Pull type automatic tobacco harvester and method of harvesting tobacco

A method of harvesting tobacco with a pull type automatic tobacco harvester having a main frame, including ground engaging wheels for allowing the same to move over the ground during the harvesting operation, operatively connected to a tractor in a tobacco field wherein throughout the field a series of tractor passing areas is provided with each tractor passing area being flanked on each side by two or more rows, the rows running directly adjacent the tractor passing area being referred to as outside rows and each row adjacent and outwardly of said outside row on the opposite side of said tractor passing area being referred to as an inside row, the method of harvesting outside and inside rows flanking a particular tractor passing area comprising:

• positioning the ground engaging main frame of said harvester such that said main frame assumes a first outside row harvesting position with respect to said tractor, such that when said tractor occupies a particular tractor passing area and moves in a first direction therealong said harvester main frame is positioned such that a defoliator assembly carried thereby aligns with one of said outside rows, and wherein said harvester and defoliating assembly in said first outside row harvesting position aligns with the other outside row when said tractor occupies the same tractor passing area and is directed therein in a direction opposite said first direction;
• harvesting at least one outside row with said harvester's ground engaging main frame positioned with respect to said tractor in said first outside row harvesting position;
• moving said harvester's ground engaging main frame from said first outside row harvesting position to a second inside row harvesting position wherein in said second inside row harvesting position said harvester's ground engaging main frame assumes a position laterally spaced outwardly from the position thereof when in said first outside row harvesting position, such that when said tractor occupies said particular tractor passing area and moves in a first direction therealong said harvester's ground engaging main frame is positioned such that the defoliator assembly carried thereby aligns with one of said inside rows, and wherein said harvester and defoliating assembly in said second inside row harvesting position aligns with said other inside row when said tractor occupies the same tractor passing area and is directed therein in a direction opposite said first direction;
• and harvesting at least one inside row with said harvester main frame being positioned in said second inside row position, after which said harvester main frame can be moved back and forth between said first position and said second position for harvesting respective outside and inside rows throughout the field during the harvesting operation.

A method of harvesting tobacco in a field having a plurality of laterally spaced rows throughout the field with at least one skip row provided at intervals within the field for allowing a tractor to pass therethrough, wherein said method of harvesting tobacco utilizes a pull type automatic tobacco harvester having a ground engaging wheel means mounted thereto for supporting said main frame and allowing the same to move over the ground during the harvesting operation, said ground engaging main frame being connected to a tractor that is adapted to move through respective skip rows within the field and to pull said harvester therebehind through the field during the tobacco harvesting operation, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning the ground engaging main frame of said harvester in a first position relative to said tractor where a defoliator assembly carried thereby aligns with a first row of tobacco;
• pulling said ground engaging main frame of said harvester through the field such that the defoliator assembly carried thereby comes into operative engagement with stalks of said first row for defoliating leaves therefrom for harvesting said first row during the harvesting operation;
• moving said ground engaging main frame of said harvester, together with said defoliator assembly, laterally over the ground with respect to said tractor to a second position laterally spaced from said first position for slightly varying and adjusting the position of the ground engaging main frame of said harvester relative to said tractor, from time to time as the need arises, as the ground engaging main frame of the harvester is pulled along a respective row to more precisely align the defoliator assembly carried by said main frame with the particular tobacco row being harvested.