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`Eur°Pean Patent Office
`OJII
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`Office europeen des brevets
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`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
`
`(43) Date of publication:
`20.08.1997 Bulletin 1997/34
`
`(21) Application number: 97101529.2
`
`(22) Date of filing : 31 .01 .1 997
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States:
`AT DE ES FR GB IT NL
`
`(30) Priority: 16.02.1996 IT TO9601 02
`
`(71) Applicant:
`CAPELLO F.LLI RENATO E FRANCESCO S.N.C.
`1-1 2020 Fraz. Madonna dell'Olmo (Cuneo) (IT)
`
`(72) Inventors:
`• Declementi, Giacomo
`12021 Acceglio (CN) (IT)
`
`(51) |nt. CI.6: A01 D 41/14, A01 D 34/30
`
`• Dutto, Bruno Lorenzo
`1 2025 Dronero (CN) (IT)
`• Battisti, Lorenzo
`12020 Valgrana (CN) (IT)
`
`(74) Representative: Robba, Eugenio et al
`Studio "INTERPATENT"
`via Caboto 35
`10129 Torino (IT)
`
`(54) A head assembly for a cereal combine-harvester
`
`A head assembly (1) for a cereal harvester
`(57)
`comprising an auger (3), a pickup reel (5) that can be
`raised with respect to said auger (3), and a cutting blade
`(7) located between pairs of teeth (9), in which:
`
`a) the motion to the auger (3), the pickup reel (5)
`and the blade (7) is provided on one side only of the
`head assembly;
`b) said pickup reel (5) is adapted to be folded into
`three parts, i.e. a central stationary part (11) and
`two lateral parts (13) that can be moved through
`cylinders (15) actuated by a pressurized fluid;
`c) said auger (3) is adapted to be folded into three
`parts, i.e. a central stationary part (17) and due lat-
`eral parts (19) that can be moved through cylinders
`(15) actuated by a pressurized fluid, with the trans-
`mission of the rotation movement being out of
`center with respect to the rotation axis of said auger
`(3);
`d) said blade (7) is formed by three sections, i.e. a
`central fixed section (21) and two movable lateral
`sections (23), is rearly driven and located between
`the teeth pairs (9); whereby said head assembly (1)
`comprises two lateral parts adapted to be folded
`over and to rest onto a fixed central part.
`
`Printed by Rank Xerox (UK) Business Services
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`EP 0 789 990 A1
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`is driven at the rear and located between the teeth
`pairs;
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`whereby said head assembly comprises two lat-
`eral parts adapted to be folded over and to rest onto the
`fixed central part.
`More precisely, the transmission of the rotation
`motion is accomplished by a motor acting on one side
`only of a lateral part of the auger that in turn drives such
`lateral auger part, and at the opposed end of said
`directly driven part there are provided a pair of gears
`meshing with each other, one gear being fastened to
`and coaxial with the driven lateral part of the auger,
`while the other gear is fastened to and coaxial with a
`first shaft the axis of which is parallel to but not coinci-
`dent with the auger rotation axis. Said shaft can axially
`be coupled through a front clutch or the like with a shaft
`of the central stationary part, aligned with the former
`and carrying a third gear that in turn engages a fourth
`20 gear fastened to the central part of the auger.
`When the three auger parts are aligned with each
`other and the shafts are engaged or coupled with each
`other, the rotation motion is transmitted by the driven
`lateral part of the auger to the central and the other lat-
`25 eral parts for rotating the whole auger. When the shafts
`are disengaged the parts of the auger are not subjected
`to any rotation.
`The cutting blade is formed by three elongated ser-
`rated sections and is driven by a second rotating motor
`30 having a projecting member reciprocating in the direc-
`tion of the length of the blade.
`The means for moving the blade comprises two
`groups of aligned rods, parallel to each other and to the
`blade, each group comprising three sections or rods,
`35 each of the rods of the first group being directly fastened
`to the corresponding blade section, while the rods of the
`second group is connected to the rods of the first group
`through members adapted to transmit a reciprocating
`motion between the two groups.
`In accordance with a first embodiment said means
`for moving the blade comprises toothed blocks secured
`to each rod and a gear meshing with the two facing
`blocks and acting as a pinion. One of the rods of the first
`group 43 is directly coupled to the reciprocating mem-
`45 ber.
`
`Description
`
`The present invention relates to a head member or
`assembly adapted to be mounted on combine-harvester
`machines (harvester-theshers) for picking cereals, and
`more particularly to a head assembly of the above type
`that can be folded for reducing the size, e.g. during
`transportation.
`There are known cereal head members to be fitted
`to combine-harvesters that are equipped with devices
`for folding the head member and rendering the whole
`assembly easier to be used.
`For example, a head member manufactured by Karl
`Geringhoff GmbH & Co, KG Machinenfabrik provides a
`head member divided in two parts, with a movable parte
`that can be folded over the fixed part until it rests over
`the latter. The so folded head member can then be cen-
`tered with respect to the harvester tractor so that this
`machine can move more easily over the ground without
`the risk of overturning.
`On the other hand in the combine-harvester manu-
`factured by Claas the foldable head member is divided
`in two parts foldable with respect to the central longitu-
`dinal plane of the machine, and both parts can rotate
`about an axis orthogonal to the head member, from a
`position orthogonal to the advancing direction to a posi-
`tion parallel to the advancing direction, in which they lay
`side by side and at an angle of 90° to the operative posi-
`tion.
`The object of the present invention is to provide a
`different solution to the above problem of reducing the
`occupancy of the roadway during the transportation of a
`combine-harvester machine, that in addition to allowing
`a quick and easy folding of the head member further
`maintains a perfect synchronization of the cutting blade,
`and reduces the number of working stops due to faults
`and/or malfunctions.
`The head assembly for a cereal combine-harvester
`in accordance with the present invention comprises an
`auger, a pickup reel or comb that can be raised with
`respect to the auger, and a cutting blade located
`between aligned pairs of teeth, and is characterized in
`that:
`
`a) the motion to the auger, the pickup reel and the
`blade is provided on one side only of said head
`assembly;
`b) said pickup reel is adapted to be folded into three
`parts, i.e. a central stationary part and due lateral
`parts that can be moved by means of cylinders
`actuated by a pressurized fluid;
`c) said auger is adapted to be folded into three
`parts, i.e. a central stationary part and two lateral
`parts that can be moved by means of cylinders
`actuated by a pressurized fluid, with the transmis-
`sion of the rotation movement being out of center
`with respect to the rotation axis of said auger;
`d) said blade is formed by three sections, i.e. a cen-
`tral fixed section and two movable lateral sections,
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`so
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`When a motion along one direction is imparted to
`the rod of the first group, this motion is transmitted by
`contact to the subsequent rods of the first group, thus
`causing the displacement of the serrated blade along
`the same direction. At the same time, the rods of the
`group directly fastened to the blade transmit the motion
`- along the opposed direction - to the rods of the second
`group that are brought into a starting position for the
`return stroke.
`Thereafter the inversion of the reciprocating move-
`ment imparted to the rod directly coupled to member
`pulls in a contrary direction such rod, and through the
`interposed members pushes in the opposed direction
`the corresponding rods of the second group. This latter
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`rods will act (push) on the subsequent rods of the sec-
`ond group and in turn each of these rods will move the
`corresponding rod of the first group, thus moving as a
`one-piece member the groups and therefore the blade.
`This way the blade is returned in the starting position 5
`and is ready for a new stroke, and a reciprocating move-
`ment of the blade is achieved with a construction that is
`foldable.
`According to a second embodiment, the reciprocat-
`ing means for the blade is partially similar to that of the 10
`first embodiment, i.e. comprises three blade sections, a
`first group of three aligned rods, each directly fastened
`to the corresponding section of blade, and a second
`group of three aligned rods. According to this embodi-
`ment the terminal ends of the corresponding lateral rods
`are connected to each other by two rocker arms or cams
`each comprising a short arm pivotally connected with
`the rods at both ends. Additionlly at the center of one of
`the rocker arms there is connected the shaft of the sec-
`ond motor that periodically reverses the direction of 20
`rotation in this embodiment.
`When the motor rotated through a first angle in a
`first direction the rocker arm drives the first rod and the
`subsequent aligned rods of the group, and will cause a
`rotation of the return rocker arm at the opposed end, 25
`this rotation in turn driving in a similar manner but along
`the opposed direction the rods of the second group.
`When the motor rotation is reversed, the rocker arm
`coupled to the motor applies a push to the aligned rods
`of the group that in turn rotate the return rocker arm 61 , 30
`thus causing the return movement of the rods directly
`connected to the blade, i.e. the return movement of the
`blade, thus realizing the reciprocating movement of the
`serrated blade.
`Inside the auger there is provided a shaft, the axes 35
`of which are parallel but not coincident with the central
`axis of the auger, that is fastened at a selectable angle
`to the fixed walls that divide the rotating parts of the
`auger. This shaft carries idle T-shaped sleeves on which
`there are mounted radial pins each having an opposed 40
`end protruding through a corresponding hole in the lon-
`gitudinal wall of the auger part. This way the relative
`position of the shaft with respect to the auger (that is
`near or far away) causes the protruding or the retraction
`of the pins from the wall of the auger when the auger 45
`rotates. Thus the rotation of the auger brings such pins
`to the maximun protrusion when they are in a "high"
`position, i.e far from the ground, and to a substantially
`null protrusion when they are going to contact the
`ground.
`The head member of the invention will now be
`described in details with particular reference to the
`attached drawings that illustrate a non limiting embodi-
`ment of the invention, and in which:
`
`Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the head member of
`the invention with the pickup reel lowered, in an
`open position;
`Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the head member di
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`3
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`is
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`so
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`Fig. 1 with the movable parts folded over the central
`part;
`Fig. 3 is a perspective back view of the head mem-
`ber of Fig. 1 with the access frame detached;
`Fig. 4 is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 3, with
`the access frame applied;
`Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the head member of
`the invention, open and with the pickup reel raised;
`Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an embod-
`iment of the reciprocating means of the serrated
`blade;
`Fig. 7 is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 6, illus-
`trating another embodiment of the reciprocating
`means for moving the serrated blade;
`Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view illustrating
`the means for rotating the auger;
`Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view illustrating the
`retractable tips protruding from the pickup reel, the
`radial displacement of which is combined with the
`movement of the auger; and
`Fig. 10 is a partial perspective view illustrating the
`insertion of a blade section within the seats of the
`teeth cooperating with the blade.
`
`As shown in the Figures 1 , 2 and 5, a cereal har-
`vester head assembly in accordance with the present
`invention is formed by a head member 1 adapted to be
`mounted on a harvester (not shown) and comprising an
`auger 3, a pickup reel 5 that can be raised with respect
`to the auger 3, and a cutting blade 7 inserted and mov-
`able between pairs of teeth 9 (Fig. 10).
`In said head member 1 the transmission of the
`motion to the auger 3, the pickup reel 5 and the cutting
`blade 7 is provided on one side only of the head assem-
`bly 1.
`As illustrated in Fig.s 2 and 5, the pickup reel 5 can
`be raised with respect to the auger and is adapted to be
`folded into three parts, i.e. a central stationary part 1 1
`and two lateral parts 13 that can be moved (i.e. rotated)
`by means of cylinders 15 actuated by a pressurized fluid
`(see Fig. 1).
`As better shown in Figures 8 and 9, also the auger
`3 can be folded into three parts, namely a central sta-
`tionary part 17 and two lateral parts 19 that can be
`moved (i.e. rotated) by means of cylinders 15 actuated
`by a pressurized fluid. Stationary walls 65 are provided
`at the ends between the parts 1 7 and 1 9. The transmis-
`sion of the rotation motion to the auger 3 is eccentric
`with respect to the rotatory axis of the auger.
`As shown in Figures 6, 7 and 10, the cutting blade
`7 is a serrated blade formed by three sections, and
`more particularly a central section 21 and two lateral
`sections 23, driven at the rear and located between
`pairs of teeth 9 fastened to a pair of supports similarly
`divided in three parts.
`The transmission of the rotation motion to the auger
`3 is obtained through a motor (not shown in the Fig-
`ures), coupled to a shaft portion 25 at one end of a lat-
`eral auger part 19 for rotating said auger part 19.
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`EP 0 789 990 A1
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`At the opposed end of said directly driven part 19
`there are provided a pair of gears 27, 29 meshing with
`each other, one gear 27 being fastened to and coaxial
`with the driven lateral part 19 of the auger, while the
`other gear 29 is fastened to and coaxial with a shaft 31
`the axis of which is parallel to but not coincident with the
`auger rotation axis. As shown in Figure 8, inside the
`parts 19 there are provided connections comprising
`eccentric shafts 63.
`The shaft 31 passes through a hole in the wall 65 of
`part 1 9 and can axially be coupled through a front clutch
`33 or the like with a shaft 35 of the central stationary
`part 17, aligned with the former and carrying a gear 37
`that in turn engages a fourth gear 39 fastened to the
`central part 17 of the auger. A similar arrangement is
`provided between the central part 1 7 and the other lat-
`eral part 19, as illustrated in figure 8. When the three
`parts 19,17 and 1 9 are aligned with each other and the
`shafts 31, 35 are engaged or coupled with each other,
`the rotation motion is transmitted by the driven lateral
`part 1 9 of the auger to the central and the other lateral
`sections. When the shafts 31 , 35 are disengaged the
`parts 19, 1 7 of the auger 3 are not subjected to any rota-
`tion.
`The cutting blade 7 is formed by three elongated
`serrated sections 21, 23, 21 and is driven by a second
`rotating motor 41 having a projecting member 42 recip-
`rocating in the direction of the length of the blade 7.
`The means for reciprocating the blade 7 will now be
`disclosed with details.
`In accordance with a first embodiment illustrated in
`Figure 6, the means for moving the blade 7 comprises
`two groups of aligned rods 43, 45, parallel to each other
`and to the blade 7, each group comprising three sec-
`tions or rods, each of the rods of the first group 43 being
`directly fastened to the corresponding section of blade
`7, while each of the rods of the second group 45 is con-
`nected to the corresponding (laterally adjacent) rod of
`the first group 43 through toothed blocks 49 and fixed
`gears 47. More precisely a toothed block 49 is secured
`to each rod and a gear 47 meshes with the two facing
`blocks acting as racks. One of the rods of the first group
`43 is directly coupled to the reciprocating member 42.
`When a motion along one direction is imparted to
`the rod of the first group 43 by member 42, this motion
`is transmitted by contact to the subsequent rods of the
`first group, thus causing the displacement of the ser-
`rated blade 7 along the same direction. At the same
`time, the rods 43 of the group directly fastened to the
`blade transmit the motion - along the opposed direction
`- to the rods of the second group 45 that are brought into
`a starting position for the return stroke.
`Thereafter the inversion of the reciprocating move-
`ment imparted to the rod of the group 43 directly cou-
`pled to member 42 pulls in a contrary direction such rod,
`and through the members 49-47-49 pushes in the
`opposed direction the corresponding rods of the second
`group 45. This latter rods will act (push) on the subse-
`quent rods of the second group and in turn each of
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`these rods will move the corresponding rod of the first
`group 43, thus moving as a one-piece member the
`group 43 and therefore the blade 7. This way the blade
`is returned in the starting position and is ready for a new
`cycle, and a reciprocating movement of the blade is
`achieved with a construction that is foldable.
`According to a second embodiment illustrated in
`Figure 7, the reciprocating means for the blade 7 is par-
`tially similar to that of the first embodiment, i.e. com-
`10 prises three blade sections, a first group of three aligned
`rods 51 each directly fastened to the corresponding
`sections of blade 7, and a second group of three aligned
`rods 53. According to this embodiment the terminal
`ends 55 and 57 of the corresponding lateral rods are
`is connected to each other by two rocker arms or cams 59,
`61, each comprising a short arm pivotally connected
`with the rods at both ends. Additionlly at the center of
`rocker arm 59 there is connected the shaft of the sec-
`ond motor 41 that periodically reverses the direction of
`rotation in this embodiment.
`When the motor 41 rotated through a first angle in a
`first direction the rocker arm 59 drives the first rod 51
`and the subsequent aligned rods of the group, and will
`cause a rotation of the return rocker arm 61 at the
`25 opposed end, this rotation in turn driving in a similar
`manner but along the opposed direction the rods 53 of
`the second group. When the motor rotation is reversed,
`the rocker arm 59 applies a push to the rod 53 and to
`the subsequent rods of the aligned group that in turn
`rotate the rocker arm 61 , thus causing the return move-
`ment of the rods directly connected to the blade, i.e. the
`return movement of the blade, thus realizing the recipro-
`cating movement of the serrated blade 7.
`As better shown in Figures 8 and 9, the three parts
`35 of the auger 3 are formed as hollow cylindrical bodies.
`Inside these cylindrical bodies there is provided eccen-
`tric shafts 63, the axes of which are parallel but not coin-
`cident with the central axis of the auger 3. As illustrated
`in Figure 9 for the central part 1 9, the shaft 63 is fas-
`tened at a selectable angle to the fixed walls 65 that
`divide the rotating parts of the auger; this eccentric
`shaft 63 carries idle T-shaped sleeves 67 on which there
`are mounted radial pins 69 each having an opposed
`end protruding through a corresponding hole 71 in the
`longitudinal wall of the auger part. This way the relative
`position of the shaft 63 with respect to the auger 3 (that
`is near or far away) causes the protruding or the retrac-
`tion of the pins 69 from the wall of the auger when the
`auger rotates. Thus the rotation of the auger 3 brings
`such pins to the maximun protrusion when they are in a
`"high" position, i.e far from the ground, and to a substan-
`tially null protrusion when they are going to contact the
`ground.
`From the above it is evident that the subject head
`55 assembly comprises members that are foldable into
`three parts, with a fixed central part and two lateral parts
`foldable over the central part until they rest thereon, and
`that the head assembly can be folded into three parts
`without any interference between the driving and driven
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`so
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`components.
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`Claims
`
`1. A cereal head assembly (1) for a combine-har-
`vester machine comprising an auger (3), a pickup
`reel (5) that can be raised with respect to said auger
`(3), and a cutting blade (7) located between pairs of
`teeth (9), characterized in that:
`
`s
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`10
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`a) the motion to the auger (3), the pickup reel
`(5) and the blade (7) is provided on one side
`only of said head assembly;
`b) said pickup reel (5) is adapted to be folded
`into three parts, i.e. a central stationary part 15
`(11) and two lateral parts (13) that can be
`moved by means of cylinders (15) actuated by
`a pressurized fluid;
`c) said auger (3) is adapted to be folded into
`three parts, i.e. a central stationary part (17) 20
`and due lateral parts (1 9) that can be moved by
`means of cylinders (15) actuated by a pressu-
`rized fluid, with the transmission of the rotation
`movement being out of center with respect to
`the rotation axis of said auger (3);
`d) said blade (7) is formed by three sections,
`i.e. a central fixed section (21) and two movable
`lateral sections (23), is driven at the rear and
`located between said pairs of teeth (9);
`whereby said head assembly (1) comprises 30
`two lateral parts adapted to be folded over and
`to rest onto a fixed central part.
`
`25
`
`2. A head assembly as claimed in claim 1 , character-
`ized in that the transmission of said rotation motion 35
`to the auger (3) is accomplished through a first
`motor mounted at one end (25) of a lateral part (1 9)
`of said auger that driving said lateral part (1 9) of the
`auger; at the other end of said lateral part (19)
`being provided a pair of gears (27, 29) meshing 40
`with each other, one (27) of said gears being fas-
`tened to and coaxial with said lateral part (1 9) of the
`auger, while the other gear (29) is fastened to and
`coaxial with a first shaft (31) the axis of which is par-
`allel to but not coincident with the auger rotation 45
`axis; in that a front clutch (33) is provided for axially
`coupling said first shaft (31) with a second shaft
`(35) of the central stationary part (17), said second
`shaft (35) being aligned with said first shaft (31) and
`carrying a third gear (37) that in turn engages a
`fourth gear (39) fastened to the central part (17) of
`the auger, so that when said shafts (31, 35) are
`coupled to each other, the rotation motion is trans-
`mitted by the driven lateral part (1 9) of the auger to
`the central part (17) and the other lateral section 55
`(19).
`
`so
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`3. A head assembly as claimed in claim 1 and 2, char-
`acterized in that said blade (7) is a serrated blade
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`5
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`driven by reciprocating means.
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`4. A head assembly as claimed in claim 3, character-
`ized in that said reciprocating means comprises a
`second rotating motor (41) having a projecting
`member (42) reciprocating along the length of the
`blade (7), and in that said means comprises two
`groups of aligned rods (43, 45) parallel to each
`other and to said blade (7), each group comprising
`three rods, the rods of a first one (43) of said groups
`of aligned rods being directly connected to said
`blade (7), and the rods of the second group (45)
`being connected to those of the first group (43)
`through devices for transmitting a reciprocating
`motion between said two groups (Fig. 6).
`
`5. A head assembly as claimed in claim 4, character-
`ized in that each of said devices for transmitting the
`reciprocating motion comprises a fixed gear (47)
`engaging a pair of toothed blocks (49) acting as
`racks and provided on two corresponding rods of
`said groups (43, 45), whereby the movement in one
`direction imparted to a rod (43) of the said groups
`(43, 45) connected to the projecting member (42) of
`the rotating motor (41) is transmitted by contact to
`the subsequent rods of the same group, thus caus-
`ing the displacement of the serrated blade (7) in the
`same direction and the displacement - along the
`opposed direction - of the rods (45) of the second
`group; and whereby the inversion of the reciprocat-
`ing movement imparted to the rod (43) coupled to
`the reciprocating member (42) pulls in a contrary
`direction such rod (43), and through said devices
`for transmitting the reciprocating motion (49, 47,
`49) pushes in the opposed direction the corre-
`sponding rods of the second group (45).
`
`6. A head assembly as claimed in claim 3, character-
`ized in that said reciprocating means comprises two
`groups of aligned rods (51, 53) parallel to each
`other and to said blade (7), each group comprising
`three rods, the rods of a first one (43) of said groups
`of aligned rods being directly connected to said
`blade (7), the terminal ends (55, 57) of the corre-
`sponding lateral rods being connected to each
`other by two rocker arms (59, 61), each comprising
`a short arm pivotally connected with the rods at
`both ends, and in that at the center of one (59) of
`said rocker arms there is connected the shaft of a
`second motor (41) that periodically reverses the
`direction of rotation. (Fig. 7).
`
`7. A head assembly as claimed in the preceding
`claims, characterized in that within said auger (3)
`formed as a hollow cylindrical body there is pro-
`vided an eccentric shaft (63), with the axis parallel
`but not coincident with the central axis of said auger
`(3), said shaft is fastened at a selectable angle to
`fixed walls (65) separating the parts of the auger;
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`and in that said eccentric shaft (63) carries idle
`sleeves (67) on which there are mounted radial pins
`(69) each having an opposed end protruding
`through a corresponding hole (71) in the longitudi-
`nal wall of the auger (3), so that the relative position 5
`of the shaft (63) with respect to the auger (3)
`causes the protruding or the retraction of said pins
`(69) from the wall of the auger when the auger
`rotates whereby the rotation of the auger (3) brings
`such tips to the maximun protrusion when they are w
`in a "high" position, i.e far from the ground, and to a
`substantially null protrusion when they are going to
`contact the ground.
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`
`EP 0 789 990 A1
`EP 0 789 990 A1
`
`9
`
`

`
`EP 0 789 990 A1
`EP 0 789 990 A1
`
`10
`10
`
`

`
`EP 0 789 990 A1
`EP 0 789 990 A1
`
`11
`
`

`
`EP 0 789 990 A1
`
`J
`
`j
`
`)
`
` European Patent
`Office
`
`EUROPEAN SEARCH REPORT
`
`Application Number
`EP 97 10 1529
`
`DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`Citation of document with indication, where appropriate,
`Category
`of relevant passages
`DE 20 26 190 A (CLAYSON) 23 December 1970
`* the whole document *
`
`A
`
`Relevant
`to claim
`1-3,7
`
`A
`
`A
`
`A
`
`A
`
`A
`
`A
`
`A
`
`US 4 910 946 A (UNDERWOOD)
`* the whole document *
`
`3-5,7
`
`EP 0 491 405 A (CAPELLO F LLI RENATO E
`FRANCES) 24 June 1992
`
`DE 85 35 733 U (GERINGHOFF) 6 February
`1986
`
`EP 0 131 853 A (GERINGHOFF CARL GMBH CO
`KG) 23 January 1985
`
`EP 0 634 088 A (CLAAS OHG) 18 January 1995
`
`EP 0 373 406 A (CLAAS OHG) 20 June 1990
`
`GB 2 055 539 A (DEERE)
`
`CLASSIFICATION OF THE
`APPUCATION (Int.C1.6)
`A01D41/14
`A01D34/30
`
`TECHNICAL FIELDS
`SEARCHED
`(Int.C1.6)
`A01D
`
`The present search report has been drawn up for all claims
`Place of search.
`Date of completion of the search
`De Lameillieure, D
`THE HAGUE
`17 April 1997
`CATEGORY OF CITED DOCUMENTS
`T : theory or principle underlying the invention
`E : earlier patent document, but published on, or
`X : particularly relevant if taken alone
`after the filing date
`Y : particularly relevant if combined with another
`D : document cited in the application
`document of the same category
`L : document cited for other reasons
`A : technological background
`O : non-written disclosure
`& : member of the same patent family, corresponding
`P : intermediate document
`document
`
`12