Row unit crop guide for harvesting multiple rows
AssigneeCase Corporation
InventorDathan R. Kerber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A row crop header for a harvesting machine includes a frame, a row unit supported by the frame, a first surface supported by the frame forward the row unit on a first side of the row unit, a second surface supported by the frame forward the row unit on a second side of the row unit, a third surface supported by the frame between the first and second surfaces, and a fourth surface supported by the frame between the first and second surfaces. The first and second surfaces face one another and converge toward the row unit. The third surface faces the first surface to cooperate with the first surface so as to support and channel plants toward the row unit. The fourth surface faces the second surface to cooperate with the second surface so as to support and channel plants toward the row unit.
Claims27
A row crop header for a harvesting machine, the row crop header comprising:
- a frame;
- a row unit supported by the frame, the row unit adapted to receive at least first and second rows of plant stalks;
- a first pair of surfaces supported by the frame forward the row unit on a first side of the row unit to guide the first row of plant stalks into the row unit;
- a second pair of surfaces supported by the frame forward the row unit on a second side of the row unit to guide the second row of plant stalks offset from the first row into the row unit;
- and
- a guide member supported by the frame above the first and second pairs of surfaces and the row unit to aid in guiding the plant stalks into the row unit.
In a row crop header having first and second spaced apart consecutive plant engaging members for channeling at least two offset rows of plant stalks toward a row unit between the first and second plant engaging members, an improvement comprising:
- a third plant engaging member supported by the header forward and above the row unit between the first and second plant engaging members, the third plant engaging member adapted to aid in guiding the plant stalks into the row unit.
A row unit in a row crop header adapted for harvesting rows of plants, each plant having roots in a growing medium, a stalk extending from the roots and a seed bearing portion extending from the stalk, the row unit comprising:
- a frame;
- a plant portion separating mechanism supported by the frame and configured to separate at least one of the stalk and the seed bearing portion from respective roots;
- a first channel supported by the frame forward the separating mechanism to guide a first row of plants to the separating mechanism;
- a second channel supported by the frame forward the separating mechanism to guide a second row of plants to the separating mechanism;
- and
- a guide supported by the frame forward the separating mechanism, between the first and second channels, wherein the first and second channels converge into a single third channel at or forward the separating mechanism permitting the separating mechanism to act upon multiple plant rows.
The row unit of 21 wherein the guide partially defines the first and second channels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.