Abstract: A converging row unit for planting seed potatoes includes a plurality of linear arrays of seed cups, each array disposed upon a flexible endless belt and having an upwardly moveable portion and a downwardly moveable portion. The upwardly moveable portion passes through a seed pick region wherein each seed cup can draw a seed, while the downwardly moveable portion progresses to a point of discharge of the seed. The linear arrays are laterally spaced apart from each other in the upwardly moveable portion, and converge together in the downwardly moveable portion, toward to the point of discharge.

Abstract: A converging row unit for planting seed potatoes includes a plurality of linear arrays of seed cups, each array disposed upon a flexible endless belt and having an upwardly moveable portion and a downwardly moveable portion. The upwardly moveable portion passes through a seed pick region wherein each seed cup can draw a seed, while the downwardly moveable portion progresses to a point of discharge of the seed. The upwardly movable portion is characterized by the linear arrays being laterally spaced apart from each other. The downwardly moveable portion is characterized by the seed cups of the plurality of linear arrays being alternately interleaved together in a single converged linear array extending to the point of discharge.

Abstract: A converging row unit for planting seed potatoes includes a plurality of linear arrays of seed cups, each array disposed upon a flexible endless belt and having an upwardly moveable portion and a downwardly moveable portion. The upwardly moveable portion passes through a seed pick region wherein each seed cup can draw a seed, while the downwardly moveable portion progresses to a point of discharge of the seed. The upwardly movable portion is characterized by the linear arrays being laterally spaced apart from each other. The downwardly moveable portion is characterized by the seed cups of the plurality of linear arrays being alternately interleaved together in a single converged linear array extending to the point of discharge.

Abstract: A converging row unit for planting seed potatoes includes a plurality of linear arrays of seed cups, each array disposed upon a flexible endless belt and having an upwardly moveable portion and a downwardly moveable portion. The upwardly moveable portion passes through a seed pick region wherein each seed cup can draw a seed, while the downwardly moveable portion progresses to a point of discharge of the seed. The linear arrays are laterally spaced apart from each other in the upwardly moveable portion, and converge together in the downwardly moveable portion, toward to the point of discharge.

Abstract: A seed potato cutting system includes a cutting roller unit with an endless roller chain, having a plurality of parallel roller sets, each roller set including a plurality of cylindrical rollers on a common axle, with lateral gaps between adjacent rollers, configured to convey seed potatoes toward a distal end of the roller chain. A plurality of pairs of parallel upright blades are disposed at the distal end, the blades having common rotational axes and a cutting edge that passes within a lateral gap between rollers, each pair of blades having a common adjustable blade gap therebetween.

Abstract: A belting connection for attaching a first end and a second end of belting. The belting has a thickness. The belting connection mechanism includes a first stepped region, a second stepped region and a first fastener. The first stepped region is proximate the first end. The first stepped region has a first aperture formed therein. The first stepped region has a first thickness. The second stepped region is proximate the second end. The second stepped region has a second aperture formed therein. The second stepped region has a second thickness. The first fastener extends through the first aperture and the second aperture to attach the first end to the second end. The first stepped region at least partially overlaps the second stepped region when the first end is attached to the second end. When the first end is attached to the second end, the first stepped region and the second stepped region have a combined thickness that is no greater than the thickness of the belting.

Abstract: A seed potato cutting system includes a cutting roller unit, including an endless roller chain, having a plurality of parallel roller sets with longitudinal gaps therebetween, configured to convey seed potatoes resting in the gaps in a longitudinal direction through a plurality of pairs of upright cutting blades, a laterally-slidable thumb rake, disposed in each longitudinal gap parallel to the roller sets, having a plurality of upwardly extending thumbs, and a thumb rake alignment device, configured to sequentially laterally slide all thumb rakes in first and second directions, respectively, to contact and laterally align each seed potato with a corresponding pair of cutting blades as the roller chain conveys the seed potatoes theretoward.

Abstract: A sugar beet puller wheel set includes a pair of generally upright, spaced apart, symmetrically non-parallel puller wheels, rotatably disposed on axles attached to a frame and having a gap therebetween. A gap adjuster is associated with at least one of the puller wheels, and is configured to move the at least one puller wheel axially along the respective axle with axial rotation of the gap adjuster, allowing selective adjustment of the gap.

Abstract: A root crop harvester apparatus includes a transverse frame, supported to move above ground in a harvesting direction and oriented generally perpendicular to the harvesting direction. A plurality of pairs of generally upright, spaced apart puller wheels are connected to the transverse frame in a trailing orientation, having a substantially common rotational axis, and configured to contact the ground, each pair having a pinch point therebetween. The transverse frame is pivotal about an axis that is substantially aligned with the substantially common rotational axis, whereby rotation of the transverse frame collectively rotates all of the pairs of puller wheels about the common rotational axis and thereby adjusts a location of all of the pinch points with respect to the harvesting direction.

Abstract: A belting connection for attaching a first end and a second end of belting. The belting has a thickness. The belting connection mechanism includes a first stepped region, a second stepped region and a first fastener. The first stepped region is proximate the first end. The first stepped region has a first aperture formed therein. The first stepped region has a first thickness. The second stepped region is proximate the second end. The second stepped region has a second aperture formed therein. The second stepped region has a second thickness. The first fastener extends through the first aperture and the second aperture to attach the first end to the second end. The first stepped region at least partially overlaps the second stepped region when the first end is attached to the second end. When the first end is attached to the second end, the first stepped region and the second stepped region have a combined thickness that is no greater than the thickness of the belting.

Abstract: A seed potato cutting system includes a cutting roller unit, including an endless roller chain, having a plurality of parallel roller sets with longitudinal gaps therebetween, configured to convey seed potatoes resting in the gaps in a longitudinal direction through a plurality of pairs of upright cutting blades, a laterally-slidable thumb rake, disposed in each longitudinal gap parallel to the roller sets, having a plurality of upwardly extending thumbs, and a thumb rake alignment device, configured to sequentially laterally slide all thumb rakes in first and second directions, respectively, to contact and laterally align each seed potato with a corresponding pair of cutting blades as the roller chain conveys the seed potatoes theretoward.

Abstract: A seed potato cutting system includes a cutting roller unit with an endless roller chain, having a plurality of parallel roller sets, each roller set including a plurality of cylindrical rollers on a common axle, with lateral gaps between adjacent rollers, configured to convey seed potatoes toward a distal end of the roller chain. A plurality of pairs of parallel upright blades are disposed at the distal end, the blades having common rotational axes and a cutting edge that passes within a lateral gap between rollers, each pair of blades having a common adjustable blade gap therebetween.

Abstract: A belted chain connection system includes first and second flexible belt portions, each flexible belt portion having first and second ends with integral lugs extending therefrom. A non-circular aperture extends transversely through the integral lugs, and a reinforcing ply is embedded within each flexible belt portion, the reinforcing ply having a continuous portion substantially circumscribing the non-circular aperture in each lug. A non-circular pin is configured to extend transversely through aligned non-circular apertures of the lugs of the first and second ends of adjacent belt segments, to non-rotatably connect the adjacent belt segments.

Abstract: A root crop harvester apparatus includes a transverse frame, supported to move above ground in a harvesting direction and oriented generally perpendicular to the harvesting direction. A plurality of pairs of generally upright, spaced apart puller wheels are connected to the transverse frame in a trailing orientation, having a substantially common rotational axis, and configured to contact the ground, each pair having a pinch point therebetween. The transverse frame is pivotal about an axis that is substantially aligned with the substantially common rotational axis, whereby rotation of the transverse frame collectively rotates all of the pairs of puller wheels about the common rotational axis and thereby adjusts a location of all of the pinch points with respect to the harvesting direction.

Abstract: A sugar beet puller wheel set includes a pair of generally upright, spaced apart, symmetrically non-parallel puller wheels, rotatably disposed on axles attached to a frame and having a gap therebetween. A gap adjuster is associated with at least one of the puller wheels, and is configured to move the at least one puller wheel axially along the respective axle with axial rotation of the gap adjuster, allowing selective adjustment of the gap.

Abstract: A seed planting device operable on ground includes a main frame, having wheels, configured to be moved in a planting direction on the ground, a seed hopper, attached to the frame, having a discharge, and a cup-type seed dispenser, having a dispenser axis, disposed adjacent to the discharge of the hopper. The seed dispenser is configured to controllably receive and dispense individual seeds from the hopper and drop the seeds from a seed discharge below the frame. The seed hopper and seed dispenser are pivotally attached to the main frame and configured to rotate about a generally horizontal axis to maintain the dispenser axis in a substantially upright orientation relative to an uphill or downhill planting direction.

Abstract: A seed planting device operable on ground includes a main frame, having wheels, configured to be moved in a planting direction on the ground, a seed hopper, attached to the frame, having a discharge, and a cup-type seed dispenser, having a dispenser axis, disposed adjacent to the discharge of the hopper. The seed dispenser is configured to controllably receive and dispense individual seeds from the hopper and drop the seeds from a seed discharge below the frame. The seed hopper and seed dispenser are pivotally attached to the main frame and configured to rotate about a generally horizontal axis to maintain the dispenser axis in a substantially upright orientation relative to an uphill or downhill planting direction.

Abstract: A telescoping coulter system for an agricultural machine, operable on ground and having a frame and a moveable structure, includes a coulter arm, having a proximal end with a pivot point, and a distal end bearing a rotatable coulter disk. An extension mechanism connects the frame to the coulter arm, and is configured to translate the coulter arm between a raised transport position not in mechanical conflict with the moveable structure, and a lowered operational position in which the coulter disk can contact the ground and is proximate to the moveable structure.

Abstract: An articulated discharge end for a conveyor that is positionable adjacent to a moveable receiver includes a frame, having a distal end, configured to bear a discharge end of a conveyor belt at the distal end. The frame has two axes of rotation, whereby the distal end is vertically translatable and laterally rotatable. A guide is disposed near the distal end, and is configured to contact the moveable receiver, whereby motion of the moveable receiver can substantially govern vertical translation and lateral rotation of the distal end.

Abstract: An articulated discharge end for a conveyor that is positionable adjacent to a moveable receiver includes a frame, having a distal end, configured to bear a discharge end of a conveyor belt at the distal end. The frame has two axes of rotation, whereby the distal end is vertically translatable and laterally rotatable. A guide is disposed near the distal end, and is configured to contact the moveable receiver, whereby motion of the moveable receiver can substantially govern vertical translation and lateral rotation of the distal end.