Abstract: A harvesting apparatus for row crops that includes a self-propelled carrier unit and a harvesting device. The carrier unit is a motor-driven vehicle. The harvesting device consists of an upper frame in sliding engagement with a pair of vertical members coupled to a cutting platform, lifting means for raising and lowering the cutting platform, and means for positioning the cutting platform along the length of the upper frame. The cutting platform includes a base having opposing ends, each end having a pair of base guides that define a longitudinal passage, a cutter blade assembly having a blade with a cutting edge, which cutting edge is in communication with the longitudinal passage such that when the blade is in use, and when a tobacco plant passes along the longitudinal passage the blade will cut the plant by a slicing operation. The frame further includes front and rear wheel assemblies, and a shield that is attached to each of the vertical members.

Abstract: This invention relates to a harvesting machine (adapter) for gathering grain crops, mainly sunflower, comprisingan underframe suspensible on the front part of a corn combine;nose cones arranged on the front part of the underframe, projecting in the direction of travel, straddling from either side the rows of plants to be gathered and directing them into stem guiding channels;cutting devices arranged at the rear part of the stem guiding channels and designed preferably as rotating cutting devices;tray-like coverings arranged behind the frontal nose cones and in regions between the channels for collecting the dropped-out grains and directing them backward, said coverings being movably coupled to the underframe and their rearward slope being adjustable;at least one picking-shaking or vibrating unit for picking, shaking or vibrating the tray-like coverings or at least the movably embedded part thereof to cause rearward movement of grains fallen onto them;a transverse gathering device with a catch trough located o

Abstract: A height control system is disclosed for use on a harvester and includes at least one lightweight wheel which rides over the crop being harvested at a location forwardly of the vehicle in an undisturbed area of the crop without damaging the crop. The wheel detects upward or downward inclined portions of the ground and controls power means which raises or lowers at least one plant handling component of the harvester for maintaining the component at the desired elevation relative to the ground. The system also includes control means which sense varying ground speed and prevents undesirable jerky raising and lowering of the conveying components in response to the wheel riding over small articles such as rocks at different speeds.

Abstract: A unitary-frame, straddle-type, crop-working vehicle with independent adjustability of straddle height, track width, and tool position is described. The vehicle features two lower tool-mounting arms and lateral and fore-and-aft adjustment to a center upper tool-mounting arm. Independent height adjustment of each of the vehicle's vertical mast structures facilitates upright hillside operation. Crawler tracks are utilized for ground travel and provide desirable weight distribution during crop-working operations.