Harvesters – Combined rakes and tedders – Side-delivery rake
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-22
2001-03-27
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Combined rakes and tedders
Side-delivery rake
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205757
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED
RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved windrow merging machine and to an improved method of merging windrows.
By way of background, machines for merging windrows are known in the art, and some machines of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,155,986, 5,163,277 and 5,177,944. However, no single machine of the foregoing patents has the capability of positively lifting windrows off of the ground, combining a plurality of windrows into numerous different combinations of merged windrows, adjusting the machine for merging windrows located on different centers and also pivoting windrow pickup and conveying units from their horizontal operating positions to vertical stowed positions for transport.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide an improved windrow merging machine which positively lifts adjacent windrows from the ground and conveys them either in the same direction or in opposite directions and merges them with windrows on the ground.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for merging windrows which has separate combined windrow pickup and conveying units mounted on opposite sides of a main frame and in which the conveyors can operate in the same direction whereby one conveyor deposits a picked up windrow onto another conveyor so that two windrows are discharged from the machine.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a windrow merging machine as described in either of the previously two objects wherein combined windrow pickup and conveying units are movable between substantially horizontal operating positions and vertically inclined stowed positions.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved windrow merging machine which can be adjusted to various positions laterally of the main frame of the machine to thereby compensate for different spacings between windrows.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of merging windrows into accumulations of different numbers of windrows. Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will readily be perceived hereafter.
The present invention relates to a windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second pickup mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said main frame, and first and second conveyors mounted on opposite sides of said main frame proximate said first and second pickup mechanisms, respectively.
The present invention also relates to a windrow merging machine as set forth in the preceding paragraph wherein the pickup mechanisms and the conveyors are adjustable for merging differently spaced windrows.
The present invention also relates to a windrow merging machine which includes structure for moving combined pickup and conveyor units between horizontal operating positions and vertical stowed positions.
The present invention also relates to a method of merging windrows which are positioned in spaced rows comprising the steps of lifting first and second adjacent windrows from the ground; conveying said first and second windrows in opposite directions; and depositing said first and second windrows proximate to third and fourth windrows, respectively, which are adjacent to said first and second windrows, respectively, to thereby create a first accumulation consisting of said first and third windrows and a second accumulation consisting of said second and fourth windrows.
The present invention also relates to a method of merging windrows which are positioned in spaced rows which extend in substantially the same direction comprising the steps of lifting first and second adjacent windrows from the ground and depositing them onto a third windrow to create a first accumulation of windrows; and thereafter raising fourth and fifth adjacent windrows which are adjacent onto said first accumulation of windrows and depositing them onto said first accumulation of windrows to thereby create a second accumulation of windrows consisting of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth windrows.
The various aspects of the present invention will be more fully understood when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
REFERENCES:
patent: 1877770 (1932-09-01), Larson
patent: 2343583 (1944-03-01), Rogers
patent: 3695015 (1972-10-01), Twidale et al.
patent: 3714766 (1973-02-01), Ender et al.
patent: 4738092 (1988-04-01), Jennings
patent: 4793129 (1988-12-01), Ehrhart et al.
patent: 4910951 (1990-03-01), Reilly et al.
patent: 5111636 (1992-05-01), Quirin
patent: 5155986 (1992-10-01), Kelderman
patent: 5163277 (1992-11-01), Fransgaard
patent: 5177944 (1993-01-01), Finlay
patent: 5203154 (1993-04-01), Lesher et al.
patent: 5507139 (1996-04-01), Delperdang et al.
Dow Steven S.
Wick Hubert A.
Byron Enterprises Inc.
Gastel Joseph P.
Pezzuto Robert E.
LandOfFree
Windrow merging machine and method of merging windrows does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Windrow merging machine and method of merging windrows, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Windrow merging machine and method of merging windrows will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2446367