Abstract: In one embodiment, a swathboard control system, comprising: a header comprising fore and aft a cutting assembly and a conditioning system; a forming shield assembly; a swathboard located between the conditioning system and the forming shield assembly, the swathboard pivotably adjustable about a transverse axis; a position sensor configured to sense a position of the swathboard; and a computing system operably coupled to the position sensor, the computing system configured to provide an indication of the position of the swathboard based on feedback from the position sensor.

Abstract: A harvesting header has a set of centrally disposed conditioner rolls comprising conditioning structure to condition crop and a rotary cutter bed. The rotary cutter bed has a plurality of rotary cutters extending across the path of travel of the header to define a cutting plane, each cutter being rotatable about an upright axis, the conditioner rolls being behind the cutter bed to condition crop cut by the rotary cutter bed. The header has a crop-directing header windguard configured to direct the crop down towards the conditioning rolls after the plurality of cutters have severed the crop, the header windguard extending in a rearwardly direction from a position forward of the cutter bed to a position proximate the conditioner rolls, and the header windguard extending transversely at least a width of the rotary cutter bed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system, comprising: one or more pairs of oppositely rotatable, laterally extending rolls, wherein for each pair, at least one of the rolls is moveable relative to the other of the rolls; a hydraulic circuit, comprising: a tensioner circuit comprising: for each pair of rolls, one or more pairs of hydraulic cylinders arranged in parallel, each configured to resist movement of the at least one of the rolls at a respective end of the at least one of the rolls; an accumulator arranged in parallel to the hydraulic cylinders; and plural control valves; and a computing system configured to cause the one or more pairs of hydraulic cylinders to adjust the resistance to movement of the at least one of the rolls of the respective pair of rolls by sending signals to one or more of the plural control valves.

Abstract: A windrower includes a header having a crop cutting and a crop conditioning mechanism for conditioning crop material severed from the field and for discharging the conditioned material in a rearwardly directed stream as the windrower moves across the field. The windrower has a crop merger attachment with a conveyor configured to receive crop material from the crop conditioning mechanism and direct the crop material to a side of the windrower to form a windrow on the ground to the side of the windrower when in an operation position or to direct the crop material to the ground beneath the windrower when in a nonoperational position.

Abstract: A harvesting header has a set of centrally disposed conditioner rolls comprising conditioning structure to condition crop and a rotary cutter bed. The rotary cutter bed has a plurality of rotary cutters extending across the path of travel of the header to define a cutting plane, each cutter being rotatable about an upright axis, the conditioner rolls being behind the cutter bed to condition crop cut by the rotary cutter bed. The header has a crop-directing header windguard configured to direct the crop down towards the conditioning rolls after the plurality of cutters have severed the crop, the header windguard extending in a rearwardly direction from a position forward of the cutter bed to a position proximate the conditioner rolls, and the header windguard extending transversely at least a width of the rotary cutter bed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system, comprising: one or more pairs of oppositely rotatable, laterally extending rolls, wherein for each pair, at least one of the rolls is moveable relative to the other of the rolls; a hydraulic circuit, comprising: a tensioner circuit comprising: for each pair of rolls, one or more pairs of hydraulic cylinders arranged in parallel, each configured to resist movement of the at least one of the rolls at a respective end of the at least one of the rolls; an accumulator arranged in parallel to the hydraulic cylinders; and plural control valves; and a computing system configured to cause the one or more pairs of hydraulic cylinders to adjust the resistance to movement of the at least one of the rolls of the respective pair of rolls by sending signals to one or more of the plural control valves.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a swathboard control system, comprising: a header comprising fore and aft a cutting assembly and a conditioning system; a forming shield assembly; a swathboard located between the conditioning system and the forming shield assembly, the swathboard pivotably adjustable about a transverse axis; a position sensor configured to sense a position of the swathboard; and a computing system operably coupled to the position sensor, the computing system configured to provide an indication of the position of the swathboard based on feedback from the position sensor.

Abstract: A header has a frame with opposing, upright side panel assemblies, a transverse cutting bar disposed between the upright side panel assemblies, and plural rotary cutters. Each of the upright side panel assemblies has a bearing mounted to an outboard side of the upright side panel assembly with a single, circular disc freely-rotatable about the bearing.

Abstract: A windrower has a crop merger attachment with a conveyor configured to receive crop material from a crop conditioning mechanism and direct the crop material to a side of the windrower, the crop merger attachment being mounted for adjusting movement between a lowered and a raised position. The windrower has a swathboard mounted for adjusting movement between a fully raised position in which the crop material passes beneath the swathboard for engagement with the merger attachment and a lowered position in which the crop material down to the ground under the merger attachment under the windrower. A control system automatically adjusts movement of the swathboard when movement of the merger attachment is detected.

Abstract: A windrower includes a header having a crop cutting and a crop conditioning mechanism for conditioning crop material severed from the field and for discharging the conditioned material in a rearwardly directed stream as the windrower moves across the field. The windrower has a crop merger attachment with a conveyor configured to receive crop material from the crop conditioning mechanism and direct the crop material to a side of the windrower to form a windrow on the ground to the side of the windrower when in an operation position or to direct the crop material to the ground beneath the windrower when in a nonoperational position.

Abstract: A windrower has a crop merger attachment with a conveyor configured to receive crop material from a crop conditioning mechanism and direct the crop material to a side of the windrower, the crop merger attachment being mounted for adjusting movement between a lowered and a raised position. The windrower has a swathboard mounted for adjusting movement between a fully raised position in which the crop material passes beneath the swathboard for engagement with the merger attachment and a lowered position in which the crop material down to the ground under the merger attachment under the windrower. A control system automatically adjusts movement of the swathboard when movement of the merger attachment is detected.

Abstract: A windrower has a hydrostatic header drive system with a header drive pump and one or more header drive motors. The windrower also has a chassis with wheels coupled thereto, an engine, and a ground drive system coupled to the wheels and the engine. A control system has plural sensors having first, second, and third sensors, wherein the first sensor monitors engine load, the second sensor monitors hydrostatic header drive pressure, and the third sensor monitors ground speed. The control system has one or more controllers configured to receive input from the plural sensors, compare the input with respective target values for engine load, header drive pressure, and ground speed throughout a range of ground speeds defined based on an operator configured maximum ground speed, and automatically adjust the ground speed based on the comparison.

Abstract: A windrower has a hydrostatic header drive system with a header drive pump and one or more header drive motors. The windrower also has a chassis with wheels coupled thereto, an engine, and a ground drive system coupled to the wheels and the engine. A control system has plural sensors having first, second, and third sensors, wherein the first sensor monitors engine load, the second sensor monitors hydrostatic header drive pressure, and the third sensor monitors ground speed. The control system has one or more controllers configured to receive input from the plural sensors, compare the input with respective target values for engine load, header drive pressure, and ground speed throughout a range of ground speeds defined based on an operator configured maximum ground speed, and automatically adjust the ground speed based on the comparison.

Abstract: Disclosed is a crop harvesting header configured for attachment to a mobile frame of a harvesting machine. The header has a cutter mechanism to cut crop material and a pair of laterally extending crop conditioner rolls to condition crop material cut by the cutter mechanism. The header includes a header power system having first and second main hydraulic motors and a belt and sheave drive configured to transmit power from the main hydraulic motors to the pair of conditioner rolls. The header also includes an auxiliary drive motor directly connected one of the conditioner rolls of the pair of conditioner rolls.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header has a cutter bed to cut crop material as the harvester advances through a field. The cutter bed includes a plurality of rotatable cutters having knives extending from opposing ends of the cutters. Each cutter has a generally elliptical knife carrier, and a pair of knives at opposites ends of the carrier, wherein a portion of each knife extends beyond the end of the carrier to expose a cutting surface to sever the standing crop. Each knife is shaped such that its width dimension at a proximal end where mounted on the knife carrier is narrower than its width dimension at a distal end extending away from the knife carrier.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header has a cutter bed to cut crop material as the harvester advances through a field. The cutter bed includes a plurality of rotatable cutters having knives extending from opposing ends of the cutters. Each cutter is ninety degrees out of phase with respect to its adjacent cutters such that the circular paths of travel of the knives of adjacent cutters overlap one another, and adjacent cutters rotate in opposite directions. Each cutter has a generally elliptical knife carrier, and a pair of knives at opposites ends of the carrier, wherein a portion of each knife extends beyond the end of the carrier to expose a cutting surface to sever the standing crop. The cutter also includes an attachment device connecting each knife to the knife carrier, and a fixed stop restricting rotational movement of the knife with respect to the carrier about the attachment device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a crop harvesting header configured for attachment to a mobile frame of a harvesting machine. The header has a cutter mechanism to cut crop material and a pair of laterally extending crop conditioner rolls to condition crop material cut by the cutter mechanism. The header includes a header power system having first and second main hydraulic motors and a belt and sheave drive configured to transmit power from the main hydraulic motors to the pair of conditioner rolls. The header also includes an auxiliary drive motor directly connected one of the conditioner rolls of the pair of conditioner rolls.