Windrow merger and method for forming windrows through a windrow merger which collects agricultural products from a field

A method for forming windrows through a windrow merger which collects agricultural products from a field, comprising the following steps:

• moving the windrow merger in an advancing direction;
• picking up the agricultural products through a pickup device of the windrow merger;
• moving the picked up agricultural products through a conveyor in a conveying direction, oriented horizontally and transversal to the advancing direction;
• providing a guiding device placed upstream of the pick-up device with respect to the advancing direction, for guiding the agricultural products towards the conveyor, the guiding device being movable between a lowered position, proximal to the pick-up device, and a raised position, distal from the pick-up device;
• movably supporting the guiding device by means of a support structure articulated to a frame of the windrow merger, to pivot around a pivoting axis parallel to the conveying direction;
• providing an actuating structure, including
• a rod extending parallel to the conveying direction and rotatably connected to the frame to rotate about a rotation axis, the rotation axis being parallel to the pivoting axis,
• bars for connecting the support structure to the rod,
• an actuator, connected to the frame and to the rod,
• so that the movements of the guiding device between the lower position and the upper position, by rotation of the support structure around the pivoting axis, are kinematically linked to a position of the actuator through the rotation of the rod around the rotation axis.

A windrow merger for collecting agricultural products from a field in an advancing direction, comprising:

• a frame;
• a pick up device for picking up the agricultural products;
• a conveyor, connected to the frame and configured to receive the agricultural products from the pick up device and moving them in a conveying direction, oriented horizontally and transversal to the advancing direction;
• a guiding device, placed upstream of the pick-up device with respect to the advancing direction and configured for guiding the agricultural products towards the conveyor, wherein the guiding device is movable between a lowered position, proximal to the pick-up device, and a raised position, distal from the pick-up device;
• a support structure, for movably supporting the guiding device, the support structure including a first arm and a second arm, each having a first end connected to the guiding device and a second end articulated to the frame, so that the support structure is pivotable with respect to the frame around a pivoting axis parallel to the conveying direction;
• wherein the guiding device, in the lowered position, is at a first quote from the ground, the pivoting axis being located at a second quote from the ground, a ratio between the second quote and the first quote being less than or equal to 5.