Abstract: In a cutter bar having a upper and lower knife guards in cooperating pairs mounted on a support bar where each guard includes at least one point extending forwardly to define a channel therebetween in which the knife reciprocates, the upper knife guards are attached to an upper surface of the support bar by a compressible resilient pad between an under surface of the upper knife guard and the upper surface of the support bar, at least one hold down screw fastener engaged between the upper knife guard and the support bar which holds the upper knife guard on to the resilient pad and forms a fulcrum and at least one adjustment screw between the upper knife guard and the support bar behind the screw fastener so that adjustment of the screw increases an amount of compression of the compressible resilient pad.

Abstract: In a swather formed by a tractor and attached heeder for cutting standing crop to form a swath, reel speed and optionally draper speed are controlled relative to ground speed by a control system including a manually operable input and display available to the operator. The control system can be used in an automatic mode to set an index value for an actual difference in reel speed relative to ground speed and to vary reel speed accordingly. In this mode a manually operable control varies the index. The control system can be switched by the operator to manual in which case the same control varies the actual reel speed. Minimum reel speed can be set by the same control and when operative the automatic system does not allow reel speed to fall below the minimum set value despite the values of index and ground speed.

Abstract: In a swather formed by a tractor and attached heeder for cutting standing crop to form a swath, reel speed and optionally draper speed are controlled relative to ground speed by a control system including a manually operable input and display available to the operator. The control system can be used in an automatic mode to set an index value for an actual difference in reel speed relative to ground speed and to vary reel speed accordingly. In this mode a manually operable control varies the index. The control system can be switched by the operator to manual in which case the same control varies the actual reel speed. Minimum reel speed can be set by the same control and when operative the automatic system does not allow reel speed to fall below the minimum set value despite the values of index and ground speed.

Abstract: In a swather formed by a tractor and attached heeder for cutting standing crop to form a swath, reel speed and optionally draper speed are controlled relative to ground speed by a control system including a manually operable input and display available to the operator. The control system can be used in an automatic mode to set an index value for an actual difference in reel speed relative to ground speed and to vary reel speed accordingly. In this mode a manually operable control varies the index. The control system can be switched by the operator to manual in which case the same control varies the actual reel speed. Minimum reel speed can be set by the same control and when operative the automatic system does not allow reel speed to fall below the minimum set value despite the values of index and ground speed.

Abstract: A removable bat attachment to be applied when required over the tine tubes and fingers of reel of a harvesting machine is formed by an elongate flexible plastic extruded member having a first wall lying against the leading face of the plurality of fingers, a second wall at the inner edge of the first wall wrapping around the tine tube to define a generally cylindrical channel shaped receptacle to receive the tine tube therein and a third wall at the outer edge. In one arrangement the outer edge wraps around an outer end of the fingers and is snap fit onto the outer ends of the fingers and on to the tine tube so as to be held in place thereon by the snap fit. In another arrangement the outer edge has an end wall with a series of holes one for each finger so that the fingers project outwardly from the outer edge.

Abstract: A removable bat attachment to be applied when required over the tine tubes and fingers of reel of a harvesting machine is formed by an elongate flexible plastic extruded member having a first wall lying against the leading face of the plurality of fingers, a second wall at the inner edge of the first wall wrapping around the tine tube to define a generally cylindrical channel shaped receptacle to receive the tine tube therein and a third wall at the outer edge. In one arrangement the outer edge wraps around an outer end of the fingers and is snap fit onto the outer ends of the fingers and on to the tine tube so as to be held in place thereon by the snap fit. In another arrangement the outer edge has an end wall with a series of holes one for each finger so that the fingers project outwardly from the outer edge.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header includes a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge, a draper or auger transport arrangement for transporting the cut crop, and a reel mounted on reel arms having a plurality of reel bats at spaced positions around the reel axis each reel bat having reel fingers projecting generally radially outwardly from the reel axis. Each bat is mounted for pivotal movement about its bat axis. At both ends of each bat is mounted a crop divider which pivots with the bat and is formed with a plate lying in a radial plane of the bat with angularly spaced fingers around the outer edge. A leading edge of the plate and front finger is convexly curved relative to the concave curve of the front edge of the finger and is angularly advanced relative to the leading edge of the adjacent fingers such that the rotating crop dividers on the reel co-operate with a stationary crop on the header to separate the cut crop from uncut crop passing alongside the end of the header.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header includes a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge of a header frame structure, a draper or auger transport arrangement for transporting the cut crop for further processing, and a reel mounted on reel arms for controlling movement of the crop in the area over the cutter bar with the reel having a plurality of reel bats at spaced positions around the reel axis each reel bat having reel fingers projecting generally radially outwardly from the reel axis, the reel bats all lying on a common bat circle around the reel axis so that rotation of the reel causes the reel bats to follow a path of movement lying on the bat circle. A non-circular stationary cam track surrounds the reel axis within the bat circle so that the end most fingers of the bats are located in line with the cam and immediately adjacent-the end sheet.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header includes a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge of a header frame structure, a draper or auger transport arrangement for transporting the cut crop for further processing, and a reel mounted on reel arms for controlling movement of the crop in the area over the cutter bar with the reel having a plurality of reel bats at spaced positions around the reel axis each reel bat having reel fingers projecting generally radially outwardly from the reel axis, the reel bats all lying on a common bat circle around the reel axis so that rotation of the reel causes the reel bats to follow a path of movement lying on the bat circle. A non-circular stationary cam track surrounds the reel axis within the bat circle so that the end most fingers of the bats are located in line with the cam and immediately adjacent the end sheet.

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 bat includes a longitudinal tube which supports the fingers at spaced positions along its length. At each finger location the tube is punched to define two diametrically opposed indentations each forming a hole through the tube wall. Each finger has a finger portion of I shape in cross-section and a mounting collar. The collar only partly surrounds the tube so as to have a portion which can flex open to allow the collar to be wrapped around the tube. Two projections are provided on the inside surface of the collar to project into a respective one of the indentations.

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.