RU2588155C2 - Easy to maintain assembly lever for blade of cutting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture; machine building.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to agricultural machine building. Lever knife assembly for connection of knife cutting device with drive mechanism of reciprocal movement has lever knife, having cavity and first hole on one end of cavity and flange forming second hole at opposite end of cavity. In cavity is bearing element to receive rod of head knife cutting device. Near end of support element there is plug with possibility of forced movement for displacement of support element of lever knife.

EFFECT: using group of inventions provides effective mechanical transmission and easy replacement of worn-out parts of cutting device.

19 cl, 14 dwg

Description

 [0001] This application claims priority to provisional patent application US No. 61 / 491,072, filed May 27, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a knife lever assembly for a cutting apparatus of a header of an agricultural cutting machine, such as a combine harvester, swather or other combine harvester, or mower, and more particularly, for connecting a knife assembly of a cutting apparatus to a drive element of a drive mechanism Easy to maintain, protects against dirt, dust and other contaminants, can self-adjust in the vertical direction, and can reduce downtime for repair and replacement of components as expected as a result of wear over time.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Disclosure of provisional application for US patent No. 61 / 491,072, filed May 27, 2011, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0004] Cutting machines, typically containing cutting bars supporting a number of knives, have been used for cutting plants for many years, including, but not limited to, hay, grass, small grain crops and the like. The knives consist of a plurality of knife sections or sections of the cutting apparatus, which are mounted side by side, forming an elongated metal knife assembly. Under normal conditions, an elongated knife assembly is supported in such a way that it slides longitudinally along an elongated fixed beam, which has forward protruding, spaced apart fingers bolted to the structural beam or back of the knife. The knife assembly moves back and forth with reciprocating movement, moving the knives relative to the fingers so that the front cutting edges of the knives pass the fingers from above or through the slots in the fingers. This produces a shear or cutting action that cuts the rods and stems of plants or other material caught between knives and fingers.

[0005] In a harvesting machine, such as a combine or swather, a knife assembly and a fixed beam are usually supported in connection with a cutting attachment or header, and oriented so as to be laterally along a front edge of a structure such as a floor or header platform , hereinafter sometimes referred to generally as gender. The floor or platform forms the lower periphery of the area of passage of the cut crop or plants, which may contain transporting devices, such as one or more augers or belts, operating in conjunction with a reel in machines so equipped for transporting cut plant material and crops, for example, to the inlet of the harvester conveyor belt or to the swather roll forming device.

[0006] Historically, many known cutting apparatus drive mechanisms are located at the end end of the cutting apparatus, and connected to knife assemblies using connecting rods or connecting rods, such as those illustrated in Wanamaker US Patent No. 1622299, published March 29, 1927, and US Patent Boyer No. 2332840, published October 26, 1943. However, a noted drawback of these older drives is that the drive rods or sticking levers are located in the propagation area of the cut plants. Ball joints are preferred because they eliminate inconsistencies between the knife assemblies relative to the fixed support structure, but they are ineffective for directing the driving energy or motive forces in the necessary direction longitudinally along the knife assemblies, i.e., laterally along the length of the cutting apparatus. The referenced structures also provided little or no protection against penetration of dirt, dust and the like on the interface between relatively moving parts, being the object of accelerated wear and shortened service life.

[0007] The later known laterally mounted cutting apparatus drives protrude less and are connected to the end of the knife assembly by a joint that better directs the driving energy longitudinally along the knife assemblies. In this regard, reference is made to the US patent Regier et al. No. 7121074 B1, published October 17, 2006. The observed advantage of this drive is that it uses epicyclic motion, which is converted into lateral reciprocating movement by connected components, which provide the ability to move only in one plane, in contrast to the movement in many planes provided by spherical joints of older drives, allowing at the same time a slight inconsistency or ensuring the coordination of the knife nodes in a fixed supporting structure, a fixed beam. Also, in the construction of Regier et al., The connecting components most likely to be subject to substantial wear, namely, the pin connection, are replaceable, however, the pin connection does not seem to be protected against the ingress of dirt, dust and the like.

[0008] Other later cutting apparatus drives are adapted to be located on or below the header of the header of the cutting plant of the machine, as shown in Priepke US Patent Nos. 7,810,304; 7,805,919; 7,730,709; 7520118; and 7401458, and US Bich No. 8011272. These drives are compact and efficiently convert epicyclic displacement to side-to-side movement of the cutting machine so that the driving forces are directed substantially longitudinally along the blade units. However, these drives use knife levers, which are attached to the knife nodes of the cutting device by a rigid connection that does not coordinate or regulates the fluctuations in the vertical distance between the knife nodes and the drive, which may result from wear, manufacturing and assembly tolerances and the like. The levers of the knives of these drives also do not have the ability to adapt to mismatches of the knife assembly relative to a fixed supporting structure, for example, a fixed beam or back of the knife.

[0009] Also disclosed is a US patent by Bich et al. No. 8151547, which discloses a knife lever assembly adapted to be attached to a central drive that suffers from some of the above disadvantages, comprises a seal facing upward and a knife head requiring an intermediate member to be attached to the knife, and removing and replacing the knife shaft, the connection of which the knife head with the knife lever requires removal of the knife head.

[0010] Furthermore, in the examples of both types of drives, Regier et al. and Priepke, and the head and lever assembly of the US patent Bich et al. No. 8151547, a vertical mismatch may occur between the output elements of the drive and the blade units, and if it is not eliminated or compensated, it may lead to accelerated wear, excessive jamming, friction, and increased energy consumption. For example, as knife assemblies and the supporting structure, especially the lower side of the knife assemblies and the associated supporting structure, wear out as a result of use, the knives will tend to gradually lower within the stationary supporting structure, but if they are not provided with this possibility in close proximity from the connection with the drive lever of the knife, additional voltage will be created in the node of the lever and the head of the knife. A known remedy for this problem is gasket installation or otherwise adjusting or compensating for wear, and if this is done incorrectly, this can lead to seizing and increased wear and energy consumption. Also, when replacing a worn knife assembly with a new one, the new knife assembly may be thicker or different in some other way and require new regulation or installation of gaskets. Such height compensation, installation of gaskets, etc., as well as the replacement of components, are time consuming and affect productivity, and, accordingly, can be especially undesirable during mowing and harvesting plants, when time is of the essence.

[0011] Accordingly, an attempt is made to find a device for connecting the drive of the cutting apparatus with the knife assembly of the cutting apparatus, which provides good mechanical transmission, easy removal, maintenance and replacement, may have the possibility of vertical self-regulation, and one or more other signs, overcoming at the same time time one or more of the disadvantages and limitations described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A knife lever assembly for connecting a cutting apparatus drive to a cutting apparatus blade assembly is disclosed that provides efficient mechanical transmission, easy removal, maintenance and replacement, vertical self-regulation, and one or more other features, while overcoming one or more disadvantages and the limitations set forth above.

[0013] According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the knife lever assembly comprises a knife lever having a mounting end configured to attach to the cutting mechanism drive mechanism for reciprocating lateral movement with it, and a distal end opposite the mounting end located cantilevered relative to drive mechanism. The distal end has an inner surface defining and forming a cavity and a first hole in the first end of the cavity, wherein the first hole and the cavity have substantially the same first transverse extension. A support element is contained in the cavity, which occupies at least a substantial portion of it and has an internal supporting docking surface defining and forming a receiver in it and containing an open end generally close to the first hole. The bearing is made with the possibility of joint reception of the rod head of the cutting apparatus for the relative rotation of the lever of the knife and the knife head. The knife lever has a shoulder extending at least partially around and forming a second hole in the second end of the cavity opposite the first end, the second hole having a second transverse extension less than the first transverse extension. At the second end of the cavity, a plug is sealed with respect to the second hole. To achieve a hermetic state, the plug has a third transverse extension slightly greater than or less than the first transverse extension and greater than the second transverse extension so that it can be pressed into the second end of the cavity in an airtight manner with respect to the second opening or so that hook the shoulder around the second hole with limited passage of the shoulder through it. The plug is made to move in the direction of the first end of the cavity and be moved against the support element to extrude the support element from the cavity through the first hole during maintenance.

[0014] As an accompanying advantage, the support member can be removed from the lever through the first hole by applying such moderate force as can be obtained by using a headstock or hammer on a mechanical block, or a pipe section or other member inserted through the second hole and located opposite the cork. The support element can be installed through the first hole using a press fit or an interference fit, and this provides quick and easy removal with conventional tools available under field conditions.

[0015] According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the plug comprises a protrusion that is in close communication with the second hole, which may be configured to further seal the hole, and the support member may abut against the plug to hold the plug against the shoulder to maintain a tight condition around her.

[0016] According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the knife lever is mounted so that the reciprocating drive mechanism of the cutting apparatus can be removed on the drive element so that the distal end is positioned relative to it cantilever above the knife head of the knife assembly of the cutting apparatus, with a vertical knife head shaft, jointly adopted in the receiver of the support element, providing the possibility of relative rotation and limited vertical movement of the knife lever and knife head.

[0017] According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the knife shaft is mounted vertically with respect to an elongated, low profile element comprising a knife head attached by a group of fasteners directly to an elongated structural beam or knife back of the cutting apparatus. The knife assembly of the cutting apparatus preferably further comprises a longitudinally extending, side by side, row of knife sections of the cutting apparatus located between the knife head and the beam or back of the knife so as to be firmly fixed or caught between them. The knife head preferably has openings in or through it that are aligned with the standard mounting holes of the knife sections and beams, and accommodate standard fasteners in order to eliminate any need for adapters or additional elements or fasteners.

[0018] According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the knife shaft has an outer surface around it, for example, of a cylindrical or other suitable shape, to facilitate disassembly and maintenance and to allow limited relative vertical movements of the knife head and knife lever, if necessary. Accordingly, for example, this possibility of relative vertical movements, and the capture or conclusion of the knife shaft, provides a volume of self-regulation of the relative positions of the knife lever and knife head, essentially allowing the knife head to lower as it wears and its supporting structure to reduce the possible occurrence of stress of the component elements seizing, accelerated wear, energy consumption and the like. When used with a flexible cutting device, the ability of the knife head to move vertically with respect to the knife lever will enable and facilitate the bending of the cutting device in the immediate vicinity of the knife head, which will also reduce seizing, wear and energy consumption.

[0019] According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the distal end of the knife lever has opposite sides that taper diverging backward from the distal end around the receiver to the mounting end, to provide a streamlined shape in order to facilitate the passage of plant material past it and reduce dissection and other adverse events. Preferably, it is implemented as a knife lever having a Form V or narrow U shape around the receiver, which tapers laterally outward to approximately the width of the drive mechanism element to which the knife lever is attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial side view of a harvesting machine comprising a header having nodes of levers and knife heads of a cutting apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side view of the header and the nodes of the levers and knife heads of the cutting apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a sweeper and header showing the location of the lever assemblies and knife heads of the cutting apparatus;

FIG. 3A is yet another front view of a harvester and header, with a curved cutting apparatus of the header;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a header showing aspects of leverage and knife heads of a cutting apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing aspects of a header, drives of a cutting apparatus, and nodes of levers and heads of knives of a cutting apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a cutting apparatus showing one of the nodes of levers and knife heads;

FIG. 7 is another fragmentary perspective view of a cutting apparatus showing one of the nodes of levers and knife heads;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a cutting apparatus showing aspects of one of the nodes of levers and knife heads in a disassembled form;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a cutting apparatus and one of the heads of knives;

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of a cutting apparatus, showing one of the nodes of the levers and knife heads;

FIG. 11 is another partial sectional view of a cutting apparatus, showing one of the nodes of the levers and knife heads, with a vertical separation between the knife head and the knife lever;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of a cutting apparatus showing one of the heads of knives; but

FIG. 13 is another partial sectional view of one of the levers of the knives, showing the removal of its support element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Referring next to the drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, in FIG. 1-5, a generally recognized, well-known agricultural cutting machine is shown, which is a combine harvester 20 containing a header 22. A header 22 is shown, supported in a generally recognized, well-known manner at the front end 24 of the combine 20 and configured to cut or beveled crops such how, but without limitation, small-grain crops, such as wheat and soybeans, and introducing cut crops into a pick-up conveyor 26 for transport to a combine 20 for threshing and cleaning, watered in a known manner, to the extent that, as the harvester 20 moves forward on the field.

[0035] Reaper 22 includes a platform or floor 28, which is maintained close to the field surface during harvesting and an elongated laterally extending cutting apparatus 30 along the front edge portion 32 of floor 28, the cutting apparatus 30 being configured to cutting plants or crops for introduction into header 22, as will be explained. The header 22 further comprises an elongated, laterally extending reel 34 located above the cutting apparatus 30 and rotating in the direction of facilitating the introduction of the cut plant material or crops into the header 22. In this description, the header 22 is made in the form of a web conveyor having an elongated system, flat, laterally moving belts 36 and 38 of the web conveyors having upward facing surfaces located directly behind the front edge portion 32, fu operating in cooperation with a reel 34 for transporting cut crop material or crops in the direction of the inlet of the intake conveyor 26 for introduction into the combine 20, in a well known manner.

[0036] With reference more specifically to FIG. 3, the cutting apparatus 30 extends laterally along the width of the floor 28, between the first lateral edge floor portion 40 and the opposite second lateral edge portion 42. The cutting apparatus 30 comprises an elongated laterally extending first cutting beam assembly 44 and elongated extending laterally the direction of the second cutting bar assembly 46, continuing end-to-end to the cutting bar assembly 44, while the cutting bar assemblies 44 and 46 are supported with a substantially longitudinally aligned next to the front edge portion 32 of the floor 28.

[0037] With reference more specifically to FIG. 4 and 5, each of the cutter bar assemblies 44 and 46 comprises a plurality of laterally aligned aligned slots 48 through a laterally extending row of fingers 50 that protrude forward from the fixed bar 52 with lateral separation by gaps along it. The fixed beam 52 extends to the length of the cutting apparatus 30 directly in front of the front edge portion 32 of the floor 28, and the fingers 50 are mounted on the beam 52 using fasteners 54. The beam 52, in turn, is mounted on the frame 56 of the header 22 near the front edge portion 32 using fasteners 54, as best illustrated in FIG. 5. Each of the nodes 44 and 46 of the cutting bars supports an elongated knife node 58 for reciprocating longitudinal movement inside the slots 48, while each knife node 58 has a number of knife sections 60 containing reversed, angled cutting edges that, in in combination with adjacent fingers 50, a shear or cutting action is performed that cuts the rods and stems of plants or other material trapped between the knives and fingers as the knife sections move ozvratno and forth in a lateral direction as indicated by arrow A in FIG. four.

[0038] The blade assemblies 58 are driven in reciprocating motion using the first and second cutting apparatus drives 62A and 62B. The first and second drives of the cutting apparatus 62A and 62B are illustrated in FIG. 3 and 4 on header 22 in a central position between lateral edge portions 40 and 42 at opposite ends of the header, although it should be noted that it is assumed that the cutting apparatus drives 62A and 62B can alternatively be used on the header in other locations, and that a plurality of drives 62 cutting apparatus can be used on the header in a variety of locations. The drives 62A and 62B of the cutting apparatus are preferably completely located within or under floor 28, as best shown in FIG. 5 to reduce interruption in the passage of the cut plant material on top of and around it. Actuators 62A and 62B may contain a variety of mechanisms, such as, but not limited to, epicyclic actuators, which, if desired or necessary for a particular application, give the knife head assemblies an exclusively rectilinear lateral movement or rotary lateral movement. Disclosures and Ideas of US Patents Priepke No. 7810304; 7805919; 7,730,709; 7520118; and 7401458 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties, as typical non-limiting examples of drives that may be used with the present invention.

[0039] The cutting apparatus drives 62A and 62B comprise drive members 102 that protrude forward through slots 104 or other openings in or in the immediate vicinity of the front edge portion 32 of floor 28 to connect to respective blade assemblies 58, and which are moved by a respective drive with reciprocating movement from side to side for the implementation of the shearing action. Reaper 22 comprises knife heads 64 and knife levers 66, jointly arranged in lever and knife head assemblies 68 made and driven according to the present invention, connecting drives 62A and 62B with the possibility of transmitting drive force to respective knife nodes 58. As can be seen from the location nodes 68 levers and heads of knives, they will be located directly on the path of passing back the cut plant material through the front edge 32 and on the upper surface of the floor 28 during the cutting operation raster niy. As a result, if the nodes 68 are large and / or protruding, they can have a dissecting effect, causing the growth of plant material in front of them, and / or its splitting or interruption without smooth passage to the floor. Because of this, it is necessary to minimize such interruptions in the flow.

[0040] In addition, as noted above in the prior art section, from time to time, the blade sections 60 will be damaged, for example, breaking, breaking edges, fraying or for other reasons requiring removal and replacement. Sometimes, this will happen in the process of mowing or harvesting plants, and accordingly in the field, and it will be desirable to carry out removal and replacement as quickly as possible, with minimal removal / disassembly of the constituent elements. It was also found that to facilitate the free reciprocating movement of the knife assemblies, a limited amount of relative vertical movement between the drive 62A or 62B and the knife assemblies 58 is needed to match both the wear of the knives and the bending, when performed as illustrated by the assemblies 46 and 48 bending cutting bars in FIG. 3A.

[0041] With reference also to FIG. 6-13, each of the nodes 68 of the levers and knife heads contains an elongated element 70 attached by a group of threaded fasteners 72 to an elongated structural beam 74 (FIGS. 5, 10, 11, and 12) located under the corresponding node 58 of the knife head of the cutting apparatus . Several knife sections 60 of the corresponding knife assembly 58 are located between the beam 74 and the clamping or gripping member 70 with this attachment, while the other knife sections 60 of the knife assembly are mounted in a well-known manner using additional fasteners 72 for direct attachment to the beam 74. Features the knife heads 64 include controlled or limited vertical flexibility that provides the ability to bend or bend to a limited extent with sections attached to it cutterbar. This ability is preferably achieved by reducing the vertical height or extension of at least one longitudinal end 76 of the element 70 relative to the middle or opposite end, as indicated by the height H1 and H2 in FIG. 12, which results in a stepped shape, although it must be recognized that as an alternative, a tapering or other shape can be used that gives the desired flexibility. Fasteners 72 in this specification include bolts that are inserted from the bottom and pass upward through the mating holes in the beam 74, the knife sections 60 and the knife head 64, over which they engage in threaded engagement with the nuts 78. At the end 76, the nuts 78 are located on top of the element 70. In the thickened area, the nuts 78 are located in upwardly slots 80, recessed into the upper surface of the element 70 so that, if necessary, fasteners 72 of the same length can be used in both locations. The fasteners 72 are arranged in a spaced longitudinally extending row and are provided in sufficient quantities, for example, eight or more, to provide firm attachment to the beam 74 for clamping or gripping the knife sections 60, and to withstand the shear forces created by the cutting movement from the side to the side and reciprocating action, which will be longitudinal with respect to the element 70.

[0042] In order to provide added shear strength and means for better aligning the openings of the knife head 64, the knife sections 60 and the beam 74, the knife head 64 preferably comprises at least one, and preferably two, downwardly extending shank 82 arranged so that received aligned holes in one or more knife sections and a beam, as shown in FIG. 12. The rods 82 are preferably located at a predetermined location corresponding to or in close proximity to the knife rod 84, which is disposed for connection with the knife lever 66. The knife rod 84 is preferably mounted on the upper surface of the knife head 64, by means of a threaded fastener 86 received by thread in the threaded hole 88 in the upper surface of the knife head 64. When the fastener 86 is tightened, its head engages with a shoulder 90 extending around the upper end of the hole 92 through the shaft that receives the fastener 86. This configuration makes it possible to remove the knife bar 84 from the knife head 64 by simply removing the fastener 86 without accessing the underside of the knife head or removing it from the cutting unit.

[0043] The knife shaft 84 is configured to be jointly received in the bottom-open receiver 94 at the distal end 96 of the knife lever 66 for connection to a respective drive 62A or 62B. In this description, the knife rod 84 has a smooth, straight outer supporting surface 98 around, which preferably has a cylindrical shape and dimensions for mating reception in the receiver 94 for moving up and down in it in order to facilitate relative up and down movement of the knife head 64 and the knife lever 66, as indicated by arrows VM in FIG. eleven.

[0044] The knife lever 66 has a mounting end 100 opposite the distal end 96 configured to attach to the drive member 62A or 62B for reciprocating lateral movement with it, as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 7 (and FIG. 4). It is necessary to recall here that the movement can be a direct side-to-side movement or a lateral rotary movement, which will be a function of the type of drive used. Here, it can also be seen that the connection to the drive member 102 comprises a vertical tongue 106, which together receives the vertical tongue groove 108 in the drive member 102 to provide easy alignment and strength under shear loads from side to side created by the shearing action of the plants. The lever 66 of the knife is held in position at the end of the element 102 by threaded fasteners 110 received in the holes 112 in the lever 66 and engaged by thread with the threaded holes 114 in the drive element 102, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0045] Turning to the receiver 94 of the knife lever 66, it is preferably bounded and formed by an internal abutment surface 116 that defines and defines the receiver 94 and which in this description also has a cylindrical shape and dimensions for receiving the knife shaft 84. The fit between the inner surface 116 and the outer surface 98 of the knife bar can be made so as to allow relatively free vertical movement between the lever 66 of the knife and the bar 84 of the knife, but practically without side play, the vertical movement of which will be limited by the maximum distance VM (FIG. 11) due to the fixed vertical location of the lever 66 of the knife, due to its fastening to the element 102 of the drive 62A or 62B, and holding the head 64 of the knife, due to the attachment to the knife at node 58, and localization in the slot 48 of the cutter bar 44 or 46. As the cutter pin, and the receiver must be sturdy enough to cope with repetitive lateral force, which will be created at the expense of the long cutting operation of the cutting apparatus. However, it should be noted that for the outer surface 98 and the supporting surface 116 can be used alternative shapes, such as, but without limitation, rectangular, square, hexagonal, octagonal and other polygons. The advantage of the cylindrical shape is that it also provides the ability to rotate the knife head and the knife assembly relative to the knife lever about a vertical axis through the knife shaft, without tilting the knife head and knife lever relative to each other.

[0046] Accordingly, for example, if a flexible cutting apparatus is used, it will be able to smoothly bend up and down due to the freedom of the knife shaft 84 to move up and down inside the receiver 94, but the knife shaft will be limited with respect to inclined or vibrational movements in order to reduce possible cases of seizing and resulting from increased energy consumption and wear. However, it should be noted that if in the horizontal plane some relative articulated or oscillatory movement is necessary, for example, for matching with a flexible cutting tool, a spherical or partially spherical type of bearing or sleeve can be used.

[0047] To facilitate the ability of the knife bar 84 and the receiver 94 to move freely up and down relative to each other, and also to rotate relative to each other, the knife lever 66 optionally contains an internal oil reservoir 118 configured to contain a large amount of lubricant for distribution within the receiver 94 and a connecting nipple 120 suitable for replenishing lubricant as necessary. Alternatively, a sleeve and the like impregnated with grease or lubricant may be used in the receiver 94 to reduce friction at the interface between the knife shaft and the knife lever, and inside the bearing at that location, if used. The lower end and upper end of the receiver 94 is preferably closed to prevent contaminants, such as dust, dirt, and the like, from entering the interface between the bearing surface 116 and the outer surface 98 and into the bearing, if used, while the lower hole 140 is sealed by a recognized O-ring or o-ring 142, and the upper end in the manner discussed below.

[0048] In use, it is anticipated that, the bearing support surface 116, which contains the given surface, and / or the bearing itself and / or the knife bar, will wear to such an extent that it requires replacement. To facilitate replacement, the bearing surface 116 of the receiver 94 comprises an inner peripheral surface of the removable bearing element 122, which may include, for example, a solid or impregnated sleeve or sleeve, or a ball, needle or spherical type bearing, pressed into the cavity 124 through the lower hole 140, and the upper end of the receiver 94 is shown by a closed removable plug 126, which is also used to remove the support element 122. The ability to easily and quickly remove and replace the support element 122 with tools, for available in the field, very necessary during harvesting, when time is of the essence. In one preferred configuration, the plug 126 is in tight contact with the lower surface of the shoulder 128, extending at least partially around and forming the upper hole 130 (FIG. 13) of the cavity 124, above the support element 122 and forming the necessary tight state against the entry of contaminants, moisture etc. When it is necessary to remove and replace the support member 122, the plug 126 may be pressed down using a press, or if it is not available, for example, maintenance takes place in the field, with suitable tools such as a hammer and block 132, or for pushing or pushing the plug down through cavity 124 can be used with another suitable object of the same diameter with a support element and a length that will also remove the O-ring 142, if used. In both examples, moving the plug 126 down will push the support member 122 out of the cavity 124 downward through the lower hole 140. Then the replacement entails simply replacing the plug 126 in the cavity 124 opposite the shoulder 128, and pushing and locking the support member or the new support member into a place.

[0049] It can be noted here that the cavity 124 and the lower hole 140 have a first transverse extension or diameter greater than the extension or diameter of the upper hole 130, and that the plug 126 has a transverse extension or diameter slightly less than the extension or diameter of the cavity 124 and the lower hole, to facilitate the passage through it of the plug, but which prevents the passage through the upper hole 130. The plug 126 may contain a protrusion 132, continuing from it upwards and made with the possibility of a sealing joint from the shoulder com 128 and engage therewith to form a top-sealed state. The protrusion 132 also strengthens the plug 126.

[0050] In this description, plug 126 is illustrated with a circular disk shape containing a protrusion 132, although it should be understood that other shapes that provide the necessary benefits can also be used. By way of non-limiting examples, the protrusion 132 and the shoulder 128 can be oval, rectangular, star-shaped or other polygonal in shape, as desired or necessary for a particular application.

[0051] Accordingly, with the head and lever assembly of the knife of the invention, most of the knife sections 60 attached to the cutting apparatus using the knife head 64 can be removed and replaced by removing only two fastening devices 78 and nuts 80, and the knife shaft 84 can be removed and replaced by removing the lever 66 of the knife (requiring the removal of only two fasteners 110) and one fastener 86.

[0052] In another preferred configuration, as shown in various figures, the distal end 96 of the knife lever 66 has opposite sides 136 and 138 that taper apart with a divergence in the direction of the mounting end 100. This gives a streamlined shape to each of the knife levers to facilitate passage around them of plant material. This constriction is preferably in the form of V or U shape, when viewed from above, extending around the distal end 96, and further serves to deflect to some extent the cut plant material from the slots in the front end 32 of the header floor 28 through which the drive elements of the actuators 62A and 62B.

[0053] It should be noted here that the knife lever assembly is illustrated and depicted with a cavity and a receiver for receiving a knife shaft oriented downward. Although this is a preferred orientation, it should be understood that, if necessary or required for a particular application, an upward orientation may be used as an alternative.

[0054] In light of the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a new knife lever assembly for connecting the knife of the cutting apparatus to the reciprocating drive mechanism has been shown and described. However, it should also be obvious that, within the principles and scope of the legal claims of the invention, many changes are possible, including details, materials and arrangements of parts that have been described and illustrated to explain the essence of the invention. Accordingly, although the foregoing description and discussion is directed to certain preferred embodiments or elements of the invention, it should also be understood that concepts of the invention that are based on the foregoing description and discussion can easily be incorporated or used in other embodiments and designs, without going beyond the scope of the legal claims of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the invention in the broad sense, as well as in the particular form shown, and all changes, modifications, variations and other applications and applications that do not go beyond the essence and scope of the legal claims of the invention are considered to be covered by the invention, which limited only by the claims, which follows.

Claims (19)

1. The node (68) of the knife lever for connecting the knife (30) of the cutting apparatus with the reciprocating mechanism (62A, 62B) of the drive, containing:
a knife lever (66) having a mounting end (100) adapted to be attached to the drive mechanism (62A, 62B) for reciprocating lateral movement with it, a distal end (96) opposite the mounting end (100) located with a support cantilevered relative to the drive mechanism (62A, 62B), the distal end (96) having an inner surface (116) defining and forming a cavity (124) and a first hole (130) at the first end of the cavity (124), the first opening (130) ) and cavity (124) have essentially the same first cross the extension, and the support element (122) held in the cavity (124) and occupying a significant part thereof, while the support element (122) has an internal support surface (116) that limits and forms a receiver (94) in it and contains an open end essentially near the first hole (130), configured to jointly receive the shaft (84) of the knife head (64) of the cutting apparatus (30) for relative rotation of the knife lever (66) and the knife head (64);
characterized in that the knife lever (66) has a shoulder (90) extending at least partially around and forming a second hole (140) at the second end of the cavity (124) opposite the first end, while the second hole (140) has a second the transverse extension is less than the first transverse extension, and the plug (126) located at the second end of the cavity (124), while the plug (126) has a third transverse extension is slightly less than the first transverse extension, but larger than the second transverse extension having to close a second hole (140) with limited passage of the shoulder (90) through it, while the plug (126) is made with the possibility of forced movement to the first end of the cavity (124) and against the support element (122) to extrude the support element (122) from the cavity ( 124) through the first hole (130). 2. The knife lever assembly (68) according to claim 1, further characterized in that the protrusion (134) on the plug (126) is located in a sealed, closing arrangement relative to the second hole (140). 3. The knife lever assembly (68) according to claim 2, further characterized in that the support element (122) abuts the stopper (126) to hold the stopper (126) opposite the shoulder (90), forming a substantially sealed condition around it. 4. The node (68) of the knife lever according to claim 1, in which the supporting element (122) is pressed into the cavity (124). 5. The node (68) of the knife lever according to claim 1, in which the lever (66) of the knife is mounted with the possibility of removal on the drive element (102) of the reciprocating mechanism (62A, 62B) of the drive so that the distal end (96) is located relative to it, cantilever over the head (64) of the knife (30) of the cutting apparatus, while the vertical rod (84) of the head (64) of the knife is jointly placed in the receiver (94) with the possibility of rotation and limited vertical movement relative to the lever (66) of the knife. 6. The node (68) of the knife lever according to claim 1, in which the supporting element (122) has an outer surface (98) around it, located in close conjugation with the inner surface (116) with the formation of a cavity (124). 7. The node (68) of the knife lever according to claim 6, in which the outer surface (98) of the support element (122) and the inner surface (116) of the lever (66) of the knife have mating cylindrical shapes. 8. The node of the lever of the knife for connecting the knife of the cutting apparatus with a reciprocating drive mechanism, containing:
a knife lever having a mounting end configured to be attached to the drive mechanism for reciprocating lateral movement with it, a distal end opposite the mounting end located cantilevered relative to the drive mechanism, the distal end having an inner surface defining and forming a cavity and a first hole at the first end of the cavity, the knife lever having a shoulder extending at least partially around and forming a second hole on the second tse cavity, located opposite the first end, wherein the first orifice and the cavity have substantially the same first transverse stretch, and the second opening has a second transverse extent less than said first transverse extent;
a stopper located at the second end of the cavity, the stopper having a third lateral extension slightly less than the first lateral extension, but greater than the second lateral extension in order to close the second hole with limited passage of the shoulder through it; and
the support element held in the cavity and occupying a substantial part of it and abutting against the plug, while the support element has an internal support surface that limits and forms a receiver therein and contains an open end substantially close to the first hole, the receiver being adapted to jointly receive the head shaft knife of the cutting apparatus for relative rotation and movement of the end to end in it, and the cork is made with the possibility of forced movement to the first end of the cavity and against the supporting ele ment for squeezing the support element from the cavity through the first hole. 9. The knife lever assembly of claim 8, wherein the plug is disk-shaped and has a convex protrusion in close connection with the second hole. 10. The knife lever assembly of claim 9, wherein the support member abuts the stopper to hold the stopper in front of the shoulder, forming a substantially sealed condition around it. 11. The knife lever assembly of claim 8, wherein the support member is pressed into the cavity. 12. The knife lever assembly of claim 8, wherein the knife lever is removably mounted on the drive element of the reciprocating drive mechanism so that the distal end is cantilevered relative to it above the knife head of the cutting apparatus, while the vertical blade head of the knife is shared in the receiver with the possibility of rotation and limited vertical movement relative to the lever of the knife. 13. The knife lever assembly of claim 8, in which the supporting element has an outer surface around it, located in close conjugation with the inner surface, forming a cavity. 14. The knife lever assembly of claim 13, wherein the outer surface of the support member and the inner surface of the knife lever have mating cylindrical shapes. 15. The node of the lever of the knife connecting the knife of the cutting apparatus with a reciprocating drive mechanism, containing:
a knife lever having a mounting end attached to the drive mechanism for reciprocating lateral movement with it, a distal end opposite the mounting end supported by a cantilever drive element of the drive mechanism, the distal end having an inner surface defining and forming a cavity and a first hole, associated with the lower end of the cavity, the knife lever having a shoulder extending at least partially around and forming a second hole associated with the upper end of cavities, wherein the first hole and the cavity have substantially the same first transverse extension, and the second hole has a second transverse extension less than the first transverse extension;
a plug located at the second end of the cavity, sealing and blocking the second hole, the plug having a third transverse extension slightly less than the first transverse extension, but larger than the second transverse extension, in order to prevent it from passing through the second hole with a shoulder;
a support element held in abutment with a stopper and occupying a substantial part of the cavity, while the support element has an internal support surface that limits and forms an open downward receiver; and
a knife shaft connected to a knife of the cutting apparatus and extending upward into a receiver containing an external support surface located in close contact with the internal support surface, allowing relative rotation and vertical movement between the knife lever and the knife shaft. 16. The knife lever assembly of claim 15, wherein the plug is extruded from the second hole to the first end of the cavity and against the support member to remove the support member from the cavity through the first hole. 17. The knife lever assembly of claim 15, wherein the plug has a protrusion substantially occupying a second hole. 18. The knife lever assembly of claim 15, wherein the support member is held in the cavity by friction. 19. The knife lever assembly of claim 15, wherein the plug is disk-shaped.

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