Windrow merging machine and method of merging windrows

A windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second pickup mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said main frame, first and second conveyors mounted on opposite sides of said main frame proximate said first and second pickup mechanisms, respectively, first and second motors coupled to said first and second conveyors, respectively, inner and outer ends on said first and second conveyors, said inner end of said first conveyor being elevated above said inner end of said second conveyor, and control means for driving at least one of said first and second motors in opposite directions.

A windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second pickup mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said main frame, first and second conveyors mounted on opposite sides of said main frame proximate said first and second pickup mechanisms, respectively, said first pickup mechanism and said first conveyor comprising a first combined pickup and conveyor unit, said second pickup mechanism and said second conveyor comprising a second combined pickup and conveyor unit, a first pickup-conveyor frame mounting said first combined pickup and conveyor unit on said main frame, a second pickup-conveyor frame mounting said second combined pickup and conveyor unit on said main frame, and said first and second pickup-conveyor frames being pivotally mounted on first and second pivot axes, respectively, on said main frame.

A windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second pickup mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said main frame, first and second conveyors mounted on opposite sides of said main frame proximate said first and second pickup mechanisms, respectively, said first pickup mechanism and said first conveyor comprising a first combined pickup and conveyor unit, said second pickup mechanism and said second conveyor comprising a second combined pickup and conveyor unit, a first pickup-conveyor frame mounting said first combined pickup and conveyor unit on said main frame, a second pickup-conveyor frame mounting said second combined pickup and conveyor unit on said main frame, said first and second pickup-conveyor frames being pivotally mounted on first and second pivot axes, respectively, on said main frame, and said first and second pickup-conveyor frames being pivotable about said first and second pivot axes, respectively, to cause said first and second combined pickup and conveyor units, respectively, to be positioned in substantially horizontal operating positions and more vertical stowed positions.

A windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second pickup mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said main frame, first and second conveyors mounted on opposite sides of said main frame proximate said first and second pickup mechanisms, respectively, said first pickup mechanism and said first conveyor comprising a first combined pickup and conveyor unit, said second pickup mechanism and said second conveyor comprising a second combined pickup and conveyor unit, a first pickup-conveyor frame mounting said first combined pickup and conveyor unit on said main frame, a second pickup-conveyor frame mounting said second combined pickup and conveyor unit on said main frame, said first and second pickup-conveyor frames each including first sections pivotally mounted on said main frame, and second sections mounting said combined pickup and conveyor units.

A method of merging windrows which are positioned in spaced rows which extend in substantially the same direction comprising the steps of lifting first and second adjacent windrows from the ground and depositing them onto a third windrow to create a first accumulation of windrows;

• and after said third windrow has been formed subsequently raising fourth and fifth adjacent windrows which are adjacent onto said first accumulation of windrows and depositing them onto said first accumulation of windrows to thereby create a second accumulation of windrows consisting of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth windrows.

A windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second pickup mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said main frame, first and second substantially axially aligned conveyors extending outwardly from opposite sides of said main frame proximate said first and second pickup mechanisms, respectively, a first frame mounting said first conveyor on a first skewed axis on said main frame, and a second frame mounting said second conveyor on a second skewed axis on said main frame.

A windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second pickup mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said main frame, first and second substantially axially aligned conveyors extending outwardly from opposite sides of said main frame proximate said first and second pickup mechanisms, respectively, and a frame mounting said first conveyor on a skewed axis on said main frame.

A windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second pickup mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said main frame, first and second conveyors mounted on opposite sides of said main frame proximate said first and second pickup mechanisms, respectively, said first pickup mechanism and said first conveyor comprising a first combined pickup and conveyor unit, said second pickup mechanism and said second conveyor comprising a second combined pickup and conveyor unit, a first pickup-conveyor frame mounting said first combined pickup and conveyor unit on said main frame, a second pickup-conveyor frame mounting said second combined pickup and conveyor unit on said main frame, at least one of said first and second conveyors being movable on its respective pickup-conveyor frame toward the other of said first and second conveyors, and a track on said respective pickup-conveyor frame for elevating the end of said at least one of said first and second conveyors which is adjacent the other of said first and second conveyors as it approaches a position adjacent the other of said first and second conveyors.

A windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second pickup mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said main frame, first and second conveyors mounted on opposite sides of said main frame proximate said first and second pickup mechanisms, respectively, said first pickup mechanism and said first conveyor comprising a first combined pickup and conveyor unit, said second pickup mechanism and said second conveyor comprising a second combined pickup and conveyor unit, a first pickup-conveyor frame mounting said first combined pickup and conveyor unit on said main frame, a second pickup-conveyor frame mounting said second combined pickup and conveyor unit on said main frame, both of said first and second conveyors being movable on said first and second pickup-conveyor frames, respectively, toward the other of said first and second conveyors, and first and second tracks on said first and second pickup-conveyor frames, respectively, for raising the ends of said first and second conveyors, respectively, as they approach a position adjacent the other of said first and second conveyors.

A method of merging windrows which are positioned in spaced rows comprising the steps of lifting first and second adjacent windrows from the ground;

• conveying said first and second windrows in opposite directions;
• and depositing said first and second windrows proximate to third and fourth windrows, respectively, which are adjacent to said first and second windrows, respectively, to thereby create a first accumulation consisting of said first and third windrows and a second accumulation consisting of said second and fourth windrows.

A windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second pickup mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said main frame, first and second conveyors mounted on opposite sides of said main frame proximate said first and second pickup mechanisms, respectively, a first conveyor frame mounting said first conveyor on said main frame, a second conveyor frame mounting said second conveyor on said main frame, said first conveyor frame including a first section mounted on said main frame and a second section mounting said first conveyor on said first section, and said second section being mounted on said first section for transverse movement relative to said main frame.

A windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second pickup and conveyor units mounted on opposite sides of said main frame, each of said pickup and conveyor units including a windrow pickup member and a conveyor, first mounting means for mounting at least one of said pickup and conveyor units for movement transversely relative to said frame, and second mounting means for mounting said at least one of said conveyors for movement transversely relative to said frame independently of said first mounting means.

A windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second pickup mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of said main frame, first and second substantially axially aligned conveyors extending outwardly from opposite sides of said main frame proximate said first and second pickup mechanisms, respectively, and inner ends on said first and second conveyors adjacent each other proximate a lower portion of said main frame.

A windrow merging machine comprising a main frame, first and second conveyors, a first conveyor frame mounting said first conveyor on one side of said main frame, a second conveyor frame mounting said second conveyor on the opposite side of said main frame in substantial alignment with said first conveyor, said first conveyor frame including a first section mounted on said main frame and a second section mounting said first conveyor on said first section, and said second section being mounted on said first section for transverse movement relative to said main frame.