Abstract: A method is provided for converting a bow rod harvester into a trunk shaker harvester. In the bow rod harvester, a plurality of bow rods are attached to an oscillating member that is configured to reciprocate about a first vertical axis of a first vertical shaft of the bow rod harvester. In the conversion, the plurality of bow rods are removed from the oscillating member and a shaker rail is coupled to the oscillating member.

Abstract: A system comprises a first housing configured to enable grass to extend into the first housing. A grass cutting unit is housed within the first housing. A discharge chute is joined to a rear portion of the first housing for directing grass cuttings away from the first housing. A bag unit is configured for collecting the grass cuttings from the discharge chute. A second housing is joined to a rear portion of the first housing and positioned below the discharge chute. A rake device is housed within the second housing. The rake device comprises rake tines being configured for rotating below the second housing bottom for transferring debris to the bag unit. A handle unit is joined to the second housing. The handle unit is configured for enabling an operator to control operations of the system. A plurality of wheels is joined to the first housing and the second housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a retractile finger (1) for fitting to a grain harvester auger (3) main shaft (2), which retractile finger comprises an elongated portion (4) having at one of its ends a portion in the form of a guide (5) for fitting to the above-mentioned shaft (2), the elongated portion (4) and the portion in the form of a guide (5) being formed in one piece made of polyethylene with a molar mass of between 3.9 and 10.5 million g/mol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a retractile finger (1) for fitting to a grain harvester auger (3) main shaft (2), which retractile finger comprises an elongated portion (4) having at one of its ends a portion in the form of a guide (5) for fitting to the above-mentioned shaft (2), the elongated portion (4) and the portion in the form of a guide (5) being formed in one piece made of polyethylene with a molar mass of between 3.9 and 10.5 million g/mol.

Abstract: A manually guided apparatus for collecting objects, especially fruits and nuts, including a pick-up drum rotatably mounted in the drum chamber of a housing. The drum is disposed approximately transverse to the direction of operation, and is rotationally driven by a drive unit. The housing has a wall section extending over the width of the drum approximately at the level of the outer diameter thereof. A ground support is disposed in the region of ends of the drum. A collection channel provides communication for picked-up objects between the drum chamber and a collection receptacle for receiving the objects. The wall section of the housing and the drum cooperate with one another such that objects are accelerated along the wall section toward the collection channel and are ejected out of the drum chamber along a trajectory into the collection receptacle. A handle is operatively connected to the housing for moving the housing in the direction of operation.

Abstract: A lawncare machine 100 has a powered rotary raking or scarifying reel 5 together with a powered vacuum collector 8 whereby material thrown up by the reel is immediately drawn into the collection chamber 8. During removal of the vegetation material, it is drawn into the chamber 8 due to a suction created by a fan 2. The material is normally held in the box by means of a perforated screen 10 situated between the box and fan entry. The chamber 8 may be emptied by moving the screen 10 so that the material is discharged through the fan 2. Alternatively the chamber 8 may be emptied by means of flap valves 19, 21, 23 which cause a reversal of the airflow through the chamber so that the collected material never passes through the fan.

Abstract: A spooless trimmer head which utilizes finite lengths of trimmer line inserted through apertures in the trimmer head housing. The lines are thick, strong, long lasting and easily replaced when worn. One end of each line extends from the trimmer head to rotate and cut vegetation. The line includes a collar having a flange formed on an opposite end to retain a distal end of the line in the trimmer head housing. The line is crimped to the collar approximately ? the distance from the collar to the distal end of the line. The crimping location in combination with the position of the flange of the collar reduce the stress and strain on the trimmer line and enhance the longevity of the line.

Abstract: A rotary head for dethatching machine includes a plurality of channels which are evenly distributed along the outer periphery of the rotary head for receiving flexible dethatching filaments. The dethatching filaments are elongated with a plurality of barb-like protrusions on one end thereof for engagement in the channels of the housings. Once a filament is inserted into a channel, it cannot be pulled out due to the protrusions engaging the interior and exterior walls of the channel of the rotary head. A plurality of rotary heads are mounted on a shaft of a machine. During rotation of the shaft and the rotary heads, the flexible filaments contact the accumulated dethatch with sufficient force to dislodge thatch for later retrieval and clean up.

Abstract: Intake fingers and finger assemblies for use with intake portions of harvesting assemblies, on harvesting machines such as combines, haybines, bailers, corn pickers, and the like. The fingers and finger assemblies cooperate with crop-gathering augers, and crankshafts inside the augers, in feeding cut crop material toward discharge portions of such harvesting assemblies. The fingers extend and retract through apertures in the auger cylinder according to an eccentric mounting of the finger crankshaft inside the auger cylinder. A respective finger comprises a reinforced polyester or polyurethane shaft, and a polyurethane sleeve overlying a crop-engaging end portion of the finger, such as along 50% to 80% of the length of the shaft. The shaft is reinforced with fiberglass or other fiber, the composition of the sleeve comprises polyester-based thermoplastic polyurethane, and the sleeve has a hardness of about Shore D-45 to about Shore D-70.

Abstract: A kit for modifying the bat drive assembly of a combine having a header ahead of a crop feed auger, the header having a cutter bar at its leading edge, and a bat reel assembly comprising a reel and a plurality of bats that rotate above and in front of the header and cutter bar to move crop into the cutter bar and cut crop into the auger. The existing bat drive assembly is removed and replaced with an improved bat drive assembly which rotates each of the bats from the essentially vertical at rest position up to 360 degrees in a clockwise rotation and up to 360 degrees in a counterclockwise rotation at any position of the bat reel to control each individual bat to clean the bats of cut crop-and to give each bat clean crop entry and clean crop exit as desired.

Abstract: In a field harvester and trimmer for root crops having foliage tops growing from the crowns of the crop to be harvested and trimmed, such as large bulbous onions, turnips, parsnips and rutabagas, consisting of a movable vehicle having at least a forward mounted severing and lifting mechanism and trimmer, the improvement comprising a series of rotating and caged flail drum sub-assemblies for trimming the foliage tops and roots of the gathered crop the results of which is a surprisingly enhanced trimmed state. In accordance with the invention, the series of caged, rotating flail drum sub-assemblies of the invention each includes independently rotating dissectable cylindrical cage circumferenential of a series of transverse knives mounted on a central, independently driven shaft. The cylindrical cage includes a side wall preferably provided with a plurality of slots defining major axes of symmetry substantially transverse to axis of rotation of the central driven shaft.