Abstract: A sugarcane biomass chopper that can be attached to a harvester. The sugarcane chopper has a main support configured for attachment to arms of a harvester's top cutter or topper. The sugarcane chopper further includes a leaf deflector attached to said main support. The shredder is connected to said leaf deflector on one side and a pneumatic impulse resource on a second side. The pneumatic impulse resource is further connected to a flow concentrator; and a discharge pipe connected to said flow concentrator. The chopper is configured so that biomass is directed by the leaf deflector to the pneumatic impulse resource and into the shredder, which in turn discharges the shredded biomass through the flow concentrator and the discharge.

Abstract: An agricultural mowing device includes a shaft, a first cutting device, and a second cutting device. The shaft has an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section. The shaft is advanced in a field between two adjacent rows of planted matter. The first cutting device is mounted to the lower section of the shaft. The first cutting device extends laterally from the shaft to a distance covering only a distance between the two adjacent rows. The first cutting device cuts plant matter that grows between the two adjacent rows. The second cutting device is mounted to the middle section of the shaft. The second cutting device extends laterally from the shaft to a distance covering at least a portion of at least one of the two adjacent rows. The second cutting device cuts plant matter that grows in the at least one of the two adjacent rows.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine for harvesting sugar cane, which can be coupled to a tractor or any self-propelling machine, by using mechanic power (TDP) converted into hydraulic power (pump) to activate different devices of a set so that it may form a wire cutting front for lanes of plants which are cut and thrown behind over the soil and organized in rows for later collecting and processing.

Abstract: A basecutter and a method for controlling a basecutter are described for a sugarcane harvester. A basecutter may include a cutting spindle, a transport spindle, at least one power source configured to rotate the cutting spindle and the transport spindle, one or more cutting blades attached to the cutting spindle, and one or more transport devices attached to the transport spindle. The cutting spindle or the transport spindle may be configured to rotate within the other. The cutting spindle and the transport spindle may be rotated at different speeds by the at least one power source. For example, a controller may determine a cutting speed for the cutting spindle and a transport speed for the transport spindle and control the at least one power source to rotate the cutting and transport spindles at the cutting and transport speeds, respectively.

Abstract: A sugar cane harvester (1) with cab (23), a chassis (5), a tip cutting device (2), a cane line dividing device (3), a base cutting device (14), a set of rollers (6) for conveying the sugar cane, a sugar cane chopping device (15), a cane cleaning device (8), an engine, an elevator (9) located in its central portion and comprising a 180 degree turning mechanism and an engine (12) located in its rear portion, independent of the chassis. Each of the rollers (6) is powered by at least one hydraulic motor housed inside the roller, with an aperture being provided in the chassis through which the motor can be removed.

Abstract: A harvester is provided for harvesting a plant similar to or like sorghum having a stalk and a grain head. The harvester includes a combine vehicle, a lower row crop cutter mechanism, and an upper grain cutter mechanism. The lower row crop cutter mechanism is mounted to a connecting portion of the combine vehicle for cutting plant stalks at a lower end of the plant. The upper grain cutter mechanism is coupled to a lower section of the combine vehicle and is vertically displaced from the lower row crop cutter mechanism for cutting the grain head at upper end of the plant simultaneously with the cutting of the plant stalk by the lower row crop cutter mechanism.

Abstract: A topper for a stalk plant harvester for cutting tops from stalk-like plants includes a frame, a pair of cutting blades carried by the frame, and a deflector vane pivotally coupled with the frame. The cutting blades are spaced apart from each other relative to a travel direction, with each cutting blade rotating about a respective generally vertical axis. The deflector vane is selectively movable between a first position for directing cut tops to one side of the topper and a second position for directing cut tops to an opposite side of the topper.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sugar cane harvester (1) with cab (23), which comprises a chassis (5), a tip cutting device (2), a cane line dividing device (3), a base cutting device (14), a set of rollers (6) for conveying the sugar cane, a sugar cane chopping device (15), a cane cleaning device (8), an engine, an elevator (9) located in its central portion and comprising a 180 degree turning mechanism and an engine (12) located in its rear portion, independent of the chassis. The sugar cane harvester (1) of this invention has a base cutting device (14) in which the angle of attack between the machine and the start of cutting is in the range of 55 to 75 degrees with respect to the soil and base cutting discs, the ends of which are perfectly aligned with the point where the tyre (13) first touches the soil.

Abstract: A work machine for harvesting a cane crop having a lower crop material gathering device. The work machine has a direction of travel and the work machine has a chassis and an upper crop material gathering device coupled to the chassis. The upper crop material gathering device includes at least one moving device and a stalk cutting device. The at least one moving device is configured to substantially surround a stalk of a cane crop plant as the at least one moving device moves. The at least one moving device is further configured to bend the head of the cane crop plant in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of travel. The stalk cutting device is positioned proximate to the at least one moving device. The stalk engaging device being configured to cut the peduncle of the cane crop plant.

Abstract: A harvester for crops including biomass crop material and seed heads. The harvester includes a base unit, a biomass harvester sub-system for harvesting the biomass crop material, and a seed harvester sub-system for harvesting the seed heads. The biomass harvester sub-system includes a biomass harvester carried by the base unit. The seed harvester sub-system is carried by the base unit and operable independent from the biomass harvester sub-system, whereby the biomass crop material and seed heads are processed independently from each other within the harvester.

Abstract: A topper/shredder arrangement of a cane harvester is designed so that a stream of air is created that aids in carrying pieces of cane tops to a location outside the harvesting throat of the cane harvester.

Abstract: A two-row cane harvester 10 simultaneously harvests two rows of sugar cane in a green tropical cane field. Gatherer chains 62, 64 lift fallen cane stalks upwardly and support the fallen cane stalks as the harvester 10 moves through the cane field. A pair of topper mechanisms 54 top the cane stalks while base cutters 80 base cut the cane. A pair of transversely spaced turnaround devices 62 each move the cane transversely past the respective topper mechanism and toward a centerline 22 of the harvester, and thrust the topped cane stalks in a direction away from the harvester movement such that the topped cane stalks do not interfere with the cane moving toward the topper mechanisms by the gatherer chains. Base cut cane is received base first into the harvester intake.

Abstract: A two-row cane harvester 10 simultaneously harvests two rows of sugar cane in a green tropical cane field. Gatherer chains 62, 64 lift fallen cane stalks upwardly and support the fallen cane stalks as the harvester 10 moves through the cane field. A pair of topper mechanisms 54 top the cane stalks while base cutters 80 base cut the cane. A pair of transversely spaced turnaround devices 62 each move the cane transversely past the respective topper mechanism and toward a centerline 22 of the harvester, and thrust the topped cane stalks in a direction away from the harvester movement such that the topped cane stalks do not interfere with the cane moving toward the topper mechanisms by the gatherer chains. Base cut cane is received base first into the harvester intake.

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: The invention provides self propelled harvester that tops, cuts, cleans and oads "whole stalk green sugar cane".The canes are flexed forward by the movement of the harvester by means of a roller, while the base is cut with a pair of counter rotating disk cutters per row. The base cutters automatically follow the level of the ground using by spherically dished sliders pivotably connected to cutter shafts. The topped canes, with attached green and dry leaves are fed gently but firmly into the front section of the machine through a single, full width, large 100 dm2 throat, helped by vertical and-horizontal rubber rollers. By the action of the rotation of preferably three pairs of rollers and paddles, rocks, tramp iron, cans, bottles, soil, and mud, fall through the paddles, and through grizzlies back to the ground; all materials over 0.05 Mt. are retained by the grizzlies, which can be emptied at the operators choice.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for harvesting standing crops for a combine such as rows on corn of sunflowers including flattening the stalks and removing the tops, first encountering the stalks with leading separating devices fashioned as ships for separating the crop plants arranged in rows, engaging the stalks with a rotary shaft and with a draw-in drum having dogs on the surface, engaging the plants with a reaper element and then with a deflection shaft all for flattening the plants and removing the tops and conveying the tops laterally inwardly with an auger to pass to a conveying channel to be transported to a harvesting combine.

Abstract: A sugar cane harvester has a base cutter elevation control system that compensates for changes in terrain such as ruts, small hills, etc. by raising or lowering the base cutter. A forwardly positioned slipper assembly gives feedback as to upcoming changes in terrain. A sensor also monitors tire position as when the harvester sinks into soft spots, muddy spots and the like wherein base cutter position is adjusted to compensate for sinkage of the tires.

Abstract: A device for separating the shoot tips of sugar-cane plants for multi-row sugar-cane harvesting machines. The device includes feed-and-cutting-elements mounted in front of a trough-like table having a cross-conveyor worm which receives the tip portions and conveys them to the side. The feed-and-cutting-elements have two feed discs equipped with prongs which interact respectively with a respective cutting disc.

Abstract: Corn sterilizing machine of the type using rotary blades. The machine uses a castrating head in the form of a case enclosing a rotary blade. The front surface of the case has a slot allowing for the introduction of the panicle to be cut. Each one of the vertical edges of the slot has a pivotable shutter having two upper and lower ramps, respectively.

Abstract: A corn detasseling head which includes a frame having a pair of generally parallel shafts projecting rearwardly and downwardly from the frame, whereby the shafts are inclined upwardly in a forward direction relative to a normal forward direction to travel of the head. A pair of cylindrical elements are mounted respectively on the shafts for rotation about their axes relative to the frame, the cylindrical elements defining a detasseling nip. The shafts lie in a plane inclined downwardly and outwardly in a transverse direction relative to the normal forward direction of travel of the head. Therefore, an outward throw angle for the detasseling nip is defined to throw tassels outwardly away from the respective row of corn stalks from which they are being removed.

Abstract: A machine and method for removing tassels from corn stalks comprising a blower positioned over the stalks as the machine advances over a field of corn and blows downwardly on the upper ends of each respective stalk to cause the upper leaves on the stalk to move downwardly from their normal disposition. Vertical wall structures are positioned outboard the stalks to momentarily prevent the leaves from regaining their normal disposition. Tassel-removing structure is provided between the wall structures for removing the tassel from each stalk while the stalk passes between the wall structure.

Abstract: An attachment for a sugar cane harvester for gathering, severing and chopping or shredding the non-millable, immature top portions of a sugar cane stalk so that the remaining millable portion of the sugar cane stalk can be harvested by the sugar cane harvester in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A sugar cane harvester having at its front end a topper section for cutting off the tops of the cane stalks and upper and lower sets of cane gathering arms which gather up the cane and bring it into the harvester for harvesting at its base and topping at its top. The topper section is carried on a vertically moveable base riding on vertical tracks for varying the height of the topping cuts, to which base is also pivotally connected the harvester ends of the upper set of cane gathering arms, thus interconnecting the topper cutter entry or harvester ends of the upper arms and the topper section for combined movement together. Variable length, telescoping bracing arms are pivotally connected between the left, upper and lower arms and the right, upper and lower arms, respectively, to provide stabilizing bracing to the upper sets of arms when they are vertically varied with the topper section.

Abstract: A device is provided for use in detasseling corn comprising tassel guides acting in conjunction with a hood to guide the tassles of the corn plant into the detasseling mechanism and deflectors to deflect the leaves of the corn plant away from the detasseling mechanism.

Abstract: A topping cutter for a cane harvester, supported and vertically adjustable in front of the harvester for severing tops of cane to be harvested, has a frame with two adjacent counter-rotatable feed drums with radiating fingers to engage the cane tops and feed them rearwardly, and a pair of cutters, one behind each feed drum, for coacting with the feed drum to sever the cane tops. A deflector on the frame is movable to direct the gathered cane tops selectively to either set of feed drum and coacting cutter, and the two sets of feed drum and cutter are arranged, together with guides on the frame, to eject the severed tops to opposite sides of the frame.

Abstract: A seed corn detasseling apparatus has a mounting base extending across the front of a wheeled vehicle, and three evenly spaced parallelogram linkages are vertically adjustable by separate hydraulic cylinders. A tool bar at the front of each linkage carries two laterally adjustable detasseling heads. Each head consists of a supporting frame the front of which forms an inverted V-shaped guide; and a forwardly and downwardly extending guide frame on the supporting frame cooperates with the inverted V-guide to guide upper leaves and tassels of corn plants between a pair of positively driven longitudinal rollers which are slightly spaced at the front and converge toward the rear. The rollers have short lands and grooves, with the grooves of one roller confronting the lands of the other roller. Tassels are pulled with practically no permanent damage to the upper leaves.

Abstract: Corn detasseling apparatus and method are disclosed whereby tassels are quickly and cleanly separated from corn plants while preventing damage to the leaves and the remainder of the stalk. The apparatus includes a detasseling head having two opposed rollers with alternating ridges and grooves which extend longitudinally with respect to the rotational axis of the rollers. The ridges and grooves of each roller intermesh with those of the opposing roller to form a wavy nip, and during rotation of the rollers, the tassels are securely grasped by the nip and pulled off the plants. In addition, the ridged rollers function as impellers which create forceful air currents that flow downward and blow the leaves of the plants away from the nip. Accordingly, the tassels are removed from the plant without any rough handling or damaging of the leaves, and with minimal cutting or shredding of the tassels to form objectionable trash.

Abstract: Corn detasseling apparatus is disclosed that comprises first and second sets of cylindrical segments aligned end-to-end to form first and second rollers, respectively, that are mounted on a frame in parallel contacting relationship. The circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical segments of the first roller are in contact with those of the second roller to define a detasseling nip. Since it is preferred that the circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical segments be made of a resilient material, the segments can be inflatable tires that are abutted end-to-end to form a roller, and in which case the circumferential surfaces are on the treads of the tires. In accordance with the present invention, the number of cylindrical segments in a set can be varied to adjust the length of the roller, the location of the segments on the roller can be changed to minimize wear, and damaged or worn segments can be replaced without having to replace an entire roller.

Abstract: An implement for cutting canes, foliage and the like of a row crop, the implement having a frame adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, such as a tractor having a tool bar movable to and from a lowered position, for movement with the vehicle along a path of travel substantially parallel to the row crop; a cutting head mounted on the frame for movement to and from an extended cutting position; a mechanism borne by the frame for moving the cutting head to and from the extended cutting position; and a control system operably interconnecting the tool bar and the mechanism for moving the cutting head to the extended cutting position when the tool bar of the tractor is moved to the lowered position.

Abstract: A tobacco topping apparatus is provided, suitable for mounting on a tobacco harvester, the tobacco topping apparatus having a housing assembly in which power operated cutting means having a substantially horizontally disposed cutting blade for topping a tobacco plant and severed flower portion clearing device are secured; the assembly having a front opening therein opening in the direction of movement of the apparatus down a row of tobacco plants, when the apparatus is used to top such row of tobacco plants, a wall formation having a discharge opening therein, the area of the wall formation in which the discharge opening is situate being determined by the direction of rotation of the cutting blade of the cutting means, a base having diverging edge portions defining guide means leading into an inlet slot opening in the leading edge of the base in the direction of movement of the apparatus when the apparatus is used to top tobacco plants, the guide means for guiding the stalk of the plant into the slot, and a d

Abstract: Apparatus for detasseling corn includes a plurality of spaced tassel severing stations each at a predetermined different height and associated with guide or deflector means to discriminate between corn stalks of different heights so as to guide such stalks into the appropriate tassel severing station as the apparatus moves through a row of corn.

Abstract: Topping mechanism capable of selective delivery of cane tops to either side, for use in a two-way sugar cane harvester. The mechanism has a pair of contra-rotating in-running cutters which are always rotated in the same direction and which assist the discharge of cut tops for both directions of top delivery. The cutters have mounted on them hub members carrying projecting feed members which serve both to gather the cane tops and to discharge them. A top deflector is pivotally mounted between the cutters and according to its position deflects the tops selectively towards either of the cutters according to the desired direction of delivery.

Abstract: A frame having weed pulling apparatus attached thereto is adapted to be attached to a tractor hitch for lifting or lowering the frame. Pairs of pneumatic tires are rotatably mounted along substantially parallel axes. Each of the pneumatic tires has an axle with a sprocket affixed thereto. A chain is arranged to be disposed over a first sprocket and under the next adjacent sprocket, and so forth, for each adjacent sprocket such that each adjacent sprocket and thereby each adjacent wheel will rotate in an opposite direction. A chain lubricating structure is also attached to the frame. Weed guiding mechanisms are provided to prevent pulled plants from being deposited on top of the frame. Two wheels are pivotally attached to the frame in association with hydraulic cylinders.

Abstract: A machine for cutting the tops of plants into predetermined uniform lengths, includes a support structure and moving means for moving the support structure relative to the plants. The machine further includes a first cutter for cutting the plants from the ground at a first length, a second cutter for cutting the plants at an intermediate length, gripper and conveyor for gripping the plants and conveying them from the first cutter to the second cutter so that the plants can be cut at an intermediate length, third cutter for cutting the tops of the plants into the predetermined uniform lengths, and aligner and conveyor for receiving the plants from the gripper and conveyor and aligning the tops thereof and conveying the plants to the third cutter.

Abstract: A harvesting topper comprising an upstanding carrier having an axis and a side surface. The carrier is circular in cross-section transverse to said axis and has at least one deflector attached to its side surface. The deflector has side edges which are substantially circumferentially spaced from each other on the carrier. Means are provided for rotatably mounting the topper on a harvesting machine.

Abstract: A harvesting topper comprising an upstanding deflecting structure having a curved outwardly convex deflector extending outwardly therefrom. The deflecting structure has an axis, and the topper includes means for mounting said topper for rotation about said axis.