A root crop harvesting machine can be embodied in the form of aself-propelled potato harvester or a stationary cleaning machine. It comprisesa lifting device that has associated therewith downstream in the conveyingdirection an ascending first sorting stretch with a substantially unchangeableworking width. The respective conveyed material is conveyed across at leastone cleaning stretch to a collecting bunker or the like, wherein at least oneconveying run movable along the sectionwise ascending sorting stretch isguided at least to a top drop zone and here the respective conveyed materialis transferred onto at least one downstream conveying stretch. The conceptaccording to the invention provides that the respective conveying run in thearea of an upper unloading end interacts with at least one deflectionconveying unit receiving the conveyed material stream of the crop. This upperdeflection conveying unit of the system is provided with at least oneseparating device that, in working position, is moveable into a position oflateral projecting width so as to project at least on one side past thereceivingwidth of the machine as well as, from this position, is returnable into atravelposition suitable for traveling on roads.
