A combine harvester (combine) includes any number of components to harvest plants as the combine travels through a plant field. The components take actions to harvest plants or facilitate harvesting plants. The combine includes any number of sensors to measure the state of the combine as the combine harvests plants. The combine includes a control system to generate actions for the components to harvest plants in the field. The control system includes an agent executing a model that functions to improve the performance of the combine harvesting plants. Performance improvement can be measured by the sensors of the combine. The model is an artificial neural network that receives measurements as inputs and generates actions that improve performance as outputs. The artificial neural network is trained using actor-critic reinforcement learning techniques.

A method of harvesting a seed from a rooted plant utilizing a seed harvester. The method includes dislodging the seed from the rooted plant via a seed dislodging system on the seed harvester by contacting the rooted plant with at least one of a plurality of dislodging members of the seed dislodging system. The method also includes collecting the seed via a seed collection system on the seed harvester. The method further includes transporting the seed via a seed transport system on the seed harvester from the seed collection system to a seed isolation system on the seed harvester. The method also includes isolating the seed from a waste material via the seed isolation system. A seed harvester is also included.

A method of harvesting a seed from a rooted plant utilizing a seed harvester. The method includes dislodging the seed from the rooted plant via a seed dislodging system on the seed harvester by contacting the rooted plant with at least one of a plurality of dislodging members of the seed dislodging system. The method also includes collecting the seed via a seed collection system on the seed harvester. The method further includes transporting the seed via a seed transport system on the seed harvester from the seed collection system to a seed isolation system on the seed harvester. The method also includes isolating the seed from a waste material via the seed isolation system. A seed harvester is also included.

The Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method will accomplish seven steps in one pass of the combine harvester. This apparatus and processing method harvests leaf crops and is configured to perform multiple processing operations, including fractionation of the leaf crop, leaf maceration, leaf sizing, elevating the leaf fraction to a transport vehicle, and stem conditioning, cutting and windrowing, in a single pass through the crop field. These steps are accomplished using a header unit, an adapter feeder macerator and a forage harvester vehicle, expeditiously removing the leaf fraction from the field. Following leaf fraction harvesting, the leaf fraction is processed by densification into forage feed products. The processed leaf fraction can be combined with other feeds to make up customized feed rations. The stem fraction is also processed. The present invention can also be used to harvest grass crops.

The Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method will accomplish seven steps in one pass of the combine harvester. This apparatus and processing method harvests leaf crops and is configured to perform multiple processing operations, including fractionation of the leaf crop, leaf maceration, leaf sizing, elevating the leaf fraction to a transport vehicle, and stem conditioning, cutting and windrowing, in a single pass through the crop field. These steps are accomplished using a header unit, an adapter feeder macerator and a forage harvester vehicle, expeditiously removing the leaf fraction from the field. Following leaf fraction harvesting, the leaf fraction is processed by densification into forage feed products. The processed leaf fraction can be combined with other feeds to make up customized feed rations. The stem fraction is also processed. The present invention can also be used to harvest grass crops.

The invention relates to a processing machine for processing fibre plants, such as hemp or flax. The processing machine can comprise:a self-propelling vehicle;a seed part removing unit which is mounted on the self-propelling vehicle and is configured to remove seed parts (such as bolls) from the fibre plants to be picked;a picking unit which is mounted on the vehicle and is configured to pick fibre plants from which seed parts have been removed, wherein the picking unit is further configured to transport the picked fibre plants to the conveyor of the self-propelling vehicle. The seed part removing unit can for instance be a stripper for stripping the seed parts from the fibre plants.

The invention relates to a processing machine for processing fibre plants, such as hemp or flax. The processing machine can comprise:a self-propelling vehicle;a seed part removing unit which is mounted on the self-propelling vehicle and is configured to remove seed parts (such as bolls) from the fibre plants to be picked;a picking unit which is mounted on the vehicle and is configured to pick fibre plants from which seed parts have been removed, wherein the picking unit is further configured to transport the picked fibre plants to the conveyor of the self-propelling vehicle. The seed part removing unit can for instance be a stripper for stripping the seed parts from the fibre plants.

A work vehicle for working a swath of crop has at least one ground-engaging wheel or track mounted to the work vehicle and movable in a travel direction along a tread path. A first redistribution device is mounted to the work vehicle to move crop that is ahead of the at least one ground-engaging wheel or track relative to the travel direction. A second redistribution device is mounted to the work vehicle to move crop that is behind the at least one ground-engaging wheel or track relative to the travel direction. The first redistribution device is configured to open the swath of crop along substantially only the tread path ahead of the at least one ground-engaging wheel or track relative to the travel direction, and the second redistribution device is configured to close the swath of crop along the tread path behind the at least one ground-engaging wheel or track relative to the travel direction.

A work vehicle for working a swath of crop has at least one ground-engaging wheel or track mounted to the work vehicle and movable in a travel direction along a tread path. A first redistribution device is mounted to the work vehicle to move crop that is ahead of the at least one ground-engaging wheel or track relative to the travel direction. A second redistribution device is mounted to the work vehicle to move crop that is behind the at least one ground-engaging wheel or track relative to the travel direction. The first redistribution device is configured to open the swath of crop along substantially only the tread path ahead of the at least one ground-engaging wheel or track relative to the travel direction, and the second redistribution device is configured to close the swath of crop along the tread path behind the at least one ground-engaging wheel or track relative to the travel direction.

The present invention relates to a method and device for harvesting plants belonging to the family of hemp plants (Cannabaceae), in particular of the genus Hemp, with which the harvesting and separation of the individual plant parts is made possible without damaging the individual plant parts. In particular, during harvesting, the hemp stems are pulled downwards by a pair of rollers and the flowers are pulled backwards through a chain gap, whereby the flowers are stripped from the stems