Abstract: A method and apparatus for the processing of hop vines. An automated hop processor cuts bulk-harvested hop vines into manageable segments with a minimum of handling operations. The bulk of hop vines are off-loaded onto an infeed conveyor by positioning a transport on the infeed conveyor. After verifying proper position of the transport a fork can be inserted into the transport. The transport is moved off of the infeed conveyor and the fork removed from the bulk of hop vines. The Hop vines are then moved on the infeed conveyor to a cutter, after verifying the transport is clear of the infeed conveyor. The infeed conveyor is stopped when the hop vines are in position for cutting and the hops are cut with a cutting mechanism. The cut hop vines are then conveyed to a shredder for shredding and further processing into component hop cones and hop vine silage.

Abstract: A spray system and method is described for producing a spray pattern that may be used to spray around stationary objects such as tree trunks in a single pass from one side of the object. The system includes an elongated sectioned boom having provisions for carrying a spray head at an outward end at a relatively constant height from the ground surface. Nozzles at the outward boom end are selectively adjustable into a desired spary configuration whereby the pattern produced projects both inward and outward of the boom end. The pattern may be adjusted so that it will extend equally to opposite sides of an object spaced outwardly of the boom end. Provisions are also made for adjusting the spray pattern and for elevationally adjusting the effective height of the nozzles from the ground surface. Other provisions include a break away mechanism that enables pivotal motion of the outward boom end in response to engagement with an object such as a tree trunk as the system is moved forwardly.