Granted Patent B2

US 12,550,823 · App. 17/841,102 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Inventors: Jeffrey D. Thomas (Gordonville, PA); Joel T. Cook (Lititz, PA)

Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC

A01D61/002A01D61/02

Abstract

Claims (28)

1 . A header for an agricultural harvester, comprising:

a header frame;

a plurality of cutters carried by the header frame and configured to cut crop material;

a draper belt carried by the header frame rearwardly of the cutters and configured to travel in a travel direction;

at least one crop ramp associated with at least one of the cutters, the at least one crop ramp comprising a front edge disposed in front of the draper belt and a rear edge that Overlaps the draper belt;

a seed saver that is associated with the draper belt and defines a length extending in the travel direction, the seed saver extending above the draper belt and being disposed rearwardly of the rear edge of the at least one crop ramp; and

at least one debris dislodging protrusion carried by the draper belt, disposed in front of the seed saver, and overlapping the at least one crop ramp.

2 . The header of claim 1 , wherein the length of the seed saver extends generally in parallel with the travel direction of the draper belt.

3 . The header of claim 1 , wherein a top of the seed saver defines a height relative to the draper belt, the height being between 6 mm and 8 mm.

4 . The header of claim 1 , wherein the rear edge of the at least one crop ramp and the draper belt define a gap therebetween.

5 . The header of claim 4 , wherein an entirety of the at least one crop ramp does not contact the draper belt.

6 . The header of claim 1 , wherein the at least one debris dislodging protrusion defines a length extending generally perpendicular to the travel direction.

7 . The header of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of debris dislodging protrusions overlap the at least one crop ramp.

8 . An agricultural harvester, comprising:

a chassis; and

a header carried by the chassis, the header comprising:

a header frame;

a plurality of cutters carried by the header frame and configured to sever crop material;

a draper belt carried by the header frame rearwardly of the cutters and configured to travel in a travel direction;

at least one crop ramp associated with at least one of the cutters, the at least one crop ramp comprising a front edge disposed in front of the draper belt and a rear edge that overlaps the draper belt;

a seed saver that is associated with the draper belt and defines a length extending in the travel direction, the seed saver extending above the draper belt and being disposed rearwardly of the rear edge of the at least one crop ramp; and

at least one debris dislodging protrusion carried by the draper belt, disposed in front of the seed saver, and overlapping the at least one crop ramp.

9 . The agricultural harvester of claim 8 , wherein the length of the seed saver extends generally in parallel with the travel direction of the draper belt.

10 . The agricultural harvester of claim 8 , wherein a top of the seed saver defines a height relative to the draper belt, the height being between 6 mm and 8 mm.

11 . The agricultural harvester of claim 8 , wherein the rear edge of the at least one crop ramp and the draper belt define a gap therebetween.

12 . The agricultural harvester of claim 11 , wherein an entirety of the at least one crop ramp does not contact the draper belt.

13 . The agricultural harvester of claim 8 , wherein the at least one debris dislodging protrusion defines a length extending generally perpendicular to the travel direction.

14 . The agricultural harvester of claim 8 , wherein a plurality of debris dislodging protrusions overlap the at least one crop ramp.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (13)