STALKED CROP HARVESTING HEADER AND METHOD FOR HARVESTING STALKED CROP MATERIAL

摘要

This invention concerns a tensioning system (30) for maintaining the tension in a chain conveyor (16) extended over at least one drive sprocket (24) and one idler sprocket (25), and a method for maintaining the tension in a chain conveyor (16), in particular for example for a stalked crop harvesting header (10). The tensioning system (30) comprises a first tensioning arm (32) and a second tensioning arm (33) rotatably connected to one another for rotation around a shaft onto which one of the sprockets (25) is mounted, the second tensioning arm (33) being rotatably connected to a fixed point of a supporting plate (52), wherein the tension in the chain conveyor (16) is maintained by a rotational movement of at least one of the drive sprocket (24) or the idler sprocket (25) around a fixed point of the supporting plate (52). As a result, the sensitivity of the chain tensioning system to blockage due to rust or dirt accumulation may be strongly reduced.