Abstract: An example form of mobile agricultural equipment generally includes a main frame, a wing frame, and a hinge mechanism. The main frame defines a track, and the wing frame has a roller rotatably mounted thereon. The hinge mechanism movably couples the main frame with the wing frame such that the wing frame is movable relative to the main frame between a first orientation and a second orientation. The hinge mechanism generally includes a sub-hinge plate pivotably coupled with the main frame, a first link pivotably coupled to each of the wing frame and the sub-hinge plate, and a second link pivotably coupled to each of the wing frame and the sub-hinge plate. The roller is configured to travel along the track during a portion of a movement of the wing frame between the first orientation and the second orientation to thereby provide support for the wing frame.

Abstract: A berry harvesting berries system including a mobile platform and a tendon-driven gripper having fingers made of a compliant material, which prevents unwanted damage to the berries.

Abstract: An agricultural combine has a cleaning shoe including an upper sieve or chaffer over a lower sieve. The lower sieve is over a clean gain chute. A return chute open to a return opening is under the clean grain chute. The clean grain chute receives clean grain from the chaffer and the lower sieve. The return chute receives unclean grain and tailings from the cleaning shoe through the return opening. The chaffer's rear extremity extends beyond the lower sieve's rear extremity configured with a sieve chute. The sieve chute is spaced under the chaffer's rear extremity and extends rearward and angularly upward above the return opening toward the chaffer's rear extremity from the lower sieve's rear extremity, allowing the sieve chute to intercept grain from the chaffer and divert it forward to the lower sieve and away from the return opening.

Abstract: An agricultural implement for collecting, pulverizing and dispersing straw that has been windrowed during a harvesting operation. A frame carries a pickup mechanism at a front end thereof, and first and second straw-processing stages therebehind, and each featuring a rotor and accompanying concave having static teeth fixed thereon. The first rotor likewise has fixed teeth, and the second rotor has flailing knives, whereby the straw is gradually broken down in the two sequential stages before discharge back into the field.

Abstract: A robotic work tool (1) includes a cutting disk (6), which is rotatable and height adjustable. The robotic work tool (1) is configured to obtain a final desired cutting height of the cutting disk (6); determine a first cutting height, based at least on the final desired cutting height; raise the cutting disk (6) to an elevated position above the first cutting height; start a rotation of the cutting disk (6); and lower the cutting disk (6) to the determined first cutting height.

Abstract: A mulch gate control lever includes a handle that moves a mulch gate on a vertical pivot axis between a first mulching position and a second side discharge position. A torsion spring biases the handle to move into a first position slot at a first end of a slotted bracket to retain the mulch gate at the first mulching position, and into a second position slot at a second end of the slotted bracket to retain the mulch gate at the second side discharge position.

Abstract: A method of stacking dethatchers includes pivoting an upper portion of a handle on a first dethatcher toward a front end of a frame on the first dethatcher, upon pivoting the upper portion of the handle toward the front end of the frame, exposing a rear support point defined by a lower portion of the handle, and stacking a second dethatcher on the first dethatcher so that the second dethatcher is supported on the rear support point defined by the lower portion of the handle and a front support point defined by the upper portion of the handle.

Abstract: A combine having a feeder housing for receiving harvested crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue, a residue spreader wheel spinning for expelling the residue from the combine, and a controller that controls the combine. The controller is configured to control the residue spreader wheel to continuously oscillate between a first speed less than a nominal speed and a second speed greater than the nominal speed while spreading the residue.

Abstract: A cleaning fan on an agricultural harvester generates airflow along an airflow path through a fan duct. A movable flap is mounted relative to the fan duct and controlled to divert the airflow path in a side-to-side transverse direction relative to a front-to-back longitudinal axis of the agricultural harvester.

Abstract: A crop unloader system comprising: an elevator assembly, a boom assembly, a flexible drive, and a tensioning assembly. The elevator assembly has a frame, an elevator drive and drive motor, and an elevator drive output. The boom assembly has a frame connected to the elevator frame at a boom pivot axis to rotate through a range of motion, and an unloader drive input. The flexible drive is operatively connected between the elevator drive output and the unloader drive input. The tensioning assembly has a tensioner link and a control link that are pivotally to each other and with one of the two links each pivotally connected to one of the boom and elevator frame. An idler wheel is on the tensioner link. The tensioning assembly maintains a tension load on the endless flexible drive within a predetermined range, throughout the range of motion of the boom frame.

Abstract: A cutting system for a harvesting header includes a transversely extending cutter bar. First and second transversely extending knife backs are supported in relation to the cutter bar and are axially aligned with each other in a transverse direction. The first and second knife backs may each have a main body portion. At least one knife section is mounted to each of the first and second knife backs, each knife section having at least one knife edge extending generally in a forward direction. The first knife back is not attached to said second knife back. A crop divider structure is interconnected to the cutter bar and is operationally positioned between said first and second knife backs. The cutting system may also include first and second knife heads interconnected to the first and second knife backs and operable for interconnecting a knife drive system to drive the first and second knife backs.

Abstract: A leaf rake includes a handle having an elongated body with a first end, a medial portion, and a second end, and a head assembly including a base portion and a handle coupling, the handle coupled to the head assembly by the handle coupling. The head assembly includes a first and a second set of tines unitary with the base portion, wherein each tine of the first and second set of tines includes an elongated body having a first end, an offset portion, and a distal second end, wherein the offset portion of the first set of tines is disposed on a first side of the base portion and wherein the offset portion of the second set of tines is disposed on the first side of the base portion. A shrub rake including a coupling, a base portion and a number of tines is selectively coupled to the head assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for mowing grass. The apparatus has a plurality of cutting devices for mowing the grass. The apparatus has a plurality of carrying arms which are arranged offset with respect to one another with regard to the transverse axis of the apparatus, and are supported such that they can be pivoted up and down in each case individually, and carry in each case one of the plurality of cutting devices. The apparatus has a plurality of supporting elements which support in each case one of the plurality of carrying arms on an underlying surface, and are arranged in front of the respective cutting device with regard to a forward moving direction of the apparatus. The apparatus can have the advantage that the leading supporting elements do not push any cuttings in front of them, and a risk of the apparatus being jacked up is decreased.

Abstract: A combine has a grain sample sensor for detecting frequencies of impacts of separated grain on the grain sample sensor, a grain loss sensor for detecting frequencies of impacts of residue and lost grain on the grain loss sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive, from the grain sample sensor, the frequencies of the impacts of the separated grain, receive, from the grain loss sensor, the frequencies of the impacts of the residue and the lost grain, set a detection frequency band based on the frequencies of the impacts of the separated grain, filter the frequencies of the impacts of the residue and the lost grain based on the detection frequency band, determine, from the filtered frequencies, grain loss information, and indicate the grain loss information to an operator of the combine, or control the combine based on the grain loss information.

Abstract: A harvesting device for harvesting fruit hanging from a plant, includes a frame displaceable in a transport direction, at least one container displaceable relative to the frame in a direction of extension substantially transversely of the transport direction; and at least one catcher mounted on the at least one container. The at least one brush includes an arm extending substantially in the direction of extension from the container, and a number of bristles which are attached to the arm and extend substantially parallel to the transport direction. A method for harvesting such fruit, wherein use is made of the harvesting device.

Abstract: An over-center latch for a concave combine comprises a mount directly attached to a concave combine or an accessory for a concave combine, a pentagonal base plate formed from steel, a lever with a loop at one end that is configured to attach to a catch plate, and a center pin that allows the lever to rotate with respect to a handle. Either the handle or the lever can be pulled into a vertical position.

Abstract: A rotary vegetation cutting unit having: a frame having a drive shaft; at least one cutting element that moves with the frame; and a debris blocking assembly on the frame with a unitary part that moves relative to the frame in opposite directions around an operating axis. The unitary part is configured to deflect away from the at least one cutting element objects approaching the at least one cutting element in a radial direction. The rotary vegetation cutting unit further has a bearing assembly including: a) a bearing that guides movement between the unitary part and the shaft; and b) a holder for the bearing. The rotary vegetation cutting unit is configured so that any debris spaced radially from the rotary vegetation cutting unit is required to traverse a non-straight path to contact the bearing.

Abstract: A combine for harvesting a harvested material that includes a grain, the combine comprising: a threshing chamber comprising a series of threshing and separating apparatuses, sequentially arranged, comprising at least: (i) a straight bar concave (ii) a first round bar concave, and (iii) a second round bar concave. The size of each of the straight bar throats is smaller than a size of the first openings, and the size of each of the first openings is smaller than the size of each of the second openings.

Abstract: An apparatus for efficient targeting or removal of weeds or other plants. The apparatus may include a vehicle having a frame, a motor and a plurality of ground engaging members adapted to propel the vehicle over a surface. It may also include a robotic arm comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion coupled to the frame, and an implement, such as a tool or hoe connected to the distal portion of the robotic arm. The implement can be raised and lowered, and also moved relative to the surface by the robotic arm by pivoting or rotating the robotic arm at or near the proximal portion.

Abstract: A ride-on zero-turn work machine has two drive control levers longitudinally pivotable for locomotive and steering control, and laterally tiltable inboard and outboard for parking brake control. Two brake control linkages are each connected between one of the levers and one of the parking brakes. Each linkage features a rotatable bell crank, a brake connection link running from the bell crank to the parking brake, and a lever connection link having one end coupled to the bell crank, and another coupled to drive control lever through a ball joint that, in an inboard position of the lever, and throughout a full longitudinal pivot range thereof, lies on the lever's pivot axis, with no motive effect on the bell crank or parking brake. Laterally outward tilting of the lever moves the ball joint off axis, in a manner driving rotation of the bell crank, and thereby actuating the parking brake.