Abstract: A harvester reel for an agricultural harvester header includes a central rotatable shaft; a plurality of reel tine bars and a cam assembly for guiding rotation of the plurality of reel tine bars. The reel tine bars extend widthwise across the reel and are connected to the central rotatable shaft for rotation therewith. Each of the plurality of reel tine bars include a tine. The cam assembly includes a cam and a diverter adjacent the cam. The diverter is movable between a disengaged position, in which the cam does not guide rotation of the tine bars, and an engaged position, in which the cam does guide rotation of the tine bars. The diverter is biased toward the engaged position.

Abstract: A crop container monitor for monitoring a fill-state of an open-top crop container during a harvesting operation, the crop container monitor comprising: at least one radiation sensor positionable at an upper end of a wall of the open-top crop container to receive radiation from an interior of the open-top crop container; and a controller configured to: receive a sensing signal from the at least one radiation sensor, wherein the sensing signal is representative of the received radiation; determine a propagation distance from the at least one radiation sensor to a point from which the received radiation was scattered, reflected or emitted, based on the sensing signal; and output the fill-state of the open-top crop container based on the propagation distance.

Abstract: A method for dynamically operating a header float system of an agricultural vehicle having a header movably mounted to a frame by an actuator and a flotation adjustment system that relies on ground-contact force measurement. The method includes: determining an initial zero value load sensor output signal representative of an initial position of the header raised out of contact with the ground surface, calibrating the sensor with the initial zero value, operating the header to process a crop material, detecting a subsequent position of the header out of contact with the ground surface, determining a subsequent zero value representative of the subsequent position of the header, and re-calibrating the sensor with the subsequent zero value. Also, an agricultural vehicle having a header operated as described above.

Abstract: A faceplate sub-assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes a faceplate and at least one biasing element. The faceplate is configured to be connected between (i) a feederhouse defining an inlet opening through which crop material is delivered for processing by the agricultural vehicle, and (ii) a header of the agricultural vehicle. The faceplate is configured to be pivotably mounted to the feederhouse such that the faceplate is configured for lateral tilting relative to the feederhouse. The at least one biasing element has one end connected to the faceplate and another end that is configured to be connected to the feederhouse for reducing a friction force at the interface between the faceplate and the feederhouse to accommodate lateral tilting of the faceplate.

Abstract: In an agricultural harvester header for an agricultural vehicle including a frame, a reel attached to the frame and having a plurality of reel tine bars, a cutterbar attached to the frame and positioned beneath the reel, an actuator for moving the reel tine bars between a deployed position and a retracted position, a sensor for sensing a position of the cutterbar, and a computer, a method for returning the reel tine bars to the deployed position includes (i) receiving, at the computer, signals from the sensor, (ii) recording a sensed position of the cutterbar when the actuator moves the reel tine bars to the retracted position, and (iii) activating the actuator to return the reel tine bars to the deployed position as a function of when the cutterbar returns to the recorded sensed position.

Abstract: A harvester reel includes a reel tine bar having a follower and a tine. A cam assembly includes a primary cam, a linkage and a latch. The linkage has a first end that is connected to the primary cam and a second end that is connectable to the tine bar for guiding rotation of the tine bar. The latch selectively couples the second end of the linkage to the tine bar. In an unlatched configuration of the latch, the reel tine bar can pivot relative to the second end of the linkage, and in a latched configuration of the latch, the reel tine bar is non-rotatably connected to the second end of the linkage. A secondary cam has a surface that is configured to be contacted by the follower of the reel tine bar. Upon contacting the secondary cam, the follower moves the latch to the unlatched configuration.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header having a center section and a wing section movably attached to the center section. A displacement sensor indicates a position of the wing section within its range of movement. A signal conditioning unit receives input from a displacement sensor that indicates the wing section position, an inboard height sensor, and an outboard height sensor, and applies correction factors to generate inboard and outboard control signals. When the wing section is in a median operating range the inboard correction factor is larger than the outboard correction factor. When the wing section is in a higher operating range, the outboard correction factor is larger than the inboard correction factor. An agricultural combine having the header and a method for operating a header are also provided.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a baler that is either connected to or integrated with the agricultural vehicle. The baler has a pickup unit including a rotatable reel for introducing crop material into a baling chamber of the baler. A drive system rotates the reel. A feedrate control system is configured for calculating a value indicative of an amount of crop entering the baler at the pickup unit and adjusting a function of the vehicle based on the calculated value.

Abstract: An agricultural baler includes a pickup unit including at least one rotatable reel for introducing crop material into a baling chamber of the baler. A variable speed drive system rotates the at least one reel. A sensor senses a shape of a bale being formed within the baling chamber of the baler. A controller adjusts a shape of the bale based upon the sensed shape of the bale by adjusting a speed of the variable speed drive system.

Abstract: An agricultural baler includes a pickup unit having a rotatable reel for introducing crop material into a baling chamber of the baler. A variable speed drive system rotates the reel. The variable speed drive system can include a hydraulic motor having an output shaft that is connected to the reel for rotation of the reel.

Abstract: A method of controlling an agricultural harvester includes a step of receiving past sensor signals from a field sensor of a first agricultural vehicle, the past sensor signals representing a field or crop property at specified locations in an agricultural field. The method further includes a step of, while harvesting, receiving real-time sensor signals from a field sensor of the agricultural harvester, the real-time sensor signals representing the field or crop property at a current location in the agricultural field. Based on the past sensor signals and the real-time sensor signals, a field prediction is determined representing the field or crop property at a future location in the agricultural field. Based on the field prediction, an operational parameter of the agricultural harvester is controlled.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods include relate to an automatic header latch for an agricultural vehicle. The automatic header latch includes a housing link configured to couple a header to the agricultural vehicle, a channel formed in the housing link, a pin configured to be received through the channel, and a locking assembly coupled to the housing link. The locking assembly includes a rocking bracket, a diverting bracket hingedly coupled to the rocking bracket, and a fastener. The rocking bracket actuates between a loaded and an unloaded position, and is hingedly coupled to the diverting bracket. The fastener secures the rocking bracket in the loaded position, until the rocking bracket is actuated into the unloaded position by movement of the pin relative to the housing link. Following each full-raise actuation of the header, the automatic header latch is configured to alternate between a locked state and an unlocked state.

Abstract: A crop container monitor for monitoring a fill-state of an open-top crop container during a harvesting operation, the crop container monitor comprising: at least one radiation sensor positionable at an upper end of a wall of the open-top crop container to receive radiation from an interior of the open-top crop container; and a controller configured to: receive a sensing signal from the at least one radiation sensor, wherein the sensing signal is representative of the received radiation; determine a propagation distance from the at least one radiation sensor to a point from which the received radiation was scattered, reflected or emitted, based on the sensing signal; and output the fill-state of the open-top crop container based on the propagation distance.

Abstract: A disc cutter for an agricultural implement includes: a disc body configured to rotate in a rotation direction; a knife mount carried by the disc body and including a body mounting feature; and a knife coupled to the knife mount. The knife includes: a pair of cutting sections each having a knife mounting feature disposed on or in a knife surface between a pair of edges of the cutting sections and configured to couple with the body mounting feature, each of the edges defining a cutting angle with respect to the knife surface such that the edges extend in parallel.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester including a continuous loop knife and a sensor for sensing conditions of a plurality of knives of the continuous loop knife in increments comprising non-adjacent groups of one or more knives, whereby substantially all of the plurality of knives is sensed after a plurality of cycles of the continuous knife past the sensor. With the header so equipped, a timely determination of wear or damage to the knives in a loop knife cutting system can be made, so that damaged knives may be replaced before significant deterioration of the cutting performance occurs.

Abstract: A harvester reel for an agricultural harvester header includes a central rotatable shaft; a plurality of reel tine bars and a cam assembly for guiding rotation of the plurality of reel tine bars. The reel tine bars extend widthwise across the reel and are connected to the central rotatable shaft for rotation therewith. Each of the plurality of reel tine bars include a tine. The cam assembly includes a cam and a diverter adjacent the cam. The diverter is movable between a disengaged position, in which the cam does not guide rotation of the tine bars, and an engaged position, in which the cam does guide rotation of the tine bars. The diverter is biased toward the engaged position.

Abstract: A harvester reel includes a reel tine bar having a follower and a tine. A cam assembly includes a primary cam, a linkage and a latch. The linkage has a first end that is connected to the primary cam and a second end that is connectable to the tine bar for guiding rotation of the tine bar. The latch selectively couples the second end of the linkage to the tine bar. In an unlatched configuration of the latch, the reel tine bar can pivot relative to the second end of the linkage, and in a latched configuration of the latch, the reel tine bar is non-rotatably connected to the second end of the linkage. A secondary cam has a surface that is configured to be contacted by the follower of the reel tine bar. Upon contacting the secondary cam, the follower moves the latch to the unlatched configuration.

Abstract: In an agricultural harvester header for an agricultural vehicle including a frame, a reel attached to the frame and having a plurality of reel tine bars, a cutterbar attached to the frame and positioned beneath the reel, an actuator for moving the reel tine bars between a deployed position and a retracted position, a sensor for sensing a position of the cutterbar, and a computer, a method for returning the reel tine bars to the deployed position includes (i) receiving, at the computer, signals from the sensor, (ii) recording a sensed position of the cutterbar when the actuator moves the reel tine bars to the retracted position, and (iii) activating the actuator to return the reel tine bars to the deployed position as a function of when the cutterbar returns to the recorded sensed position.

Abstract: A faceplate sub-assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes a faceplate and at least one biasing element. The faceplate is configured to be connected between (i) a feederhouse defining an inlet opening through which crop material is delivered for processing by the agricultural vehicle, and (ii) a header of the agricultural vehicle. The faceplate is configured to be pivotably mounted to the feederhouse such that the faceplate is configured for lateral tilting relative to the feederhouse. The at least one biasing element has one end connected to the faceplate and another end that is configured to be connected to the feederhouse for reducing a friction force at the interface between the faceplate and the feederhouse to accommodate lateral tilting of the faceplate.

Abstract: A method for dynamically operating a header float system of an agricultural vehicle having a header movably mounted to a frame by an actuator and a flotation adjustment system that relies on ground-contact force measurement. The method includes: determining an initial zero value load sensor output signal representative of an initial position of the header raised out of contact with the ground surface, calibrating the sensor with the initial zero value, operating the header to process a crop material, detecting a subsequent position of the header out of contact with the ground surface, determining a subsequent zero value representative of the subsequent position of the header, and re-calibrating the sensor with the subsequent zero value. Also, an agricultural vehicle having a header operated as described above.