Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
In a harvesting method, the steps of which include: advancing a vehicle provided with a crop-receiving body across a field having a crop thereon; continuously picking up the crop from the field as the vehicle is advanced; continuously raising the picked up crop to a level higher than the bed of the body as the crop is picked up; continuously feeding the raised crop into the body as the crop is raised; spreading the fed crop evenly throughout the body as the crop is fed; shifting a portion of said body which receives said crop downwardly toward said bed from time to time as the crop builds up in the body to compress the crop until a compact stack of the crop is produced, conforming substantially in shape and size with the body; transporting the vehicle with the stack in said body thereof to an unloading area; and unloading the stack from the body and depositing the same in an upright position on a supporting surface at said area without materially disturbing the shape, size and compactness of the stack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a harvesting method, the steps of which include: advancing a vehicle provided with a crop-receiving body across a field having a crop thereon; continuously picking up the crop from the field as the vehicle is advanced; continuously raising the picked up crop to a level higher than the bed of the body as the crop is picked up; continuously feeding the raised crop into the body as the crop is raised; spreading the fed crop evenly throughout the body as the crop is fed; shifting a portion of said body which receives said crop downwardly toward said bed from time to time as the crop builds up in the body to compress the crop until a compact stack of the crop is produced, conforming substantially in shape and size with the body; transporting the vehicle with the stack in said body thereof to an unloading area; and unloading the stack from the body and depositing the same in an upright position on a supporting surface at said area without materially disturbing the shape, size and compactness of the stack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
In the invention of claim 1 wherein said fed crop enters the body in a stream that is shifted from time to time fore and aft of said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
In the invention of claim 2 wherein said stream is shifted from time to time laterally of the body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
In the invention of claim 2 wherein said stream is reciprocated continuously fore and aft of the body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
In the invention of claim 4 wherein said stream is shifted from time to time laterally of the body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
In the invention of claim 4 wherein said stream is continuously reciprocated laterally of the body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
In the invention of claim 1 wherein the picked up crop is raised to said level at one end of the body, is then transferred above the bed along a path extending fore and aft of the body, and is then fed by gravity into the body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
In the invention of claim 1 wherein said body is tilted at said area and the stack is pushed off said bed through one end of the body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
In the invention of claim 1 wherein the picked up crop is elevated vertically at the forwardmost end of the body to a level above the latter, is then horizontally conveyed rearwardly over the top of the body, and is then dropped vertically in a continuously gravitating stream into the body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
In the invention of claim 9 wherein said stream is reciprocated continuously between the forwardmost and the rearmost ends of the body whereby to fold the crop into a plurality of superimposed layers in the body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
In the invention of claim 1 wherein said fed crop enters the body in a stream that is shifted from time to time laterally of the body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
In the invention of claim 1 wherein said fed crop enters the body in a stream that is continuously reciprocated laterally of the body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
In the invention of claim 1 wherein said compression of the crop includes a primary pressing action on the entire load toward said bed and a secondary pressing action along the sides of the body toward the bed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
In the invention of claim 1 wherein said fed crop enters the body in a stream that is continuously reciprocated laterally of the body whereby to fold the crop into a pluralitY of superimposed layers in the body, and wherein said compression of the crop includes a pressing action on the folds along the sides of the body toward the bed.