Abstract:
A windrow gathering machine including a main frame, first and second combined pickup and conveyor units pivotally mounted on skewed axes on opposite sides of the main frame, for movement between substantially horizontal operating positions and inclined vertical stowed positions, first motors for driving the conveyors in the same and opposite directions, second motors for moving the combined pickup and conveyor units between the operating and stowed positions, third motors for moving the combined pickup and conveyor units transversely of the main frame, and mountings for moving only the conveyors relative to each other and relative to the pickups of the combined pickup and conveyor units. A method of merging windrows including the steps of lifting first and second adjacent windrows and conveying them in opposite directions and depositing them proximate to third and fourth windrows to create two double windrows, or alternatively, lifting spaced windrows and conveying them in the same direction and depositing them relative to a third windrow to create a triple windrow.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/253,486, filed Feb. 19, 1999 (now abandoned). 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED 
     RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved windrow merging machine and to an improved method of merging windrows. 
     By way of background, machines for merging windrows are known in the art, and some machines of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,155,986, 5,163,277 and 5,177,944. However, no single machine of the foregoing patents has the capability of positively lifting windrows off of the ground, combining a plurality of windrows into numerous different combinations of merged windrows, adjusting the machine for merging windrows located on different centers and also pivoting windrow pickup and conveying units from their horizontal operating positions to vertical stowed positions for transport. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide an improved windrow merging machine which positively lifts adjacent windrows from the ground and conveys them either in the same direction or in opposite directions and merges them with windrows on the ground. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for merging windrows which has separate combined windrow pickup and conveying units mounted on opposite sides of a main frame and in which the conveyors can operate in the same direction whereby one conveyor deposits a picked up windrow onto another conveyor so that two windrows are discharged from the machine. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a windrow merging machine as described in either of the previously two objects wherein combined windrow pickup and conveying units are movable between substantially horizontal operating positions and vertically inclined stowed positions. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved windrow merging machine which can be adjusted to various positions laterally of the main frame of the machine to thereby compensate for different spacings between windrows. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of merging windrows into accumulations of different numbers of windrows. Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will readily be perceived hereafter. 
     The present invention relates to a windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second pickup mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said main frame, and first and second conveyors mounted on opposite sides of said main frame proximate said first and second pickup mechanisms, respectively. 
     The present invention also relates to a windrow merging machine as set forth in the preceding paragraph wherein the pickup mechanisms and the conveyors are adjustable for merging differently spaced windrows. 
     The present invention also relates to a windrow merging machine which includes structure for moving combined pickup and conveyor units between horizontal operating positions and vertical stowed positions. 
     The present invention also relates to a method of merging windrows which are positioned in spaced rows comprising the steps of lifting first and second adjacent windrows from the ground; conveying said first and second windrows in opposite directions; and depositing said first and second windrows proximate to third and fourth windrows, respectively, which are adjacent to said first and second windrows, respectively, to thereby create a first accumulation consisting of said first and third windrows and a second accumulation consisting of said second and fourth windrows. 
     The present invention also relates to a method of merging windrows which are positioned in spaced rows which extend in substantially the same direction comprising the steps of lifting first and second adjacent windrows from the ground and depositing them onto a third windrow to create a first accumulation of windrows; and thereafter raising fourth and fifth adjacent windrows which are adjacent onto said first accumulation of windrows and depositing them onto said first accumulation of windrows to thereby create a second accumulation of windrows consisting of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth windrows. 
     The various aspects of the present invention will be more fully understood when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the manner in which the improved windrow merging machine operates to combine single windrows into double and triple windrows; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic view in which the improved windrow merging machine initially produces a triple windrow and subsequently a quintuple windrow; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the improved windrow merging machine with its combined pickup and conveyor units extending laterally from the main frame in operating positions; 
     FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the improved windrow merging machine with its combined pickup and conveyor units extending laterally from the main frame in operating positions; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the improved windrow merging machine showing in solid lines the combined pickup and conveyor units extending laterally from the main frame in operating positions and showing in dotted lines the combined pickup and conveyor units in stowed positions; 
     FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the improved windrow merging machine with its combined pickup and conveyor units being shown in solid line operating positions and in dotted line stowed positions; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of the conveyor portion of the combined pickup and conveyor unit taken substantially in the direction of arrows  7 — 7  of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the conveyor portion of the combined pickup and conveyor unit; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing how the two conveyors of the two combined pickup and conveyor units are positioned when the conveyors are driven in opposite directions; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the elevated end of the right conveyor adjacent the end of the other conveyor when both conveyors are driven in the same direction; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the elevated end of the left conveyor adjacent to the end of the right conveyor when both conveyors are driven in a direction which is opposite to the direction of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pickup-conveyor frame mounting a conveyor; 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the first section of the pickup and conveyor frame and the brackets which support it; 
     FIG. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the portion of the first section of the pickup and conveyor frame which telescopes into the portion of FIG. 13 and a portion of the second section of the pickup and conveyor frame; 
     FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of the manner in which the pickup and conveyor frame is supported in a stowed position; 
     FIG. 15A is a view similar to FIG. 15 but showing a latch structure for latching the pickup-conveyor frame in a stowed position; 
     FIG. 15B is a side elevational view of the latch of FIG. 15A; 
     FIG. 15C is an end elevational view of the latch; 
     FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mounting of a walking beam mounting; 
     FIG. 17 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  17 — 17  of FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of the structure for mounting on end of the motor for raising and lowering the combined pickup and conveyor units; 
     FIG. 19 is a schematic hydraulic diagram for the various hydraulic motors of the combined pickup and conveyor units; 
     FIG. 20 is a schematic view of the adjustments of the various parts of the machine for merging windrows on fifteen foot centers; 
     FIG. 21 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 20 but with the machine adjusted for merging windrows on sixteen foot centers; and 
     FIG. 22 is a schematic view similar to FIGS. 20 and 21 but showing the adjustments for windrows on fourteen foot centers. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Summarizing briefly in advance, FIG. 1 discloses how the improved windrow merging machine  10  of the present invention can be operated with the conveyors  11  and  11 ′ of the combined pickup and conveyor units  12  and  12 ′, respectively, being driven in opposite directions to merge a single windrow  13  onto an adjacent single windrow  13  to create a double windrow  14  and to merge a single windrow  13 ′ onto an adjacent single windrow  13 ′ to create a double windrow  14 ′ as the tractor  15  pulls the windrow merging machine  10  along the rows of windrows. In addition, when the machine  10  is driven to its solid line position in FIG. 1, a triple windrow  16  is created. 
     In FIG. 2 it is shown how the windrow merging machine  10  can be operated with its conveyors  11  and  11 ′ being driven in the same direction so as to combine two adjacent windrows  13 ′ and  13 ′ and deposit them onto another windrow  13 ′ so as to create a triple windrow  17 ′. Thereafter, the windrow merging machine  10  can be driven along the two additional windrows  13  to deposit them onto the triple windrow  17 ′ to create a quintuple windrow  19 . 
     It will also be appreciated that, if desired, double rows  14  and  14 ′ of FIG. 1 can be converted to quadruple rows by driving the windrow merging machine  10  with its conveyors  11  and  11 ′ in the same direction along two single rows such as  13 ′ or two single rows such as  13  of FIG.  1  and depositing these rows onto double rows  14  or  14 ′ so as to create quadruple windrows. The required size of the ultimate merged windrows, be they either double windrows, triple windrows, quadruple windrows or quintuple windrows, would depend on how these windrows are to be subsequently handled, either for baling or chopping or other types of handling or processing. 
     Summarizing further in advance, improved windrow merging machine  10  mounts the combined pickup and conveyor units  12  and  12 ′ on main frame  20  so that they can be positioned in an aligned substantially mirror image horizontal positions for merging windrows or they can be mounted in inclined vertical stowed positions for transporting the machine  10  to its operating locations. At this point it is to be again noted that the combined pickup and conveyor units  12  and  12 ′ when in their operating positions are substantial mirror image counterparts. Accordingly, generally only one of these units  12  or  12 ′ will be specifically described with unprimed or primed numerals, respectively, and corresponding primed or unprimed numerals, respectively, will be applied to the other unit to denote corresponding structure, without specifically describing such structure. It is also to be noted that, in the interest of clarity, certain of the views do not show all of the structure of the merging machine  10 , but it will be understood that all of the structure of the merging machine  10  is shown in the combination of views. 
     At this point it is to be noted that the term merge means that windrows are deposited next to each other or on top of each other or a combination of both, such that the merged windrows are sufficiently close to each other so that they can be processed by a baler or a chopper, or any other type of processing or handling machine. 
     The windrow merging machine  10  includes a main frame  20  having an elongated main portion  21  having a tractor hitch assembly  22  at its front end and an axle mounting portion  23  at its rear end which supports axle  24  on which rear wheels  25  are mounted. A steering linkage which includes rod  27  has its front end effectively connected to hitch assembly  22  and its rear end suitably connected to link  29  so that the rear wheels  25  will pivot in unison with the pivoting of hitch assembly  22  as it pivots about pin  30  as the tractor  15  which pulls machine  10  turns. The foregoing linkage for pivoting rear axle  24  is conventional and well known in the art and therefore a further description of its specific details will not be made. 
     Structure is provided for supporting the front end of machine  10  when it is not connected to a tractor. In this respect, a leg  31  (FIGS. 4 and 6) includes a collar  32  which is pivotally mounted on rod  33  secured to the underside of hitch assembly  22 . Leg  31  is rotated to the vertical position (FIGS. 4 and 6) when the merging machine  10  is detached from a tractor  15  to thereby support the front end of the machine. However, after the hitch assembly  22  is connected to the tractor  15  in the conventional manner, leg  31  is rotated to a stowed horizontal dotted line position. A pin arrangement, not shown, extends through aligned holes in collar  32  and rod  33  to retain leg  31  in each of its positions. 
     Structure is provided for pivotally mounting combined pickup and conveyor units  12  and  12 ′ onto main frame  20 . This structure includes wing-like members  34  and  34 ′ which are offset reversed mirror image counterparts, and corresponding parts will be denoted by like unprimed and primed numerals, thereby avoiding the necessity to describe each wing-like members  34  and  34 ′ individually. Wing-like member  34  includes an upper plate  35  having its inner end welded to main frame member  21  at  37 . A substantially trapezoidal plate member  39  (FIGS. 3-6) has an end welded to main frame portion  21  and its top edge welded to plate  35 . A substantially trapezoidal member  40  has its upper edge welded to plate  35  and its inner edge is welded to main frame member  21 . Plates  38  and  36  (FIG. 4) have their upper edges welded to plate  35 . Brackets  41 ′ and  42 ′ (FIGS. 5 and 12) extend outwardly from one side of wing-like member  34 ′ and brackets  43 ′ and  44 ′ extend outwardly from the opposite side of wing-like member  34 ′. A first pin  45 ′ is mounted between brackets  41 ′ and  42 ′ and a second pin  47 ′ is mounted between brackets  43 ′ and  44 ′. There are corresponding brackets and pins on wing member  34  which are designated by unprimed numerals (FIG.  5 ). 
     The combined pickup and conveyor units  12  and  12 ′ are mounted on pickup-conveyor frames  49  and  49 ′, respectively. The pickup and conveyor frame  49 ′ (FIG. 12) includes a first section  50 ′ (FIGS. 12,  13  and  14 ) having inner ends  46 ′ and  48 ′ which are pivotally mounted on pins  45 ′ and  47 ′, respectively. The pickup and conveyor frame  49 ′ also includes a second section  51 ′ which is pivotally mounted on the outer end of first section  50 ′. More specifically, first section  50 ′ of the pickup-conveyor frame includes two arms  52 ′ and  53 ′ (FIGS.  12  and  13 ). A strut  54 ′ extends between the inner ends of arms  52 ′ and  53 ′, and a strut  55 ′ extends between arms  52 ′ and  53 ′ outwardly of strut  54 ′. Struts  66 ′ extend between struts  54 ′ and  55 ′. The first section  50 ′ of the pickup-conveyor frame also includes arms  57 ′ and  59 ′ (FIGS. 12,  13  and  14 ) which telescope into arms  52 ′ and  53 ′, respectively, and are retained therein by pins  60 ′ and  61 ′ (FIG.  12 ), respectively, which extend through suitably aligned holes  66 ′ and  68 ′ (FIGS. 13 and 14) in the telescoping arms. The positions of holes  68 ′ relative to holes  66 ′ will determine the positions of the outer end of arms  57 ′ and  59 ′ which support the second section  51 ′ of the pickup-conveyor frame  49 ′ and thus will determine the overall length of first section  50 ′ of the pickup-conveyor frame  49 ′. A strut  62 ′ has its opposite ends welded to the outer ends of arms  57  and  59 . 
     The second sections  51  and  51 ′ of pickup-conveyor frames  49  and  49 ′, respectively, are pivotally mounted on first sections  50  and  50 ′, respectively. More specifically, arms  57 ′ and  59 ′ have extensions  56 ′ and  58 ′ (FIGS.  12  and  14 ), respectively. Pins  64 ′ and  65 ′, respectively, extend through extensions  56 ′ and  58 ′, respectively, and through suitable bores  67 ′ and  69 ′ in the upper sides  70 ′ and  71 ′, respectively, (FIG. 7) of second frame section  51 ′. In addition to the upper sides  70 ′ and  71 ′, second frame section  51 ′ includes legs  72 ′ and  73 ′ which depend downwardly from upper side  70 ′, and it has legs  74 ′ and  75 ′ which depend downwardly from upper side  71 ′. Strut  77 ′ joins the bottom portions of legs  72 ′ and  74 ′, and strut  79 ′ joins the bottom ends of legs  73 ′ and  75 ′. Conveyor  11 ′ includes an endless belt  82 ′ which encircles driven roller  83 ′ and idler roller  84 ′. Suitable bearings (not shown) are mounted in conveyor sides  80 ′ and  81 ′ which support rollers  83 ′ and  84 ′ for rotation. A belt seal (not shown) is located between the belts  82  and  82 ′ and the inner sides of conveyor sides  80  and  80 ′ to prevent material from dropping through the space therebetween. Flexible flaps  78  and  78 ′ (FIGS. 4 and 8) have sides attached to the sides of pickup mechanisms  89  and  89 ′, respectively, which are adjacent to conveyor sides  81  and  81 ′, respectively, and these flaps overlie parts of the upper runs  82  and  82 ′, respectively, to direct picked up material onto the conveyors. A hydraulic motor  85 ′ (FIG. 4) is mounted on bracket  87 ′ and is suitably coupled to roller  83 ′ in driving relationship therewith. A sheet metal shield  76 ′ (FIGS. 4 and 8) is attached by screws to the sides of legs  72 ′ and  73 ′ and to the side of upper side  70 ′ facing belt  82 ′. Shield  76 ′ encloses the space within legs  72 ′ and  73 ′ and upper side  70 ′ so as to prevent picked up material from being thrown through this space after it leaves pickup mechanism  89 ′. 
     The combined pickup and conveyor unit  12  includes a rotary-tine pickup mechanism  89  which has side plates  90  and  91  which are pivotally mounted on horizontal shafts  92  and  93 . Shaft  92  extends inwardly from leg  72  and a mirror image shaft  93  extends inwardly from leg  73  (FIG.  4 ). Suitable sleeves (not shown) mounted on plates  90  and  91  encircle shafts  92  and  93 . Wheels  95  and  97  are mounted on side plates  90  and  91  (FIG.  5 ), respectively, and as the wheels  95  and  97  follow the contour of the ground, the rotary-tine pickup mechanism will pivot about shafts  92  and  93 . The rotary-tine pickup mechanisms  89  and  89 ′ are of the type made by Ford New Holland Corp. and are designated by Model No. 575. Rotary-tine pickup mechanisms of this general type are well known in the art, and therefore a specific description thereof is unnecessary. The rotary-tine pickup mechanism  89  is driven by an hydraulic motor  99  mounted on plate  90 . As is understood, rotary-tine mechanism  89 ′ is mounted in an analogous manner. 
     Walking beam  101  (FIG. 17) is mounted on bracket  100  which extends downwardly from strut  77  and a mirror image walking beam  102  extends downwardly from strut  79 . Wheels  103  and  105  are mounted on opposite sides of walking beam  101 , which is pivotally mounted on shaft  106 , and mirror image wheels are mounted at opposite ends of walking beam  102 . Thus each section of frame  51  and  51 ′ has four wheels with two wheels mounted on each walking beam so that second sections  51  and  51 ′ will follow the contour of the ground and pivot about the pins which connect the second sections  51  and  51 ′ to the first sections  50  and  50 ′, respectively. 
     The second sections  51  and  51 ′ which mount conveyors  11  and  11 ′, respectively, are movable inwardly and outwardly relatively to the main frame  20  to adjust the spacing between the centers of the rotary-tine mechanisms  89  and  89 ′ so that they may be centered on windrows which are spaced different distances apart. To this end an hydraulic motor  107 ′ is mounted between strut  55 ′ and  62 ′ (FIGS. 5,  12 ,  13  and  14 ), and when pins  60 ′ and  61 ′ (FIG. 12) are removed, the hydraulic motor  107 ′ can move legs  57 ′ and  59 ′ into and out of legs  52 ′ and  53 ′, respectively, to thereby move second section  51 ′ toward and away from main frame  20 . A like adjustment is effected by motor  107  in a like manner. In a machine which was built, the three holes  68 ′ (FIG. 14) were placed six inches apart. When the parts of FIGS. 13 and 14 on both sides of the machine are assembled to their smallest dimension, the pickup mechanisms  89  and  89 ′ are on fourteen foot centers. When they are assembled to their largest dimension, the pickup mechanisms are on sixteen foot centers, and when they are assembled to an intermediate dimension, the pickup mechanisms are on fifteen foot centers. 
     When the windrow merger  10  is being operated in the manner depicted in FIG. 2 with conveyors  11  and  11 ′ being operated in the same direction, one of the conveyors may be termed a discharge conveyor and the other conveyor may be termed a feeding conveyor which feeds lifted windrow to the discharging conveyor. Structure is provided for causing the end of the feeding conveyor which is adjacent to the discharge conveyor to be raised so that the material thereon will drop onto the discharge conveyor. The structure for producing this orientation between the conveyors is shown in FIGS. 7-12. Rollers  110 ′ and  111 ′ are mounted on conveyor side  80 ′ and rollers  112 ′ and  113 ′ are mounted on conveyor side  81 ′. Channels  114 ′ on  115 ′ are rigidly secured to legs  72 ′ and  73 ′, respectively. Channels  117 ′ and  119 ′, which are mirror images of channels  114 ′ and  115 ′, respectively, are rigidly mounted on legs  74 ′ and  75 ′. Thus, the rollers  110 ′,  111 ′,  112 ′ and  113 ′, which are mounted on the conveyor  11 ′ and located in their respective channels, support the conveyor  11 ′ on second section  51 ′. When the rollers and the channels are in the position of FIG. 8, conveyor  11 ′ assumes a perfectly horizontal position, as shown in FIG.  9 . However, when it is desired to cause the upper runs  82  and  82 ′ of conveyors  11  and  11 ′, respectively, to move in the same direction, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 10, it is necessary to elevate the discharge end of the feeding conveyor  11 ′ above the adjacent end of the discharging conveyor  11  so that material will not fall through the space between the conveyors. To effect the foregoing, the spring-biased pin  120 ′ (FIG. 12) which is mounted at the end of channel  115 ′ is withdrawn from an aligned hole in conveyor side  80 ′ to thereby unlock conveyor  11 ′ from channel  115 ′. Thereafter, conveyor  11 ′ can be bodily moved in the direction shown in FIG. 10 from its previous direction of FIG. 9 so that the roller  110 ′ enters the upper portion  116 ′ of channel  114  to thereby elevate the discharge end of conveyor  11 ′ above the adjacent end of conveyor  11 . Thus material leaving feeding conveyor  11 ′ will drop onto conveyor  11 . If it is desired to elevate the discharge end of conveyor  11  above the adjacent end of conveyor  11 ′, conveyor  11  is moved bodily to the right in FIG. 11 so that roller  110  enters the elevated portion  116 ′ of channel  114 ′. Thus, material which is discharged from conveyor  11  will drop onto conveyor  11 ′. 
     The forgoing description has been directed to the combined pickup and conveyor units  12  and  12 ′ being positioned in substantially horizontal operating positions wherein they pick up windrows. However, structure is also provided for moving the combined units  12  and  12 ′ from their solid positions shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to their dotted positions shown in these figures so that the machine  10  can be transported to different locations. To this end, hydraulic motors  123  and  123 ′ are provided. One end of hydraulic motor  123  (FIG. 18) is pivotally secured to bracket  124  which is mounted on frame member  21 , and the other end is pivotally secured to arm  125  which is rigidly secured to strut  54 . Analogous structure is associated with motor  123 ′ (FIG.  12 ). Thus when hydraulic motor  123  or  123 ′ is actuated, it can move the combined pickup and conveyor units  49  and  49 ′, respectively, between their horizontal operating positions and their vertical stowed positions. When combined pickup and conveyor unit  12 ′ is in its stowed position, arm  53 ′ (FIG. 15) of pickup-conveyor frame  50 ′ rests on triangular member  66 ′ which projects outwardly from post  68 ′ which extends upwardly from plate  35 ′ of wing  34 ′. 
     In FIGS. 15A,  15 B and  15 C a latch locking mechanism is provided which may be added to the stowing structure shown in FIG. 15 to positively latch a combined pickup and conveyor unit in a stowed position. In this respect, a latch member  140 ′ is pivotally mounted on member  66 ′ at pivot  141 ′. Latch  140 ′ includes a section  142 ′ which provides a center of gravity which biases latch  140 ′ in a clockwise direction in FIG. 15A when the combined pickup and conveyor unit is not in a stowed position shown in FIG.  15 . At this time flange  143 ′ will engage the underside  146 ′ of member  66 ′, and latching tip  144 ′ will be in a position to the right of that shown in FIG.  15 A. As arm  53 ′ and frame section  51 ′ move toward the stowing position shown in FIG. 15A, arm  53 ′ will engage side  147 ′ and pivot latch  140 ′ in a counterclockwise direction so that latch head  144 ′ will overlie upper frame side  70 ′. However, there will be a space between frame side  70 ′ and latching head  144 ′. When it is desired to move the pickup-conveyor frame in the direction of arrow  147  out of the latched position, as the frame slowly moves in the direction of arrow  147 , the weight of section  142 ′ will gradually pivot the latch  140 ′ clockwise in FIG. 15A until latching head clears frame side  70 ′, and ultimately latch  140 ′ will reach its unlatching position wherein flange  143 ′ engages side  146 ′ of member  66 ′. However, if for any reason a sudden abrupt movement tends to rotate members  70 ′ and  53 ′ in the direction of arrow  147 , latch  140 ′ will not move sufficiently fast in a clockwise direction so that latching head  144 ′ can clear frame side  70 ′, and thus, abrupt movements in the direction of arrow  147  will not create an unlatching situation. It will be appreciated that a counterpart latch analogous to latch  140 ′ is used on the corresponding opposite side of the machine. 
     A machine has been built with the following dimensions. The conveyors  11  and  11 ′ are 14½ feet long and the rotary-tine pickup mechanisms  89  and  89 ′ are approximately 7 feet long. The following dimensions of the various parts are used to cause the machine to operate with the pickup mechanisms  89  and  89 ′ on fourteen foot, fifteen foot and sixteen foot centers. The outboard end of each conveyor frame  80  and  80 ′ has six holes therein. The outermost holes, that is, those closest to the outer ends of the conveyor frame are spaced ten inches from the end of the conveyor frame. The second hole is spaced six inches from the first and the third is spaced six inches from the second. The fourth hole is spaced ten inches from the third. The fifth hole is spaced six inches from the fourth, and the sixth hole is spaced six inches from the fifth hole. Thus, there are two groups of three holes at each outer end of the conveyor frame with the outer three holes and the inner three holes being spaced six inches from each other, and the two groups being spaced ten inches apart. The legs, such as  72 ′ and  73 ′ (FIG. 12) of frame section  51 ′, are spaced eight feet apart. Channels  114 ′ and  115 ′ are affixed to and centered on legs  72 ′ and  73 ′, respectively, and they are each forty inches long. Channels  114  and  115  are located in an analogous manner to legs  72  and  73 , respectively. The rollers on the conveyor frame which support the conveyor frame on the channels  114 ′ and  115 ′ are eight feet apart. There is a spring-biased pin  120  and  120 ′ mounted at the end of each channel  115  and  115 ′, respectively, which enters the selected hole in the conveyor frame side  80  and  80 ′, respectively, to hold the conveyor in the desired position to which it has been moved relative to its respective frame. The spring-biased pins  120  and  120 ′ are twenty inches outwardly of legs  72  and  72 ′, respectively, that is, between these legs and the outer ends of the respective conveyors. 
     When the pickup mechanisms are on fifteen foot centers and the conveyors are running to the left in FIGS. 5 and 10, the parts of frame section  50 ′ are adjusted so that the hole  66 ′ (FIG. 13) is aligned with the center hole  68 ′ (FIG.  14 ). The parts of frame section  50  are adjusted in an analogous manner. Also, the pin  120 ′ on the right channel  115 ′ is in the third hole from the right end of conveyor frame  80 ′, and the pin  120  on the left channel  115  is in the fourth hole from the left end of conveyor  11 . At this time the inner end of conveyor  11 ′ (FIG. 10) will be approximately five inches above the adjacent end of conveyor  11  and the inner ends of the conveyors will be approximately five inches apart. 
     When the pickup mechanisms  89  and  89 ′ are on sixteen foot centers, the parts of frame section  50 ′ are adjusted so that hole  66 ′ are aligned with the leftmost hole  68 ′ in FIG. 14 so that frame section  50 ′ has its largest dimension. An analogous adjustment is made to frame section  50 . It is assumed that conveyors  11  and  11 ′ are to run to the left in FIGS. 5 and 10. At this time pin  120 ′ will be in the first hole from the right end of the right conveyor  11 ′, and pin  120  will be in the fourth hole from the left end of the left conveyor. 
     When the pickup mechanisms  89  and  89 ′ are on fourteen foot centers and the conveyors are to run to the left in FIGS. 5 and 10, hole  66 ′ is aligned with the hole  68 ′ closest to strut  62 ′ so that the frame section has its smallest dimension. Frame section  50  is adjusted in an analogous manner. At this time pin  120 ′ will be in the third hole from the right end of conveyor  11 ′, and pin  120  will be in the sixth hole from the left end of conveyor  11 . 
     When discharging of the material from the conveyors is to be to the right, rather than to the left, as described above, the adjustments of the various parts is reversed. 
     It will be appreciated that the foregoing explanation of the adjustments for various centers of windrows has been given by way of example and not of limitation, as it is to be understood that merging machines of the present type may have differently spaced holes and different parameters for effecting adjustments. 
     In FIG. 19 the hydraulic circuit for actuating the various motors of the combined pickup and conveyor units  12  and  12 ′ is shown. More specifically, tandem gear pumps  130  and  130 ′ are mounted on base  131  secured to tractor hitch  22 . The tandem gear pump arrangement has a conventional coupling (not shown) for receiving the power take-off (not shown) from an associated tractor. Pump  130  drives the unprimed hydraulic motors and pump  130 ′ drives the corresponding primed hydraulic motors. More specifically, pump  130  drives left-hand pickup motor  99  and left-hand conveyor motor  85 . A reversing valve  132  is located in the line leading to left-hand conveyor motor  85  so that conveyor  11 , which is driven by motor  85 , can be driven in both directions. A separate sump  133  is mounted on frame  20  to provide the hydraulic fluid supply. It is to be noted that motors  99  and  85  are in series and further that the motors  99  and  99 ′ are not reversible, as are motors  85  and  85 ′, because the mechanisms  89  and  89 ′ must always be driven in the same direction to lift windrows onto conveyors  11  and  11 ′. Relief valves  134  and  135  are positioned between the outlets of the tandem gear pumps  130  and  130 ′, respectively, to pass hydraulic fluid directly into conduit  135  leading to sump  133 , in the event that, for any reason, the pressure at the outlets of pumps  130  and  130 ′ exceeds a predetermined value. The primed motors  85 ′ and  99 ′ are driven in an analogous manner. The conduits between pumps  130  and  130 ′ and the various motors with which they are associated, as described in FIG. 18, are not shown in the figure which show the actual mechanism structure of the windrow merging machine  10 . 
     Also it is to be noted that the piston and cylinder type of hydraulic motors  123 ,  123 ′,  107  and  107 ′ which are used in conjunction with pickup-conveyor frames  49  and  49 ′ have a separate hydraulic circuit which is not shown in the drawings. This hydraulic circuit constitutes suitable conduits connected to opposite ends of each of the cylinders of these motors, and each of these conduits is connected by means of a quick-disconnect coupling to a conduit leading from the hydraulic circuit of the tractor which has valving associated therewith for supplying and exhausting hydraulic fluid from these motors to drive them in opposite directions. 
     While hydraulic motors have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that electrical motors can be used in appropriate instances, or mechanical drives such as rack and pinions may be used instead of motors  107  and  107 ′; and chain drives may be used to drive the rotary-tine pickups. 
     It can thus be seen that the improved windrow merging machine  10  of the present invention is manifestly capable of achieving the above-enumerated objects, and while preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that it is not limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.