Method for operating an agricultural harvester (1), wherein the agricultural harvester (1) has an attachment (2), wherein the attachment (2) has a receiving conveyor (7) which is driven at a defined first speed, wherein the attachment (2) has a discharge conveyor (8) which is driven at a defined second speed, wherein the harvester (1) has an infeed unit (4) with infeed rollers (5, 6) which are driven at a defined third speed. The second speed, at which the discharge conveyor (8) is driven, is determined depending on the third speed, at which the infeed rollers (5, 6) are driven, and also depending on the speed of travel of the agricultural harvester (1).

A cam reel for use on a harvesting header which includes a plurality of reel bats disposed evenly around the reel shaft, each attached to radial arms extending outwardly from the reel shaft by bat arms pivotally attached to the radial anus such that the bat member itself can pivot about a pivot axis around the end of the radial arms. The reel ends of the radial anus define a circular bat path and the reel bats once attached can be pivoted about the pivot axis, parallel to the reel axis, in a bat pivot path to move both inside and outside of the radius of the circular bat path. The reel can be attached to various header assemblies using interchangeable end kits. A header using the reel is also disclosed.

A reel of a harvester including a cutter bar includes a plurality of reel bats which are pivotal so as to vary the angle of the fingers about the bat axis as the reel rotates and an end shield plate mounted on the reel at the end of the reel. The end plate has a peripheral edge located radially inward of an outer tip of the fingers with an apex at each of the bats and portions which are recessed from a straight line joining the apexes to allow rotation of the finger around the bat axis without contacting the peripheral edge. Each of the endmost fingers of the bats has a base which is axially inside the end plate and is bent longitudinally of the reel to define an outer tip which is axially spaced from the base to a position beyond the radial plane of the end plate.

A draper header of an agricultural harvester comprising a first reel, a second reel spaced from the first reel a predetermined distance, and a center belt reel assembly between the first and second reels. The center belt reel assembly includes an endless belt rotationally driven about a rotational axis substantially parallel to a central rotational axis of one of the first and second reels, wherein the endless belt has a width that extends substantially the predetermined distance. The endless belt is rotationally driven by one of the first and second reels for conveying grain received between the first and second reels. As a result of the center belt reel assembly, grain between the first and second reels is fed to the center of the header where it may be conveyed to and processed by the harvester.

A sorghum cutting header and a sorghum harvester with large feed volume and multiple reeling pans includes a reeling header, a rod crushing device, and a reciprocating cutter device. The rod crushing device is located under the reeling header. The reeling header includes reeling pans, frame rods, bearing seats, reeling pan shafts, tandem shafts, and tandem shaft bearing seats. The reeling pan shafts are installed in parallel on the frame rod through bearing seats. The adjacent reeling pan shafts are in transmission connection, and at least one reeling pan shaft is in transmission connection with the power device. An inner part of any reeling pan shaft penetrates the tandem shafts. Both ends of the tandem shafts are supported on the frame rods, and one end of the tandem shafts is fixed on the tandem shaft bearing seats. The reeling pans are mounted on any reeling pan shaft.

A harvesting header for attachment to a harvesting machine, the header including two or more sub-assemblies each which includes a respective crop gathering mechanism and a respective drive mechanism coupled to operate the crop gathering mechanism. The drive mechanisms for the respective sub-assemblies are operable independently of one another to enable them to run at different speeds when the harvesting machine is performing a turn manoeuver.

A sorghum cutting header and a sorghum harvester with large feed volume and multiple reeling pans includes a reeling header, a rod crushing device, and a reciprocating cutter device. The rod crushing device is located under the reeling header. The reeling header includes reeling pans, frame rods, bearing seats, reeling pan shafts, tandem shafts, and tandem shaft bearing seats. The reeling pan shafts are installed in parallel on the frame rod through bearing seats. The adjacent reeling pan shafts are in transmission connection, and at least one reeling pan shaft is in transmission connection with the power device. An inner part of any reeling pan shaft penetrates the tandem shafts. Both ends of the tandem shafts are supported on the frame rods, and one end of the tandem shafts is fixed on the tandem shaft bearing seats. The reeling pans are mounted on any reeling pan shaft.

An agricultural harvester header including a first reel, a second reel adjacent the first reel, and a variable speed reel drive between the first and second reels and operatively connected to at least one of the first reel for rotatably driving the first reel and the second reel for rotatably driving the second reel. The variable speed reel drive can include: a variable speed motor, and a multi-speed gearbox operatively coupled to the variable speed motor and at least one of the reels; a motor, and a continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the motor and at least one of the reels; or a motor, and a planetary gear drive operatively coupled to the motor and at least one of the reels.

A reel of a harvester including a cutter bar includes a plurality of reel bats which are pivotal so as to vary the angle of the fingers about the bat axis as the reel rotates and an end shield plate mounted on the reel at the end of the reel. The end plate has a peripheral edge located radially inward of an outer tip of the fingers with an apex at each of the bats and portions which are recessed from a straight line joining the apexes to allow rotation of the finger around the bat axis without contacting the peripheral edge. Each of the endmost fingers of the bats has a base which is axially inside the end plate and is bent longitudinally of the reel to define an outer tip which is axially spaced from the base to a position beyond the radial plane of the end plate.

A triplex greensmower lift system includes a yoke mount attached to a reel cutting unit forwardly and below a center of gravity of the reel cutting unit, an upper lift arm attached to the yoke mount and extending rearwardly behind the reel cutting unit to a horizontal pivot axis on a lower lift arm located at a height between a top of the reel cutting unit and the center of gravity of the reel cutting unit, and a spring connected to the upper lift arm and biasing the upper lift arm upwardly and rearwardly to reduce ground pressure on the reel cutting unit.