Abstract: A machine for harvesting and cutting into sections ligneous stems which grow upwardly from cultivated copses includes a frame which mounts an inverted trough for bending the upper portions of the stems to almost an almost horizontal orientation as the frame moves forwardly; a saw for cutting the bent stems near their bases; a counter blade which provides a plurality of guide funnels that are generally vertically oriented and which have upper outlet orifices with sharp edges; a curved guide element along which the cut stems can move and gather into bundles for movement to and through respective guide funnels of the counter blade; a rotating drum for moving the cut stems along the guide element; and a drum with peripheral blades which pass over the outlet orifices of the guide funnels in the counter blade to cut the bundles of stems passing through the outlet orifices into sections.

Abstract: A method for casting parts of fused ceramic material, from a bath of oxides maintained in the liquid state in a furnace and permanently covered by a layer of powdery batch material are disclosed. The method comprises the following steps:(a) connecting the mold internal cavity, through its lower part, to a downwardly directed feed duct,(b) dipping the lower end of said duct in the liquid bath,(c) establishing in the mold a vacuum causing the bath liquid to rise in the duct and in the mold,(d) allowing the product to solidify in the duct;(e) lifting the mold, together with the duct, and transporting the same apart from the furnace,(f) allowing complete solidification of the product in the mold.Preferably material is removed on a limited area of the bath surface by being swept away with a downwardly directed gas jet, for instance flowing through the feed duct is then lowered through this area free of powdery material into said liquid bath.