A reciprocating knife assembly of an agricultural implement includes first and second elongate reciprocating knives disposed along a leading edge of an agricultural implement, the reciprocating knives being disposed end to end and extending colinearly for simultaneous reciprocation in opposite directions, the first and second reciprocating knives being supported for sliding movement on the agricultural implement in a lateral direction generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of the agricultural implement as it travels through an agricultural field harvesting crop, a first bell crank coupled to the first reciprocating knife to reciprocate said knife, a second bell crank coupled to the second reciprocating knife to reciprocate the second reciprocating knife, and a common drive coupled to the first and second bell cranks to drive both the first and second bell cranks in opposite directions simultaneously.

A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The harvesting header is operable to flex and thereby follow an uneven terrain.

A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The harvesting header is operable to flex and thereby follow an uneven terrain.

A cutting system for a harvesting header includes a transversely extending cutter bar, a transversely extending knife back, a knife section mounted to the knife back having a knife edge extending generally in a forward direction, a knife guard component having a front guard portion and a rear portion interconnected by a medial portion having a recess. The medial portion is configured for receiving a lengthwise portion of the knife back with the knife section being received into, and the knife section is operable to move transversely into and out of a cutting slot in the front guard portion. A hold down component is located between an upper surface of the rear portion of the knife guard component and an underneath surface of the cutter bar, and an attachment mechanism is operable to secure the knife guard component and the hold down component to the underneath surface of the cutter bar.

A cutting system for a harvesting header includes a transversely extending cutter bar, a transversely extending knife back, a knife section mounted to the knife back having a knife edge extending generally in a forward direction, a knife guard component having a front guard portion and a rear portion interconnected by a medial portion having a recess. The medial portion is configured for receiving a lengthwise portion of the knife back with the knife section being received into, and the knife section is operable to move transversely into and out of a cutting slot in the front guard portion. A hold down component is located between an upper surface of the rear portion of the knife guard component and an underneath surface of the cutter bar, and an attachment mechanism is operable to secure the knife guard component and the hold down component to the underneath surface of the cutter bar.

A cutting assembly for an agricultural or forestry cutter, the cutting assembly comprising a lower member and an upper member, which together form at least one finger guard extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein a blade gap is formed between the lower member and the upper member, and a knife, which is guided in a reciprocating manner in the blade gap in a drive direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, and which has at least one cutting edge.

The knife head mounts to the sickle to hold a plurality of knife sections thereon while allowing removal of the knife sections individually without major disassembly for ease of in field repair and replacement. A knife pin of the knife head connects to a knife arm driven by the sickle drive mechanism and is removable from above also without major disassembly. The knife pin connection provides a vertical self adjustment capability to accommodate sickle wear and vertical misalignment between the sickle and drive. And the knife arm is streamlined for cut plant material flow thereabout and is also adapted for ease of removal and field repair.

A cutting apparatus for a header of an agricultural harvester includes a first wheel and a second wheel. A drive source is configured to selectively drive the first wheel in a clockwise direction or an anticlockwise direction. A knife carrier, including a loop having a running side and a knife-carrying side, is tensioned around the first and second wheels for transmitting torque from the drive source to rotate the wheels and the knife carrier. A plurality of knives cut crop mounted to the knife-carrying surface of the knife carrier. A sensor monitors operation of the knives.

A cutting apparatus for a header of an agricultural harvester includes a first wheel and a second wheel. A drive source is configured to selectively drive the first wheel in a clockwise direction or an anticlockwise direction. A knife carrier, including a loop having a running side and a knife-carrying side, is tensioned around the first and second wheels for transmitting torque from the drive source to rotate the wheels and the knife carrier. A plurality of knives cut crop mounted to the knife-carrying surface of the knife carrier. A sensor monitors operation of the knives.

The present invention relates to a cutting mechanism (4) for attaching to a harvesting machine (2), comprising a frame (6) that is connected to a plurality of rocker arms (16) spaced apart from one another, facing in the working direction (A) and are movable vertically. In each case, a plurality thereof being configured at least in some portions as a leaf spring assembly (20) includes a plurality of leaf springs (22), and the front ends of these rocker arms (16) are connected in each case via a connecting component to knife angle bracket profiles (24), the cutting elements (18) of the cutting mechanism (4) being fastened thereto. For mounting of the knife angle bracket profiles (24), a connecting joint (26) with attachment means (28) on its sides facing transversely to the working direction (A) in order to connect an adjacent knife angle bracket profile (24) to connecting joint (26).