This invention comprises a device for measuring root pulling force (RPF) in a plant. The RPF device comprises a plant grasping mechanism, as well as a force measurement sensor. In certain embodiments, the device is automatic, so that the “hand of man” is not required to exert force on the plant while the root pulling force of the plant is being measured. Also disclosed is a root pulling force motion mechanism, which brings the RPF device into proximity of a plant to be measured. Further disclosed is a method for measuring root pulling force of a plant.

A root crop harvester apparatus includes a transverse frame, supported to move above ground in a harvesting direction and oriented generally perpendicular to the harvesting direction. A plurality of pairs of generally upright, spaced apart puller wheels are connected to the transverse frame in a trailing orientation, having a substantially common rotational axis, and configured to contact the ground, each pair having a pinch point therebetween. The transverse frame is pivotal about an axis that is substantially aligned with the substantially common rotational axis, whereby rotation of the transverse frame collectively rotates all of the pairs of puller wheels about the common rotational axis and thereby adjusts a location of all of the pinch points with respect to the harvesting direction.

A root crop harvester apparatus includes a transverse frame, supported to move above ground in a harvesting direction and oriented generally perpendicular to the harvesting direction. A plurality of pairs of generally upright, spaced apart puller wheels are connected to the transverse frame in a trailing orientation, having a substantially common rotational axis, and configured to contact the ground, each pair having a pinch point therebetween. The transverse frame is pivotal about an axis that is substantially aligned with the substantially common rotational axis, whereby rotation of the transverse frame collectively rotates all of the pairs of puller wheels about the common rotational axis and thereby adjusts a location of all of the pinch points with respect to the harvesting direction.

A lifting device for lifting root crops is provided, comprising at least one lifting share mounting which supports at least one lifting share. The at least one lifting share includes a front pick-up region in a lifting direction and a rear ejection region in the lifting direction for the root crops. The lifting share mounting is coupled to a lifting device frame, and during operation is pulled thereby in the lifting direction. The lifting share mounting is movable relative to the lifting device frame and, viewed in the lifting direction, laterally from an initial position into an offset position. A guide arrangement is configured to guide the lifting share mounting such that with the movement of the lifting share mounting from the initial position into the offset position the pick-up region is laterally displaced further than the ejection region, as well as a harvesting machine, in particular for harvesting beets.

A lifting device for lifting root crops is provided, comprising at least one lifting share mounting which supports at least one lifting share. The at least one lifting share includes a front pick-up region in a lifting direction and a rear ejection region in the lifting direction for the root crops. The lifting share mounting is coupled to a lifting device frame, and during operation is pulled thereby in the lifting direction. The lifting share mounting is movable relative to the lifting device frame and, viewed in the lifting direction, laterally from an initial position into an offset position. A guide arrangement is configured to guide the lifting share mounting such that with the movement of the lifting share mounting from the initial position into the offset position the pick-up region is laterally displaced further than the ejection region, as well as a harvesting machine, in particular for harvesting beets.

A cutting device for cutting plants is provided, and includes at least one cutting unit. The cutting unit has at least one probe element, which is fastened to a holding element and is intended for determining an extent of a plant. Furthermore, the cutting unit has at least one cutting element, which is fastened to a further holding element and is intended for cutting the plant depending on the extent. The cutting unit has at least two frame coupling elements. At least one of the holding elements is coupled to a cutting device frame by means of the frame coupling elements. The holding elements are arranged movably relative to one another.

A vehicle to discharge root crop to define a root crop heap, includes a drive device to drive the vehicle, a crop bunker to contain the crop to be discharged, a discharge device to discharge the root crop from the crop bunker. The vehicle further includes a control device to control the discharge device to create the root crop heap with defined heap parameters, where the heap parameters include one or more of: a defined heap location, a defined heap width, and a defined heap orientation, and the heap is the root crop heap on a ground of a field.

A sugar beet harvest apparatus provides in sequence a pair of field cultivator teeth, a pair of discs or helical screw propellers, and a V-shaped basket of helical screw propellers. The field cultivator teeth and discs may be spaced nominally to engage both sides of a single crop row, or to engage one side of a first crop row, and the opposed side of a second adjacent crop row. In either case, the field cultivator teeth pierce the soil and gently lift the root crop. The discs or helical screw propellers lift the beets and soil into the V-shaped basket of helical screw propellers. Within the V-shaped basket, a pair of ground-level helical screw propellers lift the root crop, while pulverizing the soil and cleaning the root crop. Subsequent helical screw propellers continue to lift the root crop, while pushing rocks and soil rearward proximate to the soil surface.

A device for harvesting root fruits located in the ground is provided that may include a support frame, a pair of uprooting shares mounted on the support frame, which are designed to convey root fruits located in the ground out of the ground. The pair of uprooting shares defines a central plane (M-M) and is movably mounted on the support frame in a transverse direction (QR). The harvesting device has a guide device, which is designed to detect the position of a root fruit located in the ground and to be harvested and to guide the pair of uprooting shares in the transverse direction (QR) with respect to the root fruit to be harvested in the direction of a centered position.

A device for harvesting root fruits located in the ground is provided that may include a support frame, a pair of uprooting shares mounted on the support frame, which are designed to convey root fruits located in the ground out of the ground. The pair of uprooting shares defines a central plane (M-M) and is movably mounted on the support frame in a transverse direction (QR). The harvesting device has a guide device, which is designed to detect the position of a root fruit located in the ground and to be harvested and to guide the pair of uprooting shares in the transverse direction (QR) with respect to the root fruit to be harvested in the direction of a centered position.