Abstract: In a crop harvesting header with a center section and two wings where each wing is pivotal relative to the center section about a pivot axis extending in a generally forward direction which includes a balance system to maintain a balanced ground force distribution across the width of the header there is provided an automatic adjustment system for maintaining proper balance. The system includes a sensor which repeatedly, over a time period during which the header is operating, detects data relating to the positions, distance from the ground or weight applied to the ground of each wing frame portion, a processor arranged in response to the sensed data to calculate a value representative of the positions and an adjustment mechanism for effecting an adjustment of the balance system in response to the value.

Abstract: In a crop harvesting header with a center section and two wings where each wing is pivotal relative to the center section about a pivot axis extending in a generally forward direction which includes a balance system to maintain a balanced ground force distribution across the width of the header there is provided an automatic adjustment system for maintaining proper balance. The system includes angle or other sensors which detect the pivot angle of the wing section. This can be used in a static testing system where the position to set to a detected midpoint and/or in a dynamic system where repeatedly, over a time period during which the header is operating, data is detected relating to the positions of each wing frame portion.

Abstract: In a crop harvesting header with a center section and two wings where each wing is pivotal relative to the center section about a pivot axis extending in a generally forward direction which includes a balance system to maintain a balanced ground force distribution across the width of the header there is provided an automatic adjustment system for maintaining proper balance. The system includes a sensor which repeatedly, over a time period during which the header is operating, detects data relating to the positions, distance from the ground or weight applied to the ground of each wing frame portion, a processor arranged in response to the sensed data to calculate a value representative of the positions and an adjustment mechanism for effecting an adjustment of the balance system in response to the value.

Abstract: A self-propelled swather has a frame mounted on ground wheels with a header in front which discharges between the wheels. A swath conveyor belt is located underneath the frame and arranged to convey the cut crop across the frame to a first discharge side of the frame. A mounting assembly including a beam across the belt and a lift arm mounts the swath conveyor for movement between a raised storage position in which the belt is horizontal underneath the frame and a lowered operating position in which the belt is inclined forwardly and downwardly while at the same time causing the beam to twist to cause the inlet end of the belt to move forwardly further than the discharge end to a forwardly inclined position between the front wheels.

Abstract: A wear shield is attached to a cutter bar and is formed from a molded wear body having a front mounting portion bolted onto the guards of the cutter bar by the guard mounting bolts with recesses for the guard fingers and a front edge of an upper planar mounting surface clamped onto the guard bar. A rear covering portion is cantilevered rearwardly from the front mounting portion underlying a bottom plate of the cutter bar for engaging the ground so as to underlie and protect the bottom plate. Resilience in the wear shield forces the rear part against the bottom plate of the cutter bar to avoid the necessity for a rear fastener. A series of the wear shields is arranged side by side across the cutter bar with two side edges each for locating adjacent a side edge of a next adjacent wear shield.

Abstract: An image (502) of an area of skin that includes a lesion (304) is captured. An annular variance test is performed on pixels around the lesion (304) (step 514). Based on the results of the annular variance test, either a seeded region growing method (step 516) or a colour clustering method (step 520) is applied to the image (502) to calculate a boundary of the lesion (304). The colour cluster method may produce multiple selectable boundaries. Provision is also made for a lesion boundary to be manually traced (step 522).

Abstract: An automated dermatological examination system captures an image including a lesion. The image is divided into lesion and non-lesion areas, and the lesion area is analysed to quantify features for use in diagnosis of the lesion. Features of lesion colour are extracted (step 502) and the shape of the lesion is analysed (step 504). Features of lesion texture and symmetry are derived (step 506) as are measures of categorical symmetry within the lesion (step 508).

Abstract: A header includes a substantially rigid header frame having a main longitudinal rear tube and a plurality of beams extending downwardly and forwardly from the main tube to a cutter bar which is maintained substantially straight and parallel to the main tube. Adjustment of the longitudinal shape of the cutter bar is effected after the header is assembled by operating screwjacks on two inner beams which cause plastic bending of the beams to raise or lower a center portion of the cutter bar so that when assembled the cutter bar is longitudinally straight or slightly upwardly concave. This adjustment after the assembly is complete allows the cutter bar to be adjusted to the required longitudinal shape for optimum cooperation with the reel.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header includes a reel mounted on a pair of forwardly extending arms carried on a header frame above a table and cutting knife. The reel is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and includes bats with fingers which pivot each about a respective bat axis so the angle of the fingers varies as the reel rotates. The angle of the fingers can be varied to increase and decrease the angle at the knife. The arms include a forward portion which is arranged at an angle to a main portion so as to be inclined downwardly and forwardly therefrom. As the reel supports on the arms is moved forwardly along the arms and engages onto the forward portion, the reel is moved downwardly and forwardly which simultaneously changes the angle to provide a more aggressive action as the reel is moved forwardly of the knife.

Abstract: A header includes a cutter bar with a generally C-shaped beam supporting the sickle knife assembly across a front edge of the assembly. A draper assembly is carried on the cutter bar beam and includes a pair of rollers at right angles to the beam carrying a continuous draper canvas band around the rollers with the front edge of the canvas adjacent the cutter bar beam. The rollers and a support plate between the rollers for the upper run of the canvas are both recessed relative to the front edge of the canvas to leave a cantilever portion at the front edge of the canvas. This cantilever portion has an upper surface engaging an undersurface of a top plate of the beam to provide a seal inhibiting penetration of materials between the canvas and the cutter bar. A lower plate of the C-shaped beam is shorter in length than the upper plate and is inclined downwardly to allow the discharge of any materials from the area between the draper canvas and the cutter bar to prevent buildup.

Abstract: A chain drive system is provided for communicating rotation from the bottom roller of a hay conditioner to the top roller of the hay conditioner. The top and bottom rollers include longitudinally extending flutes which intermesh as the rollers rotate. The top roller is mounted for movement at each end upwardly away from the bottom roller to accommodate increased quantities of crop or obstacles. The chain drive maintains angular synchronism between the rollers despite movement of the top roller away from the bottom roller. This is achieved using a single chain wrapped around a drive sprocket on the bottom roller and around two idlers arranged at the apexes of a triangle. The driven sprocket on the top roller is located within the triangle so that the chain wraps around the drive roller into the triangle, around the driven roller and back to the idler at the apex.