A harvester for harvesting a produce planted in a field is provided. An exemplary harvester comprises a cutting and gripping unit, comprising: a top frame; a base ring structure; a plurality of supports arranged in a circular configuration to form a cage-like structure, wherein proximal ends of the plurality of supports are affixed to the top frame and distal ends of the plurality of supports are affixed to the base ring structure; a set of grippers connected to the top frame; a blade rotatably connected to the base ring structure, wherein the blade is configured to cut the produce while at least a part of the produce is enclosed within the plurality of supports and secured by the set of grippers.

A harvester for harvesting a produce planted in a field is provided. An exemplary harvester comprises a cutting and gripping unit, comprising: a top frame; a base ring structure; a plurality of supports arranged in a circular configuration to form a cage-like structure, wherein proximal ends of the plurality of supports are affixed to the top frame and distal ends of the plurality of supports are affixed to the base ring structure; a set of grippers connected to the top frame; a blade rotatably connected to the base ring structure, wherein the blade is configured to cut the produce while at least a part of the produce is enclosed within the plurality of supports and secured by the set of grippers.

A draper belt assembly for an agricultural harvester header (100) comprising an endless draper belt (120) that includes an outer surface (322) and an inner surface (324) opposite the outer surface. The draper belt further includes elongated members (326) each extending from the outer surface and having a lateral face (328) substantially facing a longitudinal midline (ML) of the endless draper belt. The draper belt assembly additionally comprises a drive mechanism (332) operatively engaged with the endless draper belt. The lateral faces of the elongated members act as shelves that inhibit sliding of grain and other crop material from the bottom of the belt, thereby reducing plugging at the bottom of the belt adjacent the cutter bar and floor sheets. In addition, the elongated members more evenly distribute grain and other crop material across the width of the belt.

A draper belt assembly for an agricultural harvester header (100) comprising an endless draper belt (120) that includes an outer surface (322) and an inner surface (324) opposite the outer surface. The draper belt further includes elongated members (326) each extending from the outer surface and having a lateral face (328) substantially facing a longitudinal midline (ML) of the endless draper belt. The draper belt assembly additionally comprises a drive mechanism (332) operatively engaged with the endless draper belt. The lateral faces of the elongated members act as shelves that inhibit sliding of grain and other crop material from the bottom of the belt, thereby reducing plugging at the bottom of the belt adjacent the cutter bar and floor sheets. In addition, the elongated members more evenly distribute grain and other crop material across the width of the belt.

A detection system for an agricultural header includes a belt that has at least one physical feature driven by a roller at a roller rotational speed. The detection system also includes a sensor that detects a physical feature as it passes the sensor during rotation of the belt. The detection system further includes a controller that receives a signal indicating a first pulse of a first time a physical feature passes the sensor during the rotation of the belt and a second pulse of a second time a physical feature passes the sensor during the rotation of the belt. The controller further determines a pulse frequency based on the first and second times and calculates a belt rotational speed based on the pulse frequency. The controller compares the belt rotational speed to the roller rotational speed and provides an output if the roller rotational speed exceeds a threshold.

A detection system for an agricultural header includes a belt that has at least one physical feature driven by a roller at a roller rotational speed. The detection system also includes a sensor that detects a physical feature as it passes the sensor during rotation of the belt. The detection system further includes a controller that receives a signal indicating a first pulse of a first time a physical feature passes the sensor during the rotation of the belt and a second pulse of a second time a physical feature passes the sensor during the rotation of the belt. The controller further determines a pulse frequency based on the first and second times and calculates a belt rotational speed based on the pulse frequency. The controller compares the belt rotational speed to the roller rotational speed and provides an output if the roller rotational speed exceeds a threshold.

The disclosure relates to a crop merger system for a harvester. The system includes a frame, first and second rollers mounted to the frame, and a belt disposed over the first and second rollers. The system includes a motor operably coupled to and configured to rotate the second roller. The system includes a controller configured to electronically receive as input a desired speed of the belt. The system includes a sensor configured to detect a measured characteristic associated with the crop merger system, and electronically transmit the measured characteristic to the controller. The controller is configured to determine a measured speed of the belt based on the measured characteristic, and if the desired speed and the measured speed are unequal, the controller is configured to regulate the motor to adjust a speed of the belt to be substantially equal to the desired speed.

The disclosure relates to a crop merger system for a harvester. The system includes a frame, first and second rollers mounted to the frame, and a belt disposed over the first and second rollers. The system includes a motor operably coupled to and configured to rotate the second roller. The system includes a controller configured to electronically receive as input a desired speed of the belt. The system includes a sensor configured to detect a measured characteristic associated with the crop merger system, and electronically transmit the measured characteristic to the controller. The controller is configured to determine a measured speed of the belt based on the measured characteristic, and if the desired speed and the measured speed are unequal, the controller is configured to regulate the motor to adjust a speed of the belt to be substantially equal to the desired speed.

An agricultural header comprises a first side draper belt, a second side draper belt, a first center draper belt, a second center draper belt, and a crop divider. The first and second center draper belts are positioned laterally between the first and second side draper belts which extend laterally outwardly in opposite directions away from the first and second center draper belts. Each of the first and second side draper belts are arranged to feed crop material laterally inwardly, and each of the first and second center draper belts are arranged to feed crop material rearwardly for processing by the agricultural harvester. The crop divider is positioned laterally between the first and second center draper belts to separate crop material fed laterally inwardly from the first and second side draper belts respectively to the first and second center draper belts.

An agricultural header comprises a first side draper belt, a second side draper belt, a first center draper belt, a second center draper belt, and a crop divider. The first and second center draper belts are positioned laterally between the first and second side draper belts which extend laterally outwardly in opposite directions away from the first and second center draper belts. Each of the first and second side draper belts are arranged to feed crop material laterally inwardly, and each of the first and second center draper belts are arranged to feed crop material rearwardly for processing by the agricultural harvester. The crop divider is positioned laterally between the first and second center draper belts to separate crop material fed laterally inwardly from the first and second side draper belts respectively to the first and second center draper belts.