A bearing block assembly for a plant-trimming machine having a rotatable perforated tumbler, a rotatable reel and a bed bar assembly. The bearing block assembly comprises an outer bearing plate having a bearing-receiving bore for holding a reel bearing to rotatably support an end of the reel, and an inner bearing plate affixed to the outer bearing plate. The inner bearing plate has a pocket for receiving the bearing-receiving bore of the outer bearing plate, the pocket having a tolerance permitting the bearing-receiving bore to be set at a selected position within the pocket. The bearing block assembly has connectors for affixing the outer bearing plate to the inner bearing plate. The bearing block assembly sets the positions of the reel, bed knife and tumbler correctly during assembly of the plant-trimming machine, reducing the time and skill required for maintenance.

A bearing block assembly for a plant-trimming machine having a rotatable perforated tumbler, a rotatable reel and a bed bar assembly. The bearing block assembly comprises an outer bearing plate having a bearing-receiving bore for holding a reel bearing to rotatably support an end of the reel, and an inner bearing plate affixed to the outer bearing plate. The inner bearing plate has a pocket for receiving the bearing-receiving bore of the outer bearing plate, the pocket having a tolerance permitting the bearing-receiving bore to be set at a selected position within the pocket. The bearing block assembly has connectors for affixing the outer bearing plate to the inner bearing plate. The bearing block assembly sets the positions of the reel, bed knife and tumbler correctly during assembly of the plant-trimming machine, reducing the time and skill required for maintenance.

A safety cutting device including: an electrically conductive cutting member; a motor for actuating the cutting member; a handle for gripping the tool; and an emergency stop device that is sensitive to a user making contact with the cutting member. The tool further includes: at least a first and at least a second manual contact electrode; an electrical monitoring circuit having the first manual contact electrode and the cutting member; a device for measuring a monitoring voltage between the cutting member and the second manual contact electrode; a comparator for comparing at least one electrical monitoring characteristic with an electrical threshold characteristic, the comparator driving the emergency stop device. The safety cutting device is applicable to secateurs and shears in particular.

An autonomous vehicle apparatus and method for performing pruning operations on a plant being cultivated in a container is disclosed. The apparatus includes a wheeled chassis operably configured to autonomously navigate to a location of the container within a workspace. The apparatus also includes a plant support operable to receive and secure the container in an upright condition with respect to a vertical axis extending generally vertically through the container and the plant. The apparatus further includes a manipulator mounted to the vehicle and operable to grasp and load the container onto the plant support, and a pruning tool mounted on the vehicle and disposed to prune the plant while causing rotational movement of at least one of the pruning tool and the container about the vertical axis.

An autonomous vehicle apparatus and method for performing pruning operations on a plant being cultivated in a container is disclosed. The apparatus includes a wheeled chassis operably configured to autonomously navigate to a location of the container within a workspace. The apparatus also includes a plant support operable to receive and secure the container in an upright condition with respect to a vertical axis extending generally vertically through the container and the plant. The apparatus further includes a manipulator mounted to the vehicle and operable to grasp and load the container onto the plant support, and a pruning tool mounted on the vehicle and disposed to prune the plant while causing rotational movement of at least one of the pruning tool and the container about the vertical axis.

A cutting apparatus for trimming an article, the apparatus has a manually grasped power element with a reciprocating arm having a removably engagable rotatable couple including a selectable rotational index position lock. Also included is a cutting head assembly that is removable and rotationally indexable relative to the power element, the cutting head having a pair of reciprocating cutting blades for trimming the article. Wherein operationally, the reciprocating arm drives the cutting blades that have reciprocating movement with the cutting head selectably rotatable to the power element, user wrist fatigue is reduced, also with the cutting head being removable from the power element, the cutting head assembly is easier to clean.

A cutting apparatus for trimming an article, the apparatus has a manually grasped power element with a reciprocating arm having a removably engagable rotatable couple including a selectable rotational index position lock. Also included is a cutting head assembly that is removable and rotationally indexable relative to the power element, the cutting head having a pair of reciprocating cutting blades for trimming the article. Wherein operationally, the reciprocating arm drives the cutting blades that have reciprocating movement with the cutting head selectably rotatable to the power element, user wrist fatigue is reduced, also with the cutting head being removable from the power element, the cutting head assembly is easier to clean.

A ball screw and nut mechanism has a screw in cooperation with a nut via balls that can circulate in a raceway formed by the opposing threads of the screw and nut. The nut has a recirculation insert passing therethrough from the outer face to the thread, the recirculation insert having a first end with a ball transfer groove turned towards the screw. The mechanism has a holding body for holding the recirculation insert in the housing, the recirculation insert having a second end with a shoulder bearing on the nut, the second end of the recirculation insert having an orientation lug having an angular position predetermined and fixed relative to the ball transfer groove, the orientation lug cooperating with a guide relief of the holding body to fix an orientation of the recirculation insert such that the transfer groove is adjusted to the raceway.

A ball screw and nut mechanism has a screw in cooperation with a nut via balls that can circulate in a raceway formed by the opposing threads of the screw and nut. The nut has a recirculation insert passing therethrough from the outer face to the thread, the recirculation insert having a first end with a ball transfer groove turned towards the screw. The mechanism has a holding body for holding the recirculation insert in the housing, the recirculation insert having a second end with a shoulder bearing on the nut, the second end of the recirculation insert having an orientation lug having an angular position predetermined and fixed relative to the ball transfer groove, the orientation lug cooperating with a guide relief of the holding body to fix an orientation of the recirculation insert such that the transfer groove is adjusted to the raceway.

A device for holding a cutting blade having a cam, including a blade pivot pin for mounting the cutting blade in a pivoting manner on a cutting tool, and a cam pivot pin connected to a driving mechanism of the blade, a first pivot pin chosen from the blade pivot pin and the cam pivot pin being provided with a matching-shape axial lock. The other pivot pin is provided with a manually tightened axial lock. The device includes a catch having a first end with a latch able to be engaged with and held on the first pivot pin by matching shapes, and a second end able to be engaged with and held on the pivot pin provided with the manually tightened axial lock.