Abstract: A harvester (10) includes a harvester head (12) to harvest a crop from a crop plant. Harvester head (12) includes a series of rods (32) which orbit about associated shafts (52) when driven by a drive system (50). The crop, which will often comprise a vine or tree crop, and which will ideally comprise raisins (14), is detached from a plant such as vines (16) by translating harvester head (12) along the vines so that orbiting rods (32) comb laterally through the plant.

Abstract: A method for producing natural, sun-dried raisins from the Thompson seedless grape variety in vineyards located in the Central Valley of California, or similarly situated vineyards, having about 4000 to 5100 degree days during the growing and drying season and an annual yearly rainfall of between about 10 to 12 inches. Rows (2) of grape vines (4) are grown at the vineyard site. The canes are trained so to create divided canopies along the rows of grape vines. The divided canopy has fruiting canes (26) primarily on one side of the row and replacement canes (28) separated from the fruiting canes, typically on the other side of the row. Once the grapes are sufficiently mature, the fruiting canes are cut (34) adjacent the crowns (32) of the grape vines. The grapes (30), still hanging from the cut fruiting canes, are left to dry naturally in the sun to create natural raisins. When sufficiently dry, the raisins are harvested directly from the cut canes.

Abstract: A trellis system (164) is used to produce dried-on-the-vine raisins in a row (2) of vines (4) having a split canopy of fruiting canes (26) and replacement canes (28). The fruiting canes are supported by bent metal posts (150) each having an upwardly inclined support arm (156). The inclined support arms support one or more wires (138, 140) which support the fruiting canes so that, after the fruiting canes are severed, the grapes can dry from the heat of the sun to create raisins. The replacement canes are supported away from the fruiting canes by a trellising arrangment (100) having wires (142, 144) supported by replacement cane support arms (106) mounted to posts (102).

Abstract: This invention relates to novel imidazole and triazole substituted oxathiolane compounds and compositions containing said compounds having fungicidal and plant growth regulant activity and methods for preparing same.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube non-sequential raster scanning method maintains a more uniform screen luminescence. This raster scanning method scans and stores electrical signals representing the locations of non-sequential blocks of adjacent raster lines or reordered individual raster lines from a cathode ray tube in a temporary storage apparatus. A programmable controller associated with the cathode ray tube and the temporary storage apparatus reorders the stored raster line location and selectively deflects the cathode ray beam. Analog or digital film-to-video transfer systems incorporating a cathode ray tube having non-sequential raster scanning are also described. A method of variable raster scanning for a weave correcting film-to-video transfer system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A weave correction system for the transfer of film to video or video to film operable in real time is disclosed. The digital real time registration weave correction system includes: a high powered deflection system and low inductance yoke in conjunction with a cathode ray tube (CRT), and digital circuitry operable to detect the crossing of a light beam generated by the CRT over the edge of a film sprocket hole. The digital real time registration weave correction system is operable in conjunction with a standard telecine. An analog real time registration weave correction system is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel imidazole and triazole substituted oxathiolane compounds and compositions containing said compounds having fungicidal and plant growth regulant activity and methods for preparing same.

Abstract: A harvesting aid for fruit, particularly vine-borne fruit such as grapes, includes a steerable, self-propelled vehicle configured for straddling the row and supporting workers on either side of the vines. Workers sever the fruit and deposit it on a conveyor assembly which moves the fruit to a discharge point. The conveyor assembly includes a right angle conveyor segment for changing the direction of the movement of the fruit. Workers on one side deposit fruit directly onto a conveyor belt. Workers on the other side deposit fruit onto downwardly sloping pivotal diverter plates, positioned along the center line of the vehicle, having lower, outer ends above the conveyor belt. The diverter plates pivot out of the way when a vine trunk or stake is encountered as the vehicle moves down a row in either direction. The wheels of the vehicle are independently steerable over at least 90.degree. for maneuverability and for allowing the vehicle to maintain a constant azimuthal orientation.

Abstract: A TV signal decoder including a pair of flipflops, for receiving vertical sync signals identified by a single vertical blanking pulse in field No. 1 and a pair of pulses in field No. 2, includes a time delay circuit for operating the second flipflop only in response to the two pulse field. The outputs of the flipflop are coupled to a pair of AND gates and are supplied with decoding information that is serially translated under control of the appropriate field signal for decoding the television signal. A counter identifies the horizontal line number and is coupled to a PROM where the decoding information is stored for a specific scrambling system. The PROM may be replaced to enable operation with a different scrambling system.

Abstract: A non-linear sync signal processor for deriving a sync-like signal from video information with suppressed sync signals includes a differentiating circuit for deriving pulse potentials from the leading and trailing edges of suppressed sync signals, a pair of comparators for generating signals corresponding to the pulse potentials and a pair of non-retriggerable monostable timers, one for creating a 6 microsecond first window in response to a leading edge and the other for creating a 58 microsecond second window in response to a trailing edge occurring in the first window. The second timer is enabled by operation of the first timer and the first timer is inhibited during operation of the second timer. Thus only sync-like signals having three characteristics of conventional sync signals are regenerated.

Abstract: An apparatus for the heat treatment of a product includes a metallic heat transfer assembly for transmitting heat either directly to the product or to a mould containing the product. The heat transfer assembly comprises a plurality of separate parts which are joined together either permanently or in an operationally separable manner. Each part includes a gas distribution passageway, the passageways together defining a closed loop path for receiving and circulating around the heat transfer assembly hot permanent gas from a hot gas source. One or more heat transfer passageways formed in the heat transfer assembly itself, or between the heat transfer assembly and the mould, communicate with the closed loop path in the heat transfer assembly so as to receive hot gas therefrom and lead this gas to an exhaust outlet to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An addressable subscription television decoder includes an input stage including an IF amplifier for converting a scrambled RF television signal to a composite baseband video signal. The baseband video signal comprises either a nominal sync component or a sync component having suppressed horizontal sync pulses during video fields and having non-suppressed sync pulses during vertical intervals, the vertical intervals also including selected encoded data signals. An AGC voltage for controlling the gain of the IF amplifier is developed by a circuit exhibiting a relatively short time constant whenever the composite baseband video signal is characterized by nominal level sync pulses, the time constant being increased in response to suppressed horizontal sync pulses. The sync pulses produced during the vertical intervals of the composite baseband video signal are thereby not subjected to excessive IF gain for facilitating processing of the data signals by the decoder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the heat treatment of a product such as in the curing of rubber-like materials and the thermoforming of plastics materials. A metallic heat transfer member is provided for contacting the product to transmit heat thereto. In order to obtain a uniform temperature distribution over the heat transfer member/product interface, one or more gas distribution passageways receive hot gas from a hot gas source such as a gas burner and lead the hot gas to the heat transfer member. One or more heat transfer passageways contiguous with the heat transfer member communicate with the gas distribution passageway so as to receive hot gas from the latter passageway and lead same to an exhaust outlet.