초록 ▼

A draper cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvester includes a pair of side platform sections, with each side platform section including a side belt. A center platform section is disposed in an area between the side platform sections. The center platform section includes at least one al

A draper cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvester includes a pair of side platform sections, with each side platform section including a side belt. A center platform section is disposed in an area between the side platform sections. The center platform section includes at least one alignment device and at least one latch. A center conveyor assembly is removably attached to the center platform section, and carries a center belt. The center conveyor assembly includes at least one mating alignment device and at least one mating latch.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A draper cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvester, said cutting platform comprising: a pair of side platform sections, each said side platform section including a side belt; a center platform section in an area between said side platform sections, said ce

The invention claimed is: 1. A draper cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvester, said cutting platform comprising: a pair of side platform sections, each said side platform section including a side belt; a center platform section in an area between said side platform sections, said center platform section including at least one alignment device including a pair of vertical alignment guides having a top flange, a spaced apart diverging bottom flange, and a seat at an apex between said top flange and said bottom flange, and at least one latch; and a center conveyor assembly removably attached to said center platform section, said center conveyor assembly carrying a center belt, said center conveyor assembly including at least one mating alignment device associated with said center conveyor assembly including a pair of guide pins and further including a pair of guide plates, each said guide plate associated with a respective said guide pin and at least one mating latch. 2. The draper cutting platform of claim 1, wherein each said vertical alignment guide includes a latch hole adjacent said seat, and each said mating alignment device includes a latch pin passing through a respective said guide pin and into a respective said latch hole. 3. The draper cutting platform of claim 2, wherein each said vertical alignment guide is pivotable through a fixed range about an axis of rotation of said latch hole. 4. The draper cutting platform of claim 3, including a pair of locks, each for locking pivotal movement of a respective said vertical alignment guide. 5. The draper cutting platform of claim 4, wherein each said lock includes a spring biased pin. 6. The draper cutting platform of claim 2, wherein each said latch pin is spring biased into a respective said latch hole. 7. The draper cutting platform of claim 1, wherein each said side platform section carries a cutterbar assembly extending across a working width of said cutting platform, said center platform section being positioned behind said cutterbar assembly. 8. An agricultural harvester, comprising: a feeder housing; and a cutting platform including: a pair of side platform sections, each said side platform section including a side belt; a center platform section in an area between said side platform sections, said center platform section including at least one alignment device including a pair of vertical alignment guides, having a top flange, a spaced apart diverging bottom flange, and a seat at an apex between said top flange and said bottom flange having a top flange and at least one latch; and a center conveyor assembly attached to said feeder housing and removably attached to said center platform section, said center conveyor assembly carrying a center belt, said center conveyor assembly including at least one mating alignment device associated with said center conveyor assembly including a pair of guide pins and further including a pair of guide plates, each said guide plate associated with a respective guide pin and at least one mating latch. 9. The agricultural harvester of claim 8, wherein each said vertical alignment guide includes a latch hole adjacent said seat, and each said mating alignment device includes a latch pin passing through a respective said guide pin and into a respective said latch hole. 10. The agricultural harvester of claim 9, wherein each said vertical alignment guide is pivotable through a fixed range about an axis of rotation of said latch hole. 11. The agricultural harvester of claim 10, including a pair of locks, each for locking pivotal movement of a respective said vertical alignment guide. 12. The agricultural harvester of claim 11, wherein each said lock includes a spring biased pin. 13. The agricultural harvester of claim 9, wherein each said latch pin is spring biased into a respective said latch hole. 14. The agricultural harvester of claim 8, wherein each said side platform section carries a cutterbar assembly extending across a working width of said cutting platform, said center platform section being positioned behind said cutterbar assembly. 15. A method of attaching a center conveyor assembly to a center platform section of a draper cutting platform, said attachment method comprising the steps of: positioning a base unit of an agricultural harvester such that a center conveyor assembly mounted to the front of the base unit is in general alignment with a center platform section of the cutting platform; moving the base unit forward until at least one vertical alignment device including a pair of vertical alignment guides having a top flange, a spaced apart diverging bottom flange, and a seat at an apex between said top flange and said bottom flange mounted to the center platform section engages with a pair of pins on a corresponding pair of guide plates mounted to the center conveyor assembly; and latching the center conveyor assembly to the center platform section. 16. The method of attaching a center conveyor assembly of claim 8, wherein each said vertical alignment guide includes a latch hole adjacent said seat, and each said mating alignment device includes a latch pin passing through a respective said guide pin and into a respective said latch hole.