Feeder device for a draper header

Abstract

The feeder device located at the centre section of a front of a harvester. The feeder device comprises one or more flights configured for improving operation of the feeder device. The feeder device comprises a shaft including a plurality of flights. They extend substantially along the entire length of the shaft and are arranged in a spaced apart relationship with respect to each other. In this manner, a threaded-like formation defined by the spaced apart arrangement of flights extends substantially along the entire length of the shaft of the feeder device.

1 . A feeder device or drum for use in a harvester header for cutting and collecting crop material, the header including a rear opening arranged such that crop material cut by the header is transferred therethrough so as to be delivered to a feeder house of the harvester, the feeder device or drum comprising:
 a shaft which has a longitudinal axis and is mountable in the header so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis, the shaft having opposed end sections and a centre section located between the end sections, and being dimensioned such that when it is mounted the centre section is arranged in front of said opening;   flighting on the end sections to direct crop material received into the header laterally inwardly towards a position below the centre section as the shaft rotates; and   one or more paddles projecting from the centre section, the/each paddle extending diagonal to the longitudinal axis such that a surface thereof contacts cut crop material that is on a floor of the header so as to urge it towards said opening as the shaft rotates, thereby preventing build-up of crop material on the floor.   
     
     
         2 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 1 , being dimensioned such that when mounted it is arranged at a central region of the header. 
     
     
         3 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 1 , including fingers, arranged in a spaced apart relationship, and at least one mechanism which is configured to reciprocate the fingers, as the shaft rotates, such that the fingers assume an extended condition during downward movement thereof, so as to be able to penetrate crop material received into the header to pull it under the shaft, and assume a retracted condition during rearward movement thereof, so as to separate from that material, whereby the material is moved towards the opening for delivery therethrough to the feeder house. 
     
     
         4 . A feeder device or drum for a header to be attached to a harvester, the feeder device or drum comprising:
 a drum rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof; and   flights extending along the length of the rotatable drum, the flights comprising:
 outer flights adjacent ends of the rotatable drum to direct crop material received into the header laterally inwardly as the rotatable drum rotates; and 
 one or more inner flights, located between said outer flights, 
   wherein the/each inner flight comprises a paddle flight for engaging crop material that is on a floor of the header and moving it through said rear opening for delivery to the feeder house, thereby preventing build-up of crop material on the floor.   
     
     
         5 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 4 , wherein the rotatable drum is rotatable at a central region of the header. 
     
     
         6 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 4 , including fingers, arranged in a spaced apart relationship, and at least one mechanism to displace the fingers between extended and retracted conditions during rotation of the feeder device or drum, whereby the fingers are movable from the retracted condition to the extended condition to grab and pull the crop material for delivery through a rear opening in the header and into a feeder house of the harvester. 
     
     
         7 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 3 , wherein the fingers are arranged in one or more rows, the or each row extending substantially parallel to the axis, and wherein said mechanism is configured to reciprocate the fingers such that the fingers in that row assume the extended condition during downward movement of the row and assume the retracted condition during rearward movement of the row. 
     
     
         8 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 7 , comprising plural said rows arranged at spaced positions around the shaft or rotatable drum. 
     
     
         9 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 1 , wherein the/each paddle or paddle flight is shaped to conform to an imaginary helix extending around the shaft or rotatable drum from one end section thereof to the other. 
     
     
         10 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 1 , including a plurality of said paddles or paddle flights. 
     
     
         11 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 10 , wherein the paddles or paddle flights are arranged to either side of a plane which is perpendicular to said axis and, when the shaft or rotatable drum is mounted in the header, passes substantially centrally through said opening, such that the surfaces of the paddles or paddle flights face in directions which intersect with said plane. 
     
     
         12 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 10 , wherein the paddles or paddle flights are angularly offset around the shaft or rotatable drum. 
     
     
         13 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 10 , wherein the number of paddles or paddle flights is two. 
     
     
         14 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each paddle wraps up to one half of a turn around the shaft or rotatable drum. 
     
     
         15 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 1 , being for a draper header. 
     
     
         16 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each paddle flight has a leading end which increases in depth in a direction along the paddle flight towards a trailing end of the paddle flight. 
     
     
         17 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 16 , wherein the or each leading end defines a leading edge which extends from a respective location on a surface of the shaft or rotatable drum and which, with respect to the surface at that location, inclines whereby a degree of engagement between the paddle or paddle flight and material lying below the/a centre section of the shaft or rotatable drum increases progressively as the shaft or rotatable drum rotates. 
     
     
         18 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 17 , wherein the or each paddle or paddle flight has a smooth outer edge extending from the leading end thereof, the smooth outer edge comprising the leading edge defined by said leading end. 
     
     
         19 . The feeder device or drum according to  claim 17 , wherein the leading edge of each paddle or paddle flight is curved or convex. 
     
     
         20 . The feeder drum according to  claim 17 , wherein each paddle or paddle flight has a radially outer edge arranged to follow the leading edge of the paddle or paddle flight.