Abstract: Handling device of the present invention includes spaced-out transverse bars connected through their ends to endless lateral drive chains made of links. The chains include a series of flexible links connected through bars.

Abstract: Portable electric tool including a body configured to act as a handgrip and at one of the ends of which there is mounted a moving active member, the movements of which are brought about by an actuator, characterized in that the moving part is equipped with an oriented magnetization magnet that can be moved past a magneto-resistive sensor fixed to a fixed element of the body. The trigger is equipped with an oriented magnetization magnet that can be moved past a magneto-resistive sensor fixed to a fixed element of the body. The portable electric tool further includes an electronic board for analysing the information emitted by each magneto-resistive sensor according to the inclination of the magnetic field lines presented to it, in order to control the operation of the actuator so as to position the moving part accurately according to the position of the control device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device for portable tool with a heat engine that is capable of stopping, almost instantly, the operation of said tool after unexpected, sudden, and violent movements, said device including at least one electronic accelerometer enabling the measurement of the acceleration along at least one plane or axis (X, Y, Z), the output(s) of said accelerometer being connected to an electric and/or electronic monitoring means, wherein said electric and/or electronic monitoring means consists of an electric and/or electronic management card, the latter and the accelerometer being supplied with electric voltage by an electric current generator known per se and actuated by the heat engine, said electric and/or electronic management card being configured to process analog or digital electrical data from the accelerometer and activate a means ensuring that said heat engine stops almost instantly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a battery including a plurality of juxtaposed cylindrical or prismatic cells located in the through holes of a separating and positioning crate, characterised in that the separating and positioning crate is provided between two contact and holding plates having inner surfaces provided with one or more contact strips attached without welding against said faces and ensuring the electric interconnection between a plurality of cells. Said contact strip or each of said contact strips is made of a flexible conducting material having a plurality of flexible contact tabs cut in said contact strip(s) and maintained against the terminals of the cells by individual elastic pressure means secured by screwing onto the separating and positioning crate so that said contact tabs are individually pressed against one of the terminals or poles of said cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable electric tool having an active head motor-driven by an actuator and provided on the top end of a head-mounting shaft, the bottom portion of which has a handle, characterized in that a second shaft, or auxiliary shaft, is attached or arranged to be attachable onto the head-mounting shaft underneath and remote from said active head while forming, at least in the proximal portion thereof, an acute angle with said head-mounting shaft. The size of said auxiliary shaft being such that the free end thereof, provided with a handle, is located at or substantially at the handle being provided with the bottom part of the head-mounting shaft, one of said handles constituting the control handle of said actuator.

Abstract: A trigger-operated portable electric tool for performing a main function, characterized in that it has a double trigger with, on the one hand, a main trigger for operating it, which operates at least one moving active part of the tool and, on the other hand, an auxiliary trigger or secondary trigger connected to the main trigger by means of an articulation and configured to make an angle with the said main trigger, the pivoting of the auxiliary trigger about the articulation enabling actuation of a means of operating a system for performing at least one additional function of the tool.

Abstract: A selective-sorting berry-harvesting machine includes a supply system which supplies a computer vision system, a computer vision system including an artificial vision device for acquiring images of harvest components originating from the supply system and a processing device for analysing said images so that the harvest components can be recognised and differentiated according to pre-established criteria, and a system for selectively separating whole, ripe and healthy berries from other components of the harvest, controlled by the processing device. The supply system is configured such that the harvest can be spread out to form a single layer, harvest components can be isolated individually and the harvest components, particularly the whole, ripe and healthy berries, can be moved rectilinearly at a controlled speed so that they are conveyed individually through the computer vision system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the balanced charging of n cells which form a lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery and which are connected in series. The invention is characterised in that the method consists in monitoring the charge levels of the different cells (1) from the moment (t1) following the beginning of the battery (2) charging operation until said operation ends normally or is interrupted; and, as a function of the pre-evaluation of said charge levels, either powering of all the cells (1) uniformly or balancing the cell (1) charge levels by powering same in a differentiated manner as a function of the current charge levels thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically pruning vines grown in a row in a cordon-leading manner has a chassis, a pre-pruning module, a clear-cutting module and a position sensor. The clear-cutting module is positioned behind the pre-pruning module and has cutters thereon. The position sensor is forward of the clear-cutting module so as to locate the cordon and to position the cutter so as to achieve a clear cut from a periphery of the cordon. The clear-cutting module has upper cutters, lower cutters and lateral cutters.

Abstract: A motor-driven portable chainsaw of the sort that includes a power source enclosed in a casing and a cutter device comprising a toothed chain and a chain guide. The saw being characterized in that the power source is a brushless direct-current electric motor controlled and switched electronically, with a rotor with magnets. A handle for holding and operating the saw is located underneath the motor assembly which supports the chain guide and includes said direct-current electric motor.

Abstract: Shaker with adjustable stiffness for harvesting machines, especially grape harvesters, includes two berry detaching assemblies, facing each other. Each assembly includes a plurality of vertically spaced out flexible shakers, having the general shape of a hairpin and two branches connected through a curved portion. The end of one of these branches, the activation branch, connects to an actuation system while the end of the other branches connects to a fixed support. The activation branch is equipped with a mechanism to modify the degree of stiffness or flexibility of the branches over at least a portion of length, and thereby, to adjust the degree of stiffness or flexibility of the shaker assembly.

Abstract: A harvesting apparatus has a harvesting head suitable for connection to a traveling carrier and suitable for straddling a row of fruit-bearing plants. A straddling carrier has the harvesting head mounted thereon. An actuator arrangement is provided and is cooperative with the harvesting head so as to move the harvesting head in relation to a median plane of the straddling carrier. A centering mechanism is cooperative with the harvesting head so as to center a lower portion of the harvesting head in relation to the row of fruit-bearing plants. A controller is cooperative with the centering system.

Abstract: The invention relates to vibrating tongs, including two opposing jaws in which the closing or opening movements are achieved through one or several hydraulic jacks, referred to as clamping jacks. These tongs are especially remarkable in that the oil intake chamber or pressure chamber of the clamping jacks that control the closing motion of the jaw or jaws, is linked to a mechanism fitted to detect any pressure rise inside the chamber that occurs when the tong jaws come into contact with the trunk of a tree. Blocking devices are controlled by the detection mechanism, and any increase in the pressure of the jaws on the trunk is opposed as soon as such a pressure rise occurs in the oil intake chamber.

Abstract: Lightened vibrating clamp for machines harvesting fruit by shaking, of the type featuring two jaws capable of being brought closer together or of being placed further apart from each other. At least one of the jaws includes an exterior jacket made of composite material and positioned around a web or core.

Abstract: Tightening device of the screw-nut type includes a tightening member, which can be rotated, and a rotary wrench for this tightening member, equipped with a handling arm. The wrench and the tightening member are joined by a connecting device in such a way that the wrench can swivel in relation to the tightening member around a swivel axis substantially perpendicular to the screwing axis of the tightening member. Thus, it can be placed in a rest position substantially perpendicular to the screwing axis and can rotate the tightening member around the screwing axis or rotated freely in relation to the tightening member around the screwing axis, over a range of angular clearance (a) of at least 170°.

Abstract: Harvesting head for picking fruit-bearing hedges, including a chassis in the form of a portal structure supporting, on the one hand, a shaking system including two fruit-detaching assemblies, mounted opposite each other and separated by a vertical space, and, on the other hand, two conveyor systems for receiving and transporting the harvested fruit to a receiving container, the lower horizontal portions of these two conveyor systems also providing tightness, below the shaking units. This harvesting head being supported by a mounting frame which is meant to be rigidly fastened, preferably in a removable manner, at the rear of a self-propelled straddling vehicle, including a height-adjustable chassis. The position of said harvesting head is height-adjustable in relation to said mounting frame, so that when said harvesting head is fastened to the chassis of the self-propelled straddling vehicle, it is mounted in a height-adjustable fashion in relation to said self-propelled straddling vehicle.

Abstract: Harvesting head for small fruit produced in orchards, in particular for the harvesting of olives, featuring a shaking system including two fruit detaching assemblies mounted opposite each other and separated by a vertical space, characterized in that each of these fruit detaching assemblies comprises two sub-assemblies, i.e. a first lower sub-assembly and a second upper sub-assembly, offset towards the back relative to said lower sub-assembly and in the direction of travel of the machine in operation.

Abstract: An equilibrated charging method for n cells of a lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery, connected in series. The method is characterised in carrying out a continuous monitoring of the levels of charge of the different cells (1), from the beginning of the operation of charging the battery (2) and during the process and, as a function of the analysis of the levels of charge, to carry out a uniform supply to all the cells (1), or an equilibration of the levels of charge of the cells (1), by supplying the same in different manners, as a function of the levels of charge thereof.

Abstract: The chain saw of the present invention includes a cutting device having a cutting chain mounted to turn around a drive sprocket and a guide bar which can be immobilized on a body by a jamming device and moved in two directions tending to move it closer to or further away from the drive sprocket relaxing the tension of the chain or ensuring its tension, respectively. The chain saw features a pushing device tending to automatically move the guide bar away from the drive sprocket, when the jamming device is loosened. The pushing device is formed by a slide against the rear end of which rests the rear end of the guide bar and an elastic component, preferably constituted by a helical spring resting, through the intermediary of its opposite ends against a fixed element of the body and against a surface of the front end of the slide.

Abstract: Chain saw featuring an endless cutting chain (5), mounted turning around a drive sprocket and a guide bar (6) equipped with a guide rail, a motor (8) driving this cutting chain, through the intermediary of said sprocket, a storage tank (11) of a lubricating fluid, as well as a pump (13) impelling the lubricating fluid towards the guide bar/cutting chain assembly (5-6), from the storage tank (10), characterized in that said pump (13) is coupled to an electric drive motor (13a) which is independent of the motor (8) driving the cutting chain (5).