Automatic header adjustment for harvesters

In a harvester for harvesting vine-type plants having a plant processing section movable over a field;

• plant elevator means mounted to the section and extending forwardly from the section and in a relatively downward direction, terminating in a leading elevator edge disposed proximate the ground surface;
• vine severing means attached to the elevator means for severing the vines from their roots;
• and sensing means for maintaining the position of the leading elevator edge and of the severing means with respect to the ground surface relatively constant, the improvement to the sensing means comprising:
• a sensor wheel contacting the ground and driven by movement of the harvester over the ground and defined by a multiplicity of generally radially oriented tines for sensing the relative height of the leading edge and the severing means, the tines having like, curved configurations at least adjacent their outermost ends;
• means mounting the wheel to the elevator means so that the wheel is disposed within the lateral extent of the elevator means and a convex section of the curved tines faces in the direction of rotation of the wheel as the harvester moves over the field;
• and means operatively coupled with the mounting means and the elevator means for raising and lowering the leading edge and the severing means in response to ground surface irregularities so that the spacing between the ground surface and the leading edge and the severing means is kept substantially constant.

A vine crop harvester comprising in combination:

• a crop processing apparatus including means for moving the apparatus over a vine crop field, in a forward direction;
• a crop elevator for feeding the crop being harvested to the apparatus and extending from the apparatus in a forward direction, the elevator having a lowermost edge proximate the ground and extending rearwardly and upwardly towards the apparatus, the elevator further including means for moving the leading edge vertically relative to the apparatus to permit adjustments of the leading elevator edge in response to ground surface irregularities so that the position of the leading edge relative to the ground can be maintained substantially constant;
• means connected with the apparatus for severing the crop preparatory to the deposition of the severed crop on the elevator;
• a sensor wheel defined by a hub and a multiplicity of generally radially oriented, like tines, the tines having a curved configuration and being generally disposed in the plane of rotation of the wheel so that a convex portion of each tine faces in the same rotational direction of the wheel;
• means for mounting the wheel to the elevator for movement of the wheel with the leading edge in a vertical direction, the mounting means permitting relative, substantially vertical movements of the wheel with respect to the leading edge and positioning the wheel so that the wheel is disposed forward of the leading edge and within the lateral extent of the elevator and further so that free ends of the tines contact the ground when the harvester is moved through the field to cause a corresponding rotation of the wheel, the convex tine portions facing in the direction of rotation of the wheel;
• and
• control means operatively coupled with the mounting means and with the means for moving the leading edge vertically for raising and lowering the leading edge in response to relative vertical movements of the wheel due to ground surface irregularities;
• whereby the wheel and the control means sense surface irregularities and cause a corresponding adjustment of the position of the leading edge to maintain the position of the leading edge relative to the ground surface substantially constant.