AU2005320343B2 - Crop lifter and crop assembly attachment - Google Patents

Description

CROP LIFTER AND CROP ACCESSORY ATTACMENT 5 This invention is in the field of cutting headers such as are used in agricuture for cutting crops for harvest and the like, and in particular with crop Lifters and like accessories Sh as are mnitd on such headers to increase crop gathering and retention in the harvesting machine. 112 BACKGROUNDm For various reasons crops sometimes are lying so close to the ground that it is difficult to cut them with a conventional harvest header. Some crops are inherently short while others may be taller, but are prone to fall down when they reach maturity. Heavy rain or 15 hail can also cause rop to be lying dose to the ground athavest tme. Typically the knife on cutting headers comprises a knife bar extending along the front lower edge of the header, with a plurality of triangular knife sections attached to the bar such that the apex of the triangle extends forward from the bar. The exposed side edges 20 of the knife sections are sharpened. Guards are attached to the front lower edge of the header and serve to protect the knife sections from breakage when contacting stones and like obstructions. The guards comprise pointed guard fngers extending forward and the knife moves back and forth along the edg of the header in a slot cut laterally through the 2 guard fingers. In addition to protecting the knife, the guard fingers also enable the knife sections to cut the crop. As the knife section moves back and forth it pushes crop against the sides of those portions of the guard finger that are above and below the slot, shearing the crop stalks. A conventional knife is a few inches above the ground when the header is in its lowest position, such that very short or downed crop material will pass under the knife and be lost. Many different kinds of "crop lifters", as they have come to be known have been developed over the last centuy and more. Typically these crop lifMr are attached to Ihe 10 header and/or the forward extending point of the guard finger, and provide an arm of various designs that rides along the grund ahead of the knil A lifting finger extends at a shallow angle frorn the front of the arm back and over the knife. As the header moves down the field, the arm rides along the ground and under the downed crop stalks, which then are lifted and pass over the lifting finger to the knife, where they are cut and 15 continue moving onto the header from whoer they can be passed to the harvester, swather table, or the like. United States Patent Numbers 700,029 and 791,022 to Gtruman, 2,734,332 to Fisher, 2,892,298 to Chaney,. 2,960,814 to Babcock, and Canadian Patent Number 407,654 to 20 Young disclose such a croplifter that is pivotally attachedto the header so as to beable to move up and down to follow the ground. The Babcock and Fisher devices float on the ground, while the others are biased toward the ground by springs. United States Patent Number 4,120138 to Schnmahor illustrates a crop lifter that is fixed to the header 3 instead of pivoting, but is made of spring steel so that same may move up and down to follow the ground. The leading ends of the lIfting finger on'these devices is fixed in relation to the an such 5 that the leading end is at a fixed distance above the ground, but quit close to the grOund inorder to lift as mub crop as possible. Generally sparking crop stalks that pass under the leading end will be lost, and those that pass over will be harvested. Most comunonly in the prior art t leading end of the lifting finger is generally the 10 leading end of the arm, and is therefore upturned to provide a ski effect and ride over the ground instead of digging in. In the Chancy and Fisher devices, the leading end is ahead of the arm and is pointing generally down very close to the ground to collect the lowest lying crop possible. In the Fisher device, an adjustment is provided to valry the angle of the lift finger; and the lift finger can also'be longitudinally adjusted relative to the arn to 15 vary the distance from the leading end- of the lifting finger to the ground. If even a smail obstriction N* contacted by the Chaney or Fisher devices, they will not ride over it, but will be required to push it to the side, making then more subject to darmge. A problem with conventional lifters of substantially all types is that breakage. 20 bending, and deformation is not uncommon as a result of contact with obstntions or ground variations in the fleld Repair of such damage is time consuming, requiring removal of -the bolts or like' fasters attahing the lifte, and repair if possible by 4 straightening with a press, welding, or the like. Often replacernent is necessary at fairly significant expense. Demonstrating another alternative crop lifter, United States Patent Application 5 Publication 2001/0037635 of Figliuzzi discloses a crop lifter that provides lifting i that extends rearward and upward from the point of a guard finger. In one illustrated embodiment the point of the guard finger is exteaded substantially forward from a conventional locatioL 10 Generally cutting headers are used in taller crops as well as on the short and downed crops described above. In such crops the hender is raised a substantial distance above the ground. Often in such taller crops however there will berop stalks that have fallen over due to insect damage weather, or the like and are closer to the ground than the desired cutting heigbt. It is probblmatic to operate conventional crop lifte below the cutting 15 height to lift these downed stalks Crap lifters interfere somewhat with normal operations of the header when harvesting taller craps with the header raised a substantial distance above the ground. During turns in particular; because the crop lifters generally extend a considerable distance ahead of 20 the header, some crop stals are pushed over and not cut. It is common practice therefore to remove the crop lifters when using te header ou taler crops. In view of this and the further requirement as discussed above to remove the lift ers for repair and replacement, 5 there is also considerable prior art directed to providing a crop lifter that is easily installed and removed. United States Patent Number 3,79,967 to Schmacher discloses a quick attachment 5 mechanism for.a crop lifter. A rear end of a springy arm of the crop lifter defmes a nch that fits into an annular groove in a nut that attaches the guard to the header. The extreme rear end of the notched portion is bent down, such that the notch can only be inserted into the groove when the front end of the arm is tilted downward. After insertion, the front end of the arm is raised, and a hook is placed over the guard finger to lock the arm in 10 tension and in the raised position. With the an so raised, the bent portion at the rear of the arm prevents the arm from moving forward ad disengaging fie grooved nut. United States Patent Numbers 4295,328 and 6,442,919 and United States Patent Application Publication 2003tV005678 of Schumacher disclose quick attachment 15 mechanisms for crop ifters that use the bent rear notch and provide alterat, mechanisms using'springs, clips and the like to hold the am ain t raised position by releasably securing the arm to the guard finger. Canadan Patent Numbers 548,220 to A. Class and 719,825 to R. Class disclose a quick 20 atacment mechanis for a Crop lifter that attaches ny to the guard fer with a sprin biased clamp. SUMMARY O THE INVNT 6 It is an object of the present invention to provide a crop lifter that overcomes problems in the prior art. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a crop accessory attachment mechanism that overwcmes problems in the prior art The crop lifter includes a structurally weak portion adapted to move by bending or breaking when striking an obstnflion, thereby preventing damage to the crop Ufter. The structurally weak portion can be quickly replaced.

10 The present invention provides a crop lifter, sunflower pan, or like crop accessory that attaches quickly to the header. A mid-portion of the apparatus engages a guard finger and arearend of the ais attached to the header with a latch. A latch member on the rear end of an arm or accessory engages a cooperating latch member attaW the header, and the rear end of the arm or accessory comprises lock mechanism to hold the 5 aum or accessory in place. The present invention provides, in a first embodiment a crop lifter adapted for atachment to a cutting header having a knife and cooperating guards mounted along a lower front edge thereof, The crop lifter comprises a lifter member adapted for 2o attachment to the header and a lUng finger attached to the lifter member by a quick attach mechanism such that a leading end of the lifting finger is ahead of and below fhe knife. A carrying portion extends rearward from the leading end of the lifting finger to guide lifted crop to the knife for cutting. The lifting finger is structurally weak compared 7 to the lifting member such that de lifting fmger will readily move when striking an obstruction, thereby preventing damage to the lifter member. The present invention provides, in a second embodiment a crop accessory adapted for 5 attachment to a cutting header having a knife mounted along a lower front edge thereof and guards attached to the lower front edge with guard bolts, The crop accessory comprises a header latch member adapted for attachment to a guard bolt on the header. An accessory latch member at a rear end of the accessory is adapted to move rearwad into engagement with the header atch member such tha the rear end of the accessory is 16 maintained in substantially fixed vertical and lateral relationship to the header. A guard finger aperture is defined on. the accessory forward of the accessory latch member and oriented such that a forward extending guard finger of a guard eaters the guard finger apature when the accessory latch member is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member, and a releasable latch lock is operative to prevent forward 15 movement of the accessory latch member with respect to the head latch member. DESCRrIONOF THE DRAWINGS: 20 While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments am provided in the accompanying detailed description wich may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagamus where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with like numbers and where: Fig. 1. is a schematic top view of a cutting header of the prior art; Fig. 2 is an exploded side view of a crop lifter of the invention 5 Fig. 3 is a side view of die assembled crop lifter of' Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side view of a alternate embodiment of the crop lifter 10 Fig. 5 is a perspectve view of the locking portion Of the lifting anger Fig. 6 is a side view of the twist and lock mechanism showing the lifting finger in a first orientation for insertion into the bore of the mounting bracket; i5 Fig.7 is a side view of the twist and lock mechanism of Fig* 6 showing the lifting finger in a s cond orientation for locking same into the bore of the mounting bracket; Fig. 8 is a tide view of an altrate emcdmet of a locking portion of a lifting 20 finger' Fig. 9 is a side view of an alternate embodimente ofthe crop lifter 9 Fig. 10 is a side view of a crop lifter attached to a header wit a releasable latch mechanism; Fig. 1 is a side view of a header latch member of the latching mechanism of Fig. 5 10; Fig. 12 Is a schematic section view showing the leg of the arm latch member engaged in a groove on each side of the shaft of the header latch member; 10 Fig, 13 is a schematic top view of a sunflower pan inco-porating a releasable latch mechanism of the invention for attachment to a header; Fig. 14 is a side view of the sunflower pan of Fig. 13; 15 Fip. 15 and 16 are side views of a further alternate embodiment of the crop liter lustrating the latching engagnmnt of the arm to the header Fig. 17 is a schematic top view of a -latch lock that could be used with the embodiment of Figs. 9 or 10 shown in the open position with the header and arm 20 latch member fully engaged; Fig. 18 is a schematic top view of the latch lock of Fig. 17 shown in the closed position with the header and arm latch members fully engaged

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to. 10 Fig. 19 is a schematic top view of a Iatch lock that could be used with the embodiment of Figs. 9 or 10 comprising a spring catch shown in the closed position adjacent to the header latching member 5 Fig. 20 is aschematic top view of the latch lock of Fig',9.shown in the closed position with the header and arm latch members fully engaged; Fig. 21 is a schematic top view of the latch lock of Fig 19 shown with the spring 10 elements forced to an open position; Fig. 22 is. a schematic side view of an alternate latch lock for use with the embodiment of Figs. 9 or. 10 comprising an alternate spring catch shown in the closed position with the header and arm latch members fully engaged; I5 Fig. 23 is a6ottom view f the rear end ofia altemate'syring element foruse with the embodiment of Fig. 22 where the recessed portion is provided by an aperture through the spring element; 2 Fig. 24 is a perspective view of an altemate embodiment of the bender and arn latch members; Fig. 25 is a side view of an alternate crop lifter wherein the guard finger aperture is located at the front end of the arm, ad the rear end of the am latches to the header. Fig. 1 illustrates a cutting header 2 of the prior at having a knife 4 an cooperating guards 6 mounted along a lower front edge thereof, The guards 6 have guard fingers 8 extending forward from thu knife 4. The header is designed to travel along a field in an 10 operating travel direction T. A crop liftr 10 of the invention for attachment to the healer 2 is illusatred in.Figs. 2 and 3. The crop lifter 10 comprises a lifter member 12 adapted for atachment to the header 2 and a lifting finpr 14 attached to the lifter member 12 by a twist endlock quickrattach 15 mecbam 16 such that a leading end is of the lfting finger 14 is ahead of ad. below the knife 4. A rear carrying portion 20 of the crop ifter 10 extends rearward from the ifting front portion immediately behind the leading end 18.of the lifting finger 14 to carry lifted crop to the nife4 for cutting. 20 In the illustrated embodiment of Figs, 2 and 3 the carrying portion 20 is provided by a ear portion of the lifting fmger 14. In operation the leading end 18 of the lining finger 14 will pass under low lying crop stalks and the stalks will then be lifted by the front 12 portion of the lifting finger 14 and carried by the rear Catylng portion 20 of the lifting singer 14 to the knifc 4. in th embodimts lustrated in Figs. 2 - 4, the lifte member 12 consists oldlY Of a 5 bore member or mounting bracket 22 attached to one of the guard fIngers 8. In the embodiment of Figs, 2 and 3, the guard finger 8 defmes a finger hole 24 extending therethrough, and the mounting bracket 22 defmes a bracket hole 26. The mounting bracket 22 is attached to the guard finger 8 by a bolt 28 extending laterally through the -bracket he'26 and finge hole 24 as illustated in F1g. 3 The mounitngbracket 2 2 can 10 be pivoted up and down to vary a distance between the leading end 18 of the lifting fMger 14 and ground level. Stops could be attached to the mounting bracket 22 and oriented with respect to the guard finger 8 to prevent movement of the mounting bracket 22 and thus prevent movement offt leading end 18 of the lifting finger 14. 15 Guards 6 having guard fingers 8 that define fingr holes 24 can be manufactured as original equipment or after-market options. Such guards 6 would be attractive in that they would not interfere with the conventional operation of the machine but would allow for easy installation of the crop lifter 10 of the invention. 20 In the altemate embodiment of Fig. 4, the mounting bracket 22 is attached to the guArd anger 8 by a spring biased clamp 30, such as is known in the prior at of Clansen. Thus in the embodiments of Figs. 2 - 4 the crop Lifter 10 is very simple and economical, and readily mounted to the header 2 L3 The lifting fnger 14 is made from aresilient plastic, nylon or similar material so that it is steunlly weak compared to the lifting member 12 such that the lifting finger 14 will readily move, by breaking or bending when striking an obstruction, thereby preventing 5 damage to the lifter munber 12. The liftingfgers 14 can also be somewhat flexible so they are less likely to dig stones or the like out of the round, but will flex around such obstructions. Such raised stones can cause damage to the machine. The lifting fingers 14 are relatively inexpenive, and the twist and lock quick-atach 10 mechanism 16 allows for very quick removal of broken lifting fingers 14 and replacement with new ones~ Thus, compared to prior art crop lifters, maintenance time and expense is greatly educed. The lifting fingers 14 can also bemade to flex and.bend readily to resist breakage, although sometimes they may become badly bent and require replacement prior to breaking 15 The lifting fingers 14 can also be easily cut with snips or the like to the desired length so that the leading end 18 thereof is located at the desired picdng height relative to the ground The lifting fingers 14 can be cut to a Length such thatfthey actually touch or Mke the soil sace if desired, alowing thc lifter 10 to lift rSIl that ar laying Mt on 20 the groundi The lifting finger 14 can have a larger diameter at a front portion thereof to resist breakage, and also the front portion can be very long if desired so that the lifting fingers 14 will reach substantially below the header. The lifting fingers wil then lift fallen or leaning stalks in a higher crap where the header is operated at a considerable height above the ground to nimize the amount of material entering the harvesting machine, but where there are some stalks that have fallen and would conventionally be missed. 5 Details of one embodiment of a twist and lock quick-attach mechanism 16 are illustrated in Figs.5 - 7. The illustrated twist and lock quick-attach mechanism 16 comprises a bore 40 defmed by the counting bracket 22 and oriented substantially aligned with the operating travel directioc'a and sloping upward from a front end thereof to a rear end 10 thereof as iilustated in Fig. 2. The bore 40 and a cooperating locking portion 42 of the lifting finger 14 are configured such that the locking portion 42 of the lifting finger 14 can slide longitudinally in the bore 40 when oriented in a first orientation to be inserted into the bore 40, as seen in Fig. 6' and are configured suc* that the locking portion 42 locks in the bore 40 when twisted a quarter turn about a finger axis FA to a second 15 .orietation shown in Fig / The locking portion 42 of th. lifting finger 14 comprises front and rear lobes 44, 46 extending radially from the surface of the lifting finger 14. The bore has a flattened rear portion 48 and configured such that the.lifting figer 14 can be inserted into the bore 40 20 in the first orientation and the rear lobe will pass through the flattened portion 48 at the rear end ofthe bore 40. When fully inserted the front lobe 44 bears against a front enid of the bore 40 and the lifting finger 14 can be twisted a quarter turn about the finger axis FA 15 to the second orientation wit the rear lobe 46 bearing against the flawed portion 48 at the rear end of te bore 40 - Thus the lifting.finger 14 is readily installed and removed by twisting same one quarter 5 urn about the finger axis FA. F 8 ilustrates an alterate embodiment where ie cooperating locking portion 42A of the lifting finger 14A are configured such that the locking portion 42A of the lifting finger 14A can slide longitudinally in a bore. The bore and locking potion 42A are 10 configured such that the locking portion 42A of the lifting finger 14A can slide longitudinally into the bore and such that movement of the locking portion 42A out of the bore is resisted by friction forces between walls of the bore and the locking portion 42A of the lifting finger 14A In the ilustrMed embodiment of Fig., the outer surface. of the locking portion 42A comprises protrusions 41A extending outward therefrom to increase 15 friction between the locking portion 42A and walls of the bore, Conveniently the bore and locking position 42A will be cylindrical to allow insetion. and removal with a twisting action Fig. 9 illustes an alternate embodiment of the crop lifter 110 wherein the lifter member 20 112 comprises an arm 150, and in the illustrated embodiment the arm 150 is further adapted to ride along the ground. The arm 150. is attached at a rear end thereof to the header 2 by conventional gaard bolts 160 and includes an aperture member 162 at a middle portion thereof that defines a guard finger aperture oriented to engage the point of 16 guard finger 10i when the rearl end of- the an attached to the guard bolt 160. The arm 150 has an upwardly curved forward end 154 The ick-attach mechanism 116 is pivotafly attached about a pivot axis PA to an upper portion of the forward end 154 of the arm 150 such that the lifting fInger 114 can be pivoted up and down to vary a distance 5 between the leading end 118 of the lifting finger 114 and ground level. In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 9 the lifting finger 114 exends only forward of the quick-attach mechanism 116. The carrying portion 120 of the crop lifter 110 to guide lifted crop to the knife for cutting is provided by the upward and rearward eenng 10 portion 156 of the arm 150. Altermately, another figer member extending in the required direction could be attached to the am 150 by another quick-ttach mechanism, or a through fngCr such as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 could be used. Fig. 10 illustrates a crop lifter 10 that cane quickly installed on a header 2 by sliding the 15 lifter 4 50 rearward such tA a= rdf r a of a g attached to the header 2 engages a guard finger apeture in an apertre member 62 on the lifter 10 and the rear end of the ifer arm 5 moves into latching engagement with the header 2. 'The rear end of the lifter 10 is then locked to the heade 2 to. prevent forward movoet of the lieft 10. Relesn the latch Wok 66 at the rear end of the ifte ar .50 allows' the- ffter 1 to be 20 moved forward and removed from the header 2. A headerela mber 7 is locte for ae n oth ar 0ad bolts adp to e Anamltch membar7 is located at a r ed Of t 'arma 50,and is adapted to wove 17 rearward into engagement with the header latch member 70 such that the rear end of the arm 501i8 maintained in substantially fixed vertical and lateral relationship w the header 2. In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 10, as show in Fg 11 the leader latch member 7D defmes an annular groove 74 such that thtee is a groove on each side thereof, and the atm latch member 72 at the rear end of the arm 50 comprises two legs 76, as shown in Fig, 12, configured to engage the annular groove 74 on each side thereof with the shaft 71 of the header latch member 70 between the legs 76 Providing an annular groove 74 allows the 10 header latch member 70 to bei oriented in any direction and still have grooves on each side thereof to engage the legs 76. 'Thus with the legs 76 engaged in the annular groove 74, the rear end of the arm 50 is vertically and laterally fixed with aspect to-the header 2. As the arm 50 is moved rearward to engage the aim latch mmber 72 with the header 15 latch member 70 the guard figer - entem de guad fizgser apmrtuo defied by the aperture member 62 on the arm 50 forward of the aun-latch member 72. Thus when the latch members 70, 72 arc fully engaged, the guard figer S is fully engaged in the aperture member 62 and tho lifter 10 is thus secured to the header 2. The releasable latch lock 66 is operative to prevent forward movement of the arm latch member 72 with 20 respect to the header latch member 70 and so maintains the lifter 10 secured to the header .2.

18 in the embodiment of fig, 10 the latch lock 66 comprises a spring catch maintained in a closed position by i bias force and configured to be pushed open as the arn latch member 72 is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member 70. The spring catch i configure to close whe te ladc members 72,.70 are fuly engaged to prevent 5 forward movement of the aun 50. The spring catch comprises a spring element 84 attached to the arm 50 and defining a recessed portion, provided by an aperture 86, at the arm latch member 72. Te spring element 84 is biased toward the arm latch member 72, and has a lip 88 extending rearward ad outward from a rear end thereof. The spring element 84 is configured such that the spring element 84is pushed outward by conta 10 with the header.latch member 70 as the arm latch member 72 is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member 70 and moves inward when the latch members are fully engaged and the apermWre 86 aligns with the top of the headr latch member 70. The spring element 84 thus aintains.the header latch member 70 in the aperture 86 and prevents forward movement of thearm 50, Illustrated in Fig. 11, the header latch member 70 is attached to the header at a proximate end thereof:7OA thereof. As seen in Fig. 10, the vertical location of the header latch mernber 70 is adjusted by providing shims 73 between the header 2 and the header latch member 70 as required so that thebottom of the groove 74 is allied with the top of 20 the guard fmger 8 Such that the arm 50 cmn move rearward'with the iep 76 in the groove 74 on-each side of the shaft 71 of the header latch member 70' The guard bolt 60 extends trough the shims 73 and into a threaded aperture through the header latch member 70 19 ich actss a nut for securing the bolt 60, and - tightenid with a -wrench a hexagonal portion 7 thereof The illustrated header latch member 70 comprises a sloped outer wal75 sloping outward 5 and rearward from a distal end 70B opposite the proximate end 70A. The illustrated header latch member 70 has conical was. so that no alignment is required, and the rear wall.will always slope outward. The edge of the aperture 86 in the spring element 84 engages the outer wall 75, and the 10 spring element 84 exerts a force toward the proximate end 70A of the header latch member 70 such tat during vibration between the spring element 84 and the header latch member 70, such as will nonnaily be eneounered in operao"the edge of the aperture 86 in the spring element moves rearward down the sloped outer wall 75. thereby tightening the arm latch member 72 to the header latch member 70. 15 -he illustrated latch mechanism can be used to similarly attach oher crop accessories to a header. Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate, for example, a sunflover pan 91 with an accessory latch member corresponding to the arm latch member 72 of Fig. 10, provided for example by a slot in the rear end of the sunflower pan 91, and also a spring element 84 and 20 aperture. 86. The header latchmember is.mounted in the same fashion on th header, and the sunflower pan 91 is moved rearward such that guard fingers on the header enter guard nger apertures in aperture members 62 on the bottom of the sunfower pan 91 and the 20 aperture 86 fals over the header latch member. It is contemplated that any number of like crop accessories could be attached wit such a mechisnt Figs 15.and16 also filustraten alernate crp Lter 210 that can be quickly installed and 5 removed from a header 202 by sliding the lifter arm 250 earward such that a guard finger 208 of a 206 attached to the header 202 engages a: guard finger aperture in an aperture member 262:defined by thelitter 210 and the rear end of the lifter 210 moves into latching engagement with the header 202. The rear end of the lifter 210 is then locked to the header 202 to prevent forward movement of the lifter 210. Releasing the 10 latch lock 266 at the rear end.of the lfter 210 allows the fter 210 to be moved forward anidremoved from the header 202. The crop lifter 210 comprises a header latch member 270 adapted for attachment to a guard bolt 260 on an Uderside of the header 202, as opposed to the mounting on top of 5 the header asin the embodiment of Fig. 10. An atm 250 is adapted to ride along the pound. An arm latch member 272 is located at a rear end of the arm 250 .ad is adapted to e rearward into engagement with the header latch member 270 such that the rear end of the arm 250 is maintained in subtantlily fixed vertical relationship to the header 202. 20 In the illustrated embodiment of Fis. 15 -.22 the header latch member 270 defines an annular groove 274 such that there is a groove on each side theitof, and the arm latch member 272 comprises two egs as ig. 17, confused to engage Ineee -lutm 21 annular groove 274 on each side thereof. Providing an annular groove allows the header latch member 270 to be oriented in any direction and still have grooves an each side thereof to engage te legs 276. Thus with the leg 276 engaged in the annular groove 274, the rear end of the arm 250 is vertically and laterally fixed with respect to the header 5 202, Fig. 24 illustrates an alternate embodiment wherein the header latch member 370 defines a forward facing aperture 375 and wherein the arm latch member 372 comprises a dowel 377 configured to slide int the aperture 375. -10 As the arm 250 is moved rearward to engage the header and am latch members 270, 272 the guard finger 208 enters the guard finger aperture defined by the aperture member 262 on the arm 250 forward of the arm larch member 272. Thus when the latch =embers 270,272 are fully engaged, the guard fmger 208 is fully engaged in the aperture member 15 262 and the lifter 210 is thus secured to the header 202. The releasable latch lock 266 is operative to prevent forward movement of the arM arch member 272 with respect to the header latch member 272 and so maintains the lifter 210 secured to the head. Alternate embodiments of the larch lock 266 are illustrated in Figa. 17 -22. In the 20 embodiment of Figs.17 and 18 the watch lock 266 comprises a lock plate 280 pivotally attached to a top of the arm 250 forward of the arm larch mebe 272 And movable from the closed position of Fig. 18 where the lock plate 280 is rearward of the header latch ember 270 to the open position of Fig. 17 where the lock plato 20 is' on oneside of te 22 header latch member 270. The lock plate 280 is maintained in the closed position by a detent 282 between the arm 250 and the lock plate 280 comprising a bump and corresponding recess. 5 In the embodiment of Figs. 19 - 22 the latch lock 266, 466 comprises a sprng catch maintained in a closed position by a bias force and configurd to be pushed open as the arm latch member 272, 472 is moved :rearward into engagement with the header latch member 270,470. The spring catch is configured to close when the latch members 270, 470 and 272,472 ar fully engaged to prevent forward movement of the arm250 450. to In the embodiment of Figs. 19 - 21 te spring catch comprises a pair of spring elements 284 mounted to the arm 250 above a rear portion of the arm 250, one spring element 284 located on each side of an axis AA of the arm 250. The spring elements 284 am configured to resist movement away rom the axis AA. A lip 288 at rear end of each 15 spring element 284 behind the arm latch member 272 extends rearward and away fto. the axis AA.. The spring elements 284 are configured such that they are pushed away fom the axis AA by the header latch member 270 contacting the lips 28853 the arm latch member 272 is moved rearward into engagement with the cader.latch member 270. The spring elements 284 then move toward the axis A rearward of the header latch member 20 270 when the latch members 270, 272 Ore fully engaged. thereby preventing forward movement of the arm 250.

23 The embodiment of Figs. 19- 2 further comprises a pin 290 extending upward through a pin aperture in the rear portionof tei am 250, Thc pin290 has a head on a bottom end theof below the arm 250 (hot illustrated), and a release member292 attached to the pin 290 above the ar 250 between the spring elements 284. The release member 292 is 5 oblong shaped such that rotation of the pin 290 causes the release member 292 to bear against the spring elements 284 to force the spring elements 284 apart, as illusrated in Fig. 21, and-allowthe arm 250to be moved forwardto move thearm latch member 2 7 2 out of engagement with the m ead latch member 270 and thereby release the arm-250. The release member 292 thus allows the operator to readily remove the arm 250 by 10 rotating the head of die pia 290 with a wrench or the like on the easily accessible bottom of the ann 250. When used in the embodiment of Fig. 10 where the latching mechanism is on the top of the header, the mechanism is also easily accessible. Alternatively, the lips 288 could be omitted, and the release member 292 could be operated to force the spring elements 2s4 apart to allow ft anm latch member 272 to move into engagement 15 with the header latch member 270, then operated to allow the spring elements to move together to maintain engagement. In the alternate embodiment of a crop lifter 410 of the invention shown In Fig. 22. the latch lock 466 comprises a spring element 484 attached to a bottom rear portion of the 20 arm 450 such that the spring element 484 resists downward movement. The spring element 484 defines a recessed portion 486 under the arm latch member 472, and has a lip 488 extending rearward and downward from a roar end thereof. The spring element 484 is configured as illustrated such that the spring element 484 is pushed downward by 24 the header latch member 470 as de arm latch member 472 is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member 470, and then moves upward when the latch members 470 472 ar fully engaged to msintain a bottom portion of the guard bolt 460 in the recessed portion 486 and prevent frward movement of the ann 450. A bottom view of an senate spring element 584 is illustrated in Fig. 23 for use in the place of de spring element 484 of Fig. 22. In place of the recessed portion 486, the spring clement 584 provides an aperture 586 through the spring element 584, as in the spring clement 84 of Figs. 10 and 13. Thus the bottom portion of the guard bolt extends 10 into or through the aperture 586. and is maintained in position. A lIp 588 extends rearward and downward from the rear end of the spring element 584. If it was desired to omit the lip 58. a tool could be provided to pry the spring element 584 away from the aim to allow the latch members to engag, and then released to bold them together. 15 It is contemplated that, a magneti attachment could be -used to -lock an accessory to the header as well. Fig. 25 illustrates an alternate crop lifter 610; very similar to the embodiment of Fig. 10 except that here the header latch member 670 is mounted on the bottom of the header, 20 and an alternate latch lock is used. The aperture member 662 is located at the upturned front end of the arm65*0 and the ann latch member 672 at the rea end of the. am 650 latches to the header latch member 670 as descibed above. The crop lifter 610 is illustrated using a spring catch of Figs. 19 - 21, with spring elements 684 on top of the 25 arm 650, however alternate latch locks could be used as well The crop lifter 610 uses a mounting bracket 622 similar tothat of Figs. 2, 8 and 10 pivotaHy mounted to the front end of the ann 650 on aperture member 662 and incorprating a quick-attich mechanism 16 sucbas that illustrated in Fir. 5 -7 to attach the fting figer 614 5 Compared to the prior art mechanisms for quick attachment of a lifter that hook into the annular groove and ar latched to the guard fingr, tbe lfter of the present invention latches to the header, and only a conventional stationary aperture member i required to engage the guard finger, such that moving parts are removed from the cutting area of the 10 header. By positioning the header latch member and accessory latch member above the header as illustrated in Mrg. 10 instead of below the header, the latch mechanism is not exposed to the soil passing under the header wbich can wear the mechanism. The mechanism on top 15, of the header -does not appear to, interfer with crop flow -over the cutting. edge -of the header. The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and modifications willreadily occur to those skilled in 20 the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fail within the scope of the claimed invention.

Claims (4)

1. A crop accessory adapted for attachment to a cutting header having a knife mounted along a lower front edge thereof and guards attached to the lower front edge with 5 guard bolts, the crop accessory comprising: a header latch member adapted for attachment at a lower end thereof to a guard bolt on the header, the header latch member comprising a sloped rear wall sloping downward and rearward from an upper end thereof; 10 an accessory latch member at a rear end of the accessory and adapted to move rearward into engagement with the header latch member such that the rear end of the accessory is maintained in substantially fixed vertical and lateral relationship to the header; 15 a guard finger aperture defined on the accessory forward of the accessory latch member and oriented such that a forward extending guard finger of a guard enters the guard finger aperture when the accessory latch member is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member; and 20 a spring element attached to the accessory and defining an aperture through the spring 27 element above the accessory latch member; wherein the spring element is biased downward toward the accessory latch member; 5 wherein the spring element is configured such that the spring element is pushed upward by contact with the header latch member as the accessory latch member is moved rearward into engagement with the header latch member, and moves downward when the latch members are fully engaged and the upper end of the header latch member moves into the aperture such that a rear edge of the aperture engages the 10 sloped rear wall, and wherein the spring element exerts a downward force such that during vibration between the spring element and the header latch member, the edge of the aperture in the spring element moves rearward down the sloped rear wall, thereby tightening the accessory latch member to the header latch member. 15

2. The accessory of Claim 1 wherein the spring element has a lip extending rearward and upward from a rear end thereof.

3. The accessory of Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the header latch member comprises a sloped front wall sloping downward and forward from the upper end thereof 20 28

4. The accessory of any one of the above Claims wherein the header latch member comprises a conical upper end providing the sloped front and rear walls. 5