Abstract: A sweeper for a corn harvester includes self-gripping paddle assemblies mounted about a drive axle. The self-gripping paddle assemblies have a plurality of paddles formed of flat plate stock with a high moment of inertia formed by stiffeners extending from the flat plate. The stiffener plates are orthogonal to the axis of the drive axle and to the base plate. The orthogonal plates have curved surfaces formed such that when the paddles are connected together, the curved surfaces grip the drive axle.

Abstract: A sweeper apparatus for attachment to corn heads mounted on combines used in harvesting corn. The apparatus includes pivotally movable extended arms which are mounted on the corn head and are positionally adjusted with respect to the corn head by hydraulic cylinders. The outer ends of the arms support a rotatable axel which is driven by an adjustable speed motor and drive assembly. A plurality of spaced paddle assemblies are moveably attached to the rotatable axel. Spacers having various lengths are positioned over the axel and between the paddle assemblies to properly space and align the paddle assemblies to correspond to various corn heads. Each paddle assembly includes a hub and a plurality of vanes with a triangular support plate positioned between the vanes to support the vanes. The shape of the vanes and hub, the inclusion of the triangular support plates and the paddle assembly spacers prevent clogging of the corn and debris in the sweeper apparatus and in the corn head.

Abstract: The present invention is an attachment to corn heads used in harvesting corn to make harvesting faster and safer. The apparatus is designed to allow adjustments in speed, size and number of corn head rows, and in positioning of the sweeper paddle assemblies to optimize how it helps in the harvesting. Thus, the apparatus is useable on old or new combines and in any field. This adjustability also allows a sweeper apparatus to be useable on many different models of corn heads and to be easily installed on different corn heads. Thus, the sweeper apparatus becomes a universal sweeper for all corn head designs and all configurations of corn harvesters.