Patent ID: 7975461

Claim:
A tobacco cutter machine comprising: a self-propelled carrier unit and a harvesting device, said harvesting device including an upper frame in sliding engagement with a pair of vertical members, each of said pair of vertical members coupled to a cutting platform, lifting means for raising and lowering the cutting platform, upper bearings for positioning the cutting platform along the length of the upper frame, means for centering the vertical members when the frame is lifted, wherein said vertical members downwardly extend from said upper frame and attach to said cutting platform, wherein each vertical member includes a base and said cutting platform includes a base attached to each of the pair of vertical members, wherein each base includes opposing ends with the vertical member disposed between the opposing ends at the approximate midway of the base, said opposing ends each including a pair of base guides that define a longitudinal passage therebetween, a cutter blade assembly having a blade with a cutting edge, which cutting edge is in communication with the longitudinal passage, a motor assembly affixed to the upper surface of the base in order to activate operation of the cutter blade assembly, front and rear wheel assemblies, and said front wheel assembly mounted on said vertical member in front of said cutter and said rear wheel assembly mounted on said vertical member behind said cutter to guide said vertical member relative to said upper frame during movement of said machine, a shield attached to each of the vertical members.