Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a sea turtle friendly beach cleaning assembly designed for removal of seaweed and other debris from a sand beach. The device includes a beach raking assembly including a plurality of tines, in conjunction with a drag bar and a wire basket. When pulled across a sand surface, the device functions by pulling a plurality of “S” shaped tines across the sand surface in a substantially non-invasive manner, thereby eliminating any possible damage to turtle nests. The cooperation of the tine assembly and drag bar function to leave behind a smooth and clean surface free of ruts that would otherwise impede the movements of turtles and hatchlings.

Abstract: A beach cleaner for recovering waste while moving in a towed state by a traction vehicle. A grating-like portion scoops up waste present in front of the beach cleaner as the beach cleaner is moved and a reticulate portion that is formed behind the grating-like portion to hold waste. As the beach cleaner is moved, waste present in front of the beach cleaner is scooped up onto the grating-like portion and is held with the reticulate portion formed behind the grating-like portion. Sand that is scooped up together with the waste is allowed to drop through the gaps in the grating-like portion.

Abstract: To control articulated robots by dynamically modifying a combination of a hardware-dependent middleware layer and a hardware-independent application layer. An interface and a database for semantically performing operation are prepared between a middleware layer which depends upon the hardware configuration of a robot and an application layer which does not depend upon the hardware configuration, thereby making it possible to always guarantee normal operation even if a combination of the middleware and the application which is to be introduced onto the robot is modified. The application can acquire appropriate input data via the middleware, and can issue an appropriate command.

Abstract: A harvester for ground surface crops is an array of bars connected to cross-members, each bar having an obtuse-angulation toward the front end of the bar. The arrays describe surfaces which may be curved or substantially planar on either side of the obtuse angle. The bars are spaced closely enough to be smaller than the size of the parts of the plants of the ground surface crop to be harvested, and spaced far enough apart to permit weeds and other debris to drop between the bars to the ground. The harvester apparatus is used by moving it forward, front end first, along the ground sufficiently into the soil surface to slip underneath the crop-parts to be gathered. As the front parts of the bars slips underneath the crop-part to be gathered, the crop-part is lifted from the soil by the forward motion of the harvester and ramped upward and rearward along the incline of the bars, and is thereby detached from the soil surface.

Abstract: A tool, for mounting on a powering vehicle for transport, vertical motion and pivotal motion about a horizontal axis, provides a frame having connecting structure to interconnect with the powering vehicle. The frame carries extracting structure having plural laterally spaced extracting tines extending forwardly from the lower frame portion. At least one extracting tine has at least one depending vertical fin to increase tine strength and direct tine motion in a horizontal plane upon insertion through the earth; at least one extracting tine has at least one laterally extending horizontal fin to increase tine strength and direct tine motion in a vertical plane upon insertion through the earth; and at least one extracting tine has at least one soil retaining plate to aid support of material thereabove. The fins and plates tend to separate earth above and below the course of their insertion.

Abstract: An improvement in a rock picking machine having a frame with ground wheels supporting the frame, a table with a grate over which rocks are moved and discharged into a bucket rearwardly pivotally mounted on the frame, and a conveyer forwardly pivotally mounted on the table for moving rocks up the grate. The improvement consists of at least one forwardly and upwardly extending member positioned at a rearward end of the conveyer frame. The member forms a wedge shaped cavity. As large rocks are moved up the grate by the conveyer through the wedge shaped cavity, the rocks engage the member thereby lifting the rearward end of the conveyer frame to provide clearance.

Abstract: A wheel mounted pull type chassis includes a side hitch bar for securement to a tractor or the like. A reel assembly is journalled for rotation and is situated transversely at the front of the chassis and picks up rocks, stones, dirt, etc. and deposits same on an upwardly and rearwardly inclining slotted apron with the teeth of the pick up bars at the reel passing through the apron teeth and depositing the picked up material into a screening wheel journalled for rotation about a generally horizontal but inclined longitudinal axis so that the wheel is tipped rearwardly from the vertical. The periphery of the wheel is slotted. It is supported upon a pair of spaced apart support wheels one wheel of which is driven and which engage a track around the outer periphery of the wheel. Three equidistantly spaced rear support wheels engage the rear of the periphery of the wheel for added support.

Abstract: A shellfish dredge includes a pair of longitudinally extending parallel and spaced apart runners having a collecting bag mounted adjacent the rear thereof. The runners support a frame comprising a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart skids and at least two crossbars connecting the skids together. Secured to each crossbar and extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom at an acute angle are a plurality of tines thereby forming at least two parallel rows of parallel arranged tines. The skids extend downwardly beneath the bottom of the runners and are tapered at their forward ends so that the frame and tines will be cammed upwardly should the skids encounter an obstruction. Springs located between the runners and the skids bias the skids downwardly but allow for limited vertical movement between the runners and the skids.