System for collecting plant material in an agricultural field

An agricultural system for collecting plant material near the ground surface of an agricultural field, the system comprising:

• an implement head configured to be moved across the agricultural field by a power unit along a path of movement to collect plant material from the field, the implement head having a lateral direction oriented transverse to the path of movement, the implement head having an intake opening through which plant materials move into the implement head, the intake opening extending in the lateral direction, the implement head having a forward-rearward axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the lateral direction and located central to a lateral width of the of the implement head, and
• a material gathering apparatus for enhancing collection of plant material in the agricultural field, the material gathering apparatus being carried by the implement head, the material gathering apparatus being selectively positionable forward of the intake opening, the material gathering apparatus being movable between an operational position in front of the intake opening and proximate to the ground surface to engage plant material adjacent the ground surface and an inactive position raised to a higher vertical level than the operational position so as to not be proximate the ground surface;
• and
• wherein the material gathering apparatus comprises a plurality of rake assemblies, each of the rake assemblies comprising a rake wheel device rotatable about a rake axis and a rake support arm component on which the rake wheel device is mounted to rotate about the rake axis;
• wherein the plurality of rake assemblies are arranged in an array proximate to the intake opening, the array of rake assemblies being substantially linear, the linear array of rake assemblies extending along the intake opening of the implement head and being oriented in a substantially parallel relationship to the intake opening;
• and
• wherein the rake assemblies are configured such that the action of the rake assemblies tends to move the plant material in an upward direction with respect to the ground surface to facilitate collection of the plant material by the intake opening and the rake assemblies are configured such that forward movement of the material gathering apparatus over the ground surface with the apparatus in the operational position causes tine ends of the rake assemblies to contact the ground surface or plant material on the ground surface to produce rotation of the rake wheel devices about the rake axes;
• wherein the rake support arm component of each said rake assembly is configured such that the rake wheel device of said rake assembly is oriented such that the rake axis of the device extends forwardly and laterally inward toward the forward-rearward axis and the rake axis of the device extends rearwardly and laterally outward away from the forward-rearward axis;
• and
• wherein the rake support arm component of each said rake assembly is configured such that the rake wheel device of said rake assembly is oriented such that the rake axis of the device extends forwardly and upwardly and the rake axis of the device extends rearwardly and downwardly.