Patent ID: 6226968
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A tobacco plant transport apparatus for transporting cut tobacco plants from a substantially vertical orientation at a first position to a substantially horizontal orientation at a second position including:transport means for transporting each of the cut tobacco plants with its stalk in a substantially vertical orientation from the first position to an elevated position intermediate the first and second positions;orientation conversion means for converting the stalk of each of the cut tobacco plants from its substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation, said orientation conversion means cooperating with each of the cut tobacco plants being transported by said transport means from prior to said transport means ceasing to transport the cut tobacco plant until the stalk of each of the cut tobacco plants is in its substantially horizontal orientation;and said orientation conversion means including causing means for causing movement of each of the cut tobacco plants from a position in which its stalk has a substantially vertical orientation.