CROP HARVESTING HEADER WITH CAM CONTROLLED MOVEMENT OF THE REEL FINGERS

TETE DE MOISSONNEUSE A COMMANDE DU MOUVEMENT DES DOIGTS ROTATIFS PAR CAME

English 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 reef 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. Each bat is pivoted by a crank attached to the bat and a control link having one end freely pivotally connected to the outer end of the bat lever and having a cam follower the other end. A pulling link communicates rotation of the reel to the control link such that the cam follower thereof is caused to move along the cam track at a predetermined position therein. The crank is adjustable relative to the control link to change bat finger angle to provide a change in crop lift before the cutter bar while maintaining finger pattern. The cam location is adjustable around the reel axis to change the finger pattern.

French Abstract

Une tête de coupe de moissonneuse comprend une barre de coupe agencée à travers un bord avant d'une structure de cadre de tête de coupe, un agencement de transport par convoyeur à toile ou par tarière pour transporter la récolte coupée pour un traitement ultérieur, et un rabatteur monté sur des bras de rabatteur pour commander le déplacement de la récolte dans la zone au-dessus de la barre de coupe, le rabatteur ayant une pluralité de lattes de rabatteur à des positions espacées autour de l'axe de rabatteur, chaque latte de rabatteur ayant des doigts de rabatteur faisant saillie généralement radialement vers l'extérieur à partir de l'axe de rabatteur, les lattes de rabatteur s'étendant toutes sur un cercle de latte commun autour de l'axe de rabatteur de telle sorte qu'une rotation du rabatteur amène les lattes de rabatteur à suivre un trajet de déplacement s'étendant sur le cercle de latte. Une piste de came immobile non circulaire entoure l'axe de rabatteur à l'intérieur du cercle de latte de telle sorte que les doigts les plus à l'extrémité des lattes sont situés en alignement avec la came et immédiatement adjacents à la feuille d'extrémité. Chaque latte est amenée à pivoter par une manivelle fixée à la latte et une liaison de commande ayant une extrémité reliée librement de manière pivotante à l'extrémité externe du levier de latte et ayant un galet suiveur à l'autre extrémité. Une liaison de traction communique la rotation du rabatteur à la liaison de commande de telle sorte que le galet suiveur de celle-ci est amené à se déplacer le long de la piste de came à une position prédéterminée dans celle-ci. La manivelle peut être ajustée par rapport à la liaison de commande pour changer l'angle de doigt de latte pour fournir un changement dans le levage de récolte avant la barre de coupe tout en maintenant un motif de doigts. L'emplacement de came peut être ajusté autour de l'axe de rabatteur pour changer le motif de doigts.

Claims

21

CLAIMS:

1. A crop harvesting header comprising:
a header frame structure arranged for movement in a direction of
working movement across ground carrying a crop to be harvested;
a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge of the header frame
structure for cutting the crop;
a cut crop transport arrangement mounted on the header frame
structure for receiving and transporting the cut crop for further processing;
and a reel for controlling movement of the crop in the area over the
cutter bar;
the reel being mounted on the header frame structure for movement
therewith in the direction of movement and for rotation about a reel axis
generally
parallel to the cutter bar;
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;
each of the reel bats being pivotal about its respective bat axis parallel
to the reel axis so as to vary the angle of the fingers about the bat axis as
the reel
rotates;
a cam member mounted on the header frame structure at one end of
the reel defining a non-circular cam track surrounding the reel axis and lying
in a


22


radial plane of the reel axis, the cam track being held during rotation of the
reel in
stationary angular location relative to the reel axis and;
each bat having associated therewith a respective control link with a
cam follower on the control link which follows the cam track, such that, as
the reel
rotates through a series of angularly spaced positions of the bats, the
movement of
the follower on the cam track causes the respective control link to move
relative to
the respective bat axis to cause pivotal movement of the respective bat about
the
bat axis and thus, for each of the positions, to move the fingers of the bat
around the
bat axis to a required orientation relative to an axial plane of the reel axis
passing
through the bat axis;
the cam track and the control links being arranged such that the cam
track is located wholly radially inwardly of the bat circle;
the bats at said one end of the reel extending longitudinally of the reel
from an axial position spaced away from said one end toward said one end to a
position such that an endmost finger of each of the bats lies in a radial
plane of the
reel axis which is at least in line with the cam track at said one end.

2. The header according to Claim 1 wherein the radial plane of the
endmost fingers is aligned with the cam.

3. The header according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the header frame
structure includes an end sheet lying in a vertical plane at right angles to
the cutter
bar so as to lie along the direction of working movement and wherein the
endmost
fingers are arranged immediately adjacent the end sheet.

4. The header according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the reel is


23

carried on at least two mounting arms of the header frame structure mounted on
the
header frame structure for upward and downward movement relative to the cutter
bar, wherein the cam track is mounted with the reel for upward and downward
movement with the mounting arms and wherein the cam track is mounted with the
reel on the mounting arms so as to maintain the cam track accurately in a
radial
plane of the reel axis as the reel axis moves with the mounting arms.

5. The header according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein each bat
has associated therewith a crank attached to the bat and having an outer end
spaced outwardly of the bat axis for effecting pivotal movement of the bat
about the
bat axis, wherein the respective control link of each bat has one end freely
pivotally
connected to the outer end of the crank and wherein each control link has
associated therewith a respective link member for communicating rotation of
the reel
to the control link such that the cam follower thereof is caused to move along
the
cam track at a predetermined position therein.

6. The header according to Claim 5 wherein the crank of each bat
is adjustable relative to its associated control link to change the angle of
the fingers
of the bat around the bat axis, so as to adjust, for each of the positions,
the
respective orientation of said fingers relative to said axial plane.

7. The header according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein the link member
comprises a pivotal link which has one end pivotally connected to the reel at
a fixed
position thereon and a second end pivotally connected to the control link.

8. The header according to Claim 7 wherein said one end is
angularly advanced of the second end so that the link pulls the control link
and the


24

follower along the track.

9. The header according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein each
bat is adjustable relative to its associated control link to change the angle
of the
fingers of the bat around the bat axis, so as to adjust, for each of the
positions, the
respective orientation of said fingers relative to said axial plane.

10. The header according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the
cam member is mounted for rotational adjustment movement of the stationary
angular location thereof around the reel axis.

11. The header according to Claim 10 wherein the reel is carried on
at least two mounting arms of the header frame structure mounted on the header
frame structure for upward and downward movement relative to the cutter bar,
wherein the cam track is mounted with the reel for upward and downward
movement
with the mounting arms, wherein the cam track is mounted on a member fixed
relative to the reel axis so as to maintain the cam track accurately in a
radial plane of
the reel axis as the reel axis moves with the mounting arms and wherein the
cam
track is mounted for rotational adjustment movement relative to the fixed
member
about the reel axis.

12. A crop harvesting header comprising:
a header frame structure arranged for movement in a direction of
working movement across ground carrying a crop to be harvested;
a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge of the header frame
structure for cutting the crop;
a cut crop transport arrangement mounted on the header frame


25

structure for receiving and transporting the cut crop for further processing;
a reel for controlling movement of the crop in the area over the cutter
bar;
the reel being mounted on at least two mounting arms of the header
frame structure for movement therewith in the direction of movement and for
rotation
about a reel axis generally parallel to the cutter bar, the mounting arms
being
mounted on the header frame structure for upward and downward movement
relative to the cutter bar;
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 reef 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;
each of the reel bats being pivotal about its respective bat axis parallel
to the reel axis so as to vary the angle of the fingers about the bat axis as
the reel
rotates;
a cam member defining a non-circular cam track surrounding the reel
axis and lying in a radial plane of the reel axis;
the cam member being held during rotation of the reel in stationary
angular location relative to the reel axis;
the cam member being mounted with the reel for upward and
downward movement with the mounting arms;
the cam member being mounted with the reel on the mounting arms so


26

as to maintain the cam track accurately in a radial plane of the reel axis as
the reel
axis moves with the mounting arms;
each bat having associated therewith a respective control link with a
cam follower on the control link which follows the cam track, such that, as
the reel
rotates through a series of angularly spaced positions of the bats, the
movement of
the follower on the cam track causes the respective control link to move
relative to
the respective bat axis to cause pivotal movement of the respective bat about
the
bat axis and thus, for each of the positions, to move the fingers of the bat
around the
bat axis to a required orientation relative to an axial plane of the reel axis
passing
through the bat axis;
the cam member being mounted for rotational adjustment movement of
the stationary angular location thereof around the reel axis.

13. The header according to Claim 12 wherein the reel includes at
each end a reel support shaft portion lying on the reel axis for supporting
the reel for
rotation about the reel axis; wherein the cam member includes a reel support
member defining a longitudinal support axis with bearings supporting one reel
support shaft portion at one end of the reel such that the bearings hold and
maintain
the shaft portion and the reel axis accurately coaxially with the support
axis; and
wherein the cam member is arranged to hold and maintain the cam track
accurately
in a radial plane of the support axis so as to hold the cam track in a radial
plane of
the reel axis.

14. The header according to Claim 13 wherein the reel support
member comprises a tubular member surrounding the shaft portion.


27

15. The header according to Claim 13 or 14 wherein the reel
support member includes two axially spaced bearings for supporting the shaft
portion at axially spaced positions thereon to hold the shaft portion
accurately
coaxial with the longitudinal axis.

16. The header according to Claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein the reel
support member is mounted on a respective one of the arms in a manner so as to
allow misalignment movements between the reel support member and the
respective arm while maintaining the reel axis accurately coaxial with the
longitudinal
axis.

17. A crop harvesting header comprising:
a header frame structure arranged for movement in a direction of
working movement across ground carrying a crop to be harvested;
a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge of the header frame
structure for cutting the crop;
a cut crop transport arrangement mounted on the header frame
structure for receiving and transporting the cut crop for further processing;
a reel for controlling movement of the crop in the area over the cutter
bar;
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;


28

each of the reel bats being pivotal about its respective bat axis parallel
to the reel axis so as to vary the angle of the fingers about the bat axis as
the reel
rotates;
and a cam member defining a non-circular cam track surrounding the
reel axis and lying in a radial plane of the reel axis;
each bat having associated therewith a respective control link with a
cam follower on the control link which follows the cam track, such that, as
the reel
rotates through a series of angularly spaced positions of the bats, the
movement of
the follower on the cam track causes the respective control link to move
relative to
the respective bat axis to cause pivotal movement of the respective bat about
the
bat axis and thus, for each of the positions, to move the fingers of the bat
around the
bat axis to a required orientation relative to an axial plane of the reel axis
passing
through the bat axis;
the reel including at each end a reel support shaft portion lying on the
reel axis for supporting the reel for rotation about the reel axis;
the cam member including a reel support member defining a
longitudinal support axis with bearings supporting one reel support shaft
portion at
one end of the reel such that the bearings hold and maintain the shaft portion
and
the reel axis accurately coaxially with the support axis;
the cam member being arranged to hold and maintain the cam track
accurately in a radial plane of the support axis so as to hold the cam track
in a radial
plane of the reel axis;
the cam member being mounted relative to the header frame structure


29

so as to hold the cam track, during rotation of the reel, in stationary
angular location
relative to the reel axis;
and the cam member being mounted relative to the header frame
structure for rotational adjustment movement of the stationary angular
location
thereof around the longitudinal axis and therefore the reel axis.

18. The header according to Claim 17 wherein the reel support
member comprises a tubular member surrounding the shaft portion.

19. The header according to Claim 17 or 18 wherein the reel
support member includes two axially spaced bearings for supporting the shaft
portion at axially spaced positions thereon to hold the shaft portion
accurately
coaxial with the longitudinal axis.

20. The header according to Claim 17, 18 or 19 wherein the reel
support member is mounted on the header frame structure in a manner so as to
allow misalignment movements between the reel support member and the header
frame structure while maintaining the reel axis accurately coaxial with the
longitudinal axis.

21. A crop harvesting header comprising:
a header frame structure arranged for movement in a direction of
working movement across ground carrying a crop to be harvested;
a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge of the header frame
structure for cutting the crop;
a cut crop transport arrangement mounted on the header frame
structure for receiving and transporting the cut crop for further processing;


30

a reel for controlling movement of the crop in the area over the cutter
bar;
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;
each of the reel bats being pivotal about its respective bat axis parallel
to the reel axis so as to vary the angle of the fingers about the bat axis as
the reel
rotates;
a cam member defining a non-circular cam track surrounding the reel
axis and lying in a radial plane of the reel axis;
the cam track being held during rotation of the reel in stationary
angular location relative to the reel axis;
each bat having associated therewith a respective control link with a
cam follower on the control link which follows the cam track, such that, as
the reel
rotates through a series of angularly spaced positions of the bats, the
movement of
the follower on the cam track causes the respective control link to move
relative to
the respective bat axis to cause pivotal movement of the respective bat about
the
bat axis and thus, for each of the positions, to move the fingers of the bat
around the
bat axis to a required orientation relative to an axial plane of the reel axis
passing
through the bat axis;
each bat being adjustable relative to its associated control link to


31

change the angle of the fingers of the bat around the bat axis, so as to
adjust, for
each of the positions, the respective orientation of said fingers relative to
said axial
plane.

22. The header according to Claim 21 wherein the reel is carried on
at least two mounting arms of the header frame structure mounted on the header
frame structure for upward and downward movement relative to the cutter bar,
wherein the cam track is mounted with the reel for upward and downward
movement
with the mounting arms and wherein the cam track is mounted with the reel on
the
mounting arms so as to maintain the cam track accurately in a radial plane of
the
reel axis as the reel axis moves with the mounting arms.

23. The header according to Claim 21 or 22 wherein each bat has
associated therewith a crank attached to the bat and having an outer end
spaced
outwardly of the bat axis for effecting pivotal movement of the bat about the
bat axis,
wherein the respective control link of each bat has one end freely pivotally
connected to the outer end of the crank and wherein each control link has
associated therewith a respective link member for communicating rotation of
the reel
to the control link such that the cam follower thereof is caused to move along
the
cam track at a predetermined position therein.

24. The header according to Claim 23 wherein the link member
comprises a pivotal link which has one end pivotally connected to the reel at
a fixed
position thereon and a second end pivotally connected to the control link.

25. The header according to Claim 24 wherein said one end is
angularly advanced of the second end so that the link pulls the control link
and the


32

follower along the track.

26. The header according to Claim 23, 24 or 25 wherein the crank
of each bat is adjustable relative to its associated control link to change
the angle of
the fingers of the bat around the bat axis.

27. A crop harvesting header comprising:
a header frame structure arranged for movement in a direction of
working movement across ground carrying a crop to be harvested;
a cutter bar arranged across a forward edge of the header frame
structure for cutting the crop;
a cut crop transport arrangement mounted on the header frame
structure for receiving and transporting the cut crop for further processing;
a reel for controlling movement of the crop in the area over the cutter
bar;
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;
each of the reel bats being freely pivotal about its respective bat axis
parallel to the reel axis so as to vary the angle of the fingers about the bat
axis as
the reel rotates;
a cam member defining a non-circular cam track surrounding the reel
axis and lying in a radial plane of the reel axis;




33
the cam track being held, during rotation of the reel, in stationary
angular location relative to the reel axis;
each bat having associated therewith a crank attached to the bat and
having an outer end spaced outwardly of the bat axis for effecting pivotal
movement
of the bat about the bat axis;
each bat having associated therewith a respective control link having
one end freely pivotally connected to the outer end of the crank and having a
cam
follower at a second end of the control link for following the cam track;
each control link having associated therewith a respective link member
for communicating rotation of the reel to the control link such that the cam
follower
thereof is caused to move along the cam track at a predetermined position
therein;
such that, as the reel rotates through a series of angularly spaced
positions of the bats, the movement of the respective follower on the cam
track
causes the respective control link to move relative to the respective bat axis
to cause
pivotal movement of the respective crank and thus the respective bat about the
bat
axis and thus, for each of the positions, to move the fingers of the bat
around the bat
axis to a required orientation relative to an axial plane of the reel axis
passing
through the bat axis.
28. The header according to Claim 27 wherein the link member
comprises a pivotal link which has one end pivotally connected to the reel at
a fixed
position thereon and a second end pivotally connected to the control link.
29. The header according to Claim 28 wherein said one end is
angularly advanced of the second end so that the link pulls the control link
and the




34
follower along the track.
30. The header according to Claim 27, 28 or 29 wherein the cam
track and the control links are arranged such that the cam track is located
wholly
radially inwardly of the bat circle.

Description

CA 02370891 2006-03-29
CROP HARVESTING HEADER WITH CAM CaNTROLLED
MOVEMENT OF THE REEL FINGERS
This invention relates to a crop harvesting header including a cutter bar
and a reel for oontralling movement of the crap in the area over the cutter
bar. The
reel is rotatable about an axis generally parallel to the cutter bar and has a
plurality
of reel bats each having reef fingers projecting generally radiaHy outwardly
from the
reel axis. The reel bats arse pivotal each about a respective bat axis
parallel to the
reel axis SO aS t0 vary the angle of the fingers about the bat aXls as the
nsel rotates.
The reel co-operates with a cam carried on the header in generally stationary
position so that each bat has a crank amp with a cam follower on the crank arm
which follows the cam as the reel rotates and causes the required pivotal
movement
of the bat.
BACKGhOUND OF THE INVENTION
Some headers of the above type include a reel which has the reel axis
fixed relative to the header and particularly the cutter bar. Many of these
headers
include a cam which is fixed on the end frame of the header and is shaped in a
complex non-circular pattern so that the fingers follow a complex non-
cylindrical
path.

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
2
Other headers of this type include a reel which is mounted on reel
arms which can raise and lower the reel relative to the cutter bar to provide
different
conditions for different crops.
The present invention is concerned with headers including a reel both
of the type in which the reel is fixed relative to the cutter bar and of the
type in which
the reel is mounted on arms which allow the reel to raise and lower relative
to the
cutter bar.
In the arrangement using a fixed reel carried on a transverse reel shaft,
the mounting of the cam also in fixed position on the end frame of the header
can be
relatively easily obtained. One example is shown in the Macdon Model 912 which
provides a cam disk bolted to the end frame. The cam disk provides a
receptacle for
a cylindrical bearing which supports the reel shaft and holds the reel shaft
at a fixed
position on the cam disk while allowing some twisting of the shaft in the
bearing
relative to the disk to accommodate any twisting of the frame of the header
which
could misalign the shaft. The disk is mounted on the end frame so that it can
be
rotated about the axis of the shaft to turn the whole finger pattern about the
axis of
the reel. This arrangement is however unsuitable for the movable type reel
mounted
on arms.
In US Patent 4,751,809 (Fox et al) assigned to the present applicant is
disclosed an arrangement for a movable type reel carried on raisable reel arms
in
which the movement of the bats is controlled by a rotating ring carried by the
reel on
the same reel arms but rotating about an axis off-set from the reel axis. In
this

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
3
arrangement, the ring is smaller than the circle described by the assembly of
rock
shafts otherwise known herein as "bats" and the "bat circle". The ring shown
in this
patent and in other similar arrangements manufactured by other companies
however
do not allow any change in the finger tip pattern. The pattern is circular in
nature
and the rotation of the cam only results in rotating this circular path about
the reel
center. It is therefore impossible to improve the finger path in either one of
the finger
path zones. (Crop entry zone, crop lift zone, crop delivery zone, and crop
release
zone).
The only way to customise or optimise these finger path zones is to
use a non-circular cam track where the links from the bats which effect the
pivotal
action are attached to followers which run in or on the cam track.
In US Patent 6;170,244 (Coers et al ) assigned to Deere and Company
and in Canadian Application 2,289,164 also by the same inventor is disclosed
an
arrangement in which the reel is mounted on reel arms and there is provided a
cam
which is carried also on the reel arms so that it raises and lowers with the
reel but it
is held at a position so that it does not rotate with the reel and controls
the angle of
the bats by crank arms and cam followers travelling on the cam.
In this arrangement, the cam track is as large or larger than the reel
body and to the end of the finger controlling crank is attached a cam follower
bearing
which follows in the cam track. The downfall of this style of track is that
the track
has to co-exist laterally in the same area as the finger rock shaft path
(shown on
Figure 3 of the patent) or "bat circle". This causes the endmost finger on the
rock
shaft, next to the end panel or end sheet to be located at some considerable

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
4
distance inboard from the said panel causing severe performance problems
related
to clearing the cutter-bar from crop accumulations in this area. This poor
clearing of
the cutter-bar causes severe crop loss and poor header performance therefore
resulting in lost productivity and profit.
In addition, several attempts have been made in the past to improve
the reel performance by adjusting he cam track relative to the reel in a
vertical or
horizontal fashion. The conventional vertical and horizontal movement of the
cam
relative to the center reel body changes the finger tip path to improve crop
lifting
abilities. However it will often cause negative effects in an other area of
the finger tip
path.
Coers in the above patent makes an attempt to adjust the anger tip
path by replacing cam track sections to customize the reel finger tip path to
crop
conditions. This invention is not practical as the customer has to make time
consuming changes and carry an unreasonable amount of varying shapes of cam
segments for each crop.
Also adjustment of the pattern by the rotation of the cam of Coers
relative to the reel can be made similarly to the rotation of the cam in the
above fixed
reel type but in Coers the adjustment is made about an axis offset from the
cam axis
and this has other effects on the pattern which can be disadvantageous.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved
harvester of the above general type in which the arrangement of the non-
circular
cam is improved to allow improved placement of the endmost finger.

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
According to a first aspect, therefore, the cam that controls the finger
tip path has been made smaller than other previous designs. Its outside
envelope is
smaller than a circle depicted by an arc going through each finger rock shaft.
This
cam allows the finger rock shafts to extend closer to the end panel in order
to
5 remove crop from the comer formed by the end panel and the cutter bar which
results in a higher header performance, lower crop loss.
The cam shown and described hereinafter has six rock shafts but the
invention is not limited to that number. The maximum quantity of rock shafts
would
be limited by the amount of space required for the linkage. The cam shown
depicts
a control link that leads the finger rock shaft but the invention is not
limited to such.
This cam design can work with a rock shaft control link leading or trailing
the rock
shaft. The arrangement shows a possible linkage to locate the control link but
is not
limited to such. A various different linkages could be devised to accomplish
any
variation of the above. While the reel and cam shown can be made to be moved
1 ~ hydraulically fore and aft along the length of the reel support arms with
cylinders or
other, it is not necessary for this invention.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved
harvester of the above general type which allows an improved adjustment of the
finger pattern.
According to a second aspect of the invention the cam that has the
ability of being rotated on the same center and axis as the reel center tube
which
results in being able to adjust the finger pattern relative to the header
cutter bar
without compromising on an optimum finger tip pattern and maintaining a proper

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
6
engagement of the follower to the track. Previous designs have relied on end
panel
locations to cam roller alignment because the cam has historically been
mounted to
end panels. This cam design when mounted on reel support arms needs to follow
the axle of the reel as the reel may go out of square with the panels or
frame. The
pattern can thus be rotated for different crop conditions, that is standing or
lodged,
on the go without stopping while still providing optimum crop delivery to the
canvas
on a draper header or auger on an auger platform without affecting the optimum
finger tip pattern that has been developed for a particular header (auger or
draper
platform). This results in higher productivity due to not having to stop for
cam
adjustments for varying crop conditions, or to replace cam segments. The cam
can
be adjusted infinitely with a cylinder, electric linear actuator, or, manually
through a
range of predetermined increments.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved
harvester of the above genera( type allowing an improved adjustment of the
finger
action.
According to a third aspect; an adjustable crank is provided where the
included angle of the finger and the control link can be infinitely adjustable
or
adjustable in increments to provide more or less crop lifting before the
cutter bar for
different crop conditions without affecting the overall shape of the finger
tip path or
pattern. The adjustability of the crank to finger angle as shown has slots to
infinitely
adjust the angle within a predetermined practical range. The invention is
however
not restricted to a slotted range and could be done in a number of ways
including
multiple positions. This is also better that moving the cam location relative
to the

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
7
reel center tube as the optimized finger tip pattern is not compromised, since
delivery over the draper and or the auger pan is not compromised and crop
entry
and lift are also maintained at an optimum shape.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mounting
arrangement for the reel relative to the cam member which ensures that the
reel and
cam track remain so that the cam track lies in a radial plane of the reel axis
while
providing an improved mounting of the reel.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention the reel includes at each
end a reel support shaft portion lying on the reel axis for supporting the
reef for
rotation about the reel axis; the cam member includes a reel support member
defining a longitudinal support axis with bearings supporting one reel support
shaft
portion at one end of the reel such that the bearings hold and maintain the
shaft
portion and the reel axis accurately coaxially with the support axis; the cam
member
is arranged to hold and maintain the cam track accurately in a radial plane of
the
support axis so as to hold the cam track in a radial plane of the reel axis;
and the
cam member is mounted relative to the header frame structure for rotational
adjustment movement of the stationary angular location thereof around the
longitudinal axis and therefore the reel axis.
The term "bat" as used herein is intended to be synonymous with the
term "rock shaft" or "tine tube" as used herein as all terms are intended to
merely
refer to the elements on which the reel "fingers" or "tines" are mounted for
pivotal
movement about a longitudinal axis of the "bat" or "rock shaft" or "tine tube"
without
implying that the element is necessarily a shaft or implying that the element
is non-

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
8
circular in cross section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a header according to the present
invention looking along the header toward one end and showing the reel, reel
support arms, tine tubes, table, header frame, frame ,end sheet, cam and
control
linkages, with the end mounting disks of the reel omitted for convenience of
illustration.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the reel of Figure 1 looking from the
opposite direction and showing only the components of the reel and reel
support
arms, with only one of the tine tubes and associated components shown for
convenience of illustration.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view along the lines A-A of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the reel similar to hat of Figure 3
showing the inter-relation between the reel and the frame end sheet.
Figure 5 is an exploded view of the reel and reel support arm of Figure
2.
Figure 6 is a view on an enlarged scale of one of the tine support tubes
showing the connection of the control link and the crank which allows
adjustment of
the finger angle.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
9
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In Figure 1 is shown an embodiment of a header according to the
present invention with a number of the elements being shown schematically
since
the general construction of such headers is well known to one skilled in the
art. The
header 10 includes a header frame 11 having a main frame tube 12 extending
across the width of the header between two end frames one of which is shown at
13
and the other of which is of course at the other end and therefore not visible
in the
elevation of Figure 1. The main tube 12 is suitably supported and attached on
a
propulsion vehicle in a manner so that the header frame can be moved forwardly
across the ground in cutting a standing crop. The end frame 13 extends
forwardly
from the main tube 12 to a forward nose section 14. The main tube 12 carries a
plurality of frame bars which extend downwardly and forwardly for supporting a
table
of the header onto which crop material is deposited after cutting. The
structural
elements defining the frame bars on the table are not shown for convenience of
15 illustration since again these are well known to one skilled in the art and
can vary in
accordance with engineering considerations.
On the table 15 is provided a crop conveyor 16 which is arranged to
transport the crop after cutting across the width of a header to a discharge
location.
In the embodiment shown the conveyor is provided as a draper canvas 17 mounted
on rollers 18. Other embodiments can use alternative crop transportation
systems
and primarily an auger which is commonly used as an alternative for the draper
system. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to either of
the
different types of header.

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
At the front of the table 15 is provided a cutter bar generally indicated
at 19 which is again only shown schematically since the construction of this
is well
known to one skilled in the art. The cutter bar shown provides a sickle knife
in
guards which reciprocates back and forth in a cutting action on the standing
crop so
5 that the crop is deposited on the draper for transportation to the discharge
location.
When used on a combine harvester the discharge location is
associated with a crop transfer system which transfers the crop rearwardly
into the
feeder house of the combine. Headers of this type can of course also be used
as a
swather where the discharge location simply discharges the crop onto the
ground in
10 a swath or through a crop conditioner onto the ground.
The header further includes a reel generally indicated at 20. The reel
includes mounting arms 21 pivoted on a suitable mounting 22 adjacent the tube
12 so that the arms project forwardly from the frame to a position over the
end frame
elements 13 so as to provide support for the reel extending the header above
the
15 cutter bar. Each arm is movable in its pivotal action by a suitable drive
actuator 23.
The number of arms can vary in accordance with engineering
requirements depending upon the width of the header. Some headers have only
arms at the ends and some have additional arms intermediate the ends to
provide
the necessary support.
20 The reel further includes end support discs, one of which is shown only
schematically in Figure 1 as a circle at the end of the reel but it will be
appreciated
that the structural arrangement of the disc can vary in accordance with
engineering
requirements. The end disc is indicated at 24 and is mounted on a shaft 25
which

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
supports the disc for rotation about an axis 26 of the reel.
The disc supports a plurality of reel bats 27 at angularly spaced
positions around the axis 26. Each reel bar carries a plurality of
longitudinally
spaced fingers 28 which project outwardly from the bar for engaging the crop
Each
reel bat is pivotal about its own individual axis parallel to the axis 26 so
as to change
the angular position of the fingers around the axis 27A of the bat. The
angular
position of the bat about its axis is controlled by a linkage 29 of the bat
which co-
operates with a cam 30 of the reel so that as the bats rotate the linkage
moves the
bats to the required angular position in dependence upon the co-operation of
the
linkage with the cam.
Arrangements of this general type are well known and conventional as
discussed in the prior art set forth above. The following description relates
to the
modifications and improvements set forth in the present application and refers
to the
details shown in Figure 1 and the further drawings.
The disc 24 as better shown in Figure 2 comprises a peripheral ring
24A and a plurality of spokes 24B attached to a tube 24C which extends along
the
length of the reel and provides structural support therefore. The shaft 25 is
suitably
attached within the tube as a stub shaft portion projecting from one end of
the tube
for mounting of the reel structure on bearings outboard of the reel and
mounted on
the arm 21 as discussed hereinafter.
The ring 24A carries a plurality of bat support brackets 24D at spaced
positions around the axis of the reel with each bracket carrying a respective
one of
the bats 27 and its longitudinally spaced fingers 28. Each bracket is
generally

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
12
triangular in shape and fastened to the ring 24A at locations which provide
suitable
mounting therefore and may provide adjustment for the position of the bracket
and
the ring. The bracket extends generally outwardly to an apex 24E outboard of
the
ring 24A at which is attached a bearing assembly 24F for the bat 27. The
bearing
24F defines a bearing axis 27A parallel to the axis 26. In the embodiment
shown the
bats are cylindrical tubes, otherwise known as a tine tube, on which is
attached a
plurality of the fingers 28 using conventional mounting methods. In the
embodiment
shown the fingers are of spring metal with a base mounting portion 28A
attached on
the outside of the tube and two conjoined angers each having a coil spring 28B
attached to the mounting portion 28A and extending outwardly from the bat in
the
required direction. Other arrangements of angers and bats can be used and are
well
known to one skilled in the art which are not necessarily cylindrical and are
not
necessarily formed from spring metal but can be of other shapes and include
plastic
fingers and the like.
Along the length of the bar is provided a series of the conjoined double
fingers for which one of which is shown in Figure 3. At the end of the bat is
a stub
portion 27B which projects through the bracket 24D and bearing 24F so as to
project
axially beyond the disc 24 and axially beyond the flat bracket 24D attached to
the
disc to an end face 27C of the bat which is thus located beyond the disc
toward the
end of the header. An additional single finger 28C is located on the stub
portion 27B
directly at the end 27C so that the finger 28C is located as far as possible
along the
bat towards its extreme end and particularly the end face 27C. In view of the
relatively short length of the stub portion 27B, the finger 28C is formed as a
single

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
13
finger element rather than a double finger element conventionally used:
However a
longer stub portion could be provided making use of a conventional double
finger
construction.
The bats 27 lie on a circle 27D (Figure 1 ) surrounding the axis 26 of
the reel which defines a cylinder containing the axes 27A of the bats and is
called
hereinafter for convenience the "the bat circle". it will of course be
appreciated that
the "bat circle" is intended to relate not merely to a theoretical circle but
to the
volume swept by the bats as they rotate which of course must be open to allow
the
bats to rotate without interference without other components and particularly
the cam
30.
The cam 30 comprises a base plate 30A which is flat and arranged to
lie in a radial plane of the axis 26. On a face 30B of the plate is provided a
cam
track 30C which faces the reel and is defined by inner and outer cam track
walls
which provide a guide for a cam follower. The construction of the cam track is
of a
conventional nature and defines a continuous track surrounding the axis 26 and
shaped to provide a required finger pattern as discussed hereinafter. A sleeve
member 30D is rigidly attached to the outside surface of the plate 30A and
projects
therefrom axially along the axis 26. At the end of the sleeve member 30D is
rigidly
attached a mounting and adjustment plate 30E defining a ring portion 30F
surrounding the axis and a lever portion 30G projecting outwardly from the
axis and
including a locating hole 30H. The ring portion includes mounting slots 30J.
The sleeve 30D engages around a mounting tube 32 at an end portion
32A of the tube. The tube 32 carries a flange 32B which butts against the
mounting

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
14
plate 30E when the sleeve 30D is inserted onto the end 32A of the tube 32.
Holes
32C in the plate 32B align with the slots 30J and allow these plates to be
clamped
together thus tightly pulling the sleeve 30D onto the tube 32 in a clamping
action.
For this purpose the end portion 32A and the sleeve 30D are tapered so as to
ensure accurate alignment of the axes of the tube and the sleeve and therefore
an
accurate alignment of the radial plane of the plate 30A of the cam with the
axis of the
tube 32.
The shaft 25 of the reel is mounted within the tube 32 on axially
spaced bearings 32D and 32E so that the shaft projects through the tube 32 to
an
outer end 25A. Thus the shaft 25 is maintained by the axially spaced bearings
32D
and 32E accurately axially in alignment with the tube 32 and therefore
accurately
with the plane of the cam 30 lying in the radial plane of the axis of the
shaft 25.
The tube 32 is attached to a housing 34 which is mounted on the arm
21. The housing 34 includes a top plate 34A and a depending flange 34B
attached
to the tube 32 and sitting over the top of the channel defining the arm 21.
The
mounting assembly 34 further includes a housing 34C containing a drive
sprocket
34D to which a suitable drive is applied with the sprocket keyed to the end
25A of
the shaft 25. The housing 34C extends along the atm 21 to a support pin 34F
which
sits on top of the arm 21 and thus angularly orients the housing relative to
the axis of
the reel. The mounting assembly 34 can move longitudinally of the arm to
adjust the
forward to rear position of the reel on the arm using adjustment openings 21 C
in the
arm as is known to one skilled in the art. The mounting assembly 34 is thus
rigidly
attached to the tube 32 but sits on the arm allowing some twisting movement

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
between the mounting assembly and the arm so that the axis of the tube which
is
accurately aligned to the axis of the reel can twist relative to the arm to
accommodate twisting movements in the frame during operation or twisting
movements in the reel due to differential lifting forces or other forces on
the reel
5 during operation. However the accurate alignment of the reel axis with the
axis of
the tube 32 ensures that, whenever any such twisting movements occur, the
twisting
movements do not occur relative to the cam which is maintained in a radial
plane.
In addition to the movement of the mounting assembly 34 along the
arm, a further adjustment can be effected for the finger pattern and location
by
10 rotating the cam 30 about the axis of the reel. This is achieved by
loosening the
coupling between the plate 30E and the plate 32B and by rotating the lever
portion
30G around the axis of the tube 32 within the bounds of the slots 30J. This
allows
the plates to be clamped back together in the fixed position after the
adjustment is
effected. During this adjustment the cam remains accurately in the required
radial
15 plane.
In an alternative arrangement {not shown) the housing 34 which
carries a chain and sprocket backing plate 341 is rigidly mounted to the plate
30B of
the cam track so that the tube 32 and the tube 30D are integral rather than
formed
as two separate relatively adjustable components. In order to adjust the
finger pitch,
the whole assembly including the housing 34, the backing plate 341, the
integral
tube and the cam plate 30B are then rotated relative to the reel arm 21. This
requires the design, which is within the skill of one in the art, of a housing
which is
mounted on the reel arm in fixed position but which can be adjusted relative
to the

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
16
arm. However it avoids the potential point of weakness in the connection
between
the tube 32 and the tube 30D. In both cases, the cam plate is maintained
accurately
in a plane radial to the axis of the reel during use and during adjustment.
The cam 30 is shaped and arranged and dimensioned so that it lies
wholly within the bat circle. Thus the outside periphery of the cam at the cam
track
30C lies wholly within the path of movement of the bats and wholly within the
structure defined by the bats 27 and the elements supported thereby so that
the bats
are located outside of the cam. Thus as shown in Figure 4 the stub portion 27B
carrying the finger 28C is aligned with the cam or slightly beyond the cam.
Thus as
shown a line 28D containing the end fingers 28C is slightly beyond the cam
toward
the end of the header of the header. This allows the fingers 28C to be located
as
close as possible to an end sheet 13A of the end frame section 13 to provide a
sweeping action on the crop immediately adjacent that sheet. Thus the use of a
small cam inside the bat circle allows these fingers to approach much more
closely
the end of the header and to avoid a space S between the end angers 28C and
the
sheet 13A which is sufficient to allow crop to accumulate. This is achieved by
the
fact that the end face 27C is at least aligned with a line 30K at the inwardly
facing
end of the cam and more preferably is beyond that line.
In order to achieve this location and size of the cam, the cam co-
operates with the control linkage 29 which co-operates between the bat and the
cam
track. The control linkage is shown schematically in Figure 1 and comprises a
crank
29A attached to the bat and rotatable at one end about the axis of the bat so
as to
rotate the bat about its axis as the angle of the crank is changed. The
linkage

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
further includes a control link 29B which is attached to the other end of the
crank and
extends therefrom to a cam follower 29C within the cam track 32C. The linkage
further includes a guide link 29D which is connected between a suitable
location on
the reel and a pivot pin 29E on the control link so that the position on the
control link
is controlled.
For convenience the guide link 29D connects between the control link
29B and a pivot pin 29F on the next bracket 24D. However other connection
points
can be used provided that the pivot pin 29F is fixed relative to the reel and
rotates
with the reel so that the link 29D can pull the control link 29B around with
the reel as
the reel rotates fo carry the follower 29C from Figure 1 it will be noted that
the cam
follower is arranged angularly advanced relative to its respective bat axis so
that the
cam follower is pushed by the link 29B and guide link 29D around the cam
track.
This is opposite to the conventional arrangement where the cam follower is
normally
trailed. In order to keep the cam follower in advance of the radial line
joining the axis
26 of the reel to the bat axis, the guide link 29D provides a pulling action
from a
position yet further angularly advanced. However pushing action from a
trailing link
could also be used.
The cam is shaped so that its spacing from the axis 26 changes as the
cam follower rotates around the axis 26 with the reel. This change in radial
distance
from the axis 26 therefore of course provides a pushing action on the
respective
crank 29A so as to rotate each bat around its axis 27A.
The shape and arrangement of the cam is calculated so as to provide
a required finger action of a generally conventional nature.

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
~8
A yet further adjustment which can be provided ; is obtained by
adjusting the angle of the fingers 28 around the axis 27A. For this purpose
the crank
29A which is connected at a pin 29G to the control link 29B as shown in Figure
6 is
formed not as a simple lever but is instead formed as a two part side by side
plate
arrangement including a first plate portion 29H and a second plate portion
29J.
These can be adjusted by bolts 29K and suitable guide slots 29L so that the
location
of the pivot pin 29G is adjusted around the axis 27A by adjusting the angle
between
the two plate portions. This of course as shown in Figure 6 provides an
adjustment
A which causes the finger angle to change in relation to the position of the
pivot pin
29G.
The finger pattern therefore can be adjusted as described above in
three ways:
a) The location of the finger pattern can be moved forwardly and
rearwardly along the arms.
b) The height of the arms can be changed.
c) The location of the finger pattern around the axis of the reel can
be changed by adjusting the angular position of the cam.
d) The finger can be changed.
Some or all of these can be carried out manually ,or alternatively
mechanical drive linkages can be provided so that the adjustment can be made
on
the go from the cab. Particularly the movement of the mounting assembly along
the
arm can be effected by a control, linkage and also it may be desirable to
provide a
mechanical control linkage which adjust the angle of the cam. Adjustment of
the

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
finger angle is of course an independent adjustment for each bat and therefore
may
be less desirable to adjust automatically in view of the complexity involved.
The finger pattern is generally of a conventional nature and the outside
path of the fingers is shown at P in Figure 1 and the angle of the fingers is
shown at
a number of positions around the axis. In general the fingers are aggressively
advanced in a position in front of the crop and in front of the cutter bar and
then
moved generally parallel as the fingers move rearwardly following which the
fingers
are retarded so that they are pulled generally vertically upwardly out of the
crop.
A change of finger angle obtained by adjusting the link 29A provides
the possibility of yet further increasing the aggressive action in front of
the crop to
provide a further lifting of the crop in a condition where the crop is downed.
A combination of the rotation of the cam and the location of the reel
along the arms can move the pattern forwardly and rearwardly along the table
while
controlling the rearward most position that the fingers reach on the table
before
moving vertically upwardly. This adjustment may also be of assistance in auger
type
headers where it is desired to lift the fingers to clear away from the augers.
It is also
of assistance in both types of transport systems in providing a finger action
which
pushes the crop rearwardly over the table to prevent a dead space behind the
reel in
which crop can accumulate.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made
within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit
and
scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying
specification shall

CA 02370891 2002-02-08
be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Representative Drawing