Windrower implement with merger attachment

1 . A windrower implement comprising:

a frame extending along a central longitudinal axis between a forward end and a rearward end relative to a direction of travel during operation;

an implement head attached to the forward end of the frame, wherein the implement head is operable to discharge crop material in a rearward direction generally along the central longitudinal axis;

a merger attachment coupled to the frame rearward of the implement head and positioned to receive discharged crop material from the implement head, wherein the merger attachment is operable to convey crop material laterally relative to the central longitudinal axis, the merger attachment including:

a support structure extending along a longitudinal structure axis between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is positioned for receiving crop material from the implement head, and the second end is disposed outboard of the first end for discharging the crop material from the merger attachment;

a belt forming an endless loop encircling the support structure;

an idler roll rotatably attached to the support structure at the first end thereof and supporting the belt, wherein the idler roll defines an idler diameter;

a drive roll rotatably attached to the support structure at the second end thereof and supporting the belt, wherein the drive roll defines a drive diameter;

a drive system coupled to the drive roll and operable to rotate the drive roll about a rotation axis thereof for rotating the belt in and endless loop about the drive roll, the support structure, and the idler roll; and

wherein the idler diameter is less than the drive diameter.

2 . The windrower implement set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first end of the support structure defines a first thickness between the range of one inch and three inches.

3 . The windrower implement set forth in claim 2 , wherein the first thickness is between the range of one and three-quarter inches and two and one-half inches.

4 . The windrower implement set forth in claim 2 , wherein the first thickness and the idler diameter are substantially equal.

5 . The windrower implement set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second end of the support structure defines a second thickness between the range of two inches and six inches.

6 . The windrower implement set forth in claim 5 , wherein the second thickness is between the range of three and one-half inches and four and one-half inches.

7 . The windrower implement set forth in claim 5 , wherein the second thickness and the drive diameter are substantially equal.

8 . The windrower implement set forth in claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes an upper support surface and a lower support surface arranged in a non-parallel relationship relative to each other to define a tapered profile extending along the longitudinal structure axis.

9 . A windrower implement comprising:

a frame extending along a central longitudinal axis between a forward end and a rearward end relative to a direction of travel during operation;

an implement head attached to the forward end of the frame, wherein the implement head is operable to discharge crop material in a rearward direction generally along the central longitudinal axis;

a merger attachment coupled to the frame rearward of the implement head and positioned to receive discharged crop material from the implement head, wherein the merger attachment is operable to convey crop material laterally relative to the central longitudinal axis, the merger attachment including:

a support structure extending along a longitudinal structure axis between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is positioned for receiving crop material from the implement head, and the second end is disposed outboard of the first end for discharging the crop material from the merger attachment;

a belt forming an endless loop encircling the support structure;

an idler roll rotatably attached to the support structure at the first end thereof and supporting the belt;

a drive roll rotatably attached to the support structure at the second end thereof and supporting the belt;

a drive system coupled to the drive roll and operable to rotate the drive roll about a rotation axis thereof for rotating the belt in and endless loop about the drive roll, the support structure, and the idler roll; and

wherein the support structure includes an upper support surface and a lower support surface extending between the first end and the second end and arranged in a non-parallel relationship relative to each other to define a tapered profile along the longitudinal structure axis, wherein the tapered profile is narrower at the first end of the support structure and wider at the second end of the support structure.

10 . The windrower implement set forth in claim 9 , wherein the first end of the support structure defines a first thickness, and wherein the second end of the support structure defines a second thickness, with the first thickness less than the second thickness.

11 . The windrower implement set forth in claim 10 , wherein the idler roll defines an idler diameter.

12 . The windrower implement set forth in claim 11 , wherein the drive roll defines a drive diameter.

13 . The windrower implement set forth in claim 12 , wherein the drive diameter is larger than the idler diameter.

14 . The windrower implement set forth in claim 12 , wherein the drive diameter is substantially equal to the second thickness of the second end of the support structure, and wherein the idler diameter is substantially equal to the first thickness of the first end of the support structure.

15 . A merger attachment for a windrower implement, the merger attachment comprising:

a support structure extending along a longitudinal structure axis between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is positioned for receiving crop material from the implement head, and the second end is disposed outboard of the first end for discharging the crop material from the merger attachment;

a belt forming an endless loop encircling the support structure;

an idler roll rotatably attached to the support structure at the first end thereof and supporting the belt;

a drive roll rotatably attached to the support structure at the second end thereof and supporting the belt;

a drive system coupled to the drive roll and operable to rotate the drive roll about a rotation axis thereof for rotating the belt in and endless loop about the drive roll, the support structure, and the idler roll; and

wherein the support structure includes an upper support surface and a lower support surface extending between the first end and the second end and arranged in a non-parallel relationship relative to each other to define a tapered profile along the longitudinal structure axis, wherein the tapered profile is narrower at the first end of the support structure and wider at the second end of the support structure.

16 . The merger attachment set forth in claim 15 , wherein the first end of the support structure defines a first thickness, and wherein the second end of the support structure defines a second thickness, with the second thickness greater than the first thickness.

17 . The merger attachment set forth in claim 16 , wherein the idler roll defines an idler diameter.

18 . The merger attachment set forth in claim 17 , wherein the drive roll defines a drive diameter that is greater than the idler diameter.

19 . The merger attachment set forth in claim 18 , wherein the drive diameter is substantially equal to the second thickness of the second end of the support structure, and wherein the idler diameter is substantially equal to the first thickness of the first end of the support structure.