Abstract: A mower conditioner implement includes a cutting system for cutting crop material, and a crop conditioning system for receiving the cut crop material from the cutting system and conditioning the cut crop material to facilitate drying. An image sensor senses an image of the cut crop material. The image includes a color spectrum of the cut crop material from reflected light emitted from a light source. A computing device compares the color spectrum of the image to a calibrated color measurement to determine an ash content in the cut crop material, and/or a degree of stem conditioning of the cut crop material. The computing device may then communicate the results to an operator, and/or adjust the cutting system or the crop conditioning system based on the ash content or the degree of stem conditioning.

Abstract: A box-shaped beach-cleaning trailer is configured to be loaded with, and collectively carry beach-cleaning equipment and a litter collection station. The beach-cleaning equipment are towed by a vehicle to collect litter on the sands. The litter collected by the beach-cleaning equipment is collected in the litter collection station. The trailer includes a pair of rail members disposed on upper edges of the respective opposite side wall portions such that the rail members face each other with an opening therebetween. A sieve unit is detachably mounted on the rail members, and is configured to move a back-and-forth direction along the rail members. The sieve unit is moved in a back-and-forth direction manually; or by using a driving mechanism including a drive wheel, a driven wheel, and a connecting rod arranged between the sieve unit and the driven wheel, for separating colleted litter of various sizes from sand.

Abstract: A windrower with a frame that: a) has a front, a rear and laterally spaced sides; and b) is movable in an advancing direction. A processing mechanism is capable of: a) unearthing grown product; and b) separating foreign matter from the grown product as the frame is advanced. A cross conveyor assembly controllably discharges grown product from the processing mechanism to the underlying terrain. The cross conveyor assembly has a first discharge end and at least one section, including the first discharge end, that is selectively translatable laterally relative to the frame as the frame is advancing thereby to laterally change a location of the first discharge end and thus the lateral discharge location for the cross conveyor assembly at the first discharge end.

Abstract: A root-crop harvester is configured to temporarily store tubers by recirculating tubers on the conveyor system of the harvester. The conveyor system has selectable first and second operating configurations. In the first operating configuration the conveyor system transports tubers from the digger bed to an outlet where tubers are unloaded from the harvester (e.g., onto a truck). In the second operating configuration the conveyor system transports tubers along the conveyor system for a period of time and then diverts tubers to an earlier position within the conveyor system, thereby recirculating tubers on the harvester. After a period of time, the harvester operator selects the first operating configuration and the recirculating tubers along with newly dug tubers are unloaded from the harvester.

Abstract: A nut harvest trailer having a hopper with a rotatable loop of flexible screen affixed over the top of the hopper extending from the front to the rear thereof. A solid panel is affixed between an upper and lower layer of the loop of screen. The solid panel extends from the front of the hopper toward the rear thereof. The solid panel terminates to leave a narrow opening between the end of the solid panel and the rear of the hopper. The structure allows a mixture of nuts and small limbs to be deposited onto the upper layer of screen and solid panel at the front of the trailer. The mixture is then moved by the upper layer of screen on the solid panel toward the rear of the trailer where the nuts fall through the screen, through the narrow opening and into the hopper of the trailer. The sticks remain on the screen and are deposited off the rear of the trailer. The lower layer of the screen loop moves from the rear of the hopper toward the front thereof.

Abstract: A tomato picking machine has a ground level copying device comprising a separate frame articulately fastened to an inclined conveyor which is mounted to the front of the main machine frame. A cutting device is situated above the ground level copying device and is fastened to the lower part of the inclined vibrating conveyor. A tomato separator is placed above the highest part of the inclined vibrating conveyor. Under the tomato separator is a waste product cleaning conveyor which connects with crosswise separating conveyors whose outer ends lie above lengthwise conveyors. A picker with articulately mounted spikes is mounted in front of a short receiving conveyor. The receiving conveyor is mounted in front of the vibrating conveyor and parallel to it. The inclined vibrating conveyor and cleaning conveyor are made of endless chains. The cleaning conveyor has smooth tube type rollers which are mounted by bearings onto pilots rigidly fastened to the endless chains.

Abstract: A root crop harvester includes an endless soil-separating conveyor-sieve and agitator means for agitating the conveyor-sieve so as to move to and fro the crop-bearing upper run of the conveyor-sieve substantially in the plane of said upper run.

Abstract: A device for separating clods and stones from the soil includes a frame adapted to be drawn or carried across the land and one or more elements carried by the frame for raising the surface layer of material from the land and passing it to a first conveyor having apertures therethrough to permit material on the conveyor to pass through the conveyor and to be returned to the land, there being disposed above the conveyor a surface adapted to bear against material on the conveyor so as to crush and/or abrade material on the conveyor and thereby reduce its particle size to permit it to pass through the apertures. The first conveyor is adapted to discharge particles of material retained thereon to a device for returning those particles to the land on either or both sides of the device. The surface and/or the first conveyor are adapted to move apart from one another to permit the passage therebetween of resistent material.

Abstract: The upper run of a tomato harvester shaker chain is oscillated by a plurality of rotating arms which contact the chain along each side. Each arm is driven by a separate hydraulic motor, alternate motors along each side, and the motors driving the arms directly opposite one another on the two sides, being of different size or capacity to provide varying oscillatory speeds both along and across the chain. The motors along the two sides of the chain are connected in separate hydraulic series circuits, the flow rate through each circuit, and hence the speed of the motors thereof, being selectively controlled by variable speed control valves. Also, a hydraulic flow divider is preferably provided in the line between the pump and hydraulic motors to supply different proportions of the total flow to the groups of motors in each series circuit.

Abstract: A root crop harvester comprises means for picking up a mixture of roots, dirt and debris from the surface of a cultivated field and conveying the mixture upwardly and rearwardly along the harvester. The mixture is cleaned of small articles of dirt and debris by apertures along the conveyor means, ribbed rollers and the like. The partially cleaned mixture is passed to sorting conveyors which counterrotate to convey approximately one-half (1/2) of the mixture towards each side of the harvester. Sources of light are positioned to transmit light along the terminal ends of the sorting conveyors and a plurality of light sensors are positioned to receive light reflected from objects located at the terminal ends of the sorting conveyors. The reflected light is processed to generate root signals and dirt/debris signals. Rejecting fingers respond to the root signals to pass roots to a root crop conveyor and respond to dirt/debris signals to pass dirt and debris to a dirt and debris conveyor.

Abstract: An arrangement for gathering and lifting forage lying on the ground includes at least a carrier mounted on a support for rotation about an upright axis, a skirt mounted on the lower portion of the carrier, a receiving device, and a guiding arrangement extending between the skirts and reaching under the same and the receiving device. The forage lifted by the skirts may be transferred to the guiding arrangement by a roller which is situated at least partially underneath the skirt upstream of the leading end of the guiding arrangement. The guiding arrangement may include a guiding plate, a conveyor belt, or an elevator arrangement including a plurality of rakes. When two carriers with skirts mounted thereon are being used, the trajectories of the skirts slightly overlap one another, the skirt or skirts being flexible and having peripheral projections which reach between one another.

Abstract: A harvester apparatus comprising a plurality of discrete stations disposed in operative communication relative to each other on a self-propelled mobile chassis to remove plants from the earth and separate the fruit or vegetable from the stem or vine including a cutting station comprising an adjustable cutter having an adjustable positioner station disposed adjacent thereto to engage the plants and orient the plants for cutting by the cutter, a first transport station comprising a diagonally disposed conveyor having a plurality of lateral positioned cross members or retainers formed thereon disposed to receive plants from the cutter station and a feed element to direct plants from the cutter station to the first conveyor, a stripper station adjacent the first transport station to receive the plants therefrom comprising at least one pair or set of counter-rotating separator members to separate the fruit or vegetables from the vine or stem, a culling station comprising at least one movable open mesh conveyor dis

Abstract: Apparatus for use in conjunction with prior art machines for harvesting tomatoes, and the like. The prior art harvesting machine includes a pair of counter-rotating discs for picking up vines and fruit and delivering them rearwardly to an upright feed conveyor. The present invention comprises an endless, overhead, feed-assist belt with outwardly extending cleats having a forward, lower end extending over the discs and a rear, upper end supported in spaced relation to the upright feed conveyor, preferably about half way up the length thereof. The structure and physical arrangement of the feed assist belt provide improved efficiency of the machine by decreasing the amount of lost fruit and reducing the tendency of the machine to become clogged by vines or weeds.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for mechanically removing tomatoes from their vines after the vines have been severed from their roots and lifted aboveground. The severed and lifted vines are fed in between a rotary shaker and stationary guides, for example, a rotary drum with radially outwardly projecting rods and arcuate guide rods around the drum. The vines are shaken by subjecting them to angular acceleration and deceleration while the vines are transported around an arcuate path. The tomatoes shaken from the vines are collected, and the stripped vines are dropped back on the ground.

Abstract: A harvester pick-up is disclosed for harvesting agricultural products which are located above, but in contact with, or very close, to the field surface. The agricultural products, such as tomatoes, are seized between two contra-rotating flexible discs which are operated in contact with the field surface and deformed thereby to lift all agricultural products located on said field surface up above the discs where they are then discharged into a conveyor belt.

Abstract: A tomato harvester includes means for severing tomato plants below ground and for depositing them on a movable conveyor on which the tomatoes are separated from the vines. A plurality of flexible spring-like elements extend vertically downwardly toward the conveyor and are moved transversely back and forth across the conveyor to move the flexible elements into contact with the tomato plants as they are conveyed to assist in dislodging the tomatoes from the vines.

Abstract: A crop harvesting machine for tomatoes, or the like, which lifts plants and fruit from ground level for transport upon one or more endless conveyors having spaced, parallel links. The invention resides in a system for keeping the conveyor links free from rocks, chunks of dirt, mud, and other foreign matter. The basic element is a cleanout device which is rotatably mounted adjacent one or more of the conveyors and has radially disposed members which extend through the spaces between the links as the chain is advanced and the device is rotated. An oscillating arm may also be provided in conjunction with one or more of the conveyors to impart a shaking movement, thereby aiding in dislodging foreign material from the space between the links.

Abstract: A tomato harvester supported on a draft propelled chassis and having a pair of header conveyors to simultaneously harvest two adjacent crop rows. The chassis is supported on wheels so spaced relative to one another that they may travel between the crop rows and an adjustable draft tongue enables a draft vehicle for the harvester to be positioned in aligned spanning relationship to a crop row ahead of the harvester. During harvesting, the crop, including the vines therefor, is lifted by the harvester and conveyed longitudinally over its length. A shaker conveyor having means to continuously vary the ratio of conveyor speed to oscillation rate subjects harvested vines to shaking to break attached tomatoes away from the vines. A separator is provided to separate loose tomatoes and dirt clods from the vines in advance of the shaker conveyor. Collecting conveyors collect loose tomatoes and dirt clods and preliminarily separate dirt clods from the tomatoes.

Abstract: In a tomato field in which the tomato plants are grown in a plurality of substantially parallel rows an apparatus is advanced along a predetermined one of the rows. The apparatus cuts the tomato plants in the row, carries the cut plants rearwardly and discharges them onto a transverse conveyor. The transverse conveyor transfers and deposits the cut plants laterally onto a parallel row of uncut plants in a row located at a predetermined distance from the row being cut, thereby uniting two rows of plants for subsequent harvesting by a mechanical tomato harvester.

Abstract: A header section for a tomato harvester wherein a pair of counter-rotating discs are moved along a row of tomato plants with the forward edges below ground level to pick up plants, loose fruit and soil and deliver them to a pick-up conveyor. A first aspect of the invention is concerned with a novel structure of the disks and associated structure whereby plant stems are engaged by the disks, moved rearwardly and pulled upwardly to sever the plant from the roots by pulling and breaking rather than cutting. A second aspect of the invention resides in the resilient coupling of the pick-up conveyor, upon which the header section is mounted, to the rigid main frame.

Abstract: In a tomato field in which the tomato plants are grown in a plurality of substantially parallel rows an apparatus is advanced along a predetermined one of the rows. The apparatus cuts the tomato plants in the row, carries the cut plants rearwardly and discharges them onto a transverse conveyor. The transverse conveyor transfers and deposits the cut plants laterally onto a parallel row of uncut plants in a row located at a predetermined distance from the row being cut, thereby uniting two rows of plants for subsequent harvesting by a mechanical tomato harvester.By advancing the apparatus to and fro across the field in a predetermined pattern, an unobstructed avenue is provided for the movement of a bulk trailer accompanying the mechanical tomato harvester in the subsequent harvesting process.The method and apparatus are also used to advantage in the mechanical harvesting of other row crops, such as melons and the like.

Abstract: An improved tomato harvester severs tomato plants just below the ground and picks up the plants. Dirt clods, along with some loose tomatoes, are mechanically separated from the plants, and the plants are thereupon subjected to increasingly vigorous shaking by walking bars having plural upstanding resilient inverted vee projections to remove the tomatoes. The tomatoes are freed of chaff, twigs and other foreign matter and are then carried on a pair of main sorting conveyors past sorters who remove culls. At the same time the clods and loose tomatoes pass countercurrently by the same sorters, some of whom select the good loose tomatoes and place them onto the main sorting conveyor while the loose culls and clods are conveyed to the ground for disposal.

Abstract: A conventional two row potato combine basic frame and conveyor structure having removably mounted thereon a four row potato digger apron supported by a removable outboard and inboard frame and support members and having removably mounted onto said frame structure a pair of spaced angularly disposed conveyors converging crop from said multi-row digger apron onto a single elevating conveyor of said basic frame structure.