Reel lean bar profile and end dividers

Abstract

A reel lean bar assembly is provided for attachment to an agricultural machine for harvesting agricultural crops. The reel lean bar assembly includes a reel lean bar extending laterally between opposing first and second ends and having a front fagade defining an outwardly protruding arcuate profile and an opposite facing rear fagade defining a hollow interior. The reel lean bar arcuate profile has a top section having a top section profile and a bottom section having a bottom section profile. The reel lean bar top section profile is different from the bottom section profile.

Description

REEL LEAN BAR PROFILE AND END DIVIDERSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates a reel lean bar attached to a header for harvesting crops in a field.2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] It is known to use a reel lean bar attached to a header to harvest crops. However, use of known headers and reel lean bars to harvest tall and bulky crops, like sunflowers, present unique challenges since these types of crops grow at an uneven rate and become top-heavy due to the large size of the flower heads.

[0003] Current known header designs are often problematic when used to harvest larger crops like sunflowers. The process of harvesting larger crops presents problems not faced when harvesting smaller crops. One reason traditional headers are problematic when used to harvest sunflowers is because sunflowers present unique challenges due to their uneven growth rate, thicker stems, and wider diameter heads. For example, sunflower heads can range from 8 inches to 16 inches in diameter. Due to the large size of the sunflower head, they tend to be heavy and lean over, creating a generally curved or hooked profile.

[0004] When harvesting tall crops with large heads, such as sunflowers, the reel can’t effectively sweep the crop into the header. The large heads of the sunflowers tend to catch, hang, and wrap on the tine tubes, and on the tines that are connected to the tine tubes, of the reel as the reel sweeps the heads. Due to the inconsistent height of the crop within a field and within a single pass of the header, a cut height which is low enough to avoid missing the shortest crop can result in the tallest crop being at or above the height of the center of the reel. This condition is conducive to the reel tine tubes sweeping under the heads causing the heads to catch on the tine tubes and attached tines. Additionally, these crops tend to lean rather than stand vertically. When the crop leans left or right with respect to the header, the stalk can be cut by the header, but the head can fall outside of the header resulting in crop loss or plugging due to the stalks falling on top of theendshield of the header. Further, the heads of the taller sunflowers get hung up on the top edge of the reel lean bar.

[0005] One reason for these problems is due to the geometry of the profile of known reel lean bars. These known designs do not provide enough resistance to bend the crops down at the correct angle to effectively push the larger crops down toward the cutterbar. Another problem is that known designs fail to pull the crops inwardly prior to cutting, resulting in unnecessary crop loss due to the cut crop falling outside of the perimeter of the pan.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a reel lean bar that can: 1) push all the heads of the crop downward toward the ground so that they are below the level of the reel tine tubes, thus preventing the tine tubes and attached tines from sweeping underneath the heads; 2) be positioned closer to the reel without contacting the reel; 3) provide a deeper upper geometry providing a higher moment of inertia and therefore more rigidity to withstand sturdier crops and prevent them from wrapping around the top of the lean bar; 4) provide a downward facing surface that forces the heads of the crop forward and downward upon contact thus allowing the heads to slide down the lean bar gradually rather than abruptly resulting in minimized seed loss; 5) pulls heads of the crop inwardly to avoid interaction with the reel cam and maximize containment of the crop; and 6) allow the header to perform at nearly its full width.

[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, a reel lean bar assembly is provided for attachment to an agricultural machine for harvesting agricultural crops. The reel lean bar assembly includes a reel lean bar extending laterally between opposing first and second ends and having a front facade defining an outwardly protruding arcuate profile and an opposite facing rear facade defining a hollow interior. The reel lean bar arcuate profile has a top section having a top section profile and a bottom section having a bottom section profile. The reel lean bar top section profile is different from the bottom section profile.

[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, a reel lean bar assembly is provided for attachment to an agricultural machine for harvesting agricultural crops. The reel lean bar assembly includes a reel lean bar extending laterally between opposing first and second ends and having a front facade. A first end divider is attached to the first end of the reel lean bar and asecond end divider is attached to the second end of the reel lean bar. The first and second end dividers protrude outwardly beyond the front facade of the reel lean bar.

[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, a draper header of an agricultural machine is provided for harvesting agricultural crops. The draper header includes a header frame with a front and rear portion extending laterally between opposite first and second ends. A first and a second reel support arm are adjacent to the first and second ends of the header frame. The first and second support arms extend between a proximal end coupled to the header frame and an opposite distal end. A crop pick-up reel is rotatably coupled between the first and second reel support arm distal ends for engaging the crops to be harvested. A reel lean bar assembly is coupled to the crop pick-up reel for engaging the crops to be harvested prior to the crop pick-up reel. The reel lean bar assembly includes a reel lean bar extending laterally between opposing first and second ends, having a front facade defining an outwardly protruding arcuate profile and an opposite facing rear facade defining a hollow interior. The reel lean bar assembly further includes a first end divider attached to the first end of the reel lean bar and a second end divider attached to the second end of the reel lean bar. The first and second end dividers protrude outwardly beyond the front facade of the arcuate profile of the reel lean bar. The draper header also includes a pan assembly that is adapted to be attached to the header frame front portion adjacent to the reel lean bar assembly.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a draper header including a reel assembly, a real lean bar assembly, and a pan assembly;

[0012] Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of the draper header illustrated in Figure 1;

[0013] Figure 3 is a side view of one embodiment of the profde of the lean bar illustrated in Figure 1 ;

[0014] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a known reel lean bar attached to a draper header;

[0015] Figure 5 is a side view of the reel and lean bar assembly of the draper header illustrated in Figure 1;

[0016] Figure 6 is a fragmentary front view of the reel lean bar assembly illustrated in Figure 1 including an end divider;

[0017] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the reel lean bar assembly illustrated in Figure 1;

[0018] Figure 8 is a fragmentary side view of the reel lean bar assembly illustrated inFigure 1; and

[0019] Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the reel lean bar assembly illustrated in Figure 1.

[0020] Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “rearwardly”, and “forwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the arrangement and designated parts thereof. The terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a reel lean bar assembly including a reel lean bar extending laterally between opposing first and second ends 50, 52 and having a front facade 54 defining an outwardly protruding arcuate profile and an opposite facing rear facade 56 defining a hollow interior 57 is shown generally at 20 for use on a draper header 22 of an agricultural machine. The reel lean bar assembly 20 engages the crops to be harvested prior to the crops being cut so that they are directed downwardly and forwardly. Engaging the crops in this manner results in less negative interference of the crops with the header 22 and minimal crop loss after cutting.

[0022] In general, as shown in Figure 1, the draper header 22 for harvesting agricultural crops has a frame 24 with a first side 26, an opposing second side 28, a front side 30, and a rear side 32. The front side 30 and rear side 32 extend between the first and second sides 26, 28. Further, at least one rotating crop pick-up reel 34 is attached to the draper header 22 by at least two support arms that are attached to the frame 24 of the draper header 22. A first support arm 36 is attached to the rear side 32 of the draper header 22 adjacent to the first side 26 and a second support arm 38 is attached to the rear side 32 of the draper header 22 adjacent to the second side 28. There are two reels 34, 35 shown in Figure 1 and a third, intermediate support arm 40 is positioned between the reels 34, 35. The third support arm 40 is attached to the rear side 32 of the draper header frame 24 and positioned centered between the first support arm 36 and second support arm 38. The first reel 34 is rotatingly attached to the first support arm 36 and the third, intermediate support arm 40. The second reel 35 is rotatingly attached to the third, intermediate support arm 40 and the second support arm 38. The reels 34, 35 are aligned with each other along an axis of rotation 42 and extend longitudinally between the support arms 36, 38, 40 parallel to the front side 30 of the draper header 22.

[0023] It is within the scope of this invention to have one reel or more reels mounted to the draper header depending on the width of the draper header. In an embodiment where there are three reels, there would be an additional intermediate support arm to support the third, or center, reel. Similarly, for each additional reel, there would be an additional intermediate support arm to support each additional reel.

[0024] Referring to Figure 2, a cutterbar 44 is attached to the frame 24 and extends longitudinally across the front side 30 of the frame 24 to cut the crop. Tine tubes 45 are attached to the reels 34, 35 and have attached tines 46, also referred to as fingers, that extend radially outwardly from the axis of rotation 42 and engage with the cut crops during rotation of the reels 34, 35 to aid in directing the cut crops toward the draper header 22.

[0025] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the reel lean bar assembly 20 includes a reel lean bar 48 that extends parallel to the axis of rotation 42 of the reels 34, 35 and is positioned forwardly with respect to the reels 34, 35. The reel lean bar 48 extends laterally between a first end 50 and an opposing second end 52 and has a front facade 54 defining an outwardly protruding arcuateprofile and an opposite facing rear fagade 56 defining a hollow interior 57. Referring to Figure 2, the hollow interior 57 defined by the rear fagade 56 allows for a minimum clearance between the reel lean bar 48 and the reels 34, 35.

[0026] Referring to Figure 3, the reel lean bar 48 profile, viewed from the side, has a top section 58, a bottom section 60, and a front section 62. The front section 62 slopes downwardly and rearwardly from the top section 58 to the bottom section 60. The top section 58 extends upwardly and rearwardly from an upper portion 64 of the front section 62 and terminates at a first, upper end 66. Optionally, the top section 58 bends downwardly and wraps inwardly near the first, upper end 66. The top section 58 has a depth dimension Dtopthat is at least one half a depth dimension of an overall profile depth Dtotai. The configuration of the top section 58 provides a deep upper geometry resulting in a higher moment of inertia and therefore more rigidity to withstand sturdier crops and prevent them from wrapping around the top of the lean bar 48. The bottom section 60 extends downwardly and rearwardly from a lower portion 68 of the front section 62 and terminates at a second, lower end 70.

[0027] In one embodiment, the reel lean bar profile is comprised of eight contiguous surfaces 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, that span laterally between the first end 50 and second end 52, forming the generally arcuate profile with the front fagade 54 and the rear fagade 56. The arcuate profile includes a first angle 88 between the first surface 72 and second surface 56 of the reel lean bar 48 that is 150° measured along the rear fagade 56. The first surface 72 is positioned closest to the ground when mounted to the draper header 22 and is shorter than the second surface 74. There is a second angle 90 between the second surface 74 and third surface 76 of the reel lean bar 48 that is 155° measured along the rear fagade 56. The third surface 76 is the longest of all eight surfaces. There is a third angle 92 between the third surface 76 and the fourth surface 78 of the reel lean bar 48 that is 140° measured along the rear fagade 56. There is a fourth angle 94 between the fourth surface 78 and the fifth surface 80 of the reel lean bar 48 that is 130° measured along the rear fagade 56. There is a fifth angle 96 between the fifth surface 80 and the sixth surface 82 of the reel lean bar 48 that is 140° measured along the rear fagade 56. There is a sixth angle 98 between the sixth surface 82 and seventh surface 84 of the reel lean bar 48 that is 115° measured along the rear fagade 56. Finally, there is a seventh angle 100 between the seventh surface 84 and eighth surface 86 of the reel lean bar 48 that is 90° measured along the rear fagade 56.

[0028] In this embodiment, the bottom section 60 includes the first and second surfaces 72, 74. The front section 62 includes third surface 76. The top section 58 includes the fourth through eighth contiguous surfaces 78, 80, 82, 84, 86.

[0029] The overall height of the reel lean bar profde, including the vertical dimensions of the top section 58, the bottom section 60, and the front section 62, is in the range of 550-800 millimeters and the overall depth, Dtotai, of the reel lean bar profile is in the range of 250-300 millimeters. In one embodiment, the overall height of the reel lean bar profile is 609.4 millimeters and the overall profile depth, Dtotai, of the reel lean bar profile is 262.4 millimeters.

[0030] Figure 3 illustrates the profile of the lean bar 48 in one possible orientation when mounted to the draper header 22 during harvesting of the crops. The third surface 76 is positioned at an angle 102 within the range of 50° to 75° with respect to an imaginary horizontal surface 104 extending parallel with the ground. The crops that engage with the third surface 76 are pushed forward and downward below the edges of the rotating tines 46.

[0031] Referring to Figure 2, the reel lean bar 48 is positioned to cover the reels 34, 35 at least between a 3 o’clock position and a 5 o’clock position. The outwardly protruding arcuate profile of the front facade 54 of the reel lean bar 48 allows for the rear facade 56 of the lean bar 48 to be positioned closer to the reels 34, 35, and particularly closer to the outer edges of the tines 46 as they rotate along with the reels 34, 35, than current lean bar designs. The outer edges of the rotating tines 46 are approximately one (1) inch away from the rear facade 56 of the reel lean bar 48.

[0032] In comparison, Figure 4 illustrates the configuration of a known lean bar 48’ with respect to the reel 34’. The known lean bar 48’ has a circular shaped side profile and is positioned further away from reel 34’.

[0033] Referring to Figure 1, the reel lean bar assembly 20 further optionally includes a first end divider 106 and a second end divider 108. The first end divider 106 is attached to the first end 50 of the reel lean bar 48 and the second end divider 108 is attached to the second end 52 of the reel lean bar 48. The first and second end dividers 106, 108 protrude outwardly beyond thefront facade 54 of the reel lean bar 48. Figure 5 illustrates the first end divider 106 protruding outwardly beyond the front facade 54 of the reel lean bar 48.

[0034] Referring to Figure 1, the first end divider has a first distal end 110. The second end divider has a second distal end 112. Referring to Figure 6, the first end divider 110 has a first interior surface 114 that is angled inwardly extending from its first distal end 110 to a back end 116 that is adjacent to the lean bar 48. Referring to Figure 1, similarly, the second end divider 108 has a second interior surface 118 that is angled inwardly extending from its second distal end 112 to a back end 120 that is adjacent to the lean bar 48. This configuration promotes funneling the crop inwardly as it enters the header.

[0035] The reel lean bar assembly 20 is adapted to be coupled with the crop pick-up reel 34 at a fixed position. The reel lean bar assembly 20 is secured to the crop pick-up reel 34 at a predetermined position relative to the crop pick-up reel 34 to maintain a fixed, predetermined spacing, or positioning, between the two components. During selective movement of the crop pick-up reel 34 in the fore and aft directions, the reel lean bar assembly 20 synchronously moves fixedly with the axis of rotation 42 of the pick-up reel 34.

[0036] The reel lean bar assembly 20 is attached to each of the reel support arms 36, 38 by a support bracket 122, 124 A first support bracket 122 has a first end 126 that is adapted for attachment to the first end 50 of the reel lean bar 48 and a second end 128 that is adapted for attachment to the first support arm 36 for the reel 34. A second support bracket 124 has a first end 130 that is adapted for attachment to the second end 52 of the reel lean bar 48 and a second end 132 that is adapted for attachment to the second support arm 38 for the reel 34. The reel lean bar 48 illustrated in Figures 1 and 7 is composed of two sections 48a, 48b that have identical profiles and that connect together creating a flush front facade. There is a third support bracket 134 that has a first end 136 that is adapted for attachment to the lean bar 48 between the two sections 48a, 48b. The third support bracket 134 has a second end 138 adapted for attachment to the intermediate support arm 40. The number of real lean bar sections is dependent upon the number of reels attached to the header. When only one reel is attached to the header, there would be one section of the reel lean bar and only two support brackets would be attached to either end of the reel lean bar at their first ends and to each of the reel support arms at their second ends. For each additionalreel attached to the header, there would be an additional section of the reel lean bar with an additional support bracket that is attached at its first end to the reel lean bar and to a corresponding support arm at its second end.

[0037] Referring to Figure 1, where the reel lean bar assembly 20 includes end dividers 106, 108, the first support bracket 122 first end 126 is adapted for attachment to the first end divider 106. Referring to Figure 8, the first end 126 of the first support bracket 122 includes four slots 140 that receive connectors 142 that engage with one of two slots 144 in the first end divider 106 to attach the first support bracket 122 and first end divider 106 together at a fixed position relative to each other at the desired orientation. Referring to Figure 9, the second support bracket 124 first end 130 is adapted for attachment to the second end divider 108. Similar to the first support bracket 122, the first end 130 of the second support bracket 124 includes slots 140 that receive connectors 142 that engage with one of two slots 144 in the second end divider 108 to attach the second support bracket 124 and the second end divider 108 together at a fixed position relative to each other at the desired orientation. Referring to Figure 1, first support bracket 122 second end 128 is adapted for attachment to first support arm 36. Referring to Figures 1 and 9, second support bracket 124 second end 132 is adapted for attachment to second support arm 38.

[0038] Referring to Figure 1, a pan assembly, including two end pans 146, 148 and intermediate pans 150, is mounted to the header frame 24 at the front side 30 and is positioned below the real lean bar 48. The pan assembly 146, 148, 150 extends across the width of the front 30 draper header 22.

[0039] The reel lean bar assembly 20 and the pan assembly 146, 148, 150 each include quick release functionality and can be attached to and / or detached from the draper header frame 24 manually, without the assistance of any tools.

[0040] During operation, as an agricultural machine moves across a field to harvest a tall crop, for example sunflowers, each of the end dividers 106, 108 engage with a section of the crop and define a boundary within which the stalks are directed inwardly due to their extension beyond the front facade 54 of the lean bar 48. The inward orientation of the interior surfaces 114, 118 from the distal end 110, 112 of each end divider 106, 108 toward each respective back end 116, 120, that is adjacent to the lean bar, funnels the crop inwardly. This contains the crop in front ofthe header 22. As the agricultural machine moves in a forward direction, the crops within the boundary engage with the front facade 54 of the reel lean bar 48. The first and second end dividers 106, 108 contain the crop inwardly as the reel lean bar front section 62, or third surface 76, pushes them in a forward and downward motion. This forward and downward motion of the crops lowers them below the lower level of the rotating reel tines 46 and orients them for engagement with the cutterbar 44 to cut off the heads. The cut heads drop into the pans 150 that are positioned forward and adjacent to the cutterbar 44. As the reels 34, 35 rotate, the tines 46 sweep and engage with the cut crop directing them toward the draper 22. This system maximizes the amount of crop that is cut along the full width of the header 22 by maintaining the crop within the boundaries set by the dividers 106, 108 and minimizes the loss of crop heads after the crop heads are cut by directing them downwardly into the pans 150 for engagement with the reel tines 46.

[0041] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Directional references employed or shown in the description, figures or claims, such as top, bottom, upper, lower, upward, downward, lengthwise, widthwise, longitudinal, lateral, and the like, are relative terms employed for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any respect. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Claims

Claims1. A reel lean bar assembly adapted to be attached to a header of an agricultural machine, comprising: a reel lean bar extending laterally between opposing first and second ends and having a front facade defining an outwardly protruding arcuate profile and an opposite facing rear fayade defining a hollow interior; wherein the reel lean bar arcuate profile has a top section having a top section profile, a bottom section having a bottom section profile, and the top section profile is different from the bottom section profile.

2. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 1, wherein the reel lean bar arcuate profile has: a front section that slopes downwardly and rearwardly from the top section to the bottom section; wherein the top section extends upwardly and rearwardly from an upper portion of the front section and terminates at a first end; and wherein the bottom section extends downwardly and rearwardly from a lower portion of the front section and terminates at a second end.

3. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 2, wherein the top section bends downwardly and wraps inwardly at the first end.

4. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 2, wherein the top section of the arcuate profile has a width dimension at least one half a width dimension of an overall profile width.

5. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 1, wherein the reel lean bar arcuate profile includes eight contiguous surfaces that span between the first and second ends.

6. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 5, wherein:a first angle between the first and second surfaces of the reel lean bar profile is 150° along the rear facade; a second angle between the second and third surfaces of the reel lean bar profile is 155° along the rear facade; a third angle between the third and fourth surfaces of the reel lean bar profile is 140° along the rear facade; a fourth angle between the fourth and fifth surfaces of the reel lean bar profile is 130° along the rear facade; a fifth angle between the fifth and sixth surfaces of the reel lean bar profile is 140° along the rear facade; a sixth angle between the sixth and seventh surfaces of the reel lean bar profile is 115° along the rear facade; and a seventh angle between the seventh and eighth surfaces of the reel lean bar profile is 90° along the rear facade.

7. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first end divider attached to the first end of the reel lean bar and a second end divider attached to the second end of the reel lean bar, wherein the first and second end dividers protrude outwardly beyond the front facade of the reel lean bar.

8. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 7, wherein: the first end divider has a first distal end, a first back end that is adjacent the reel lean bar, and a first interior surface that is angled inwardly extending from the first distal end to the first back end; and the second end divider has a second distal end, a second back end that is adjacent the reel lean bar, and a second interior surface that is angled inwardly extending from the second distal end to the second back end.

9. A reel lean bar assembly adapted to be attached to a header of an agricultural machine, comprising: a reel lean bar extending laterally between opposing first and second ends and having a front facade; and a first end divider attached to the first end of the reel lean bar and a second end divider attached to the second end of the reel lean bar, wherein the first and second end dividers protrude outwardly beyond the front facade of the reel lean bar.

10. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 9, wherein: the first end divider has a first distal end, a first back end that is adjacent the reel lean bar, and a first interior surface that is angled inwardly extending from the first distal end to the first back end; and the second end divider has a second distal end, a second back end that is adjacent the reel lean bar, and a second interior surface that is angled inwardly extending from the second distal end to the second back end.1 1. A draper header of an agricultural machine for harvesting crops, comprising: a header frame having a front and a rear portion extending laterally between opposite first and second ends; a first and a second reel support arm adjacent the first and second ends of the header frame, each of the first and second support arms extending between a proximal end coupled to the header frame and an opposite distal end; a crop pick-up reel rotatably coupled between the first and second reel support arm distal ends for engaging the crops to be harvested; a reel lean bar assembly coupled to the crop pick-up reel for engaging the crops to be harvested prior to the crop pick-up reel, the reel lean bar assembly including: a reel lean bar extending laterally between opposing first and second ends, having a front facade defining an outwardly protruding arcuate profile and an opposite facing rear facade defining a hollow interior; a first end divider attached to the first end of the reel lean bar and a second end divider attached to the second end of the reel lean bar, wherein the first and second end dividers protrude outwardly beyond the front facade of the arcuate profile of the reel lean bar; and a pan assembly adapted to be attached to the header frame front portion adjacent the reel lean bar assembly.

12. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 11, wherein the reel lean bar arcuate profile has a top section having a top section profile, a bottom section having a bottom section profile, and the top section profile is different from the bottom section profile.

13. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 11, wherein:the first end divider has a first distal end, a first back end that is adjacent the reel lean bar, and a first interior surface that is angled inwardly extending from the first distal end to the first back end; and the second end divider has a second distal end, a second back end that is adjacent the reel lean bar, and a second interior surface that is angled inwardly extending from the second distal end to the second back end.

14. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 11, wherein the pan assembly includes end pans and intermediate pans.

15. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 11, wherein the reel lean bar extends across a width of a front of the crop pick-up reel and the lean bar is positioned to cover the crop pick-up reel at least between a 3 o’clock position and a 5 o’clock position when viewed from a first side view.

16. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 11, wherein the reel lean bar assembly is attached at a fixed distance away from the header frame and during selective movement of the crop pick-up reel in the fore and aft directions, the reel lean bar assembly synchronously moves fixedly with an axis of rotation of the crop pick-up reel.

17. The reel lean bar assembly of claim 16, wherein the reel lean bar assembly further comprises: a first support bracket having a first end attached to the first end of the reel lean bar and a second end attached to the first support arm for the reel; and a second support bracket having a first end attached to the second end of the reel lean bar and a second end attached to the second support arm for the reel.

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