A root crop harvesting machine has a crop lifting device that has associated therewith downstream in the conveying direction an ascending first sorting stretch with substantially unchangeable working width. The crop is conveyed across a cleaning stretch to a collecting bunker, wherein a conveying run movable along the ascending sorting stretch is guided to a top drop zone where the conveyed material is transferred onto a downstream conveying stretch. The conveying run in the area of an upper unloading end interacts with at least one deflection conveying unit receiving the conveyed crop stream. This upper deflection conveying unit is provided with at least one separating device that, in working position, is moveable into a position of lateral projecting width so as to project at least on one side past the receiving width of the machine； from this position, it is returnable into a travel position for road travel.
