Abstract: A rotation control system for the mattock (2) of a tuft-building forest mattock, whereby rotation of the mattock is adapted to be braked or stopped stepwise in a manner that each pick (3) in turn works a whole in the first stage, in the second stage the pick (3) of the mattock removes surface deposit from between the obtained hole and a tuft to be built, and in the third stage, as mattock (2) is allowed to rotate freely, pick (3) leaves the loosened earth behind as a tuft. In order to make the sticking angle and depth dictated by the start moment of braking stages readily adjustable according to various qualities of soil, at a certain angle of rotation of the mattock a first impulse sensor actuates a first delay timer (6), adapted after a settable delay time to turn on a brake (11) for setting out the first stage of the mattock (2).

Abstract: An implement mounts a row of rotatable members, having resilient tines, that are rotatable about upwardly extending shafts. The members are driven to rotate intermittently by eccentric mechanisms that reciprocate connectors back and forth, the connectors being coupled to pawls that engage ratchet wheels on the shafts. Non-return pawls prevent the shafts from turning in reverse direction. Preferably, there are at least four tined members mounted in a row on an elongated hollow frame portion and the input shaft mounts two eccentric mechanisms that are located centrally of the frame portion, each mechanism being connected to operate two of the tined members, out-of-phase, so that neighboring members are turned periodically in relative opposite directions. The frame portion is pivoted to a forward coupling member at several points, one of which is a shear pin that allows the frame portion to tilt upon overload of a tined member.

Abstract: A cutting blade is carried on a shaft rotatable about an axis positioned adjacent a row crop. The blade extends across the longitudinal centerline of the row and cuts plants as the machine moves forward until a sensing means registering on forwardly positioned plants actuates the knife and causes it to rotate rearwardly along the row and away from the next plant in the row to be retained. The rotation continues until a knife portion is now positioned on the front side of the plant to be retained and a portion of the knife extends rearwardly along the side opposite the axis of rotation of the blade. The machine continuing to move forward will again clear plants from the row until the sensing means actuates the blade to rotate again thereby causing predetermined plants to be retained while plants inbetween are thinned out.