Abstract: A cutter bar assembly for an agricultural vehicle header includes a cutter bar supported by movable arms extending from a header frame and capable of operation in flex and rigid modes. The support arms are joined to the header frame such that they may be displaced from a raised position in the rigid mode when subjected to a lifting force due to striking an obstacle without damage to the header structure. Also, an agricultural vehicle header and an agricultural combine harvester includes the cutter bar assembly.

Abstract: An adjustable skid shoe enabling a flexible cutter bar of an agricultural combine harvester to follow the ground at a higher cut height during the flex cutter bar mode. The adjustable skid shoe is hinged and can be fixed so the curved aft end lowers the ground contact surface beneath the header, raising the cut height in flex mode. The adjusted skid shoe contacts the ground further back from the cutter bar, allowing the cutter bar to reach close to the ground by a front pivot of the header on the adjusted skid shoe. Also, an agricultural vehicle header and an agricultural combine harvester comprising the skid shoe.

Abstract: A sickle drive incorporated into a generally flat package or enclosure or floor. The drive includes an epicyclic mechanism, including a rotatable input element in an upper region of a cavity of the enclosure, and an eccentric element below the input element rotatable eccentrically thereby. A drive arm is connected to the eccentric element for rotation about, and eccentric rotation with, the eccentric element, and extends to a pivot element which can be the only component extending upwardly from the enclosure or floor, such that the shaft will be pivoted by the eccentric movement of the drive arm. A knife arm connects to the pivot element and a sickle knife assembly which will be reciprocated by the pivoting action. A second epicyclic arrangement can be employed such that opposite forces generated by operation of the drive will be largely canceled.

Abstract: A header for a combine harvester includes a conveyor belt for conveying crop material in a conveyance direction, and an adjusting device for adjusting a tension of the conveyor belt. The adjusting device includes a link that is movable with respect to a frame member of the header. The link is movable in a direction that is either orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to a tensioning direction of the conveyor belt for adjusting the tension of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt may be an infeed conveyor belt or a lateral conveyor belt of a draper header, for example.

Abstract: A header for a combine harvester includes a conveyor belt for conveying crop material in a conveyance direction, and an adjusting device for adjusting a tension of the conveyor belt. The adjusting device includes a link that is movable with respect to a frame member of the header. The link is movable in a direction that is either orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to a tensioning direction of the conveyor belt for adjusting the tension of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt may be an infeed conveyor belt or a lateral conveyor belt of a draper header, for example.

Abstract: A cutting assembly comprising a drive arm assembly and knife head assembly for a header of a plant-cutting machine is disclosed. The drive arm assembly generally includes a drive unit connected to a pivotable drive member and a bearing element with a rounded head. The knife head assembly generally includes a mounting bar and a clamping portion that collectively form a cavity for receiving the bearing element and forming a pivot joint. The knife head assembly is attached to a cutter bar such that the operation of the drive unit causes the cutter bar to have substantially linear motion by way of the pivot joint.

Abstract: The subject disclosure provides a draper belt assembly for an agricultural harvester that includes a draper belt and a zipper assembly along a length of the draper belt. The zipper assembly includes a first zipper track, a second zipper track complementary to the first zipper track, and a slider releasably connectable to the first zipper track and the second zipper track. The draper belt assembly further includes a lock for releasably securing the zipper assembly in a fixed position and a seal covering an upper surface of the first and second zipper tracks.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester comprising a frame and an epicyclical drive supported by the frame. The epicyclical drive includes a first rotatable wheel having a first substantially vertical rotational axis and a first disk. The first disk includes a first eccentric axis rotatable about the first rotational axis. The epicyclical drive further includes a second rotatable wheel having a second substantially vertical rotational axis and a second disk. The second disk includes a second eccentric axis rotatable about the second rotational axis. The header further includes a first cutter bar directly connected to the first disk and a second cutter bar directly connected to the second disk. Operation of the epicyclical drive results in substantially linear oscillating motion of the cutter bars.

Abstract: A sickle drive incorporated into a generally flat package or enclosure or floor. The drive includes an epicyclic mechanism, including a rotatable input element in an upper region of a cavity of the enclosure, and an eccentric element below the input element rotatable eccentrically thereby. A drive arm is connected to the eccentric element for rotation about, and eccentric rotation with, the eccentric element, and extends to a pivot element which can be the only component extending upwardly from the enclosure or floor, such that the shaft will be pivoted by the eccentric movement of the drive arm. A knife arm connects to the pivot element and a sickle knife assembly which will be reciprocated by the pivoting action. A second epicyclic arrangement can be employed such that opposite forces generated by operation of the drive will be largely canceled.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester including an epicyclical drive gear train operatively connected to a first cutter bar, an epicyclical driven gear train operatively connected to a second cutter bar, and a shaft extending between and operatively connected to the epicyclical drive gear train and the epicyclical driven gear train. The epicyclical drive gear train rotates in a first direction and the shaft is configured to rotate the epicyclical driven gear train in a second direction opposite the first direction or in the same direction as the first direction. Each of the epicyclical drive gear train and epicyclical driven gear train includes a bevel gear for operatively engaging bevel gears on the shaft. Operation of the epicyclical drive gear train and epicyclical driven gear train results in substantially linear oscillating motion of the cutter bars.

Abstract: A header having a sickle cutter for a combine harvester is provided. The sickle cutter includes moveable first and second sickle knife assemblies oscillating at an offset phase. The sickle cutter further includes a stationary knife assembly positioned at a gap between the moveable first and second sickle knife assemblies.

Abstract: A knife head drive assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester including a knife head assembly for attachment to a forward end of the header. A first pivot arm and a second pivot arm are carried by the knife head assembly and are pivotably connected by a linkage. A rotating crank is operatively connected to and extending substantially transverse to the knife head assembly for engagement with a drive. A reciprocating shaft is connected to the rotating crank and either of the pivot arms or the linkage. Operation of the knife head drive assembly results in substantially linear, opposed oscillating motion of cutter bars carried by the knife head assembly.

Abstract: The agricultural harvester comprises a header. The header includes a frame, a control shaft connected to the frame, a flex arm, a linkage assembly and a cutter bar connected to the flex arm. The linkage assembly is movable between a first position and a second position. The linkage assembly includes a first end pivotably connected to the control shaft and a second end connected to the flex arm.

Abstract: A reel arm for a header of an agricultural harvester comprising a rotatable coupler, a first linkage assembly and a second linkage assembly is disclosed. The rotatable coupler has a central rotational axis and includes a control shaft extending therethrough parallel to the central rotational axis. The first linkage assembly includes a first end connected to the control shaft about a first lateral side of the rotatable coupler and a second end opposite the first end for connection to a reel tine bar of a first reel assembly of the header. The second linkage assembly includes a first end connected to the control shaft about a second lateral side of the rotatable coupler and a second end opposite the first end for connection to a reel tine bar of a second reel assembly of the header.

Abstract: A knife head drive assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester including a knife head assembly for attachment to a forward end of the header. A first pivot arm and a second pivot arm are carried by the knife head assembly and are pivotably connected by a linkage. A rotating crank is operatively connected to and extending substantially transverse to the knife head assembly for engagement with a drive. A reciprocating shaft is connected to the rotating crank and either of the pivot arms or the linkage. Operation of the knife head drive assembly results in substantially linear, opposed oscillating motion of cutter bars carried by the knife head assembly.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester comprising a frame and an epicyclical drive supported by the frame. The epicyclical drive includes a first rotatable wheel having a first substantially vertical rotational axis and a first disk. The first disk includes a first eccentric axis rotatable about the first rotational axis. The epicyclical drive further includes a second rotatable wheel having a second substantially vertical rotational axis and a second disk. The second disk includes a second eccentric axis rotatable about the second rotational axis. The header further includes a first cutter bar directly connected to the first disk and a second cutter bar directly connected to the second disk. Operation of the epicyclical drive results in substantially linear oscillating motion of the cutter bars.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester is disclosed. The agricultural harvester comprises a header. The header includes a frame, a control shaft connected to the frame, a flex arm, a linkage assembly and a cutter bar connected to the flex arm. The linkage assembly is movable between a first position and a second position. The linkage assembly includes a first end pivotably connected to the control shaft and a second end connected to the flex arm.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester including an epicyclical drive gear train operatively connected to a first cutter bar, an epicyclical driven gear train operatively connected to a second cutter bar, and a shaft extending between and operatively connected to the epicyclical drive gear train and the epicyclical driven gear train. The epicyclical drive gear train rotates in a first direction and the shaft is configured to rotate the epicyclical driven gear train in a second direction opposite the first direction or in the same direction as the first direction. Each of the epicyclical drive gear train and epicyclical driven gear train includes a bevel gear for operatively engaging bevel gears on the shaft. Operation of the epicyclical drive gear train and epicyclical driven gear train results in substantially linear oscillating motion of the cutter bars.

Abstract: A row unit for a header of an agricultural harvester is provided that includes a first longitudinally extending stripping plate and a second longitudinally extending stripping plate each mounted on a frame and each having opposed stripping edges which define a gap between the first stripping plate and the second stripping plate. The row unit includes both operator-selected macro adjustment of the gap and automatic micro adjustment of the gap. The micro adjustment occurs on both deck plates. The micro adjustment is achieved through resilient members positioned functionally between the deck plates and the row unit frame.

Abstract: A reel arm for a header of an agricultural harvester comprising a rotatable coupler, a first linkage assembly and a second linkage assembly is disclosed. The rotatable coupler has a central rotational axis and includes a control shaft extending therethrough parallel to the central rotational axis. The first linkage assembly includes a first end connected to the control shaft about a first lateral side of the rotatable coupler and a second end opposite the first end for connection to a reel tine bar of a first reel assembly of the header. The second linkage assembly includes a first end connected to the control shaft about a second lateral side of the rotatable coupler and a second end opposite the first end for connection to a reel tine bar of a second reel assembly of the header.