Beet topping and windrowing apparatus and knife orientation means therefor

Claim 1

A beet topping and windrowing apparatus of the trail-mounted type comprising: a. a pivot axis disposed generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said apparatus; b. a plurality of laterally spaced, beet topping units, each unit including a support member extending rearwardly for pivotal movement about said pivot axis, each unit including a finder wheel; c. a pickup assembly mounted in tandem relation to said beet topping units, said assembly including 1. pickup means disposed generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said apparatus and having a plurality of rows of fingers, each finger comprising a generally L-shaped configuration including a stem portion and a base portion, the base portion extending in the direction of rotation of said pickup means, the base portion of each finger forming an included angle with the stem portion varying between approximately 120* and 150 , the base portion providing resistance against radially outwardly directed movement of the items being picked up by said pickup means, 2. stripper means for receiving and removing items from said rows of fingers of said pickup means and simultaneously moving the items rearwardly of the apparatus, said stripper means being disposed normal to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus and vertically above and rearwardly of said pickup means, said stripper means including (i) a first rotatably mounted member having a plurality of longitudinally extending flaps disposed about the periphery of said member and (ii) a second rotatably mounted member disposed rearwardly of and vertically above said first rotatably mounted member, said second rotatably mounted member being dispOsed such that a plane passing through the longitudinal axes of said second rotatably mounted member and said pickup means forms an included angle of approximately 27* or more with a horizontally disposed plane, and 3. a conveyor disposed rearwardly of said second rotatably mounted member of said stripper means for receiving items from said second rotatably mounted member and conveying the items to one side of said apparatus, said conveyor having a longitudinal axis disposed generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said apparatus, said conveyor having a forward edge and a rearward edge; d. a plurality of laterally spaced follower wheels for supporting said apparatus, said wheels being disposed beneath said conveyor and inwardly of the ends thereof; and e. means for adjusting the vertical distance separating said pickup assembly relative to said follower wheels, said means including 1. a control bar mounted for rotary movement about its longitudinal axis, said control bar being disposed beneath said conveyor adjacent one of the edges thereof, 2. means for effecting rotary movement of said control bar, and 3. a plurality of support frames, each support frame having a follower wheel mounted for rotation about its axle, said support frames being mounted upon said control bar for rotation therewith upon rotary movement of said control bar about its longitudinal axis.