FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention generally relates to header for a harvesting machine, and particularly to a knife drive of a harvesting machine.
BACKGROUND
Crop harvesting machines typically consist a header mounted on the front side of the harvesting machine. Header of a combine harvester cut the crop, collects it to the centre and then feed to the combine harvester for further processing. The header may háve a cutter bar. assembly that includes a plurality of knife mounted on a bar across a forward end of the header frame for cutting the standing crop. The sickle knife is typically a row of sickle blades that are movable in a reciprocating action relative to a row of sickle guards. A drive knife mechanism/assembly provides a driving action to the cutter bar for causing the reciprocating movement of the blades. The harvesting machine may further háve a crop transfer assembly for transporting the cut crop from the knife along the frame to a discharge opening of the frame.
Lísually knife drive assembly consists of a wobble drive, which converts rotating action of power input from drive shaft into reciprocating action. The wobble drive is a complex assembly and typically has a number of complex components including eccentric shaft, yoke, bearings, bearing housings, arm, bushings, gearbox, cover, etc.
Hence, there is a ňeed to háve a simple arrangement for providing a reciprocating mption to the knife drive assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE BVVENTION
The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more of the problems as set forth above.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a double slider knife drive arrangement for a cutter bar of a crop harvester is disclosed. The double slider knife drive arrangement includes a rotatory drive configured to háve a rotatory motion, a first connecting rod hinged to the rotatory drive at one end and hinged to a first end of the first slider at other end, a second
connecting rod hinged to a second end of the first slider at one end and hinged to a first end of
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a second slider at other end. Wherein the second slider is hinged to one end of the cutter bar and the arrangement being šuch that the rotatory motion of the rotatory drive is converted into reciprocating motion of the cutter bar.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a first guide arrangement may be provided for first slider and a second guiding arrangement may be provided for second slider. The first and second guide arrangement being provided to guide the movement of the first and second slider respectively. The arrangement being šuch that the direction of motion of the first slider in the first guide arrangement may be substantially perpendicuíar to the direction of motion of the second slider in the second guide arrangement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. in the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:
Figúre 1 is a top partial view of a double slider knife drive mounted on header of a crop
harvester according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figúre 2 is a side view of a drive arrangement for a double slider knife drive of the cutter bar
according to an embodiment of the invention; and
Figúre 3 is an exploded view of a double slider knife drive arrangement according to an
embodiment of the invention.
DETAÍLED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications ôf the embodiments described herein can be made without departing fŕom the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
Figúre 1 illustrates a top partial view of a double slider knife drive mounted on header 100 of a crop harvester according to an embodiment of the invention. The header 100 may háve a cutter bar 102 having plurality of sickle blades 104 arranged substantially parallel to each other. The cutter bar 102 is in communication with a double slider knife drive arrangement 106. The double slider knife, drive arrangement 106 is confígured to provide a reciprocating motion to the cutter bar 102 that in turn provide reciprocating motion to the sickle blades 104. The double slider knife drive arrangement 106 may also be connected to a driving arrangement 108.
Figúre 2 illustrates a side view of the exemplary driving arrangement 108 for the double slider knife drive arrangement 106 according to an embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, the driving arrangement 108 may háve a driver pulley 110 that may be in communication with a rotatory driver device (not shown in figúre) šuch as, but not limited to, motor, PTO shaft etc. The driver pulley 110 is in mechanical communication with a rotatory drive 112. The driver pulley 110 and the rotatory drive 112 may be in communication through a suitable linkage 114 šuch as, but not limited to, a belt drive, a gear arrangement etc. According to an embodiment, an idler pulley 116 may be provided for supporting transfer of rotatory motion from the driver pulley 110 to the rotatory drive 112.
Figúre 3 is an exploded view of the double slider knife drive arrangement 106 according to an embodiment of the invention. The double slider knife drive arrangement 106 may include the rotatory drive 112 configured to háve a rotatory motion. According to an embodiment, the rotatory drive 112 may be mounted on a side frame of the header 100 (not shown in figúre 3). The rotatory motion may be imparted by the driver pulley 110. A first connecting rod 118 may be hinged to the driven rotatory drive 112 at one end and hinged to a first end of a first slider 120 at other end. A second connecting rod 122 may be hinged to a second end of the first slider 120 at one end and may be hinged to a first end of a second slider 124 at other end. Wherein the second slider 124 is hinged to one end of the cutter bar 102 and the arrangement being šuch that the rotatory motion of the driven rotatory drive 112 may be converted into reciprocating motion of the cutter bar 102.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a first guide arrangement 126 may be provided for first slider 120 and a second guide arrangement 128 may be provided for second slider 124. The first guide arrangement 126 and the second guide arrangement 128 being provided to guide the movement of the first slider 120 and the second slider 124 respectively. The arrangement of the first guide arrangement 126 and the second guide arrangement 128 may be šuch that the direction of motion of the first slider 120 in the first guide arrangement 126 may be substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the second slider 124 in the second guide arrangement 128. According to another embodiment of the invention, the direction of motion of the first slider 120 in the first guide arrangement 126 may be at an angle of 60 degree to 120 degree to the direction of motion of the second slider 124 in the second guide arrangement 128.
In the drawings and specification there has been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention, and although specific terms are emplóyed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and npt for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and the proportion of parts, as well as in the substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.