CA2341283C - Crop feed arrangement for the header of a combine harvester - Google Patents

Abstract

A draper header for a combine harvester includes two side drapers each running from an outer end guide roller at a first end of the header to an inner end guide roller adjacent the discharge location of the header and a central feed draper located at the discharge location and including a front guide roller just behind the cutter bar and running to a rear guide roller in front of the feeder house of the combine harvester. An auger is located between the discharge rollers with a front edge of the flight forward of the rear end of the discharge rollers to feed the material inwardly and underneath the auger to the inlet of the feeder house. A pan is located underneath the auger and is mounted on a common structure with the feed draper for common pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis.

Description

CROP FEED ARRANGEMENT FOR THE HEADER OF A COMBINE
HARVESTER.

This invention Ãelates to a crop feed arrnngement for the header of a ;om;s;nÃ:~ ~~~"),ester.

BA'"KGRt':;#t.~~~C) OF THE INVENT1ON
................................ ....................
A header for a crop r~arvp-stÃng machine geÃieÃa1~y comprises a. main lonqÃtu.dÃnal sÃ.c'ppÃ3''~ m'"c''Ã'siber in t: ~~, ' fix;'n of an eli,inguÃte tube which e'r:t~-'.mds c3r:.'".~.n,'~a substanti~.~~~~ the, fuil width of ~hp- h.eade-r frame and defines a }TÃaÃn cn~ructÃ~~~l mem~ber for t:,e header ~~arne. The tubp- caÃ-des a plurafict,~ of formardiy and ~o"um"',ardly exte>'Ãdim support beams which include a first pod-.;on r-.Mend;Ã'Ãg d~:;wÃ'Ãsisfi~~~ly an(r a secon~.~ portkon, attached to a #ower end of t1he . fin=~t portion. and extending fonx-ardl4~
therefrom toward a forward, end of the suppoÃt beams. I"he cÃ.Ãtter bar is attached t~.~
th~ forward end of ~ie support beams and is tt-Ãus h;;ld thÃ;reoy in a pow<#xÃ~.~n generally paÃallel to ~~~~ rna:~ support tu0e, In U.S. F-'atents 4=956=966 issued September 1990 ard UV,3.343' Ãri a Iss'=..i'Ã;d Apri~ 1991 by PafteÃ"s; kr. and assigned to :'~ the p~e=a~.=~~~.
r~'~-.a,:~#~s~'si.. ~' ~ ~r ''e dà aclo.a ~ ed header which utÃ(~~~s. two side dr~pers fo transport ttie Ã;rÃxf) cut by the,, knife InwaÃ-dly along ~~~~ header table to a Ã;Ã;ntnai d:schaà ge, openinq. T:,e side dmpers discharge onto a central feed draper which t-gawz a front roller iust ~p-hÃÃiÃ~ the knife and a reaÃ, 2~.~ roller at the feeder house of a combine nawest~~ so as t0l carry the cro~.~ from the side ;~~ap~n,; rA~rvvardfy ;Ã-:t:,.~ ~~ie feeder house for in:et ;nto the combine harvester for prc3cez; sing. A rotrÃÃ~ feed ~~~emb~r which may carÃ-y auger flight portions is mounted at the discharge opeÃiiÃÃg of ttie heaÃÃiar above the feed draper so as to assist in ca{ yt;ng bulky crop through the 6>charae, opening as tc, be carried iÃito the feeder house, The ft-.-ed dÃ~apeÃ' is caÃ-rÃed om the rear rn0er which is ~.~tt~~ch e~ to a ~~edeÃ-r~

ho-use and theref~~~ the feed draper and assf:~O~~~d underl,r:ng pan flp-.:4 and ~,~ Y;r=

as the header floats refat:ve to th~:~ feeder house.

Wh:1~ thÃs arrangement has achÃeyx~~ ~~~~~~~~~~le ; 10m.rnerciaÃ
success, is desirable to improve the ~~~~ ~~ ~~~e crop material fÃ-orri the side drapers . i~~to the feeder I
i ouse particularly in relation to bulky crops such P-S soy beans.

A subsÃ:auent U.S,. Patent which Ãs 15;454,37: issued November 1995 by Honey dis:;~~ses a similar aÃ-Ã~angewi:;M.nt in which the crop i!3 transferred from th~
re,ar end of the ~~ed. draper into a r3giÃl fix}:~~ adapter housing whN''r} :~
rnount~,d on ~~he front of th,--~, feeder and contains ~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~ed meY lher :Ãn the forrn of an auger with conventional fÃ;ed'Ãng fingers. This an~anneÃ~~ent therefore requÃre~ th~~.t:
the header is moved foRvs~~~~y r~.~lati ~~~ to the ft-;ede3- house so az. to provide ~hw sp~.~Ãce necessary fo< the adaq?~ter housing aÃid S4 z rotary feed mers~ber contaÃ~~~~
~~ereÃn.

FuÃ~~~r commercial devices are manufactured by Deere ari#~ Compan,.
aÃi~.~ AgÃ;o but it be1Ã~~ed that there, are no patents dÃsÃ~los;nr the c~.~nstr-Action of the4~ devices.

SUÃ~AMAW~ OF THE INVENTION

It is cq~e o~~~~t (if the present Ã~~~entf~.~n to pr~.~vÃ~~ a header iÃ) v"sYl:Ch:.
the 4<yste. Ãi for transfer of cÃ-o~.~ from th~ ~~dp- drapers to ~~~~ feeder house ~s improved.

Accx;rdÃ~~~ to, a first a.speÃ>t o~ ~hp, inventÃor~ the~e is pÃ-ov:d&'.J a crop hraà ~~ ~~ing headerFÃ;r a c;omb:~e harvester Ã,;:~mprising:

a fr:~me structure ex,tÃ,ndÃnq across beWeÃ;n two e-:~s c-f th, he;~.~der acros;; a Wdx~~ of the header for movement in a direction gÃ;ne~raÃ!y at right aÃ'Ãgle.'~'s to the KfÃ~.~5th across grt'3uin~,e including P. crop to b)e hi.-Ãr,zei'~e~(I;

a mountin.~.~ assembly for a#~~tr-,hment tc) a feeder ho use of the t;;t;nibine ~

}~c'.sm:3st.n..,2' for uarf"ving it~s'.? main fÃamp. 4il~#.,Ã~'~i.$d"e on tti~.? co''"ÃbÃnÃ=F h~:,=.m'Nste:' a crop ~emvm~ table m.Yied' on the ÃÃnaiÃ'Ã fri~~ne, :;~rt,x~tÃ..<Ã~~ acm::a,~
flhe width of the hec~de,~':

a cu~te<= bar across a front of the table carrying a :--:~tte.Ã~ knÃfe, operable <. for cu:.'ÃIng the, (>rÃ3~Y~., as t= le header is ÃÃ#<:3vw'd forwardly across the grf:}=.,'.nC: for depow<;Un~ ffic.; cro;;k onto the table;

wa nd a r:.rop tÃ~~~~~port St~ ~tr-;:ÃÃ fo~ r:ÃovÃ~~~~ ~~t.,,-: cut Ã;~-op t~.~vmrd ~
d;~dharge location of ~~~ ~~~arder for feeding the crop into a feed opening of the combine har~~~~ter:

'10 O:le crop transport system :nrhudÃng:

a first s;dle crapeÃ~ having an outer end guide roller at a first end of, k~~~
~e,a~,<er, an inner end gkjÃde roller adjacent the ~~~~~~~ge location and a ~oc-:k;:;~~~~
draper canvas wrapped around the outer and inner gLiÃdp, rolÃers to define a top run }f- thp canve::~ for carrying the cut crop from the, knife across the header to, a 15 d;sÃ;hziÃ~~~~ ~nc' adjacent the disr~~rg~ location;

a second sÃdÃ~ draper havi,ng an ~-,-n~.~ guide roller at a second end of thÃ~, hr~-,;ade>-, an irmar, guide roller adsa};er,.;;,~, the discharge imalon and a ~.;orAÃnuciu.:a draper canvas wrapped -around tÃ'.e outer and inner guide rof}Ã;<s, to define a top :~~in of tne, car'Ãvaw for carrying the cut crop frorn the knife across the he~~~~ to 20 a dEuid''se..~'rr..a r; 3.~ni,' ad;aC'nt the ~iÃsÃ;f?arge lY:3catÃon;

a feed dÃ~~per located at the discharge locat;;on and ;nclud;ng a fÃ-OrIl g,;de roller ~~~~~~~nt ti'Ãe .,::utter bar, a nw~~ guÃd}F roller behind ~tJ~>
f~;-)nt gu:de rol:er and a draper canvas wrapped arouiid the ff'Ã~~~ and rear qLÃ;de rollers to define a top r~.~il. of the feed Ã~rapf"I. for receiving the ~rop m ater;a; from the discfiarge ends of ttie 25 first and second s;de drapers and' for carry:nc, the cr~.~p m~~er_aÃ
rearwardly toward the feed npeÃ~:Ãng Ã~~ the corribÃne harvester; and a;-lÃ~ a rotary feed merr}~~~~ at Lhe Ã>;~cha;'ge focati ;n arranged ~uch that the crop is fed underneath the notary feed member to the :nI~.~t opening of the Ã:oÃ~~~~~~ ~~arves~er<

the rotary feed ~~~~ber being mounted on a moÃ~nfinng assembly for =.F 3Aw7k~Yfi~E~ and d:,34g9n4xYR..~nd f53ov.''~'/m<:int within the discharge l.Vcat2on;

~he r:.~laty <0le~ member having a lengthl b;A-tw~~~~ ends thereof w~:ch Ãs less than the spaÃ,Ãng between the drapers:

t:-;e ro4w;~ feed ;Ã~embÃ,Ã~ having each of V~~ ends thÃ;r~~~~~ located inwarol v of ti-ie respective side dr~par such tiÃat ttic, rotary feed membox whe?n:
W moved downwardly on its mounting assembly to a lowermost positioÃ: Ã-;as at least part of its periphery between th~~ inner ends of the sÃde, drapers:

and the rotary feed member being arranged to extend to a fom~ard edge at a position ~~ivvardly of a rear of the side drapers.

Preferably the header includes generally upstanding rear sheets 15 behind the side drapers and including Ã,~ cÃ.n"ral opeÃ::ng Ãr~ the rear :~~~ee:;~ for allowing ~he, crop t< pass to fhe. inlet of the combine harvawter and wh~;~~~~~~ the r;:sfa~~
feed rnembs~:~~ pr~.~.je;s~ to Ã.~ poYÃfion fbR;vardly of }~ rear sheets :~rough the opening.

Preferably thh rotary feed rneF~-~ber is ÃnÃ3unt~:~~ on pivotal SÃ,Ãpport rnx~,~m~~~~rs arranged to bÃ; oi~ahed or3 the mounting asseÃn:~~~~~ which is fixed relative to tiie inlet of tiie feeder lioÃ,Ã~~ of the combine har~~s'- r sÃ;~~ that -ttie rotary feed member can pivot to accommodate changes in volume of the crop while moving if) an arc whic-h is at a predetermined ~~ca4iÃ~~ rolat#v~ to ~h e infet.

Prc-,4erab}y th-erÃ; ~s pr-jvided a stationary pan underneath I.I.-he r~tar~
fer-d member .~;uÃ>~ ~~ the rotary fead member Ã~arrÃpti. the crop ovÃ--,r t~p-pari to the, 25 ~~~~~ of the combine. harvester, the :~~~i having a front edge iadjafiet~~
the à e~.~à of the feed draper to receF'KÃ~ Cr'3p ma4'c;:.~'Ãai Howf 5fe.r the draper itself may in <f an a1t~.,4-rnative arrangÃ;ment ehteY}d underneath th: rotary feed mem~'.~er.

PÃ'~.~feÃ~~~ly the pan and the feea draper are ÃnoÃ.ÃntÃ~d on a ;.,or>Smon SÃ.;~~~~ ~~sembà f, w~~~~~ support assemblf is mounted for ;~~~~~~l movement about a h~.s~izoÃ~tal axis :~ the re'ar the ~.~~.~~~ reIativ~ tc, ttie mounting ass3:-m~~~~ and thus, u~ relative ao, the iniet of fi-:e combine harvester.

~~c,cÃ~rd-_,ng to a kec~.~n~.~ aspec~ of the Ãnv'Ã;nfiÃ~~ there is prov:de~~
~i crop harvestin;:~ header fur a w%orrÃbÃne harvester cor:pri;ing;

a rnain frame structure extending across betw~t,,,n two P-ricis of the header across a widtis of ~h<, header for fnovement in a direction geneÃ-afl, f~Ã;ht angles to ~hc, wid-.~~~ across ground including a crop to be h~.~rve:~ted:

a ~OUntiÃ-~~~ assembly for -Ã~~achmer~. to a fp-eder hoÃ~~~ of the ct.amb:Ã~~
~~Nc-,.teÃ- for carrying the Ãyiain fÃ~arne structure on th~.-,: comb3~~e harvester:

a c, r~,~p receiviÃis~ table carried ~;.~._i the main frafÃip- s:ÃÃic,:LIre across ~~~-wi~.~tY) of ~~~~ ~~~deÃ=:

1~'3 a r a >. ~ ;~: ' '~ ' ' ~~
, c~.Ãt~~;Ã' bar acr.~sr ~~ t:~ f~-oÃ~t ~-.,f the table ~ ~,~~~-Ã ~i. rg :
c:.t(-;r knife ,.~~:~~~Ã~ay:~~
for cuttfE'Ãa th: cÃ'Ãso as hiie Ineader is s':'Ãoved foÃward- #~ across the gr-,,,und for depasitÃng the c,ro~.~. oÃ~t'in the table;

an d a crop tÃ~~~~{Ã~~ s~~ st~~Ã~'Ã for r~5~~~~;~:~~ tiie cut crop toward a discharge location of the ~~~dp-r and for fp-edÃnÃ~ the -rnp into a feed ;~pening of the combine h~.~Ãr3tester, the crop trar~;spo{~ sy~.<fem :ncÃÃ.Ãding:

a fà st sÃd~:~ draper having an outer end fguÃd~.y roller af a "Ãrst end of the C".'s~~;{:~E'i s'.'sÃ~~ a t,.~~.?Ã~~~.-:~,ÃCÃ~~~
~:e~2}~~ Ã', c~E":. 33~:~e: ;"~;}~ ~~.sÃ~e Ã'~9lleÃ' hnt ti~5' dà zc~3c~rC ' l draper canvas wrapped arcitind t~e oweà and inner guide rollers to define a tcFp Ã-uri 2:5 of the canvas fc~r c-aÃ'ry<~~~ ~~~~ ctÃt crop fÃ'O~ the knife ;~,r~~ss ~he, hÃ;adir.-,r t~.~ a 5'~'r e~id C.3.~~iacem~ ~~~e, dÃ~"~*{w:iCJ'.rg{'' lo'.-l'GÃ~ioti a second side dÃ~~per having an outer end guide rolier at a second e>id ~~~ ~~~Ã:. header, an inner end guide roller adjs~Ã;3 nt rhe dis ;haÃge lo~at:on and a con!fl#?uoÃ.<:> drapeÃ- canvas wrapped around the ou:er and innwr guide fr};ler::s to defin e a top ~~u-n of the caÃ:v~~ for carrying ~he, out cruo fror~~ the kn:fe across t-ne }ieader to a discharge end3:,d,ja~;~~~ the &3~~arqÃ; ~ocation;

~ feed dria~~er located at 4he, di:~~~~~ge lo;:<<.ation and ~nckiding >Ã ~~~
guide roller adjacent the ca;ttÃ;r bar, a à e~.a~ guidr- foller behind the fÃ-or~t guide rolleÃ~
and '~' i<'c.~~)E:,,,e canvas wrapped around Ule 'Ã'Ãint and rear uÃ.EEd'c'", Ã's."Al~;Ã's to, define a top I ~he, crop material froÃÃ~ the ~~~~~~~~~e ends of the rLin of the feed draper for receÃvrÃ~( ~~ ~) first and :,econd side drapers and for carrying the c5-p material rearwardly tow,'..3rd Ã~ir- ~~ed opening tif the comb;n+~ ~~~rv~=.;ster; andJ

;3 rotary ~~~d mernber at bie discharge ~oczation arranged such ~~~~~ the -aop is fed c.:nde~~~~~~~ ~he. rotary feed member to the inlet opening of the ;;.~mbiÃ~~
~arvester;

a stationary par3 unt:t:Arin~~th the rotary fpr.,d :nember such: tl Ãat O:e ro<w~~~ ~~~~ fnemoer carries tha ~r,,,)p over the pain t~.~ t#ip- i!Vet of th~.~ conib:rÃe harvester, the pa:, Naving a frori't edà ~~ adjacent t"he rear roller of ttie feed draper to receive c?,,,)p ÃiiaterÃ~.~~ therefr~'.~m:

kvh~rein the pan an;~ ~h~.-, feed dÃ'~per ~~re, mounted r-~n a c~.srr:Ãnon st,;:zpoÃ't asseÃ~~~~ly, wNch sÃ.Ãpp,ort f~~sien-Oly Ãs rr:ounted for pislotal rÃÃtyvem~~~ ~bout'a hoà Ã~ontal axis at thc- rear of the pan relative ~~ the mounting assembly and >liÃ~s relative tc) the :Met of the combine ~~rvester, ~~~r ~= DESCR1P~~~.~~ OF ~"I..ÃE D~.3'<~A(~~'~~~~~

?DtÃ~ ~~~~bodimemt of the invention wAl now bea dÃ;s(.-.,A~Pd in },;oM~~~nl-tion ~:5 with the ac>w'om;V.faY}yang drawi;-Ãgs Ãri whtch.

F."gure I is a k~~ ~~lawÃ? view of the center section only of ~~ header according ~~ the ~~~~ant iÃiventÃon with a niumb~;r of elemei :~ ~ such ;~~
~he, reel .,7~c'~iStC'A for f.or'S'y wn:,">i'~"doe, ? ~SE Mu.;sLraS.Ãon.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along the lines 2-2 o-f the ~~~adef of Figure 1.

F3guÃ~~ 2A is a cross sectional viexK ~~~~~~~ ~~(.-, [Mes 2A-2A ~3'f thÃ;
header of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top p3aÃÃ view of the complete header of Figure I w::h a number of alÃ:3rneÃ~Ãasc:;. such as the, reel om:tted for nonvenÃenc~z of E1~~~sticÃfloÃ-1.

In the drawEÃ'ÃC's like characters of reference indicate i;:c~..'aÃ'Ã'4;.'..r'e.'pont,~;ng parts iÃi tile Ã;~ffereÃ~~ ~~gures.

DE~~~~;:~~..~~.TSÃ;RIPTI~~~
~es a ÃnaÃr} 10 including The ~eader shown in the figures r(.'injpà :.<

ei. hori.w:ont~.~Ã rna:n support Ã~~~fn 11 exte~d:Ãlg along t3ic- Ãen~th of t<;Ã; header along a first end 12 to a secc,',,n~.~ ~nd, 13 of the Meader. Tsip, mai~ frame includes fopavardl,Y
exte,ndfng fÃ'arne m'cam.')eÃ:s " 14 at ihi;'. ends of the header together with similarly arranged fraÃn;;.A ÃnernoeÃ-!3 intermediate the wÃdtta of the header. A: the front P-:~~~ ~~
the trame members :s mounted a cutter bar 15 wh:rh carries a sÃ;,I~~e kÃiife construction of a f:to: }ventional nature, The frÃ~rnÃ; 10 #s attached to adapter s13 uCt>_ÃÃ-e 1~'; ~~~taf.heA to t; ~~ feeder house 17 of a combine harvester 18.

2~.~ The header includes a r;rnp transportation system ff-r tr~~sferring" 4~~e crop from ~~~ ~~ickle knife to the fi=>~~er hoÃ.Ãse. This includes ~wo, side drapers 19 an~.~ 20 ~~~~i c~f wh::nh includes a canva,~~ A-:~~ending Nr~.~m an outer guide roller 21 tc.
aÃi i= }nef guide roller 22 so as to define a~i upper run of :he, C;~~~~~~s whch carries the ~~Ã~Ã;~; < <~ ~ to;h<~.ard the center ~f the header. ~"h~ of the drapers 19 and 20 . ~~,~~r~Ã.s ~ ~:~Ã~~.~~.

carries C.:plu5 aliLy of trani/veÃ~~e ti~7b''l,tS 39f"c.

At tlit-a ceÃt~~~ of th:; header is provided a feed ~~apÃ:r 23 which ~~as a front roller 24 jtist beh:nd th+ Cutter bar and a rear ~o1~er 25 t-hus dÃ;<Wr>.g an upper run of ~~~p- C~~~~as Which Carne;Y the crop reaNmrd{y tor<iaÃ~~ ~~ le feeder hti1wse. The drape r 23 carries slats i;.~A.

Hof t~~., gs=~<<3, ; .. -z a ~:r ~=l type >~i~-,: ~~=ri~ ~~~..td above ~,~re, x~yell known and t~~:E~
Headers ; the .

area w:~~ which tY~e pre-sent iriverition ~.~ concerned is t;tat of thie f~fc-d section at the center of the header which carries lNa ~;ro~ from~ the ~nner eiids o' 5-he dra~.~ef ~s s11to the feeder house.

TunnÃ~~ now to Figures 2 and, 2A, it wi~l be noted that the front t=ti~lf-> 24 of ~he, feed draper 23 is carded on a support n-mmrar~ of the cutter bar 15 ~sf: } th@A it is ~10 fixed to the ~~~nj~iard edge of the header. Thu~ nM~r roller 25 is ca. hed on t a bÃ~acket 57, Ur~~~~~~~th ti;~ ~~~~ draper is a pan me:~~~~~~ 50 wliieh extends ~~~~~~ ~~~e header at a forward end 50A atr ~~~e cutter Nor 15 at :~~~~ front of and :nwart~~~~ of the w<u;so;Mkrt frame Ã-neÃiib~~r 43 re,,anva~~ly t~,:4 a rear eÃid 51. A: tho rear end 51 of the pa;l :s T;:Sf aviÃ1ed a pair of side arms wti:ch extend froÃÃi the rear edge ri~ ~he, pan member 50 on 1;. ~~specfivÃ, sÃd~::-4s of 4~~e pan to -a rear ~~~~~J 60 pÃvota:l,~ attwched to t3~~ adapter 16, which is attached t~~ the feeder house 17, Ari opt-n space is tht~~ defined between the arms.

; ~~ad-er including t5~~ rna:~~ beam 11 a:~~ ~he- fÃ~amuw e: erne?=i' 43 Ã z "'ha carned tiÃ~ the support fraÃiie 16 by ::~~~~ ~~ti-om links ~2 wtii~:,h extÃ~~~
forwardly from 20 the ~~arne, 16 under th;e r;aiade~ ~ranie within a rx;~~cfive one, or the arrrg:s 43 and support the ineader fÃ~~rnÃ; at a fo~~va: d enÃ~~ 53~ of the Ãink.~ 5Z " }lw iinks are supported o-i motanting springs (not shown). A 'ts~~ support lÃnk 54 extends foÃ,,,va r;y froy<à ~~~~e fr~,~~~~~~ 16 to a bracket 55 at ~~~e, beam 11. à hu:~ the header can move ~ipwardly a:ld down~~rcilyin a float:~~g;-,a:;t:oÃ=t and can also twist side to si(ie about a 25 o~~mQ~~~~y ho~izontaà for,?%,far~~y extending axis by a dÃfftarent;v; in the 1iffi~~~ of ~~ie links :;:?.

cJ

à tius the suppoÃ'~ pan 9"} tiie feed draper has its forward end attached t~ the header and its rearward end aftacsd to the fraÃn~ E) ;ii ti"=at '? iS

necessary for the pan. to flex and twist tr~3 ;~~~~mmo~~~~ tho floatiÃ~g and pivoting actSori of the neader, { he r(.,,ar rolÃe~ 25 (if the draper 23 is ~~u.s, mo,Unted on the pan 510 and *ftere~fore also tY'K. draper 23 flexes and twiwt:, to acc~.smÃnodate su;sh move'rÃ'Ã~; nt.

fmmediatefy behind the rear end of tM.t;.~ draper 23 is provided a forward ~.''';'.~.: 58 of a guide ineet 59 which extends from a.Y':E',-' rp-aÃ' e;id of the draper 2.~.~.
Ã'eaÃ'w'ard:y to the, rear end 60 at th~:~ feeder hojuse,. Thus the Ã'e~.~r c-n;~ 60 is caÃ'Ã':ed on the framÃ~ 16 at the feeder house aÃ-Ãd the front end is attached to the pan 50 alt the bracket 57 so that ~~~ sheet 59 afsc, flexes and N63ts t~.~ -a-commodat~
the m~.~v~rney A of the N,,a~.<er, T'he shees 59 has a width su~~taritially equal :;~ ~ho- width of ~he draper 2231 s~'.~ ttzas: the material ~~schaÃ=~~ed fÃ=~~m the draper acr~ss- ~~e fiA~
width of 4he. draper ~15 Ã z na>=ried re:~r ~~~~~(fly over the sheet to the feed~rh~suae, Thus the sheet _59 and the draper 23 and the pan 50 aÃ'e c;arneci on a support ~~~~~~~~ by two patallel arms and span, the space bet.~~~~~ the arms.
T;~e-an'lls >:~iv~~ about a horizontal transverse axis at the &nd 60 of :~~~ ~rnis on the rr~ou;;tiÃÃg 16 as the header floats relative to the ÃÃi~.~un;tiÃ~~ 16 and the feeder house to, 'Z'O which it is ~~~ached.

Th'~.' :':'ÃC.''.'k3~.ment of the crop material t~.~ One feeder house :a a;;t;ÃcteÃ% by S~ feed rffeS~i. ~'~'S Y~~ V~.SrSi'.,6 above the. C'~ ..~ ~sÃ~~. ~.~",S.tr y:';tiaiÃ~ equal ~:a rotary ~~~ =.f<:,~~ ~ ~~:~f ~Ã 59 v i% ,~it:~ a width ~ ~Fto the width of he sheet 59. Ttie Ão*aÃ~vfeed member 70 incitides a drum 71 which carries on its '..s~.A-.i%d' surface tx33o helÃu''al auger sections 72 and 1:;
arranged c:.'~.

25 ~espe},five~ ends of the drum and aÃ'Ã'~~~~~ed sÃ) ~h-at rotation of the druÃÃi in a coumtr..,r ciockvvise direction so as to carry the cfop Ã~iaterÃ~l underne:~th the rc,t~r~v :eefj ;,n e M~~er across th~~ ~~~~~~ 59 ca j;~r ~ ~~~ ~~~~) mater,~1 at the :x:;~~
edges of thà sf ewt t(.~ be~ dà awÃ'f iYÃward3y toward acente.r of the sheet. At the center o> the drÃ.Ãrn tY : ~s provided a piuÃa4:~~~ of, fingers or other pr~~ect;Ã?q memloeà s as indÃ~aft-A
at 75 whÃch direct the crop matÃ;rial reaR-vard1y to enter the feeder ~~~~~ IT Thu;s it wÃll be ~ :Ã~'~~, ~:. Ã't:~sv ? ~:~s f' 5 n;:#ted ~~~at the ro'ar~ feed men:ber :s wider than the 'fiÃ;e~ r,Ã~ ~.~~-4.
The ~~;~
rnembeÃ' has a lWngo~h so that t fits just is:.s:de, uide drapers 19 and 20.
'T'h e à 0tary feed membeÃ' has a di~~net,:~)r so t~at its forward edge substr~ntially dÃreUly oveMes the rear edge of tize feed draper and the fonvaÃ'd edge of the sheet 59 so ttlat it can pick up materÃa1 fron-~ t#ie rear of the draper and carry that material Ã
eamfardly, r hu,>

~ "~ ~hp- f~.~Ãw'ard edge of the rotary 'e~.~d mernbÃ;~ ~~~je~~~ to a position fonA5ard ~:;f a Ã'taaÃ' edge s(')A of r stripper roller and f~'.;rvard of a rerÃt' edge 19B of #N', draper, T1ir- i e,Jtaf y -fCied ml+Ã i~i~bef is caY F 3ff"~+';.. on two side aÃ'i =2s r'=,d and 77 which are mounted at their rear end on :~ ~~ansb=erse shaft 78 carried on the ~r,,-)me 16. T~~~
shaft 78 is positioned ;E.:st in front of the front feeder chain pÃAlley 80 so that the, ~Ã1 of the rotary reeÃ~ men-i-ber 70 is rrà ain::~~ned, s{ .bw<tant}alI y constant relati,. (z to the feeder Chain as the rotary Ã:~ember~ Ãa:vots Ã,<pKrard-<y and downwardly on shaft s ~ tcf accommodate Ã:hiange's in tlh:ck} #~~~~ ctf ffie crop or~ top of the slieet 59.

f he rear of the header is defined by two ~~~~ sheets 81 and 82 on respective ~~do~ of the header which de'Ã;~e an opG:;niÃ~~ 83 at the rotary feed meÃ'rÃber so that the ro~~r'~{ : ;ed member prcje~,f~~~ thr(,,wq1~ ~~~e opening to operate in coõo,oe~~~~~~n with the slieet 59 in the area at the rear of ~~p- hu~drz;r and oÃ~ top of the sheet 59. T'h~~~ thc- position of the v~.~taÃ~y feed member :~ such that ~r.
is ~,.~ei-ÃiÃt~ the fr~?nt of the header and foÃward of the rear part of ~~e, header aÃid sits intermediate the rr-,-,)r wall of the, hÃ~adpÃ=. Thp- header is thus moved as ~-ar }~ack c1 o~,e to the frame 16 as is phys:},ail;~ p~,-)s::tible and this positioning of the header eader is riot ;Ã'Ãf3uience{:,~s by the location oN t',~e rf.Aar; feed :ivmber. Irà addition t~~ rotary feed Ã-nember is of a d~

S:'~~.~ se'<hat:t cari cooperate wÃ~~ ~~~~ s,h,Ã;e: 59 ~~ ~ro>{e,my feediÃ~:o the, crop Ãria4erÃa:
into the feeder house. SÃf3r.~.~ ~~-oy be provided to ~~~vent: the rotary feed niember frc_}?ÃÃ e.-:~.~agÃnÃ~ the, sheet 59 wh:~h coÃ.Ãld Ã;au:~a c-aÃ-Ã-Ã:~ge, Thus the rt:5tary feed ~~em1ber has each of the ends thereof cicated i. nwaÃd'y of the fesp~z-~cflv ~
side Ã;ra>~+, ~+,r }7.;

such t}~~~ the rotary ~~~~ rnember whe;moved dou9jf~w~.~rdly oÃi Ã~s mounting ~ss~~~~~ly to a fozve< most ps ~sitÃon has at 1~asf part of ~~s peÃ-Ã~.~~iery bet.zzfeen the inner ends of the ;;ide drapers as :t extends Ã,<os3:~~~ adjacent the sheet 59. It Ã,,:, also located in a t3o.YÃtÃon so that co-operate~ with a foeAer d~am,. at a1 7.Ãme, during its or,eration and during its movement.

In a mod:fied aPrÃ~~gement (not s-hr3wn) in whi~-.;h, the draper 23 can P,:s~~~~~ to the feedf..-:r house and the pan 59 is ~.~mÃttÃ,d, Ã hus in this case the r~Aary ~eed, member 70 co-operates with tiÃ; upper run ~M~~ the draper in feeding th Ã~ material Int~.~ the feeder hottse, Th:e location of t-he p:,ao~. axis of ~~~e supp3:.=rt member 50 carrying the sheet 59 and the feed (irapeÃ- behind the rotary feed ~~~ember, rather than Ãn. front of the rotary feed member at t~~e position ~.~ejeen the draper aÃ~d the pan, has the ~dv at~tage that It reduces the effect of changes of angle of the suppor~
member on the feed direction of the cÃ'oo toward the rotary feed meniber. Thus ~e, crop is ~~~rly at a taragen; to tti~ rotary feed member regardless ~.~'~ ~~~ height of the, c:.Ater bar, as the header floatst relative to the, rotary fehd Ãnember which Ã=erna:Ãls at a comm;n rae:ght with the feeder house.

The arra:~~~~~~~ in which the rotary feed member is narrow enoÃ,Ã;~h tcl fit between the side drapeÃs has the advantage that the rotary feed member can coo;~~~~~~e with ttie pan (or with the feed drApeÃ-) Ãri close proxim:Nt t~,}
provÃd -0, ar ~

efflectrve feeding action, bLit at the same time, the side drapers anid the cutter bar can be Ã~~o,,,. ed rearwardly toward ti-e feeder hkitise. This ~~~ tlhe, advantages that it i_~~~roves (ir ;es of sight ~ron'< cab to the, cutter ~~~ and ~~~~~~~ and also reducews the an#ount cantÃle'L%et' of the }3ec~:dE;Ã' frt'"3ni the feeder hou!se, ti"%.nce Sfari''.~uJ rnodifica0.ionC"'W t.ia!"k be maCke, in Eny invent'toi3 r.:.< herein ab,1ve described, an:~ rn-any apparentty wi~~ly differeÃ~t e~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ of saw~e madp, w:;~in ttie sp:r-~ and siÃ;ope of the ciaims withou; Ã~~~artÃ~~ from su-ch spirit and sv-r~pe , it is :Ã ;ended that all matter contained ir, the accompanying spe~ÃfiF;~:i;~ ~ ~~~~~
be in#~~prefed as illustr~~iv~ ~~~~~ and not in a limiti~~ ~ems~;.

Claims (7)

1. A crop harvesting header for a combine harvester comprising:
a main frame structure extending across between two ends of the header across a width of the header for movement in a direction generally at right angles to the width across ground including a crop to be harvested;
a mounting assembly for attachment to a feeder house of the combine harvester for carrying the main frame structure on the combine harvester;
a crop receiving table carried on the main frame structure across the width of the header;
a cutter bar across a front of the table carrying a cutter knife operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved forwardly across the ground for depositing the crop onto the table;
and a crop transport system for moving the cut crop toward a discharge location of the header for feeding the crop into a feed opening of the combine harvester;
the crop transport system including:
a first side draper having an outer end guide roller at a first end of the header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the discharge location and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around the outer and inner guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas for carrying the cut crop from the knife across the header to a discharge end adjacent the discharge location;
a second side draper having an outer and guide roller at a second end of the header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the discharge location and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around the outer and inner guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas for carrying the cut crop from the knife across the header to a discharge end adjacent the discharge location;

a feed draper located at the discharge location and including a front guide roller adjacent the cutter bar, a rear guide roller behind the front guide roller and a draper canvas wrapped around the front and rear guide rollers to define a top run of the feed draper for receiving the crop material from the discharge ends of the first and second side drapers and for carrying the crop material rearwardly~
toward the feed opening of the combine harvester; and and a rotary feed member at the discharge location arranged such that the crop is fed underneath the rotary feed member to the inlet opening of the combine harvester;
the rotary feed member being mounted on a mounting assembly for upward and downward movement within the discharge location;
the rotary feed member having a length between ends thereof which is less than the spacing between the side drapers;
the rotary feed member having each of the ends thereof located inwardly of the respective side draper such that the rotary feed member when moved downwardly on its mounting assembly to a lowermost position has at least part of its periphery between the inner ends of the side drapers;
and the rotary feed member being arranged to extend to a forward edge at a position forwardly of a rear of the side drapers.

2. The header according to Claim 1 wherein the header includes generally upstanding rear sheets behind the side drapers and including a central opening in the rear sheets for allowing the crop to pass to the inlet of the combine harvester and wherein the rotary feed member projects to a position forwardly of the rear sheets through the opening.

3. The header according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the rotary feed member is mounted on pivotal support members arranged to be carried on the mounting assembly which is fixed relative to the inlet of the feeder house of the combine harvester such that the rotary feed member can pivot to accommodate changes in volume of the crop while moving in an arc which is at a predetermined location relative to the inlet.

4. The header according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein there is provided a stationary pan underneath the rotary feed member such that the rotary feed member carries the crop over the pan to the inlet of the combine harvester, the pan having a front edge adjacent the rear roller of the feed draper to receive crop material therefrom.

5. The header according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the pan and the feed draper are mounted on a common support assembly, which support assembly is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis at the rear of the pan relative to the mounting assembly and thus relative to the inlet of the combine harvester.

6. A crop harvesting header for a combine harvester comprising:
a main frame structure extending across between two ends of the header across a width of the header for movement in a direction generally at right angles to the width across ground including a crop to be harvested;
a mounting assembly for attachment to a feeder house of the combine harvester for carrying the main frame structure on the combine harvester;
a crop receiving table carried on the main frame structure across the width of the header;
a cutter bar across a front of the table carrying a cutter knife operable for cutting the crop as the header is moved forwardly across the ground for depositing the crop onto the table;
and a crop transport system for moving the cut crop toward a discharge location of the header and for feeding the crop into opening of the combine harvester;
the crop transport system including:
a first side draper having an outer end guide roller at a first end of the header, an inner end guide roller adjacent the discharge location and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around the outer and inner guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas for carrying the cut crop from the knife across the header to a discharge end adjacent the discharge location;
a second side draper having an outer end guide roller at a second end of the heater, an inner end guide roller adjacent the discharge location and a continuous draper canvas wrapped around the outer and inner guide rollers to define a top run of the canvas for carrying the cut crop from the knife across the header to a discharge end adjacent the discharge location;
a feed draper located at the discharge location and including a front guide roller adjacent the cutter bar, a rear guide roller behind the front guide roller and a draper canvas wrapped around the front and rear guide rollers to define a top run of the feed draper for receiving the crop material from the discharge ends of the first and second side drapers and for carrying the crop material rearwardly toward the feed opening of the combine harvester; and a rotary feed member at the discharge location arranged such that the crop is fed underneath the rotary feed member to the inlet opening of the combine harvester;
a stationary pan underneath the rotary feed member such that the rotary feed member carries the crop over the pan to the inlet of the combine harvester, the pan having a front edge adjacent the rear roller of the feed draper to receive crop material therefrom;

wherein the pan and the feed draper are mounted on a common support assembly, which support assembly is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis at the rear of the pan relative to the mounting assembly and thus relative to the inlet of the combine harvester.

7. The header according to Claim 6 wherein the rotary feed member is mounted on pivotal support members arranged to be carried on the mounting assembly which is fixed relative to the inlet of the feeder house of the combine harvester such that the rotary feed member can pivot to accommodate changes in volume of the crop while moving in an arc which is at a predetermined location relative to the inlet.