Abstract: An autonomous all-terrain robot for agricultural industries is designed to install support stakes inground on plant beds while being able to self-navigate. Apparatus and method provide a robot having the ability to perform the actions of navigating between plant beds and to determine a precise location and depth to place each supporting stake. The purpose of the stakes is to support the plants with weak stems. Part of some planting processes require stakes to support a plant as it begins to grow. from a two- or three-week-old plant to a fully mature plant. The presently disclosed subject matter provides a machine that can aid in the planting process of both bell peppers and eggplants and similar crops, used to drive stakes into planting beds. The presently disclosed technology (such as specific robotic device or robot) can work 24/7, weather permitting, while providing an efficient and completely hands-free way to install stakes needed in the planting process.

Abstract: Gathering chains for row crop harvester heads which improve yield by minimizing the loss of kernels that may prematurely break loose and be lost to the ground. The gathering chains include continuous loops with a plurality bristle blocks removable attached to the continuous loops. Each of the plurality of bristle blocks include bristles extending laterally therefrom, whereby the bristles form a substantially continuous lateral conveying surface effectively closing an area above and across the width of the slot defined by the stripper plates. The bristles may include fine bristle filaments and coarser bristle filaments that are shorter than the fine bristle filaments.

Abstract: A digger-shaker-inverter for harvesting root plants includes a frame and a row unit. The row unit includes a first belt driving assembly and a second belt driving assembly. The first belt driving assembly includes a first carrying belt that grips a first side of a vine and a fixed bracket that supports the first carrying belt. The second belt drive assembly include a second carrying belt that grips a second side of the vine, and an adjustable bracket that supports the second carrying belt and adjust to control a distance between the first carrying belt and the second carrying belt.

Abstract: A row unit of a corn head assembly for an agricultural harvester capable of reducing grain loss is provided. The row unit includes a frame and first and second spaced apart row unit arms mounted to the frame, and a top plate. The top plate is positioned about a rear end of the frame and includes an outer surface having a retaining structure configured to inhibit a flow of grain in a forward direction along the outer surface.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine embodying a forage harvester includes a comminution assembly with a drum equipped with a plurality of knives. The drum is set into rotation opposite a stationary shear bar in order to comminute crop fed in a region of a cutting gap formed by knives and the shear bar during the harvesting operation. A device controls a rotational speed (n) of the drum at least during a maintenance procedure of the comminution assembly, depending on a property of the drum.

Abstract: The pick-up device 1 disposed in the direction of travel in front of a harvesting machine 2 for cucumbers has a circulating conveyor belt 11 having upward jutting spikes 12 made of rubber or elastomeric plastic and further has an associated circulating cover belt 18 having upward jutting transverse moldings 22, which are tilted forward in the direction of circulation. Directly behind the place at which the spikes 12 reach with their tips the lowest point of their path of circulation, a cutting device 24 is active, which cut off the cucumber plants raised with the spikes 12. A sensing roll 30 resting on the ground 9 controls the height position of the pick-up device in such a way that the blades 27, 28 of the cutting device 24 and the tips of the spikes 12 do not penetrate into the ground 9, but always maintain a short distance from the ground. This configuration ensures an operation which is not disturbed by plant pile-up and even permits use in plasticulture.

Abstract: A plant seedling handling apparatus is described which comprises a pair of parallel belts, each of which carries a series of grippers. During loading of the storage device each belt is fed from separate storage means via guide spools which create a nip between the belts. At the nip a pair of grippers 31, 34 grip a seedling stem 36. When the movement is reversed the seedling is released as the grippers separate as the belts pass around the guide spools 24 and 25. The seedling can be released direct to a planting device.

Abstract: Plant extracting apparatus is provided by the present invention which utilizes spaced pairs of endless belts having adjacent runs which extend from an inlet adjacent the ground towards an elevated outlet above a cutter assembly. The adjacent runs of the belts are biassed towards one another and engage plants therebetween and pull them from the ground as they are conveyed along the adjacent runs and as the apparatus travels along. Transfer means are provided for transferring the plants to the cutter assembly.

Abstract: A machine for shredding stalk, particularly that of cotton, is disclosed which comprises a wheeled frame adapted to be trailed along crop rows, a power driven unit, and a stalk puller device. The device comprises a pair of frictionally coupled rollers, at least one of which being rotatably driven by the power unit about an axis forming an acute angle with respect to the vertical. Stalk which becomes engaged between contacting circumferential portions of the rollers is pulled, plucked from the ground and fed in a generally backwards direction by the rollers. A first shredding device is provided comprising a series of cutting knives rotating in a direction away from the rollers. The cut stalk becomes airborne and is conveyed backwards along a first, streamlined shroud member overhanging the first shredding device. A second shredding device of similar construction is installed, operating in tandem with the first shredder, whereby the stalk is cut into small chips and discharged from the machine.

Abstract: A harvester for harvesting green peanuts is moved along a peanut bed. A plant conveyor using an angled pair of back-to-back V-belts is arranged to cause the belts to grip the stem area of peanut plants and, as the belts move rearward and the harvester moves forward, the plants are pulled from the bed. Picking elements having a plurality of toothed picking combs move laterally beneath the belts, contacting the plant root structure and removing the peanuts therefrom. Means are provided for removing dirt from the roots, transporting picked peanuts to a storage bin and storing the peanuts therein.

Abstract: A weeder for removing weeds in a golf course or the like has: a body to be moved along a ground surface; a weeding unit arranged such that a first winding transmission member mounted on the body has weed fetch rods arranged at predetermined intervals; a drive unit for driving the first winding transmission member; and a gripping unit consisting of a second winding transmission member brought into contact with the weeding unit mounted on the body, whereby a lowest contact line between the weeding unit and the gripping unit is defined as a start line of a contact start plane, and the start line is located in the vicinity of the ground surface. Cutters are mounted on each weed fetch rod of the weeding unit in a comb-like manner. The top of each cutter is located inside the top of the weed fetch rod when the weed fetch rod is rectilinearly moved. However, when the weed fetch rod is moved along an arcuated locus, the top of each cutter extends outside the top of the weed fetch rod.

Abstract: A harvester for bulb, root and leafy vegetable products including stationary blades (31, 32), rotatable discs (131, 132) or the like which are transported at an angle through opposite sides of a product plant bed to loosen the soil, cut the root system, and prepare the products for removal from the plant bed; a pair of opposing, rotatable belts (51, 51') which follow an inclined path and cooperate to define a product passageway therebetween, said belts (51, 51') defining a product lifting and transport section (41) in which adjustable, pressure pulleys (48, 48') ensure proper gripping pressure on the products, and a product orienting section (42) in which the products are transformed from a vertical to a horizontal disposition; support means (70) adjacent said product orienting section (42) for receiving tops of products oriented to a horizontal disposition; and conveyor means (75) adjacent an end of said product passageway for receiving freed, horizontally disposed product.

Abstract: A peanuts harvester includes a truck body, plant row dividers, stalk straighteners, peanut diggers, a plant feeder, a tilted conveyer, a horizontal conveyer, a peanut stripper and a peanut collector such that the dug peanut plants are conveyed to the horizontal conveyer where the upper stalks are held by the conveyer and the lower peanuts on roots are stripped by the peanut stripper, whereby the stripped peanuts are screened, cleaned and collected into bags for efficient integrated harvesting of peanuts.

Abstract: Two gears or cogwheels rotating in opposite directions and constructed so that the cogs of each fit most of the way, but not all of the way, in to the grooves or notches of the other, but not enough to intermesh or completely fill the gaps to strip leaves from the stalks as they are pulled between the turning cogs. The leaves fall into boxes or presses beneath the cogwheels, and the boxes or presses may be guided along rollers to the stripping point. One of the two gears is driven by a motor-pulley arrangement and the other gear is driven by the contiguous belts carried by the motor-driven pulley and a pulley coaxial with the other gear.

Abstract: A method of harvesting cotton includes cutting the cotton plant a short distance above ground, clampingly hold the bush with its main stem substantially in the vertical and imparting revolving movement to the plant at high speed, thus causing cotton bolls to be thrown off the plant by centrifugal force and collecting the thrown off bolls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for severing trees and other similar objects extending at least partially above and at least partially below the surface of the ground. A frame member which is mountable on a vehicle is moved in a substantially horizontal plane above the surface of the ground. A pair of circular cutting disks having sharpened peripheral edges are rotatably mounted on the frame laterally spaced from each other. The disks are arranged such that the imaginary planes formed by the sharpened edges of the disks are inclined from the surface of the ground and intersect at a point below the surface of the ground, such that the inclined planes have opposite slopes and such that the sharpened edge of one of the disks is substantially adjacent the sharpened edge of the other disk.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which is mountable upon a tractor for removing stakes from the ground and for collecting the stakes. The apparatus includes a support framework and a stake loosening means disposed on the framework. The stake loosening means includes a plurality of stake loosening fingers for loosening the stakes relative to the ground. The loosened stakes are removed from the ground by counterrotating rollers which define a stake receiving passage therebetween. The stakes are guided from the counterrotating rollers by means of a stake guiding chute having an input and an output end with the output end being disposed adjacent a stake collecting means.

Abstract: A tobacco stripper has a pair of counter-rotating gear belts which are used to separate tobacco leaves from tobacco stalks when the stalk is advanced into a nip formed by the counter-rotating belts.

Abstract: The invention is a plant lifting apparatus of the opposed belt type that can be quickly adjusted in the field to accommodate different plant row spacings. The lifting belts are carried on individual supporting frames. These, in turn, are pivotally mounted at their proximal ends to a subframe member. The distal plant receiving ends of the supporting frames are bridged by spreading means which vary the spacing between adjacent pairs of lifting belts. Preferably the outer belt supporting frames are adjusted separately. The inner pairs are bridged by toggles, turnbuckles or similar means that control their spacing within the limits set by the outer supporting frames.

Abstract: An automatic vegetable buncher for use in combination with a mechanical harvester of leafy green vegetables conveys the greens to a packing station where a pair of packer fingers driven by a novel rectangular motion generator incrementally feeds the greens into one of a plurality of pockets mounted on a rotatable wheel. When a predetermined bunch size is accrued, the wheel rotates to position an empty pocket at the packing station and to advance the vegetable bunch to a device which ties it into a marketable bundle.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving along rows of agricultural beds for pulling and collecting stakes therefrom. A stake-pulling element is suspended from framework attached to a wheeled collection bin and from a framework attached to a towing vehicle. A pair of endless parallel puller chains is disposed in the stake pulling element having a forward end near the surface of the bed and a rearward end elevated with respect thereto. The puller chains are driven to cause the inner runs of the chains to move upward and rearward with the rearward chain velocity equal to the forward velocity of the apparatus. Stakes are gripped between the chains, carried rearwardly and pulled directly upward to remove the stakes from the ground. As the stakes are carried to the rear of the chains, they are transferred to a stake transport belt which moves the pulled stakes to the bin and deposits the stakes therein. Operating power in one embodiment is obtained by coupling to the wheels of the collection bin.

Abstract: A belted-track vehicle, unpowered and attached to a cantilevered apparatus to support the apparatus clear of the ground and adapted to be driven by the apparatus.

Abstract: A row crop harvester is provided with mechanism for mounting two picking heads for both vertical and horizontal adjustment of the ground engaging lower ends of the heads, to simultaneously harvest two rows of plants which may vary in spacing from each other throughout their lengths. One head is guided along its row by steering the harvester itself, while the lower end of the other head is guided along its row by selectively operating controls which transversely shift the lower end of the head relative to the first mentioned steerable head thereby accurately following and simultaneously harvesting two rows of crops such as root crops.In the preferred embodiment the upper end of each picking head is associated with a severing mechanism for removing the tops or foliage from the roots of the plants.

Abstract: A harvester and trimmer for carrots, which can also be used on root crops such as red beets, turnips, parsnips and rutabaga, embodies a wheeled vehicle having a conventional plowshare and an upwardly and rearwardly extending harvesting frame. The harvesting frame mounts opposed endless harvesting or lifter belts having adjacent reaches for grasping and lifting the tops of the plants. A pair of laterally opposed gauging belts is disposed above a downstream portion of the lifter belts and these belts are upwardly and rearwardly inclined from the lifter belts at an acute angle of about 6-7 degrees for independently grasping the tops to pull the tops up through the underlying lifter belts, bringing the crowns of the roots against the lifter belts.

Abstract: A two-row crop harvester for carrots, beets, etc. has a wheeled chassis with a forward cab disposed to one side of a pair of lifter frame assemblies. Each lifter frame assembly has a main component with a forwardly gathering element rigidly connected to a rearward mounting element. The rear end of the mounting element is pivotally mounted on a rocking frame, the lower end of which is pivoted about a horizontal axis on the main frame of the harvester. The main component of each lifter frame assembly mounts a relatively movable gathering component. The topping bar units have both their driven and idler ends supported by the main component of the lifter frame assembly. The rear drive pulleys for the gathering belts are chain driven from the drive shafts of the topping units and the latter are individually driven by hydraulic motors and articulated shafts with the motors geared together so that the topping bar units are synchronized.

Abstract: Apparatus for harvesting vegetable heads is disclosed. A sensing means including a pair of parallel, laterally movable, head-engaging units, which are counter-rotated, is fixed to a frame. A cutting means is mounted on the frame and is responsive to the sensing means. The cutting means includes a horizontal knife blade rotatable 180.degree. for each head cut. The severed head is removed from the cutting area by a pair of counter-rotating lifter belts.

Abstract: A travelling machine for pulling off green plants or stalks from subterraneous potatoes and like tuberous crops. The machine has a pair of endless belts of which two contacting runs together move in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the machine, engage the plants and extract them at a constant rate of pull relative to the ground with varying speeds of the machine.

Abstract: A belted-track vehicle, unpowered and attached to a cantilevered apparatus to support the apparatus clear of the ground and adapted to be driven by the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention achieves a mechanical device for pulling seedling plants from the ground in greenhouses and for conveying them by conveyor to a collection receptacle for grading the more mature or better quality plants. Essentially the invention includes an inclined conveyor formed by a pair loop belts, each belt travelling between an idler pulley and a drive wheel, such that the loop belts, being composed of a resilient material such as sponge rubber, are placed in an abutting juxtaposed position to thereby co-operatively form the mechanism which pulls the plant from the ground and as well conveys the plant from the ground toward the collection receptacle.

Abstract: Leafy and woody plants are harvested by holding the uprooted plants in a guided path while they are being removed. The uprooted and removed plants are classified and counted by a counter along the path to establish a minimum standard size to which the counter responds. The plants meeting this standard are counted until the number of the counted plants has reached a set number and the counted plants accumulate in a space between the end of the guided path and a packaging device. The counter is set to operate a forked element for moving the accumulated plants to the packaging device when the set number has been reached.

Abstract: A green onion harvester is disclosed, which harvester includes a plurality of means for grasping the foliage, severing the roots, withdrawing the green onions from the soil, sorting out undersized green onions, removing the lower leaves, and depositing the green onions in a collection bin.

Abstract: A plant picking and boxing apparatus is mounted on a wheeled frame and includes an engine for driving the wheeled frame by a hydraulic system. Parallel mounted endless belts are supported on the frame and grip tomato plants, or the like planted in rows, and transport the plants into a loading mechanism. The plant roots are cleaned by rotatable, flexible flaps hitting the roots of the plants being transported between the parallel belts. The loading box has microswitch to determine when it is filled and ready for shifting to a second box, and to allow the plants to be pushed from the loading box into a packaging container where they can be placed on a conveyor and be conveyed to a closing platform on the wheeled frame.

Abstract: A mobile device for harvesting tree seedlings includes means for subsurface cutting to separate and loosen from the surrounding ground the body of earth adjoining the roots of the tree seedlings. The movement and relative position of the earth separating means enables it to efficiently sever the roots of the tree seedlings from the surrounding ground while allowing only a minimum amount of earth to adhere to the roots of the seedlings as they are removed. A plurality of paired gripper belts remove the loosened seedlings by lifting them upwardly and rearwardly relative to the ground, each pair of gripper belts having male-female intercoupled gripping surfaces which minimize damage to the stems of the seedlings. Disposed below the gripper belts are a plurality of elongated root beater means adapted to move in a transverse oscillatory manner to agitate the roots and remove the earth adhering thereto without damaging the seedlings.