A crop intake device for an agricultural harvester includes a frame and a crop pickup unit, pivotably mounted to the frame. The crop pickup unit includes a rotatable reel, at least one support member, and first and second suspension springs. The reel has tines configured for picking up crop from a field. The support member is arranged for supporting the crop pickup unit on the field during use, and is pivotable relative to the reel for setting a minimum height of the tines by moving the reel between a lowered configuration and a raised configuration. A perpendicular distance between the first suspension spring and a pivot point of the crop pickup unit on the frame increases when moving the reel towards the raised configuration. A lifting torque provided by the second suspension spring on the crop pickup unit increases when moving the reel towards the raised configuration.

A crop harvesting header includes a reel rotatable about a reel axis. The reel has a reel bat supported at a spaced distance from the reel axis. The reel bat can pivot about a bat axis radially spaced from the reel axis. The reel bat has a crop collection member that extends generally away from the bat axis. The reel bat can move in a cyclical path around the reel axis during rotation of the reel. The reel bat can vary the angle of the crop collection member about the bat axis as the reel rotates about the reel axis. A sun gear is provided that may be positioned in axial alignment with the reel axis. A planetary gear system is rotatable about the sun gear. The planetary gear system interacts with the sun gear, and causes said planetary gear system to effect pivotal movement of the reel bat about its bat axis.

A crop harvesting header includes a reel rotatable about a reel axis. The reel has a reel bat supported at a spaced distance from the reel axis. The reel bat can pivot about a bat axis radially spaced from the reel axis. The reel bat has a crop collection member that extends generally away from the bat axis. The reel bat can move in a cyclical path around the reel axis during rotation of the reel. The reel bat can vary the angle of the crop collection member about the bat axis as the reel rotates about the reel axis. A sun gear is provided that may be positioned in axial alignment with the reel axis. A planetary gear system is rotatable about the sun gear. The planetary gear system interacts with the sun gear, and causes said planetary gear system to effect pivotal movement of the reel bat about its bat axis.

A cam track adjustment mechanism for use with the pick-up reel of a harvester. A cam track is provided which is rotatably adjustable about an axis which is spaced away from the fixed axis of rotation of the pick-up reel. The two axes may be generally horizontally aligned relative to each other. Preferably, the cam track is rotatable around a point away from the fixed reel axis and generally on the horizontal plane of the rotational path, and is positioned so an arc from it to the entry and exit cam path is generally concentric. As such, tine angularity is less effected in these areas as a result of adjusting the cam track. With this type of timing or pitch adjustment, tine angularity can be changed in the crop gathering portion of the rotational path with minimized effect in the crop entry and exit portions of the rotational path.

A cam follower design wherein a cam track is provided proximate one or both ends of a harvester pick-up reel. Cam followers travel along the cam track as the pick-up reel rotates to move crop into the harvester. At least one roller of each cam follower engages and rolls along an interior edge surface of the cam track, and at least one other roller of each cam follower engages and rolls along an exterior edge surface of the cam track. The rollers are preferably engaged with a carrier member which is linked to a corresponding bat tube. Each cam follower preferably also includes at least one over center stop which is configured to maintain the intended radial position of the bat tube.

A non-split bearing design for use with a harvester pick-up reel. In one specific embodiment, the outer member directly engages the inner member. In another embodiment, the bearing is provided as being an interchangeable roller bearing, and in that case there is preferably an intermediate member which is disposed between the outer member and the inner member. Regardless, providing that the bearing is non-split provides that the design is simplified, as well as provides that the inner bore, i.e., the bore which engages the bat tube, can be more easily controlled, thereby reducing or even eliminating service requirements.

A pickup reel assembly that includes a hub and multiple bat assemblies where each bat assembly rotates through a functional area where it moves crop material into a harvester, and a non-functional area where it does not move crop material into the harvester. Each bat assembly rotates at a first speed through the functional area and at a second speed through the non-functional area, where the second speed is greater than the first speed. A nominal speed shaft can rotate at the first speed, and an increased speed shaft can rotate at the second speed. Cogs can couple the bat assembly to the increased speed shaft when it is in the non-functional area. The cogs can also couple the bat assembly to the nominal speed shaft when it is in the functional area.

A pickup reel assembly that includes a hub and multiple bat assemblies where each bat assembly rotates through a functional area where it moves crop material into a harvester, and a non-functional area where it does not move crop material into the harvester. Each bat assembly rotates at a first speed through the functional area and at a second speed through the non-functional area, where the second speed is greater than the first speed. A nominal speed shaft can rotate at the first speed, and an increased speed shaft can rotate at the second speed. Cogs can couple the bat assembly to the increased speed shaft when it is in the non-functional area. The cogs can also couple the bat assembly to the nominal speed shaft when it is in the functional area.

A universal crop head assembly is carried at the front of and by a harvester. The new crop head assembly includes a frame assembly, an intermediate multi-crop reel assembly carried by the frame assembly and having selectively extendable and retractable fingers for small grain harvesting. A lower cutter bar assembly is carried by the frame assembly and for cutting grain stalks. An upper forward cutter bar assembly is carried by the frame assembly and supports an upper cutter bar for cutting corn stalks about an upper end, an adjustable air knife assembly for blowing against severed corn stalks upper ends; and a lower draper belt assembly carried by the frame assembly and for moving grain cut by the lower cutter bar assembly.

A universal crop head assembly is carried at the front of and by a harvester. The new crop head assembly includes a frame assembly, an intermediate multi-crop reel assembly carried by the frame assembly and having selectively extendable and retractable fingers for small grain harvesting. A lower cutter bar assembly is carried by the frame assembly and for cutting grain stalks. An upper forward cutter bar assembly is carried by the frame assembly and supports an upper cutter bar for cutting corn stalks about an upper end, an adjustable air knife assembly for blowing against severed corn stalks upper ends; and a lower draper belt assembly carried by the frame assembly and for moving grain cut by the lower cutter bar assembly.