Abstract: A plant lifting device is mounted on an agricultural machine and includes a drum that is articulated to a frame around a first substantially horizontal axis and which includes a substantially cylindrical casing that has openings through which seizing means intended to lift plants situated outside the casing are able to protrude. A rotor is provided onto which the seizing means are fastened and that is able to be driven in rotation relative to the frame around a second axis directed substantially parallel to the first axis and separate from it, in which, when the device is operated, the second axis is fixed relative to the first axis. A rotational movement transmission means includes at least one rod articulated to the drum on one hand and to the rotor on another hand.

Abstract: A windrower with a header has a conveying medium with first and second portions connected with a pivot joint and moveable across a plural rollers configured to receive crop material from the header and direct the crop material to a side of the windrower to form a windrow on the ground to the side of the windrower. In an operational position and with the frame selected to one of the predetermined angular adjustments, the conveying medium discharges the harvested crop material at an angle of trajectory determined by the selected angular position of the second portion. The windrower harvests crop with the header, receives the mowed crop on the conveyor system, adjusts a rate at which the mowed crop is discharged from the conveyor system, and adjusts an angle of trajectory at which the mowed crop is discharged from the conveyor system.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header includes a reel rotatable about a reel axis. The reel has a reel bat supported at a spaced distance from the reel axis. The reel bat can pivot about a bat axis radially spaced from the reel axis. The reel bat has a crop collection member that extends generally away from the bat axis. The reel bat can move in a cyclical path around the reel axis during rotation of the reel. The reel bat can vary the angle of the crop collection member about the bat axis as the reel rotates about the reel axis. A sun gear is provided that may be positioned in axial alignment with the reel axis. A planetary gear system is rotatable about the sun gear. The planetary gear system interacts with the sun gear, and causes said planetary gear system to effect pivotal movement of the reel bat about its bat axis.

Abstract: An elongate rotatable drum for use in a windrow turning apparatus is provided. The drum has paddles adapted to engage with material in a windrow. The paddles form at least one pair of opposed rows, each row being made up of a plurality of paddles defining a helical path along the drum, the helical path of the paddles the opposed paired rows promote movement of the material to a common focal area. Also provided is a composting machine incorporating the drum.

Abstract: An elongate rotatable drum for use in a windrow turning apparatus is provided. The drum has paddles adapted to engage with material in a windrow. The paddles form at least one pair of opposed rows, each row being made up of a plurality of paddles defining a helical path along the drum, the helical path of the paddles the opposed paired rows promote movement of the material to a common focal area. Also provided is a composting machine incorporating the drum.

Abstract: The apparatus is a fluffing roll for installation on a crop harvesting machine to disperse the crop before it hits the ground thereby facilitating drying. The fluffing roll is a cylinder with auger flights on one half of the cylindrical surface that direct the cut crop in one direction, and auger flights on the other half of the cylindrical surface that direct cut crop in the direction opposite from the direction of the first half.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hay making machine, particularly a windrower for plant matter, comprising a structure carrying at least one raking wheel. The latter is connected to the end of a carrying arm in such a way as to be able to pivot about a first axis and a second axis.

Abstract: The invented fluffer is a retractable hay and bean agricultural design for use in fluffing hay, bean and other crops. The retractable fluffer comprises: a pickup assembly 40 for fluffing hay or beans, the pickup assembly 40 is attached to and supported by a pickup frame 30, the pickup frame 30 is pivotally attached to a hitch attachment assembly 50 at a pair of pivots, the hitch attachment assembly 50 attaches to a standard three-point hitch located on the rear of a tractor 200. Preferably, a gauge wheel assembly 60 is attached to the pickup frame 30 for assisting in holding the pickup frame 30 above the surface of the ground.

Abstract: A racking, pickup and windrowing implement for moving crop lying on the ground laterally which includes a first machine comprising rake wheels that rotate about substantially vertical axes and move the crop inwardly where it is picked up by a pick-up implement and conveyed to a displacing device which displaces the crop laterally and discharges it back on the ground in a windrow which is proximate the boundary of the strip being worked or, in one embodiment, the windrow is formed by discharging it laterally from the displacing device at a further distance away from the boundary of the strip being worked which is substantially equal to the width of the strip being worked. The displacing device comprises two endless members in series. Such endless members and the rake wheels are foldable upwardly so that the entire machine combination has a width suitable for transport.

Abstract: A hub guard includes a vertical wall portion preferably semi-circular in shape covering the upper half of the interconnected hub plate and teeth mounting plate and associated bolts. In an alternative embodiment, the guard vertical wall extends down on opposite sides of the hub housing terminating in end edges spaced apart to define an access opening to the teeth mounting bolts with the width of the access opening being at least as great as the width of the hub housing to allow for mounting of the guard on the housing and removal without removal of the rake wheel.

Abstract: A device is provided for raking and tedding a crop, such as hay. The device includes a frame with a main conveyor rotatably mounted on the frame. The main conveyor has an input end and a discharge end. A pick-up roller is located adjacent the input end of the main conveyor. A rear conveyor assembly is located adjacent the discharge end of the main conveyor. The rear conveyor assembly includes at least one auxiliary conveyor having a first end and a second end, with the second end of the at least one auxiliary conveyor pivotally mounted on the frame. Also, a raking and tedding device is provided in which the rear conveyor assembly includes a lateral conveyor hingedly mounted on the frame and configured to move from a first, operative position under the discharge end of the main conveyor to a second, inoperative position.

Abstract: A hay inverter is provided including a wheeled frame connected to a tractor and a drive assembly. Also included is a pick up unit for picking up hay from a windrow. An auxiliary frame is pivotally coupled to a side edge of the wheeled frame. Next provided is a swing arm conveyor mounted on the auxiliary frame for dispensing hay received from the pick up unit.

Abstract: A haymaking machine which includes a frame that has two windrowing rotors driven in rotation about substantially vertical axes, the frame having a linkage beam which connects the axle of the first rotor to that of the second rotor, the beam being articulated to the axle of the first rotor. The linkage beam includes at least one transverse joint shaft and the first rotor includes a toothed ring which meshes with a first gear wheel which is formed as one piece with a drive shaft and with a second gear wheel which is formed as one piece with a transmission shaft which extends to the second rotor and which includes a third gear wheel which meshes with a toothed ring of this rotor. The transmission shaft is housed in the linkage beam and is pivotable with the latter about the axle of the first rotor, the transmission shaft including at least one universal joint at the level of the joint shaft the linkage beam.

Abstract: An aerator main frame has wheels and a hitch by which the main frame is pulled on the ground, such as by a tractor. The main frame has a transverse conveyor for transporting a cut crop laterally of the direction of travel and for depositing the cut crop in a row on the ground. A header frame is pivotally supported to the main frame. Idler wheels attach to the header frame support it adjacent the ground. A header conveyor is supported by the header frame to lift a row of cut crop from the ground and to deliver the cut crop onto the transverse conveyor supported by the mainframe. A hydraulic ram extends between the main frame and the header frame so that the header frame may be pivoted upwardly to lift the idler wheels off the ground when the aerator is being transported from one location to another and pivoted downwardly to permit the idler wheels to roll on the ground so that the header frame is positioned close to the ground to pick up a row of cut crop.

Abstract: An aerator for crops such as hay which is pulled by a tractor or other vehicle. The aerator includes a first header conveyor to lift a first swath from the ground onto the first header conveyor. A first hitch extends between the tractor and the first header conveyor. A first rear conveyor transports the swath from the first header conveyor and thereafter returns it to the ground. A second header conveyor lifts a second, adjacent swath from the ground onto the second header conveyor. A second hitch extends between the first hitch and the second header conveyor. A second rear conveyor transports the swath from the second header conveyor and thereafter returns it to the ground.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus for turning, and otherwise agitating, compost materials in an elongated windrow, is described. The invention includes a chute structure, that can be moved into, and along, the windrow. A toothed drum, at the leading end of the chute structure, penetrates the compost material, and throws it upwardly, and rearwardly, onto an inclined conveyor. The conveyor transports the materials upwardly to a discharge point, located at the trailing end of the chute structure. Gravitational forces cause the materials to intermittently fall back toward the drum, thereby churning and mixing the materials. Pressurized air is continually sprayed onto the materials on the conveyor, in order to aerate the materials while they are being churned and transported.

Abstract: The blades on the drum in composting apparatus are arranged obliquely relative to the direction of the helical spiral and also obliquely to the axis of the drum and to the direction of travel of the chassis of the vehicle for moving material toward the center of the drum. Blades adjacent the center of the drum attack the face of a pile of compost material first and create a void, which is then filled by material moved by the following blade, while it is creating another void to be filled by material moved by the next blade and so on to the end of the spiral and the outer ends of the drum.

Abstract: A windrow inverter having a crop pick-up mechanism operable to elevate a windrow of crop material from the ground onto a transversely moveable draper conveyor is disclosed wherein a wing draper attachment mounted on the frame of the windrow inverter on the opposing side of the transverse cross conveyor from the discharge chute. The wing extension is moveable between a raised transport position and a lowered operating position and is latched into the selected position by a latching mechanism. A hydraulic system is provided to operatively drive the draper for the wing extension and the cross conveyor in opposing directions to permit the windrow inverter to be utilized to discharge windrows of crop material to either selected side of the windrow inverter. The drive mechanism utilizes a selective combination of a mechanical ground drive and a hydraulic drive to power the operation of the pick-up mechanism, cross conveyor and wing attachment.

Abstract: A forage crop harvester is provided with a rotary crop pick-up which deposits crop deposited in an elongated swath and deposits it on a transversely extended, moveable conveyor which consolidates the crop material and deposits it in a windrow at one side of the harvester. The pick-up is disposed on the harvester in a position in advance of the harvester wheels, thereby eliminating damage to the crop caused by crushing of the material in the swath by the wheels. The harvester includes mechanism providing for maintaining it in an offset relationship with respect to the tractor during operation. The rake and conveyor are supported through a counterbalancing mechanism which maintains it in a floating relationship in a crop pick-up position and has ground engaging skids which limit contact of the rake teeth with the ground surface.

Abstract: In a reaping machine (11) having one or more rotatably drivable mowing units (12) which are provided with working implements, the mowing units (12) being held on a support frame (13) held with the tractor, the mowing units (12) are pivotally supported on the support frame (13) for easy moving adaptation of the working implements to the surface of the ground in the immediate working region by means of one or more compensating means (A2). Furthermore, the pivot axes (M) of the compensating means (A2) are arranged extending in the travelling direction and/or transversely thereof and/or inclined substantially in the vertical plane or intersect each other or the compensating means consist of a ball joint. In addition, the compensating means (A2) is configured in such a manner that at least one pivot axis (M) extending transversely of the travelling direction lies in the vicinity of the surface of the ground (10).

Abstract: A hay harvesting machine in which previously cut crop material in a windrow or swath on the ground is picked up and inverted to position a damp side up and a dry side down; as the crop is inverted, it is directed laterally toward one side of the machine and rearwardly; after inversion, the crop is turned further and conveyed for discharge back onto the ground laterally displaced from its original position on the ground.

Abstract: A lawn comber or thatcher comprising a drum carrying a multiplicity of rows of radially extending tines extending from the surface of the drum, each row extending in a generally angular or helical path along the drum and being spaced such that at least one tine is always in contact with the ground to provide a driving force for the thatcher, each tine having a torsion or helical spring portion at a position adjacent the inner most end of each tine.

Abstract: A compost turner including a rotatable mandrel supported by a shaft and at least one bearing includes a guard for reducing the tendency of polymeric garbage bags to wrap around the mandrel shaft and foul the bearing. The guard includes stationary cutting members mounted to a bearing support and rotating cutting members mounted to the mandrel which interact with the stationary guard members to shred garbage bags into harmless pieces.

Abstract: A compost windrow turner that uses an elevating conveyor to pick up, mix and aerate the composted material and then redeposit the material. The machine is moved by attachment to the loader bucket of a tractor which then moves and controls the operation of the machine. The machine is firmly held in place by a clamping mechanism that is hydraulically powered. The tractor can also be used to transport the machine or load it onto a transport carrier. The machine also has an attachment for separating plastic trash bags from their contents as they pass through the machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning, mixing and aerating windrows of compost to convert the waste material comprising the compost into a useable material, such as soil amendment. The apparatus includes multiple elevating conveyors that first elevate that material to mix and aerate it and then deposit the material onto secondary conveyors that move the material transversely to the windrow before it is re-deposited. In a preferred version, there are three elevating conveyors, two outside and one center conveyor with the outside conveyors depositing the material onto transverse conveyors that move the material inwardly where it is re-deposited on the ground while the center elevating conveyor deposits the material picked up from the center of the windrow on top of the material picked up by the elevating conveyors on the sides. In this manner, the material is not only mixed and aerated but completely inverted.

Abstract: A windrow mover having a frame with a linkage arm on each side. Each of the linkage arms having a first end pivotally attached near the front of and at a point on the axis of the frame. An axle is attached to a second end of each linkage arm defining an axis. Ground engaging wheels are mounted on each of the axles, thereby permitting movement of the frame over a groundsurface. A hydraulic cylinder is provided for moving the linkage arm such that the axis of the frame moves in a substantially vertical plane radially about the axis of the wheels as defined by the axle, thereby altering the spacial relationship between the frame and the wheels from an operative position where the front of the frame is adjacent the groundsurface to a transport position where the front of the frame is spaced from the groundsurface.

Abstract: A support frame is provided for support from the three point hitch of a tractor and rotatably journals an elongated horizontal roll for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the support frame. The support frame includes opposite side ground skid portions and the roll has its lower periphery elevated slightly above the under surfaces of the ground skid portions. Although other structure may be provided for driving the roll, a forwardly directed swing arm is pivotally supported from the support frame at its rear end and rotatably journals a ground engageable drive wheel at its forward end. The roll is journalled for rotation about an axis coinciding with the axis of oscillation of the support arm and the drive wheel is drivingly coupled to the roll for rotating the latter in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the drive wheel and at a peripheral speed which is at least substantially equal to the peripheral speed of the ground wheel.

Abstract: An agricultural machine operative to pick up, convey and invert a swatch or windrow of hay for the purpose of accelerating the curing thereof. The machine has a mobile frame which carries at its fore part a swath-straddling pick-up which function to pick up the swath bodily and to convey it rearwardly and then obliquely to the line of advance for return to the ground or stubble as an inverted swath ribbon or mat. The oblique conveyor comprises a plurality of parallel, closely side-by-side belts whose upper runs carry the swath ribbon from the pick-up mechanism to a discharge zone at which the discharge ends of the belts are arranged in staggered fashion along a line oblique to the path of travel of the belts.

Abstract: An agricultural implement is disclosed for raking and tedding a swath of hay into a tedded windrow with a single pass of the implement along the swath of hay. The implement includes a plurality of circular rake wheels and a rotatable tedder, both mounted on a common base frame. First and second height adjustment mechanisms are included for the selective, independent adjustment of the height of the tedder and the height of the rake wheels. A lateral adjustment mechanism is provided for selectively adjusting the lateral relationship of the implement with respect to a towing vehicle.

Abstract: A discharge chute for use on a window turner having a pickup mechanism for elevating a windrow of crop material off the ground and a cross conveyor for receiving the elevated windrow and conveying the windrow laterally of the direction of travel as disclosed wherein the discharge chute is provided with an adjustable discharge edge for the floor member of the discharge chute over which the windrow must pass before being deposited on the ground. The floor member of the discharge chute is provided with an edge plate member positionally movable with respect to the floor base member, the edge plate member being fixed into a selected position relative to the floor base member by clamping bolts.

Abstract: An adjustable mechanism for picking up, lifting, and laterally displacing a windrow in a field by the use of a toothed conveyor platform traveling at a canted angle with respect to the center line of the windrow being displayed for drying purposes.

Abstract: An apparatus selectively operable either to invert and laterally displace the windrow from its original position or merely to laterally displace the windrow without effecting an inversion thereof is disclosed wherein a first discharge chute can be utilized to effect an inversion of the windrow while a second discharge chute can be utilized for merely shifting the windrow without inversion. The discharge chute is positioned laterally of and adjacent the discharge end of a cross conveyor conveying an elevated windrow of crop material laterally of its original path of repose upon the ground. The first discharge chute redirects the flow of crop material forwardly and over a discharge edge whereupon the forward motion of the apparatus will effect an inversion of the windrow into a second path of repose laterally spaced from its original path.

Abstract: An apparatus for laterally displacing and inverting a windrow of crop material is disclosed wherein a pickup engages a windrow of crop material along a first path and elevates the windrow into a table where it is conveyed in a semi-circular path by a horizontal conveyor until it is rolled off a discharge edge of the table into a second path laterally displaced from the first path. The speed relationship between the horizontal conveyor and the forward movement of the apparatus is such that the elevated windrow of crop material is gently rolled off the discharge edge of the platform in such a manner that the windrow is inverted when it engages the ground. A method of laterally displacing and inverting a windrow of crop material is also disclosed wherein the windrow is gently picked up, conveyed and turned upside down without the need for a structural device to engage the windrow and positively invert it.

Abstract: A driven transverse spreader forcibly spreads a windrow to be uniformly distributed in front of a crop pick-up device. Flexible aprons at the sides of the device prevent transverse spreading beyond the grasp of the pick-up device.

Abstract: An agricultural implement adapted to be passed over and along windrows of hay, grain, and other crop vegetation lying cut in a field, for fluffing such windrows without turning them upside down or displacing them in the field, has a rotary pick-up device with preferably spring-loaded pick-up teeth that progressively withdraw from the picked-up mass of material as such material is carried backwardly, and a discharge arrangement that minimizes hang-up of the discharging material. Provision is preferably made for driving the pick-up device at infinitely variable speeds independently of the speed of travel of the implement along the lengths of the windrows, and for adjustably determining the width and height of the fluffed windrows.

Abstract: A frame mounted on wheels having a pickup head, with tines, lifting the windrow and moving it back. A lower roller with ribs is mounted rearwardly of the pickup head, and extending above it. An upper roller with ribs is mounted above, and partially forwardly of the lower roller, leaving a gap between the rollers through which the hay of the windrow passes. The pickup head and rollers are driven by p.t.o. drive from the drawing vehicle.

Abstract: A machine advances along a windrow of hay, or other field crop, which is dry on top but still damp on the bottom. The windrow is engaged, elevated and urged rearwardly in a continuous stream. A diagonal deflector adjacent the after end of the machine intercepts the flow of the windrow and inverts it before returning the inverted windrow to the ground. Twin spaced rows of disappearing backwardly raked tines travel across the face of the deflector in the path of the windrow to assure inversion; and guide rods at the trailing end of the deflector smoothly direct the windrow as it gravitates to the ground. The damp side of the windrow is thereby exposed to the drying effects of sun and wind.

Abstract: A turf scarifier and raker includes a housing with an elongated upright handle and having suitably positioned wheels designed to permit traversing movements over turf while the operator is in a standing position. The housing has an electric motor positioned in essentially the same plane as a tine assembly driven by the electric motor. The tine assembly has a plurality of tines which extend through an opening at the bottom of the housing. The tines result from a plurality of torsion coil springs having radially extending active ends that are serially threaded on rods arcuately and radially located about a central axle of the tine assembly. The active ends come into contact with the turf when the device is operated. At the same time, the other ends of the springs are inhibited from turning torque, preferably by lying in abutment against the central axle.

Abstract: A hay machine for working crop lying on the ground, such as a side-delivery rake, a tedder or a combined hay-making machine has a tined carrier for redepositing worked crop on the ground and comprises rows of tines which, in operation, are rotated in a forward direction while being turned oppositely over at least part of their path near the ground. The tines, which are located near the ground, extend horizontally and in a forward direction with respect to the direction of machine movement. The carrier preferably mounts three rows of elongated tines that are each shaped as a lazy S and pointed at each end. A sun wheel and planet gear system drives the carrier as a whole while turning the tines to pick up crop, raise and deposit same to the rear of the carrier. The orientation of the tines can be adjusted by displacing the sun wheel relative to the frame and fixing same in position.

Abstract: A vine fluffer is provided with a middle conveyor section and a pair of outer flanking conveyor sections with the outer sections each pivotable about a respective pivot axis so as to be movable from an operative horizontal position in which all three conveyor sections are aligned to an inoperative vertically disposed position for storage and transportation. Each pivot axis passes through a pivot pin coupling the frame of a respective outer conveyor section to the frame of the middle conveyor section and a universal joint which couples conveyor motive power transmitted through the middle conveyor section to the two outer conveyor sections.

Abstract: A double windrow attachment for self-propelled or pull-type windrowing machines receives crop which has been projected rearwardly from conditioning apparatus of the machine and transfers the crop obliquely to one side of the path of travel of the machine without discontinuing the rearward momentum of the crop. The oblique orientation of the attachment encourages the crop to flow smoothly in a steady stream from the conditioning apparatus to the discharge end of the attachment without bunching as it lands on the attachment, all of which produces a windrow of uniform density to promote rapid and proper curing of the windrowed crop. Successive passes in opposite directions through the standing crop produces a double windrow which can be readily handled by subsequent crop handling equipment, such as stack-forming machines. An improved conveyor of the attachment enables the crop to be transferred laterally at high speeds such that the windrowing operation can be carried out more rapidly than heretofore possible.