Abstract: A corn harvester machine with an improved corn head for picking up downed cornstalks. The head has some conventional components including a cross auger conveyor with a forwardly open trough and a base portion extending forwardly and downwardly from it, pairs of horizontally spaced stripper plates with gathering chains and snapping rolls running above and below them and defining a plurality stalk-receiving throats. A lower cowl is fixedly mounted between each adjacent pair of stripper plates and a downwardly concave upper cowl is nested over each lower cowl and pivotally journaled to it for up and down tilting movement about a horizontal tilting axis at the cowl rear end portions. A pair of stalk lifting chains are trained for orbital movement between pairs of driving and idler sprockets. The driving sprockets are journaled in the lower cowl about the tilting axis. The idler sprockets are rotatably journaled in a front nose portion of the upper cowl and are vertically movable with it.

Abstract: An agricultural attachment for harvesting agricultural products arranged in rows, such as corn and the like, has a frame, a plurality of product drawing elements, and a plurality of hingedly mounted dividing elements associated with the product drawing elements so as to form together with the latter product drawing passages, wherein each of the drawing elements have two parts which are articulately connected with one another so that they are pivotable relative to one another to assume a position in which they have a tipped roof shape and are fixable in this position.

Abstract: An attachment for a corn harvester to pick up loose ears off the ground. In the embodiment described, novel pickup and conveyor mechanism are substituted for the forward, pointed snout members at the forward ends of the longitudinally extending hoods which are part of the row dividers in a conventional corn head and which define throats aligned with rows of corn. The attachment cooperates with the conventional stripper plates, gathering chains, and snapping rolls, making the harvester doubly effective in that it collects loose ears from the ground as well as picking them from the stalks.

Abstract: A corn snapping header for a forage harvester is provided with corn snapping units of the snapping plate type which are disposed with their crop passages converging to a single rear outlet. A single transverse drive line with flexible drive means is provided to drive the snapping units.

Abstract: A divider structure for a row crop harvester which includes a hood (8) and point (9) having flexible plastic sheathing (106, 37) supported on subframes (12, 13) which in turn are mounted on adjacent row units (131, 132).

Abstract: The crop conveyance path of row crop attachments includes gathering and gripping members moving relative to a floor. The path sometimes becomes clogged between the gathering and gripping members and the floor. A sweeping member is provided between the floor of the path and the gathering members. The sweeping member assists in maintaining a clear crop conveyance path and also assists the gathering and gripping members in stabilizing stalk crop material during conveyance along the path.

Abstract: An attachment for a harvester for picking up and combining downed corn stalks or the like in which the harvester is of the type having a plurality of inner dividers and two outer dividers, all with tapered snouts between which throats are provided defining entrances to the combine for upright rows of corn to pass therethrough. The device includes rollers carried on a top surface of the outer dividers and a plurality of chains having flexible outwardly extending fingers carried on the chain and driven, these chains being disposed on the top surface of the inner dividers and a driving arrangement which simultaneously drives both the rollers and chains so that corn stalks or similar articles which are downed or bent over can engage these rollers and chains and be lifted upwardly and directed to the corn stalk throat entrance of the combine for further processing.

Abstract: A row crop unit (10) is provided with cooperating pairs of molded belts (40), the belts (40) being supported from overhead frame members (20, 22, 24, 26) whereby the build-up of trash within the unit is minimized. A cutoff mechanism (100) is provided, the mechanism (100) being driven by a drive mechanism (110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120) independent of the belts (40) whereby high driving torques on the belts (40) are avoided. The forward ends of the belts (40) are carried by spaced apart sprockets (56) located forwardly of the cutoff mechanism (100) to insure that standing crop material is properly gathered and engaged prior to severing by the cutoff mechanism (100).

Abstract: A row crop attachment has row crop dividers which are independently adjustable for varying widths of row crops. Protruding crop guide members which are mounted for width adjustment with the dividers are also adjustable independently of the dividers and the guide members are relatively adjustable for both width and height adjustment.

Abstract: A pickup head for long-stalk crops, generally grown in rows, such as corn, especially for a field chopper or harvester, has a multiplicity (more than three) of mouths each aligned with a respective row and adapted to guide the crop into the throat of the machine. According to the invention, each of the mouths is provided with a respective guide channel, two of the guide channels merging ahead of the throat along the path of the crop toward the latter. Along each of the guide channels prior to the merger, a respective chain or other advancing mechanism is provided, the advancing mechanism of one of the channels continuing beyond the merger point to the throat of the machine. The arrangement permits a large number of rows to be swept although the throat of the machine is substantially narrower than the width of the intake side of the pickup head.

Abstract: A row crop harvester provided with pairs of coacting power-driven endless belts having a feed path therebetween for stalk-type crop material to be fed by said belts to the harvester from the cutting mechanism thereon, the belts having lug members on the outer surfaces to effect positive engagement with crop material and move it along said feed path, and positive drive for said belts being provided in the form of spaced lugs on the inner surfaces of said belts which are received in complementary openings in rotary support and drive members, the improvement comprising self-clearing members supported adjacent the rotary members and having lugs projectable into the aforementioned openings to clear the same of any extraneous material therein.

Abstract: Crop divider mechanism for attachment to a knockdown bar of an agricultural harvesting or conditioning machine and comprising a pair of similar interchangeable left-hand and right-hand rod members bent into substantially trapezoidal shape with parallel opposite long and short sides and intervening sides sloping from said long side to said short side, pairs of bracket members attachable respectively in spaced relation along opposite end portions of said knockdown bar and each pair pivotally receiving one of said intermediate sides of said rod members, similar positioning plates respectively fixed to one bracket of each pair thereof and having several spaced holes to receive selectively one end of a positioning pin selectively to support said rod members in upstanding inoperative position or forwardly extending operative position, and supplemental flat links connected to a second plate adjacent each positioning plate in positions to engage said knockdown bar in a manner to hold said rod members no lower than in

Abstract: Problems associated with row crop attachments for harvesting machines are limited by replacing previously known gathering chains with a plurality of rotary elements adapted to define a stalkway formed of intermeshing rotary crop conveyors.

Abstract: A multirow harvester header including a plurality of rearwardly converging crop dividers defining a plurality of crop receiving passageways therebetween. Each passageway has a corresponding pair of conveyors for conveying the crop through the passageway. As a means of conserving space in the area adjacent the crop receiving throat of the harvester, the crop engaging endless loop belt of one of the conveyors of a first and second pair of conveyors terminates substantially forward of the endless loop belt of the opposed conveyor with which it coacts to convey crop. A crop divider houses the short terminating conveyor and has a rear tip extending substantially beyond the rear end of the forward terminating endless loop belt. The tip provides enhanced positive feeding of the crop in the adjacent passageway by maintaining crop stalks in engagement with the opposed conveyor beyond the termination point of the forward terminating conveyor.

Abstract: A multirow header for cutting and conveying standing row crops from a standing position in the field into the crop receiving throat of the attached harvester for crop processing. The header comprises a main frame comprised of mechanically attached, modular-type subframes. Included among the mechanically attached subframes are a rear attachment frame, a pair of sealed gear cases which form the basic central subframe of the header, and a plurality of row unit frames.

Abstract: A multirow harvester header comprising a plurality of pairs of crop conveyors. Each conveyor pair corresponds to a single row of crop and is used to converge and convey a single row from a standing position in the field into the crop receiving throat of the harvester attached to the rear of the header. A first and second pair of the conveyors is inclined transversely and downwardly in a direction toward a third and fourth pair of the conveyors. The third and fourth pair of conveyors are inclined transversely and downwardly in the direction of the first and second pair of conveyors. The second and third pair of conveyors are vertically spaced above and in overlapping relationship respectively with the first and fourth pair of conveyors. The transverse inclination and overlapping relationship of the conveyors enables the rear drive shafts of each pair of conveyors to be closely spaced together in front of the crop receiving throat of the harvester.

Abstract: A cotton harvester with an offset head having four row units positioned for harvesting cotton planted in uniformly spaced narrow rows. The frame of the harvester is supported near its forward end by a pair of drive wheels adapted to run between two pairs of rows of cotton. The head is offset so that three rows of cotton are accommodated between the wheels and one row of cotton is accommodated outside one of the wheels. The machine drive and guide wheels can therefore be positioned between the rows for ease in steering and driving. A cotton basket on the harvester can be dumped toward the side which is unobstructed by a harvesting unit so the receiving implement can be positioned closer to the harvester and so the head which is offset in the opposite direction can act as a counterweight to balance the harvester as the basket is extended transversely for dumping.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine includes a corn picker head having a cornstalk harvesting and windrow attachment on its underside which includes gathering guide fingers for each row for feeding stalks into a sickle cutter and either a paddle reel or rotary cutter forwardly of augers which optionally convey cut stalks to a centrally positioned discharge whereby the stalks are dropped onto the ground in a windrow or upon opening of a gate rearwardly of the augers the stalks are discharged directly onto the ground. A gathering chain is provided on one of the guide fingers for each row and includes upper and lower sections with the lower return section being displaced laterally outwardly away from the stalks engaged by the upper section. The sickle cutter is positioned rearwardly of the forward end of the snapping rollers and cutting of the stalks occurs after the stalks are engaged by the snapping rollers which rotate inwardly and downwardly.

Abstract: An upper stalk guide or control for a forage harvester header. The stalk control comprises a transverse member spaced above the crop conveying passageways of the header, two outwardly and forwardly diverging arms attached to the respective ends of the transverse member and a centrally disposed wedge member for subdividing the upper portions of the crop stalks so as to enhance the clog-free feeding of the butt ends of the stalk through the crop receiving passageways of the header and into the throat of the harvester in advance of the upper portions.

Abstract: A row unit for a corn harvesting header is disclosed wherein the frame of the row unit includes a box beam structure at the rear of the unit for housing the gearing necessary for driving the gathering chains and stalk rolls. This unitary row unit frame structure is mounted to the frame of the header by two pairs of Z-shaped clamp members to give a solid, stable, low cost and light weight row unit structure.

Abstract: A multirow forage harvester header for cutting and conveying a row crop from a standing position in the field into a crop receiving throat of the harvester for processing. The header is provided with an improved drive means for actuating a pair of crop cutters respectively disposed adjacent the crop entries of two crop receiving and conveying passageways of the header. The drive means includes a reciprocatable rod connected between one of the cutters and a remotely located input drive and a second reciprocatable rod connected between the two cutters. The two cutters are synchronously driven by the input drive through the first and second reciprocating rods.

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: A drive system for a corn harvesting header is disclosed wherein the power input shaft delivering rotational power to the individual row units is positioned externally of the gear housing. A slip clutch for each individual row unit is affixed to the power input shaft rearward of each gear housing and is connected thereto by an endless chain. This improved drive system allows maintenance of the row units without disturbing the power input shaft and maintenance of the slip clutches without disturbing the row units.

Abstract: A single row corn harvesting unit of a normally multiple unit corn head adapted to be mounted at the forward end of a crop harvesting combine and comprising a pair of "snapping rolls" or stalk rolls extending forwardly in cantilever fashion in contiguous relation to each other from a gear subassembly, the snapping rolls cooperating with each other in the corn harvesting operation. The rearward end of each snapping roll has a driven bevel gear mounted thereon, the two driven bevel gears comprising part of the gear subassembly. A drive shaft is suitably mounted for rotation and a double bevel gear which also forms part of the gear subassembly is mounted on the drive shaft. The double bevel gear has opposed gear faces each respectively adapted to drivingly engage a corresponding driven bevel gear on one of said respective snapping rolls.

Abstract: A multi-row crop header for a forage harvester having a plurality of forwardly extending dividers to provide crop passageways therebetween, the inner ends of said dividers being adjustably connected to a transverse frame member to vary the spacings between said passageways, and a rotatable feed assist roller mounted adjacent the inner end of the outermost divider to assist in guidng down crops picked up by said dividers to the inner ends of said passageways for discharge therefrom and prevent hairpinning of said down crops from jamming said header thereby.

Abstract: A stalk-crop harvester displaceable along the ground has a plurality of forwardly open throats each adapted to receive a row of the crop during harvesting thereof and having at its front end to one side a cutting rotor and to the other side a sprocket for a conveyor chain extending back along the respective throat. Provided at the front end of each of the throats is one of a plurality of identical mounting plates which are each symmetrical about a respective upright plane bisecting the respective front end and extending generally in the normal direction of displacement of the harvester. Each such plate carries a pair of similar mounts which axially flank the respective plane, and one of which rotatably carries the respective sprocket and the other of which rotatably carries the respective rotor.

Abstract: A row-crop harvester has a frame displaceable in a predetermined travel direction and formed with a plurality of forwardly open throats each provided with a respective conveyor chain each in turn spanned over a respective drive sprocket. Each such drive sprocket is carried on a respective drive shaft having a drive gear that meshes with the drive gears of the conveyor chains to each side. Each drive shaft with its respective sprocket and gear are together mounted in a respective housing bolted to the frame of the harvester and having a mounting flange whose outer periphery corresponds to the pitch circle of the respective drive gear. A main gear meshing with one of the drive gears rotates all of these drive gears simultaneously, and each conveyor chain has a stretch exposed in a respective throat of the machine which is opposite the stretch of the flanking chains for backward advance of cut crop.

Abstract: A row-crop harvester has a frame displaceable along the ground and formed with a plurality of forwardly opening throats at each of which is provided an endless conveyor chain spanned over a drive sprocket and an idler sprocket. A fluid cylinder mounted on the frame is provided for each of the idler sprockets so that when this cylinder is pressurized it can urge the respective idler sprocket away from the respective drive sprocket and tension the respective conveyor chain. A pressure-responsive switch is connected to each of the fluid cylinders and to a magnetic clutch between the drive for the chopper and drive sprockets for the harvester. When the pressure drops suddenly in any of the cylinders, as happens when a chain breaks, his pressure-responsive switch will respond and open the clutch to shut down the harvester.

Abstract: A forage harvester and fixed-construction row crop attachment therefor are disclosed. The attachment has three plant-receiving passages consisting of a central passage and a pair of side passages on opposite sides of the central passage. Each passage has an inner or channel section comprised of substantially parallel walls, an intermediate section or throat comprised of outwardly diverging intermediate walls and an outer section or mouth comprised of outwardly diverging outer walls. A cutter is provided in association with each of the throats or intermediate sections. Each of the intermediate walls of each side passage is constructed and arranged to define a comparatively wide cut-off area at the bottom. The cutter associated with the intermediate section or throat of each side passage is arranged adjacent its cut-off area. The comparatively wide cut-off areas and associated cutters cooperate with gathering chain sets to assure harvesting of plants having both narrow and wide row spacings.

Abstract: A sprocket assembly adapted for rotational cooperation with a flexible, toothed driving belt and used in a crop handling device such as a forage harvester or the like is constructed of a pair of parallel sidewall members or disks which are interconnected by a central hub rotatable about a center axis. The outer surface of the hub is contoured so as to include a middle section of reduced diameter together with additional sections of generally conical configuration extending away from the middle section toward the sidewalls. Sets of drive lugs are provided on the inner surfaces of each of the sidewalls and arranged in a circular pattern so as to cooperate with the teeth of the drive belt. A stationary wiper arm is mounted adjacent to the rotatable hub and includes a portion extending into the space between the sidewalls and between the two sets of drive lugs such that an end portion of the wiper arm is positioned in close proximity to the middle section of the hub.

Abstract: A harvester for a multirow corn crop comprises a cutting head whose leading edge is formed with individual cutting members at each of a plurality of channels. The channels run rearwardly and unite at the rear portion of the head. Each of the channels is provided along one flank with a yieldable wall and along the other flank with a chain having entraining members reaching substantially across the full width and height of the channel. The entraining members are preferably of L-shape in plan view and have a pair of friction strips resting against the respective wall of the channel above and below the chains.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester has a forward transversely elongated header that includes a plurality of row units mounted on the header frame for removing crop material from a plurality of rows as the machine advances and delivering it rearwardly to a transverse auger on the header, which converges the crop and delivers it rearwardly to the forage harvester through a central crop transfer opening in the header. Each row unit includes a supporting structure extending forwardly in cantilever fashion from the header frame and a pair of belt type gathering elements having opposite rearwardly moving inner runs with intermeshing projections that clamp the stalks of row planted crops to move the stalk rearwardly. A reciprocating cutter is mounted on the supporting structure below the forward intake ends of each pair of gathering elements and the rearward discharge end of each pair gathering elements is disposed directly under the auger to positively feed the butt of the severed stalk under the auger.

Abstract: Adjusting apparatus is provided for a rotary crop cutting knife on a row crop harvesting machine. The apparatus mounting the knife on the crop divider provides a tilting adjustment of the cutting plane about an axis transverse of the crop passage, a linear vertical adjustment of the cutting plane, and a tilting adjustment of the cutting plane about an axis longitudinal of the divider, the apparatus preferably being a rectangular bar, to which the knife is rotatably mounted in depending relationship, which has a portion telescoped within the divider frame and clamped there inside by an arrangement of bolts providing these adjustments.

Abstract: The gathering units of the harvesting header diverge downwardly and forwardly from a common discharge zone at the upper rear end of the header, the two middle units being disposed in a plane below that of the two outer units and having their upper crop discharge outlets spaced forwardly from the corresponding discharge outlets of the outer units. The conveying elements of the outer units at least partially overlap conveying elements of the two inner gathering units adjacent the discharge outlets of the latter. Each gathering unit has its own individual standing crop cutter assembly, the assemblies of the two inner units being set back with respect to those of the outer units but being substantially the same height for uniform stubble height. Each assembly has a rotary cutter in combination with a stationary shear plate, both of which are mounted on the same side of the crop conveying passage of the unit.

Abstract: In a row crop harvesting header of the type having a crop gathering passage and crop cutting and conveying apparatus associated therewith, the crop cutting apparatus comprising a pair of overlapping rotary disk cutters, a stripper plate is provided behind the cutting nip and has an arcuate stripping edge closely adjacent to and spaced from the periphery of the lower disk and having its forward portion underlapping the upper disk.

Abstract: A rotary cutting system for use with a row crop harvesting apparatus includes a pair of contra-rotating sickle assemblies operating in conjunction with a system of flexible, toothed crop-gathering belts. Each sickle assembly includes at least a pair of multi-toothed sickle blades arranged to cooperate with a stationary cutting member. As the belts are driven to gather in crop material, the sickle blades function to sever the material near ground level, the two sickel assemblies being arranged to operate simultaneously on two adjacent rows of crop material. Mirror-image construction of the sickle assemblies permits use of sickle blades having multiple, double-edged teeth such that the blades can be interchanged between assemblies for optimum blade utilization. The stationary cutting member is also of double-edged construction and is mounted for reversible operation.

Abstract: A multi-row crop header for a harvesting machine has a plurality of fore-and-aft extending row crop units, each having an elongated passageway with a front inlet opening and a rear discharge opening. The row crop units are pivotally mounted such that they can be swung toward and away from one another so as to vary the lateral distance between the inlet openings of adjacent units to thereby accommodate crops planted in various width row spacings.

Abstract: Individual row units on the harvester, each including a crop transfer trough, cutting apparatus at the forward end of the trough, and cooperating conveyors along the trough, are independently swingable relative to one another for changing the distance between the troughs at their forward ends in accordance with the row spacing encountered in a particular field. The spacing at the rear ends of the troughs remains unchanged in all positions of swinging movement of the units so that the dimensions of the discharge zone into which the crops are delivered by the units may remain constant. Individual sets of disc cutters serve as the cutting apparatus for the row units and are driven by the same mechanism that operates the conveyors.

Abstract: A multi-row crop header for a forage harvester has a central rear discharge outlet, a transversely extending consolidating auger and a plurality of fore-and-aft extending crop dividers. The crop dividers define forward crop passageways and rear crop passageways extending from the forward crop passageways. At least some of the rear crop passageways are angled inwardly from front to rear, toward the longitudinal centerline of the header. Disposed within each of the rear crop passageways is a set of butt-gripping chains that grip the butt-ends of the stalks and convey the same rearwardly toward the central discharge outlet.

Abstract: A forage harvester row crop header having fore-and-aft dividers defining elongated passageways therebetween is provided with a rotary member disposed within a pocket defined in a rear portion of one of the outboard dividers to assist in the feeding of crop along the passageway. The rotary member is capstan shaped having its axis of rotation inclined upwardly and rearwardly with respect to the top surface of the respective outboard divider. The lower surface of the rotary member forms a smooth transition with the top surface of the divider and thus, in profile, the divider and the rotary member are represented by a line which gradually slopes, from the forward end of the divider upwardly and rearwardly and therefrom smoothly contours upwardly and rearwardly a short distance and therefrom upwardly and forwardly, thereby providing a substantially uninterrupted surface for the flow of draped over crop along the divider and the rotary member.

Abstract: A conventional self-propelled combine has a forwardly positioned platform assembly equipped with a usual transverse auger for conveying cut crop plants to a crop intake which is located in the platform assembly back wall intermediate the ends of the auger. A row crop header mounted from the floor of the platform assembly is comprised of a plurality of transversely spaced harvesting or row units, each of which includes a pair of gathering belts arranged at opposite sides of a longitudinally extended guideway. A pair of discs having upwardly and outwardly inclined peripheral notched sections are positioned transversely opposite each other at the forward end of the guideway. The adjacent peripheral portions of the discs are in an overlapped relation so that the peripheral section of the lowermost disc in the cutting zone of the discs rests on the ground surface.

Abstract: A harvesting machine, such as a combine, may be adapted for the harvesting of row crops by attaching a series of laterally spaced-apart, individual row units across the header of the combine. Each unit attachment is of low-profile configuration having a pair of downwardly and forwardly extending, obstruction-free dividing members which become disposed on opposite sides of a crop row during operation, the drive for gathering mechanism on the members being disposed below and to one side of the crop delivery passage defined between each pair of dividing members whereby to render the passage wholly unobstructed from top-to-bottom and front-to-rear thereof to facilitate the orderly, clog-free movement of crops rearwardly through the passage and into the header for further processing.

Abstract: A multiple row crop harvester is provided with two endless chain drives and associated endless belt conveyors for simultaneously handling the crop from all rows. Each endless chain drive comprises a number of chain sprockets at fixed radial spacings from each other, a chain tensioning idler, and an endless drive chain trained about the sprockets and idler. The idler of one chain drive and the idler of the other are operatively interconnected by a self-adjusting, one-way tensioning device.

Abstract: An attachment for mounting on a mobile forage chopper is provided with at least one endless belt conveyor and associated crop cutting assembly for severing a crop row from the ground and moving it along an upwardly and rearwardly inclined passage into the inlet of the chopper. A cutting assembly at the inlet end of the crop feeding passage comprises a stationary cutting blade and a crop engaging star wheel which is connected to the front idler of the belt conveyor. The star wheel cooperates with the cutting blade to shear standing crop material from the ground while cut crop material is being moved along the feeding passage by the belt conveyor.

Abstract: A row crop harvesting apparatus adapted to sever forage from a field and deliver it to a crop processing mechanism. The apparatus includes two elongated, laterally opposed conveyor belts which define between them a crop receiving passage. The design of the belts on either side of the crop receiving passage preferably comprises a driving member, a forward idler, and longitudinally spaced intermediate idlers. The idlers are spaced so that idlers of one belt are not laterally aligned with idlers of the other belt. The apparatus includes a rotary cutter mounted and driven by an adjustable forward idler. Means are provided for adjusting the adjustable forward idler. The rotary cutter cooperates with a second cutter element mounted on the means for adjusting the adjustable forward idler, thereby allowing the forward idler to be adjusted without affecting the cutting relationship of the rotary cutter and the second cutter element.

Abstract: A multi-row crop header for a harvesting machine has a plurality of fore-and-aft extending row crop units, each having an elongated passageway with a front inlet opening and a rear discharge opening. The row crop units are pivotally mounted such that they can be swung toward and away from one another so as to vary the lateral distance between the inlet openings of adjacent units to thereby accommodate crops planted in various width row spacings.

Abstract: A multi-row crop header for a harvesting machine has a plurality of fore-and-aft extending row crop units, each having an elongated passageway with a front inlet opening and a rear discharge opening. The row crop units are pivotally mounted such that they can be swung toward and away from one another so as to vary the lateral distance between the inlet openings of adjacent units to thereby accommodate crops planted in various width row spacings.