Abstract: A picker bar assembly for a defoliating tobacco harvester is configured to receive tobacco stalks and strip them on both its descending and ascending runs without damaging the stalks. An improved conveyor has a leaf deflector to prevent carryover and bunching of the leaves.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for harvesting seed which includes a frame and a housing defining a seed box and having a rotary brush mounted on a forward portion thereof which is connected to link bars which are in turn connected to the frame. Corresponding pairs of link bars are attached between the frame and housing on opposite sides of the apparatus, the link bars on each side being substantially parallel to each other. Means are provided for varying the angle of the link bars to the frame, the link bars operationally functioning as a parallelogram to raise or lower the housing at a constant angle relative to the frame. A draw bar is pivotably connected to the front of the frame and tilt angle adjustment means are provided to vary the angle between the frame and the draw bar thereby providing an independent means for varying the angle of attack of the rotary brush to the plants from which seed is being collected.

Abstract: A debris collection vehicle including a vehicle chassis mounted on wheels, a motor carried on the vehicle and a debris pick-up apparatus mounted on the vehicle and powered by the motor for collecting debris off of the ground. The debris pick-up apparatus includes an elongate sweeper driven by the motor for sweeping debris in the path of the vehicle and three pick-up fans powered by the motor and mounted downstream of the sweeper for receiving debris swept from the ground by the sweeper. A grinder is powered by the motor and mounted downstream from the three pickup fans for receiving debris picked up by the pick-up fans and grinding the debris into smaller-sized debris. The vehicle includes a collection container for the ground up debris carried on the rear of the chassis.

Abstract: A loading device (1) for feeding cereal crop material, picked up from the ground by a gathering drum (8), into a loading vehicle (2) comprises a conveying drum (12) in a conveying channel (10) which latter is substantially perpendicular and terminates approximately at the level of a loading surface (7) of the loading vehicle (2), and thereafter comprises a horizontal or slightly inclined conveying channel (13) extending into the loading vehicle (2), conveying elements (14) driven in revolving fashion being arranged in this conveying channel (13).

Abstract: An anti-wrap structure is provided for the bearing support of a blower fan blade carried at the edge of a multi-spindle mower deck. The blower fan shaft is supported at one end with the fan carried at its other end to facilitate improved material flow to and through the blower. On bearing support for the shaft is carried within the blower fan chamber to narrow its width and minimize the difficulty in cutting close to obstacles. Surrounding the bearing within the housing is the anti-wrap structure to protect the bearing against trash accumulation and blower clogs.

Abstract: Wholestalk sugar cane loading apparatus includes a movable carriage having fore and aft wheel bases and a basket supported by the carriage generally between the wheel bases and along the longitudinal central axis of the carriage, the basket defining a load carrying surface for holding harvested wholestalk cane in a generally parallel bundle fashion and at an elevational position spaced vertically above the underlying cane field surface.An inclined transfer device is positioned forward of the basket for movement the during gathering of windrowed wholestalk cane for lifting individual wholestalks of cut cane from a resting position upon the cane field ground surface to an elevated discharge position generally above the load carrying surface of the basket, so that cane stalks discharged by the transfer device can fall into the basket.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes a blade housing enclosing grass cutting blades and having a lateral discharge opening, a blower unit connected to the discharge opening, and a duct connected to the blower unit for transporting grass clippings to a grass catcher. The blower unit includes an elbow-like lower blower housing connected to the blade housing, an upper blower housing having a substantially vertical cylindrical side wall connected to the duct, and an impeller mounted in the upper blower housing to be rotatable about a vertical axis. The impeller has a plane of rotation above a plane of rotation of the blades. The lower blower housing includes a flange for connection to the upper blower housing. The flange has an opening elongated in a direction along a passage defined by the two blower housings. This opening has width approximately half of the diameter of the impeller.

Abstract: The invention is a mechanized beet harvester with a front-end beet digging and lifting assembly. A special grabroll assembly whch directs the beets inwardly from both ends of the harvester towards the center and backwardly towards a low level pick-up reservoir in an elevator assembly which lifts the beets to a storage/discharge system.

Abstract: A swingable cover is provided for the discharge opening of the auxiliary blower which assists movement of material from a mower deck to the collector system. The cover is biased towards a closed position to cover the outlet leading from the blower impeller when the outlet duct is uncoupled from the discharge duct leading to the collector system. The cover is preferably made of a plastic material and includes first and second latching means to hold it respectively in its coupled or uncoupled positions.

Abstract: A leaf and vegetation shredder is formed by a power driven rotary blade cupped fan rotating in a fan housing connected in trailer fashion with a riding rotary lawn mower and operatively connected with the lawn mower vegetation discharge opening for increasing the air blast through the fan housing. Friction bars on the fan blades and an arc of the fan housing wall shred leaves and vegetation centrifugally forced therebetween.

Abstract: A power operated deflectable spout is provided for conveyors which move material through a hollow tube. The spout has a substantially vertical wall which depends downwardly at an end of the tube and projects into a flow path of the material being discharged from the tube. Power apparatus for adjusting the angular orientation of the vehicle wall is provided as well as a control for controlling the power apparatus. Such a spout is useful on grain combines to direct a flow of grain from the combine to a collecting vehicle. The use of a directable spout obviates the requirement for precise alignment of the combine and the collecting vehicle.

Abstract: Aligning tobacco plants end to end in rows in a field with leaf ends trailing butt ends as the butt ends are picked up onto an elevating conveyor belt by turning it at the same speed as the ground or surface speed of a wheel of a trailer pulled by a tractor, the elevating conveyor being at one side of the trailer.

Abstract: A grass dethatching apparatus which includes a frame adapted for mounting the apparatus on a prime mover vehicle. The frame supports a drum housing which defines a thatch discharge opening in the upper forward side thereof. The drum housing carries a pivotably mounted, vertically adjustable roller on the forward side thereof, and a stationary supporting roller on the rear side thereof. A roller actuation system is used to adjust the position of the vertically adjustable roller. A rotary drum subassembly is mounted in the drum housing for rotation about a horizontal axis, and includes axially and circumferentially spaced blades mounted on spacer sleeves. The sleeves are mounted on an elongated shaft. A thatch-catching bag is detachably mounted on the drum housing at a location for catching thatch discharged through the thatch discharge opening in the housing.

Abstract: A grass pick-up broom for riding, walk-behind and tow-behind mowers includes a cylindrical sleeve rotatably mounted on a rear axle of a mower and having spaced elongate brushes fixedly attached to the sleeve and extending radially therefrom. The sleeve is connected by a belt to a rotary cutting blade powered by an engine mounted on the mower. When the cutting blade is engaged, the sleeve automatically rotates about the axle causing the brushes to rotate thereabout, propelling grass clippings and other debris into a grass catcher located behind the broom. The brushes of the broom also comb the surface of the newly cut grass, picking up grass clippings and other heavier debris and transfering the debris to the grass catcher.

Abstract: A lettuce head holding tray is defined in which both the upper tray layer and the lower tray layer are packed side-by-side at packing stations. At a carton loading station, two side-by-side arrays of plungers each are used for packing of discrete layers of the cartons. One array of plungers packs the bottom carton layer; the other array of plungers packs the top carton layer. Two cartons are disposed opened upwardly to the plunger array at the packing station; one carton is disposed to the bottom layer loading plunger array for packing of the bottom layer and the other carton--with its bottom layer previously packed--is disposed to the top layer loanding plunger array for packing of its top layer. The cartons--between the packing of the bottom layer and the packing of the top layer--are conveyed between positions underlying the plunger arrays. Thus each carton has is lower layer packed by the lower layer loading plunger array and then its top layer packed by the upper layer loading plunger array.

Abstract: A harvester apparatus is provided for drying and baling forage crops in the field. The harvester apparatus includes an inlet for conveying forage crops to a dryer arrangement of the harvester where the forage crops are substantially evenly dried as they are conveyed through the dryer arrangement. The harvester apparatus includes compacting structure for compacting the forage crops before the drying process in completed. The harvester apparatus produces a layer of dried and compacted forage crops which are exited from the harvester apparatus at an exit which is adjacent a baling mechanism for securing the forage crops into bales. The layer of forage crops is converted by the baling mechanism into a column of stacked blocks secured together to form a bale.

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: Apparatus for retrieving objects from the ground has a ground-engageable drum rotatably mounted on an axle extending between opposite side plates, the drum having a plurality of drum fingers extending radially outwardly from the drum for piercing the objects as the drum is pushed over the ground, and a slotted comb oriented for the in seriatim passage of the drum fingers through respective slots of the comb as the drum is rotated for dislodging the objects as the drum fingers are pulled away therefrom.

Abstract: The grass collector venting cover assembly of the present invention includes a cover constructed of both porous and non-porous sections. The top of the venting cover assembly consists of two layers; the lower one being porous and the upper one being non-porous. The two layers are connected to allow the cover to vent dirt and debris from the grass chute away from the tractor operator. The cover support frame work supports the cover and allows emptying of the cart without interference from the cover. The grass collector/bagger of the present invention includes a collector support frame work with a rigid hitch for attachment to a tractor; two removable bins each containing two or more reusable, flexible insert containers; and a cover support assembly for supporting a cover above the rigid bins. The cover of the grass collector/bagger can also be of the venting type described above.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mulching grass, leafage, or similar material using a unitary apparatus which cuts and/or collects said material, comminutes, compacts, and conveys said material for broadly spreading thereof on the ground of lawn.

Abstract: An interlock system for a telescoping dumping basket on a cotton harvester includes a rotary control valve which controls basket telescoping and unloading functions. A lever on the basket operates an interference lock restricting rotation of the control valve away from the telescoping position toward an unloading position when the basket is retracted a preselected amount toward a compact storage position. The lever is connected through a push-pull cable to the lock on the valve so that valve rotation is mechanically restricted when the basket is retracted.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for mounting a disposable grass collecting bag to the discharge chute of a walk-behind mower. The bag is received in a grass collector having one end mounted to the mower handlebars and another end mounted to the discharge chute over the disposable bag. The collector mounting to the chute also secures the bag on the chute. During installation, after the bag is mounted about the chute, the body of the bag is folded and placed into the chute. The collector is then mounted to the mower with its inlet about the chute. When the lawn mower is started, the air flow through the chute will expel the bag into the collector and then inflate the bag in the collector to be ready to receive grass clippings.

Abstract: A cotton harvester includes air diverting structure for selectively directing air from the air duct structure over the top of the cotton harvester basket to blow away accumulated trash. The upper portion of the air duct is moveable from a normal operating position wherein cotton is directed into the basket, to a cleaning position wherein high velocity air from the duct is directed over the surface of the basket by an air deflector located at the upper forward end of the basket. When no cotton is being picked, such as during turns at the end of the field, the duct is moved from the operating position to the cleaning position to clear the trash from the basket surfaces. In another embodiment of the invention, a barrier in the form of either a brush or a pivoting element located on the dump side of the basket catches debris that would otherwise fall into the cotton receiving receptacle.

Abstract: A recovery apparatus having a frame adapted for earth traversing movement along an elongated sheet bearing a crop to recover the crop; a first conveyor mounted on the frame for receiving the sheet and conveying the sheet therealong; a second conveyor mounted on the frame for overlaying the sheet and the crop borne thereby on the first conveyor and moving in a complementary direction to the first conveyor; finger members mounted on the second conveyor to maintain space between the second conveyor and the crop borne by said sheet to feed the sheet and the crop borne thereby along the first conveyor without damage to the crop; a vacuum system borne by the frame for removing extraneous material from the crop; and a mechanism for separating the crop from the sheet.

Abstract: Grain tanks of harvesting machines frequently have an irregularly shaped interior which is difficult to fill completely and to unload. A conveyor system is proposed facilitating loading and unloading of the grain tank. The conveyor system comprises a conveyor arrangement which contains conveyor elements that can be driven and that can be moved vertically depending on the height of the crop deposit. The conveyor arrangement is mounted to the interior wall of the grain tank by a four bar linkage. During the filling process, the conveyor elements act as distributors filling in unused areas of the grain tanks. During the unloading process, they act as conveyors directing grain to the unloading auger.

Abstract: A front mount mower is provided with a side-mounted material collection system including a frame which is supported on a caster wheel. A support shaft is coupled to right front wheel of the mower vehicle by means of an adapter hub held in place by the wheel mounting studs and lug nuts. A stiffener strut includes a sleeve mounted on the shaft through means of bearings which permit the shaft to rotate freely relative to the sleeve, the sleeve being welded to the forward end of a tube having its rearward end received on a pin fixed to a mounting plate bolted to the vehicle frame. The forward end of the frame of the collection system includes a member having a u-shaped collar at its forward end which is releasably secured to the sleeve by means of fasteners, this collar permitting the frame to move up and down relative to the sleeve. The working width of the vehicle equipped with the collection system is substantially the same as that of the vehicle without the collection system attached thereto.

Abstract: Method and device designed for arranging and packing plants and their respective root lumps. The method and device are employed in relation to plants which have grown in a seedling unit containing a large number of plants and soil lumps arranged in a plurality of rows and lines adjacent each other and in uniform rectilinear check pattern. After removal of void soil lumps containing no plants and soil lumps containing badly developed plants, the remaining healthy plants are gripped and placed in channels in the same pattern they were in in the seedling unit with a separate channel for each row. The plants are then conveyed in the channels from an input end towards an output end, and gaps between the plants are eliminated in the channels not later than upon reaching the output end. A certain number of plants so collected are then removed from the channels and placed in a transport container.

Abstract: An apparatus for harvesting mushrooms comprises a mobile frame 1 that can move along guidings 3 and a knife 10 with a cutting edge 11. The mushrooms cut off by the knife 10 move upward along a sloping surface and are transported by the conveyor 25 which has carriers in the form of brush bristles 26. The carriers 26 have a mutual spacing which corresponds approximately with the width of the buttom of the mushroom so that a cut mushroom is gripped between successive carriers and is transported standing upright. Owing to this individual transport damage is prevented.

Abstract: A shredder attachment for use with lawn machines having vacuum or fan movement of shreddable material. The attachment comprises a frame suitably sized and shaped to be substantially mounted inside a conduit of a lawn machine. The attachment further comprises a cutter for cutting material passing through the conduit and a motor for driving the cutter. The attachment can be used in such lawn machines as a discharge conduit for a riding mower bagging system, an auxiliary cutter for a walk behind mower or a hand-held leaf vacuum.

Abstract: A lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported above the ground by wheels, and a blower case removably connected to one lateral side of the blade housing for blowing grass clippings toward a grass catcher disposed rearwardly of a vehicle body. The blade housing carries wheel support frames secured thereto and extending in a fore and aft direction of the vehicle body. A forward coupling and a rear coupling are secured to one of the wheel support frames for connecting the blower case to the blade housing.

Abstract: A disposable biodegradable debris collection bag of thin walled flexible plastic having a neck with a collar to slide onto a discharge boot of a debris discharging machine and characterized by primary and secondary securement means of twist-tie form independently operable to constrict the collar onto the boot and to close the bag for removal.

Abstract: Locking structure for a harvester basket having an upper basket portion telescopingly received within a lower basket portion. Channel lock-ups are located at three of the four corners of the basket. Each lock-up includes two channels, one channel having a length equal to the extension length of the upper basket portion and the other half that length. The two channels are connected together by a pivot pin in the middle of the long channel. One end of the long channel is connected by a pivot pin to the basket and one end of the short channel is connected by a pivot pin to the top of the upper basket portion. As the upper basket portion is raised or lowered, the channels pivot about the middle of the long channel. Approaching the raised position, the upper portion of the long channel may be used as a lever to urge the upper basket to the final extended position.

Abstract: A riding lawn mower comprises a frame supported by wheels, a mower housing carried at the underside of the frame, a plurality of cutter blades located within the mower housing to cut grass, a collection bag mounted on the rear of the frame, a discharge chute extending between the mower housing and the collection bag and defining a clipping path from the cutter blades into the collection bag, a blower including an impeller housing attached to the mower housing and an impeller located within the impeller housing and cooperating with the butter blades to convey the grass clippings into the collection bag through the discharge chute. A short conduit connects the impeller housing to the upstream end of the discharge chute to conduct an air generated by the impeller into the discharge chute. A central axis of the conduit is offset downwardly from a central axis of the discharge chute.

Abstract: In order to achieve a small and simple compacter with high compression for garden equipment like lawn mower there is disclosed a method and apparatus for compacting grass, leafage or similar material, which is comminuted and compacted simultaneously in a single compactor device with a single drum with arc-shaped tines cooperating with a press-channel.

Abstract: A dumping apparatus for a grass catcher for rearwardly inclining the grass catcher containing grass clipping to discharge the grass clippings. The apparatus includes a guide member and a movable member mounted in the guide member, a restraining member for restraining the movement of the catcher and a bracket fixed to a rear face of the catcher. A leading end of the movable member is pivoted at a longitudinally intermediate position of the bracket and a leading end of the restraining member is pivoted at a rear upper position of the bracket, whereby the grass catcher may be moved and inclined for the dumping action.

Abstract: A grass bagger (13) for a lawn tractor (14). The catcher (13) includes a hood (20) which directs grass clippings into a pair of bag assemblies (40). A grass checker (50), connected to hood (20), is used to check the level of accumulated grass beneath hood (20) to determine when it would be appropriate to empty bag assemblies (40) of their accumulated grass clippings. In order to prevent grass clippings from leaking between bag assemblies (40) and hood (20), and to keep hood (20) from popping open when lawn tractor (14) is driven over rough ground, a pair of latches (70) is included to releasably secure hood (20) to bag assemblies (40).

Abstract: In a lawnmower with a grass collection container, the level to which the container is filled is recognizable optically or acoustically. For this purpose, a sensor is arranged in the grass entry mouthpiece of the grass collection container to supply a quantitative or qualitative signal via an electronic evaluation circuit. The collection container is attached to the rear of the frame of the lawnmower.

Abstract: A cotton basket unloading regulator is provided for transporting cotton from a conventional cotton basket into a trailer or the like. The regulator comprises a rotatable shaft having a plurality of fingers mounted thereon with a motor for rotating the shaft at variable speed. By varying the speed of rotation of the rotating shaft, the cotton being delivered from the cotton basket to the trailer may be regulated and the rotation of the shaft also serves to break up chunks and wads of cotton as well as stopping the discharge of the cotton from the basket. The present invention provides a regulator for regulating the unloading of cotton from a cotton basket into a trailer.

Abstract: The apparatus for harvesting crops, particularly seed crops, comprises a mobile support structure (20) and a crop stripping device in the form of a rotor (30), which may be attached to height adjustable arms and is driven by drive means (22). The rotor (30) carries transverse rows of crop stripping elements (1) which may be combined with transverse ribs. The crop stripping elements have prominent leading edges, for example each formed at the junction between two faces which are acutely inclined with respect to each other. The drive to the rotor is so arranged that during forward movement of the apparatus the crop engaging elements (32) are propelled progressively through the crop, moving upwards at the front region. Seeds and other plant parts detached by the action of the rotor are impelled into a crop flow passage (27) under a crop guide cover (21). A transverse auger (83) transfers the detached material into a duct (84) where an elevator (85) moves it over a screen (86) for separation of the seeds.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of sterilized plant matter consisting of the steps of; treating coarse chopped plant matter with heat to achieve dehydration, compression filling airtight fiber reinforced plastic bags with dehydrated plant matter, injecting high pressure steam into the dehydrated plant matter while in the bag and sealing the bag. A product consisting of steam sterilized coarse chopped plant matter under vacuum in air tight fiber reinforced plastic bags.

Abstract: A power vehicle is equipped with a mower which has cutters, a clipping passage for transporting grass clippings therethrough to one side of the mower, and an impeller accommodated in a housing and mounted on a lateral shaft. The housing has an outer side plate supporting the shaft and positioned closer to the center of the vehicle at its rear end than at its front end and is thereby diminished in the amount of projection. The impeller is driven by a shaft transmission coupled to a belt transmission for driving the cutters and by a belting transmission. The belting transmission includes a pulley coupled to the shaft transmission, a pulley attached to the outer end of the lateral shaft, and a belt reeved around the pulleys and drivingly movable in parallel to the outer side plate of the housing outside thereof.

Abstract: Lawn mower characterized in that the rear drive wheels (4) are mounted on a rear interconnecting member (6) in the form of a portico permitting mounting of a receptacle (7) for receiving cut grass directly on the outlet opening of the ejection channel of the cutter housing (5) between the rear wheels (4).

Abstract: Cotton harvester basket structure including an upper basket portion telescopingly received within a lower basket portion and first hydraulic actuators for moving the basket between harvesting and dump positions and second actuators for telescoping the basket portions between a retracted storage position and an extended field-working position. An unloading conveyor and compacting augers are connected to and movable with the upper basket portion, and the compacting augers also serve to meter cotton during the dump cycle. Telescoping cotton conveying ducts are movable with the upper basket portion between retracted transport and raised field-working positions. Hydraulic circuitry includes valves for selectively controlling the basket telescoping and dump functions and the conveyor and compacting auger operations.

Abstract: A lawn mower comprising a cutting unit disposed between front and rear wheels, a grass discharge duct extending rearwardly from the cutting unit, and grass collecting containers each defining a top opening for receiving grass clippings sent through the discharge duct. The containers are supported by an E-shaped frame connected to, and retained by pins in, open rear ends of right and left pipe frames extending rearwardly and then upwardly from a mower body. The E-shaped frame engages the open rear ends of the pipe frames to interconnect the rear ends with a selected spacing therebetween.

Abstract: A ducted cover grass collection system for a lawn mower includes a hopper with a front end having an inlet, a rear end having an outlet and an open upper end, a deflector hood located at the front end to partially cover the open upper end, and a lid covering the remainder of the open upper end, the lid having a duct open at a front end and having a rear end in communication with the outlet so that a flow of clippings and air is introduced through the inlet and projected generally horizontally toward the rear end of the hopper, so that the clippings settle to the bottom of the hopper, after which the air is directed back toward the deflector hood, through the duct and is discharged via the outlet. An air flow indicator located in the hopper lid pivots when the air flow in the duct decreases, signaling that the hopper is filled with clippings.

Abstract: An improved grass mower and attachment which employs a sling for holding a disposable bag is disclosed. The sling is open to one side so that full bags can be unloaded without lifting. The sling is mounted to a frame which receives the margin of the bag and this frame is mounted so that it can both pivot downward (when unlatched) and slide rearward relative to a housing from which clippings are delivered to the bag during grass cutting. When the bag is desired to be unloaded, the frame is unlatched and the sling, which is otherwise held above the ground, pivots its open side down to the ground. The housing can slide from over the frame by advancing the mower. The filled bag can be then tied and rolled out of the sling onto the ground without lifting it. A new bag can be fitted to the frame, inside the sling, and the lightweight frame, sling and empty bag returned and relatched under the housing and the mower used to fill the new bag.

Abstract: Lawn mower characterized in that the rear drive wheels (4) are mounted on a rear interconnecting member (6) in the form of a portico permitting mounting of a receptacle (7) for receiving cut grass directly on the outlet opening of the ejection channel of the cutter housing (5) between the rear wheels (4).

Abstract: A lawn mower comprising a cutting unit disposed between front and rear wheels, a grass discharge duct extending rearwardly from the cutting unit, and a grass collecting container defining a top opening for receiving grass clippings sent through the discharge duct. The grass collecting container includes a mouthpiece extending along peripheries of the top opening to rest on a U-shaped support frame mounted at a rear end of the mower. The mouthpiece is connected to the support frame by a projection and bore engagement. The support frame includes a holder defining an upwardly opening recess, and the container has a cover defining a downwardly opening recess at a position opposed to the holder. The two recesses define an opening for receiving a rear end of the grass discharge duct. The grass discharge duct includes an annular engagement portion extending peripherally of the rear end thereof for engagement with inner edges of the two recesses.

Abstract: A frame has mounted thereon an engine and a speed change unit arranged adjacent to each other widewise of the frame to provide a vehicle body. The vehicle body has a front axle supporting a pair of front wheels thereon, a rear axle supporting at least one steering rear wheel, a mount assembly at its front portion for attaching thereto a mower having at least one cutter, and a clipping container mounted on its rear portion. From a clipping outlet formed in the rear portion of the mower, a duct extends rearward generally horizontally under the front axle, is bent upward behind one of the front wheels and is connected to the clipping container.

Abstract: Hydraulically driven compacting augers are supported within a cotton basket and are connected for operation to a hydraulic source through a remotely actuatable reversing valve. The augers are rotated a first direction to compress the cotton toward the front of the basket as the air duct system blows the cotton rearwardly into the basket. After the cotton is compacted toward the front of the basket, the reversing valve is actuated to cause the augers to rotate in the opposite direction and compress the cotton toward the rear of the basket. The augers additionally serve to help meter the cotton from the basket during dumping and are reversible during dumping.