Row crop harvester with adjustable picking heads

摘要

A row crop harvester is provided with mechanism for mounting two picking heads for both vertical and horizontal adjustment of the ground engaging lower ends of the heads, to simultaneously harvest two rows of plants which may vary in spacing from each other throughout their lengths. One head is guided along its row by steering the harvester itself, while the lower end of the other head is guided along its row by selectively operating controls which transversely shift the lower end of the head relative to the first mentioned steerable head thereby accurately following and simultaneously harvesting two rows of crops such as root crops. In the preferred embodiment the upper end of each picking head is associated with a severing mechanism for removing the tops or foliage from the roots of the plants. The severing mechanisms are mounted at fixed locations on the vehicle and are associated with foliage separating devices for allowing the roots of the row crops received from each picking head to be collected by a transverse conveyor-elevator while the severed tops are deflected to the ground by vine guards and associated platforms.