A belt monitoring system for an agricultural belt arrangement, the monitoring system including an agricultural belt having a magnetic element embedded therein and a sensor. The agricultural belt arrangement defines a proper belt alignment for the belt and moves the belt. The magnetic element is polarized so as to output a magnetic signal. The sensor is configured to detect, at a reference position, the magnetic signal outputted by the magnetic element. The monitoring system further includes a circuit configured to output a signal if, for example, the agricultural belt moves more than a predetermined amount through the agricultural belt arrangement without the sensor arrangement detecting the magnetic signal outputted by the magnetic element, a predetermined amount of time passes without the sensor detecting the magnetic signal, and the circuit determines the position of the magnetic element to be outside of a permissible positional range.

An agricultural header including a belt that wraps around rollers. A cutter bar assembly that cuts a crop and delivers the crop to the belt. The cutter bar assembly includes a cutter bar, a stationary blade assembly that couples to the cutter bar, a moving blade assembly that couples to the cutter bar. The moving blade assembly moves relative to the stationary blade assembly to cut the crop. A skid couples to the cutter bar and maintains a distance between the ground and the stationary blade assembly and the moving blade assembly. The cutter bar defines a recess that receives debris from the belt and directs the debris to the skid.

An agricultural header including a belt that wraps around rollers. A cutter bar assembly that cuts a crop and delivers the crop to the belt. The cutter bar assembly includes a cutter bar, a stationary blade assembly that couples to the cutter bar, a moving blade assembly that couples to the cutter bar. The moving blade assembly moves relative to the stationary blade assembly to cut the crop. A skid couples to the cutter bar and maintains a distance between the ground and the stationary blade assembly and the moving blade assembly. The cutter bar defines a recess that receives debris from the belt and directs the debris to the skid.

An arm assembly for an agricultural header includes an arm configured to rotate about a pivot axis relative to a frame of the agricultural header and configured to support a cutter bar assembly of the agricultural header. The arm assembly also includes a mounting bracket assembly configured to couple the arm to the frame, one or more fasteners configured to couple the arm to the mounting bracket assembly, and a plate configured to maintain a tension of the one or more fasteners with respect to the arm and the mounting bracket assembly.

A tool head for a hand-guided implement possesses two rotatably mounted tools, wherein a first tool is drivable via a first linkage and a second tool is drivable via a second linkage. The tools are drivable so that they rotate back and forth in opposite directions about a common rotational axis. The first linkage possesses a first drive member coupled to a first coupling member pivotably about a first link axis. The first coupling member is coupled to the first tool pivotably about a second link axis. The second linkage possesses a second drive member coupled to a second coupling member pivotably about a third link axis. The second coupling member is coupled to the second tool pivotably about a fourth link axis. The rotational axis of the tools and the coupling drive axis span a center plane, which runs between the second link axis and the fourth link axis.

A system and method for performing cutting operations with an agricultural implement includes a cutting member capable of cutting plant material supported on the agricultural implement. A vibration source is operatively coupled to the cutting member. The vibration source is configured to generate a vibrational output at an ultrasonic frequency which is transmitted to the cutting member. The vibrational output is propagated through at least a portion of the cutting member to vibrate the cutting member as the plant material is being severed during the performance of the cutting operation.

A system and method for performing cutting operations with an agricultural implement includes a cutting member capable of cutting plant material supported on the agricultural implement. A vibration source is operatively coupled to the cutting member. The vibration source is configured to generate a vibrational output at an ultrasonic frequency which is transmitted to the cutting member. The vibrational output is propagated through at least a portion of the cutting member to vibrate the cutting member as the plant material is being severed during the performance of the cutting operation.

A locking mechanism includes a pin configured to movably couple to a first element of an agricultural header, wherein the first element includes one of an arm and a frame. The locking mechanism also includes a mount configured to couple to a second element of the agricultural header, wherein the second element includes the other of the arm and the frame. The pin is disposed within an opening of the mount, the opening has a first portion configured to receive the pin while the pin is in a first position and to block relative movement between the pin and the mount to block rotation of the arm, and the opening has a second portion configured to receive the pin while the pin is in a second position and to enable relative movement between the pin and the mount to enable rotation of the arm.

A header includes one or more vibration sensors mounted on a knife drive train of the header. The knife drive train includes a rotatable header drive shaft, a mechanical knife drive, a transmission for transferring rotation of the drive shaft to the knife drive and a support member with a set of knives attached thereto. The support member is coupled to the knife drive so as to undergo a reciprocating movement. One or more sensors are mounted on the support member or on a housing of the knife drive. The sensors are configured to measure a vibration in a direction of the reciprocating movement. The sensors may include accelerometers or strain gauges.

A header includes one or more vibration sensors mounted on a knife drive train of the header. The knife drive train includes a rotatable header drive shaft, a mechanical knife drive, a transmission for transferring rotation of the drive shaft to the knife drive and a support member with a set of knives attached thereto. The support member is coupled to the knife drive so as to undergo a reciprocating movement. One or more sensors are mounted on the support member or on a housing of the knife drive. The sensors are configured to measure a vibration in a direction of the reciprocating movement. The sensors may include accelerometers or strain gauges.