Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed that pick up and clean landscape rock using air under vacuum pressure. This apparatus provides a means for cleaning and reusing rock that has become aesthetically unattractive instead of removing the old landscape rock and replacing it with new rock. The invention also includes a device for separating debris from the vacuum airstream. This device may be used in combination with the device for picking up and cleaning landscape rock or may be used independently.

Abstract: A beach cleaner for recovering waste while moving in a towed state by a traction vehicle. A grating-like portion scoops up waste present in front of the beach cleaner as the beach cleaner is moved and a reticulate portion that is formed behind the grating-like portion to hold waste. As the beach cleaner is moved, waste present in front of the beach cleaner is scooped up onto the grating-like portion and is held with the reticulate portion formed behind the grating-like portion. Sand that is scooped up together with the waste is allowed to drop through the gaps in the grating-like portion.

Abstract: A mechanical harvester for harvesting, topping and sacking bulb crops, such as onions. The harvester extracts the onions from the ground and transports them rearward to a cutting assembly by conveyor systems that drop out small onions, dirt, rocks and debris. The cutting assembly comprises a set of elongated cutting blades positioned to cooperatively accept and sever the leaves and roots from the bulb. The offal drops away from the harvester to the ground by manner of gravity. After cutting, the onions are transported through an inspection assembly for inspection, sorting, grading and further distribution. The onions are then transported rearward to a sacking assembly for placing the onions into sacks, to a chute device returning the onions to the ground or to a conveyor system transferring the onions to an adjacent vehicle. Platforms on the sides and ends of the harvester facilitate the above operations.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing tobacco transplant seedlings from a plant bed by being connected to a tractor and pulled thereacross. An undercutter bar is provided at the front of the apparatus for undercutting a ribbon of soil which is then received by a conveyor defining an upwardly extending and a horizontally extending portion. A shaker mechanism provided beneath the conveyor serves to dislodge soil and smaller transplant seedlings from the seedlings as the seedlings are transported from the front to the rear of the automated apparatus. A boxing mechanism is provided at the rear of the automated apparatus which serves to fill containers with the transplant seedlings and then to deposit the filled containers upon the ground as the apparatus is pulled across a plant bed.

Abstract: A potato harvester having cooperative elements serving the functions of prividing an overall frame for the harvester with wheels for locomotion. A de-vining system utilizing a de-vining chain running between large top roller and a smaller bottom roller a pallet and worker stand, a sorting area to sort potatoes three ways and an area and system for discharge of filled pallets which cooperate in an assembly line process allowing for the intervention and participation of field workers with an automated process. The chief inventive portions being a pallet stand with an unloading forklift; Separation or sorting of potatoes onto conveyors which load the potatoes into the appropriate pallets depending on size while allowing for separation by hand of large and small potatoes from the average sized into three distinct areas by hand with waste disposal finished by hand; a refined digging and de-vining system designed to clear vines from the potatoes and carrier chain in a assembly line process.

Abstract: A weed remover (14) for eradicating, killing, collecting and dispensing weeds without the user having to touch the soil or weeds comprises a frame (22), a handle (16), a foot bar (34), a digging blade (36), a vacuum inlet tube (40), a vacuum blower (86), an outlet hose (94), and a weed collecting housing (48) secured to frame (22). A weed disposal bag (44) is secured to the weed collecting housing (48) and tubes (40, 42) provide a track for weeds to be sucked into a disposable weed bag (44) by vacuum generated from an electric motor (28). A battery charger (100 ) is provided as well as a tank (26) for weed killer or other fluids and delivery tubing is provided (50, 58, 150) for delivering the weed killer to soil near the severed weed root.

Abstract: Mobile combine apparatus for harvesting and separating a mixture of agricultural produce such as potatoes from other materials such as clods and stones including an impact element defining an impact surface, and apparatus for causing the mixture of agricultural products and stones to impinge on the impact surface in a predetermined direction irrespective of the orientation of the combine apparatus within a given range of operative orientations.

Abstract: A plant picking and boxing apparatus is mounted on a wheeled frame and includes an engine for driving the wheeled frame by a hydraulic system. Parallel mounted endless belts are supported on the frame and grip tomato plants, or the like planted in rows, and transport the plants into a loading mechanism. The plant roots are cleaned by rotatable, flexible flaps hitting the roots of the plants being transported between the parallel belts. The loading box has microswitch to determine when it is filled and ready for shifting to a second box, and to allow the plants to be pushed from the loading box into a packaging container where they can be placed on a conveyor and be conveyed to a closing platform on the wheeled frame.