Abstract: A method of assembling a clutch includes assembling a wedge chain by connecting a plurality of wedges together with links such that the wedges are movable relative to each other, and wrapping the wedge chain around an inner race. The method further includes connecting an end one of the links to an end one of the wedges to secure the chain to the inner race. The may also include installing the inner race into an outer race such that the wedge chain is radially disposed between the inner and outer races.

Abstract: A forage harvester is configured to chop harvested material and includes at least one conditioning unit for conditioning the chopped harvested material. The conditioning unit may transfer from its active position (in which operatively connected with other working units) to its passive position (in which the conditioning unit is released from the operational connection). In the passive position, the condition unit may be removed from the entirety of the forage harvester. The forage harvester further includes at least two track drives arranged on opposing ends of a front axle of the forage harvester. The forage harvester includes a free cross-section positioned on a removal side of the forage harvester through which the conditioning unit, in its passive position, can be removed laterally from the rest of the forage harvester, as well as removed above the track drive assigned to the removal side.

Abstract: A machine which provides for both leaf stripping and grading can be used to process plants, such as burley tobacco plants, by continuously moving the plants in a first direction while simultaneously varying the position of the plants in a second direction relative to a defoliating apparatus. The plants may be moved horizontally through a machine by a transporter engaging the plant stalks while the vertical distance between the transporter (and thus the plants) is varied relative to the defoliating apparatus. The transporter and defoliating apparatus may be positioned at an angle to one another. Due to the changing amount of vertical distance, leaves from different sections of the plants, such as leaves at different stalk heights, can be contacted and removed at different corresponding horizontal locations in the machine. Accordingly, leaves can be graded based on the location(s) from which they are retrieved after removal.

Abstract: A motorized conveyor for moving a flow of harvest coming from a fruit harvesting machine, said conveyor comprising a plurality of rollers spaced longitudinally, said rollers being driven in rotation to move the flow of harvest on said rollers in a longitudinal direction between upstream and downstream transverse axes, each roller having a surface of revolution comprising grooves that extend transversely and continuously over its entire length, so as to enable transverse routing of said flow of harvest while it is being conveyed.

Abstract: A way of dealing with challenges to the pepper processing industry and pepper growers is to mechanize pepper processing, including the de-stemming of whole peppers. The present example provides a method for mechanically de-stemming whole peppers. The method provides for the recognition of a pepper's shoulder and or interior regions and stem in order to generate a control signal to initiate a process to de-stem the pepper. In particular, several implementations of the method are provided that may include a mechanical system, a laser system, a machine vision system, a combination of a machine vision system and the laser system, and other equivalent implementations. Additionally disclosed, are methods of processing whole peppers utilizing automated de-stemming.

Abstract: An apparatus for stripping and sorting leaves from stalks of agricultural crops. The apparatus includes a base frame having a first longitudinal member, said first longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, and a second longitudinal member in a parallel spaced-relationship with said first longitudinal member, a plurality of cross members arranged perpendicularly along at least said first longitudinal member, each of said plurality of cross members having a lower stripping member for receiving the stalk of an agricultural crop, a plurality of upper stripping members, each upper stripping member positionable to cooperate with a corresponding lower stripping member to substantially encircle the stalk and means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus in a direction from said first end to said second end of said first longitudinal member.

Abstract: A device (1) for sorting a harvested stream of fruit in bunches is mounted in a harvesting machine. The sorting device includes at least two transverse sorter bars (3) driven with a cyclic relative movement, the cyclic relative movement enabling longitudinal displacement of the stream over the bars, while opening passages (4) between them. The passages allow detached berries to drop under the sorting device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for cleaning a flow of harvested crop, said system including a suction device between an inlet (1) and an outlet (3), said inlet being equipped with a hood (5) in which is formed a circulation path of the flow of suction air between said inlet and a suction opening (6), the suction device further including a drum (7) rotating relative to said hood, said hood being positioned in said drum to form a suction area (10) on the exterior of said wall, said suction area being delimited circumferentially by respective upstream (10a) and downstream (10b) edges, the system further including a conveyor (11) for the flow of crop, a device (12, 13) to recover the portion of the flow of crop that is not sucked up, and a device (14, 15) to recover the portion of the flow of crop that has been sucked up in said area; the circulation path of the hood (5) incorporates means (16, 19, 20) forming a deflector for the flow of suction air, said means being arranged to balance the speed of said flow

Abstract: A device and method for stripping leaves from the stems of herbs and plants and a method of stripping leaves using the device. The device includes a container that supports a lower plate carrying a number of closely spaced flexible tines. An upper plate is pivotally attached to the lower plate and is movable toward and away from the tines. A scalper blade, that is attached to the upper plate at an angle, moves with the upper plate such that when the upper plate engages the tines the scalper blade is spaced below the tines, and when the upper plate is spaced above the tines the scalper blade is adjacent the tines. The method of stripping leaves from the stems of plants is practiced with the device.

Abstract: Device and method for the separation of a part of a crop. The crop part is gripped with the use of a construction including the separation elements, such as cutting blades. The gripping of the crop part is performed with the use of two rollers between which the crop part is received. The crop part is subsequently gripped between the rollers and this construction moves along the crop part to an optimal position for the separation of the crop part from the rest of the crop.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of eliminating leaf stalks (P) from a harvested stream in a machine for harvesting fruit berries (G), said method successively comprising the steps of feeding the harvested stream to a sorting device through which a stream portion comprising leaf stalks (P) and fruit berries (G) can pass; recovering the portion passing through on a conveyor: removing from the conveyor components of the passing through portion other than leaf stalks (P); eliminating leaf stalks (P) remaining on the conveyor. The invention also relates to a sorting device, an extraction conveyor, and an elimination system for implementing this method, and a fruit berry harvesting machine including this kind of elimination system.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing plant material from a vine. The apparatus generally comprises a support frame, a pair of counter-rotating wheels, and a vine stripping component. In an embodiment, the vine stripping component includes interchangeable threaded stripping dies. In an additional embodiment, the apparatus is incorporated in a mobile harvesting unit. The invention further includes a method for removing plant material from vines.

Abstract: A vegetative shredder and destemming apparatus that includes a shredding drum having a interior volume into which a harvested plant crop may be placed for processing. The drum includes a substantially cylindrical side with a plurality of openings and at least one brush roller disposed proximate the cylindrical side. A motor rotates the shredding drum and the brush rollers simultaneously. The apparatus employs centrifugal force to urge portions of the plant material into engagement with the drum's cylindrical side and the openings therethrough so as to allow bring the brush rollers to mechanically shred and destem the plant material.

Abstract: A way of dealing with challenges to the pepper processing industry and pepper growers is to mechanize pepper processing, including the de-stemming of whole peppers. The present example provides a method of or mechanically de-stemming whole peppers. The method provides for the recognition of a pepper's shoulder in order to generate a control signal to initiate a process to de-stem the pepper. In particular, several implementations of the method are provided that may include a mechanical system, a laser system, a machine vision system, a combination of a machine vision system and the laser system, and other equivalent implementations. Additionally disclosed, are methods of processing whole peppers utilizing automated de-stemming.

Abstract: A harvesting machine, especially a self-propelled pick-up chopper for picking up and chopping corn, wilted grass, green feed and similar harvested material includes a feeding housing, which is disposed ahead of a chopping device and accommodates feeding rollers, which can be driven. In order to have created a harvesting machine, which can be adapted to different use conditions, provisions are made so that more than two pairs of feeding rollers are provided, which are disposed consecutively in the feed-conveying direction and the upper rollers of which in each case can be driven over a common driving mechanism the common driving mechanism for adjusting the height of the upper rollers, having at least one driving element, which passes through the feeding housing and the position of which can be changed, and this driving element and the upper rollers being disposed so that they can be shifted by sliding in each case in guides at the side of the feeding housing.

Abstract: A farm implement for harvesting corn (sometimes called maize). The harvester is usable with a farm type combine and is particularly designed to be used in fields that have been planted either by a broadcast method at ground level or from the air, or in clearly spaced rows at spacings which might vary from the usual. The harvester is distinguished by the ear-stripping fingers on a reel at the front of the carrying combine. The fingers strip the ears from the corn stalks in front of the carrying combine and carry them to a delivery auger, which is a standard part of the combine, to be delivered to husking rolls in the combine for husking.

Abstract: The invention provides self propelled harvester that tops, cuts, cleans and oads "whole stalk green sugar cane".The canes are flexed forward by the movement of the harvester by means of a roller, while the base is cut with a pair of counter rotating disk cutters per row. The base cutters automatically follow the level of the ground using by spherically dished sliders pivotably connected to cutter shafts. The topped canes, with attached green and dry leaves are fed gently but firmly into the front section of the machine through a single, full width, large 100 dm2 throat, helped by vertical and-horizontal rubber rollers. By the action of the rotation of preferably three pairs of rollers and paddles, rocks, tramp iron, cans, bottles, soil, and mud, fall through the paddles, and through grizzlies back to the ground; all materials over 0.05 Mt. are retained by the grizzlies, which can be emptied at the operators choice.

Abstract: A tobacco stripper includes coplanar first and second stripper plates having confronting semi-cylindrical recesses coaxial relative to one another. The first stripper plate is arranged in a spring-biased relationship for contiguous communication with the second stripper plate to receive a tobacco leaf therethrough to effect stripping of tobacco relative to the tobacco leaf stalk as the stalk is drawn through the first and second semi-cylindrical recess by cooperative first and second rollers mounted in a biased relationship towards one another to receive, engage, and draw a tobacco stalk therebetween.

Abstract: A flower stem cleaning device includes a body through which a cleaning opening extends. The opening is defined by a flexible surface portion of the body to prevent damage to the plant stems. A slit extends between the opening and a perimeter edge of the body to define jaws which may be flexed in order to insert a stem into the opening. The stem to be cleaned is pulled through the opening manually to remove thorns and miscellaneous foliage from the stem.

Abstract: The device has a first threshing rotor bearing a first number of radial blades, and a second counter-rotating loading rotor having a different number of radial blades. The rotors are arranged side by side and adapted to be driven in phase at different speeds. A fan generates a flow of air at a region of alignment of the radial blades of the first and second rotors, and the first rotor has a rear outlet for threshed leaves.