Abstract: An inter-row machine, of the type used to work laterally to the travel path of the tractor by which it is towed or pushed, during the treatment of the land in espalier orchards or vineyards, having one or two working units, each preceded by a probe element which actuates, at each obstacle to be avoided, a known (hydraulic, pneumatic or electric) device for movement transversely to the travel path and to the row. The encounter of each probe with the obstacle to be avoided causes the rotation of the tool of the corresponding working unit—so that the translation of the latter, which is transverse to the travel path of the tractor, is directly proportional to the angular displacement performed by the tool and reported by an electromagnetic sensor to the electronic controller of the machine.

Abstract: An air leaf stripping system and an agricultural machine equipped with such system. The system is used in viticulture for stripping leaves from vinestocks. The system can be mounted on a tractor and includes adjustment mechanism consisting of a rotary joint and coupling for rotating a housing and includes an arm that has a main longitudinal axis and includes the supply line and an attachment part intended to be mounted on the agricultural machine directly or via a frame. The supply line-is guided along the attachment part and connected to the leaf stripping members through a junction in the housing via the rotary joint. The rotating member being arranged so that the housing can be rotated about a first axis passing through the junction and substantially perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis of the arm, between at least two separate angular positions relative to the first axis.

Abstract: A portable tobacco barn that includes a frame with arm members to support curing rods holding harvested tobacco stalks. Once the portable tobacco barn is loaded to capacity, the portable tobacco barn is covered with a protective cover sheet, and the loaded harvested tobacco stalks on curing rods then remain loaded in the portable tobacco barn during the drying and curing process, thereby eliminating the need to handle the harvested tobacco a second time and minimizing the number of times that the harvested tobacco must be handled.

Abstract: A machine which provides for both leaf stripping and grading can be used to process plants, such as burley tobacco plants, by continuously moving the plants in a first direction while simultaneously varying the position of the plants in a second direction relative to a defoliating apparatus. The plants may be moved horizontally through a machine by a transporter engaging the plant stalks while the vertical distance between the transporter (and thus the plants) is varied relative to the defoliating apparatus. The transporter and defoliating apparatus may be positioned at an angle to one another. Due to the changing amount of vertical distance, leaves from different sections of the plants, such as leaves at different stalk heights, can be contacted and removed at different corresponding horizontal locations in the machine. Accordingly, leaves can be graded based on the location(s) from which they are retrieved after removal.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N?-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in Nicotiana plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for cytochrome P450s that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Expression cassettes, vectors, plants, and plant parts thereof comprising inhibitory sequences that target expression or function of the disclosed cytochrome P450 polypeptides are also provided. Methods for the use of these novel sequences to inhibit expression or function of cytochrome P450 polypeptides involved in this metabolic conversion are also provided. The methods find use in the production of tobacco products that have reduced levels of nornicotine and its carcinogenic metabolite, NNN, and thus reduced carcinogenic potential for individuals consuming these tobacco products or exposed to secondary smoke derived from these products.

Abstract: A mechanism for harvesting tobacco plants includes a magazine of rails. Each rail is elongated and hollow, with a slot along a bottom portion of each rail. Two opposing dispensing conveyors each engage opposing ends of each rails for advancing an empty rail to a filling position. Two opposing notching conveyors grasps the plants and cuts notches into the plants on opposing sides of the plant. A single roller chain stepping conveyor moves the plants from the opposing notching conveyors into a rail in the filling position. The two opposing dispensing conveyors advance the rail filled with plants. An unloading conveyor having opposing roller chains receives the rails filled with plants, collects a group of filled rails, and unloads the group of filled rails on a ground level at a linear speed equal to a forward speed of the harvesting mechanism.

Abstract: A harvesting apparatus for row crops that includes a self-propelled carrier unit and a harvesting device. The carrier unit is a motor-driven vehicle. The harvesting device consists of an upper frame in sliding engagement with a pair of vertical members coupled to a cutting platform, lifting means for raising and lowering the cutting platform, and means for positioning the cutting platform along the length of the upper frame. The cutting platform includes a base having opposing ends, each end having a pair of base guides that define a longitudinal passage, a cutter blade assembly having a blade with a cutting edge, which cutting edge is in communication with the longitudinal passage such that when the blade is in use, and when a tobacco plant passes along the longitudinal passage the blade will cut the plant by a slicing operation. The frame further includes front and rear wheel assemblies, and a shield that is attached to each of the vertical members.

Abstract: A supply device (30) of a device (10) for stripping leaves from tobacco plants P, where each plant is composed of a stem T that bears leaves F. The leaf-stripping device (10) includes at least one station (12) for supplying tobacco plants P, a discharging station (14), and elements (16) for transferring the plants P from the supply station (12) to the discharging station (14) according to a direction S of work. The transfer elements (16) include elements for receiving plants P at the supply station (12). The supply device (30) includes elements for depositing the tobacco plants P on the receiving elements of the leaf-stripping device (10) and elements for bringing the plants P for their leaves to be stripped one after the other and in an automated manner to the supply station (12) of the leaf-stripping device.

Abstract: A harvesting apparatus for row crops that includes a self-propelled carrier unit and a harvesting device. The carrier unit is a motor-driven vehicle. The harvesting device consists of an upper frame in sliding engagement with a pair of vertical members coupled to a cutting platform, lifting means for raising and lowering the cutting platform, and means for positioning the cutting platform along the length of the upper frame. The cutting platform includes a base having opposing ends, each end having a pair of base guides that define a longitudinal passage, a cutter blade assembly having a blade with a cutting edge, which cutting edge is in communication with the longitudinal passage such that when the blade is in use, and when a tobacco plant passes along the longitudinal passage the blade will cut the plant by a slicing operation. The frame further includes front and rear wheel assemblies, and a shield that is attached to each of the vertical members.

Abstract: An tobacco harvester which on a single pass through the field sorts tobacco leaves as the leaves are harvested based on the height at which they grow on the tobacco stalk. An adjustable guide directs leaves as they are stripped from the stalk onto upper and lower conveyor belts which transport the leaves into separate collection bins.

Abstract: An improved tobacco harvester which on a single pass through the field sorts tobacco leaves as the leaves are harvested based on the height at which they grow on the tobacco stalk. An adjustable guide directs leaves as they are stripped from the stalk onto upper and lower conveyor belts which transport the leaves into separate collection bins. Methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously cutting and directing fluid into the stem of a tabacco plant, the apparatus including having a liquid delivery blade, a source of fluid communicating with to the underside of the blade, an associated power source for rotating the liquid delivery blade at a sufficiently high speed “top” tobacco plants.

Abstract: An apparatus for stick-spearing stalk-cut tobacco stalks which includes an endless belt having a plurality of stick-supporting claws and a plurality of stalk-transferring claws provided along its circumferential surface. The apparatus also includes an air cylinder device and a pushing member for pushing tobacco stalks onto a spear stick, the spear stick being held in place by the stick-supporting claws. Simultaneously with the stick-spearing operations, the endless belt moves forward up to a predetermined distance causing the stalk-transferring claws to move forward and position in equal intervals any tobacco stalks that have been previously speared by the stick.

Abstract: After a cutter of a tobacco harvester cuts each tobacco plant, the cut tobacco plant has its stalk penetrated by toothed elements on two chains on opposite sides of the cut tobacco plant to advance it to an elevated position. Just prior to being released by the toothed elements, the stalk of the cut tobacco plant has its butt end engage a ramp to retard its motion to tilt the cut tobacco plant. This results in the cut tobacco plant pivoting to fall by gravity as its leaves are engaged by wheels to advance the cut tobacco plant. The butt end of the stalk falls into an area of a continuously rotating disc so that the cut tobacco plant has a substantially horizontal orientation. The cut tobacco plant is then advanced by chains and cleats to a spearing mechanism where the cut tobacco plant is automatically loaded on a stick.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved tobacco harvester adaptable to various harvesting conditions without the necessity to manually remove and/or install defoliating blades or harvesting heads. The present invention has two harvesting heads including a stationary lower harvesting head with a pair of defoliating paddles to harvest the sand lugs. The second harvesting head is a “tipping head” with rotating steel blades or “cutter bars” which is selectively lowered into position over the defoliator to harvest the leaves from the middle and upper portion of the tobacco stalk. The elevation of the tipping head may be adjusted from the operator station while the harvester is in service.