Belt driven disc cutterbar

Abstract

A disc cutterbar for use on a harvesting implement such as a disc mower-conditioner is driven by an endless belt entrained around sheaves corresponding to each disc cutter within the transmission casing. To prevent interference between overlapping knives on adjacent disc cutters, alternating disc cutters are obliquely mounted on the transmission casing and positioned slightly forwardly of adjacent upright disc cutters so that the path of travel of the knife thereon is within a plane spaced vertically within the overlap area relative to the path of rotation of the knives of the adjacent upright disc cutters. The obliquely mounted disc cutters are positioned such that the forward periphery of the path of rotation of the knives thereof is in substantially the same plane as the path of rotation of the upright disc cutters so that the disc cutterbar will attain a substantially uniform level of cut. The drive sheaves of the obliquely mounted disc cutters are also mounted such that the peripheral portion thereof engaged with the drive belt is in substantially the same plane as the drive sheaves on the upright disc cutters to minimize wear on the endless drive belt.