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 flax dressing machine for decorticating a tangled mass of flax includes a first breaking edge. A first breaker is provided, and includes stationary plate-shaped elements arranged to form parallel gaps, and rotatable plate-shaped elements rotatable about a first axis arranged transverse to a direction of flow of the flax and forming parallel and radially arranged gaps. Each of the gaps extends essentially in the direction of flow of the flax. A second breaker comprises a drum rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis and is arranged transverse to the direction of flow of the flax. The drum has beating tools attached to an outer circumference thereof. A peripherally arranged bottom region forms with the outer circumference a peripheral gapped region for accommodating flax. The bottom region has stationary rubbing tools attached thereto that cooperate with the beating tools. One of the first and second breakers is located adjacent to the first breaking edge.

Abstract: A sugarcane rind-slitting apparatus of the type having a pair of counter-rotatable cylindrical members with a multiplicity of intermeshing annular projections. The apparatus includes disks on each cylindrical member, each disk having axially-recessed sides such that the disks of one such member extend into the recession formed by a pair of disks of the other such member. Rind introduced to the apparatus is slit effectively and efficiently by the intermeshing action of the disks, without excessive wear on the disks.

Abstract: The apparatus for harvesting crops, particularly seed crops, comprises a mobile support structure 20 and a crop stripping device in the form of a rotor 30, which may be attached to height adjustable arms and is driven by drive means 22. The rotor 30 carries transverse rows of crop engaging elements 32 comprising loosening beaters and/or combing teeth. The drive to the rotor is so arranged that during forward movement of the apparatus the crop engaging elements 32 are propelled progressively through the crop, moving upwards at the front region. Seeds and other plant parts detached by the action of the rotor are impelled into a crop flow passage 27 under a crop guide cover 21. A transverse auger 83 transfers the detached material into a duct 84 where an elevator 85 moves it over a screen 86 for separation of the seeds. The coarse crop material is directed for further processing to recover remaining seeds.