Abstract: A work vehicle includes a travel device and a work implement. A control system for the work vehicle includes a controller. The controller controls the work implement according to a predetermined target value. The controller determines whether a slip of the travel device has occurred during control of the work implement. The controller changes the target value according to a result of determination of the slip.

Abstract: A work vehicle includes a work implement. A control system for the work vehicle includes a controller. The controller obtains first topographical data indicative of a topography of a work target before filling work. The controller obtains blade tip position data indicative of a blade tip position of the work implement during the filling work. The controller obtains second topographical data indicative of a compacted topography after the filling work. The controller determines a compression rate of the work target from the first topographical data, the blade tip position data, and the second topographical data.

Abstract: A control system for a work vehicle includes a controller. The controller receives actual topography information of a work target. The controller determines a design surface that is positioned below the actual topography. The controller generates a command signal to move a work implement of the work vehicle along the design surface. The controller determines if slip of the work vehicle has occurred. Upon determining that slip has occurred, the controller changes the design surface to a position equal to or higher than a blade tip position of the work implement when the slip occurred.

Abstract: A system for harvesting produce from a tree has a drone capable of hovering, a video camera gathering visual data of movement, a cutting implement, a remote control station with a display screen, wireless circuitry, and input mechanisms to control movement of the drone and operation of the cutting implement, and circuitry in the body of the drone enabling two-way communication with the remote control station, transmission of video data from the video camera, and response to commands from the remote control station. The video data from the camera on the drone is displayed on the display screen of the remote control station, and an operator viewing the display screen operates the input mechanisms, maneuvering the drone to position the cutting implement relative to produce in the tree, and triggers the cutting implement by command, severing a stem to separate the produce, causing the produce to fall from the tree.

Abstract: A system for harvesting produce from a tree has a drone capable of hovering, a video camera gathering visual data of movement, a cutting implement, a remote control station with a display screen, wireless circuitry, and input mechanisms to control movement of the drone and operation of the cutting implement, and circuitry in the body of the drone enabling two-way communication with the remote control station, transmission of video data from the video camera, and response to commands from the remote control station. The video data from the camera on the drone is displayed on the display screen of the remote control station, and an operator viewing the display screen operates the input mechanisms, maneuvering the drone to position the cutting implement relative to produce in the tree, and triggers the cutting implement by command, severing a stem to separate the produce, causing the produce to fall from the tree.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine and method for selective harvesting of a parcel of land by means of a harvesting machine including a motorised support structure on which are mounted a harvesting assembly adapted to deliver a harvested stream, at least two receptacles (1) for storage of said stream and a system for respectively feeding a receptacle (1) with said stream as a function of the location of the machine in the parcel. The parcel is divided into distinct geographical areas and each receptable is dedicated to an area. The machine comprises upper conveyor means (3) for feeding the receptables (1) along respective feed paths, a lower conveyor (6) and a device for guiding the harvested stream by opening and closing the feed paths and varying the conveying direction of the lower conveyor, as a function of the receptable to be fed with the harvested stream.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for eliminating leafstalks (P) from a harvested stream in a berry (G) harvesting machine, said method comprising successively the steps of disposing at least a portion of the stream containing leafstalks (P) and berries (G) on a continuous conveyor belt (5) in a longitudinal direction (L2); disposing said portion on a discontinuous conveyor belt (6) longitudinally aligned with said continuous belt, said discontinuous belt having vertical (7) openings with a geometry that is configured for enabling berries (G) to pass through them and to retain leafstalks (P) on said discontinuous belt; eliminating leafstalks (P) remaining on said discontinuous belt. The invention also concerns an extraction conveyor and an elimination system for implementing this method, as well as a berry harvesting machine including such an extraction conveyor or such an elimination system.

Abstract: Apparatus for harvesting grapes without damaging the grapes. A cluster hanger clip is provided to securely hold a cluster of grapes by the stem, in order to cut, carry, and transport the cluster with minimal or no touching of the grape berries. A grape harvesting vehicle which moves between the rows of grapevines in the vineyard, includes grape conveyors, on which the hanger clips are suspended, either temporarily or permanently. The conveyors convey the grape clusters to packers at packing stations on the platform. The packers segregate the grape clusters and pack the clusters into boxes. A palletizer stacks the boxes on pallets in a bin. The platform can change configuration for use in the vineyard, and for travel on the highway.

Abstract: A modular pruning machine used in agriculture, viticulture, fruit growing, tree growing or for brush clearing has at least one cutter bar. The cutter bar has cutting modules affixed thereto. Each of the cutting modules has a rotary cutting tool and a three-phase asynchronous electric motor such that the three-phase asynchronous electric motor individually rotatably drives the rotary cutting tool.

Abstract: Apparatus for harvesting grapes without damaging the grapes. A cluster hanger clip is provided to securely hold a cluster of grapes by the stem, in order to cut, carry, and transport the cluster with minimal or no touching of the grape berries. A grape harvesting vehicle which moves between the rows of grapevines in the vineyard, includes grape conveyors, on which the hanger clips are suspended, either temporarily or permanently. The conveyors convey the grape clusters to packers at packing stations on the platform. The packers segregate the grape clusters and pack the clusters into boxes. A palletizer stacks the boxes on pallets in a bin. The platform can change configuration for use in the vineyard, and for travel on the highway.

Abstract: A crop picking head assembly has a known oscillation generating head supported in a head support frame suspended from a harvester framework by two pairs of depending arms. One pair of arms is variable in length to adjust picking head height and the other pair is fixed in length. The picking head has a variety of crop contacting rod arrays to accommodate various cordon types supporting extended rows of crop foliage, such as grape vines. The harvester may carry one such picking head on one side of the vine row or may carry mirror image heads, one on each side of the vine row.

Abstract: For more than thirty-two years, extensive research studies involving various concepts of total vineyard mechanization have been carried out at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station under the direction of Justin R. Morris (22). Tommy Oldridge was one of the first growers in the region to commercially test, implement and improve upon the findings of these research studies. These studies at the University of Arkansas have involved the evaluation of trellising and training systems suitable for total vineyard mechanization, mechanical shoot positioning, mechanical pruning, mechanical thinning, mechanical harvesting, and the post-harvest handling and utilization of mechanically harvested grapes (2, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 35). The success of this approach to vineyard mechanization has been the fact that it has concentrated on minimizing or eliminating all limiting factors impacting the system while maintaining, or in some cases improving, fruit quality.

Abstract: A hand-held device for picking fruit which includes an elongated grip member and a head member connected to the elongated grip member which includes a pair of fixed immovable blades. Each blade has a cutting edge. The blades are positioned in the head in opposed planar relationship to one another so that at least a portion of each respective cutting edge is in spaced opposed relationship to the cutting edge of the other blade at a distance less than the thickness of the stem of the fruit to be picked. Picking is accomplished by a thrusting motion in which the device is held in one of the laborers hands while the fruit to be picked is grasped in the other. The device is thrust at the stem of the fruit to be picked. The pair of fixed blades guides the stem into the cutting region where the stem is severed. The fruit can be removed by the hand holding it during the cutting operation.

Abstract: Machine for the automatic or semi-automatic trimming or cutting of vines and espalier-trained trees or shrubs. The machine includes at least one cutting assembly constituted by a plurality of cutting tools stacked about a common shaft. Each of these cutting tools includes a rotative circular cage having the shape of a scalloped disk with notches extending toward the cage interior and demarcated by teeth (5). The teeth include an extreme portion and superposed bars . The superposed bars extend from this extreme portion in the direction of the rotational axis of the rotating cage. Each of these cutting tools also includes an interior member which participates in the cutting action, and is housed in the rotating cage. The extreme portion of the teeth of the rotating cages forms a projecting angle, and the inclined edges of this pointed portion are provided with at least one notch.

Abstract: A raisin harvesting machine adapted to harvest raisins from vines where the raisin bunches are positioned in an upwardly and outwardly extending growing plane. The machine has a beater rod assembly which is positioned at a lateral slant so as to have a substantial alignment component parallel to growing zone of the raisins. In some embodiments, the machine moves along one row, the beater rod assembly moves into and out of the crop row in a harvesting motion. When the harvesting machine moves at an opposite direction along an adjacent row, the beater assembly is moved to an opposite side of the harvesting machine so as to be properly positioned to engage the raisins in the second crop row.

Abstract: A picking system for cranberries or similar small berries carried on vines lying across the ground includes a plurality of tines arranged as an array across the picking system transverse to the direction of movement. The tines include a vertical portion, a curved section and a horizontal front portion projecting forwardly. The tines are reciprocated by a cam action behind the vertical portion. Each tine has a vertical slot along its center line through which passes a stationary blade with a hooked upper end so that the movement of the tine provides a scissors action with the stationary blade. A suction duct is positioned directly above the horizontal front portion to draw the collected berries vertically upwardly for collection. An air jet nozzle is positioned at the front of the suction duct with an air jet projecting downwardly and rearwardly to hold berries onto the horizontal portion.

Abstract: A device for picking fruit mounted on either the right hand or left hand of the user which includes an elongate central strip having a first end and an opposed second end with a longitudinal axis extending from the first to the second end and a latitudinal axis perpendicular to this longitudinal axis defining a first normal plane together with an end member attached to the first end of the elongate central strip and extending contiguously outward from the first normal plane of the central strip. The device also includes a cutting blade attached to the second end of the central strip extending angularly outward from the normal plane. The device is adapted to be inserted onto the finger or fingers of the user such that the cutting blade can be brought into contact with the stem of a fruit to be harvested by the grasping motion of the picker's hand.

Abstract: The fruit picker separates a fruit, positioned within an intake end opening of a hollow tube, from its stem by extending a blade across the opening. With the stem forced against the wall of the opening, the tube is moved to separate the stem from the fruit. The movement causes the fruit to fall by gravity inside the tube through a discharge end to which a collection bottle is connected.

Abstract: A grape harvesting machine comprising a mobile carriage having a picking head operatively connected thereto. The picking head including a main frame connected to said carriage. A plurality of picking rods which are movable back and forth are arranged in banks disposed on opposite sides of the main frame. The main frame is mounted so as to be suspended from the carriage and freely pivotable relative thereto. The banks of picking rods can adopt one operating mode in which the banks of picking rods are freely pivotable about the pivot axes so that, in use, the banks can change position as the harvester moves along the rows of vines. The banks of picking rods can adopt a further operating mode in which they can be secured in selected operating positions including a generally vertical position or selected inclined positions.

Abstract: A process and apparatus applicable to solid-set fruit growth such as strawberries in which a single harvest applies to an entire solid-set field and the harvest does not destroy the plants but separates foliage and trash from the fruit in an aerodynamic sequence and subsequent singulation of the fruit occurs under conditions of aerodynamic levitation of the fruits and clusters at the point of cropping connective tendrils.

Abstract: A grape harvester for harvesting grapes from vines having cane thereon in shielding relationship to grape bearing portions of the vines including a frame, harvesting members mounted on the frame for effectively engaging the grape bearing portions of the vines to harvest grapes therefrom, and cane lifters on the frame for lifting the cane out of the path of the harvesting members to thereby permit direct access of the harvesting members to the grape bearing portions of the vines and/or to the cordon wires which support the grape bearing portions of the vines. The cane lifters can be in the form of a chain conveyor, or a walking beam arrangement, or a rotating screw-like member, or a lifting rod.

Abstract: A pickup head for a machine which picks strawberries, and like crops, has a frame moveable along a crop row by a picker chassis on which the frame is mountable. A severing assembly is mounted on the frame for cutting a crop in the crop row from a plant associated with the crop. The crop is lifted into the severing assembly by an arrangement including a duct disposed for directing a gaseous stream beneath the crop and lifting same into communication with the severing assembly for cutting of the crop. The gas is directed under pressure just above the ground so as to put pressure against the crop and thereby bringing the crop into communication with the severing assembly.