Header for a combine harvesting machine

Abstract

A flexible header for a combine or swather includes a pair of wing sections .[.which can flex relative to.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.a central section .Iadd.mounted on a rigid header frame.Iaddend.. Each wing section carries a draper canvas for transporting cut crop inwardly toward the central section. Beneath the inner ends of the .Iadd.side .Iaddend.drapers is mounted a .[.further.]. .Iadd.feed .Iaddend.draper for transporting the crop rearwardly through an opening in the central frame into the feeder housing of the combine. .Iadd.The header frame is mounted on a fixed mounting frame for floating vertically and pivotally. .Iaddend.Above the central draper is mounted a roller member having a central paddle portion and auger portions outside of the central portion for confining and directing the crop in cooperation with the central draper into the feeder housing. .[.The pivot axis of each wing portion is inclined inwardly and forwardly so that the axes intersect at the sickle knife..]. .Iadd.The feed draper has a front roller mounted on the header frame and a rear roller mounted on the mounting frame with a pan mounted underneath the draper so that the relative movement is taken up by flexing of the feed draper and the pan. .Iaddend.This arrangement allows the manufacture of a large width flexible combine header.

I claim: 
     
       1. A header for a crop harvesting machine comprising a frame, means for mounting the frame on the machine for transportation in a working direction across a field including a standing crop to be harvested, a knife arrangement extending transversely across a front edge of the frame for cutting the standing crop, means defining an opening rearwardly of the frame through which the cut crop is guided to pass, the frame extending outwardly therefrom to respective sides thereof, a first and a second draper assembly each including a pair of draper guide rollers arranged with the respective axes of rotation extending generally parallel to the working direction, one of said rollers being spaced from the opening to a respective side thereof and the other of said rollers being arranged adjacent said opening to define an end of the draper assembly, and a draper canvas arranged rearwardly of said knife arrangement so as to receive the cut crop therefrom and constrained by the rollers to move transversely of the frame towards said end to carry said cut crop toward said opening, a third draper assembly including a pair of draper guide rollers arranged with respective axes extending transversely to said working direction and a draper canvas arranged rearwardly of said knife arrangement and at said ends of the first and second draper assemblies so as to carry said cut crop rearwardly of the frame from said ends to said opening to pass therethrough, an elongate confining and feeding member comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis transverse to said working direction and extending across a width of the header substantially equal only to the width of the opening, said shaft carrying auger flight means extending along at least a part of the length of the shaft so as to include at least a part thereof aligned with the opening, means mounting said confining and feeding member with said flight means above a rear end of said third draper assembly and with an edge of the flight means spaced from a surface of the third draper assembly and means driving said confining and feeding member to rotate about said axis in a direction to feed material thereunder so that the flight means cooperates with said third draper assembly to confine said cut crop and to direct said cut crop between an underside of said flight means and an upper surface of said rear end of said third draper canvas to pass through said opening. 
     
     
       2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said confining and feeding member comprises an elongate member having a longitudinal axis transverse to said working direction and wherein there is provided means driving said confining and feeding member to rotate about said longitudinal axis in a direction to feed material thereunder. 
     
     
       3. The invention according to claim 2 where in said confining and feeding member comprises a roller having feed members extending outwardly from an exterior surface thereof for engaging and directing said crop through said opening. 
     
     
       4. The invention according to claim 3 when the feed members are flexible. 
     
     
       5. The invention according to claim 3 wherein in the feed members comprise paddles each lying in an axial plane of said roller with the feed members being spaced angularly of said roller. 
     
     
       6. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said confining and feeding member includes auger flight means on an exterior surface thereof for rotation therewith and arranged relative to the direction of rotation of the member to generate a movement of said crop inwardly towards said opening and parallel to said first and second draper assemblies. 
     
     
       7. The invention accordingg to claim 1 wherein said confining and feeding member has a first end spaced inwardly from an outer end of said first draper canvas and a second end spaced inwardly from an outer end of said second draper canvas. 
     
     
       8. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said confining and feeding member member includes a plurality of paddle members on a section thereof adjacent said opening and a pair of auger flight means on respective ends thereof, the auger flight means being arranged relative to the direction of rotation of said member so as to cause a movement in said crop inwardly towards said opening. 
     
     
       9. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said third draper assembly has side edges arranged such that each side edge thereof lies beneath a respective end of said first and second draper assemblies. 
     
     
       10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein the spacing between a respective side edge of the third draper canvas and the end of a respective one of the first and second draper assemblies increases in a direction from said knife arrangement toward said opening. 
     
     
       11. The invention according to claim 9 wherein the first and second draper canvasses each have a side edge arranged substantially immediately rearwardly of said knife arrangement and wherein a forward one of said rollers of said third draper assembly is positioned rearwardly of said knife arrangement by a sufficient distance that the roller can extend beneath the end rollers of said first and second draper assemblies. 
     
     
       12. A header for a crop harvesting machine comprising a frame, means for mounting the frame on the machine for transportation in a working direction across a field including a standing crop to be harvested, a knife arrangement extending transversely across a front edge of the frame for cutting the standing crop, means defining an opening rearwardly of the frame through which the cut crop is guided to pass, the frame extending outwardly therefrom to respective sides thereof, a first and a second draper assembly each including a pair of draper guide rollers arranged with the respective axes of rotation extending generally parallel to the working direction, one of said rollers being spaced from the opening to a respective side thereof and the other of said rollers being arranged adjacent said opening to define an end of the draper assembly, and a draper canvas arranged rearwardly of said knife arrangement so as to receive the cut crop therefrom and constrained by the rollers to move transversely of the frame towards said end to carry said cut crop toward said opening, a third draper assembly including a pair of draper guide rollers arranged with respective axes extending transversely to said working direction and a draper canvas arranged reawardly of said knife arrangement and at said ends of the first and second draper assemblies so as to carry said cut crop rearwardly of the frame from said ends to said opening to pass therethrough, an elongate confining and feeding member comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis transverse to said working direction and extending from a first end spaced inwardly from an outer end of said first draper canvas and a second end spaced inwardly from an outer end of said second draper canvas, said shaft carrying means projecting from an outer peripheral surface thereof and rotatable therewith for engaging the crop, means mounting said shaft and projecting means at a position above a rear end of said third draper assembly and means driving said confining and feeding member to rotate about said axis in a direction to feed material thereunder so as to cooperate with said third draper assembly to confine said cut .[.drop.]. .Iadd.crop and.Iaddend.to direct said cut crop between an underside of said confining and feeding member and an upper surface of said rear end of said third draper canvas to pass through said opening. 
     
     
       13. The invention according to claim 12 wherein said confining and feeding member comprises a roller having feed members extending outwardly from an exterior surface thereof for engaging and directing said crop through said opening. 
     
     
       14. The invention according to claim 13 wherein the feed members are flexible. 
     
     
       15. The invention according to claim 13 wherein the feed members comprise paddles each lying in an axial plane of said roller with the feed members being spaced angularly of said roller. 
     
     
       16. The invention according to claim 12 wherein said confining and feeding member includes auger flight means on an exterior surface thereof for rotation therewith and arranged relative to the direction of rotation of the member to generate a movement of said crop inwardly towards said opening and parallel to said first and second draper assemblies. 
     
     
       17. The invention .[.accordingg.]. .Iadd.according .Iaddend.to claim 12 wherein said confining and feeding member includes a plurality of paddle members on a section thereof adjacent said opening and a pair of auger flight means on respective ends thereof, the auger flight means being arranged relative to the direction of rotation of said member so as to cause a movement in said crop inwardly towards said opening. 
     
     
       18. The invention according to claim 12 wherein said .Iadd.draper canvas of said .Iaddend.third draper assembly has side edges arranged such that each side edge thereof lies beneath a respective end of said first and second draper assemblies. 
     
     
       19. The invention according to claim 18 wherein the spacing between a respective side edge of the .[.third.]. draper canvas .Iadd.of the third draper assembly .Iaddend.and the end of a respective one of the first and second draper assemblies increases in a direction from said knife arrangement toward said opening. 
     
     
       20. The invention according to claim 18 wherein the .[.first and second.]. draper .[.canvasses each have.]. .Iadd.canvass of each of the first and second draper assemblies .Iaddend.has a side edge arranged substantially immediately rearwardly of said knife arrangement and wherein a forward one of said rollers of said third draper assembly is positioned rearwardly of said knife arrangement by a sufficient distance that .[.the roller can extend.]. .Iadd.said forward one of said rollers extends .Iaddend.beneath the end rollers of said first and second draper assemblies. .Iadd. 
     
     
       21.  A header for a combine harvesting machine comprising a header frame, a mounting frame including means for mounting the mounting frame fixedly on the machine for transportation of the header frame in a working direction across a field including a standing crop to be harvested, said header frame including a portion thereof extending outwardly to at least one side of the mounting frame, means mounting said header frame on the mounting frame for limited vertical floating movement of the header frame relative to the mounting frame and pivotal floating movement of the header frame relative to the mounting frame about an axis generally parallel to the working direction such that each end of the header frame can float independently of movement of the other end of the header frame, a knife arrangement extending transversely across a front edge of the header frame for cutting the standing crop, means defining a feed opening through which the cut crop is guided to pass, means for transporting said cut crop inwardly from the said at least one end of the header frame and for feeding said cut crop through said feed opening, a fixed member fixed relative to the mounting frame and defining an edge extending across the feed opening adjacent a lower edge of the feed opening, said header frame including a header frame member fixed relative to the header frame and defining an edge extending partly along the header frame rearwardly of said knife arrangement and substantially parallel to the edge of the mounting frame member leaving an opening between the edge of the mounting frame member and the edge of the fixed member which opening varies as the header frame moves relative to the mounting frame, said means for transporting comprising at least one first draper assembly mounted on said header frame and including a pair of draper guide rollers arranged with the respective axis of rotation extending generally parallel to the working direction, one of said rollers being spaced from the opening to said at least one side thereof and the other of said rollers being arranged adjacent said opening to define an end of the draper assembly, and a draper canvas arranged rearwardly of said knife arrangement so as to receive the cut crop therefrom and constrained by the rollers to move transversely of the frame from said at least one end to carry crop toward said feed opening, a second draper assembly including a front draper guide roller and a rear draper guide roller with respective axes thereof extending transversely to said working direction and a second draper canvas mounted on said front and rear draper guide rollers and arranged rearwardly of said knife arrangement and at said end of said at least one first draper assembly so as to carry said cut crop rearwardly of the frame from said end to said feed opening to pass therethrough and a flexible pan member arranged underneath said second draper assembly with a forward end thereof in engagement with said header frame member at a position rearwardly of said knife arrangement and a rearward end thereof in engagement with said fixed member, said vertical movement and pivotal movement of said header frame being accommodated by flexing of said pan member, means attaching the respective end of said flexible pan member to one of said header frame member and said fixed member, and contact maintaining means maintaining the respective end of the flexible pan member substantially continually in contact with the other of said header frame member and fixed member during said vertical movement and pivotal movement of said header frame. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. The header according to claim 21 wherein the pan member comprises a sheet member which is substantially continuous from said forward end to said rearward end, each of said ends being defined by a continuous transverse edge of the sheet member. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. The header according to claim 21 wherein the said means mounting said header frame on said mounting frame comprises a plurality of pivotal brace members each pivotally connected to the header frame and to the mounting frame, and spring means connected to said header frame and to said mounting frame and arranged to bias the header frame upwardly against its weight. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. The header according to claim 21 wherein said contact maintaining means is arranged to allow sliding movement of said pan member on said other of said header frame member and said fixed member in a direction longitudinal of said working direction. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. The header according to claim 24 including means for restricting movement of said pan member relative to said other of said header frame member and said fixed member to said sliding movement. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. The header according to claims 21 wherein said pan member is formed of a sheet material having a forward edge of the sheet material in engagement with the header frame member and a rearward edge of the sheet material in engagement with the fixed member. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. The header according to claims 21 wherein said pan member is formed of a sheet material having a forward edge of the sheet material in engagement with the header frame member and a rearward edge of the sheet material in engagement with the fixed member wherein said pan member has sufficient strength to be self supporting between said header frame and said mounting frame substantially without drooping. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. The header according to claim 21 wherein said pan member is arranged underneath said second draper assembly so as to have an upper surface parallel to and adjacent to a lower run of said second draper canvas, and means mounting at least one of said front and rear draper guide rollers for limited movement thereof together with said second draper canvas carried thereby in a direction away from and toward said pan member. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. The header according to claim 28 wherein said second draper assembly is biased to a lowermost position thereof and is moveable against said bias away from said pan member. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. The header according to claim 29 wherein said second draper assembly is biased solely by the weight thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. The header according to claims 28 wherein both said front and rear draper guide rollers have ends thereof mounted in slide supports to allow said movement of both of said rollers and said second draper canvas carried 
     
     
        thereby. .Iaddend..Iadd.32.  The header according to claims 21 wherein said front draper guide roller is mounted on said header frame and wherein said rear draper guide roller is mounted on said mounting frame and wherein said vertical movement and said pivotal movement are accommodated by flexing of said second draper canvas. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. The header according to claim 21 wherein said means attaching the pan member is arranged to allow pivotal movement of the respective end of the pan member relative to said one of said header frame member and said fixed member. .Iaddend..Iadd.34. A header for a combine harvesting machine comprising a header frame, a mounting frame including means for mounting the mounting frame fixedly on the machine for transportation of the header frame in a working direction across a field including a standing crop to be harvested, said header frame including a portion thereof extending outwardly to respective at least one side of the mounting frame, means mounting said header frame on the mounting frame for limited vertical floating movement of the header frame relative to the mounting frame and pivotal floating movement of the header frame relative to the mounting frame about an axis generally parallel to the working direction such that each end of the header frame can float independently of movement of the other end of the header frame, a knife arrangement extending transversely across a front edge of the header frame for cutting the standing crop, means defining a feed opening through which the cut crop is guided to pass, means for transporting said cut crop inwardly from the said at least one end of the header frame and for feeding said cut crop through said feed opening, a fixed member fixed relative to the mounting frame and defining an edge extending across the feed opening adjacent a lower edge of the feed opening, said header frame including a header frame member fixed relative to the header frame and defining an edge extending partly along the header frame rearwardly of said knife arrangement and substantially parallel to the edge of the fixed member leaving an opening between the edge of the fixed member and the edge of the header frame member which opening varies as the header frame moves relative to the mounting frame, said means for transporting comprising at least one first draper assembly mounted on said header frame and including a pair of draper guide rollers arranged with the respective axis of rotation extending generally parallel to the working direction, one of said rollers being spaced from the opening to said at least one side thereof and the other of said rollers being arranged adjacent said opening to define an end of the draper assembly, and a draper canvas arranged rearwardly of said knife arrangement so as to receive the cut crop therefrom and constrained by the rollers to move transversely of the frame from said at least one end to carry crop toward said feed opening, a second draper assembly including a front draper guide roller and a rear draper guide roller with respective axes thereof extending transversely to said working direction and a second draper canvas mounted on said front and rear draper guide rollers and arranged rearwardly of said knife arrangement and at said end of said at least one draper assembly so as to carry said cut crop rearwardly of the frame from said end to said feed opening to pass therethrough, wherein said front draper guide roller is mounted on an element fixed relative to said header frame for movement therewith relative to the fixed member and wherein said rear draper guide roller is mounted on an element fixed relative to said mounting frame and wherein said vertical movement and said pivotal movement are accommodated by flexing of said second draper canvas. .Iaddend..Iadd.35. The header according to claim 34 wherein both said front and rear rollers have ends thereof mounted in slide supports to allow substantially vertical movement of both of said rollers and said second draper canvas carried thereby. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. The header according to claim 34 including a confining and feeding member having a longitudinal axis transverse to said working direction and extending from a first end spaced inwardly from an outer end of said first draper canvas and a second end, means mounting said confining member in spaced position above a rear end of said second draper assembly and means driving said confining member to rotate about said axis in a direction to feed material thereunder so as to cooperate with said second draper assembly to confine said cut crop between an underside of said confining member and an upper surface or said rear end of said second draper assembly to direct said cut crop to pass through said opening. .Iaddend..Iadd.37. A header for a combine harvesting machine comprising a header frame, a mounting frame including means for mounting the mounting frame fixedly on the machine for transportation of the header frame in a working direction across a field including a standing crop to be harvested, said header frame including a portion thereof extending outwardly to respective at least one side of the mounting frame, means mounting said header frame on the mounting frame for limited vertical floating movement of the header frame relative to the mounting frame and pivotal floating movement of the header frame relative to the mounting frame about an axis generally parallel to the working direction such that each end of the header frame can float independently of movement of the other end of the header frame, a knife arrangement extending transversely across a front edge of the header frame for cutting the standing crop, means defining a feed opening through which the cup crop is guided to pass, means for transporting said cut crop inwardly from the said at least one end of the header frame and for feeding said cut crop through said feed opening, a fixed member fixed relative to the mounting frame and defining an edge extending across the feed opening adjacent a lower edge of the feed opening, said header frame including a header frame member fixed relative to the header frame and defining an edge extending partly along the header frame rearwardly of said knife arrangement and substantially parallel to the edge of the fixed member leaving an opening between the edge of the fixed member and the edge of the header frame member which opening varies as the header frame moves relative to the mounting frame, said means for transporting comprising at least one first draper assembly mounted on said header frame and including a pair of draper guide rollers arranged with the respective axis of rotation extending generally parallel to the working direction, one of said rollers being spaced from the opening to said at least one side thereof and the other of said rollers being arranged adjacent said opening to define an end of the draper assembly, and a draper canvas arranged rearwardly of said knife arrangement so as to receive the cut crop therefrom and constrained by the rollers to move transversely of the frame from said at least one end to carry crop toward said feed opening, a second draper assembly including a front draper guide roller and a rear draper guide roller with respective axes thereof extending transversely to said working direction and a second draper canvas mounted on said front and rear draper guide rollers and arranged rearwardly of said knife arrangement and at said end of said at least one draper assembly so as to carry said cut crop rearwardly of the frame from said end to said feed opening to pass therethrough, wherein said front draper guide roller is mounted on an element fixed relative to said header frame for movement therewith relative to the fixed member. .Iaddend..Iadd.38. The header according to claim 37 wherein both said front and rear rollers have ends thereof mounted in slide supports to allow substantially vertical movement of both of said rollers and said second draper canvas carried thereby. .Iaddend..Iadd.39. The header according to claim 37 including a confining and feeding member having a longitudinal axis transverse to said working direction and extending from a first end spaced inwardly from an outer end of said first draper canvas and a second end, means mounting said confining member in spaced position above a rear end of said second draper assembly and means driving said confining member to rotate about said axis in a direction to feed material thereunder so as to cooperate with said second draper assembly to confine said cut crop between an underside of said confining member and an upper surface or said rear end of said second draper assembly to direct said cut crop to pass through said opening. .Iaddend.