Agricultural crop material windrow inverting method and apparatus

Apparatus for inverting a generally continuous windrow of crop material on the ground as said apparatus is moved along the windrow in a first direction, the windrow having a lower surface and a generally defined width, said apparatus comprising:

• lifting means for lifting the crop material of the windrow from the ground and moving it in a second direction opposite the first direction without interrupting the generally continuous structural cohesiveness of the windrow as the apparatus moves in the first direction;
• transporting means for receiving the crop material from said lifting means and for positively transporting the crop material along a generally horizontal path that changes direction from said second direction to said first direction substantially without destroying the continuous structural cohesiveness of the windrow so that the crop material is moving generally in the first direction when it reaches an exit location that is elevated a predetermined distance relative to the ground, continued movement of the crop material by said transporting means resulting in the crop material passing the exit location where the crop material is dropped to the ground with the lower surface being repositioned to face upwardly and said width being maintained, substantially without destroying the continuous structural cohesiveness of the windrow.

Apparatus for inverting a windrow of crop material on the ground while moving along said windrow in a first direction, said windrow having a lower surface facing the ground and a generally defined width comprising:

• a transporting mechanism having a platform defining a horizontal path and an exit location where the crop material moving on said platform falls down to the ground, said platform being supported above the ground, and a raking wheel having a hub and spokes, each said spoke having a rake for positively transporting the crop material along said horizontal path on said platform so that the crop material is being positively transported in said first direction at said exit location.