Abstract: A combine crop trash removal system for mounting to a combine corn harvester using hydraulically driven air blowers coupled to the combine header control system for reduction and/or removal of stalks, leaves, dirt and dust type material from accumulating on the combine feeder house and obscuring the operators view of the operating combine header during operation of the combine harvester for corn picking. The air blower may also be driven electrically or pneumatically. The operator of the combine harvester controls the crop trash removal system from the operator cab of the combine harvester.

Abstract: A telescopic reel includes a telescopic supporting frame and a central module including at least one bracket constrained to the supporting frame and connectable to a bearing and guide through a fastener. The bearing and guide is adapted to bear and guide, during its rotary motion, at least one transversal intersection element of the reel. The bearing and guide is positioned on the at least one intersection element at a first distance from a longitudinal central shaft of the reel, the first distance being greater than or equal to a second distance between the central shaft and a crosspiece of the reel.

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 with a reel drive mechanism for driving rotation of the reel including a variable speed drive motor and a drive transmission having two different drive ratios for high and low speed reel operation. The transmission is mounted in a housing with a readily removable cover part allowing access to a chain and sprocket drive system where the chain can be loosened to allow it to be transferred from one set of cooperating sprockets to another. The reel shaft is movable to release the chain tension and adjusted by a cam and ratchet arrangement.

Abstract: A windrow merger having at least one pickup head member, the at least one pickup head member being selectively shiftable between a working disposition and a transport disposition and having at least a first pivot for shifting the at least one pickup head member from the substantially vertical transport disposition to a substantially horizontal intermediate disposition and at least a second pivot for shifting the at least one pickup head member from the substantially horizontal intermediate disposition through an arc to the working disposition.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester has left side and right side endless belt conveyors and a central conveyor for carrying crop to a central aperture in the header and an extendible and retractable cutter bar assembly disposed immediately in front of the leading edges of the conveyors that can be extended and retracted in the direction of travel through an agricultural field.

Abstract: A flexible tall crop knockdown barrier for use with rotary cutting headers in harvesting specialty crops such as grass seed. The knockdown barrier comprises a support frame mounted to the front of the header that extends forwardly and upwardly ahead of the header. A flexible barrier supported by the frame extends downwardly during idle conditions and downwardly and rearwardly as the header is propelled through the crop. The flexible curtain may be rolled around a lower spool and stowed on the support frame when not in use to improve visibility. The knockdown barrier serves to gently lean the crop forward before cutting so as to minimize seed shatter due whipping of the seed head.

Abstract: A crop harvesting mechanism having a reel assembly with a reel that is rotatably supported at each end by a respective reel support. A reel carrier arm is provided for each of the reel supports and the supports are movable along the reel carrier arm. A horizontal adjustment actuator moves the reel support along the reel carrier arms over an adjustment range. The reel carrier arms are constructed with an upward or downward oriented curve, inside of the adjustment range over which the reel holding devices can be shifted by the actuator. The reel operates below a cutting bar in its forward position and in a position moved further back that is above and behind the cutting bar so that collisions are avoided.

Abstract: The corn harvesting unit and the attachment modifications for connection to the threshing unit provide an improved flow of material from the row to the threshed grain in the combine. These modifications of structure and the resultant spatial changes to the variety of the conveying systems used from the row to the grain tank of the combine result in a novel and more efficient harvesting machine. The spatial relationship between the powered and the un-powered conveying systems moving in different directions permits improved flow and flow rates reducing plugging and power consumption. Material is lifted through a lesser angle of the inclined plane from the ground to thresher unit. In operation a smooth uninterrupted flow of material from the row unit to the cross auger through the dead space (energy wise) to the retrieving area of the feeder house is provided for.

Abstract: A crop divider for a harvesting assembly is provided with a foldable deflector. The deflector is mounted to the harvesting assembly by a pivot link having a pivot axis. The deflector can be folded about the pivot axis between an operating position and a transport position. The crop divider can be fixed in the operative position by an arresting element. In the operating position the arresting element surrounds the pivot link and locks the pivot link in place.

Abstract: A harvesting header for a self-propelled harvesting machine comprising a center portion and two side portions. The center portion and both side portions are provided with forwardly extending crop processing arrangements. A transversely extending auger is located behind the crop processing arrangements. The crop processing arrangements can be moved between an operating position and a transport position by pivoting them about a transversely extending horizontal pivot axis. In this transport position the center of gravity of the harvesting header is moved rearwardly towards the harvesting machine. The side crop processing arrangements can be pivoted about forwardly extending pivot axes to reduce the width of the harvesting header in its transport position.

Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting machine has an attachment for picking up cut crop or for harvesting stalked crop and a processing device for chopping the crop. A curved spout is arranged downstream of the processing device for picking up the crop at a pick-up location and transferring it to a drop location on a transport vehicle. A control device adjusts an operating speed of the drive motor to idle speed, nominal speed, and a speed range below the nominal speed. The drive motor, when the attachment has a great working width and the distance between pick-up location and drop location of the curved spout has a great length, is operated at nominal speed and, when the attachment has a minimal working width and the distance between pick-up location and drop location of the curved spout has a minimal length, is operated at a reduced speed.

Abstract: A reel for harvesters of the type including a leading platform with crop cutters and cut-plant collectors and conveyors, the reel comprising a plurality of parallel cross bars rotating around a driving shaft, the bars being driven by end transmission bands at respective ends of the reel, the bands running over wheels arranged in a desired manner to define a desired close path.

Abstract: A two-piece retainer for securing a pivot tube of a combine feederhouse to a combine frame, having a first piece made of a polymer material and a second piece made of a metal material.

Abstract: The header platform of a harvester has located above it a sweeper assembly which comprises a finger frame and sweeper fingers dependig from the finger frame but terminating at their lower ends at a higher elevation than the knife assembly, tracks guiding the rear end of the finger frame for fore and aft movement, and a crank shaft coupled to the front end of the finger frame and driven to cause the sweeper fingers to lower, move rearwardly over the platform, and raise, to thereby be effective in moving a crop rearwardly over the platform.

Abstract: A header for a harvesting machine having a frame, a cutterbar operable to a cut standing crop and mounted on the front of the frame, and a reel also mounted on the frame and operable to sweep crop material towards and over the cutterbar, the cutterbar being adjustable relative to the frame in a fore-and-aft direction, is disclosed wherein the header includes an interlock mechanism extending between the reel and the cutterbar such that the position of the reel relative to the cutterbar is automatically adjusted upon the fore-and-aft movement of the cutterbar to maintain a substantially constant reel-cutterbar spacing.

Abstract: The harvesting system has a crop cutting device disposed transversely of the direction of travel of the harvesting machine. A crop combing device is disposed adjacent to and extends forwardly of the cutting device. There is provided a pneumatic arrangement for generating a bed of air moving across the combing device in the direction towards the cutting device and generally parallel to the cutting plane of the cutting device. The moving bed of air facilitates gathering of the crop and reduces grain loss. The pneumatic arrangement includes nozzles for discharging air whereby to create said bed and a delivery system for delivering air under pressure to the nozzles. The nozzles are located in the plane of the bed and the delivery system is disposed generally beneath the combing device. Also disclosed is a finger attachment for a known harvesting system of agricultural machines. The finger attachment facilitates conversion of the known harvesting system to a harvesting system according to the invention.