JPS58162210A - Reel type mower and adjustment of reel to bed knife thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a reel-type lawn mower having a rotatable cutting reel and a cooperating bed knife, and a lawn mower of this type having a bed (9) and a bed knife. The present invention relates to a method for adjusting the relative position with respect to a cutting reel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lawn mowing devices that include a rotating cutting reel for cutting grass or other vegetation are well known. The cutting reel is
It typically has a plurality of curved cutting blades that are tightly secured to each other for rotation with the unit. An elongated bedknife extends along the length of the cutting reel and cooperates with the cutting blade to cut the plants as the blade passes the bedknife. in fact,
When the cutting blade presses the plant against the stationary bed knife, it is displaced and cut.

In order for a mowing device of the type described above to work properly, the bedknife and cutting reel must be properly positioned relative to each other. Many of those skilled in the art believe that there must be some contact between the bedknife and the cutting blade. However, such contact must be kept within precise limits. Too much contact can result in a bed knife (10
) Excessive wear on the cutting blade and reduced cut quality. Too little contact will result in poor cutting quality.

Many prior art reel mowers utilize some type of means for articulating the position of the bedknife cutting reel or vice versa. Most of these adjustment devices consist of screws or the like that physically move the bedknife toward or away from the cutting reel. Such devices must be manually adjusted before a mowing operation can begin; normally, the mower operator disengages the cutting reel from the drive so that the reel blades traverse the bedknives. The cutting reel must be rotated by hand. Then, while observing and listening to the sound of the blade as it passes across the bedknife, the operator rotates the adjustment screw until he feels the bedknife is properly positioned. You can also determine when the bedknife is properly positioned by inserting a piece of paper between the bed nine and the cutting reel and seeing how the cutting reel acts on this piece of paper (11). be.

This method of adjusting the cutting reel relative to the bedknife has a number of drawbacks. Determining when the bedknife is properly positioned is completely subjective and requires constant adjustments by a skilled operator to ensure accuracy. An unskilled operator cannot reliably and consistently adjust the bedknife properly. Failure to accurately adjust the cutting reel by an unskilled operator may result in excessive wear or poor quality cuts.

Furthermore, even for experienced operators, this adjustment process is relatively time consuming. Each cutting reel must be carefully adjusted by hand by rotating the cutting reel by hand, listening to the sound of the cutting blade, and adjusting the position of the bedknife as many times as necessary until the correct sound is obtained. This takes 2.3 seconds for a skilled operator, and even longer for an unskilled operator, with α. Considering that many devices include a plurality of such cutting units, the effort expended in such adjustments is considerable. For example, Toro Company, the assignee of the present invention, manufactures products with as many as seven cutting reels. A considerable amount of time is thus spent adjusting the cutting reel. This is inconvenient.

Another disadvantage of manual methods for adjusting the bedknife relative to the cutting reel is that this adjustment must be made while the machine is stopped. This is usually done before mowing begins. However, it is possible, and does occur, for the bedknife to move relative to the cutting reel while the mower is working. This may occur due to imaging or due to the cutting unit passing over rocks or the like within the mowing area. If the initial adjustment is incorrect, the cutting unit will be incorrectly adjusted during the remainder of the mowing session. The position of the bedknife cannot be adjusted manually during the actual mowing operation.

(13) One feature of the present invention is that during the actual lawn mowing operation.

That is, to provide a reel-type lawn mower in which the bedknife can be adjusted relative to the reel during powered rotation of the reel. Furthermore, another feature of the present invention is that
To provide an adjustment device for a bedknife that allows even an unskilled operator to make adjustments without relying on personal or subjective judgments.

The present invention relates to a reel-type lawn mower having a rotatable cutting reel which is provided with at least one cutting element. An elongated bedknife is positioned adjacent to the cutting reel and cooperates with the cutting reel to cut the plants. Either the bedknife or the cutting reel is movable relative to the other component, defining a movable component that can change position. Control means are provided for adjusting the position of the movable component during rotation of the cutting reel.

The control means includes means for monitoring selected physical parameters of the cutting reel or bed knife during rotation of the cutting reel indicating whether the bed knife is properly adjusted relative to the cutting reel. are doing. The control means further includes actuating means controlled by the monitoring means for moving the driving component toward and away from the other component and maintaining proper adjustment to the cutting reel of the bedknife.

The invention further relates to a method of adjusting a bedknife and cutting reel that performs many of the steps described above. For example, a selected physical parameter of the bedknife or cutting reel that exhibits proper tolerance is selected, a reference value is set for this parameter, and this parameter is continuously monitored during rotation of the cutting reel; The actual value of the parameter is compared with the reference value and then an adjustment is made if the actual value and the reference value differ. This process continues until the base value and actual value match.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numbers indicate similar elements.

Figures 1 and 2 show a reel-type lawn mower (2) of the present invention.
is illustrated. The lawnmower 9 (2) has a cutting reel (4) rotatable about an axis in a substantially horizontal (15) direction. The cutting reel (4) is provided with a plurality of curved cutting blades (6) extending from one side of the reel (4) to the other. The blade (6) is
fixed to each other simply by suitable means such as bearing spiders or discs spaced along the axis of the reel (4) fixed to each blade (6);
Retained.

The lawn mower (2) further has a bedknife (8).

The bedknife (8) cooperates with a cutting reel (4) to cut grass or other vegetation as explained below.

The lawn mower (2) disclosed herein is a Habo, K
U.S. Patent No. 3,680 to Lemena Hgen,
No. 293 and Canadian Patent No. 980,133. Both these patents are referenced for a detailed description of the lawn mower (2).

This type of lawn mower (2) is manufactured and sold by the Toro Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the assignee of the present invention.
) is also known in the market. Not all details of the lawn mower (2) described in the above patents are necessary for the present invention. However, description regarding the lawn mower (2) will be provided herein insofar as is necessary for an understanding of the invention.

The lawn mower (2) has a rigid frame formed by spaced apart side frame members (10). A forward cross tube (12) and a rear cross tube (14) extend between and connect the frame members (10). Front cross tube (12)
are two movable lawn mowers (2) supported on the ground 6
The cutting reel (4) is supported between the side frame members (10) at a position offset from the support wheel (16). .

A suitable drive train (not shown) inside at least one lateral frame member (10) drives or rotates the cutting reel (4) when the mower (2) is drawn over the ground. Any suitable means for coupling the lawn mower (2), such as a tractor, to a drive vehicle can be used (17).

Referring now to FIG. 3, the bedknife (8) has a generally rectangular bedbar (18). bed bar (1
8) extends between the opposing left and right side plates (20). a bedknife member (2) comprising an edge (22) disposed adjacent to the periphery of the cutting reel (4);
1) is attached to the bed bar (
18) is firmly attached. Although such a front construction is preferred, the bedknife member (21) need not necessarily be attached to a separate bedbar (18) and may alternatively be constructed as a single integral member. The term bedknife therefore generally refers to an element or elements for cutting plants in cooperation with a cutting IJ-rule (4).

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, a bed knife (8) is rotatably supported on a side frame member (10) and is adapted to drive approaching and separating movements relative to the cutting reel (4). .

Each side frame member (10) has a downwardly extending hanger or bearing member (24). A pivot pin (25) is rotatably received in the hanger (24) and has an inner end threaded into one side plate (20) of the bedknife (8). A rubber or other non-metallic bushing or bearing (26) prevents direct contact between the pivot shaft (25) and the bearing member (24). Furthermore, the washer (27) is the bed knife (8).
is inserted between the side plate [20] and the bearing member (24). The bedknife (8) is therefore free to pivot about the horizontal axis formed by the aligned pivoting shirt (25). This rotational movement is indicated by arrow A in FIG. This rotational movement causes the end f
fi (22) is brought close to and separated from the cutting reel (4).

The invention particularly provides an adjustment device or control for continuously holding the bedknife (8) in a properly adjusted state relative to the reel (4) even during the mowing motion of the lawnmower (2). Regarding the means (30). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a portion of the control means (30) is connected to the activation means (32) for physically proximate and separating the bedknife (8) from the cutting reel (4). Structure (19) Except for the electric motor (34), the motors (
a bearing member or platform (36) for (34) and an attached driver (38), actuating means (32);
) are basically the same elements as disclosed in the above-mentioned patents. However, instead of the elements shown and described in the present application, any suitable type of activation means for causing a rotational movement of the bedknife (8) may be used.

The actuation means (32) has a spacer tube (40) extending through the rear cross tube (14) and secured to the kneader. An elongate shaft (42) extends through the spacer tube (40). shirt)
(42) has a threaded lower end (44) threadedly received in the upper end of the sleeve or rod (46).

The upper end of the shirt (27) is a handle (
48) 'e equipped. Additionally, a compression spring (49) extends between the lower end of the spacer tube (40) and a 2fI jamb (50) held in the threaded lower end (44) of the shaft (42). The purpose of the spring (49) is to provide some frictional resistance to the rotation of the shirt (42) (20).

The lower part (44) of the spring (49) and shirt (42) can be covered by a flexible cover member (51).

The cover part (51) is the rear cross tube (14)
It extends between Torolado (46).

The lower part (44) of the shirt (42) is threadedly received in the upper part of the rod (46). The rod (46) has a lower end located between two spaced abutments (52) that are welded to the rear of the bed bar (18).

See Figure 4. An elongated pin (54) follows a matching hole (55) in the abutment (52) and a coaxial hole (56) in the lower part of the rod (46).

The lower part of the rod (46) is split (57) and is held around the rod (54) Fffi by a cap screw (58) etc. Furthermore, two non-metallic half spools or bushes (60) are inserted into each side of the hole (56) in the rod (46).A bushing (60) is inserted into the pin (54).
It is completely enclosed and prevents contact with the rod (46).

The bush (60) is made of nylon and the bed knife (8
) is advantageously insulated from the rod (46) and other parts of the lawn mower (2) (21). However, Bush (6
Any suitable electrically insulating material can be used for 0).

The actuating means (32) furthermore include an electric motor (
34). The motor (34) is connected to the handle (48).
) is held by a bearing member (36).

The bearing member (36) is bolted or otherwise secured to the aft cross tube (14) by a threaded fastening member (62). One vertical flange of the bearing member (36) is provided with an elongated slot (64) from which a handle (48) projects outwardly. The motor (34) is connected to the rear cross tube (14)
is bolted or otherwise secured to the flange [63] of the bearing member (36) immediately above the. Motor (34
) has a motor shaft (65) extending downwardly through an opening (66) in the seven langes (63). The driver (38) is fixed to the lower part of the motor shaft (67) by a set screw (679, etc.). 69) and has a socket hole (68) with square sides suitable for engagement.Thus, when the motor (34) is driven, the driver (38) Rotate the handle (48) and rotate the adjustment shirt (42) through the socket connection.

Referring now to FIG. 6, other parts of the control means (30) relating to the automatic control circuit are schematically illustrated. The bedknife (8) is electrically isolated from the cutting reel (4) and other parts of the mower (2).

This is because the contact point between the bed knife (8) and the lawn mower (2), that is, the bearing member (24) and the pin (54) are not in direct contact with the bed knife (8), and the rubber This is because they are in contact via the bearing (26) and the nylon bush (6o). The fact that the bedknife (8) is electrically insulated is an important feature of the invention, as explained below, irrespective of how this is done.

The control means (30) is connected to the sensing means 2, for example, a bed knife (
Electricity (23) fixed to one side plate (20) of 8)
) has a contact (70). Contacts (70) are connected to a potential source, such as a battery (72). Furthermore, the cutting reel (4) is connected to the ground 1 (74) by a suitable method.
has been done. Therefore, a normal electrical potential is maintained between the bedknife (8) and the cutting reel (4). This amount of potential is usually expressed in terms of a voltage difference, which is, for example, 6 volts.

Logic means, such as a programmable microprocessor, have inputs connected to the contacts (70). Logic means (74) are illustrated in FIG. The logic means (74) monitor the potential at the bedknife (8) in order to control the activation means (32) in the manner described below.
) has a power separation means such as Furthermore, the logic means (74) comprise means for presetting a predetermined reference value.

This means has an upper limit setting switch (79) and a lower limit setting switch (80). Thus, the logic means (74
) is connected to and drives an electric motor (34).

(24) Before explaining the operation of the logical means (74) in more detail,
It may be useful to consider what happens when the cutting reel 4 rotates relative to the bedknife (8). As the rotation described above takes place, the cutting blade (6) sweeps and contacts the bedknife at various times. When any one cutting blade (6) contacts the bedknife (8), the potential between the bedknife and the cutting reel disappears. In other words, when the cutting blade (6) comes into contact with the bedknife (8), the voltage present at the bedknife (8) is immediately discharged through ground. If there are no contacts,
The voltage applied to the bedknife (8) from the battery (72) appears here.

Therefore, the logic means (74) detects a series of intermittent voltages when monitoring the voltage at the bedknife (8). When an ON voltage is detected by the logic means, it means that there is no contact between the bedknife (8) and the cutting reel (4).

However, when an off-voltage occurs, a contact is formed (25) between one cutting blade (6) and the bedknife (8). These on-off voltage conditions can be easily converted to binary zeros or ones for sensing and monitoring by logic means.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a detailed diagram of the logic circuitry of the logic means is illustrated. Manual power-up switch (8
2) is the first stage and is used to energize the electrical circuit forming the control means (30) illustrated in FIG. This switch (82) and the other manual switches described in VC below may be included in an operator accessible control panel 1, for example on a tractor towing a lawn mower (2). The mode selection switch (83) is then turned to the second stage to place the circuit in manual or automatic mode. In the automatic mode, the control means [30] operate automatically and continuously to maintain the bedknife (8) in proper alignment with respect to the reel (4) as explained below.

Assuming for now that automatic mode is selected,
The next step of the logic means (74) is applicable to lawn mowers of the type having a cutting unit (26) of the type having more than 11 reels.

For such products, all cutting reels are sorted (ordered) from beginning to end.

Bedknife adjustment can be performed on each reel. or, alternatively, any one of 1 (vA) can act on the selected disconnection reel to make adjustments only to this reel. Step (84) shows the 1@ ordering switch engaged by the operator. , determines whether all reels should be sorted in order or whether there is only one reel selected.
Assume that only one cut reel unit is selected for adjustment by appropriate manual activation of the ordering switch. This is the case when the next step (85) shows a reel selector switch which determines which cutting reel is selected for adjustment by the operator.

The automatic adjustment process itself takes place after step (86). The logic means (74) first performs a counter cleaning step (27) [86] and then starts a timer in step (87). Any preset time interval is determined by the timer (
87). One useful value is 0.
It is 4 seconds. After starting the timer, logic means (74) fundamentally change this time interval to a sampling interval 2 of multiple fII, which is a much shorter interval than the length of this time interval, e.g.
Divide into sampling intervals of 35 microseconds. At each sampling interval, logic means (74) determine whether during step (88) the potential between the cutting reel (4) and the bedknife (8) disappeared, i.e. at the bedknife (8). Ask whether a no-voltage condition exists. If the answer is no, the logic means (74) loop through step (9o) to check whether the time interval T for the timer (87) has expired. If not completed, step (8)
Return to step 8) and ask the same question again for the next sampling interval.
That is, the question is whether a no-voltage condition is present at the bedknife.

However, if the answer is yes, the counter (89) is first incremented by one. Following this step (28), the logic means (74) checks in step (90) whether the time interval during which the timer (87) is being depleted has expired. If the answer is no, the logic means (74) returns to step (88) during the next sampling interval to monitor the potential again.
Every 5 microseconds, the logic means (74) triggers the bedknife (
8) Determine whether a no-voltage condition appears and count the number of times this condition occurs during the total preset time. When the time interval finally ends, the logic means steps (91)
The contents of the counter (89) in are passed to another section, which compares this value with a preset reference value. This reference value is the switch (79x80)
is within a range with upper and lower limits preset by .

The comparison step is performed in the following manner. Initially, the logic means (74), in step (92),
Asks whether the content of is larger than the upper limit. If the answer to this question is yes, a drive signal is generated to drive the motor (34) in one direction, for example (29), and in the opposite direction to obtain a time delay of, for example, 2 microseconds. The motor [34] is then stopped.

The logic means (74) then returns to the counter cleaning step (86) which erases the contents of the counter (89). Thereafter, the logic means (74) monitors the potential again and the counter (8
Steps (87)-(90) by refilling 9)
)repeat. The contents are then compared again to the upper limit. This continues until the answer to the question as to whether the content of the counter (89) is greater than the upper limit is negative.

After it has been determined that the content of the counter (89) is less than the upper limit, the logic means (74) ask in step (93) whether the counter is less than the lower limit. If the answer is yes, logic means (74) drive the motor (34) in the opposite direction 1, eg, forward through the same time delay pattern.

This continues until it is determined that the counter (89) is not less than the lower limit. At this point, the counter (89)
9] is located somewhere between the upper limit and the lower limit.

That is, bedknife (8) becomes (30) Properly adjusted to the cutting reel (4).

The control means (30) then determines in step (94) whether any of the other reels need to be adjusted by returning to the ordering step (84). If all other reels need to be adjusted, the adjustment action is applied to these reels. If it is not necessary, the logic means (74) returns to the starting point.

If manual mode is selected in step (83) instead of automatic mode, logic means (74) cause reel selection step (
95) Perform ffi to check which reel selection switch was turned on by the operator. Next, the logical means (7
4) asks if the forward or reverse manual switch (96) is turned on and turns the motor (34) in either direction.
should be driven. After that, the motor (34
) is driven in the forward or reverse direction as long as the forward or reverse direction is switched on. When this switch is released, the motor (34) is stopped and the logic means (7)
4) returns to the starting point.

(31) If the reel (4) and the bedknife (8) contact each other between the 25th and 50th intervals of any predetermined time interval, the reel and the bedknife (8) properly adjusted. Therefore, the lower limit can be set to 25% and the upper limit to 50%. In practice, the lower and upper limits are represented by binary numbers for the logic means (74). but,
These numbers are selected to represent approximately 25 or 50 of all possible number of sampled contacts between the bed knife (8) and the cutting blade (6) within a preset time interval. ing.

In order for the control means (30) to operate properly, first a powered rotation of the cutting reel (4) must occur. This should be compared with prior art adjustment devices in which any adjustment steps have to be carried out using only manual rotation of the cutting reel (4) across the bedknife. Invention described in this application: Cutting reel (4)
It is also possible to operate in a completely automatic manner even when the motor is rotating. The control means (30) is set to automatic mode (
32) If so, the control means maintains the bedknife in proper alignment with respect to the cutting reel and makes all necessary adjustments to ensure that this alignment continues. This automatic control can be overridden by manual mode selection. Furthermore, the upper and lower limits of the reference value can be changed depending on the grass condition, due to the fact that different grass conditions require different adjustments of the bedknife relative to the cutting reel. Great flexibility is thus provided by the control means of the invention.

One advantage of the present invention is that even inexperienced operators can maintain good alignment between the cutting reel and the bedknife. This is because objective control means are used to perform the adjustment process for the operator instead of the subjective judgments and adjustments of the prior art. Furthermore, since one adjustment step operates continuously between mowing operations, adjustment can be maintained even if the initial adjustment is lost due to the bedknife hitting a rock or the like (33). This is an advantage not achieved by prior art devices. Finally, the adjustment of the reel and bedknife carried out by the control means (3o) can be done very quickly. The time-consuming steps of the prior art, such as turning nuts by hand through trial and error, are eliminated. Therefore, the control means (30) of the invention can save effort compared to prior art devices.

Various modifications of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, in this application the movable component is shown to be a bedknife (8) and the cutting reel (4) to be rotatable but not otherwise movable.

The bedknife (8) is fixed to the cutting reel and it is also possible for the cutting reel to be physically moved in order to change the mutual alignment.Furthermore, the logic means (74) are microprocessors. However, any suitable logical means having electrical or hydraulic circuits of any kind may also be used.Furthermore, any suitable logic means having a predetermined time interval and one or more sampling intervals may be used. Select for 34
) The time intervals shown can obviously be changed.

Accordingly, the scope of the invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical reel-type lawn mower of the present invention, particularly showing a portion of the actuating means for adjusting the bedknife relative to the cutting reel. 2 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the reel-type lawn mower of FIG. 1, particularly illustrating the activation means for adjusting the bedknife relative to the cutting reel; FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the adjustment means, bedknife and support structure for the bedknife, partly in cross-section and partly in exploded view to better show the actuation means for adjusting the bedknife; FIG. . FIG. 4 is a top view of a portion of the actuation means of FIG. 3, particularly illustrating the attachment of the actuation means to the bedknife. (35) FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the bedknife, partially exploded and shown as a sectional view. FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the control means of the present invention being used to automatically adjust the bedknife relative to the cutting reel. FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the logic means forming part of the control means of FIG. 6 for determining when the bedknife should be adjusted relative to the cutting reel. 2... Lawn mower 4... Cutting reel 6... Cutting blade 8... Bed knife 10... Frame member 12.14... Cross Tube 16... Traction wheel 18... Bed par 20... Side plate 21...
Bed knife member 24... Bearing member 25.
・・Rotating shaft 27・・Washer 30・
... Control means 32 ... Activation means 34 ... Motor 36 ... Supporting member 40 ... Spacer tube 48 ... Handle 49 ... Compression spring 51 ... Cover member 52 ... Bridge abutment (36) 54... Pin 60... Bush 64.
... Slot 70 ... Electrical contact 72 ... Battery 74 ... Logic means 78 ... Voltage regulator 79 ... Upper limit setting switch 80 ... Lower limit setting switch 83 ... Selection switch 84 ... - Sequencing switch 85... Reel selector switch 86... Counter cleaning stage 87... Timer 89... Counter 96...
・Manual switch) (37) Spear! @ 6 5! p2 Figure 2 6.48, “367 6 648 6824 Figure ゝ 42 ＼ - Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication Date U38-IG2210 (11) Spear 51! 1 - U\1]'8 Ko ◆12V

Claims (1)

Claims: (1) a rotatable cutting reel comprising at least one cutting element; an elongated bedknife for cutting plants, wherein either the bedknife or the cutting reel is movable relative to the other component, defining a movable component that can be changed in position relative to the other component , bedknife and: reed with control means for adjusting the position of the movable component during the rotation of the cutting reel. means for monitoring (1) selected physical parameters of either the cutting reel or the bedknife indicating whether the bedknife is properly aligned with the cutting reel during rotation of the cutting reel; and actuating means controlled by monitoring means to move the movable component toward and away from the other component and to maintain proper alignment with respect to the cutting reel of the bedknife. an electric potential is maintained between the bedknife and the cutting reel, the electric potential being extinguished when the cutting element is in contact with the bedknife, and the selected physical parameter being monitored being the electric potential; A reel-type lawn mower having control means. (2) The reel-type lawn mower according to claim 1, wherein the electric potential is monitored in the bed knife. (3) determining when the selected parameter has an actual value different from the desired value corresponding to an appropriate adjustment to the cutting reel of the bedknife, and then selectively actuating the actuating means to adjust the position of the movable component; A reel-type lawn mower according to claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring hand (2) stage has logic means for adjusting the mower. (4) Logical means. means for timing a predetermined time interval; the number of times within a two hour interval when the potential between the bedknife and the cutting reel disappears when the bedknife and the cutting reel are properly adjusted with respect to each other; means for including a reference value corresponding to; for counting the number of times within a time interval during rotation of the cutting reel the potential between the bedknife and the cutting reel actually disappears leading to the actual value; means for comparing the actual value with a reference value; and means for selectively activating the activation means when the actual value differs from the reference value. A reel type lawn mower according to claim 3. (!51) The reel-type lawn mower according to claim 4, characterized in that the actuation means comprises an electric motor excited by an electric signal from the logic means. (6) Reel-type lawn mower according to claim 4, characterized in that the reference value lies within a strip having an upper limit and a lower limit. and having a value corresponding to the condition that they are in mutual contact, and the potential disappears after a time interval of approximately 25 and 50 inches, respectively. Reel-type lawn mower. (8) Claim 4, characterized in that the logical means comprises means for manually adjusting the reference value according to different plant conditions. A reel-type lawn mower according to any one of paragraphs 6 and 7. (9) Claim 1, characterized in that the bedknife is movable relative to the cutting reel and defines a movable component. IJ-le type lawn mower according to paragraph 1 or 3. (4) (10) The actuating means comprises a rotatable screw adjustment device for moving the bedknife relative to the cutting reel; and a monitoring means. A reel-type lawn mower according to claim 9, further comprising a motor mechanically coupled to the adjusting screw for rotating the adjusting screw when operated by the reel-type lawn mower. 11) The control means has both a manual mode for manual activation by an operator and an automatic mode in which the control means is activated without manual action by the operator. (12) a rotatable cutting reel having at least one cutting element; adjacent to the cutting reel and cooperating with the cutting reel a bedknife and a cutting element; an elongated bedknife for cutting plants between components, with either the bedknife or the cutting reel movable relative to the other component;
5) a bedknife defining a movable component that can change its position relative to the component; means for movably supporting the cutting reel and bedknife over the ground surface during mowing operations; means for rotating the cutting reel relative to the bedknife to cut substantially all of the plant material continuously during the mowing operation; means for automatically maintaining the bedknife and cutting reel in proper adjustment relative to each other by moving the bedknife and the cutting reel against each other; A reel-type lawn mower characterized in that it has means for holding the cutting reel sufficiently close to the bedknife so that at least some contact occurs between the bedknife and the cutting reel. (13) The maintenance means described above may be used to control selected physical properties of either the cutting reel or the bedknife indicating whether the bedknife is properly adjusted relative to the cutting reel during mowing operations. 13. The reel-type lawn mower according to claim 12, further comprising an electric circuit for continuously monitoring the target parameters. (14) (a) allowing at least some contact between the cutting reel and the bedknife during powered rotation of the cutting reel, the contact being such that the degree of alignment between the cutting reel and the bedknife is (b) selecting appropriate reference values for the parameters consistent with appropriate adjustments to the cutting reel of the bedknife; (e) cutting. a step of continuously or intermittently monitoring the actual value of the parameter during the rotation in which the reel is powered; (dl) a step of determining whether the actual value of the parameter differs from the reference value (b); (7) (a) adjusting the relative position of the cutting reel and the bedknife when it is determined that the actual value of the parameter differs from the reference value; (f) the actual value of the parameter and the reference value are determined to be different; repeating steps (c)-(e) until a match is made, in a reel-type lawn mower, during powered rotation of the cutting reel, at least one cutting element of the bedknife; (15) a rotatable cutting reel comprising at least one cutting element; a bedknife adjacent to and cooperating with the cutting reel; and a cutting element, wherein either the bedknife or the cutting reel is movable relative to the other component to change position relative to the other component. Determine the movable components that can
a bedknife in which a movable component is movable close enough to the other component such that at least some contact occurs between the cutting element of the cutting reel and the bedknife during rotation of the cutting reel; control means for adjusting the position of the movable component during rotation of the cutting reel, generated by contact between the cutting reel and the bedknife during the rotation of the cutting reel and ensuring that the bedknife is properly adjusted relative to the cutting reel; means for monitoring selected parameters of either the cutting reel or the bedknife to indicate whether or not the cutting reel of the bedknife is being controlled; a reel-type lawn mower having actuating means for maintaining proper adjustment of the lawn mower;