Abstract: A vacuum-blower unit has an intake connected by a flexible hose to a method plastics boot pivotally connected to the discharge portion of a rotary mower deck mounted on a riding tractor. The boot is also supported in horizontally spaced relation to the deck by a caster wheel to form an air gap and is adapted for convenient connection with decks of different sizes and configurations and having either a right or left discharge. The boot is cut to form an opening somewhat larger than the discharge outlet of the mower deck to extend the air gap which cooperates with air intake holes in the boot to avoid clogging of the boot with grass clippings, leaves and other debris transported by the vacuum-blower unit through flexible ducts to a trailing wheel supported cart. The cart includes a body enclosed by a canopy having an elongated top air discharge outlet covered by a screen and a row of independently pivotal louvers.

Abstract: An unloader position control switch assembly is positioned along the pivot axis of an unloader tube and is provided with a downwardly depending key that engages a slot formed in a pivot pin fixedly secured to the unloader tube. The switch assembly has two switch elements that are mechanically interconnected and are automatically resettable after the unloading tube substantially reaches either the storage position or the unloading position for the unloading tube. An operator's switch is interconnected with the control switch assembly so that an operator may easily manipulate the positioning of the unloader tube.

Abstract: A grass catching attachment for use on a rear bagger mower has a rearwardly facing grass discharge chute and a bag support for holding disposable plastic garbage bag in position to receive air and grass clippings from the discharge chute. The bag is mounted adjacent a base housing that includes a discharge opening for the grass at its lower portions, and an air outlet at the upper portions which joins to a conduit that directs the return air forwardly of the mower. Thus, any debris, short grass clippings, pollen, dust or the like that might be carried with the air discharging from the bag is firm from the user in front of the mower and recycled through the grass catcher. The bag is held in a basket that permits easy installation and removal, and substantially increases the amount of grass which can be packed into the bag.

Abstract: A lawn mower is provided with a door which closes the opening at the rear end of a mowed grass discharge duct when a mowed grass catcher bag is not mounted on the rear of the duct. The door is also capable of serving as a member for mounting the bag when the door opens the opening of the duct.

Abstract: A drive system for the internal combustion engine of a large work vehicle, such as a self-propelled agricultural combine. The drive system comprising three concentric drive shafts that are housed in a housing for driving three separate usage assemblies. The outer and middle drive shafts are provided with bevel gear assemblies having output axes perpendicular to the drive shafts axis. The bevel gear assembly of the outer drive shaft is coupled to a series of four sequentially mounted hydraulic pumps, whereas the bevel gear assembly of the middle drive shaft is coupled to a forwardly extending drive shaft. An internal clutch is provided for operatively engaging and disengaging the middle drive shaft from the drive train.

Abstract: A collector cart includes a body having an open rear end, which is closed by a canopy pivotally mounted adjacent its front end on the body adjacent its front end. The body has a support pivotally connected to caster wheel supports and a tow bar attached to a riding lawn mower hitch bar. Telescoping chutes connect the mower outlet with a canopy port to fill the cart with debris. When the cart is to be dumped, a linkage mechanism is activated by an operator, who remains on the mower, raising a lift handle to initially cause rearward shifting of the canopy relative to the body to release a locking connection of the rear of the canopy to the rear of the body. The body is released from its tow bar at the same time so that continued raising of the lift handle by the operator causes the body to pivot to a dumping position while the canopy pivots away from the body due to a rope of a fixed length connecting the front of the canopy to the mower.

Abstract: A vehicle is controllably powered to be steerably moved over an area. Mounted on the front of the vehicle is a cutter assembly. Also mounted on the vehicle is a hopper. Mowed cuttings are delivered by a conduit from the cutter to the hopper. An outlet mounted within the hopper is coupled in use to the conduit for distributing received cuttings on into the interior of the hopper. A driver mounted with respect to the hopper moves that outlet in a systematic pattern to vary the direction of distribution of the received cuttings.

Abstract: An ensilage harvester blower is provided with a deflector which directs crop material discharged from the blower along a path which intersects a curved, crop direction changing, discharge spout wall surface area at a shallow angle so as to minimize the normal forces exerted by the discharged material on the wall surface area.

Abstract: An improved lawn mower grass clipping catcher using vortical separation of grass clippings from exhaust air. The catcher includes a vortex exhaust baffle which deflects and diverts upward flow of air and clippings down and outwardly into the vortical flow, decreasing the escape of suspended clippings and dust from the catcher. The clippings fall into a plastic trash barrel which may contain a plastic trash bag. The barrel supports the housing in which the vortical air flow is initiated. The delivery chute is rectangular in cross section and scrolls around the housing to provide smoother air flow at the inlet of the housing by optimizing the tangentiality of entry of the inlet air. The delivery chute is rigid and provides cantilevered support for the housing when the housing is lifted about a hinge and located in a retracted position while the plastic barrel is being emptied.

Abstract: A lawn mower comprising a housing including a discharge chute, a door mounted on the housing for pivotal movement between a closed position preventing discharge from the chute of grass clippings and an open position permitting discharge from the chute of grass clippings, a spring biasing the door to the closed position, a grass clippings catcher including a relatively rigid frame defining, at least in part, a mouth, and a collector communicating with the mouth, and structures on the housing, on the door, and on the catcher for removably supporting the frame on the housing in a mounted position relative to the chute so as to enable receipt of grass clippings from the chute, for displacing the door to the open position in response to movement of the frame to the mounted position, for retaining the door in the open position during continued location of the frame in the mounted position, for releasably holding the frame in the mounted position, and for permitting displacement of the door to the closed position in

Abstract: A rear dumping brush-type lawn sweeper for attachment to a garden tractor includes a hamper assembly which is mounted on a support frame for pivotal movement. The support frame is carried on the main frame of the brush housing. The hamper assembly carries an open top hamper bag. The top of the bag is normally closed by a mesh-type folding wind apron. A forward portion of the apron is attached to the hamper assembly, while a rear portion of the apron is attached to a rear cross member forming part of the hamper support frame. The wind apron, at its rear terminal end, forms a closure with the rear lip of the hamper bag in the normal running position. When the hamper is rotated rearwardly on the support frame for dumping, the wind screen folds on itself and exposes a rear dumping opening with the rear hamper bag lip.

Abstract: In a cotton harvester, a pair of fork assemblies are mounted between the ends of the basket for independently rocking about a fore-and-aft extending pivotal axis. A separate hydraulic cylinder operates each fork assembly to compact the cotton against the side of the basket and to selectively hold a substantial portion of the cotton in the basket during dumping. The cylinders are plumbed in parallel so that uneven loads can be compressed with substantially uniform pressure from the front to rear of the basket.

Abstract: A leaf receptacle bag is affixed to a vertically disposed support surface that has means for adapting to a leaf conduit. The leaf conduit conveys leaves from a tractor vacuum unit through an orifice in the vertically disposed support surface, the adapter of the conduit directing the leaves diagonally across the interior of the leaf receptacle bag to thereby deposit the leaves at the lower portion of the bag.

Abstract: A vehicle is controllably powered to be steerably moved over an area. Mounted on the front of the vehicle is a cutter assembly. Also mounted on the vehicle is a hopper. Mowed cuttings are delivered by a conduit from the cutter to the hopper. An outlet mounted within the hopper is coupled in use to the conduit for distributing received cuttings on into the interior of the hopper. A driver mounted with respect to the hopper moves that outlet in a systematic pattern to vary the direction of distribution of the received cuttings.An elongated paddle is mounted to swing reciprocally in correspondence with movement of the outlet. Upon the occurrance of impedence against the swinging of that paddle, by cuttings collected within the hopper, a switch is actuated to energize an indicator.

Abstract: A first pulley is coupled by a flexible belt to a second pulley for delivering power from a source to a driven device. An idler pulley is urged against the belt to create tension therein. A cam, coupled for swinging movement to the idler pulley, faces against a cam guide in a manner to vary the spacing between the guide and the idler pulley in correspondence with the amount of swinging movement. A spring secured to the cam nudges the latter in a direction to incrementally increase the spacing between the guide and the pulley in order to maintain a pre-selected degree of tension in the belt upon the occurrence of a surge in power delivered from the source to the driven device with consequent incremental permanent stretching of the belt.

Abstract: A grass collection system for a reel mower in which an auger extends across each reel. The part of the auger not facing the reel is enclosed by a shield, so the auger conveys cut grass laterally to one end of the mower, from which end the cut grass is conveyed through an air duct and impeller to a hopper. Where the duct connects to the auger shield, an extra opening is provided to entrain outside air, to maintain the flow of air past the auger shield outlet and thus reduce the likelihood of clogging.

Abstract: In a self-propelled cotton harvester, a microprocessor circuit associated with the cotton compactor for automatically controlling the operating cycles of the compactor. A digital counter-type transducer is associated with the transmission gear or drive wheel and counts the number of revolutions of that member. Once the operator has entered in the microprocessor memory the starting time of the compactor operation in relation to the number of revolutions of the drive gear or wheel, each cotton picking cycle thereafter proceeds automatically without intervention by the operator, so that operation of the compactor begins at substantially the same point in each cotton load.

Abstract: The four-wheel lawn tractor has a rear mounted detachable grass catcher bag to collect the grass clippings conveyed by a discharge conduit emerging and extending upwardly from the worm type mower housing. The discharge conduit is left open at the bottom side whereby its length, slope and turn and also the blower capacity are designed according to flow codes that will permit grass clippings to be conveyed uninterruptedly and turbulence-free through to the outlet end of the discharge conduit. The outlet end of the discharge conduit is disposed below a swivel shaft of a catcher hood covering the top of a catcher bag in its horizontal swivel position. If the catcher bag is removed, the catcher hood may be swung in a vertical hanging position transverse to the outlet end of the discharge conduit permitting a mulching operation of the lawn tractor in which the clippings drop down on the lawn surface.

Abstract: In a mower deck and auxiliary blower combination in which the mower deck has a side discharge and the blower has a housing with an inlet in communication with the discharge, an elongated horizontal socket is provided on the deck and a matching rod dimensioned closely to mate with the socket is fixed on the blower so that when the rod is inserted in the socket, the housing will be supported in cantilever fashion on the mower deck. Offset from the socket and matching rod joint is a shoulder on the mower deck that underlies a shoulder on the housing and a verticle pin extends through the portion of the housing and the portion of the deck at said shoulders and detachably connects the housing end to the deck. Removal of the pin makes removal of the entire blower a mere sliding action as the rod is moved outwardly from its socket.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting a grass collector to the discharge chute of a power lawn mower. A lower front portion of a ring around the receiving mouth of the collector is hooked over a detent at the bottom side of the chute and pivoted upwardly until an upper portion of the ring rests in a nest formed by a pair of upper tabs and a lower tab extending outwardly from a pivoted safety door. The door is biased toward a closed position across the discharge opening of the chute, and is opened by a hook extending from an over-center latch, between the upper tabs. The hook extends around the nested upper portion of the ring, and when the latch is manually operated to its closed position the hook pulls against the ring portion to move it and the upper part of the door forwardly. This clamps the collector mouth to the chute, at the same time opening the safety door. The collector cannot be removed until the safety door has been returned to its closed position by manually operating the latch to its open position.

Abstract: A bagger for a front mount mower including a bagger support attached to the drive vehicle at a point intermediate the operator's seat and the rear wheel. A pair of bag support rims are releasably attached to the bagger support and a pair of L-shaped bags are suspended on and depend from the respective rims. The L-shaped bags are supported over the mid-portion of the drive vehicle forward of the rear wheel. Each bag is contoured to provide a large capacity to receive clippings while being disposed in close proximity to the top and sides of the drive vehicle.

Abstract: A universal mower deck discharge boot is formed by rotational molding into two sections which telescope one over the other and each of which is formed with a blank forwardly or side facing wall portion, which wall portions together are adapted to be cut out and formed with an opening which closely conforms to the discharge chute of a mower deck. The forward section is otherwise generally closed at the sides and the top and the bottom and is formed with a curved forward wall to resist catching on obstructions, while the rear section is formed with a discharge spout adapted to receive a flexible conduit. The sections telescope one relative to the other to conform to the dimensions of a wide variety of mower deck discharge chutes.

Abstract: A self-driven chopper-harvester for experimental plots of ground of reduced size, intended especially for collecting fodder plants, comprises a collecting and chopping device forming a first module to which is connected via an ejection duct to a second module comprising an automatic weighing and sampling assembly.

Abstract: An impeller is mounted above the top wall of the housing of a mower carried by a riding vehicle, near the side of the mower at which it has its clipping outlet. The rotor of the impeller rotates on a vertical axis that is between the clipping outlet and the vertical axis of the mower blade nearest that outlet and is driven by a belt engaging a pulley on the spindle for that blade. Flat paddle-like blades of the rotor have a portion of their orbit in an upwardly and rearwardly extending passage defined by the front portion of a clipping duct that communicates the mower clipping outlet with a receptacle at the rear of the vehicle. The impeller draws air and clippings out of the mower housing and propels them rearward through the duct.

Abstract: A grass/lawn debris handling system for a lawn mower having a side grass discharge duct includes a rigid hopper mounted on the side of the mower proximate tha grass discharge duct. A substantially vertical chute mounted on the discharge duct communicates at its lower end with the duct and at its upper end with the front end of the hopper. Relative movement of the chute and the hopper as well as the selective disconnection and reconnection thereof is made possible by an oversized opening in the hopper for receiving the chute upper end and flexible seal means in the opening for sealing the space between the hopper and chute end. The hopper is supported on a lift arm pivoted at the rear of the mower. A cylinder provides selective pivotal movement of the lift arm to rotate the hopper into an elevated dumping position. A hinged hopper door of air-permeable material opens automatically when the hopper is elevated to its dumping position to permit discharge of the hopper contents.

Abstract: A power-driven structure comprises a long grider (I) supported at its both ends by self-propelled carriages (II) which raise and lower the girder, the implement being designed for travel across planted fields or orchards without compacting the soil. Various implements, such as a cotton harvester (34), a potato picker (VIII) or a fruit collecting device may be suspended from, and propelled along, the girder (I). A mechanical conveyor (15) extends along the top of the girder, and a pneumatic conveyor system (13) is arranged underneath the mechanical conveyor. The pneumatic conveyor system is provided with spaced nozzles (40) for connection to flexible suction pipes (34).

Abstract: A forwardly opening cylindrical housing is mounted on the forward end of a wheeled frame coupled to the front of self-propelled prime mover and the rear of the housing includes a forwardly facing axial inlet and radial discharge rotor assembly mounted therein. The housing includes a tangential outlet for the rear end thereof aligned with the rotor assembly and the outlet has the inlet end of conduit means connected thereto for conveying large volumes of air having forage entrained therein to a remote bin into which the discharge end of the conduit opens. The forward end of the housing includes generally diametric stationary bar structure and a forward extension of the rotor shaft includes radial cutting blades spaced slightly axially from the stationary bar.

Abstract: A mounting structure for supporting a power module at least partially outboard of the wheels of a tractor comprising a subframe detachably mounted on the tractor frame between its front and rear wheels and extending transversely outwardly from the tractor toward the module and terminating inboard of the outer sides of the tractor wheels. The subframe has vertical aligned and vertical spaced horizontal ledges thereon. A complementary subframe is fixed to the module outboard of the tractor wheels and has vertically aligned transversely extending horizontal platforms that are vertically spaced on the order of the vertical spacing of the ledges. The ledges and the platforms are in transverse overlap position with respect to each other. Vertically aligned vertical sockets are provided on the module subframe and matching vertically aligned pins are provided on the tractor subframe and the module subframe may swing about a vertical axis of when the pins are inserted into the sockets.

Abstract: During the first pass across a field of row-planted sugar or red beets, the apparatus digs the beets from a specific number of rows (six being illustrated but the apparatus herein disclosed can be structured for four or five rows as well), elevates the beets at one side of the apparatus to a given height and discharges the elevated beets into a tank from which they are periodically re-elevated and discharged into a truck at the side of the apparatus opposite the side at which they are elevated and re-elevated, the truck trailing the apparatus over rows from which beets have been removed when not receiving re-elevated beets. On the next pass in a reverse direction across the field, the truck runs in the swath where the beets have been removed during the first pass, and the beets during the second pass are continually discharged into the truck without resort to storage and without re-elevating the beets as done on the first pass.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower mounted on a tractor is equipped with a blower operable to move grass clippings and loose debris from the mower into collection bags. The blower has a rotatable impeller located within a housing attached to the side of the mower. A belt and pulley drive connects the horizontal impeller shaft to an upright blade drive shaft of the mower to rotate the impeller concurrently with the grass cutting blades of the mower. A pair of idler pulleys mounted on one or more supports secured to the housing aligned a single endless belt with the vertical pulley on the impeller drive shaft and change the orientation of the belt from horizontal to vertical and back to horizontal as the belt travels around the pulleys mounted on the impeller and blade shafts.

Abstract: A light weight portable hand-held apparatus for cutting and trimming vegetation, hedges, trees and the like and is provided with a rotatable blade housing have a plurality of cutting blades, said blades being square-shaped or U-shaped in configuration. A shroud designed for efficient transfer of cuttings and for providing protection from flying debris which may result by the cutting action of the blades. The cutting apparatus is provided with a receptacle for collecting the vegetation and branches after being cut and trimmed, said receptacle being designed for easy removal and for easy emptying. The blades used herein result in the cuttings being cut to a fine residue which increases the collecting capacity of the collection receptacle.

Abstract: A grass catcher is provided for mounting to a lawn mower. The grass catcher includes a generally frustum shaped side wall and opposed front and rear walls. An entry chute is provided adjacent the front wall. The front wall is angled relative to the axis of the grass catcher. The side wall is provided with an array of large apertures extending around the lower portion of the grass catcher, and an array of small apertures extending around the top. The rear wall of the grass catcher is hingedly attached to the side wall to facilitate emptying of the grass clippings therefrom.

Abstract: A conveyor is mounted on the slope side of a cotton basket. Lift structure pivots the basket until the slope side of the basket angles slightly downwardly toward the trailer or module builder which receives the cotton. The conveyor moves the cotton from the basket, and a metering bar positioned above and inwardly from the dump end of the conveyor when the basket is in the dump position is rotated with the conveyor drive to assure a smooth continuous flow of cotton without bunching or stalling on the conveyor.

Abstract: A removable grass catcher for a rotary lawn mower that includes a relatively rigid housing for the collection of grass clippings. The housing includes a top wall with at least one downwardly extending flange, at least a part of which top wall is spaced apart from the upper edges of at least one of the rear and side walls of the housing to provide air gaps therebetween that serve as air vents for the housing during the accumulation of grass clippings therein.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sugar cane harvester having a pair of contra-rotating cutters to cut cane at its base and to lift the cane cut-ends first onto a conveyor which delivers the cane through de-trashing devices and then to a pair of rollers which draw the cane from the conveyor and propel it into the open end of a container against an adjustable barrier disposed along the container from said open end. The barrier is positioned to suit the length of the cane being harvested and cutters are provided to cut the cane tops from the stalks where they protrude at the open end of the conveyor to separate the tops from the stalks.

Abstract: A bag support for a riding lawn mower grass collector includes a rectangular framework (2) attached to a mower (10) with grass directing hood (4). A grass bag (6) has a resilient frame (8) extending substantially around bag opening (40). A much larger leaf bag (80) has a resilient frame (82) extending substantially around bag opening (40'). Frames (8, 82) include three continuous coplanar sides and a fourth side with a central open space (44, 86) bounded by a pair of handles (12, 12') extending perpendicularly outward from frame (8, 82). The sections of the fourth side adjacent open space (44, 82) are at an acute angle to the plane of the three coplanar sides. Frames (8, 82) are configured to match separate portions of framework (2). Framework (2) includes transverse brackets (14) and (16) at locations to correspond with alternate sizes of bag (6) or (80). Handle retaining brackets (18) are attached to rear of framework (2) to receive handles (12, 12').

Abstract: A closed-loop lawn mower vacuum apparatus which utilizes the centrifugal forces created by a rotating grass cutting blade to impel grass clippings and other solid debris through an exhaust chute to be automatically deposited in a fully enclosed, rigid, one-piece grass catcher. The grass clippings and other solid debris are entrained in a flow of air which is forced into the grass catcher. The air within the grass catcher is returned beneath the mower through a return chute, and recirculated through the closed loop system to remove any debris still entrained in the air flow. The inlet port of the return chute and the grass catcher are shaped so that solids will automatically be removed from the air flow within the grass catcher. Also, the discharge port of the return chute, located beneath the lawn mower deck, is partially enclosed by a shroud which directs the flow of solids out of the grass catcher so as to be recirculated through the system, and not left uncollected on the lawn surface.

Abstract: In a haymaking machine, at least two drums; a flexible skirt on the lower part of each drum; spaced collectors on the periphery of each drum and means for raising cut hay or fodder plants into a zone located between the drums so as to bring the hay or plants in contact with the collectors.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower mounted on a tractor is equipped with a blower operable to move grass clippings from the mower into a pair of collection bags. The blower has an impeller located within an upright housing attached to a side of the mower. A belt and pulley drive connects a horizontal impeller shaft to an upright blade shaft of the mower to rotate the impeller concurrently with the grass cutting blades of the mower. The rotating impeller draws grass clippings and other loose material from the mower and discharges the material into collection bags mounted on the rear of the tractor.

Abstract: Bag attachment apparatus is provided for enabling a plastic or similar type of trash, leaf, or lawn clippings-receiving bag to be removably attached to a lawn mower or other apparatus whereby trash, leaves, lawn clippings or the like are easily introduced into the bag. The full plastic bag can then be quickly and easily removed from the bag attachment apparatus for disposal. Additional lawn mower attachment apparatus are provided for attachment to lawn mowers for supporting a leaf or lawn clippings-receiving bag, which bag may be attached to the lawn mower by means of the bag attachment. The lawn mower attachment apparatus elements can be assembled into a variety of multi-purpose devices.

Abstract: A grass bag attachment for a lawn mower mounted on and disposed below a tractor having a chassis. The grass bag attachment includes a pair of spaced brackets adapted to be mounted on a rear end of the chassis, a support post composed of a pair of spaced, substantially vertical portions and a cross portion joining the vertical portions at upper ends thereof, the vertical portions having respective lower ends detachably connected to the brackets, respectively, by pins, and a plurality of grass bags having front central portions supported on the support post.

Abstract: A vehicle is controllably powered to be steerably moved over an area. Mountable on the front is a cutter assembly. Also mounted on the vehicle is a hopper. Mowed cuttings are delivered by a conduit from the cutter to the hopper. That hopper is positioned atop the vehicle and coupled to the delivery end of the conduit. Moreover, the hopper is movable with respect to the vehicle into another position wherein the hopper is disengaged from the conduit and at which latter position cuttings may be easily removed.

Abstract: A corn harvester combine assembly including a self-propelled combine with internal corn processing apparatus, a corn head for removing ear corn from planted corn stalks in a field and a corn removal attachment selectively mountable between the combine and the corn head to cause ear corn to be removed from the corn head and stored in a separate location without being processed by the combine in an ear corn harvesting mode of operation.

Abstract: A collecting box for collecting debris from a garden tool, for example a lawn mower or a lawn raker, has a lightweight, self-supporting collecting box body and, on each side of the body, a tubular fastening member for fastening the collecting box to the garden tool. The fastening members extend at least one third of the way along the sides of the body with a view to preventing the body being subjected to high stresses, and the ends of the fastening members project from the body and can be inserted into sockets in the tool. An intermediate length of each fastening member is exposed to provide a handle for carrying the box.

Abstract: A grass catcher for receiving grass clippings and leaves from a rotary deck mower towed by a tractor. A fan driven by the mower forces the clippings through a flexible hose leading to a large capacity hopper. The hopper is mounted on a carriage having a single wheel. A parallel arm linkage permits the hopper to float up and down independently of the mower. When the rope is pulled from the tractor seat, the hopper is dumped to unload its contents. A rear door on the hopper is automatically opened when the hopper is dumped and is closed when the hopper is returned to its running position by pulling on another rope from the tractor seat.

Abstract: Lawn clippings are pelletized and distributed back onto the lawn directly, for example, as part of a mowing operation. For this purpose the lawn clippings are supplied into the top of a chamber wherein compression rollers press the clippings through a stationary apertured plate for extruding the clippings in the form of compressed strands. A rotating distribution disk is arranged below the plate for breaking up the strands into pellets and for throwing or distributing the pellets over the lawn as it is being mowed. The pressure applied to the grass clippings is adjusted to be sufficient for the extrusion, but insufficient for squeezing the natural juices out of the grass clippings. To avoid clogging and positive extrusion at all times during the operation, the compression rollers are preferably driven positively by a double drive system for rotation about a vertical and horizontal axis.

Abstract: A cotton harvesting machine is provided with an on board cotton module maker. The module maker is capable of operating simultaneously with the harvesting of cotton by the harvesting machine.

Abstract: Apparatus is mounted on the rear of a riding lawn mower for utilizing a large supply of large size plastic sheet tubing to form plastic bags as needed for receiving the grass cuttings being discharged from the lawn mower, so that the mower operator need not leave his seat on the lawn mower in order to seal the plastic bag after it is full of cuttings, and to discharge the bag away from the lawn mower. This apparatus is vertically mounted. The grass cuttings are blown to the top of the apparatus into a first air-release funnel. Beneath this funnel is a supply of large plastic sheet tubing folded lengthwise into an annular cartridge. A throttle section is positioned beneath the cartridge for collapsing the sheet tubing into a rope-like formation. Then a pair of vertically-spaced sealing tape dispensers serve to seal the rope-like formation at two locations. Then a cutter severs the plastic to complete sealing the top of a filled bag and for sealing the bottom of the next plastic bag to be filled.

Abstract: The disclosed grass catcher cooperates with a rotary mower carried under a riding vehicle and having a clipping outlet from which a duct extends upward and rearward along the side of the vehicle for discharge into upwardly opening bags supported side-by-side at the rear of the vehicle, each carried on an upwardly and rearwardly projecting hook that enables quick and easy removal and remounting of the bags. Clippings issue from the duct in a trajectory that tends to carry them across the width of the vehicle, but they are deflected downward to fill the bags successively. Such deflection is effected by a cover that overlies the bags and the discharge portion of the duct and has a baffle projecting down from its top wall which defines a divergent air channel leading from the duct outlet and under which air blown up through the duct from the mower is diverted in flowing to a screened rear air outlet in the cover. The outlet portion of the duct is readily removably held in place by an elastic band.

Abstract: A grass catching receptacle for a lawn and garden mowing machine having fixed and movable clamshell portions forming a hopper that is opened at the bottom to dump accumulated clippings. A dumping handle is fixed to the movable clamshell portion and carries a control lever for releasing a cable-operated latch that secures the bottoms of the clamshell portions in their closed position. The movable clamshell portion and a flip-up lid are pivoted around a common axis across the back of the mowing machine, the lid pivoting upwardly and forwardly when the movable clamshell portion is pivoted for a dumping operation, and also pivoting upwardly and forwardly when lifted for access to the hopper through a top opening. A wire frame is disposed across the top opening for holding disposable bags in an open and upright position when a bagging operation is desired.