Abstract: A machine for harvesting and decorticating ramie plants is shown in the form of a wheeled vehicle using an adjustable sickle bar or rotary blades located in the front of the machine for selecting the mature stalks. A series of entry points are provided for the plants, wherein the uniformly cut stalks travel back falling on an apron at a 45.degree. angle for the first decorticating butt drum. A leaf stripper strips any leaves left at the stalks just before the butt decorticator drum. The second decorticating drum has helically arrayed bars on its exterior surface, operably disposed adjacent a machined surface located on a first leg of a generally U-shaped breast plate, such that the interaction of the bars with the breast plate removes unusable portions of the plants adjacent the upper ends and frees the ramie fibers.

Abstract: A machine for accomplishing the removal of leaves and other unwanted portions from vegetables comprising an elongate shear bar having two opposed, machined edges and a pair of elongate members mounted for rotation in close proximity to the machined edges. Each of the elongate rotary members are of the approximate length of the shear bar, and each has at least one helically configured raised portion extending along a substantial portion of its length, with the raised portion of each rotary member being arranged to operate close to the respective machined edge of the shear bar, such that a shearing action can be accomplished without damage to the vegetables.

Abstract: A pickup device of highly functional yet inexpensive construction, comprising a pair of loop-shaped portions that are hinged together, with the loop-shaped portions being movable to a widely separated position such that an inverted bag that has been partially turned inside out may be inserted between the loops. Handle portions located above the hinge locations are able to be grasped by the user and brought together, with such action serving to bring base portions of the loops, as well as certain neck portions of the bag, together. This action makes my device readily adaptable for the picking up of material from a floor or sidewalk, such as that deposited by an animal, with this arrangement advantageously serving to cause the removed material to be enveloped in the bottom portion of the bag, with the upper portions of the bag thereafter being easily brought together and tied, and with the exterior of the bag and the pickup device remaining unsoiled throughout the entire procedure.

Abstract: An automatic seeder for planting tiny seeds at a consistent depth and at evenly spaced intervals, utilizing a vehicle carrying a novel seed dispersing means operationally disposed a short, preascertained distance above a seed bed. A ground sensing arrangement is utilized, which automatically brings about necessary adjustment of the support arrangement for the seed dispersing means on an as-needed basis, in order that the seed dispersing means will be maintained by servo means at a proper, preascertained distance above the ground. A preferred embodiment of this invention involves furrow-creating means located forward of, and aligned with, the seed dispersing means, which furrow-creating means is arranged to create furrows of a consistent, desired depth, into which the seeds from the seed dispersing means are inserted at precisely controlled intervals.

Abstract: Apparatus for sizing and sorting celery stalks, plants, produce, and similar articles into groups of like sizes automatically, rapidly, and without damage to such articles. Articles to be sized are carried by an endless conveyor to a measuring or sizing station, where a succession of sizing arms contact each successive article. Each successive sizing arm moves upward in proportion to the average diameter of the particular article it encounters, thereby providing a measurement of size group to which that article belongs. If sorting is to be accomplished, each such measurement may be temporarily stored in a mechanical memory on a rotating disk and read out by a control device after a selected time delay. After the measurement operation the conveyor carries the articles to collecting stations, with there being separate collecting stations provided for each of several desired size groups.

Abstract: A machine for cutting or slicing celery, carrots, or other elongate vegetables into pieces of selected size, accomplished on a rapid and highly economical basis. My machine utilizes a plurality of endless, moving belts, with one of the belts being arranged to receive vegetables deposited thereon, and to transport same to a location adjacent what may be regarded as the terminus of the belt. Mean such as other moving belts are utilized for gradually applying pressure to the vegetables during their travel along the length of the vegetable-supporting belt, thus to accomplish a compression of such vegetables into a tightly compacted mass. High speed cutter means operative adjacent the terminus serve to cut the vegetables into small pieces, with the size of the pieces being determined by the speed of the cutter relative to the velocity of the belts.