Abstract: An improved hop picking finger for use in automated hop harvesting equipment, formed from a single length of wire and having a first leg and a second leg, each leg comprising an upper segment, a middle segment, a lower segment and a helical spring between the middle and lower segments. The ratio of the lengths of the middle segment and lower segment to the helical spring diameter increases wear resistance and decreases stress breaks. An array of non-interlocking, non-overlapping hop picking fingers removably secured to a hop harvester finger bar.

Abstract: A secondary picking device for a hops picking machine comprises a cone picking device and a tine strip device which interact in such a way that the sections thereof facing each other are moved in a same direction while defining between them a picking range through which the vine parts are passed in order to pick hop cones. The picking range has a curved shape, and at least one combing cylinder is present which is arranged downstream from the picking range in the direction of movement of the vine parts. At least one combing cylinder interacts with the cone picking device and rotates opposite to the direction of movement of the associated section of the cone picking device in order to strip off vine parts.

Abstract: Device for separating the stalks of fruit such as cherries, grouped together in clusters, from one another at their joining point, includes at least one hydraulic circuit including a tank (1) receiving the fruit to be treated; a centrifugal pump (2) connected to the tank for sucking up the liquid and the fruit therefrom; and at least one filtration device (3) receiving the liquid and the fruit discharged by the pump and capable of separating the fruit from the liquid. The tank has a base (4) which converges downwards as far as a lower outlet orifice (5) of this tank. The pump includes a housing (7) and at least one pumping wheel (9) guided in rotation relative to the housing along an at least substantially vertical axis (10) of rotation, and the pump has an axial suction inlet (11) connected below the lower outlet orifice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the processing of hop vines. An automated hop processor cuts bulk-harvested hop vines into manageable segments with a minimum of handling operations. The bulk of hop vines are off-loaded onto an infeed conveyor by positioning a transport on the infeed conveyor. After verifying proper position of the transport a fork can be inserted into the transport. The transport is moved off of the infeed conveyor and the fork removed from the bulk of hop vines. The Hop vines are then moved on the infeed conveyor to a cutter, after verifying the transport is clear of the infeed conveyor. The infeed conveyor is stopped when the hop vines are in position for cutting and the hops are cut with a cutting mechanism. The cut hop vines are then conveyed to a shredder for shredding and further processing into component hop cones and hop vine silage.

Abstract: A crop harvesting combine having a body with a feeder house at its front end. The feeder house carries a detachable header which may be wider than the body and can thus be detached when moving the combine. The feeder house is vertically moveable in an arcuate path from a header ground contacting position to an elevated position. A first thrashing cylinder is in the header and a second thrashing cylinder is at the front of the combine body. The arcuate path of the feeder house has its center approximately at the rotational axis of the second thrashing cylinder so the distance between the axes of the first and second cylinders remains approximately constant as the feeder house is moved vertically. Downstream of the thrashing cylinder are a plurality of separation cylinders, at least some of which have concaves thereunder for reorienting elongate trash before being discharged.

Abstract: A crop inverter is disclosed for digging and inverting crops, such as peanuts, which have pods disposed below the soil. The inverter typically includes a pair of rotating bars for severing the roots extending downwardly from the pods, and for lifting the pods to the surface of the soil. A pick-up mechanism raises the plants above the ground, and a slinging mechanism removes soil from the pods while conveying the pods to an inverter. The inverter causes the plant to come to rest with the peanut pods on top, without causing unnecessary loss of pods. The inverter typically includes a plurality of augers which extends rearwardly relative to the direction of travel, so that the peanut plants move along the auger until they are ready to be inverted. A mounding plate or other mechanism may also be provided to form a new mound below the row of inverted peanut plants.

Abstract: A peanut cleaner for cleaning freshly harvested peanuts in the field includes structure for initially vibrating the peanuts to loosen moist field soil, trash, fines and clinging vine segments therefrom, structure for thereafter subjecting the loosened soil, field trash, fines, vine segments and peanuts to a free fall downwardly along a substantially vertical flow path while subjecting the vertical flow path to a lateral and slightly upwardly inclined flow of at least slightly dehumidified air to thereby blow at least the lighter loosened soil, field trash, fines and vine segments laterally from the vertical flow path of peanuts and still further structure for repeatedly elevating the peanuts from a reticulated support surface therefor and allowing the peanuts to free fall, by gravity, back downwardly onto the reticulated surface to thereby loosen and remove therefrom any remaining clinging soil, field trash, fines and vine segments from the peanuts.

Abstract: A peanut combine having a header for lifting peanut laden vines off the ground, an auger for distributing the peanut laden vines, a series of picking or thrashing cylinders for thrashing the peanut laden vines and a series of separator cylinders for removing the peanuts from the peanut laden vines. The separator cylinders include fingers which propel the vines and which rotate at a variable flailing speed. The fingers include tips which vary in angle with respect to the path which the fingers define as they rotate on the separator cylinders.

Abstract: A peanut combine is provided having a header for lifting peanut laden vines off the ground, an auger for distributing the peanut laden vines, a series of picking or thrashing cylinders for thrashing the peanut laden vines and a series of separator cylinders for removing the peanuts from the peanut laden vines. The separator cylinders include fingers which propel the vines and which rotate at variable speed. The fingers include tips which vary in angle with respect to the path which the fingers define as they rotate on the separator cylinders.

Abstract: In order to increase the efficiency of a harvesting line of hop vines and in order to eliminate hard work, the transfer of hop vines is controlled starting from their cutting in the hop garden up to their feeding to a picking machine. In order to increase the reliability of functioning, the hop vines are always consecutively seized at a hitherto not damaged place of the stalk. A displaceable rotary storage device can be alternately connected to a trailing device, to a conveying device and to an intermediate storage device provided in front of a dosing conveyer of a picking machine.