictating the open/closed position of the valve <NUM>. The valves <NUM> and <NUM> together are configured to provide constant flow to the motors <NUM> and <NUM> regardless of pressure fluctuations in the system <NUM>, as noted above. The conduit <NUM> connects the forward fluid path line <NUM> with the pump <NUM>, and the pressure communicated to the pump <NUM> via conduit <NUM> dictates the position of the swash plate inside of the pump <NUM>, which affects the flow rate of the pump.

<FIG> is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method <NUM> for operating the systems <NUM> and <NUM> for reversing the direction of the laterally extending conveyors <NUM>. At input step <NUM>, the operator of the combine instructs the combine to momentarily reverse the direction of the conveyors <NUM>. This may be accomplished by either depressing a button, or entering a command into a graphical user interface (GUI) of the combine, for example. Alternatively, this step may be performed automatically by the controller <NUM> in a headland mode of the combine (described later). At decision step <NUM>, the controller <NUM> (or processor associated with the controller <NUM>) determines whether the combine is currently being operated in a harvesting mode. If the combine is not currently being operated in a harvesting mode, then the controller <NUM> transmits an audible or visual message on a display of the combine alerting the operator of the combine that the reverse feature is not available unless the combine is in a harvest mode, as indicated at step <NUM>.

Alternatively, as indicated at step <NUM>, if the combine is currently being operated in a harvesting mode, then the controller <NUM> first determines the speed of the motors <NUM> and <NUM> during the harvesting mode by recording the duty cycle of the proportional valve <NUM>. The recorded duty cycle, which corresponds to the speed of the motors <NUM> and <NUM>, will be used later in the method at step <NUM>. Thereafter, the controller <NUM> decreases the flow of fluid to the draper motors <NUM> and <NUM> by adjusting the duty cycle of the proportional valve <NUM> to reduce the speed of the motors <NUM> and <NUM>. The pump speed may be reduced until the motors <NUM> and <NUM> are either stopped or below a predetermined minimum threshold speed. Step <NUM> is performed to prevent possible damage to the motors <NUM> and <NUM> and the conveyors <NUM> that are connected thereto due to shock loads, which could occur if the conveyors <NUM> were reversed at full speed.

At step <NUM>, the controller <NUM> switches the direction of fluid within the system <NUM>/<NUM> by energizing the directional flow control valve <NUM> to move the valve <NUM> against the bias of a spring to the reverse state (not shown in <FIG>). In the reverse state of the valve <NUM>, the valve <NUM> directs the fluid from the valve <NUM> to the motor <NUM>, and the valve <NUM> also directs the fluid from the motor <NUM> back to the reservoir <NUM>. The reverse path of the fluid causes the motors <NUM> and <NUM> to rotate in a reverse direction, i.e., a direction that is opposite to the direction that the motors <NUM> and <NUM> normally rotate during the harvesting mode. At step <NUM>, the controller <NUM> increases the flow of fluid to the draper motors <NUM> and <NUM> by adjusting the duty cycle of the proportional valve <NUM>. At step <NUM>, the pump <NUM> is operated at the increased speed established at step <NUM> for a pre-determined amount of time. The pre-determined amount of time may correspond to less than <NUM> of reverse rotational movement of the conveyors <NUM>, for example. A sensor connected to the controller <NUM> may monitor movement of the motors <NUM> and <NUM>, the conveyors <NUM> or a component connected thereto. Reversing rotation of the conveyors <NUM> causes any unwanted wedged, lodged or accumulated crop material to become dislodged from the conveyors <NUM>. The system <NUM>/<NUM> is then ready to be returned to the harvesting mode.

At step <NUM>, the controller <NUM> decreases the flow of fluid to the draper motors <NUM> and <NUM> by adjusting the duty cycle of the proportional valve <NUM>, similar to step <NUM>. At step <NUM>, the controller <NUM> switches the direction of fluid within the system <NUM>/<NUM> by de-energizing the directional flow control valve <NUM> to return the valve <NUM> to the normal state that is shown in <FIG>. In the normal state of the valve <NUM>, the valve <NUM> freely permits the passage of fluid from the valve <NUM> and toward the motor <NUM>, and also permits the passage of fluid from the motor <NUM> back to the reservoir <NUM>. At step <NUM>, the controller <NUM> increases the flow of fluid to the draper motors <NUM> and <NUM> by returning the duty cycle of the proportional valve <NUM> back to its level recorded at step <NUM>, which is sufficient for harvesting crop, such that harvesting can continue indefinitely at step <NUM>.

It is noted that steps <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are optional and may be omitted.

The method <NUM> may be completed during the headland mode, i.e., after the combine has completed harvesting one row in a crop field and is turning around to prepare to harvest the next row in the crop field. During this time, the header is lifted upwards in the air and is not operating in the harvest mode. The method <NUM> could be completed at every turn, every other turn, every tenth turn, or as needed. The method <NUM> may be repeated as many times as desired until the wedged, lodged or accumulated crop material becomes dislodged from the conveyors <NUM>. The method <NUM> may also be completed as a precautionary measure.

The system <NUM>/<NUM> may include an emergency stop command that immediately stops all flow and returns the valves of the system <NUM>/<NUM> to their normal (harvest) state.

The system <NUM>/<NUM> and method <NUM> may vary from that which is shown and described. For example, the motor that rotates the infeed conveyor <NUM> may be incorporated into the system <NUM>/<NUM> by positioning that infeed conveyor motor in series and in fluid communication with the motors <NUM> and <NUM>. Accordingly, performing the method <NUM> would also cause momentary reverse rotation of the infeed conveyor <NUM>. Alternatively, a separate system may be provided for causing momentary reverse rotation of the infeed conveyor <NUM>.

As another alternative to the system <NUM>/<NUM> and method <NUM> shown herein, the motors <NUM> and <NUM> could be separated into separate systems <NUM> such that the operator could individually control operation of the motors <NUM> and <NUM>. In other words, one system <NUM>/<NUM> would control motor <NUM> and a separate system <NUM>/<NUM> would control motor <NUM>. The two systems could share the same pump <NUM>.

As yet another alternative to the system <NUM>/<NUM> and method <NUM> shown herein, an electric starter motor, solenoid or other motive device may be coupled to the motors <NUM> and <NUM> to cause momentary reverse rotation of the conveyor belts <NUM>. As best shown in <FIG>, an optional electric starter motor <NUM> may be connected to motor <NUM> to cause momentary reverse rotation of the conveyor belts <NUM>. The optional electric starter motor <NUM> would be controlled by the controller <NUM>. If the system <NUM> includes the optional electric starter motor <NUM>, then the valve <NUM> (among other components of the system <NUM>) may be omitted.

It is to be understood that the operational steps are performed by the controller <NUM> upon loading and executing software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium, such as on a magnetic medium, e.g., a computer hard drive, an optical medium, e.g., an optical disc, solid-state memory, e.g., flash memory, or other storage media known in the art. Thus, any of the functionality performed by the controller <NUM> described herein is implemented in software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium. Upon loading and executing such software code or instructions by the controller <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may perform any of the functionality of the controller <NUM> described herein, including any steps of the methods described herein.

Claim 1:
A system for reversing a movement direction of a laterally extending conveyor (<NUM>) of a draper header (<NUM>) of an agricultural machine (<NUM>), said system comprising:
a fluid line (<NUM>) for delivering fluid to a motor (<NUM>, <NUM>) that is configured to drive the laterally extending conveyor (<NUM>);
a directional flow control valve (<NUM>) connected to the fluid line (<NUM>) and movable between a first state in which the directional flow control valve (<NUM>) is configured to deliver the fluid to the motor (<NUM>, <NUM>) in a first fluid direction to cause the motor (<NUM>, <NUM>) to move the laterally extending conveyor (<NUM>) in a first movement direction, and a second state in which the directional flow control valve (<NUM>) is configured to deliver the fluid to the motor (<NUM>, <NUM>) in a second fluid direction that is different from the first fluid direction to cause the motor (<NUM>, <NUM>) to move the laterally extending conveyor (<NUM>) in a second movement direction that is opposite to the first movement direction, wherein the directional flow control valve (<NUM>) is maintained in the first state during a harvesting operation, and the directional flow control valve (<NUM>) is maintained in the second state during an operation to dislodge crop material from the laterally extending conveyor (<NUM>);
a flow control valve (<NUM>) connected to the fluid line (<NUM>) for controlling a flow rate of the fluid moving downstream of the flow control valve (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to adjust the flow control valve (<NUM>) to reduce the flow rate of fluid delivered to the motor (<NUM>, <NUM>) prior to switching the directional flow control valve (<NUM>) to the second state.