Abstract: A crop pick-up frame has mountings for attachment to the feeder house of a combine harvester with a pick up assembly having transverse tine bars parallel to a transverse axis which move in a composite movement both around the transverse axis and parallel to the transverse axis such that each tine describes a closed path around the transverse axis and inclined to a radial plane of the transverse axis. Behind the bars is a belt conveyor followed by a converging auger where the belt conveyor is offset to one side relative to the bars so that the ends of the bars define a first path of travel at a first end of the bars and a second path of travel at a second end of the bars and the belt conveyor is offset such that one side edge extends beyond an outermost part of the second path of travel.

Abstract: A crop pick-up frame has mountings for attachment to the feeder house of a combine harvester with a pick up assembly having transverse tine bars parallel to a transverse axis which move in a composite movement both around the transverse axis and parallel to the transverse axis such that each tine describes a closed path around the transverse axis and inclined to a radial plane of the transverse axis. Behind the bars is a belt conveyor followed by a converging auger where the belt conveyor is offset to one side relative to the bars so that the ends of the bars define a first path of travel at a first end of the bars and a second path of travel at a second end of the bars and the belt conveyor is offset such that one side edge extends beyond an outermost part of the second path of travel.

Abstract: A leaf gathering apparatus includes upper and lower conveyor axes, a conveyor extending around the upper and lower conveyor axes that is continuously rotatable, and a rotatable sweeping mechanism having a generally horizontal axis of rotation, the sweeping mechanism being configured to move leaves from a ground surface onto the conveyor. The apparatus includes a bag and a channel extending from the conveyor to the bag to direct leaves therebetween. A shredder is located along the channel. A frame, the upper and lower conveyor axes, and the sweeping mechanism are operatively coupled to the frame. A plurality of wheels are operatively coupled to the frame to allow the frame to be easily transported and a motor is operatively coupled to the sweeping mechanism to rotate the sweeping mechanism, the motor being operatively coupled to at least one of the upper and lower conveyor axes to rotate the conveyor.

Abstract: A rotary type rake having a plurality of finger wheel rotary raking elements mounted on a frame and movable thereon from one to the other of a raking position to rake material on the ground into a windrow and a retracted raised traveling position. The frame is partly supported by a pair of caster wheel assemblies that are disposed in spaced apart relation with respect to one another and a distal end of the frame which connects securely to a front end loader mounted on a tractor. Oscillatory movement of the caster wheel assemblies is restrained by a brake acting on the shaft of the caster wheel assembly by which it is mounted on the frame.

Abstract: A windrow merger for merging product material disposed in a windrow on a ground surface, the windrow merger having a transverse conveyor assembly carried on a merger fame, at least a portion of the frame underlying the transverse conveyor assembly, a tongue operably pivotally coupled to the merger frame, the tongue being couplable to a vehicle for towing the windrow merger, the windrow merger includes a pickup head having a pickup conveyor system including a rotatable pickup conveyor belt for picking up product material disposed in a windrow on a field surface. The pickup head is pivotally coupled to the merger frame and has a leading pickup edge. The pickup head has a suspension for suspending the leading pickup edge such that the leading pickup edge exhibits two degrees of motional freedom.

Abstract: An integrated microfabricated instrument for manipulation, reaction and detection of microliter to picoliter samples. The instrument is suited for biochemical reactions, particularly DNA-based reactions such as the polymerase chain reaction, that require thermal cycling since the inherently small size of the instrument facilitates rapid cycle times. The integrated nature of the instrument provides accurate, contamination-free processing. The instrument may include reagent reservoirs, agitators and mixers, heaters, pumps, and optical or electromechanical sensors. Ultrasonic Lamb-wave devices may be used as sensors, pumps and agitators.

Abstract: A method for fine processing includes a first step in which a first reaction gas is introduced into a reaction chamber which contains a material to be processed, followed by irradiation with light to form an active layer on the surface of the material through photochemical reaction between the material and the first reaction gas, a second step in which the active layer is selectively irradiated with energy in an atmosphere of a second reaction gas to cause a chemical change only in the irradiated portion to form a latent image layer, a third step in which either the latent image layer or active layer is removed and a fourth step in which, using the portion left unremoved in the third step as a shield mask, the portion other than the masked portion is etched.

Abstract: A root crop harvester having a horizontal cleaning conveyor for conveying harvested roots to one side of the machine while simultaneously removing excess dirt therefrom, and a vertical conveyor for receiving roots from the horizontal conveyor, elevating them and discharging them either into a receptacle alongside the harvester or into a storage tank mounted on the harvester frame. The storage tank has a transversely extending opening in its forward portion disposed directly above the cleaning conveyor, and a floor conveyor selectively operable to move roots lying on the floor forwardly to the opening so that they can gravitate there-through onto the cleaning conveyor to be recleaned.

Abstract: A root crop harvester includes a main frame, a plurality of digger wheels on the front of the main frame, conveyor means supported on the main frame to receive roots from the digger wheels and deliver the same to a transversely extending auger conveyor which moves the roots to a vertical .[.auger.]. conveyor. An additional conveyor mounted on the upper end of the vertical .[.auger.]. conveyor in root-receiving relationship therewith moves the roots laterally upwardly for deposit in a vehicle moving alongside the harvester. The additional conveyor is mounted for lateral movement .[.on.]. .Iadd.at .Iaddend.the upper end of the vertical .[.auger.]. conveyor so that it can be moved inwardly to a transport position.