Avco Corporation

Millard M Williams

Robert A Stelzer

John W Arnold

Disclosed is a crop harvesting machine for collecting stalk crops having seed pods near ground level. The harvester includes a horizontally disposed reel structure. As the reel rotates, bat-assemblies thereon successively urge the stalks of the crop against a cutter bar which severs them close to the ground. The cutter bar and its associated sickle drive assembly accommodate the irregular variations in ground contour, by reason of the interposition of leaf springs between the cutter bar assembly and the cutter carrying platform. When not required the flexible cutter bar feature can be disabled. Sensing fingers mounted on the underside of the machine relay information to an automatic elevational control unit assuring that the cutter carrying platform closely follows the contour of the ground.

Crop harvesting machine with flexible cutter bar

Herein disclosed is a crop harvesting machine for collecting stalk crops having seed pods near ground level. The harvester includes a relatively large horizontally disposed reel structure. As the reel rotates, bat-assemblies thereon successively sweep downward into the crop and urge the stalks against a cutter bar. These assemblies feature a combination of flexible flaps and pickup reel tines which conserve and prevent loss of crops.

Growing community of inventors

Celina, OH, United States of America

Millard M Williams