Abstract: The present invention relates to a chicken manure handling machine and system. The chicken manure handling machine is designed to be maneuvered inside a chicken house and is particularly used to automatically clean chicken manure from the chicken house between flocks. As the chicken manure machine is moved through the chicken house, a blade scrapes the caked-like chicken manure and associated litter up from the floor and directs the combined caked material (manure, litter, etc.) upwardly onto an elevator/shaker assembly. As the caked material is conveyed upwardly on the elevator/shaker assembly, the caked manure and associated litter is shaken, causing portions of the associated litter to be separated and to fall through the elevator/shaker assembly onto the chicken house floor where it can be reused by the next flock.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for loading and unloading a bulk curing tobacco barn so that large heavy containers filled with tobacco leaves will be properly positioned in the barn in a close front-to-back relationship.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a speed control unit associated with a peanut combine for driving and controlling the peripheral speed of a forwardly disposed crop engaging pick-up reel rotatively mounted transversely about the front of the peanut combine. The speed control unit basically includes a dual input drive system including a first drive operatively connected to at least one ground engaging wheel of the combine for providing an input drive corresponding to the ground speed of the peanut combine. A second generally constant input drive is provided from a power take-off source associated with the peanut combine. These two drives simultaneously drive a centrifugal clutch which includes an output drive member that is driven at a speed corresponding to the faster of the two input drives.

Abstract: A tobacco harvester having a hydraulic control system for automatically and continuously controlling and maintaining the speed of a leaf defoliator assembly relative to and in proportion to the ground speed of the tobacco harvester. The hydraulic control system is adapted to continuously control the horizontal rearward speed component of the defoliating elements of a leaf defoliator assembly such that the defoliating elements move rearwardly during leaf defoliation at approximately the same speed the harvester is moving forward.To provide for continuous speed control of the defoliator assembly, the hydraulic speed control system is operative to continuously effectively sense or monitor harvester ground speed and to continuously drive the defoliator assembly in proportion to the effectively sensed or monitored ground speed.

Abstract: An improved tobacco harvester including roller members positioned adjacent to the upper rear end of the conveyor which functions to disengage leaves from the return side of the conveyor, and a cover arrangement over the discharge end of the conveyor to protect the discharged leaves from the force of winds.

Abstract: A bulk container for tobacco leaves which includes a tine frame member adapted to fit over the open end of a leaf container and having means to lock the individual tines after insertion into the tobacco leaves.

Abstract: An improved tobacco harvester which is provided with a novel arrangement of cutters disposed rearwardly of the defoliator section of the harvester.