Crop windrowing apparatus

Claim 2

Farm crop windrowing apparatus comprising: a support frame movable in a forward path of travel; a plurality of longitudinally extending, rotatable bearing means on said frame circumferentially spaced about a first axis; a longitudinally extending stripper drum including slots spaced along the length of said drum and annular end support flange means received on said bearing means to mount said drum for rotation on said frame about said first axis; crop lifting means mounted on said frame for rotation about a second axis, spaced from said first axis but within the peripheral extent of said annular flange means, in a path so that a portion thereof will protrude through said slots along the front and lower portion of the drum to pick up crops and carry them partially around said stripper drum and retract through said slots along the top and rear portions of the drum to deposit the crops on the stripper drum, said crop lifting means being disposed in driving relation with said stripper drum; and means for rotatably driving said crop lifting means to drive said stripper drum.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for receiving said crops from said drum and moving them longitudinally to gather the crops and discharge the gathered crops in windrows.

Claim 4

Farm crop windrowing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said crop lifting means includes a plurality of tines mounted on a rotatable shaft; and means yieldably connecting said tines to said shaft to permit said crop lifting means to move circumferentially relative to said stripper drum.

Claim 5

Farm crop windrowing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said crop lifting means includes actuator means movable from a non-engaged position into a position of engagement with said stripper drum after relative rotation of said crop lifting means and said drum.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 including a drive member on said lifting means and a drivable member on said drum engageable by said drive member only after said crop lifting means has moved a predetermined distance relative to said stripper drum.

Claim 7

Farm crop handling apparatus comprising: a frame; a drum mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis and including a plurality of circumferentially extending, longitudinally spaced, curvilinear, radially outwardly opening troughs; crop lifting means rotatably mounted on said frame about a longitudinal axis; and means for rotatably driving said drum and crop-lifting means, said crop-lifting means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced and interconnected pick-up tines longitudinally interposed between and movable relatively to said troughs between radially outward positions to pick up crop and radially inner positiOns to deposit crop on said troughs as said drum and said crop-lifting means are rotated.

Claim 8

Farm crop handling apparatus comprising: a frame; a drum mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis and including a plurality of circumferentially extending, longitudinally spaced, curvilinear, radially outwardly opening troughs; crop lifting means rotatably mounted on said frame about a longitudinal axis; and means for rotatably driving said drum and crop-lifting means, said crop-lifting means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced and interconnected pick-up tines longitudinally interposed between and movable relatively to said troughs between radially outward positions to pick up crop and radially inner positiOns to deposit crop on said troughs as said drum and said crop-lifting means are rotated.

Claim 9

Farm crop handling apparatus comprising: a frame; crop stripping drum means rotatably mounted on said frame including a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending support bars; and a plurality of circumferentially extending, longitudinally spaced, curvilinear crop carrying means removably connected to said support bars; crop lifting means rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about a longitudinal axis; and means for rotatably driving said drum means and said crop lifting means, said crop lifting means including a plurality of pickup tines mounted for movement, between radially outer and inner positions, between the curvilinear crop carrying means to pick up crops and deposit them on said crop carrying means as said drum means and said crop lifting means are rotated.

Claim 10

Farm crop handling apparatus comprising: a frame; crop stripping drum means rotatably mounted on said frame including a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending support bars; and a plurality of circumferentially extending, longitudinally spaced, curvilinear crop carrying means removably connected to said support bars; crop lifting means rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about a longitudinal axis; and means for rotatably driving said drum means and said crop lifting means, said crop lifting means including a plurality of pickup tines mounted for movement, between radially outer and inner positions, between the curvilinear crop carrying means to pick up crops and deposit them on said crop carrying means as said drum means and said crop lifting means are rotated.

Claim 11

The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein adjacent ones of said carrier plates include radially outwardly converging walls for guiding the tines between said adjacent plates as they are moved radially outwardly.

Claim 12

The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including a rotatable shaft disposed interiorly of said circumferentially extending carrier plates; and means yieldably mounting said pick-up tines on said shaft.

Claim 13

The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said carrier plates form V-shaped, circumferentially extending, curvilinear troughs closed at their ends.

Claim 14

The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the rotation of said drum propels said crops transversely of said rotational axis; and including means for receiving the crops from said lifting means and discharging said crops in a windrow.

Claim 15

The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said crop receiving means includes a pair of rotatably mounted drum members each having a longitudinally extending screw portion for moving the crop longitudinally to gather the crop; and including means for propelling the gathered crop transversely of the drum members to form said windrow.

Claim 16

The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said longitudinal axis is spaced from the rotational axis of said drum.

Claim 17

Farm crop pickup apparatus comprising: crop lifting means rotatable about a longitudinal axis for lifting crop; and crop stripping means rotatable about a longitudinal axis for stripping the lifted crop from said crop lifting means when said crop lifting means is rotated; said crop stripping means including a plurality of removably coupled, circumferentially extending, curvilinear, crop carrying means longitudinally spaced to define a plurality of openings between axially adjacent ones thereof; said crop lifting means including a plurality of pickup tines movable in said openings between radially outer and inner positions to pick up crop and deposit it on said crop stripping means as said crop stripping means and said crop lifting means are rotated.

Claim 18

Farm crop pickup apparatus comprising: crop lifting means rotatable about a longitudinal axis for lifting crop; and crop stripping means rotatable about a longitudinal axis for stripping the lifted crop from said crop lifting means when said crop lifting means is rotated; said crop stripping means including a plurality of removably coupled, circumferentially extending, curvilinear, crop carrying means longitudinally spaced to define a plurality of openings between axially adjacent ones thereof; said crop lifting means including a plurality of pickup tines movable in said openings between radially outer and inner positions to pick up crop and deposit it on said crop stripping means as said crop stripping means and said crop lifting means are rotated.

Claim 19

The crop pickup apparatus of claim 14 including means mounting said crop lifting means and said crop stripping means for relative circumferential movement; and means reactable between said stripper means and said crop lifting means after relative movement of said stripping means and said crop lifting means for driving said stripper means with said crop lifting means.

Claim 20

Farm crop handling apparatus including: crop lifting means rotatable about its longitudinal axis for lifting crop; crop stripping means, capable of limited rotary movement relative to said crop lifting means, rotatable about its longitudinal axis for stripping the crop from said crop lifting means when said crop lifting means is rotated; said crop stripping means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings; said crop lifting means including a support means interiorly of said stripping means and a plurality of pick-up tines on said support means movable in said openings between radially outer positionS to pick up crop and radially inner positions to deposit the picked up crop on said crop stripping means as said crop lifting means and crop stripping means are rotated; means for rotating said crop lifting means about its axis; and means reactable between said crop lifting means and said crop stripping means for rotating said crop strip-ping means and said crop lifting means in substantial unison when the crop lifting means is rotated about its axis.

Claim 21

Farm crop handling apparatus including: crop lifting means rotatable about its longitudinal axis for lifting crop; crop stripping means, capable of limited rotary movement relative to said crop lifting means, rotatable about its longitudinal axis for stripping the crop from said crop lifting means when said crop lifting means is rotated; said crop stripping means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings; said crop lifting means including a support means interiorly of said stripping means and a plurality of pick-up tines on said support means movable in said openings between radially outer positionS to pick up crop and radially inner positions to deposit the picked up crop on said crop stripping means as said crop lifting means and crop stripping means are rotated; means for rotating said crop lifting means about its axis; and means reactable between said crop lifting means and said crop stripping means for rotating said crop strip-ping means and said crop lifting means in substantial unison when the crop lifting means is rotated about its axis.

Claim 22

The apparatus set forth in claim 16 wherein said stripping means comprises a rotatable, hollow, cylindrical drum and said reactable means is disposed interiorly of said drum and reactable between said support means and said stripping means.

Claim 23

Farm crop handling apparatus comprising: a frame; a crop lifting assembly mounted on said frame for rotation about a first longitudinally extending axis and including a plurality of circumferentially spaced tines for lifting crops as the assembly is rotated; means for rotatably driving said crop lifting assembly; and a stripper drum mounted on said frame for rotation about a second axis, spaced from said first axis, for stripping the crops from said tines and propelling them transversely of the second axis; said stripper drum including a plurality of openings in the drum surface receiving said tines, said tines being movable relative to said drum between radially projected positions, exteriorly of said drum surface, to pick up said crop and to carry it partially around said stripper drum means as said crop lifting assembly and said stripper drum are rotated, and radially retracted positions to deposit the picked up crop on the stripper drum, said openings being defined by pairs of radially outwardly converging, circumferentially extending, curvilinear plates providing guide means for radially guiding said tines as they move from said retracted positions to said projected positions, the adjacent plates of adjacent openings constituting radially outwardly flaring, circumferentially extending troughs.

Claim 24

Farm crop handling apparatus comprising: a frame; a crop lifting assembly mounted on said frame for rotation about a first longitudinally extending axis and including a plurality of circumferentially spaced tines for lifting crops as the assembly is rotated; means for rotatably driving said crop lifting assembly; and a stripper drum mounted on said frame for rotation about a second axis, spaced from said first axis, for stripping the crops from said tines and propelling them transversely of the second axis; said stripper drum including a plurality of openings in the drum surface receiving said tines, said tines being movable relative to said drum between radially projected positions, exteriorly of said drum surface, to pick up said crop and to carry it partially around said stripper drum means as said crop lifting assembly and said stripper drum are rotated, and radially retracted positions to deposit the picked up crop on the stripper drum, said openings being defined by pairs of radially outwardly converging, circumferentially extending, curvilinear plates providing guide means for radially guiding said tines as they move from said retracted positions to said projected positions, the adjacent plates of adjacent openings constituting radially outwardly flaring, circumferentially extending troughs.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said stripper drum and said lifting assembly are separately driveable and wherein said driving means includes first and second drive means for independently driving said stripper drum and said lifting assembly.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 18 including conveyor means extending generally parallel to the stripper drum for receiving the crop from said stripper drum and conveying it longitudinally to gather the crop and discharge the gathered crop in a windrow.

Claim 27

Farm crop pickup apparatus comprising: crop lifting means rotatable about a longitudinal axis for lifting crop; and crop stripping means rotatable about a longitudinal axis for stripping the lifted crop from said crop lifting means when said crop lifting means is rotated including a plurality of removably coupled crop carrying means; each of said crop carrying means including an axially extending support bar and a plurality of circumferentially extending curvilinear crop support means connected to said support bar to define a plurality of openings between axially adjacent ones thereof; said crop lifting means including a plurality of pickup tines movable in said openings between radially outer and inner positions to pick up crops and deposit them on said crop carrying means as said crop lifting means and said crop stripping means are rotated.

Claim 28

Farm crop pickup apparatus comprising: crop lifting means rotatable about a longitudinal axis for lifting crop; and crop stripping means rotatable about a longitudinal axis for stripping the lifted crop from said crop lifting means when said crop lifting means is rotated including a plurality of removably coupled crop carrying means; each of said crop carrying means including an axially extending support bar and a plurality of circumferentially extending curvilinear crop support means connected to said support bar to define a plurality of openings between axially adjacent ones thereof; said crop lifting means including a plurality of pickup tines movable in said openings between radially outer and inner positions to pick up crops and deposit them on said crop carrying means as said crop lifting means and said crop stripping means are rotated.

Claim 29

The farm crop pickup apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said crop support means includes radially outer, circumferentially extending, axially relieved, crop stripping portions having radially outer crop engaging surfaces, the sum of the axial distances between the radially outer, axially adjacent crop stripping surfaces being substantially greater than the sum of the axial lengths of the crop engaging surfaces of the radially outer relieved portions to inhibit the collection of extraneous material on said stripping means.