Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for mechanically removing loose debris from harvesters such as grape harvesters moving along a row of living plants from which it dislodges grapes along with elongated canes and other debris, all of which are collected and moved rearwardly of the harvester to a debris collecting point. The grapes and some debris are then moved transversely outward from the living plants. At least one vine engaging finger is moved through the collecting point for engaging long pieces of debris, such as canes, and deflecting the canes into snagging engagement with the plants which pull the canes and other debris attached thereto free of the harvester as the harvester moves away from the snagged canes.

Abstract: A two-row crop harvester for carrots, beets, etc. has a wheeled chassis with a forward cab disposed to one side of a pair of lifter frame assemblies. Each lifter frame assembly has a main component with a forwardly gathering element rigidly connected to a rearward mounting element. The rear end of the mounting element is pivotally mounted on a rocking frame, the lower end of which is pivoted about a horizontal axis on the main frame of the harvester. The main component of each lifter frame assembly mounts a relatively movable gathering component. The topping bar units have both their driven and idler ends supported by the main component of the lifter frame assembly. The rear drive pulleys for the gathering belts are chain driven from the drive shafts of the topping units and the latter are individually driven by hydraulic motors and articulated shafts with the motors geared together so that the topping bar units are synchronized.