Patent ID: 7310929

Claim:
A windrow merger apparatus configured for travel in a first direction, comprising: a frame; a first pickup assembly supported by the frame; a second pickup assembly supported by the frame; and a third pickup assembly supported by the frame; wherein at least two of the pickup assemblies, including the first and third pickup assemblies, are foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position, each of the first, second, and third pickup assemblies being aligned side by side when each of the pickup assemblies is positioned in the extended use position; wherein each of the pickup assemblies is arranged and configured such that merger operations can be accomplished: i) when the first and third pickup assemblies are positioned in the extended use position; and ii) when the first pickup assembly is positioned in the extended use position and the third pickup assembly is positioned in the retracted travel position; and iii) when the third pickup assembly is positioned in the extended use position and the first pickup assembly is positioned in the retracted travel position; and iv) when the first and third assemblies are positioned in the retracted travel position; wherein each of the first and third pickup assemblies is operable in both the extended use position and the retracted travel position.