Abstract: A header for an agricultural machine having a cutterbar, an auger and a rotatable reel, the reel having a main axis of rotation around which the reel is rotated in one direction, crop-engaging members being rotatably mounted on the reel around respective pivot axes disposed around the main shaft, is disclosed wherein inclination control means including steering means positioned eccentrically of the main axis are operable, during rotation of the reel in said one direction, to rotate the crop-engaging members around the respective pivot axes in the opposite direction so as to maintain the crop-engaging members at a fixed positional inclination relative to the horizontal so that the free ends of the crop-engaging members define a circularly shaped locus.

Abstract: A round baler includes a base and rear frame. A first set of rollers is mounted in the base frame and extends transversely thereof. A pair of arms are pivoted on the rear frame, and a second set of rollers is carried by the arms extending transversely between the arms. The arms are movable between a bale starting position and a full bale position, and the second set of rollers cooperate with at least part of the first set of rollers to define a bale starting chamber that is vertically elongated when the arms are in the bale starting position.

Abstract: A round baler includes an endless flexible member which has an inner course that expands around and contacts at least a portion of a bale during formation thereof. The endless flexible member extends around a plurality of drive and guide members, all of which are disposed within the envelope defined by the endless flexible member. When the bale has reached its maximum size, the inner course of the endless flexible member is engaged with all of the drive and guide members so that the inner course cannot expand any further and thereby assumes a generally fixed position.

Abstract: A round baler includes front and rear expandable members arranged to form a vertically oriented start chamber which expands to a cylindrical shape during bale formation. An arm which supports the front expandable member is pivotally mounted and carries guide members at its ends around which the front expandable member passes. Upper and lower T-shaped supports which support the rear expandable member are pivotally mounted, and each T-shaped support carries a pair of guide members for engaging the rear expandable member.

Abstract: An infeed mechanism for a rotary cleaning device for cleaning threshed grain in combine harvesters is disclosed wherein an infeed auger includes a pair of helical flights terminating in a pair of radially extending distributing paddles. The infeed auger is mounted forwardly of a rotatable cleaning cylinder with the distributing paddles being positioned within the axial opening through the cleaning cylinder to discharge threshed grain radially outwardly into individual cleaning shoes. A grain pan is provided within each cleaning shoe to receive the threshed grain discharged from the distributing paddles, each cleaning shoe being operable to reciprocatably move in a generally fore-and-aft direction to convey grain received on the grain pans rearwardly onto sieves also mounted within the cleaning shoes. The infeed mechanism is also provided with an upwardly extending infeed chute that is flared outwardly from top to bottom to serve as a conduit for the infeed of threshed grain into the infeed auger.

Abstract: A rotary cleaning mechanism for a combine harvester is disclosed wherein threshed grain is cleaned within a rotatable cleaning cylinder having sieves mounted in a plurality of elongated cleaning shoes disposed around the circumference of the cleaning cylinder to clean the threshed grain through the use of centrifugal forces generated by the rotation of the cleaning cylinder. The cleaning shoes are disposed generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the cleaning cylinder and are reciprocatable in a fore-and-aft direction slightly inclined inwardly toward the axis of rotation to move the grain rearwardly along the sieves. An infeed mechanism for distributing threshed grain onto the cleaning cylinder and a fan for creating a flow of air to clean the grain are also provided.

Abstract: A method for cleaning threshed grain in a combine harvester is disclosed wherein the threshed grain is conveyed into a cleaning cylinder that is rotatably driven at a sufficient speed to impart centrifugal forces on the threshed grain to urge the grain through sieve openings during each entire 360 degree revolution of the cleaning cylinder. The cleaning sieves are mounted within axially extending cleaning shoes connected to the rotating cleaning cylinder for individual reciprocatory movement along a generally axial direction inclined inwardly toward the axis of rotation to convey the threshed grain rearwardly and help the cleaned grain pass through the sieve openings. Simultaneously with the rotating of the cleaning cylinder and the reciprocating of the cleaning shoes, a fan blows air through the sieves in the cleaning cylinder to make the unwanted residue airborne for discharge rearwardly from the cylinder, the air also being directed through the threshold grain twice before it is received on the sieves.

Abstract: A rotary cleaning mechanism for cleaning threshed grain in a combine harvester is disclosed wherein a fan is mounted forwardly of the cleaning cylinder to blow air through the cleaning sieves to make unwanted residue airborne for discharge from the cleaning cylinder. A fan housing is provided with a first passageway to direct a flow of air through the grain being conveyed from a centrally located infeed mechanism onto a radially outwardly spaced grain pan. A second passageway is also provided in the fan housing to direct a flow of air through threshed grain being conveyed rearwardly off the grain pan onto a radially outwardly located cleaning sieve. The fan is mounted on an axis of rotation common with the cleaning cylinder and forwardly of the infeed housing, which includes an eliptically shaped infeed chute to aerodynamically permit the flow of air therearound to clean threshed grain on the cleaning cylinder immediately adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for rotatably powering a rotary cleaning device for cleaning threshed grain in a combine harvester is disclosed wherein a cleaning cylinder, an infeed mechanism, a fan, and an impeller are rotatable about a common axis of rotation defined by a composite drive shaft that includes a first shaft member having a tubular portion and a second shaft member rotatably received within the tubular portion for rotation independently of the first shaft member. Pulleys keyed to the first and second shaft members rotatably drive the infeed mechanism and the impeller. The fan and the cleaning cylinder are driven by pulleys rotatably mounted on the composite shaft for rotation independently thereof, thereby permitting each component to be driven at different rotational speeds. A mechanism for reciprocatably moving the cleaning shoes during rotation of the cleaning cylinder is also operatively powered by the rotation of the composite drive shaft.

Abstract: A bale feed mechanism comprising a feed bar carrying a plurality of tines and drive means for driving the feed bar, the drive means comprising a stationary element and a movable element, the movable element being movable about the center of the stationary element in a first direction of movement and drivingly connected to the stationary element in a manner so that it is caused to move in a second direction of movement about its own center when moved in said first direction, the feed bar being coupled to the movable element at a location offset from the center thereof.

Abstract: A haymaking machine comprising at least one rotatably mounted rotor assembly a plurality of tine assemblies pivotally mounted on the rotor assembly eccentrically of the rotational axis thereof, linkage means coaxially mounted at one end on the tine assemblies and pivotable relative thereto, and to the rotor assembly, actuation means on the rotor assembly, and connecting means extending between the actuation means and the linkage means, the linkage means being connectible in at least one operating condition to the tine assemblies so as to be movable in unison therewith, the arrangement being such that in that operating condition the actuation means cause the tine assemblies to pivot from extended, crop-engaging positions to retracted, crop-releasing positions and vice versa.

Abstract: There is provided a haymaking machine comprising at least one rotor assembly rotatable around a generally upright axis, stationary gear means mounted coaxially with the or each rotor assembly, a plurality of planetary gears rotatably mounted on the or each rotor assembly in mesh with the stationary gear means and rotatable in unison with the associated rotor assembly and a plurality of tine assemblies pivotally mounted on the or each rotor assembly and coupled to the planetary gears eccentrically of their rotational axes so that in operation, in at least one operating condition of the machine, the tine assemblies move from extended, crop-engaging positions to retracted, crop-releasing positions and vice versa.

Abstract: The invention provides a low profile, compact row crop attachment which eliminates the use of crop conveyors in the form of chains with crop-engaging extensions attached thereto, such conveyors being subject to fast wear and being relatively expensive to replace. The chain type conveyors are replaced by a plurality of rotary means which are staggered transversely of the attachment relative to each other and positioned along side and outside an associated stalkway defined by a pair of spaced apart members. Conveyor means extend from the rotary means from outside into the associated stalkway so as, in operation, to convey crop along that stalkway.

Abstract: The invention provides a low profile, compact row crop attachment which eliminates the use of crop conveyors in the form of chains with crop-engaging extensions attached thereto, such conveyors being subject to fast wear and being relatively expensive to replace. The chain type conveyors are replaced by a plurality of pairs of rotary means provided on opposite sides of an associated stalkway defined by a pair of spaced apart members. Conveyor means extend from the rotary means from outside into the associated stalkway so as, in operation, to convey crop along that stalkway, the conveyor means of each pair of rotary means having overlapping paths.

Abstract: The invention relates to a harvesting machine provided with rotary separating means, grain cleaning means located generally below the rotary separating means and at a central location below and between transversely spaced separator discharge openings, and deflector means to convey and deflect crop material from locations generally below and at both sides of the cleaning means rearwardly and inwardly to a central location generally to the rear of the discharge end of the cleaning means. The deflector means are comprised of overhead and lateral deflectors positioned at predetermined angles to one another to progressively change the direction of movement of the discharged crop material from a generally fore-and-aft path towards the central discharge location.

Abstract: According to the present invention a harvesting machine comprises a chassis with threshing and separating means and a power source mounted thereon and a grain tank pivotally mounted whereby it can be tipped to discharge grain contained therein rearwardly of the machine. The harvesting machine further also comprises a grain cleaning means mounted on the chassis and a conveyor means for loading grain into the grain tank. The conveyor means comprises a lower elevator extending from the grain cleaning means to the grain tank, an upper elevator mounted within the grain tank and aligned with the lower elevator when the grain tank is in the grain loading position, and disengageable coupling means disposed between the lower and upper elevators.

Abstract: This invention relates to mower conditioners of the type having at least two rotatable cutter units mounted side-by-side and each supporting at least one cutter blade to cut the standing crop by impact, as opposed to shearing. The mower-conditioner comprises a rotary crop conditioning and spreading apparatus extending rearwardly of the mower and having a pair of rotary units disposed rearwardly of each pair of cutter units, with each rotary unit being rotatable about a generally upright axis. One rotary unit of each pair of rotary units is located closer to the mower than the other rotary unit of the pair.

Abstract: A combine harvester comprising a grain tank with a discharge opening at one side of the harvester, an unloading tube having a main portion and an end portion angled with respect to the main portion, the angled portion being pivotally mounted on the grain tank with the unloading tube in communication with the discharge opening, an unloading auger disposed in the main portion of the unloading tube and having a receiving end spaced from the pivotal connection between the tube and the tank, a grain tank auger extending within the grain tank and having a discharge end spaced from the pivotal connection between the tube and the tank, and an intermediate shaft interconnecting the discharge end of the grain tank auger and the receiving end of the unloading auger by means of a pair of universal joints respectively disposed at the ends of the intermediate shaft, the universal joints being disposed at opposite sides of the pivotal connection between the tank and the tube and the intermediate shaft being telescopic.

Abstract: An improved grain elevator is provided for a combine to transfer clean grain from the cleaning mechanism to a temporary, pivotally mounted, grain holding tank. The grain transfer elevator comprises a generally transversely and horizontally extending first auger disposed below the cleaning mechanism and connected to a second auger which extends upwardly in a transverse inclined direction through the bottom wall of the grain tank to a position at the top middle of the tank for discharging clean grain therein. The second auger includes separate parts releasably coupled together to thereby permit disengagement thereof for allowing the grain tank to be tipped for unloading.

Abstract: The harvesting mechanism of the present invention uses a transversely extending threshing means and a rotary separating mechanism. The separating mechanism includes a transversely extending separating rotor having crop treating and crop conveying elements cooperating with a separating concave operable to receive crop material from the threshing means and separate grain from the crop material while the material is being conveyed spirally to one end for discharge.