Crop processing machine

Claim 1

THE IMPROVEMENT IN MOBILE STALK CHOPPERS OF THE TYPE WHICH INCLUDES A ROTARY STALK CHOPPING MECHANISM, A HOOD OVERLYING SAID CHOPPING MECHANISM AND SPACED FROM THE GROUND AT ITS FORWARD EDGE TO DEFINE A MOUTH FOR ENTRANCE OF STALKS OF A ROW CROP TO SAID CHOPPING MECHANISM UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID CHOPPER OVER A GIVEN ROW, SAID IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED FORWARDLY DIVERGING CROP GATHERING SHOES, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID HOOD MOUNTING SAID GATHERING SHOES FOR COMMON SWINGING MOVEMENTS ON A HORIZONTAL AXIS BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN SAID SHOES PROJECT FORWARDLY FROM THE TRANSVERSE CENTER OF SAID MOUTH WITH THE FRONT ENDS THEREOF IN CLOSELY SPACED RELATION TO THE GROUND AND AN INOPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN SAID SHOES ARE DISPOSED IN OVERLYING RELATION TO SAID HOOD, SAID MEANS INCLUDING STRUCTURE MOUNTING SAID SHOES FOR COMMON LATERAL MOVEMENTS AS A PAIR WHEN IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION, AND MEANS YIELDINGLY BIASING SAID SHOES TOWARD A POINT CENTRALLY OF SAID MOUTH BUT PERMITTING TRANSVERSE MOVEMENTS OF SAID SHOES TO COMPENSATE FOR LATERAL VARIATIONS BETWEEN THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID CHOPPER AND THE LINE DEFINED BY THE STALK PLANTS OF A ROW.