A device for harvesting asparagus growing from a asparagus field that includes a frame displaceable over the asparagus field by a drive means in which frame is at least provided with cutting means for cutting the asparagus to be harvested close to the surface of the field, and stabilizing means for stabilizing the asparagus relative to the cutting means.

An apparatus and method for separating plant flowers from stalks by means of a lateral rotating tube having a plurality of flexible, elongated members affixed to and extending radially outward from the tube. The apparatus may include a platform and a frame supporting the tube above the platform to accommodate plants held between the platform and the tube so that when the tube is rotating, the elongated members affixed thereto brush against the plants and cause the flowers to brush off at and separate from the stalks. The frame further supports a housing to form a contained space, including a back wall, side walls and a hood to direct the flow of flowers after separation from the stalks. The back wall is positioned a distance away from the platform to allow separated flower and stalk to be eliminated from the apparatus. The hood extends above and over the tube, having a front wall extending about or below a central axis of the tube. A power system provides rotational power to the tube.

A control system for a harvester that harvests crop stalks each having a bottom portion and a top portion. The harvester includes a topper that cuts the stalks between the top and bottom portions and a base cutter that cuts the stalks near a ground surface. The control system includes a sensor that senses a first height between the top of the bottom portion and the ground surface, and senses a second height between the bottom of the bottom portion and the ground surface. The controller receives signals representing the sensed first and second heights from the sensor, determines average first and second heights for the stalks over a set time, sends a first signal to the topper to cause movement of the topper to the average first height, and sends a second signal to the base cutter to cause movement of the base cutter to the average second height.

A control system for a harvester that harvests crop stalks each having a bottom portion and a top portion. The harvester includes a topper that cuts the stalks between the top and bottom portions and a base cutter that cuts the stalks near a ground surface. The control system includes a sensor that senses a first height between the top of the bottom portion and the ground surface, and senses a second height between the bottom of the bottom portion and the ground surface. The controller receives signals representing the sensed first and second heights from the sensor, determines average first and second heights for the stalks over a set time, sends a first signal to the topper to cause movement of the topper to the average first height, and sends a second signal to the base cutter to cause movement of the base cutter to the average second height.

Provided are a system, method(s), and apparatus for automatically harvesting mushrooms from a mushroom bed. The system, in one implementation, may be referred to herein as an automated harvester, having at least an apparatus/frame/body/structure for supporting and positioning the harvester on a mushroom bed, a vision system for scanning and identifying mushrooms in the mushroom bed, a picking system for harvesting the mushrooms from the bed, and a control system for directing the picking system according to data acquired by the vision system. Various other components, sub-systems, and connected systems may also be integrated into or coupled to the automated harvester.

A mobile crop processing system includes a self-propelled harvester that shears and chops plant material, a mobile extraction assembly that follows the harvester and receives the chopped plant material to produce a crude oil output while discarding unwanted moisture and biomass in the field, a field-based extraction assembly that separates the crude oil into reclaimed solvent and essential oil, and a transporter for carrying containers of crude oil and solvent between the mobile and field-based extraction assemblies. The mobile extraction assembly includes a pre-treatment assembly for mixing plant material with solvent, a dewatering and maceration assembly for removing moisture from the plant material, and a separation assembly for removing additional moisture and biomass. Using the system, crops can be harvested and processed in the field when they are ready to be cut. The system can operate continuously until a desired portion of the field has been cut and processed.

This invention refers to an improved foldable and extensible head for agave harvest, characterized by including a vertical structure in whose lower end there is a support and fixation element of a lower-cut clamp, to cut the agave plant from its base, defined by a pair of straight-cut blades in a couple of curved clamps, completely opposing each other, each one fixed with its own rotating axis on the aforementioned support and fixation element. Each clamp includes a circular or semi-circular gear that allows the interlocking of both clamps and that together define a zipper mechanism to accurately synchronize the closing and opening movement between the clamps; a fixation structure of at least one hydraulic or pneumatic actuator is assembled in the rear area of the aforementioned support and fixation element, where the stem is pivotally fixed in the rear part, next to the rotating axis of at least one curved clamp to close or open both clamps as a result of the abovementioned zipper mechanism.

This invention refers to an improved foldable and extensible head for agave harvest, characterized by including a vertical structure in whose lower end there is a support and fixation element of a lower-cut clamp, to cut the agave plant from its base, defined by a pair of straight-cut blades in a couple of curved clamps, completely opposing each other, each one fixed with its own rotating axis on the aforementioned support and fixation element. Each clamp includes a circular or semi-circular gear that allows the interlocking of both clamps and that together define a zipper mechanism to accurately synchronize the closing and opening movement between the clamps; a fixation structure of at least one hydraulic or pneumatic actuator is assembled in the rear area of the aforementioned support and fixation element, where the stem is pivotally fixed in the rear part, next to the rotating axis of at least one curved clamp to close or open both clamps as a result of the abovementioned zipper mechanism.

A system for removing parts from plants rooted in an agricultural field while leaving other parts of the plants rooted in the agricultural field may include a harvester apparatus with an intake throat formed by structures such as the combination of an infeed head and infeed conveyor, a pair of stripping assemblies including stripping belts, or stripping assemblies including stripping members such as chains.

A system for removing parts from plants rooted in an agricultural field while leaving other parts of the plants rooted in the agricultural field may include a harvester apparatus with an intake throat formed by structures such as the combination of an infeed head and infeed conveyor, a pair of stripping assemblies including stripping belts, or stripping assemblies including stripping members such as chains.