CONTINUOUS LONGITUDINAL FLOW ROOT CROP HARVESTING
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Accused Products
Abstract
A harvester for root crops such as beets is provided which preferably provides continuous flow of root crops from a header, along a transfer assembly, through a processing run, and to an elevator assembly. The harvester can be configured to include or accommodate interchangeable header assemblies having different numbers of rows and/or row spacings. The transfer assembly can be of a floating type and helps to provide an even distribution of beets to the grabrollers. The processing run includes full-length cleaning grabrollers disposed parallel to the direction of travel. Modular elevator assemblies can be provided to further enhance harvester versatility. Such an approach includes interchangeable ferris wheel and scrubber chain elevator assemblies. An improved scrubber chain elevator assembly can be used which has a wraparound scrubber chain design. A pivoting tank conveyor for evenly filling a holding tank can be included. Large diameter carrier wheels on a single axle positioned for improved balance, flotation, and maneuverability typically are important basic characteristics of the harvesters.
47 Citations
52 Claims
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1-37. -37. (canceled)
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38. A root crop harvester comprising:
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a lifting assembly for penetrating the ground and lifting root crops out of the ground;
a header having a header roller assembly for receiving root crops harvested by said lifting assembly, wherein said lifting assembly is affixed to the underside of the harvester;
a grabroller assembly for passing the harvested root crops to an elevator assembly;
a holding tank of the root crop harvester;
a tank conveyor in root crop-receiving relationship to said elevator assembly; and
a pivot cylinder for selectively pivoting the tank conveyor to evenly fill said holding tank. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40-49. -49. (canceled)
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50. A scrubber chain elevator comprising:
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an inner chain which is an endless circular chain; and
an outer chain which is an endless circular chain, wherein said outer chain is configured in a generally annular orientation around the inner chain and wherein said inner and outer chains circulate and cooperate to lift harvested root crops which have been processed by a root crop harvester.
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51. A method of harvesting and cleaning root crops comprising the steps of:
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lifting root crops from the ground with a mechanized root crop harvester;
passing the root crops through transverse rollers as an early cleaning stage;
passing the root crops from said transverse rollers onto a transfer assembly;
dropping the root crops a controlled distance from the transfer assembly onto longitudinal rollers to knock dirt and debris from the root crops;
passing the root crops along the full length of the longitudinal rollers; and
passing the root crops into a holding tank by way of an elevator assembly disposed at a distal end of said longitudinal rollers and a tank conveyor in root crop-receiving relationship with the elevator assembly. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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Specification