Crop harvesting header with rotary disks and converging system for forming a swath

A crop harvesting header comprising:

• a header frame arranged to be transported across ground on which there is a standing crop for harvesting;
• a cutter bar mounted on the header frame across a width of the header for movement across the ground for harvesting the standing crop;
• a plurality of generally horizontal cutter disks mounted on the cutter bar at positions spaced transversely of the header with the disks being mounted on the cutter bar for driven rotation about respective generally upright axes spaced along the cutter bar;
• each disk having mounted thereon at a position spaced outwardly from the respective axis thereof at least one cutter blade such that rotation of the disk about its axis causes a standing crop to be cut by the blade as it rotates around the axis on the disk;
• the header frame defining a discharge opening defined by spaced upstanding side walls located at a spacing narrower than a width of the cutter bar through which the cut crop is discharged for forming a swath behind the header;
• the header frame including two walls each located at a respective end of the header frame and each extending behind at least one of the disks from a respective one of the side walls of the discharge opening outwardly toward the respective end of the header frame such that the cut crop material is converged inwardly in front of the wall to the discharge opening;
• and a swath converging apparatus mounted at the discharge opening for converging sides of the swath to be laid on the ground behind the header;
• the swath converging apparatus comprising two assemblies each of at least two rollers with each assembly mounted at a respective side wall of the discharge opening;
• the rollers of each assembly each being driven for rotation about its axis in a direction to carry the crop inwardly of the discharge opening;
• said at least two rollers of each assembly including an innermost one of the rollers mounted inwardly of an outermost one of the rollers and at least the innermost one of the rollers being mounted so as to be located wholly inwardly of the respective side wall of the discharge opening;
• at least the innermost one of the rollers of each assembly being mounted for adjustment movement in a direction inwardly and outwardly of the respective side wall of the discharge opening;
• wherein the swath converging apparatus includes an actuator and a linkage driven by the actuator and connected between the two assemblies for effecting common adjustment movement of the innermost rollers of the two assemblies.

A crop harvesting header comprising:

• a header frame arranged to be transported across ground on which there is a standing crop for harvesting;
• a cutter bar mounted on the header frame across a width of the header for movement across the ground for harvesting the standing crop;
• a plurality of generally horizontal cutter disks mounted on the cutter bar at positions spaced transversely of the header with the disks being mounted on the cutter bar for driven rotation about respective generally upright axes spaced along the cutter bar;
• each disk having mounted thereon at a position spaced outwardly from the respective axis thereof at least one cutter blade such that rotation of the disk about its axis causes a standing crop to be cut by the blade as it rotates around the axis on the disk;
• the header frame defining a discharge opening defined by spaced upstanding side walls located at a spacing narrower than a width of the cutter bar through which the cut crop is discharged for forming a swath behind the header;
• the header frame including two walls each located at a respective end of the header frame and each extending behind at least one of the disks from a respective one of the side walls of the discharge opening outwardly toward the respective end of the header frame such that the cut crop material is converged inwardly in front of the wall to the discharge opening;
• and a swath converging apparatus mounted at the discharge opening for converging sides of the swath to be laid on the ground behind the header;
• the swath converging apparatus comprising two assemblies each of at least two rollers with each assembly mounted at a respective side wall of the discharge opening;
• the rollers of each assembly each being driven for rotation about its axis in a direction to carry the crop inwardly of the discharge opening;
• said at least two rollers of each assembly including an innermost one of the rollers mounted inwardly of an outermost one of the rollers and at least the innermost one of the rollers being mounted so as to be located wholly inwardly of the respective side wall of the discharge opening;
• wherein each of the rollers is driven by a separate hydraulic motor independently of the others of the rollers.

A crop harvesting header comprising:

• a header frame arranged to be transported across ground on which there is a standing crop for harvesting;
• a cutter bar mounted on the header frame across a width of the header for movement across the ground for harvesting the standing crop;
• a plurality of generally horizontal cutter disks mounted on the cutter bar at positions spaced transversely of the header with the disks being mounted on the cutter bar for driven rotation about respective generally upright axes spaced along the cutter bar;
• each disk having mounted thereon at a position spaced outwardly from the respective axis thereof at least one cutter blade such that rotation of the disk about its axis causes a standing crop to be cut by the blade as it rotates around the axis on the disk;
• the header frame defining a discharge opening defined by spaced upstanding side walls located at a spacing narrower than a width of the cutter bar through which the cut crop is discharged for forming a swath behind the header;
• the header frame including two walls each located at a respective end of the header frame and each extending behind at least one of the disks from a respective one of the side walls of the discharge opening outwardly toward the respective end of the header frame such that the cut crop material is converged inwardly in front of the wall to the discharge opening;
• and a swath converging apparatus mounted at the discharge opening for converging sides of the swath to be laid on the ground behind the header;
• the swath converging apparatus comprising two assemblies each mounted at a respective side wall of the discharge opening and each including at least one roller;
• said at least one roller of each assembly each being driven for rotation about its axis in a direction to carry the crop inwardly of the discharge opening;
• said at least one roller being mounted so as to be located wholly inwardly of the respective side wall of the discharge opening;
• wherein the cutter bar is arranged underneath the cutter disks for driving the cutter disks;
• and wherein there is provided a floor plate extending rearwardly from the cutter bar to a position adjacent said at least one roller and arranged to prevent cut crop from falling to the ground in front of said at least one roller.