Root crop harvester

Abstract

A root crop harvester includes a main frame, a plurality of digger wheels on the front of the main frame, conveyor means supported on the main frame to receive roots from the digger wheels and deliver the same to a transversely extending auger conveyor which moves the roots to a vertical .[.auger.]. conveyor. An additional conveyor mounted on the upper end of the vertical .[.auger.]. conveyor in root-receiving relationship therewith moves the roots laterally upwardly for deposit in a vehicle moving alongside the harvester. The additional conveyor is mounted for lateral movement .[.on.]. .Iadd.at .Iaddend.the upper end of the vertical .[.auger.]. conveyor so that it can be moved inwardly to a transport position.

We claim: 
     
       1. A root crop harvesting implement including a main frame, root digging means secured across the forward end of the main frame, a generally upright auger conveyor mounted on the main frame rearwardly of the root digging means, conveyor means supported on the main frame for receiving roots from the root digging means and delivering the same to a lower root-receiving area in the auger conveyor, and a lateral conveyor mounted on the upper end of the auger conveyor in root-receiving relationship therewith and normally extending laterally outwardly to one side of the main frame to deliver roots to an outer deposit area, characterized in that the lateral conveyor is mounted on the auger conveyor for selective lateral movement inwardly from its normal position in which it extends laterally outwardly to one side of the main frame to a transport position in which its opposite ends are in generally vertical alignment with the sides of the main frame whereby the implement can be narrowed for transport. 
     
     
       2. A harvesting implement as set forth in claim 1 wherein a pair of fore-and-aft spaced rails are supported on the auger conveyor, the lateral conveyor is provided with support wheels movable along the rails, and means are provided to releasably lock the lateral conveyor in either the normal position or the transport position. 
     
     
       3. A harvesting implement as set forth in claim 2 wherein the lateral conveyor includes a pair of fore-and-aft spaced and laterally extending frame plates, a plurality of rotatable guide means are journaled between the plates above the lower edge thereof, an endless flexible root moving means is trained about the guide means, the support wheels are mounted on the inner faces of the plates above the lower edge thereof and below the lower flight of the endless flexible means, the lower edges of the plates extend downwardly .Iadd.alongside .Iaddend.the outside faces of the rails to guide the wheels on the rails. 
     
     
       4. A harvesting implement as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means to releasably lock the lateral conveyor in either of its alternate positions includes pin means insertable through corresponding apertures provided in the plates and rails. 
     
     
       5. A harvesting implement as set forth in claim 1 wherein a pair of fore-and-aft spaced conveyor support rails are supported at the upper end of the auger conveyor, the lateral conveyor includes a pair of fore-and-aft spaced laterally elongated frame plates having lower portions positioned alongside the outer surfaces of the rails, support members secured to the inner faces of the plates in engagement with the upper surfaces of the rails to support the lateral conveyor thereon, rotatable guide means journaled between the plates at the opposite ends thereof, an endless flexible root conveying element trained about the guide means, and means acting between the rails and plates to releasably lock the lateral conveyor in alternate positions on the rails. 
     
     
       6. A root crop harvesting implement including forward root digging means, first conveyor means rearwardly of the root digging means for receiving roots from the root digging means and conveying the same upwardly and rearwardly, second conveyor means for receiving roots from the first conveyor means and moving the same laterally, a generally upright auger conveyor at one end of the second conveyor means for receiving roots therefrom and elevating the roots, third conveyor means carried at the upper end of the auger conveyor in root-receiving relationship therewith and extending laterally outwardly therefrom to move roots to an outer deposit area at the outer end of the third conveyor means remote from the auger conveyor, the third conveyor means being mounted on the auger conveyor for lateral movement inwardly to a transport position in which its outer end is closely adjacent the auger conveyor, and means acting between the third conveyor means and the auger conveyor to releasably lock the third conveyor means in either its normal operating position or its transport position. 
     
     
       7. A harvesting implement as set forth in claim 6 wherein a pair of fore-and-aft spaced and laterally extending support rails are secured to the upper end of the auger conveyor and the third conveyor means is provided with a plurality of support rollers movable along the support rails to facilitate lateral movement of the third conveyor means. 
     
     
       8. A root crop harvester comprising: a main frame having transversely extending front and rear frame members; wheel means secured to and supporting the rear of the main frame; hitch means secured to a forward portion of the main frame and adapted to be connected to a propelling tractor for at least partially supporting the front of the main frame; root digging means secured to and depending from the front frame member; first conveyor means supported from the main frame behind the root digging means for receiving roots therefrom and moving the same upwardly and rearwardly; trough means supported from the main frame and extending transversely across the rear of the first conveyor means in root-receiving relationship thereto; an auger journaled in the trough means for moving roots deposited therein to one end thereof; a generally vertical auger conveyor means supported on the main frame with its lower end in root-receiving relationship with the one end of the trough means; drive means for the first conveyor, the auger and the auger conveyor supported on the main frame and including a main drive shaft extending generally forwardly along the hitch means for connection with the tractor; an elongated, generally horizontal and transversely extending upper conveyor mounted on the upper end of the auger conveyor in root-receiving relationship thereto; the upper conveyor being mounted for transverse movement between a normal working position in which it is substantially centered with respect to the auger conveyor and a transport position in which its outer end is in close proximity to the auger conveyor; means acting between the auger conveyor and upper conveyor to releasably secure the upper conveyor in either its working or transport position; and reversible drive means for the upper conveyor. 
     
     
       9. A harvester as set forth in claim 8 wherein a pair of fore-and-aft spaced rails are supported at the upper end of the auger conveyor and to the rear thereof, the rails extend inwardly from the auger conveyor to overlie the area to the rear of the trough means, and the upper conveyor is supported on the rails by a plurality of rollers secured to an intermediate portion of the upper conveyor and movable along the rails from one end thereof to the other. 
     
     
       10. A harvesting implement as set forth in claim 9 wherein the upper conveyor includes a pair of fore-and-aft spaced side walls having lower portions positioned alongside the outer faces of the rails, and the rollers are mounted on the inner faces of the plates. .Iadd.11. A root crop harvesting implement including a main frame, root digging means secured across the forward end of the main frame, a generally upright conveyor means for elevating roots mounted on the main frame rearwardly of the root digging means, conveyor means supported on the main frame for receiving roots from the root digging means and delivering the same to a lower root receiving area adjacent the upright elevating conveyor means, and a lateral conveyor mounted adjacent the upper portion of the elevating conveyor means in root receiving relationship therewith and normally extending laterally outwardly to one side of the main frame to deliver roots to an outer deposit area, characterized in that the lateral conveyor is mounted adjacent the elevating conveyor means for selective lateral movement inwardly from its normal position in which it extends laterally outwardly to one side of the main frame to a transport position in which its opposite ends are in generally vertical alignment with the sides of the main frame whereby the implement can be narrowed for transport. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. A harvesting implement as set forth in claim 11 wherein a pair of fore-and-aft spaced rails are supported on the main frame adjacent the upright elevating conveyor means, the lateral conveyor is provided with support wheels movable along the rails, and means are provided to releasably lock the lateral conveyor in either the normal position or the transport position. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. A harvesting implement as set forth in claim 12 wherein the lateral conveyor includes a pair of fore-and-aft spaced and laterally extending frame plates, a plurality of rotatable guide means are journaled between the plates above the lower edge thereof, an endless flexible root moving means is trained about the guide means, the support wheels are mounted on the inner faces of the plates above the lower edge thereof and below the lower flight of the endless flexible means, the lower edges of the plates extend downwardly alongside the outside faces of the rails to guide the wheels on the rails. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. A harvesting implement as set forth in claim 13 wherein the means to releasably lock the lateral conveyor in either of its alternate position includes pin means insertable through corresponding apertures provided in the plates and rails. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. A harvesting implement as set forth in claim 11 wherein a pair of fore-and-aft spaced conveyor support rails are supported on the main frame adjacent the upper portion of the upright elevating conveyor means, the lateral conveyor includes a pair of fore-and-aft spaced and laterally elongated frame plates having lower portions positioned alongside the outer surfaces of the rails, support members secured to the inner faces of the plates in engagement with the upper surfaces of the rails to support the lateral conveyor thereon, rotatable guide means journaled between the plates at the opposite ends thereof, an endless flexible root conveying element trained about the guide means, and means acting between the rails and plates to releasably lock the lateral conveyor in alternate positions on the rails. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. A root crop harvesting implement including forward root digging means, first conveyor means rearwardly of the root digging means for receiving roots from the root digging means and conveying the same upwardly and rearwardly, a second conveyor means for receiving roots from the first conveyor means and moving the same laterally, a generally upright elevating conveyor means at one end of the second conveyor means for receiving roots therefrom and elevating the roots, third conveyor means carried adjacent the upper portion of the upright elevating conveyor means in root receiving relationship therewith and extending laterally outwardly therefrom to move roots to an outer deposit area at the outer end of the third conveyor means remote from the elevating conveyor means, the third conveyor means being mounted adjacent the elevating conveyor means for lateral movement inwardly to a transport position in which its outer end is closely adjacent the elevating conveyor means, and means acting between the third conveyor means and the elevating conveyor means to releasably lock the third conveyor means in either its normal operating position or its transport position. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. A harvesting implement as set forth in claim 16 wherein a pair of fore-and-aft spaced and laterally extending support rails are secured adjacent the upper portion of the elevating conveyor means and the third conveyor means is provided with a plurality of support rollers movable along the support rails to facilitate lateral movement of the third conveyor means. .Iaddend.