Abstract: Method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable media for detecting reel-crop engagement for a header of a harvester. The header includes a reel configured to draw crop from a crop field toward the header as the harvester moves through the crop field and at least one crop detector mounted to the reel. Data is received from the at least one crop detector mounted on the reel, processed, and used to detect reel-crop engagement.

Abstract: A cam assembly is provided for a pick-up reel of an agricultural harvester. The cam assembly includes a cam track, a roller bearing assembly, a crank arm, and a biasing member. The roller bearing assembly includes a baffle and first and second cam followers. The first and second cam followers are each mounted to the baffle in spaced apart relation and engaging the cam track. The crank arm is for mounting to the pick-up reel. The biasing member biases the roller bearing assembly relative to the crank arm.

Abstract: A harvester head reel may include a bat support and an extendable bat supported by the bat support. The extendable bat may have a first segment and a second segment overlapping the first segment. The harvester head reels may further include a first finger extending from the first segment and a second finger extending from the second segment.

Abstract: A harvesting reel assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester is disclosed. The harvesting reel assembly includes a central rotatable shaft, a plurality of support members, a cam assembly and an extendable reel arm. The plurality of support members extend widthwise across the reel assembly and connect to the central rotatable shaft for rotation therewith. The cam assembly guides rotation of the plurality of support members. The extendable reel arm includes a first end engaged with the central rotatable shaft for rotation therewith. The extendable reel arm also includes a distal end opposite the first end connected to one of the plurality of support members.

Abstract: A plant pushing apparatus for mounting on a reel of a combine where the reel comprises a center shaft rotatably mounted at each end thereof to the combine header, a plurality of contact members mounted to the center shaft in a horizontal orientation radially spaced from the center shaft, and a drive operative to rotate the center shaft such that the contact members below the center shaft move in a rearward direction toward the combine header. For each contact member, a projecting shield member is adapted at an inner portion thereof for attachment to the contact member such that an outer edge of the projecting shield member is substantially horizontal and rearward of the contact member, and such that the outer edge of the projecting shield member contacts plant stalks, particularly sunflower plant stalks, and pushes the plant stalks toward the combine header ahead of the following attached contact member.

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 dual-cam linkage system controls the orientation of tines on a reel of a crop harvesting header. The dual-cam linkage system includes a stationary, substantially circular first cam track that has a rotational center that is offset from the rotational axis of the reel. A second cam track is located in a support plate on which a tine-supporting member is mounted. The dual-cam linkage system also includes a pivoting linkage having a crank, an arm. The crank has a first end fixedly attached to the tine-supporting member. The arm has an outer end attached to a second end of the crank. The first cam follower is attached at an inner end of the arm and engages the first cam track. The second cam follower is attached to the arm at a position between the first cam follower and the crank and engages the second cam track.

Abstract: A reel (108) for an agricultural harvesting head (104) has thrust bearings at the ends of its bat supports (128) that counteract sagging of the reel under the force of gravity.

Abstract: A dual-cam linkage system controls the orientation of tines on a reel of a crop harvesting header. The dual-cam linkage system includes a stationary, substantially circular first cam track that has a rotational center that is offset from the rotational axis of the reel. A second cam track is located in a support plate on which a tine-supporting member is mounted. The dual-cam linkage system also includes a pivoting linkage having a crank, an arm. The crank has a first end fixedly attached to the tine-supporting member. The arm has an outer end attached to a second end of the crank. The first cam follower is attached at an inner end of the arm and engages the first cam track. The second cam follower is attached to the arm at a position between the first cam follower and the crank and engages the second cam track.

Abstract: A cam reel for use on a harvesting header that can be configured in both operating and transport positions is provided. The reel comprises a plurality of finger-bearing reel bats disposed evenly around the reel shaft, each rotatably attached through the distal ends of radial arms extending outwardly from the reel shaft. A cam disc is attached to the frame and engages each reel bat by a cam follower, to provide rotational movement of the reel bats relative to the radial arms, during rotation of the shaft in the operating position. The cam has at least one operating position, and a transport position in which the engaged reel bats will be pivoted into transport mode that substantially reduces the risk of damage to the fingers.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting head comprises a frame, crop dividers located at each end of the frame, and a reel supported on the frame between the crop dividers wherein a disk at at least one end of the reel has a wiper mounted upon it that wipes against the surface of a crop divider as the reel and disc rotate during harvesting, and in this manner helps clear the crop divider of crop plants that might otherwise become hair pinned on the crop divider. Wipers can be provided on discs at both ends of the reel to thereby keep both crop dividers clear.

Abstract: A crop feeding roller for a header includes a plurality of finger units within the roller each having a pair of fingers projecting outwardly for engaging crop outside the peripheral wall of the roller. The peripheral wall has opposed finger guide holes associated with the pair of fingers. Each finger unit including an inner member carrying the fingers and containing an elongate guide slot transverse to the axis of the roller and a stationary guide member within the guide slot at a position within the roller arranged to cause the inner member with the fingers of each of the finger units to reciprocate during the rotation of the roller. The guide slot is shaped with at least one curved lobe to one side of a transverse center section so that the slot can be S-shaped or C-shaped to improve the dwell time and swept area obtained by the finger movement.

Abstract: A reel for an agricultural harvesting head has a rotating wheel that is pivotally coupled to a plurality of bat extension links and each of the bat extension links is pivotally coupled to a corresponding bat.

Abstract: A reel for an agricultural harvesting head has a rotating wheel that is pivotally coupled to a plurality of bat extension links and each of the bat extension links is pivotally coupled to a corresponding bat.

Abstract: A cam shield for a rotary reel of a crop harvesting header disposed adjacent to a tine bar of a rotary reel and mounted for movement along a cam in a generally constant angular relationship thereto for deflecting crop material from a cam region forward of a cutter bar and below the cam during rotation of the reel.

Abstract: A harvesting machine having a ground contacting propulsion system, a chassis connected to the ground propulsion system, and a header. The header has a bat reel assembly rotatingly attached to the header. The bat reel assembly includes at least one reel structural assembly, a plurality of bat rods, a tensioned member, and at least one moveable pivotal member. The at least one reel structural assembly is configured to rotate about an axis. The plurality of bat rods are pivotally connected to the at least one reel structural assembly. The plurality of bat rods include a first bat rod and a second bat rod. The tensioned member is drivingly coupled to the first bat rod and the second bat rod. The at least one pivotal member is in contact with the tensioned member. The at least one moveable pivotal member is located between the first bat rod and the second bat rod along a path of the tensioned member.

Abstract: A cam shield for a rotary reel of a crop harvesting header disposed adjacent to a tine bar of a rotary reel and mounted for movement along a cam in a generally constant angular relationship thereto for deflecting crop material from a cam region forward of a cutter bar and below the cam during rotation of the reel.

Abstract: A tool for replacing rake tines, having inner and outer ends, of a rake wheel which includes a central disc-shaped support plate means and a peripheral rim spaced outwardly of the support plate means with the peripheral rim having a plurality of spaced-apart openings formed therein which receive the rake tines extending therethrough so that the outer ends of the rake tines are positioned outwardly of the peripheral rim, and means removably securing the inner ends of the rake tines to the support plate means. The tool comprises a plurality of spaced-apart body members adapted to be secured to tines not needing replacement and to replacement tines to maintain the replacement tines to be secured to the rake wheel.

Abstract: A harvesting machine having a ground contacting propulsion system, a chassis connected to the ground propulsion system, and a header. The header has a bat reel assembly rotatingly attached to the header. The bat reel assembly includes at least one reel structural assembly, a plurality of bat rods, a tensioned member, and at least one moveable pivotal member. The at least one reel structural assembly is configured to rotate about an axis. The plurality of bat rods are pivotally connected to the at least one reel structural assembly. The plurality of bat rods include a first bat rod and a second bat rod. The tensioned member is drivingly coupled to the first bat rod and the second bat rod. The at least one pivotal member is in contact with the tensioned member. The at least one moveable pivotal member is located between the first bat rod and the second bat rod along a path of the tensioned member.

Abstract: A pickup reel for a harvester which includes stops for preventing over-rotation of bat tubes. The pickup reel includes a main shaft and a plurality of reel arms which extend from the main shaft. A bat tube is engaged with an end of each of the reel arms. More specifically, the pickup reel includes a plurality of bat tubes, all of which are parallel to each other and parallel to the main shaft of the pickup reel. Each bat tube carries a plurality of tines and is supported by a plurality of reel arms which extend from the main shaft. Associated with each bat tube are a plurality of stops for defining the range of allowable rotation of the respective bat tube. By restricting the amount the bat tubes can rotate, crop does not tend to get wrapped around the bat tubes during operation of the harvester.

Abstract: A kit for modifying the bat drive assembly of a combine having a header ahead of a crop feed auger, the header having a cutter bar at its leading edge, and a bat reel assembly comprising a reel and a plurality of bats that rotate above and in front of the header and cutter bar to move crop into the cutter bar and cut crop into the auger. The existing bat drive assembly is removed and replaced with a bat drive assembly which rotates each of the bats from the essentially vertical at rest position up to 360 degrees in a clockwise rotation and up to 360 degrees in a counterclockwise rotation at any position of the bat reel to control each individual bat to clean the bats of cut crop and to give each bat clean crop entry and clean crop exit as desired.

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 drive system for the bat assembly of a combine by which the reel fingers of the bat are rotated from their generally vertical position into a collapsed position and then back into their generally vertical position as the bat fingers traverse from just prior to the header to just prior to the feed auger whereby the reel fingers of the bat can be adjusted to be spaced from the header in all of its positions to accomplish continuous and even feed of cut crop into the auger and yet avoid breakage of reel fingers by the floating header impinging upon the reel fingers during use.

Abstract: A pickup reel for a harvester. The harvester includes a harvesting platform including a frame having a front edge and a cutter bar extending along the front edge. The pickup reel includes a reel support supported by the frame, a first shaft rotatably supported by the reel support and extending along an axis transverse to the frame, an arm extending radially from and being rotatable with the first shaft, a second shaft supported by the arm and being generally parallel to and radially spaced from the first shaft, the second shaft being rotatable relative to and rotatable with the arm, and a plurality of tines supported by the second shaft for rotation with the second shaft, each of the plurality of tines having a tip, the tips being movable along a tip path during rotation of the first shaft.

Abstract: A pickup reel for a harvesting platform including a reel support structure with a reel shaft rotatably supported thereon. A plurality of radially extending arms are mounted to the reel shaft and a plurality of transverse rockshafts are mounted to the radially extending arms and are axially offset and parallel to the reel shaft and span the width of the platform. Radial fingers are mounted on each rockshaft. A cam is mounted to the support structure adjacent one or both ends of the rockshafts and defines an endless cam path about the reel shaft. A crank arm attached to each rockshaft carries a cam follower that engages the cam path for following along the path. The cam path is configured to cause the crank arms, and thus the rockshafts, to rotate about the respective rockshaft axis to vary the attitude of the fingers relative to the ground as the cam followers move along the cam path. The cam is segmented, having two or more cam segments joined together to form the endless cam path.

Abstract: A reel of a header comprises a tube which is mounted on arms at ends of the tube for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the tube. At axially spaced positions along the length of the tube is provided a plurality of support members each lying in a radial plane of the tube and forming a disc surrounding the tube. The disc carries a plurality of brackets extending radially outwardly from the edge of the disc and each bracket carries a respective one of a plurality of bats extending longitudinally of the tube and at angularly spaced positions around the tube. As the tube rotates the bats pass over a sickle knife of the header and sweep the crop onto a table of the header. The brackets are adjustable radially relative to the discs so that the brackets at the center of the tube are moved radially inwardly and the brackets at the ends of the tube are moved radially outwardly.

Abstract: A reel for a harvesting machine includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending support arms, a plurality of axially extending bat tubes rotatably supported on the outer end portions of the support arms, a plurality of axially spaced tines, preferably made from a synthetic thermoplastic or thermosetting material, mounted on each bat tube and a spring having one end connected to each bat tube and a support carried by the reel. The spring holds the bat tube in an operating position where the tines are at a predetermined angular orientation relative to the rotational axis of the reel during normal operation. If one or more tines on one bat tube engages a plug of wet hay or other obstruction, the spring permits the bat tube to rotate in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the reel to a deflected position where the tine(s) can ride over the obstruction.

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 reel for a harvesting machine comprises a plurality of bats arranged for rotation around an axis defined by a shaft. The bats are pivotal about a bat axis parallel to the shaft and are driven in pivoting movement by an eccentric ring member interconnected to each of the bats by a rigid link controlled by the eccentric ring member. The ring member is free to rotate relative to the shaft but is driven by each in turn of the links when the respective bat reaches an extreme position as defined by a sliding link coupled between the rigid link and the ring member. The bats comprise folded sheet metal in tubular form defining a plurality of pockets each for receiving a plastics finger for projecting from a leading edge of the bat. Each bat is formed from separate bat portions coupled together by tubes extending into an end of the bat and bolted to the tubes so as to depress material from the bat into a punched hole formed in a groove in the tube.

Abstract: A controller for maintaining pick-up tines on harvesting reels at predetermined orientation in space as the reel is rotated for severing crops from the ground having inherent structural self-compensation for wear and dimensional tolerance stack-up in the assembly of parts thereof and induced reduction of peak loads thereon by means of a pendulously-suspended control spider which is pivotally mounted on the machine in the direction against and nominally on the line of action of the applied load on said spider from the gathering and cutting of crops by the pick-up reel of said machine.

Abstract: A cam operated rotating reel for use in a crop harvesting apparatus is generally described. Specifically, the disclosure is directed to such a reel having an improved mechanism thereon for selective lateral adjustment of a tine bar relative to its support bearings without limiting the normal rotational characteristics of the bar.

Abstract: A harvester reel having a shaft is journalled on a supporting frame of a harvesting vehicle for rotation relative to the frame about a main horizontal, transverse axis. A pair of mounting arms are axially spaced apart on and fixed to the shaft, which may be tubular. Extending parallel to the axis and journalled on the two arms is a bat rotatable with respect to the arms for movement about a bat axis parallel to the main axis. At least at one end the bat has a crank carrying a crank pin with a crank axis offset from but parallel to the bat axis. Fixed on the main frame is a circular guide symmetrical about a guide axis eccentric from and parallel to the main axis. A follower, like an eccentric strap, is mounted to rotate on the circular guide. A rod connection to the follower extends to a journal connection on the crank pin.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine has a forward transversely elongated cutting platform with a cutting mechanism along its leading edge and a pickup type reel spanning the width of the platform above the cutting mechanism. The reel is carried between a pair of vertically adjustable arms having quadrant type support members at their forward ends and carrying transverse pivots on which adjustable support elements are swingable and lockable to the support member by a locking device associated with the quadrant. The adjustable elements in turn support the reel shaft, which is driven through a chain drive by hydraulic motor attached to the adjustable element. A plurality of transversely spaced spiders are attached to the shaft and carrying rockshafts at their outer ends, which are connected to eccentric spiders at the opposite ends of the reel via crank arms, the eccentric spiders also being journaled in the adjustable members.