Patent ID: 6898925
Filing Date: 2005-05-31
Classification: A01F,A01G,B30B

Abstract:
1. A leaf gathering and compressing machine comprising: a main frame supported by wheels and adapted to be moved along a path parallel to a leaf windrow; a leaf gathering and compression frame pivotally attached to the main frame; a leaf gathering assembly including a transverse auger trough mounted on a forward portion of the leaf gathering and compression frame and including a trough feed plate, a left side end plate attached to a left end of the transverse auger trough, a right side end plate attached to a right end of the transverse auger trough, a transverse auger journaled on the left side end plate and the right side end plate that conveys leaves in the auger trough to an elevator housing inlet; an elevator housing mounted on the leaf gathering and compression frame, an elevator belt conveyor with a lower elevator roller journaled on the leaf gathering and compression frame and positioned inside the elevator housing and below the elevator housing inlet, an upper elevator roller journaled on the leaf gathering and compression frame and positioned inside the elevator housing and to the rear of the lower roller, a continuous elevator belt trained around the lower elevator roller and the upper elevator roller, and an elevator drive that drives the continuous elevator belt with an upper belt run that receives leaves passing through the elevator housing inlet and conveys leaves upwardly and rearwardly; and a pair of spaced apart parallel cantilevered compression augers each having a forward end journaled on the leaf gathering and compression frame below the upper elevator roller, a compression auger drive connected to the forward end of each compression auger, and auger flighting of each compression auger having a front flighting portion that receives leaves discharged from the elevator belt conveyor and a rear flighting portion that extends into a leaf compression chamber, compresses leaves received from the front flighting portion and forces compressed leaves from the leaf compression chamber.