Importance

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a pull type multi-pass automatic tobacco harvester adapted to be connected to a farm tractor and pulled through a tobacco field for harvesting tobacco within the field. The pull type automatic tobacco harvester includes a main frame that supports a leaf defoliator assembly and a conveying system on each side thereof for receiving the defoliated tobacco leaves and conveying them to an area of collection. Connecting the harvester to said tractor is a hydraulically actuated swingable tongue that is pivotably mounted about the front portion of said harvester's main frame. When pivotably connected to a draw bar on the tractor, said tongue may be pivoted such that the trailing position of the harvester can be laterally varied relative to the tractor such that the defoliator assembly of said harvester can be properly aligned with any one of two adjacent tobacco rows that run along one side of the tractor. To improve the row tracking capability of the pull type harvester of the present invention, the defoliator assembly is pivotably mounted about a longitudinal axis on said main frame and pivotable laterally back and forth about this longitudinal axis. This allows the row passing area defined within the defoliator assembly to shift laterally with the row being harvested due to variances in row spacing, crooks and curves in the row, and the imprecise positioning of the harvester about the row being harvested.

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First Claim