Combination rake and tedder

A device is provided for raking and tedding a crop, such as hay. The device includes a frame with a main conveyor rotatably mounted on the frame. The main conveyor has an input end and a discharge end. A pick-up roller is located adjacent the input end of the main conveyor. A rear conveyor assembly is located adjacent the discharge end of the main conveyor. The rear conveyor assembly includes at least one auxiliary conveyor having a first end and a second end, with the second end of the at least one auxiliary conveyor pivotally mounted on the frame. Also, a raking and tedding device is provided in which the rear conveyor assembly includes a lateral conveyor hingedly mounted on the frame and configured to move from a first, operative position under the discharge end of the main conveyor to a second, inoperative position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to a device for harvesting crops 
and, more particularly, to a device configured to both rake and ted the 
crop. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In harvesting crop material, such as hay, the hay is generally cut by a 
mower which lays the hay down in swaths approximately 7 to 9 feet wide. It 
is impractical to pick up and bale the hay when the moisture content of 
the hay is high. Therefore, the cut hay is typically left in the field to 
dry naturally by the sun. However, if the hay is left to dry too long, the 
action of the sun causes some of the nutrient value of the hay to be lost. 
Further, the longer the hay lies drying, the greater is the chance that 
the grain structure of the hay will be destroyed. Therefore, it is 
important to dry the hay as quickly as possible. To accelerate drying 
after the hay has been cut, it is desirable to pick up and fluff the hay 
and then lay the hay back down on the ground in order to promote more even 
drying. This pick up and fluffing of the swath is known as tedding. 
Additionally, the hay in the swath may be collected and formed into 
relatively narrow rows called windrows. This operation is generally called 
raking. After raking, the ground under the windrow may become wet due to 
moisture and by being covered by the windrow. This causes uneven drying of 
the hay, i.e., the top part of the windrow dries but the bottom part 
remains wet. Therefore, there is a need to pick up the windrow, aerate it 
and then return the hay back onto the ground in a windrow to facilitate 
more even drying. 
It is customary to use different apparatuses for raking and tedding. The 
need to have separate tedding and raking devices increases the cost of 
crop harvesting. In addition to the initial cost of each device, each 
device must also be separately maintained and serviced to keep the device 
in working order. Further, two separate devices take up more valuable 
storage space than would a single device. 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a single 
device which may be used to both rake and ted a crop. Further, it is an 
object of the present invention to provide a device with which the crop 
can be easily and quickly formed into windrows on either side of the 
device or directly behind the device. It is additionally an object of the 
invention to provide a device in which the crop can be picked up, turned 
over and formed into windrows on either side of the device. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A device is provided for raking and tedding a crop, such as hay. The device 
includes a frame with a main conveyor rotatably mounted on the frame. The 
main conveyor has an input end and a discharge end. A pick-up roller is 
located adjacent the input end of the main conveyor. A rear conveyor 
assembly is located adjacent the discharge end of the main conveyor. The 
rear conveyor assembly includes at least one auxiliary conveyor having a 
first end and a second end, with the second end of the at least one 
auxiliary conveyor pivotally mounted on the frame. 
Also, a raking and tedding device is provided having a frame and a main 
conveyor rotatably mounted on the frame. The main conveyor has an input 
end and a discharge end. A pick-up roller is located adjacent the input 
end of the main conveyor and a rear conveyor assembly is located adjacent 
the discharge end of the main conveyor. The rear conveyor assembly 
includes a lateral conveyor hingedly mounted on the frame and configured 
to move from a first, operative position substantially under the discharge 
end of the main conveyor to a second, inoperative position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms "upper", "lower", 
"right", "left", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom" and derivatives 
thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing 
figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume 
various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly 
specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific 
device and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described 
in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the 
invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics 
related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as 
limiting. 
A combination rake and tedder device according to the present invention is 
generally designated 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The device 10 
comprises a frame 12 having substantially triangular sides 14. A pair of 
main wheels 16 are rotatably mounted on an axle carried on the frame 12. 
The device 10 may also include a pair of auxiliary wheels (not shown) 
mounted on the frame 12 forward of the main wheels 16 to provide 
additional support for the device 10. The frame 12 and sides 14 are 
preferably made of metal. 
A main conveyor assembly 20 is carried on the frame 12 between the two 
sides 14. A pair of side boards 22 are located along the sides of the main 
conveyor assembly 20. The side boards 22 may be separate pieces or may be 
integral with the sides 14. 
The main conveyor assembly includes a main conveyor 24 in the form of an 
endless, canvas belt. The belt is preferably about 7-9 feet wide and is 
rotatably mounted around a front roller 26 and a rear roller 28. The front 
and rear rollers 26 and 28 are rotatably carried on the frame 12. The main 
conveyor 24 has a first or input end 30 located at the front of the device 
10 and a second or discharge end 32 located at the rear of the device 10. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the main conveyor 24 is inclined on the frame 12 with 
the discharge end 32 being higher than the input end 30. The side boards 
22 preferably extend above the top of the main conveyor 24. 
A pick-up roller 38 is rotatably mounted on the frame 12 in front of the 
input end 30 of the main conveyor 24, for example, on an axle attached to 
the frame 12. The pick-up roller 38 is substantially cylindrical and has a 
plurality of pick-up members in the form of elongated fingers or prongs 40 
extending from the surface of the pick-up roller 38. While the prongs 40 
may extend perpendicularly from the pick-up roller 38, in the preferred 
embodiment, the prongs 40 extend at an angle, preferably a lateral angle, 
from the surface of the pick-up roller 38 to permit the roller 38 to pick 
up straight cut hay. A tongue 44 is attached to the device 10 and is used 
to attach the device 10 to a motive unit, such as a tractor or a horse. 
To drive the main conveyor 24 and pick-up roller 38, conventional drive 
devices, such as a conventional gear wheel assembly, may be mounted on the 
device 10. Such conventional gear wheel assemblies typically include a 
gear wheel mounted on the axle carrying the main wheels 16. This gear 
wheel engages a conventional chain or belt system connected to one of the 
rollers 26 or 28 of the main conveyor assembly 20 and/or the pick-up 
roller 38 such that rotation of the main wheels 16 causes the belt system 
to rotate the main conveyor 24 and/or the pick-up roller 38. Such 
conventional gear wheel assemblies are well-known in the art and one such 
system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,529,577, which is herein incorporated 
by reference. Alternatively, the pick-up roller 38 and main conveyor 24 
may be powered by one or more conventional hydraulic motor assemblies. The 
hydraulic motor assemblies may be connected to the hydraulic system of the 
tractor pulling the device or may be self-contained units powered by a 
small engine carried on the device itself. A conventional hydraulic motor 
system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,826, which is herein 
incorporated by reference. A hydraulic motor assembly 46 is schematically 
shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings attached to the rear roller 28 and the 
pick-up roller 38. 
A rear conveyor assembly 50 is mounted on the rear of the device 10. A 
first embodiment of the rear conveyor assembly 50 is shown in FIGS. 2-4 of 
the drawings. In this first embodiment, the rear conveyor assembly 50 
includes a split conveyor assembly 52 mounted on the rear of the frame 12 
below the discharge level of the main conveyor 24. The split conveyor 
assembly 52 is formed by a pair of opposed, separately movable, auxiliary 
conveyors 54. Each auxiliary conveyor has a first or inner end 56 and a 
second or outer end 58, with the outer end 58 of each auxiliary conveyor 
54 pivotally mounted on the frame 12. The outer ends 58 of the auxiliary 
conveyors 54 are preferably mounted at substantially the same height on 
opposite sides of the frame 12. Thus, the auxiliary conveyors 54 may pivot 
in a plane substantially perpendicular to the movement direction of the 
device 10. 
Each auxiliary conveyor 54 includes an inner roller 60 and an outer roller 
62 rotatably mounted on a conveyor platform 64. An endless auxiliary 
conveyor belt 68 is rotatably carried around the rollers 60 and 62. The 
auxiliary conveyors 54 may be powered by a gear wheel assembly or a 
hydraulic motor assembly as discussed above. Alternatively, a separate 
hydraulic motor assembly can be used to power each auxiliary conveyor 54. 
A conventional locking mechanism is carried on the device 10 to lock the 
auxiliary conveyors 54 at a selected position. The locking mechanism can 
be a mechanical system, for example a retractable pin mounted on each 
auxiliary conveyor 54 and configured to engage one of a plurality of holes 
arranged in a circle formed in the frame 12 adjacent the pivot point of 
the auxiliary conveyor 54. Alternatively, the auxiliary conveyors 54 may 
be pivoted by a hydraulic motor system and held in place by a hydraulic 
lock. As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, in the first embodiment of the 
rear conveyor assembly 50, an arc of movement X of the inner end 56 of the 
left auxiliary conveyor 54 does not overlap with an arc of movement Y of 
the inner end 56 of the right auxiliary conveyor 54 between the two sides 
14. 
As shown in FIG. 2, a discharge chute 76 is removably mounted on one or 
both sides of the frame 12 adjacent the outer ends 58 of the auxiliary 
conveyors 54. The discharge chute 76 is preferably trough-shaped and 
formed of metal. 
A fluffer assembly 78 may be removably mounted at the rear of the frame 12 
below the discharge level of the main conveyor 24. The fluffer assembly 78 
includes a plurality of elongated projections or fingers 80 and is 
preferably retractable to move from a stowed position substantially within 
the frame 12 under the main conveyor 24 to an operating position 
substantially under and vertically aligned with the discharge end of the 
main conveyor 24. For example, the fluffer assembly 78 may be slidably 
mounted on a pair of tracks 82 carried on the frame 12 such that the 
fluffer assembly 78 is slidable from a first or inner position in which 
the fingers 80 are substantially not vertically aligned with the discharge 
end 32 of the main conveyor 24 to a second or outer position in which the 
fingers 80 are substantially vertically aligned with the discharge end 32 
of the main conveyor 24. 
A second embodiment of the rear conveyor assembly 50 is shown in FIGS. 5-9 
of the drawings. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment 
shown in FIGS. 2-4 except that the two auxiliary conveyors 54 are 
dimensioned such that an arc of movement X of the inner end 56 of the left 
auxiliary conveyor 54 overlaps the arc of movement Y of the inner end 56 
of the right auxiliary conveyor 54, as shown in FIG. 5. This overlap is 
preferably about 5 inches wide. 
In the device 10 shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings, the discharge chutes 76 
are replaced by a pair of turn-over chutes 86 removably positioned 
adjacent the outer ends 58 of the auxiliary conveyors 54. Each turn-over 
chute 86 has an inner side 88, an outer side 90 and a curved back side 92. 
The turn-over chutes 86 are preferably made of metal. 
An alternative embodiment of the device is designated 10' in FIGS. 11-14 of 
the drawings. In this embodiment, the split conveyor assembly 52 is 
removed and the rear portion of the device 10' is modified to include an 
extension frame assembly 98. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 14 of the drawings, 
the extension frame assembly 98 includes a pair of opposed side frames 100 
extending from the rear of the frame 12 and a rear wall 102 attached at 
the outer ends of the side frames 100. The opposed side frames 100 and 
rear wall 102 define a vertical passage 104, as shown in FIG. 14. 
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings, a modified rear conveyor 
assembly 108 is mounted on the extension frame assembly 98. The modified 
rear conveyor assembly 108 includes a unitary, lateral rear conveyor 110 
rotatably mounted around a pair of spaced rollers in conventional manner. 
The rear conveyor 110 is pivotally attached to the rear wall 102 by a 
plurality of hinges 112. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 of the drawings, the 
rear conveyor 110 can pivot around the hinges 112 from a lowered position 
shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings to a raised position shown in 
FIGS. 13 and 14 of the drawings. The rear conveyor 110 may be powered by a 
hydraulic motor or a conventional gear wheel assembly, as discussed above, 
and may selectively turn either to the left or the right with respect to 
the device 10'. Although not specifically shown in FIGS. 11-14 of the 
drawings, discharge chutes or turn-over chutes, such as those described 
above, may be removably attached to the side frames 100 near the ends of 
the rear conveyor 110. 
Operation of the devices 10 and 10' will now be described. Looking first at 
the embodiment of the device 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, the 
auxiliary conveyors 54 are first positioned in accordance with the task to 
be accomplished. Each auxiliary conveyor 54 is pivoted to the required 
position and then held in place by the associated locking mechanism. For 
example, to laterally rake the hay to one side of the device 10, the two 
auxiliary conveyors 54 are positioned substantially laterally as shown in 
FIG. 2 of the drawings. The device 10 is attached to a tractor or a horse 
and is pulled through the field along the swath of hay. The hay is picked 
up off of the ground by the cylindrical pick-up roller 38 and is deposited 
on the input end of the main conveyor 24. As the main conveyor 24 rotates, 
the hay is carried upwardly and rearwardly by the main conveyor 24 and, is 
discharged onto the top of the auxiliary conveyors 54. 
In order to rake the hay to the right side of the frame 12, both auxiliary 
conveyors 54 would be rotated toward the right. Thus, as the hay is 
discharged from the main conveyor 24, it drops onto the top of the 
auxiliary conveyors 54 and is transported to the right into the discharge 
chute 76, where it is deposited in a windrow along the right side of the 
device 10. To rake the hay to the left side of the device 10, the two 
auxiliary conveyors 54 would be rotated to the left to deposit the hay in 
the discharge chute 76 located on the left side of the frame 12. 
Alternatively, to rake the hay to both sides of the frame 12 
simultaneously, the left auxiliary conveyor 54 is rotated to the left and 
the right auxiliary conveyor 54 is rotated to the right such that as the 
hay is discharged from the main conveyor 24, about half of the hay will 
drop onto the left auxiliary conveyor 54 and be transported to the left 
discharge chute 76 to form a windrow on the left side of the frame 12 
while the other half of the hay drops onto the top of the right auxiliary 
conveyor 54 and is transported to the right discharge chute 76 to form a 
windrow on the right side of the frame 12. 
In order to form an in-line windrow, i.e., a single windrow behind the 
device 10, the two auxiliary conveyors 54 are pivoted to the positions 
shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings and held in place by the locking mechanism 
so that the inner ends 56 of the auxiliary conveyors 54 are lower than the 
outer ends 58 of the auxiliary conveyors 54 and a gap G is formed between 
the inner ends 56 of the two auxiliary conveyors 54. In this 
configuration, both auxiliary conveyors 54 are made to rotate inwardly, 
i.e., towards the middle of the frame 12, so that as the hay is discharged 
from the main conveyor 24, it falls onto the upper side of the auxiliary 
conveyors 54 and is transported towards the gap G where it falls to the 
ground to form a single windrow directly behind the device 10. 
In order to ted the hay, the auxiliary conveyors 54 are pivoted upwardly 
and held in position as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The fluffer 
assembly 78 is moved from its retracted, inner position to an outer 
position substantially under the discharge end of the main conveyor 24. 
Thus, as the hay is discharged from the main conveyor 24, it falls through 
the fingers 80 of the fluffer assembly 78 where it is aerated and then 
redeposited on the ground behind the device 10. 
The operation of the embodiment of the rear conveyor assembly 50 shown in 
FIGS. 5-9 of the drawings will now be described. In order to rake the hay 
to the right side of the device 10, the two auxiliary conveyors 54 are 
pivoted and positioned as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings with the inner 
end 56 of the right auxiliary conveyor 54 located below the inner end 56 
of the left auxiliary conveyor 54. In this configuration, both auxiliary 
conveyors 54 are rotated toward the right. Thus, as hay is discharged from 
the main conveyor 24, it falls onto the top of each auxiliary conveyor 54 
and is transported to the right. Hay landing on top of the left auxiliary 
conveyor 54 moves to the right and falls on top of the right auxiliary 
conveyor 54. The hay is then transported into the discharge chute 76 on 
the right side of the frame 12 and is deposited in a windrow along the 
right side of the device 10. 
FIG. 6 of the drawings shows the position of the auxiliary conveyors 54 for 
raking hay to the left side of the frame 12. In this configuration, the 
inner end 56 of the left auxiliary conveyor 54 is positioned below the 
inner end 56 of the right auxiliary conveyor 54 and both auxiliary 
conveyors 54 are rotated to the left. Thus, as hay is discharged from the 
main conveyor 24, it falls onto the top of the auxiliary conveyors 54 and 
is transported to the discharge chute 76 on the left side of the frame 12 
to form a windrow on the left side of the device 10. 
FIG. 7 of the drawings shows the position of the auxiliary conveyors 54 to 
form a windrow directly behind the device 10. This configuration is 
similar to the configuration for the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 of 
the drawings. In this configuration, each auxiliary conveyor 54 rotates 
inwardly such that the hay falling from the discharge end 32 of the main 
conveyor 24 is transported inwardly to the gap G and forms a windrow 
directly behind the device 10. 
FIG. 8 of the drawings shows the configuration of the auxiliary conveyors 
54 for tedding the hay. Operation of this configuration is the same as the 
operation of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings and 
described hereinabove. 
FIG. 9 of the drawings shows a configuration of the auxiliary conveyors 54 
used to rake very thick rows of hay. In this configuration, one of the 
auxiliary conveyors, for example the left auxiliary conveyor 54, is 
positioned such that the inner end 56 of the left auxiliary conveyor 54 
points downwardly and there is a gap G formed between the two auxiliary 
conveyors 54. The left auxiliary conveyor 54 is rotated to the right. The 
other auxiliary conveyor, for example the right auxiliary conveyor 54, is 
positioned substantially horizontally with the right auxiliary conveyor 54 
also turning to the right. Thus, as the hay falls from the discharge end 
32 of the main conveyor 24, approximately half of the hay will fall onto 
the left auxiliary conveyor 54 and will be transported downwardly to form 
a windrow behind the device 10 and the other half of the hay will fall on 
the right auxiliary conveyor 54 and will be transported to the right 
discharge chute 76 to form a windrow on the right side of the device 10. 
It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the 
positions and direction of operation of the two auxiliary conveyors 54 
could be reversed to form an in-line windrow and a windrow on the left 
side of the device 10. 
In FIG. 10 of the drawings, the conventional discharge chutes 76 are 
replaced by so-called turn-over chutes 86. The hay is picked up and moved 
along the main conveyor 24 and auxiliary conveyors 54 as described above 
with respect to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings. 
The hay is transported on the auxiliary conveyors 54 as discussed above to 
one or both of the turn-over chutes 86. When the hay enters the inner side 
88 of the turn-over chute 86, it is guided around the curved back side 92 
and exits the turn-over chute 86 from the outer side 90. As the hay leaves 
the turn-over chute 86, it is automatically turned over as it falls to the 
ground. 
Operation of the embodiment of the device 10' shown in FIGS. 11-14 of the 
drawings will now be described. In the normal raking configuration shown 
in FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings, the rear conveyor 110 is in the 
lowered position and hay from the main conveyor 24 drops down on top of 
the rear conveyor 110. This hay can be transported either to the right 
side or left side of the device 10', depending on which way the rear 
conveyor 110 is rotating, and through a discharge chute 76 or turn-over 
chute 86. Thus, a row of hay can be formed on either side of the device 
10'. 
To ted hay with this embodiment, the rear conveyor 110 is raised by 
pivoting the rear conveyor 110 around the hinges 112 to move the rear 
conveyor 110 to a substantially upright position, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 
14 of the drawings. The rear conveyor 110 can be held in this raised 
position by conventional methods, such as a hook or holding strap. With 
the rear conveyor 110 in the raised position, hay from the main conveyor 
24 will fall through the passage 104 onto the ground. A fluffer assembly, 
such as that described hereinabove, can be removably and retractably 
carried on the extension frame assembly 98 in similar manner as described 
above to fluff the hay as it falls to the ground. 
Thus, the present invention provides a single device which can be used to 
both rake and ted a crop. The device can form windrows on either side of 
the device or directly behind the device. 
It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that 
modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the 
concepts disclosed in the foregoing description. Accordingly, the 
particular embodiments described in detail herein are illustrative only 
and are not limiting as to the scope of the invention, which is to be 
given the full scope of the appended claims and any and all equivalents 
thereof.