An improved automatic height adjustment system for use with a header of an agricultural harvester is provided. The system includes apparatus and methods utilizing detection of a light beam at or near the skid plate of a header to adjust the height of the header relative to the ground surface. The apparatus includes an emitter for emitting a beam of light to a receiver. An apertured sensor guide is positioned between the emitter and the receiver. The sensor guide is in communication with a controller. If the body of the sensor guide is detected as blocking passage of light to the receiver then the controller operates an extensible actuator to raise or lower the header relative to the ground surface. The system provides rapid header height adjustment in response to detected changes in elevation of the skid plate as the harvester traverses a crop field.

An improved automatic height adjustment system for use with a header of an agricultural harvester is provided. The system includes apparatus and methods utilizing detection of a light beam at or near the skid plate of a header to adjust the height of the header relative to the ground surface. The apparatus includes an emitter for emitting a beam of light to a receiver. An apertured sensor guide is positioned between the emitter and the receiver. The sensor guide is in communication with a controller. If the body of the sensor guide is detected as blocking passage of light to the receiver then the controller operates an extensible actuator to raise or lower the header relative to the ground surface. The system provides rapid header height adjustment in response to detected changes in elevation of the skid plate as the harvester traverses a crop field.

Decisive modifications are proposed to a cutting system reducing cutting losses and having a floating disk, in order to improve the efficiency of the system. The lower finger (1) cuts at the lower level and has a tip pointing upwards to prevent the finger from entering the ground; weeds passing past the lower finger pass over the upper finger (3), the accumulation of branches between the fingers being thus prevented. The upper finger (3) has a guard (4) that prevents grains from dropping out of the cutting platform, and the guard is also used to mount two bearings which act to orient the cutter bar (2).

Decisive modifications are proposed to a cutting system reducing cutting losses and having a floating disk, in order to improve the efficiency of the system. The lower finger (1) cuts at the lower level and has a tip pointing upwards to prevent the finger from entering the ground; weeds passing past the lower finger pass over the upper finger (3), the accumulation of branches between the fingers being thus prevented. The upper finger (3) has a guard (4) that prevents grains from dropping out of the cutting platform, and the guard is also used to mount two bearings which act to orient the cutter bar (2).

A mowing sickle drive system comprises a knife bar supported by a frame and drive apparatus operable to drive the knife bar in a reciprocating linear motion at a variable drive frequency. A spring is coupled to the knife bar for applying a restoring force to the knife bar toward a neutral position when in motion. The spring has a variable modulus of elasticity that is controlled dependent upon the drive frequency.

A mower implement includes a cutter bar extending along a central bar axis. A rotating blade assembly is mounted on the cutter bar. The rotating blade assembly includes a disc rotatable about a disc rotation axis relative to the cutter bar, and at least one blade pivotably mounted to the disc. A blade sensor is mounted on the cutter bar. The blade sensor has a sensing field, and is positioned to detect movement of the at least one blade of the rotating blade assembly through the sensing field during each rotation of the disc about the disc rotation axis. A diagnostic controller receives the data signal from the blade sensor and is configured to analysis the blade signal and identify a fault in the rotating blade assembly. The diagnostic controller may then notify an operator of the identified fault.

A mower implement includes a cutter bar extending along a central bar axis. A rotating blade assembly is mounted on the cutter bar. The rotating blade assembly includes a disc rotatable about a disc rotation axis relative to the cutter bar, and at least one blade pivotably mounted to the disc. A blade sensor is mounted on the cutter bar. The blade sensor has a sensing field, and is positioned to detect movement of the at least one blade of the rotating blade assembly through the sensing field during each rotation of the disc about the disc rotation axis. A diagnostic controller receives the data signal from the blade sensor and is configured to analysis the blade signal and identify a fault in the rotating blade assembly. The diagnostic controller may then notify an operator of the identified fault.

A combine harvester includes a chassis and a head including a reel rotating about an axis substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel. A front portion of the head includes a cutter. A crop feeder system transports cut crop from the cutter along the head and to the combine harvester processing systems. A powered movable stone barrier is rearward of the cutter and moves in a laterally reciprocating motion.

A tractor assembly includes a tractor having a first set of wheels and a second set of wheels, a mower-conditioner assembly coupled to the tractor, a shield coupled to the conditioner at a location rearward thereof, and a crop moving assembly coupled to either the tractor or mower-conditioner assembly. The mower-conditioner assembly includes a mowing mechanism configured to cut a crop and a conditioner configured to crimp the crop. The shield deflects the crimped crop rearwardly therefrom and forms a windrow of a first width. The windrow is disposed directly behind the tractor and includes a device for spreading the windrow in at least one direction to form a second width. The second width is greater than the first width.

A device for harvesting asparagus growing from a asparagus field that includes a frame displaceable over the asparagus field by a drive means in which frame is at least provided with cutting means for cutting the asparagus to be harvested close to the surface of the field, and stabilizing means for stabilizing the asparagus relative to the cutting means.