Clemson University

Byron K Webb

Clarence E Hood

Yekutiel Alper

Crop uprooting and cultivating apparatus which includes at least one bar having at least one angled edge thereon that extends from a support at least partially across a row to be cultivated or from which crops and/or foliage are to be uprooted. The bar is rotatably supported by a support structure in cantilever fashion, leaving an outer end of the bar free. The bar may extend across a crop row in a direction generally transverse to the direction of movement of the apparatus along the row, or may be angled rearwardly with respect thereto to provide a self-cleaning action. The bar rotates beneath the surface of the soil and uproots crops and foliage as it moves along, the direction of rotation being in a direction opposite the direction of travel of the apparatus. A pair of bars may be provided, one being located on each side of a row being cultivated or where crops are to be uprooted with at least one of the bars extending a distance of more than 50 percent of the width of the row. The outer free ends of the pair of bars may overlap. A hydraulic cylinder or the like may be associated with one or all bars to move same horizontally away from the center of the crop row and return same to its normal uprooting, cultivation location. With this arrangement, the apparatus may be utilized in a method for cultivation, the bar or bars being moved away from crop plants along the row upon sight or automatic sensing of the presence of the plant and thus uprooting foliage and working the soil only between the crop plants.

Crop uprooting and soil cultivating apparatus and method for use of same

A device operable for engagement with selected tree portions to convert rotary motion to a linear shaking motion for use in a fruit harvesting operation. The tree shaker includes tree gripping elements with a motion converter operatively connected thereto, the motion converter including a rotary mass having an input drive thereto operable to displace the mass in a first direction with control means to effect a counter-rotation of the mass in response to the first direction displacement, whereby the combination drive control results in a linear reciprocating motion of the mass which is transferred to the associated gripping means for shaking the tree portion. The apparatus can include a single motion converter for use in shaking a tree or limb or a pair of motion converters for use in shaking a tree trunk or a large tree limb. When a pair of motion converters are utilized the control means is operable for driving both converter means at the same speed and in phase to obtain a constant linear reciprocating shaking motion, or is operable for driving the two motion converters at different speeds such that the phase angle between the two converters is continuously changing to provide a continuously variable shaking action.

Tree shaker

An elongated bar soil working apparatus constructed so that a plurality of bars are supported in a parallel relationship for rotation in one or more horizontal planes and positioned closely adjacent each other whereby the corners of one bar will cooperate with the corners of an adjacent bar to effect a severing action on vines or other foliage moving therebetween whereby the bars are self-cleaning. Power drives are operatively associated with the bars for syncronous rotation of the bars whereby the corners of the bars will be simultaneously advanced through a common plane in closely positioned relationship to effect the severing action on the vines and other foliage located therebetween and prevent vine and foliage build up on the bars. The present apparatus includes a frame which will allow the apparatus to be removably supported by conventional tractor operable tool bar whereby the bars can be advanced through the soil to perform plant uprooting or other soil working operations.

Growing community of inventors

Clemson, SC, United States of America

Byron K Webb