A header for an agricultural harvester comprising a frame and first and second anteriorly facing, oppositely driven epicyclical cutter bar knife drives connected to the frame. A roller shaft extends between and operatively connects the first and second epicyclical drives. The roller shaft or a drive roller drives rotation of a header infeed conveyor. The anteriorly facing epicyclical knife drives effectively rid themselves of harmful dirt and debris thereby prolonging the service life of the epicyclical knife drives.

A header for an agricultural harvester including an epicyclical drive gear train operatively connected to a first cutter bar, an epicyclical driven gear train operatively connected to a second cutter bar, and a shaft extending between and operatively connected to the epicyclical drive gear train and the epicyclical driven gear train. The epicyclical drive gear train rotates in a first direction and the shaft is configured to rotate the epicyclical driven gear train in a second direction opposite the first direction or in the same direction as the first direction. Each of the epicyclical drive gear train and epicyclical driven gear train includes a bevel gear for operatively engaging bevel gears on the shaft. Operation of the epicyclical drive gear train and epicyclical driven gear train results in substantially linear oscillating motion of the cutter bars.

A header for an agricultural vehicle including a frame, a reel rotatably mounted to the frame, and a reel drive assembly operably connected to the reel. The reel drive assembly rotates the reel in a first drive configuration and a second drive configuration. The reel drive assembly includes a first drive operably connected to the reel, and a second drive selectively connected to the reel such that the second drive is disconnected from the reel in the first drive configuration and the second drive is operably connected to the reel in parallel with the first drive in the second drive configuration.

A crop harvesting header having a frame mounted on a propulsion vehicle has a cutter bar carrying a sickle knife and a draper transport. The draper is guided at its front edge by a longitudinally extending rail mounted on the frame for movement therewith. The cutter bar is mounted on the frame at spaced positions by spring blades attached to a fixed beam at the rear which allow up and down flexing movement of the cutter bar relative to the draper engagement member. At the center discharge the cutter bar is carried on shorter blades which are carried on a beam in front of the front draper roller. The small amount of flexing of the cutter bar combines with a balanced three piece header frame to provide effective ground following.

An arrangement for controlling the height and/or incline of a combine header for harvesting thin-stemmed crops includes a control system which is connected to a sensor for detecting the height of the combine header above the ground, and to an actuator for controlling the height and/or incline of the combine header and which can be operated to control the actuator in dependence on signals of the sensor. A mulching appliance with a cultivating tool for shredding plant stumps is attached to the combine header in a vertically movable manner following the contour of the ground, and the sensor is set up to detect the position of the mulching appliance relative to the combine header.

A harvesting machine (2) is disclosed that includes an intake channel (10) that is connected to a height control (70), wherein the height control (70) lifts or lowers the intake channel (10), an attachment frame (8) that is connected to the intake channel (10), at least one lateral frame (78) pivotably connected to the attachment frame (8), at least one ground support (80) attached to each lateral frame (78), and at least one trailing arm (82) that is pivotably connected to the respective at least one lateral frame (78), and the at least one trailing arm (82) is fastened to the at least one ground support (80) There is evaluation electronics (36) that compares a force sensor signal (52) with a nominal value (60) and issues an adjusting command (44).

A system for modifying a row unit of a harvesting head, the system including at least one cutting disk, a right angle gear set configured for being drivingly connected to the cutting disk, and a drive shaft between a row unit gear box and the right angle gear set. The system may drive two counter-rotating cutting disks that can be positioned either at near the rear or the front of the row unit. A method for modifying the row unit includes removing existing stalk rolls and housings, installing a cover plate over a gearbox to which the housings were mounted, removing existing trash knives, drilling holes in the row unit frame for mounting the cutting disks, installing the cutting disks.

An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis and a header. The header includes a cutter bar and a cutter bar feedback control system. The cutter bar is moveably connected to the header and has a first knife and a second knife. The cutter bar feedback control system is coupled to the cutter bar and is configured for selectively controlling a speed of the second knife. The cutter bar feedback control system includes a continuously variable transmission that is operably coupled to the second knife, a first sensor operably coupled to the first knife, a second sensor operably coupled to the second knife, and a controller in communication with the continuously variable transmission, the first sensor, and the second sensor. The controller is configured for controlling the continuously variable transmission to control the speed of the second knife such that the first knife and second knife synchronously reciprocate in opposing directions.

A knife head drive assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester including a knife head assembly for attachment to a forward end of the header. A first pivot arm and a second pivot arm are carried by the knife head assembly and are pivotably connected by a linkage. A rotating crank is operatively connected to and extending substantially transverse to the knife head assembly for engagement with a drive. A reciprocating shaft is connected to the rotating crank and either of the pivot arms or the linkage. Operation of the knife head drive assembly results in substantially linear, opposed oscillating motion of cutter bars carried by the knife head assembly.

An agricultural harvesting header includes a first frame portion and a second frame portion moveably connected to the first frame portion. An upper control arm is pivotally connected to the first frame portion and pivotally connected to the second frame portion. A lower control arm pivotally connected to the first frame portion and pivotally connected to the second frame portion. The connection between the first frame portion, second frame portion, upper control arm, and a lower control arm forms a roll center positioned at or below ground level.