US844476A

US844476A - Harvester.

Info

Publication number: US844476A
Application number: US30916006A
Authority: US
Inventors: Theodor M E Seierup
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1906-03-31
Filing date: 1906-03-31
Publication date: 1907-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 1924-02-19

Description

PATENTED FEB. 19,-1`907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR 3.6M

ATTORNEY T. M'. E. SEIBRUP.

l HARVESTER. v4A-PLIOAXJION TILBD IAB. 31, 1906.

No: 844,476. i

PATENTED PEB. 19, 1907.

T. M. E. SEIERUP.

HARVESTER.

AIfPLIoATIoN FILED MAR. s1. 190e.

anims-snm 2.

)zj/IT ESSES:

` ANORNEY f @y0/f.

nu: Nmzms PETERS ce., wAsmNcmN, n. c.

N9. 944,476. PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907. T. M. E. s919999.

HARVESTER.

APPLIOATION FILED 919.19.31, 1996.

ITNESSES 2' 9 ATTORNEY 4nu: NoRRls pt rsns co.. wAsulNaroN. D. c,

To all whom, it may concern:

A' UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE. N

THEoDoR M. E. SEIERUP, or REESE, MICHIGAN, AssIGNoR oF ONE-HALFv `To SAMUEL JOHNSON, or REESE, MICHIGAN.

HARVESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

` Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Application filed March 31,1906. Serial No. 309,160.

Be it known that I, THEODOR M. E. SEIE- RUP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reese, in the county of Tuscola and State of Michigamhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvesters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

i clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to harvesters, and more particularly in the present embodiment thereof to beet harvesters, one object of which is to raise the beets from the soil without rst topping them. 1 In attaining this result I provide in one machine means for loosening the soil around the beets; secondly, means for confining and guiding the tops to the conveyer thirdly, a conveyer adapted to grasp the beet-tops and raise the beets out of the ground; fourthly, a means for topping `the beets, and, lastly, a means for' cleaning rovision of an inclined conveyer adapted tor i firmly grasp the beet-tops and'by its inclination to actually pull or raise the beets out of the ground.

A still further object is the provision of means for adjusting the height 0I the loosen- `ing or plowing means, the guiding means, `and the conveying means relative to the beets and their tops.

A further object is the provision of adjustable means for topping the beets after they are received on the machine.

Another object is the provision of means operating in conjunction with but separate from the conveyer for altering the positions of the beets as they ascend to the machine in order to properly present them to the cutter.

A stillfurthef object is `the provision of means adapted to receive and clean the beets after they have been topped.

A further Objectis the provision of means adapted to collect and discharge the beets in piles at the option of the operator.

In attaining these objects it is necessary that the operating parts be synchronized relative to each other, and my invention further consists in certain other novel features and combinations of parts, ltogether with their equivalents, such as will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

i My invention is notwholly confined to the harvesting of beets, as its essential features may be utilized in harvesting other vegetables, as turnips, chicory, carrots, and the like.

Inthe accompanying drawings, illustrating one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. 2 is aside view thereof, parts removed to better disclose the construction.- Fig; 3 is a detail view of the manner of varying the plows.

to accord with the sizes of beets being harvested. Fig. 4 is a detail bottom plan view of a portion of a supporting-belt. a detail top plan view of a section of the conveyer-chain. Fig. 6 is another detail of a section of the conveyer-chain, showing the vgear-teeth. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a section of the supporting-belt. Fig. 8 isa detail view of a section of the supporting-belt, showing the sprocket-chain applied thereto.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional View of the hopper.`

gle-iron, the main frame comprising front and rear angle-irons 1 1, connected at their opposite ends by means of the preferably parallel side angle-irons 2 2, 2 2, the side angle-irons being arranged in pairs, as shown.

Conveniently located at the forward end `of the frame are the brackets 3 3, suitably secured to the forward endsof the side bars of the frame in any approved manner, the brackets each provided with a preferably vertically disposed threaded sleeve 4 4, adapted to receive the threaded stems or standards 5 5 of the forks 6 6, in which are journaled the wheels 7 7, lock-nuts 8 8 being Fig. 5 is IOO ` applied to the upper ends of the stems to retain them in their adjusted positions. In the form herein shown the wheels are not swiveled relative to the forks, and hence will remain in any position-in which they are set.

The connection between the wheels and the forward end of the frame is such as to permit an adjustment of the forward end of the frame toward and from the ground, whereby to vary the depth to which the plows will penetrate and also varyl the relation of the guides and conveyer relative tol the beet-tops.

Located in the rear of the adjustable wheels and in the space between the two-inner side bars 2 2 arek the plows 9 9, secured to the lower ends of the stocks 10 10, conveniently formed of angle-iron, which stocks are slidably mounted in any convenient manner on a shaft 11, suitably journaled in bearings 12 12 on the side bars. The plow-stocks may conveniently extend some distance above the frame and are connected at their upper ends by means of a rod 13, on whichthe upper ends of the stocks are slidably mounted in any convenient manner. This rod preferably extends laterally beyond thel frame and has a link 14 secured thereto, the link extending rearwardly to a lever 15 near the operators seat, by means of which lever the plow-stocks and plows may be tilted in one direction or the other to take into the ground at more or less of an angle. Furthermore, by this construction if either plow should engage an obstruction the operator by backing the vehicle a short distance can swing the plows forwardly, so that they will avoid the stone and can then drive forward until the obstruction is passed. A stop 2A extends across the frame to limit the rearward movement of the plow-stocks.

The above constructions of the adjustable wheels and theV plows are merely one of a number of arrangements which my invention is capable of assuming, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise forms shown.

It often happens in large fields that beets in one portion of the ield will vary in size from those in another portion of the ield, and in order to loosen the dirt or soilA as closely as possible to the beets without injury to theibeets it is desirable that the plows be arranged so as to be adjusted at a greater or lesser distance apart, and as one means for accomplishing this end I have feathered the plow-stocks to the shaft 11 and rod 13 and connect the stocks at points intermediate the shaft and rod by means of a right and left threaded screw 16, the ends of which are received in correspondingly-threaded apertures in the stocks or in lugs 10A 10A, carried thereby. A gear 17 is secured to the screw and is adapted to be engaged or operated by a worm 18, mounted on a rod 19, suitably l supported in a bracket 20, mounted on the shaft 1'1, and held inengagement with the gear by a strapl 21A, the bracket and rod 19 rocking with the shaft and plow-stocks. A rotation of the gear 1.7 in one direction or the other lwilll operate' to simultaneously and equally draw the plowshares together or move them apart to permit of an adjustment relative to the sizes of beets being harvested. Obviously, also, this adjustment will admit of the use of the machine with other vegetables than beets.

The 'present embodiment of my invention contemplates the employment of conveyers adaptedy to-grasp the beet-top, but as such tops arek spread out it becomes necessary to use some means forcollecting and! bunching the tops, and as one means for accomplishing this end I have shown the following mechanism: Directly behind the plows are located the converging guides,21 21, of an approx-imate V shape in rear elevation, theinner laterallyeinclined plates of each guide gradually diminishing as they approach the forwardl ends ofthe guides, whichl terminate in points normally adapted to lie just above the surface of the soil. The edge of each inclined plate is gently curved, as shown, to avoid injuring the beet-tops. The vertical 'platesof the guides are preferably jpivotally secured toV the inner side bars, as at 22, and are each pro# videdy with a semicircular row of apertures 23 23, adapted to register with a single aperture in each of the-angle-irons and adapted to receive a pin 24, located in the aperture in the angle-iron'. By this arrangement the angle of the guides may be varied in order that the points of the guides may lie closer to or farther from the surface of the ground, according to the manner in which the beet-tops are lying.

By leaving the tops on the beets I am enabled to draw, pull, or raise the'beets out of the ground by causing suitable means to gri the to'ls, and as one meanslfor eflectingthls end Ihave shown the following mechanism: rI`he separated lpoints of -the inclined. guides are adapted to pass on opposite sides of thebeets and gather in the overhan ing leaves, which are gradually bunched as t e machine proceeds, the stems of the leaves resting.

one chain adapted to be received betweenv each two adjacent teeth on the opposite chain in such a manner that a clearance 26 isleft between the ends of the teeth of one chain and the bottoms of the spaces between the teeth on the opt osite chain. The con-A veyer-chains are provided fwith gear-teeth 27 IOO lIO

ITS

,I on their rear surfaces, adapted to be engaged by the gear-wheels 28 28, suitably mounted in 'preferably depending bearings 29A`29A,l secured to the inner longitudinal bars` 2 2 just behind the f guides, the rear edges ofA `,which latter may be cut away, so thatthe throat formed by the guides lies between the wheels 28 28. The conveyer-chains pass around the `wheels 28 28 and thence are received in a pair of channel-irons 29 29, arranged to face each other, the channels forming a gear-casing slotted at to' and bottom to allow the beets to depen beneath the channel and the tops to proj ect above the channel. These channel-irons arewarp ed or torsionally twisted as they ascend toward the higher rear end ofthe machine vuntil the registering slots between the channel-irons `lie in an a' `prornmately horizontal instead ofa vertica plane, the object being to turn the beet froml the vertical position in which it is removed from the ground to a horizontal position, Where it may-be acted u'pn by the cutl ters to top the beetl ,25

Thus the chains after passing around the wheels 28 28 enter the adn jacent channel-irons 29 29, the lower ends of which are located adjacent the wheels 28 28, the chains passing. through the twisted or warped channel formed by the ironsand being themselves twisted thereby until, instead oflying in a horizontal position relative to `each other assumed as they pass into the l superposed relative to the other, in which' lower end of the channel, one ofsaid chains is position they emerge from the upper end of the channel and pass across the elevated horizontal table 30 at the rear of themachine.

The rear end of the machine is supported on anfaXle 31, whichisof greater length than the width of the machine, to impart stability and prevent the overturning of the machine, the axle of course being 'provided with traction-wheels 32 32;l The wheels and axle turn togetheniand the aXle carries a drive-gear 33, adaptedv to impart motion to a train of gears for actuating the moving parts of the machine, the drive-gear and train'ofgearsbeing suitably proportioned in accordance with the reqiirementsof the mechanism to be actuate l Horizontal shafts 34 3,4 are suitably journaledfin the rearframework of the machine above and below .the table` 30 and are providedwith spur-gears 35 35A, rotating in oppositedirections and deriving motion from.

the train of gears. The conveyer-chains after passing across the table 30 separate,l

one of them passing upward around spur- 'gear 35A, while the other passes downward around spur-gear 35. The chain passing aroundspur-gear 35A travels forwardly above the table to the upper end of a single tors ionallytwisted or warped channel-iron 36A,

inclineddownwardly and terminating at or near the outer periphery of one ofthe gear.-

passing around the spur-gear 35 travels forwardly beneath the table 30 and enters a similar channel-iron 36, `extending to the outer periphery of' the opposite gear-wheel 28. The chains enter channels 36 36A in a vertical position and emerge therefrom in a horizontal position, owing to the warping of the channels.

As the beets are elevated by the conveyer traveling upward inthe adjacent channelirons 29 29 lthey are turned from a vertical to a horizontal position, `and hence it 'becomes necessary Vto support the beets proper in alinement with theirl tops. l As one means for accomplishing this end I have deviseda belt 37, one face of which is provided with a series of pivoted curved nngers-38 38, spaced 'apart from each other and adapted to engage the beets as they are elevated by the conveyer. The fingers may conveniently be angular in cross-section', andl pivotally mounted at their angles on bails secured to and carried by the belt. The tails 39 of the fingers are apertured to receive rivets 40, also carried by the belts and aifordingthe tails a slight amount of play when the fingers are moving around the rollers, there being.

a clearance formed between the heads of the rivets and the tails, as shown. The belt or moving support passes around an inclined roll 41, located intermediate the ends of the double channel 29 29 and at about the point where the twist nrst commences. The roller is provided with a circular series of teeth 42, adapted to take into a series of links 43, lo cated on the rear face of the belt, whereby positive movement is imparted to the belt IOO and slipping is prevented. The belt is secured to the links 43 by means of outcurved wings 43A, carried by the links, the wings being riveted to the outer depending ends of the links. This roller 41 extendsat approXif mately right angles to the double channel. Similar toothed rolls 44 and45 are located upon the rear superstructure, the rolls 44 and 45 being horizontally disposed, the roll 44 being located at the forward end of the table in proximity to the upper endof the double channel, the roll 45 being located near the rear end of the table. Situated beneath the roll 44 is an idle toothed roll 46, inclined in a plane between the horizontal and the inclined roll 41.y The 'ascending ply of the belt 37 after leaving the inclined roll 41 travels upward and over the horizontal roll 44, and

by reason of the ditl'erent planes occupied by the rolls 41 and 44 the belt between those rolls is twisted to conform to the warp of the double channel, so that the beet-roots always rest on and are supported bythe belt nrst in an inclined plane and thence in a horizontal position, the belt approaching the conveyer as it nears the table. From the roll 44 the belt extends horizontally -to the roll 45,

' around'whichf. it lipasses, :and .tlrence; over Lthe inclined -idle'rf-roll :'46 it'o ltlre iroll *41. ".The idler a mayV also 's'erveas a `belt-tightener .-.The beets "when they reach the tab-le l '30 occupy a.` horizontal position,= inwhichthey move` across the table, their tops stillgripped by#` the Aconveyer: andfsupported on. the ta ble whiletheroots are.supportedfonithe belt,..it being understood that the mechanismliszsb arranged that the i Iconveyer :and belt 7 travel together, moving the same distance fat f the Sametime. The )tops having :served their purpose-namely, thatrofa handle bylmeans ofwhichathe? beets are; pulled and.Y e] evatedh it becomes necessary lto iremove i them, and while this ymay be accomplished Ain many ways ,fiasis. true of theresults. hereinb efore'set forth, l.I have .shown in 1. the present: instance arota'ry knife 117,y mounted on e a horizontal shaft 48, `lsupported above the .table and drivenbya-a; gear 49, forming lone of thetrain of', gears, the knife being -rotated yfat a vhigh speed. .The vertically-.disposed rotary knife or .cutter is located atea'.pointintermediate the front 'andrear ends; of thetable and may proj ect f beneath the .edge of the -.table Ibetween the 'conveyerfandithebelt As .the beets ,.p'ass beneath .the :shaft =the cutter severs `the tops! from. thei roots, and thetops lstillrgripped by theconveyer pass on tothe rear 'end of.theftable,where they: are released .bya reasonof= theseparationaof-.the conveyerchainsand may-be disposed ofain -any-suitable :m-anner. Meanwhile fthe `beets themselves. aref` carried on? the! belt to. the irear4 end ofthe table,-wheref-.theyare discharged: into -a vcleaning mechanism, presently ito be 1 described.

AIt. mayssometimes happen,- owing .to .av-ariat-ion in the V`sizes ofithe beets 1 or other veget-ables y being-[harvested or owing to the manner inwwhich/thetops are engagedl by the conveyer Ior. for -any other. reason, thatl'an .adjustmentofxthe cutter isdesirable, `andas vone. of the many-.means for. effectingssuchadjustment `I have .preferably :mounted `the shaft-48 so that. itf'will slide or. may be. moved longitudinally .ini its bearings, the f shaft having a collar150 -keyed thereon and l"engaged byy a-fork v51,.-secured-to one end..off a link 52, the opposite end of'- which f link is pivotally connectedto a lever 53 intermediate: its ends, the Ilever being pivotally Ymounted on @the rear `:superstructure yin any .suitable manner adjacentl theseat of the operator. Thus by swinging the lever 5 3 in one direction or: the other wthe cutter is .'adjusted'to Lthe'desired position, the gear 49#sliding-Withthelshaft landbeing of. a width sufficient toA prevent its disengagement withl the .train .ofggears. IIt is also desirable :to -place the beets junder pressure f'during -the topping thereof, :and while many f. constructions .mightlbe .devised for attaining 1 this purpose il. have .illustrated 55,; suitably supported .at jone lend and Vnextending-.transversely Sover the beltlatv a-,point intermediate "the m1144141 .and .t'he .'cutten The bracketis .adapted :to supp ort I'fa jpair. of resilient1'ingers.56"5 6,1.under which the ".beets pass and by which the-.beetsf-are engaged-and held .from .rolling during the topping operation. Leaf-springs .57157 may be'secured to the lbracket to-Y overlie and .bear @upon .the fingers, affording a flrmer Vpressure i thereof on the-beets.

Sugar-.beets .grow l best in .clayey: -soil @and itV frequently happens that-the" beetsV orother vegetables are .harvested fwhile: the. grounds moist, :as f after a i'rain, @so that @considerable clean .the vvegetables .A prior .to 'disposing of them. :To .this end f1 ,provide.a cleaner 0perated: bythe movementy of thev machine, and, as one .of vanumber-v of-.convenientl constructions, Il have shown. an' inclinedfhollow drum 58, .the .upper open end` of which is/ disposed beneath the-roll 45 inA su'chfposition` that as the beets Vare discharged V'from the -belt t they are .received `:by the -drum. vThe drum .is preferably supported 1 in .a rearzextension 59 of 'the superstructure on vthe .main frame, suchl rear` extension-1 being1 providedv with tWo oppositely-located-'grooved y'arms"60a60, in

to the ldrum at a Vpoint `irdsermediate `its ends. Near the opposite ends. of` ther drum are-secured annular toothedracks '62 62,1for imparting strength tothe drum.' and. affording means v,for rotating? the cutter. A horizontal shaft163 .is journaled-inthe bearingsin .the frame, it being provided with a :.gear ,64, meshing withf'an intermediate gear 65,'carried by a link` 66,1connectedrigidlyto va stubshaft; 67, which.` shaftv is controlled'byfa lever 68., `adaptedto move thezintermediategear into ory out yof meshwith` the ygear 64 on the shaft. .The intermediate gear '.'meshes :with a1 gear f. 69, carried Aby the axle. .A second shaft 70 is suitably yjournaled beneath the drum 'and extending paralleli therewith, the shaft :70 .having v'a :bevel -gear .71 secured thereto intermediate its. ends and adapted' to mesh withfaisimilargear-72 onthevshafty 63. The periphery of the bevel-gear 71 is smooth and engages thesmooth. annular. ribf 61.1tolas- -sistin: supportingthe drum 'and afford: an: an-

.tifriction-bearingtherefor. 'The ends ofthe inclined .counters'haft f 70 yare `fequipp ed with v.spur-gears 62a .622, .whereby to rotate .the

ICJO

FIO

35 aconvenient.mechanismcomprising-a bracket. yu'hich"hoppeior receptacle-is preferablyproy53o `and belts will move the same distance.

vided with atrap-door 74, which maybe opened from time to time to dischargethe beets in windrows on the ground, or in any other manner desired.

FromV the foregoing the operation of my `invention may be easily understood; but, to

briefly recapitulate, the machineis so Varranged that as the traction-wheels move forward twenty feet, for instance, the conveyer As the machine proceeds along the row of beets,

`which row is straddled by the machine, .the lows pass on opposite sides of the row and oosenor` break up the groundaround the beets, but leaving the latter in the ground in their normal position. Theguides next pass on opposite sidesof the beet close to but not bunched stems are grasped by the conveyer at a point C,preferably about iive inches above The conveyer now commences i the groun under the surface of the ground, and gather within their embrace the leaves and stems ofthe beet, which leaves' and stems are gradually bunched and straightened as the machine proceeds until constricted into the smallest possible area, atgwhich ytime the its ascent of the central channel, and thus pulls the beet` out of the loosened soil, the eet after having been nally pulled engaging the belt-support. Now, as the beet continues its ascent it is gradually turned from a vertical` to a horizontal position, owing to the warped channeland the twisted belt,in which latterl position it' is presented to thecutter, which severs the top and permits the beetto y side bars 7,5 75 of which are pivotally secured to the rear axle;` The forward ends ofthe longitudinal bars terminate in varched con- `verging ribs 76 7 6, the ribs meeting at their outer endsand a 'ertured to receive the kingbolt'7 7 of a truc 78, to which the draft-ani- "l mals are attached. Furthermore, the shaft 11, on whichthe plow-stocks are secured,

p i may be extended and provided with a gearwheel 79, loosely mounted onthe shaft and agiapted to mesh in a-rack 80, carried by one o t inclosed in a slotted box 81, through the slot 82 of which projects the free end of the shaft 11. This construction'admits ofthe swing-` ing of one frame relative to the other. Having thus fully disclosed my inventlon, p what Iclaim as new is`- A 1. A vegetable-harvester comprising means for loosening theearth around the vegetables e longitudinal bars 75 75, the rack being to be harvested, means forpulling and conveying the vegetables from the ground, and means located between the loosening means and the* pulling means for collecting and bunching the tops of the vegetables and guiding them to the pulling means.

2. A vegetable-harvester comprising means for loosening the soil around thevegetables, means for bunching `the tops of the vegetables, means for grasping the tops and pulling the vegetables out of the ground, and means forsupporting the vegetables, the last-named f means coperating with thepulling means to convey the vegetables. f y

3. A vegetable-harvester comprising means for loosening the soil around the ve etables, means for seizing the tops to raise t e vegetables from their beds, means for supporting the vegetables subsequent to the engagement f of the tops by the 4raising means and a cutter to which the vegetables are conveyed and by which they are topped. j l 4. A vegetable-harvester comprising means for loosening the soil around the vegetables, means for seizing the tops of the vegetables to raise them from their beds,'means for suporting the vegetables subsequent to 4their the soil, a receptacle for the vegetacaving e raising and supportin means copbles, t

eratinggto convey the vegetab es to thereceptacle, and being so arranged as to turn the vegetable. during its progress from a vertical to a horizontal position, and a cutter for topping the vegetables while in a horizontal `position.

5. A vegetable-harvester comprising means for loosening the soil around the vegetables, bunchingguides for collecting the tops, a conveyer for grasping the tops of the vegetables to raise them from their beds, traveling means for supporting the lvegetables after they have been raised and a cutter for topping the vegetables.

IOO

6. A vegetable-harvester comprising soili looseningl means, pulling and conveying means and bunching mechanism located between the soil-loosening means and the vegetable pulling and conveying means.

7. A vegetable-harvester comprising soilloosening -means, bunching means, al conveyer for graspingthje tops of the Vvegetables to pull the vegetables Vout of the ground,

IIO

means forpresenting the tops `to the conveyer,

a warped channel up which the conveyer asses, a cutter and a twisted supportinglielt traveling synchronously with the conveyer for supporting the vegetable sand `presenting them to the cutter in 'a horizontalposition. l

8. A` vegetable-harvester comprising a frame, soil-loosening means, bunching means, a set of oppositely-located `horizontally-disposed wheels,y a second `set of dppositely-located vertically-disposed wheels situated on a plane above the Erst-named set of wheels,

IOl

means for imparting' motion.i to one setiofi Wheels,v a. Warped double channel.' leading;- rom' a point intermediatethe. p'eripheries'- of. thehorizontal` set' of. Wheels: to aip'ointfin. ap-V proximate alinement Withthe innerv pe?-v ri heries of thevertieally-disposed Wheels,'a p uralityy of.' toothed?v chains. passing' around and connecting therespective Wheels: of the. sets,- a* cutter andlai. twisted? supporting-belt travelingsynchronously' vvitl'i the chains for supporting the vegetables andy presenting. them to the lcutter in a horizontal: posi tion..`

9. A vegetableshar-vester' comprussng' soilL' looserLng means, bunolnng means af pair." of. endlessA toothed cha;ns, adapted' to grasp the tops` of the vegetables when: bunc'hed, apah'."

of' horizontally-disposed gears: around' which.

the chainsl passy just' priori toi engaging." the'l tops; ar pairfo gearslooated rea1 W-andly"of.

and: on aE higher. planethan the fh'stnamedl pair, .the ehainsp asssngf'in opposste.direct;ons;

, around the last-named pair.' of.'v gears.' to.y rie:- lease'the tops, .means for impartinga-twtto the 'chainsf as the travelffrom-the iirstnarned toltheflastlnamed pair-'of gears, a'eutte'riand a twrstedl supp orting-b elt' traveling. sJ 'nohrol-- nously with. the 1 chains: for.' suppornng tl'le vegetables andpr'esentngthemto the cutter ter to whichthe vegetablesa'represented 12. A harvester comprisings'oilloosening means, bunchingguid es, .a convejer Jorpulling the vegetables, a. traveling support, theV support comprising' abeltl onwhiehithe vegeta es-re'stvafter they arefr'aised out ofthe' ground, curved fingers carried?E 'the belt. to# engage the vegetables to-holdftllemfinlposition, the'belt moving Witlithec'onvej'enandi a' cutterv to which they vegetables aref pre-4 sented.

1-3'. A harvester.L connorisings'oiblooseningl means, bunohing means, a v'conve-,Mer for. graspin the lbunche'dtops ofi the vegetables, andiA pul ing the vegetables,` a: belt traveling.l Withy the eonveyer onlwliich=belt`- the'vegetaf bles rest' after they ar'erase'd out of.' thel ground,y curved' lingers-'1 securedi to the beltv andadapt'ed toengage and hold the'veg'e'ta-- bles', and.f agcntter for. severiizztg;y the .topsff-iom. thefvegietables;

' 14'. A vegetableflarves'ten comprising straddle-row plows for loosening."v the.' soilgf launching-guides.foncollectingandbunching the tops. a. conveyerfor.. grasping'.w the: tops: andi` pulling the-vegetablesj ailextble! travelingfb elt for supportrngifthevegietablesg vrn'e'ans; forrnparting atwst to thebelt', andi to theA conveyer ,t and. a' cutter 'for severing. the'I tops-l frornthelvegetables;

155'. A veg'etable.-harvesterf;` comprising: straddle-row plowslf for; loosernng the: soin, bunching-guidesI for' collecting and.l presi-1mi#y ing; the tops, an. inclined'. traveling; convey-er' adapted. to l grasp: the: tops-f aspresentedi and?A pulll thcb vegetables out'.v ofi' the'v ground', the: conveJ'erI belngftwis'tedf to Yturnffl'ie to'p's'` from? a .vertical to ahorizontalf position-y ai. flexible l. traveling belt -fo'r supp orltingtheivegetablea. the: beltl located adj jacent thei convegyer and' honig twiste'diniconormity therewthpandiat gutter. fonsevering ,the tops rom'ithe vegeta'-I les;

16. A.. harvester comprs'ng'f straddle-ro'wfv ploWs-fonloosening'; thesoil', bnnchingsguides'. for'coll'ectingand resentin'g the tops, aninf- @lined.e' '11ve'e`r=`a(iapted. to grasp lthe: top s" as`- presentedi to.'y pulli the vegetables: and turrn. themi-rom' avert'cal. toa horizontal postion.. and. af flexible.. supp ortlngeb eltllo cated: adj a-- cent the conveyer" and; travelngf synchro.;` nously therewithg. the.L supp ort'. benign twistedi to.` sustain the vegetables in alinement' with. v the tops,y and'. cutter. ffor.' severing," the. tops;I

rointhe vegetables.

17:'. A. vegetablefhanves'ter comprising; straddlw-row" plows1 for.' loosening the@ sont.

bunchingegudes. for' colleetingf the; tops, an:A

inclined. pulling and'. elevating' conveyerf adaptedt'ograspthetops #aspresentedfby'f the.l guides; a supportngsbelt' traveling. adjacent. the conveJ'er,` rollers overY which the beltl passes', vteeth onithefrollers, (links. onitherbelt engaged by the: teeth, andi a2 cutter- Vfoifseverl" ing.'thetops'romthevegetables;

1-8. A vegetable-hanvesten p comprising straddle+r-owplowsp fori loosening: thet soil',` bunching-gudesjfor collecting. the tops, a'nfin;t dined-pulling..and'elevatingiconyeyerg adapt# edfv to grasp@ the tops-I as? presented1 by' the. guides, Warped.channel'sfortwisting!thecon-V veyen, asupportingf--bdt traveling. adjacent the UOnVeYer?, rolls lyingin planes .transversetol eachother over Whch'the beltpass'es-andaby which4x the f belt is twisted.`- in.' conformity-f With.` the. conveyerY and' a. cutter for:y severingathe@ tops-:tromthevegetables.. Y

1.9. A. vegetableeliarvesterr comprising: a main! tranne,z a superstnuetnref located? rear; Wardl7 thereofgstraddlefrovv plows forl loosening the soil, buncl`1in'g.''guidesfforl collecting the tops, a pulling and elevatingponveyerfon' grasping.' the tops and delivering-fthe.'vegetables'to.thelsuperstnletureinfa1.horizontalrpob sition, a cutter for topping the vegetables and means for adjusting the cutter relative to the work.

20. A vegetable-harvester comprising soilf `loosening means carried thereby, bunchingguides for collecting the tops, a cutter, means or adjusting the cutter and means for delivering the vegetables to thecutter in zontal position. l

21. A vegetable-harvester comprising soilloosening means, bunching-guides for collecting the tops, a pulling and elevating conveyer for grasping the tops as presented by the guides; and pulling the vegetables,\a belt supporting the vegetables, a cutter for topping the vegetables subsequent to the pulling and means for adjusting the cutter relative to the Work.

22. A vegetable-harvester comprising soilloosening means, bunching-guides for collecta horiing the tops, a pulling and conveying mem-` ber, adapted to grasp the tops as presented by the guides, a supporting-belt onwhich the vegetables are sustained, a cutter located between'the conveyer and belt, fingers carried by the belt engaging the vegetables, and

- means located abovethe belt for "frictionally hearing ting operation.

23. A vegetable-harvester comprising soilloosening means, bunching-guides for-collecting the tops, a pulling and conveying member adapted to grasp the tops as' presented by the guides, a pocketed supporting-belt traveling adjacent thereto, a cutter located between the conveyer and belt, flexible fingers lying abovel the belt to engage the vegetables carried thereby and retain them in the pockets and resilient means bearing upon the fingers. 1

24. A vegetable-harvester comprising soilloosening means, bunching-guides for collecting the tops, a pulling-conveyer, for grasping upon the vegetables during the cut-` the tops as presented by the guides, a supporting-belt, a cutter for topping the vegetables subsequentto pulling, and a cleaner into which the topped vegetables are discharged.

25. A vegetable-harvester comprising soilloosening means, bunching-guides for collecting the tops, a pulling conveyer for grasping the tops as presented by the guides, a supporting-belt, a cutter for topping the vegetables subsequent to pulling, and a rotary cleaner into which the topped vegetables are discharged. 26. A vegetable-harvester comprising a pair of plows adapted to straddle the rows and loosen the soil, bunching-guides for collecting, straightening and l bunching the tables and a topper to which the vegetables.

are conveyed by the chains and presented by the belts, and means for raising the plows out of the ground and suspending them at the end ofa row.

In testimony whereof I aiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODOR M. E. SEIERUP. Witnesses:

SAMUEL JOHNSON,

RALPH S. WARFIELD.

'leaves of the vegetables, endless chains for