Combing Patents (Class 460/129)
  • Patent number: 10085381
    Abstract: An agricultural implement for the harvesting of hops that accommodates the automated removal of hops from bines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Hopsharvester LLC
    Inventors: John Bonzo, Jeffrey Heintz
  • Patent number: 4913680
    Abstract: A mobile hop picking machine is provided with independently elevatable wheels. The picker straddles a trellis to position opposing picking cats on either side of the vines. Front and rear banks of picking hooks move upwardly to pick the hops. A bank of resilient raking tines comb the vines upwardly between the picking banks. The picking cats are pivoted about their front edges and are supported for transverse movement on their rear edges. Cylinders urge the rear of the cats toward the vines. A contact member connected to the cat moves the cat transversely, to avoid cat contact with poles, against a biased mounting provided for the hydraulic cylinder. Longitudinal conveyors transport the hops rearwardly and upwardly. A squeeze conveyor floats on a top support over the elevating end of the longitudinal conveyors. An alternate arrangement intersperses the raking tines and picking hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Inventor: Donald A. Desmarais