US 7,377,092 B2
Cutting reel adjusting system
Mark Alvin Schmidt, Charlotte, N.C. (US); Eric Alan Poulson, Paradise, Utah (US); Donald Lewis Cripps, Smithfield, Utah (US); Ronald Lee Reichen, Raleigh, N.C. (US); Richard David Thier, Juneau, Wis. (US); and John Michael Flenniken, Rock Hill, S.C. (US)
Assigned to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill. (US)
Filed on Sep. 27, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/528,718.
Application 11/528718 is a continuation of application No. 10/427720, filed on Apr. 30, 2003, granted, now 7,121,073.
Prior Publication US 2007/0074498 A1, Apr. 05, 2007
Int. Cl. A01D 34/53 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 56—249  [56/10.4] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control system for adjusting the reel of a cutting reel unit, comprising:
a cutting reel;
a front roller and a rear roller;
a frame comprising two laterally spaced-apart, inverted U-shaped structures each having a rear leg rotationally mounting said rear roller between said U-shaped structures and a front leg rotationally mounting said front roller between said U-shaped structures, said front and rear rollers movable along the ground to support said cutting reel unit;
at least one housing supporting said cutting reel, said housing movably mounted on said frame;
a bedknife carried on said frame;
an actuator having a first portion connected to the frame and a second portion connected to said housing, wherein a distance between said first and second portions is adjustable to set a spacing between said reel and said bedknife, and including a powered motive mechanism that is activated to adjust said distance.