Abstract: A vine cutter for cutting entangled vines of potato plants in front of a potato harvester so that the vines do not become entangled and accumulated upon a front portion of the potato harvester. The inventive device includes a frame having a pair of upper members and a pair of opposing lower members, a first disc journaled to the frame, a second disc journaled to the frame below the first disc and having a ground engaging rim attached coaxially, and a motor mechanically connected to the first and second discs. The first disc and the second disc are vertically orientated, and a portion of the discs overlap and are juxtaposed to one another. The pair of discs preferably include a plurality of notches projecting into their respective outer perimeters. The discs rotate at a differential to one another from 1.2 to 2.5 depending upon the type of vines being cut. The ground engaging ring attached to the second disc determines the depth of penetration by the second disc into the ground.

Abstract: This invention is a separator-conveyor that uses a scissors action to cut stems, roots, vines and other debris from a crop being harvested and processed. This is accomplished by providing a plurality of multi-sided rollers having sharp edges disposed alternately at an angle to adjacent rollers causing a scissors type cutting action that starts at one end of such rollers and continues to the other end. A plurality of the scissors action separator-conveyors can be used in conjunction with drying systems on a crop harvester-processor. This harvester-processor allows root crops such as peanuts to be harvested, cleaned, dried and graded in one continuous operation.

Abstract: Harvested agricultural produce is distributed and temporarily stored in an elongated, low-profile bin mounted and supported above a frame so as to substantially center the weight of the produce over the frame. The bin has an input and an output end and is capable of movement between a receiving position in which produce is loaded into the bin and an unloading position in which produce in the bin is transferred out. In moving into the unloading position, the bin is translated in a longitudinal direction from the input end to the output end, and the output end of the bin becomes elevated. Means are provided to support the bin over the frame in the receiving and unloading positions, and to drive the bin therebetween. A conveyor belt in the floor of the bin shifts produce within the bin and unloads produce into a transport carrier.

Abstract: There is disclosed a root crop harvesting machine, especially a potato harvesting machine which can dig-up two rows of crop and then discharging the crop laterally of the machine to any required extent via an elevator which is adjusted to a lateral discharge mode, as shown in FIG. 1, to permit the dug-up crop to be deposited in rows for drying purposes. Once drying has been completed, the same machine can then be used to pick-up the dried crop and then, following adjustment of the elevator to an elevational position as shown in FIG. 2, the dried crop can be discharged into a collecting vehicle. The harvesting machine of the invention therefore has two discharge functions, and can replace two existing pieces of equipment. The invention also enables novel methods of crop harvesting to be carried out.

Abstract: A potato harvester comprises a screening conveyor belt following a lifting device, an elevator disposed after the screening conveyor belt, a haulm separating device and a stone separating device. The elevator is formed from a double conveyor having an internally rotating bar-type conveyor belt with narrow openings and an externally rotating bar-type conveyor belt with wide openings. The two conveyor belts rotate in the same direction and are guided parallel to one another at least in the region of the conveying run of the elevator. One bar-type conveyor belt is further equipped with transversely directed entrainment webs which divide the gap between the conveying runs of the two conveyors into conveying compartments.