Altria Client Services LLC

C Regan Scott

Martin Heidorn

Curtis M Hinton

Ty Murray

Tyrone M Murray

An apparatus for stripping and sorting leaves from stalks of agricultural crops. The apparatus includes a base frame having a first longitudinal member, the first longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, and a second longitudinal member in a parallel spaced-relationship with the first longitudinal member, a plurality of cross members arranged perpendicularly along at least the first longitudinal member, each of the 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 stalk gripping assembly for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus in a direction from the first end to the second end of the first longitudinal member.

Apparatus for stripping and sorting leaves from agricultural crops

An apparatus for harvesting agricultural row crops having stalks. The apparatus includes an inclined arm comprising a first section, the first section including: a stalk inlet arranged to receive stalks of row crops; and a cutter arranged to cut stalks received by the stalk inlet; the inclined arm further comprising: a biasing guide assembly disposed along the inclined arm, the biasing guide assembly comprising a plurality of individual biasing members; and a conveyor arranged to engage each received stalk and move each engaged stalk along the biasing guide assembly; the conveyor and the biasing guide assembly mutually arranged such that the biasing guide assembly is operative to apply an accommodating clamping force upon each engaged stalk sufficient to keep each engaged stalk substantially upright as it is conveyed along at least a portion of the arm; the accommodating clamping force accommodating possible differences in stalk diameters from one stalk to another, the plurality of individual biasing members arranged to maintain a substantially constant compressive force on each engaged stalk.

Biasing guide assembly for harvesting agricultural row crops

An apparatus for harvesting agricultural row crops having stalks, comprising a frame having a front portion and a rear portion, the frame configured for traversing along a field of row crops; a hollow arm mounted adjacent an upper section of the front portion of the frame, the hollow arm comprising a first section disposed along an incline formed by the upper section of the front portion of the frame and the ground, the first section having a first end and a second end; an inlet positioned adjacent the first end of the first section of the hollow arm, the inlet for receiving stalks of row crops; device for cutting stalks of row crops, the device for cutting stalks mounted within the first section of the hollow arm; device for engaging and conveying the stalks along the hollow arm; and a biased guide assembly for accommodating stalks of varied diameters.

Growing community of inventors

Midlothian, VA, United States of America

C Regan Scott