Self clearing crop ramp

A crop ramp segment (112) for an agricultural harvesting head (100), the agricultural harvesting head (100) having a frame (102), a reciprocating knife (110) extending across the agricultural harvesting head and supported on the frame (102), and a conveyor (104, 106, 108) having an endless belt including an upper surface and extending across the agricultural harvesting head (100) and supported on the frame (102), the crop ramp segment comprising:

• a forward portion (212) that is generally planar and has a leading edge (200) that is configured to be fixed to a rear of a reciprocating knife (110) and ahead of a leading edge (202) of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106);
• a rear portion (214) that is generally planar and that is fixed to and extends rearward from the forward portion (212), wherein the rear portion (214) is configured to extend over the leading edge (202) of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106), and has a lower surface (216) that is generally planar and is parallel to the upper surface of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106) when said crop ramp segment (112) is fixed to the agricultural harvesting head (100) and further wherein the rear portion has a trailing edge (204);
• wherein the at least one recess (218) extends into the lower surface (216), wherein the at least one recess has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is upstream of the second end and wherein the first end is farther from the trailing edge than the second end;
• and
• wherein the at least one recess (218) curves toward the trailing edge (204) over substantially its entire length.

A crop ramp segment (112) for an agricultural harvesting head (100), the agricultural harvesting head (100) having a frame (102), a reciprocating knife (110) extending across the agricultural harvesting head and supported on the frame (102), and a conveyor (104, 106, 108) having an endless belt including an upper surface and extending across the agricultural harvesting head (100) and supported on the frame (102), the crop ramp segment comprising:

• a forward portion (212) that is generally planar and has a leading edge (200) that is configured to be fixed to a rear of a reciprocating knife (110) and ahead of a leading edge (202) of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106);
• and
• a rear portion (214) that is generally planar and that is fixed to and extends rearward from the forward portion (212), wherein the rear portion (214) is configured to extend over the leading edge (202) of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106), and has a lower surface (216) that is generally planar and is parallel to the upper surface of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106) when said crop ramp segment (112) is fixed to the agricultural harvesting head (100) and further wherein the rear portion has a trailing edge (204),
• wherein at least one recess (218) extends into the lower surface (216), wherein the at least one recess has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is upstream of the second end and wherein the first end is farther from the trailing edge than the second end, and
• wherein the at least one recess (218) includes at least three recesses (218), wherein each of said at least three recesses (218) has a first end (600) and a second end (602), wherein the first end (600) of each of the at least three recesses (218) is laterally disposed at a location different from the other first ends (600).

A crop ramp segment (112) for an agricultural harvesting head (100), the agricultural harvesting head (100) having a frame (102), a reciprocating knife (110) extending across the agricultural harvesting head and supported on the frame (102), and a conveyor (104, 106, 108) having an endless belt including an upper surface and extending across the agricultural harvesting head (100) and supported on the frame (102), the crop ramp segment comprising:

• a forward portion (212) that is generally planar and has a leading edge (200) that is configured to be fixed to a rear of a reciprocating knife (110) and ahead of a leading edge (202) of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106);
• and
• a rear portion (214) that is generally planar and that is fixed to and extends rearward from the forward portion (212), wherein the rear portion (214) is configured to extend over the leading edge (202) of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106), and has a lower surface (216) that is generally planar and is parallel to the upper surface of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106) when said crop ramp segment (112) is fixed to the agricultural harvesting head (100) and further wherein the rear portion has a trailing edge (204),
• wherein at least one recess (218) extends into the lower surface (216), wherein the at least one recess has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is upstream of the second end and wherein the first end is farther from the trailing edge than the second end, and
• wherein the at least one recess (218) is wavy along its length.

A crop ramp segment (112) for an agricultural harvesting head (100), the agricultural harvesting head (100) having a frame (102), a reciprocating knife (110) extending across the agricultural harvesting head and supported on the frame (102), and a conveyor (104, 106, 108) having an endless belt including an upper surface and extending across the agricultural harvesting head (100) and supported on the frame (102), the crop ramp segment comprising:

• a forward portion (212) that is generally planar and has a leading edge (200) that is configured to be fixed to a rear of a reciprocating knife (110) and ahead of a leading edge (202) of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106);
• and
• a rear portion (214) that is generally planar and that is fixed to and extends rearward from the forward portion (212), wherein the rear portion (214) is configured to extend over the leading edge (202) of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106), and has a lower surface (216) that is generally planar and is parallel to the upper surface of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106) when said crop ramp segment (112) is fixed to the agricultural harvesting head (100) and further wherein the rear portion has a trailing edge (204),
• wherein at least one recess (218) extends into the lower surface (216), wherein the at least one recess has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is upstream of the second end and wherein the first end is farther from the trailing edge than the second end, and
• wherein the at least one recess (218) includes at least three recesses (218), and wherein all of said at least three recesses (218) is parallel to each other.

A crop ramp segment (112) for an agricultural harvesting head (100), the agricultural harvesting head (100) having a frame (102), a reciprocating knife (110) extending across the agricultural harvesting head and supported on the frame (102), and a conveyor (104, 106, 108) having an endless belt including an upper surface and extending across the agricultural harvesting head (100) and supported on the frame (102), the crop ramp segment comprising:

• a forward portion (212) that is generally planar and has a leading edge (200) that is configured to be fixed to a rear of a reciprocating knife (110) and ahead of a leading edge (202) of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106);
• and
• a rear portion (214) that is generally planar and that is fixed to and extends rearward from the forward portion (212), wherein the rear portion (214) is configured to extend over the leading edge (202) of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106), and has a lower surface (216) that is generally planar and is parallel to the upper surface of the endless belt of the conveyor (104, 106) when said crop ramp segment (112) is fixed to the agricultural harvesting head (100) and further wherein the rear portion has a trailing edge (204),
• wherein at least one recess (218) extends into the lower surface (216), wherein the at least one recess has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is upstream of the second end and wherein the first end is farther from the trailing edge than the second end, and
• wherein the at least one recess (218) defines a continuous arc over substantially its entire length.