Movable Pickup Belt Assembly for Header Declogging Reversal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural harvesting machines face issues with crop material clogging in the feeder house and auger during the harvesting process, particularly for small-stemmed crops like wheat and soybeans, which can hinder efficient operation.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a movable pickup belt assembly and transfer belt assembly in the header, coupled with an actuator, allows for pivoting of the pickup belt relative to the frame, enabling a reverse feed direction during declogging operations to clear clogged material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the pickup belt assembly and transfer belt assembly are positioned close together during harvesting, then crop material is effectively conveyed to the feeder house, but crop material clogging occurs in the feeder house and auger

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop conveying efficiencyVSAvoidcrop material clogging

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pickup belt assembly is made movable relative to the transfer belt assembly through a pivot connection. During normal harvesting, the assemblies are in a first position with belts close together for effective conveying. During declogging operations, the pickup belt assembly pivots to a second position, creating clearance between the belts to allow reverse flow of clogged material back through the feeder house.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the pickup belt assembly is made movable to enable reverse feed direction, then declogging capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeclogging capabilityVSAvoidassembly structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pickup belt assembly is mounted on a pivot connection rather than being fixed, allowing it to rotate between a harvesting position and a declogging position. This dynamic configuration enables the system to switch between normal operation and declogging mode without requiring completely separate mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

During declogging operations, the system reverses the normal flow direction by positioning the pickup belt assembly to create clearance, allowing crop material to flow backward through the feeder house and auger. This inversion of the normal conveying direction enables clearing of clogs using the existing system components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12495741B2Harvesting machine belt pickup header with movable pickup belt assembly

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A header for an agricultural work vehicle including a feeder house is provided, with the header operable to move crop material in a forward feed direction during a crop processing operation and in a reverse feed direction during a declogging operation. The header includes a frame configured to be coupled to the feeder house, a pickup belt assembly coupled to the frame and including a movable pickup belt configured to convey crop material, a transfer belt assembly coupled to the frame and including a movable transfer belt arranged to convey crop material from the pickup belt assembly to the feeder house in the forward feed direction, an actuator coupled to the frame that pivots the pickup belt assembly relative to the frame, and a discharge zone through which crop material is conveyed in the reverse feed direction during the declogging operation.