Abstract: A detasseling apparatus includes a chassis having a head mounted to the chassis. The head supports a plurality of row units, each of the row units having an independently adjustable vertical position. Each row unit is independently vertically adjustable. Each row unit includes a puller or cutter, a height adjustment assembly for independently adjusting vertical position of the detasseling assembly to maintain the puller or cutter at a predetermined height relative to seed corn plants being engaged, and an optical sensing assembly. The optical sensing assembly includes a first photoelectric sensor at a first sensor height and a second photoelectric sensor at a second sensor height, the first sensor height being above the second sensor height. A processor receives and stores detasseling data related to detasseling including corn height, depth of cut, height after cutting. The information may be shown on displays to the operator, stored on board the detasseler and/or transmitted to a central control center.

Abstract: Stalk rolls are used for a corn harvester or combine having a chassis, an engine, a cab mounted to the chassis with a head mounted at the front of the body. The head includes an auger, row separators, corn stalk gathering assemblies between the row separators and ear removal assemblies. Each ear removal device includes a pair of stalk rolls. Each stalk roll has a core and longitudinally extending flutes about a periphery of the corn extending along the core. Each stalk roll has a straight first section and a tapered second section. The flutes on each stalk roll have different lengths and end at different locations at the front of the stalk roll. The flutes of the stalk roll may also have notches and different shaped leading edges.

Abstract: A harvester includes a cross conveying auger with a helical blade. An auger pan extends under and behind the auger and forms a trough portion below the auger. A lower rear quadrant of the auger pan is contoured includes one or more projections to provide resistance to radial movement of the ears of corn so that the ears and are moved longitudinally inward along the auger.

Abstract: Stalk rolls are used for a corn harvester or combine having a chassis, an engine, a cab mounted to the chassis with a head mounted at the front of the body. The head includes an auger, row separators, corn stalk gathering assemblies between the row separators and ear removal assemblies. Each ear removal device includes a pair of stalk rolls. Each stalk roll has a core and longitudinally extending flutes about a periphery of the corn extending along the core. Each stalk roll has a straight first section and a tapered second section. The flutes on each stalk roll have different lengths and end at different locations at the front of the stalk roll. The flutes of the stalk roll may also have notches and different shaped leading edges.

Abstract: A yield monitoring system for a grain harvester includes a large strike plate mounted on parallel four bar linkages. The strike plate intercepts a larger portion of the clean grain flow and is supported near the four corners to provide even translation and force transmission even if not struck in the center of the plate. The four bar linkages provide translational movement relative to a center load cell. An engagement bracket at the center of the strike plate includes a surface that is aligned perpendicularly to the sensing element of the load cell.

Abstract: A trunk shaker harvester includes a shaker assembly with four synchronized shaker drives. The shaker drives are mounted on a frame of trunk engagement members. The shaker drives include offset weights that are synchronized so that all are directed to the left or right side at the same time. However, the front and rear motors on each side of the drive rotate in the opposite direction so that the weights face toward or away from one another at the same time and cancel out longitudinal forces.

Abstract: A tensioner includes a base and an idler support assembly slidably retained on the base, the idler support assembly including a support element having a cam surface at a first end. A spring loaded handle assembly includes a tension bar rotatably mounted to the base, and a handle longitudinally adjustably mounted to the tension bar, an engagement element, and a biasing element intermediate the engagement element and the handle. The handle is assembly rotatable between a first position and a second position. The engagement element disengages the cam surface in the first position and the engagement element engages the cam surface in the second position.

Abstract: A yield monitoring system for a grain harvester includes a large strike plate mounted on parallel four bar linkages. The strike plate intercepts a larger portion of the clean grain flow and is supported near the four corners to provide even translation and force transmission even if not struck in the center of the plate. The four bar linkages provide translational movement relative to a center load cell. An engagement bracket at the center of the strike plate includes a surface that is aligned perpendicularly to the sensing element of the load cell.

Abstract: A harvester includes a cross conveying auger with a helical blade. An auger pan extends under and behind the auger and forms a trough portion below the auger. A lower rear quadrant of the auger pan is contoured includes one or more projections to provide resistance to radial movement of the ears of corn so that the ears and are moved longitudinally inward along the auger.

Abstract: A trunk shaker harvester includes a shaker assembly with four synchronized shaker drives. The shaker drives are mounted on a frame of trunk engagement members. The shaker drives include offset weights that are synchronized so that all are directed to the left or right side at the same time. However, the front and rear motors on each side of the drive rotate in the opposite direction so that the weights face toward or away from one another at the same time and cancel out longitudinal forces.

Abstract: A tensioner includes a base and an idler support assembly slidably retained on the base, the idler support assembly including a support element having a cam surface at a first end. A spring loaded handle assembly includes a tension bar rotatably mounted to the base, and a handle longitudinally adjustably mounted to the tension bar, an engagement element, and a biasing element intermediate the engagement element and the handle. The handle is assembly rotatable between a first position and a second position. The engagement element disengages the cam surface in the first position and the engagement element engages the cam surface in the second position.

Abstract: A programmable viticulture management system includes a mechanized device for removing excess undesired portions of plants advances through a vineyard to perform control operations on two rows or half-rows of grape vines simultaneously. Accessories mount to the mechanized device and include various engagement members for engaging the vines. A control system automatically varies the velocity of the engagement members in relation to the vehicle speed. The control system also receives various inputs and provides information on multiple growth control practices.

Abstract: An article pickup system includes a pickup vehicle having collector assemblies extending in a side by side configuration and engaging articles on the ground. The collector assemblies generally include a rotating drum with flexible fingers having widened ends extending outward there from. A separator assembly includes sprocket type devices to remove the collected articles from the collector assemblies. In one embodiment, the collector assemblies pivot independently from one another and the separator assemblies are mounted on a linkage to maintain spacing and move upward and downward with the collector assemblies. The collector assembly includes a series of conveyors for transporting the collected fruit. The collector assemblies may be utilized with a sweeper device having generally horizontally extending arms that engage fruit on the ground and move it toward the collector assemblies with the arms raising up to release the fruit in the desired location in the path of the collector assemblies.

Abstract: A stabilizer system provides leveling for a towed harvester vehicle. The harvester includes a hitch having a gimbal mounting to the tractor. The subframe is utilized to accommodate the gimbal and provides for utilizing the mass of the tractor to react to the stabilizer system leveling forces. The harvester utilizes telescoping assemblies that are placed intermediate the hitch and the frame as well as between the axle and the frame. The telescoping assemblies retract and extend to varied positions and provide correction. Flow to extend and retract the telescoping assemblies is provided through a proportional pendulum type valve that increases flow as needed when tilted from horizontal. The flow is increased and decreased in proportion to the amount of tilting from the home vertical position.

Abstract: A deleafer apparatus including a drum assembly partially enclosed by a shroud. A rotating blade assembly is located within an interior volume of the drum assembly. An air circulation device, located beneath the drum assembly, draws air through an opening defined by the shroud and into the interior volume of the drum assembly. In use, the deleafer apparatus is carried by a transport in a direction of travel along a row of plants or vines. The rotating blade assembly strips leaves that extend into the interior volume of the drum assembly from the plants or vines. The deleafer apparatus also includes a break-away mechanism that permits a portion of the deleafer apparatus to rotate outward relative to a transport mounting to accommodate obstacles that may reside in the pathway of the plants or vines.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus has a conveyor cleaner assembly proximate the delivery end. The cleaner assembly has first and second parallel rotating brushes having an axis of rotation substantially transverse to the conveyor direction of travel and rotating in the same direction as the conveyor. The first brush is nearer the conveyor and wherein the second brush is higher than the first brush. The cleaning assembly also includes a roller parallel to the first and second brushes and a bottom catch panel below the brushes sloping toward the conveyor. The brushes may be in contact with the conveyor, the bottom panel, the roller and each other.

Abstract: A stabilizer system provides leveling for a towed harvester vehicle. The harvester includes a hitch having a gimbal mounting to the tractor. The subframe is utilized to accommodate the gimbal and provides for utilizing the mass of the tractor to react to the stabilizer system leveling forces. The harvester utilizes telescoping assemblies that are placed intermediate the hitch and the frame as well as between the axle and the frame. The telescoping assemblies retract and extend to varied positions and provide correction. Flow to extend and retract the telescoping assemblies is provided through a proportional pendulum type valve that increases flow as needed when tilted from horizontal. The flow is increased and decreased in proportion to the amount of tilting from the home vertical position.

Abstract: A bladed pulley including a plurality of blades extending from a first end to a second end. The bladed pulley having spaced apart blades and an open, central volume configuration to permit conveyed material to fall through the pulley. The bladed pulley further having orienting members located at the ends of the pulley, the orienting members including slots that radially orient and position each of the blades about a longitudinal axis of the bladed pulley. Ends of the blades define bores configured to receive bearing or hub components. The bladed pulley may include retaining members to retain the bearing or hub components within the bores defined by the ends of the blades.

Abstract: A bladed pulley including a plurality of blades extending from a first end to a second end. The bladed pulley having spaced apart blades and an open, central volume configuration to permit conveyed material to fall through the pulley. The bladed pulley further having orienting members located at the ends of the pulley, the orienting members including slots that radially orient and position each of the blades about a longitudinal axis of the bladed pulley. Ends of the blades define bores configured to receive bearing or hub components. The bladed pulley may include retaining members to retain the bearing or hub components within the bores defined by the ends of the blades.

Abstract: A system for processing freshly picked ears of sweet corn in the field. In the preferred embodiment, a portable, towable processing machine having an on-board hydraulic power system includes a hopper for receiving whole ears, a husking bed for removing the husks, a bucket elevator for raising the husked ears to an upper level, a plurality of kernel cutting machines for cutting kernels from the ears, scalping beds for separating cut kernels from cutting debris, and a hopper for receiving and storing the cut corn and for delivering it to another vehicle or receptacle. The ears and kernels are moved through the machine by an integrated system of conveyors and bucket elevators. The conveyors and the cutting machines are so arranged that a stream of ears is recirculated past entrances to the machines, which are arranged in parallel flow so that any ear may be presented for kernel removal to any cutting machine. Ears enter the first available cutting machine they encounter.