Abstract: A seed harvester suitable for removing and collecting seed from plants. The seed harvester includes one or more seed collection assemblies. Each seed collection assembly may include a frame body extending between a forward portion and a rearward portion along a longitudinal axis, at least one seed collection bin supported by the frame body, a support structure having a first end pivotally attached to the frame body and a second end distal from the frame body; and a plurality of fixed projections for contacting the branches to dislodge seeds. The plurality of projections may be attached to the second end of the support structure and extending downward toward the frame body and the at least one seed collection bin may be positioned to receive dislodged seed that fall downward by gravity.

Abstract: A stripper roller for use in a stripper unit subassembly is disclosed to simplify changing and replacement of parts. Brushes and batts are mounted in interlocking core segments that rotate in rigid accompaniment with a center shaft. The core segments are secured together and secured to the center shaft using retainer caps, and the retainer caps in turn are secured to the shaft to prevent lateral sliding of the stripper roller. Individual batts and brushes may be inserted into or removed from a reusable core segment, or the individual batts and brushes may be integrally affixed to replaceable core segments.

Abstract: A harvesting head (104) for an agricultural combine (100) includes a hydraulic height control circuit for controlling the height of the reel (122). The hydraulic height control circuit includes at least two closed hydraulic circuits (124, 134 and 128, 138).

Abstract: A non-binding reel mount for a harvester platform includes added clearance between the sidewalls of a reel mounting bracket and the reel lifting arms. Side bushings are provided between the brackets and the arms at the center of the arms to prevent lateral motion of the brackets relative to the arms but enable twisting or rotation of the brackets relative to the arms. The non-binding reel mount thus enables one lift cylinder to be fully extended without causing binding between the reel mounting brackets and the reel support arms during a cylinder charging operation. The reel mount can be designed to provide the desired amount of vertical adjustment to the reel. In an alternative embodiment, a single bushing is provided at the top of the support arm that extends between the two sidewalls of the mounting bracket and wraps around the upper corners of the support arm to prevent lateral shifting while permitting rotation of the mounting bracket on the support arm.

Abstract: A multi-blade mower deck having a center right and left blade chambers, which are partially connected to each other, each blade chamber including a rotary mounted cutting blade with lifting sails thereon for rotating and lifting the air into each blade chamber, a front skirt defining portions of said blade chamber; a continuous rear skirt wrapping around rear portions of each of said blade chambers; and a fan chamber positioned above the cutting deck and concentrically aligned over the center blade chamber and having an opening into the center fan chamber including concentrically mounted impeller blades for driving air and clipping from the fan chamber through a exhaust passage positioned over the cutting deck.

Abstract: A debris blower for use in dispersing and collecting grass clippings, leaves, and other debris from sidewalks, driveways, lawns, golf courses and other ground surfaces. The debris blower is designed to be connected underneath a chassis of a tractor or lawn mower, and includes a housing containing a power-driven fan which rotates in a plane generally parallel to the ground surface. An air flow generated by the fan exits the housing through first and second chutes projecting from the housing. The chutes direct the air flow towards the ground surface. Air flow through the chutes is controlled by deflectors and closures that are moveable to selectively open and close the chutes and to adjust the direction of the exiting air flow.

Abstract: A two-row cane harvester 10 simultaneously harvests two rows of sugar cane in a green tropical cane field. A pair of topper mechanisms 54 top the cane stalks while base cutters 80 base cut the cane. Base cut cane is received base first into the harvester intake. The cane is cleaned in a whole stalk condition with a cleaning mechanism 92 that includes a plurality of rotating tines 100 moving in a direction to engage and force the cane leaves toward a base of the cane stalk, thereby efficiently stripping the cane leaves. An extractor blower 106 removes the leaves from the rotating tines and the cleaned cane. A stalk cutter mechanism 120, 122 may be adjusted to cut the cleaned cane stalks into selected billet lengths. Cane is preferably fed into the cutter mechanism at a speed greater than the ground speed of the harvester moving through the field. Another blower or fan may be used to remove remaining leaves from the billets.

Abstract: A self-propelled forager can accumulate dust, dirt or crop material particles in its maintenance and/or engine compartment. To avoid such accumulations, suction devices are provided in the engine and/or maintenance compartment which extract dust, dirt or crop material particles. The suction is provided by the post-accelerator which conveys the chopped crop.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to reduce crop wastage and to simplify the design of the combing unit. The essence of the invention lies in the fact that in the combing unit, the teeth of the working combing element are arranged in rows in the direction of travel, and the upper rim of the front wall of the receiving chamber takes the form of resilient teeth whose ends are located between the lateral edges of the teeth of the working combing element; the angle of inclination of the front wall of the receiving chamber to the horizontal plane is greater than the natural slope angle of a heap of cereal, leguminous crops and grass seeds.

Abstract: A clearing apparatus which includes a clearing device for use in clearing operations, and a carriage for supporting a clearing device during use. The clearing device is a clearing device of any conventional type and includes an elongated support member, a power unit at one end of the support member and a clearing head at the other end of the support member.

Abstract: Grass cutting machinery particularly suitable for mowing golf greens which are covered in early morning dew has an apparatus for preparing the grass in advance of the grass cutting blades. This relies on creating a flow of air around the dew covered grass to dislodge the dew from the grass. The flow of air can be effected by a blower, or suction.

Abstract: A ground grooming machine including a mobile frame supporting a central elongate air flow assembly producing a downwardly directed pressurized flow of air within confining arcuate baffles. A brush assembly with two elongate floating brushes mount on the frame forward of the air flow assembly, and a single floating brush mounts on the frame in following relation to the air flow assembly.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the problem of chopping, drying and compressing into pellets--which shall be used especially as a fuel--freshly harvested biomass, especially cereal plants, in one operation. The chopped stalk material is moved forward for this purpose according to the present invention over a broad surface in a thin layer (32) in the manner of an accordion, while a warm air flow passes through it, before the stalk material is fed into the intake wedge of a pelletizing device (15). Screw conveyor groups (11, 12, 13) arranged at different levels are preferably used as the conveying means, and their direction of conveyance (23) is at right angles to the direction of travel (24) of the harvester (1), whereas the gaseous heating medium flows through the layers (32) being conveyed vertically (29) from bottom to top.

Abstract: An oscillating blower that includes an air discharge for cyclically impinging high velocity air onto and into the canopy of a fruit or nut tree thereby providing a novel method for shaking the limbs of a tree and create the same shaking action as a tree shaker by oscillating the blower at a selected proper frequency. The oscillating blower not only shakes the limbs to remove the nuts or fruit but also dislodges the nuts or fruits by blowing them off the supporting stems. The oscillating blower also removes residual fruit or nuts that were not harvested during the normal harvesting operation such as when a conventional tree shaker is used for dislodging the fruit or nuts from the tree. The residual fruit or nuts left on the tree by a tree shaker frequently become infested with worms or other pests that may infest the fruit or nut tree and adversely affect the crop produced during the next growing season.

Abstract: A self-propelling harvester thresher has a drive motor, a cooler with a cooler fan for supplying a cooling air, a sieve device arranged before the cooler for retaining dirt particles entrained in the cooling air, an outer housing associated with the sieve device and having a smaller efficient surface than an air inlet surface of the sieve device. The housing has a side which faces toward the sieve device and is at least partially open. A conduit connects the housing with a suction side of a blower. A screening element is arranged inside the sieve device opposite to the open side of the housing. The screening element is formed as an inner housing having a surface which faces toward the end surface of the sieve device and has an opening. The opening of the inner housing of the screening element is greater than the opening of the outer housing connected with the blower.

Abstract: An air floated cutting apparatus is provided having a housing configured to define a cup-shaped centrifuge chamber along an inner peripheral wall of the housing for centrifuging cuttings. An impeller is located in the housing to force air outwardly along an interior wall of the housing to pressurize the interior of the housing. The air moves outwardly and downwardly along the interior wall in a top portion of the housing and then inwardly and downwardly along the interior wall in a bottom portion of the housing toward a support surface beneath the housing. The lowermost portion of the interior housing wall is angled downwardly less than 30 degrees with respect to a horizontal axis for directing air inwardly and downwardly at a predetermined angle. In one embodiment the interior housing wall defines the centrifuge chamber in the presence of the downward air flow. In another embodiment, means is provided for defining a centrifuge chamber separate from an air pressure chamber in which air flows downwardly.

Abstract: An air flow deflector panel for insertion into existing combines of the axial flow type without modification to the combines for changing the direction of air flow from the cleaning fan to the sieve section. The air flow deflector panel includes a plate having mounting brackets for attachment to the existing structure of the combine for holding the plate which extends across the separation chamber behind the outlet of the throat of the cleaning fan. The plate includes an angled portion for directing a required portion of the air beneath the sieves past the front portion thereof. The air flow deflector panel accomplishes more effectively separation of the straw and chaff from the grain being collected below the sieve section than is currently possible with certain models of combines of the axial flow type and further eliminates the use of a higher air flow which can in any event result in a portion of the grain being expelled with the debris.

Abstract: The present invention describes an air-floated wheeled apparatus with plurality of wheels having a deck housing, an outer house shroud for vacuum and pressure device, to define a mulch system having pressure and vacuum chambers in the main deck housing as well as a pressure chamber in the outer shrouds, and a vacuum chamber in the aft portion of the outer shroud or vacuum device that provides an aft clean up of mode area beyond the width of blade. A drive mechanism includes a motor having a rotatable shaft with at least 1 impeller is supported in the pressure chamber and rotates on a shaft for exhausting air from the vacuum chamber to erect grass underlying an opening while simultaneously pressurizing air in the pressure chamber to float the apparatus in combination with wheels that supports maximum weight of apparatus as well as a frontal wheel support or ball lake wheel support for directional support and maneuverability thereto.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a cleaning fan for an agricultural combine having a snap in mounting assembly for attaching fan blades to the cleaning fan. The cleaning fan comprises at least two wheels, with each wheel having a series of radially extending mounting teeth. The mounting teeth are provided with snap in mounting assemblies comprising inner and outer transverse grooves between which are located inner and an outer projections. The inner groove is located at the outer periphery of the wheel and the outer groove is located on the outer projection. A spring is located between the inner and outer projections. The fan blades are provided with rectangular mounting apertures which engage the projections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an attachment for a crop harvesting apparatus, such as a cotton picker, to improve the yield thereof. A fluid source provides a pressurized fluid. A pipe, oriented substantially parallel to the ground, is coupled at a proximal end thereof in fluid communication with the fluid source. The pipe is provided with a plurality of holes therein, the holes being oriented such that the pressurized fluid passes through the holes in an upward direction to suspend the crop prior to and during harvesting, or to cause movement or turbulence of the bolls of cotton to increase the probability of the bolls being harvested by the harvesting apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for harvesting a crop, for example, blueberries. The apparatus includes a plurality of groups of channels arranged side-by-side to create a plurality of picking heads with stripping gaps. The picking heads are connected to a frame. As a motive force, such as a tractor, moves the frame through a field of plants, the ends of the channels are moved below the crop. The gaps between the channels strip the crop from the plants, and the crop falls into the channels, where the crop may move along the channels for collecting.

Abstract: A grass cutting machine comprising a chassis including a chamber for receiving a cushion of air for supporting the chassis, a cutting member, a power source, a drive line for drivingly connecting the power source and the cutting member, a source of pressure air, and a grass collection device. The collection device comprises a receptacle for receiving cut grass and includes a base wall, an upper wall, and at least one side wall. The receptacle has at least one inlet disposed externally of the chamber and in the region of the base wall for entry of cut grass entrained in a stream of air directly into the receptacle part of at least the base wall includes an air permeable region to retain cut grass in the receptacle and to permit the said stream of air to be drawn through cut grass retained in the receptacle and through the air permeable region in the bases wall so as, to filter the air stream and compact the cut grass in the receptacle.

Abstract: The cleaning device for a harvester thresher includes a cross-flow fan supplying air to the cleaning sieve section and air guiding structure in the discharge flow from the fan to effect desired air distribution.

Abstract: A nut harvester includes a frame drawn by a tractor over nut and debris windrows on the ground of a nut orchard. The nut harvester collects the nuts from the windrows and separates the debris collected therewith while minimizing the dust emissions and airborne pollutants generated by the nut harvester. The nut harvester includes three primary sections: a pick-up section, a stationary grid section, and a conveyor/fan section. The pick-up section includes finger assemblies which engage the ground to propel the nuts and debris forwardly and upwardly into a rotating feed reel which in turn deposits the nuts onto a stationary grid. The stationary grid includes a number of parallel bars which are spaced to prevent the nuts from falling therebetween. Wipers extend transversely across the grid and advance the nuts therealong.

Abstract: A crop stripper drum has a series of axial rows of flexibly displaceable teeth (12) circumferentially spaced around the drum. At the roots of the teeth are bulbous openings (12b, 22a) formed in metal members, which may comprise the teeth (12) or be elements (21) separate therefrom. For flexibility, the teeth may be given root openings larger than the openings formed by said separate elements, thereby reducing their root widths, or they may be put in a resilient mounting (62) that increases the deflection they experience under load. Separate elements (52) provided for forming the stripper openings, may be of an adjustable form to vary the width of the openings. The constructions disclosed are able to allow the use of metal for the active stripping means, whereby to increase the service life and reduce the power requirements. Adjustment of the size of the openings allows the striper to be adapted to harvest different crops.

Abstract: A cleaning system of a combine is provided with a cleaning shoe having a step pan, a conditioning pan and a chaffer. A cleaning fan is provided with two outlets. The first outlet has two ducts. The first duct directs a primary air blast above the step pan through grain and chaff falling from the threshing system to the step pan. The second duct directs a secondary air blast through grain and chaff falling from the step pan and the separating system onto the conditioning pan. The second outlet directs a chaffer air blast to the chaffer.

Abstract: A hand-held apparatus is disclosed for collecting seeds from plants. The apparatus has an elongated handle with a rotary brush-like unit rotatably attached to one end of the handle. The rotary unit has a plurality of seed stripper elements extending radially outwardly from and operatively spaced around the unit. Drive means are provided for rotating the unit and seed containment means are attached to the handle and extend adjacent the unit for catching seed which is stripped off the plants by the seed stripper elements. A conventional string trimmer may be converted into a seed stripper of the invention by removing the string trimmer head and replacing it with the rotary unit of the invention.

Abstract: A lawn mower of the type which collects grass cuttings includes a motor-driven blade rotatable about a sustantially vertical axis, at least one fan rotatable about the same axis, and a grass collecting system of the type in which grass collection is aided by suction from an airstream produced by the fan. It includes a closure which is selectively adjustable to at least two positions: one in which a grass collection aperture in a grass box is closed and a debris collection aperture in the grass box is open, and the other in which the grass collection aperture is open and the debris collection aperture is closed. A second embodiment includes a closure which is selectively adjustable to at least two positions: one in which both the grass collection aperture and the debris collection aperture are open, and the other in which only the grass collection aperture is open.

Abstract: A machine for harvesting foodstuffs, such as nuts from the ground, uses compressed air passing through at least one venturi to create a vacuum at the inlet of a pickup conduit. Nuts are sucked into the pickup conduit which provides a straight flow path for the nuts. Compressed air is also discharged near the pickup conduit inlet to blow nuts to the inlet of the pickup conduit. Additionally, the machine discharges air from laterally extending blower arms to move nuts from obstacles which cannot be easily reached by the pickup conduit to locations where the foodstuffs can be reached by the pickup conduit.

Abstract: A grass cutting machine includes a grass cutter, a motor for driving the grass cutter, a housing for supporting the machine above ground datum, collector for collecting grass cut by cutter, and a fan for establishing a flow of air. The collector for cut grass further includes a duct for directing cut grass entrained in a stream of air from the fan. The duct has a collection mouth at an upstream end thereof and disposed in the region of the ground datum, thereof, and a downstream end of the duct connected to the collector. At least one air-outlet aperture is disposed in the region of the collection mouth, each aperture serving to direct at least a portion of the stream of air downstream from the collection mouth so as to draw into the mouth cut grass and to transport the cut grass through the duct to the collector.

Abstract: An air floated cutting apparatus is provided having a housing configured to define a cup-shaped centrifuge chamber along an inner peripheral wall of the housing for centrifuging cuttings. An impeller is located in the housing to force air outwardly along an interior wall of the housing to pressurize the interior of the housing. The air moves outwardly and downwardly along the interior wall in a top portion of the housing and then inwardly and downwardly along the interior wall in a bottom portion of the housing toward a support surface beneath the housing. The lowermost portion of the interior housing wall is angled downwardly less than 30 degrees with respect to a horizontal axis for directing air inwardly and downwardly at a predetermined angle. In one embodiment the interior housing wall defines the centrifuge chamber in the presence of the downward air flow. In another embodiment, means is provided for defining a centrifuge chamber separate from an air pressure chamber in which air flows downwardly.

Abstract: A clearing apparatus which includes a clearing device for use in clearing operations, and a carriage for supporting the clearing device during use. The clearing device is of conventional type and has an elongated support tube, a clearing head mounted at one end of the support tube, and a motor mounted at the other end of the support tube. The carriage includes a frame, a single support wheel which is rotatably mounted on the frame to support the frame, and a guide handle for use in guiding the apparatus, and the frame has a mounting bracket which mounts the support tube on the frame so that the clearing apparatus will be supported proximate its center of gravity on the support wheel during use.

Abstract: A ruffling attachment is disclosed for a blower for blowing leaves and other debris on the ground in a desired direction. The blower is of the type which includes a blowing apparatus having an output blowing port which puts out an output air flow. The apparatus is supported on a rollable support. The attachment comprises a support bracket configured and dimensioned to be secured to the blower and an attachment member secured to the bracket. A branching support member comprises a base adapted to matingly attach to the attachment member and a pair of arms extending to ends positioned at opposite sides of the output air flow. A pair of rufflers is provided, each of the rufflers extending respectively from a respective end on one of the arms. Both of the rufflers extend in a generally downward direction to points on opposite sides of the output air flow and bear down against the ground upon which the blower is resting.

Abstract: An air pressure activated apparatus includes a substantially endless housing and an underlying plate member. The plate member has a variety of different constructions for providing enhanced air flow and pressure distribution for improved flotation, grass cutting, mulching, or vacuum cleaning while making it more difficult to contact moving parts within the housing.

Abstract: The present invention describes an air-floated apparatus for use as a lawn mower or vacuum cleaner. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a housing having an outer shroud and an inner shroud, the outer shroud surrounding a predetermined portion of the inner shroud to define a pressure chamber between the inner and outer shrouds and a vacuum chamber within the inner shroud. A drive mechanism includes a motor having a rotatable shaft. A single impeller is supported in the pressure chamber and rotates on the shaft for exhausting air from the vacuum chamber to erect grass underlying the opening while simultaneously pressurizing air in the pressure chamber to float the apparatus above the grass. Airborne cut grass clippings are vacuumed into and through the impeller for distribution into the soil for recycle and recut. According to the invention, an adjustment assembly is provided for adjusting a position of the housing relative to a center-line auxiliary wheel assembly.

Abstract: A straddle-type, self-propelled crop harvesting machine having an inverted U-shaped frame for passing over a row of crop bearing bushes. The frame has a longitudinal opening through which the row of crop bearing bushes pass and into which depend a pair of spaced, freely rotatable picking members. Each picking member is supported from a subframe which is pivotally attached to the main frame of the harvesting machine. Each subframe is supported on an air bag which can be used to set the initial height of the picking assembly and which also tends to isolate vibration from the main frame of the harvesting machine. A bearing assembly depends from the subframe and supports a housing in which two rotatable eccentric weights are mounted. The weights rotate in a vertical plane in phase but in opposite directions so that the weights pass at the top and bottom of each rotation and impart a vertical force to the housing.

Abstract: This invention relates to rotary-type lawn mowers which may be supported on either a cushion of air (a hover mower) or on a wheeled/roller system.

Abstract: The present invention describes an air-floated apparatus comprising a housing having an outer shroud and an inner shroud, the outer shroud surrounding a predetermined portion of the inner shroud to define a pressure chamber between the inner and outer shrouds and a vacuum chamber within the inner shroud. A drive mechanism includes a motor having a rotatable shaft. A single impeller is supported in the pressure chamber and rotates on the shaft for exhausting air from the vacuum chamber to erect grass underlying the opening while simultaneously pressurizing air in the pressure chamber to float the apparatus above the grass. The apparatus further includes a cutting disk rotatable on the shaft and supported in a bottom opening of the inner shroud to substantially enclose the vacuum chamber. The cutting disk includes multiple retractable blades for cutting the grass. Several types of auxiliary drive mechanisms are also disclosed for use in facilitating advancement of the housing in a self-propelled manner.

Abstract: An air-floated apparatus, such as a lawn mower or vacuum cleaner, includes a housing having an open bottom and an air intake opening. The housing is adapted to cooperate with a support surface beneath the housing to define a substantially enclosed chamber. At least one air impeller is provided for pressurizing air within the chamber sufficient to float the housing above the support surface. An axle and first and second support wheels mounted with the axle are coupled to a back portion of the housing by first and second attachment members. Respective first ends of the first and second attachment members are mounted for co-movement with the housing and respective second ends of the first and second attachment members are mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the axle and wheels.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus, such as a lawn mower is described comprising a substantially endless housing having an open bottom, air intake opening and a discharge port. The housing cooperates with a plate member projecting inwardly from a bottom part of the housing to define a substantially enclosed centrifuge chamber. A rotatable cutting blade is mounted in the chamber and an air impeller is provided for pressurizing air in the chamber. The plate member and impeller enhance the centrifugal movement imparted to the cuttings by the rotating cutting blade. A mulch recycling system is provided for receiving the grass cuttings and for delivering the cuttings to a predetermined location adjacent the housing for mulching. The mulch recycling system is adapted for use in connection with cutting apparatus supported by wheels, or roller members, as well as air-floated cutting apparatus.

Abstract: The invention is a field onion topping machine with a front-end gathering and lifting assembly 16 which delivers onions to a transport assembly 25 and a substantially horizontal cutting table 26 provided by a moving chain conveyor 15. A fan 17, spaced apart from beneath the cutting table 26 but being connected to beneath the cutting table 26 by suitable ductwork 18, blows a stream of air up through conveyor chain 15 in the area of the cutting table 26, lifting and extending the tops, but not the bulbs of the onions on the chain, into cutter member 27 where the tops are removed and blown out discharge chute 19 by the same stream of air. Onions with their tops removed exit at the back of the machine via discharge assembly 20.

Abstract: A mechanical harvester is specifically designed for mechanically picking "gourmet-type" leguminous crops with hand-picked quality. The picking tools are a plurality of elongate resilient fingers which are disposed on an endless moving belt for gently combing the crop from the plants. The harvester is adapted to be placed behind a towing vechicle such as a tractor, with the crop pick-up point in vertical alignment with the main tractor axis for assuring proper positioning of the pick-up point relative to the surface and for assuring good operator visibility. A universal crop transfer system is adapted to receive a removable collection chamber and a removable and readily replaceable harvesting implement, whereby the harvester may be quickly modified for harvesting any one of a predetermined variety of leguminous crops. The harvester implement, collection chamber and transfer conveyor mechanism are all adapted to be mounted on a standard three-point hitch.

Abstract: A self-propelled compost windrow turning and aerating machine includes a longitudinally extending vehicle main frame supported on a pair of front wheels and a rear castered wheel. An upper longitudinally extending subframe is swingably supported from the rear end of the main frame to raise and lower the front end of the subframe relative to the main frame. A blower housing mounted on the subframe has a material admitting opening leading to a rotary fan provided in the housing, the blower housing having a discharge opening with a spout for directing material blown out of the housing. Material debridging and feeding mechanism supported on the subframe in advance of the blower housing removes material from a compost windrow and delivers it to the material admitting opening, and an engine drive system powers the front wheels, the fan, and the material debridging and feeding mechanism.

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 wedge form crop stripping elements (10) which may be combined with transverse ribs. The crop stripping elements having prominent leading edges, for example each formed at the junction between two faces which are acutely inclined with respect to each other. They may be attached to removable, raised, hollow mounting bars. The drive to the rotor may be so arranged that during forward movement of the apparatus the crop engaging elements (32) are propelled progressively through the crop, moving upwards at a 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).

Abstract: A mechanized harvesting machine, particularly suitable for picking or harvesting vegetables such a peppers or tomatoes employs a harvesting member having a rotating shaft aligned transversely to the direction of movement of the machine above the row of plants which are to be harvested. First and second picking members are mounted in spaced relationship on the shaft on opposite sides of a row of plants having a crop to be harvested. The picking members are simultaneously rotated, and each have a plurality of arcuate picking elements on them. The picking elements extend into the space between the two picking members, and operate to strip the crop from the plants while leaving the plants in a relatively undisturbed condition after they have been picked.

Abstract: A crop pickup device including a rotatable drum or cylinder with pickup teeth thereon associated with a rake plate or notched stripping panel associated with the pickup teeth to effectively strip the plants from the pickup and collect and guide the seeds which may fall from the plants into the conveyor of the harvesting machine. A transverse manifold with a rearwardly facing slot-like opening is located forwardly of the pickup drum and teeth to prevent the plants from rolling forwardly when they are engaged by the pickup teeth and a pair of side blowers discharge air laterally inwardly and rearwardly which also prevent the plants from rolling forwardly and keep the windrow from fanning out or rolling outside of the pickup drum and teeth.

Abstract: A carrier for an air rake or leaf blower adjustably secured to a power driven vehicle or garden tractor, said carrier having roller means associated thereon wherefor the same may roll over the terrain, platform means for carrying an independently operable air rake or leaf blower thereon whereby the same is drawn over the terrain by the power driven vehicle and the leaf blower is operative while mounted thereon and may be disassociated therefrom for independent operation.

Abstract: The present invention describes an air-floated apparatus comprising a wheel-less housing having a skirt extending around a lower edge thereof and having an air-inlet opening in an upper portion thereof, the housing further including a discharge port. The apparatus includes a motor having a rotatable shaft. An impeller is mounted on the shaft for generating pressurized air in the hosuing to float the housing above a support surface. The apparatus also includes a cutting blade mounted on said shaft for generating grass clippings. According to the invention, a substantially u-shaped centrifuge raceway is provided for receiving the grass clippings and transporting the grass clippings to the discharge port. A plurality of struts are provided for supporting the centrifuge raceway in a spaced relationship with respect to an inner wall of the housing to create an air pressure channel for the pressurized air between the inner wall and the centrifuge raceway.

Abstract: This invention relates to grass cutting appliances. In particular a grass cutting appliance in the form of a lawn mower comprises a hood, a cutting member for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane within the hood, a handle for controlling directional movement of the appliance during a cutting operation, a power source disposed remotely from the cutting member and supported from the handle, and a drive line for drivingly connecting the power source and the cutting member.

Abstract: A mobile harvester of leafy produce has two harvesting sections with a cutter located forwardly for severing the produce from the ground. A continuous belt having a large number of openings moves in a closed path presenting an upwardly facing surface. A low pressure plenum underneath the belt provides a vacuum attraction to the belt upwardly facing for picking up severed produce. An enclosure ove the belt protects against wind removal of produce leaves from the belt. The two harvesting sections are individually adjustable for proper height above the ground.