US 4,961,303 A · Apparatus for opening conditioning rolls

Abstract

A mechanism for forcing apart the upper and lower rolls in a crop conditioning apparatus is disclosed wherein the torsion bar operably associated with the upper conditioning roll to assert a biasing force thereon to urge the upper roll toward engagement with the lower roll is anchored against one of the lift arms pivotally supporting the crop gathering header for generally vertical movement relative to the ground. The anchor is in the form of a connecting link pivotally interconnecting one of the lift arms and an anchoring arm forming a portion of a hub assembly engaged with the torsion bar to effect rotation thereof to create the biasing forces exerted on the upper roll. The movement of the lift arms to raise the crop gathering header relative to the ground causes a reverse rotation of the hub assembly and the engaged torsion bar to lessen the biasing force exerted thereby. A sufficient vertical movement of the lift arms will create reverse biasing forces to urge the upper roll away from the lower roll, effecting a corresponding movement of the upper roll.

Claims9

Dependent claims

In a conditioning mechanism for a crop harvesting machine having a crop gathering header operable to gather crop material from a field and convey the gathered crop material to said conditioning mechanism, said crop gathering header being mounted on lift arms pivotally movable to raise said crop gathering header relative to the field, said conditioning mechanism including a frame;

a pair of generally vertically spaced, counterrotating conditioning rolls mounted in said frame, the upper conditioning roll being movably mounted on said frame for generally vertical movement relative to the lower conditioning roll;
and a biasing mechanism operably associated with said upper conditioning roll to urge movement thereof toward said lower conditioning roll, said biasing mechanism including resilient means operably supported on said frame to provide a biasing force for said biasing mechanism, said resilient means having an anchor against which said resilient means develops said biasing force, the improvement comprising:
said anchor including a connecting link pivotally connected to a member movable relative to said conditioning mechanism when said header is raised relative to the field such that a movement of said member when said crop harvesting header is raised effects a relaxing of the biasing forces exerted by said resilient means.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for opening conditioning rolls

Life of this patent

Apparatus for opening conditioning rolls

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9