Cutting reel adjusting system

A control system for a cutting reel unit comprising:

• a first frame;
• a second frame:
• a cutting reel supported by said second frame;
• a bedknife arranged adjacent to said cutting reel and supported by said second frame;
• at least one support element arranged to translate along the ground and arranged to support said first frame;
• at least one first actuator connected between said first frame and said second frame and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of said second frame with respect to said first frame;
• at least one second actuator operatively connected between said reel and said bedknife and arranged to adjust the clearance between said reel and said bedknife;
• and
• a controller signal-connected to said first and second actuators and operable to adjust said first and second actuators to adjust the clearance between said reel and said bedknife and to adjust an elevation of said clearance between the reel and the bedknife above the ground.

A control system for adjusting clearance between a cutting reel and a bedknife of a cutting reel unit, comprising:

• a bedknife;
• a frame fixed in position with respect to said bedknife;
• a rotatable reel having cutting blades, said reel mounted to said frame and being adjustably movable toward and away from said bedknife;
• a controller;
• first and second actuators carried by said frame at opposite ends of said reel and each having a first portion fixed with respect to said frame and a second portion operatively connected to said reel, a motive portion signal-connected to said controller, relative positions of said first and second portions being adjustable by actuation of said motive portions by said controller to adjust clearance between said reel and said bedknife;
• wherein each said motive portion comprises a stepper motor that drives a drive screw mechanism to linearly displace said first portion from said second portion;
• and
• wherein said drive screw mechanism comprises a lead screw rotated by said stepper motor, and a rod operatively connected to said cutting reel, said rod having a portion threaded to said lead screw, rotation of said lead screw causing translation of said rod with respect to said actuator;
• and
• wherein said actuator comprises an anti-backlash nut threaded on said lead screw, and a spring, said anti-backlash nut having a first surface abutting a second surface of said rod, said spring urging said anti-backlash nut in rotation around said lead screw such that thread play between said rod and said lead screw is removed.

A control system for a cutting reel unit comprising:

• a first frame;
• a second frame;
• a cutting reel supported by said second frame;
• a bedknife arranged adjacent to said cutting reel and supported by said second frame;
• at least one support element arranged to translate along the ground and arranged to support said first frame;
• at least one first actuator connected between said first frame and said second frame and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of said second frame with respect to said first frame;
• at least one second actuator operatively connected between said reel and said bedknife and arranged to adjust the clearance between said reel and said bedknife;
• a controller signal-connected to said first and second actuators;
• and
• position sensors that are signal-connected to said controller, said position sensors determining the elevation of said reel with respect to the at least one support element and determining the position of said reel with respect to said bedknife, wherein said sensors comprise optical encoders.

A control system for adjusting clearance between a cutting reel and a bedknife of a cutting reel unit, comprising:

• a bedknife;
• a frame fixed in position with respect to said bedknife;
• a rotatable reel having cutting blades, said reel mounted to said frame and being adjustably movable toward and away from said bedknife;
• a controller;
• first and second actuators carried by said frame at opposite ends of said reel and each having a first portion fixed with respect to said frame and a second portion operatively connected to said reel, and a motive portion signal-connected to said controller, relative positions of said first and second portions being adjustable by actuation of said motive portions by said controller to set a pre-selected clearance between said reel and said bedknife;
• wherein said motive portion comprises a stepper motor that drives a drive screw mechanism to linearly displace said first portion from said second portion;
• wherein each first and second actuator comprises a distance sensor that is signal-connected to said controller, wherein said controller drives said stepper motor in response to a distance signal from said distance sensor.

A control system for adjusting clearance between a cutting reel and a bedknife of a cutting reel unit, comprising:

• a bedknife;
• a frame fixed in position with respect to said bedknife;
• a rotatable reel having cutting blades, said reel mounted to said frame and being adjustably movable toward and away from said bedknife;
• a controller;
• first and second actuators carried by said frame at opposite ends of said reel and each having a first portion fixed with respect to said frame and a second portion operatively connected to said reel, a motive portion signal-connected to said controller, relative positions of said first and second portions being adjustable by actuation of said motive portions by said controller to adjust clearance between said reel and said bedknife, wherein said motive portion comprises a stepper motor that drives a drive screw mechanism to linearly displace said first portion from said second portion;
• wherein each first and second actuator comprises a distance sensor that is signal-connected to said controller, wherein said controller drives said stepper motor in response to a distance signal from said distance sensor, wherein said distance sensor comprises an encoder having a disc rotatable with said stepper motor, said disc having a marking, and a read head signal-connected to said controller and responsive to said marking on said disc.

A control system for adjusting the reel of a cutting reel unit, comprising:

• a cutting reel;
• a frame supported on at Least one support element that is supported on, and is movable along, the ground;
• at least one housing supporting said cutting reel, said housing movably mounted on said frame;
• a bedknife carried on said frame;
• at least one actuator having a first portion connected to the frame and a second portion connected to said housing, wherein relative positions of said first and second portions are adjustable to set a pre-selected clearance between said reel and said bedknife, and said actuator including a motive mechanism that is activated to adjust said relative positions;
• said motive mechanism including a precise positioning system that controls the actuation of said motive mechanism to automatically adjust said relative positions wherein said reel and said bedknife are set at said pre-selected clearance;
• a controller, said precise positioning system is signal-connected to said controller, said controller signal-connected to said actuator to precisely adjust said relative position based on a position signal from said precise positioning system;
• wherein said actuator comprises a stepper motor, and said precise positioning system comprises an optical encoder having a read head signal-connected to said controller and an optical disk arranged to rotate with an output shaft of said stepper motor.