Abstract: Gathering conveyors of the forage harvesting header deliver upstanding, severed crop stalks by their lower ends to an outlet toward which all conveyors of the header converge. The upper ends of the crop stalks are guided and gathered laterally inwardly by apparatus above the conveyors, and a transversely disposed knock-down bar just forwardly of the outlet leans the stalks back toward the front end of the header as they approach the outlet so that the stalks tend to enter and pass through the outlet in a butt-first condition. The knock-down bar is mounted so as to yield upwardly under the influence of crops passing therebeneath in the event that the volume of the crops is so great that they could otherwise not pass through the restriction formed by the knock-down bar on the one hand and the conveyors on the other hand.

Abstract: A crop height sensing assembly for use in a control system that automatically adjusts the depth or vertical elevation of a mechanical corn detasseling device in response to the height of a corn plant having a tassel with adjacent leaf portions. The detasseling device is adjustably carried on a portable frame for movement along a corn plant row, and the control system includes a hydraulic cylinder assembly for raising and lowering the detasseling device, and circuitry for actuating the cylinder assembly. The crop sensing assembly includes a rock shaft extended tranversely of the portable frame, a support for the sensing assembly carried on the frame forwardly of the detasseling device for movement therewith, a plurality of dependent sensor rods axially spaced on the rock shaft and rockable therewith in response to contact with the corn plant leaf portions, and a signal assembly responsive to the rockable movement of the shaft to produce a sensing signal for operating the actuating circuitry.

Abstract: An automatic depth adjusting control system and method for controlling the vertical position of a pair of corn detasseling devices adjustably mounted on a farm implement for removing tassels from two adjacent rows of corn plants. The control system includes a parallel link system for supporting the corn detasseling devices, a hydraulic cylinder connected to the parallel link system for controlling the vertical movement thereof to raise and lower the pair of corn detasseling devices, and a crop sensing unit positioned forwardly of each of the detasseling devices for detecting the height of the corn plants in a corresponding corn row. Each crop sensing unit provides for the transmission of either a raise signal or a lower signal, in response to the height of the corn plants in an associated row, to electrical circuitry and then hydraulic circuitry for actuating the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: This invention is a weed puller apparatus connectable to the rear or front portions of a tractor and can be used jointly with a cultivator to loosen the soil. The weed puller apparatus includes (1) a main support means selectively connected to the rear or front of the tractor; (2) a weed pulling means connected to the main support means; and (3) a power and control means operably associated with the power supply of the tractor and connected to the weed pulling means to drive same. The weed pulling means includes cooperating pairs of contacting weed pulling assemblies, some are driven by the power means and others are driven by frictional contact between adjacent ones.

Abstract: A machine for pulling weeds from rows having crops, as sugar beets. The machine has a transverse tool bar carrying a hitch. The hitch connects the tool bar to a tractor. A plurality of weed-pulling units are mounted on the tool bar. Each weed pulling unit has a pair of engaging pneumatic tires that are driven in opposite directions with a hydraulic motor. A pair of gauge and guide wheels connected to the tool bar locate the tool bar and weed pulling wheels above the surface of the ground so that the engaging rotating pneumatic tires will pull weeds from the rows of crops.