Patent ID: 7146790

Claim:
An anti-wrapping device for preventing crop from being wrapped about a central shaft of a reel rotatably supported on side arms of a header of a combine, the central shaft extending along an axis, the comprising: an annular cover plate for securing to a first axial end of the reel to rotate therewith and to prevent the crop from becoming entangled with projections from the reel, the cover plate including a plate portion having an inner rim extending laterally from an inner edge of the plate portion in a first direction and an outer rim extending laterally from an outer edge of the plate portion that is radially spaced from the inner edge in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction; and a tubular shroud operatively connected to the header to surround the central shaft of the reel, the shroud having a diameter and having a first end being positioned when in use in close proximity to the plate portion of the annular cover plate of the reel to avoid any crop being caught therebetween, wherein: the outer edge of the cover plate defines a generally cylindrical area having a diameter greater than the diameter of the tubular shroud; the annular cover plate and the shroud rotate relative to one another with rotation of the reel; the annular cover plate rotates with the reel; the shroud does not rotate with the reel; and the outer edge of the annular cover plate encloses a portion of a length of the reel in a radial direction.