Billet elevator for sugar cane harvesters

A sugar cane harvester comprising cane base cutting means capable of severing cane sticks from their roots, cane dividing means capable of cutting each cane stick into two or more pieces, and an elevator capable of elevating the cane pieces, characterized in that at least part of the travel of the elevator extends upwards at an inclination of from 50 to 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal when the harvester is standing on horizontal ground, and that cane retaining means is provided, said cane retaining means including a cane retainer frame supported on the harvester adjacent to the elevator for elevating cane pieces, a ceiling member with a smooth lower surface mounted on the cane retainer frame above at least a portion of the upper run of the elevator and cooperating therewith to define an upwardly-extending tunnel through which cane is conveyed, and a rotatable feed roller mounted on the cane retainer frame adjacent to the lower end of the ceiling member for insuring that cane pieces carried by the elevator are fed under the ceiling member.