Patent GB-1250691-A (GB)
Title: Taking up and conveying of harvested agricultural material
IPC: A01D90/04
Filed: 1969-04-08
Abstract: 1,250,691. Taking up harvested material. E. WEICHEL. 8 April, 1969 [19 April, 1968], No. 17788/69. Heading A1F. [Also in Division B8] Feeding apparatus for taking up and conveying harvested crop comprises a conveyor channel comprising a generally horizontal wall, a generally vertical wall, an open side forming an inlet extending substantially along the whole length of the channel, an outlet to deliver material in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which material is delivered to the inlet, and conveying means for conveying material along the channel to the outlet and comprising prongs which are directed towards the inlet and are movable in the channel along one of the said walls. In an embodiment, Fig. 1, the material is picked up by a rotated drum 1 and delivered into a channel 3 where driven conveyor prongs 9 convey the material to an outlet 17 and thence via a guide into a loading truck. The prongs 9 are carried on crank shafts 10 connected to each other by a chain 14 and driven via a transmission 12 from a tractordriven shaft 13 driving the drum 1. A mowing mechanism may be located in front of, or below, the drum 1. The drum 1 may be mounted on an extensible pivoted arm so that it can either be disposed above the mowing mechanism to pick up material therefrom or be disposed near the ground to pick up previously mowed material. The arm carries ground wheels, and may be pivoted near the top or bottom of the channel 3. The single drum 1 may be replaced by a pair of drums driven in opposite directions and disposed one above the other or side-by-side. Guides may be provided so that long-stalked material falls lengthwise between the drums. The material is broken up after the opening 17 by rotating knives and fixed cutters, or is pressed, squeezed, torn or bound. In another set of embodiments, Figs. 11-16 (not shown), the pick up drum(s) is assisted or replaced by a pronged flexible band rotated around two or three rollers, the rollers being carried on pivoted telescopic arms and rotated about horizontal axes. The top of the channel may be extended forwardly, the prongs of the band extending through slots therein. In further embodiments, the conveyor comprises a worm, or a pronged chain or band rotated about vertical axes, or a reciprocated bar carrying pivoted spring-loaded prongs. In another embodiment, a self-propelled loading truck is equipped with a groundrotated pick up drum at its front end for gathering an existing swath, and with a mowing mechanism and a rotated pick-up drum at one side thereof for mowing and gathering simultaneously. The mowing mechanism and associated drum can be swung into a vertical position on pivoted arms.  In other embodiments, a pair of pick-up drums are arranged side-by-side and receive material from a scraper conveyor in a truck. The channel is disposed below the drums and is open upwards, and the conveyor elements project through the bottom of the channel. The channel is inclined downwardly towards the outlet 17. Alternatively the channel and drums may be swung into the heap of material so as to be self-feeding.  In another embodiment, the channel is open downwards and is above the drums which are vertically staggered and adjustable, and the conveyor prongs project through the top of the channel. The lower drum is carried by trailing arms to accommodate the unevenness of the ground.