A harvesting machine is disclosed along with a method of operating the harvesting machine. The harvesting machine includes a frame having a first end and a second end. A rotatable pick-up head is pivotally mounted on the first end and is capable of urging a crop into the machine. A cutting mechanism is mounted on a bottom plate for cutting the stems of the plants. A crimper mechanism is positioned downstream of the bottom plate and is capable of compacting the cut stems into a moving web. A moisture removal mechanism is positioned after the crimper mechanism to lower the moisture in the cut stems. A crop converging mechanism is located downstream of the moisture removal mechanism and reduces the width of the moving web into a ribbon. A chopper then chops the ribbon into small pieces so that they can be blown into a storage wagon for transport.

A cotton doffer structure for doffing cotton snagged on a surface having debris. The cotton doffer structure comprises a plurality of single-piece extrusions cooperating to provide a rim. The rim has a longitudinal axis and a periphery with radial protrusions integrally extending outward from the periphery. A shaft is coupled to the rim for rotation therewith about the longitudinal axis in a forward direction and surrounded by the rim. Brushes are provided. Each brush has a base end supporting upstanding bristles, an opposing distal end, a leading side generally facing the forward direction, and an opposing trailing side. Each support member is provided that has a leading end and a trailing end with an upright flange. The brush support member secures a responsive one of the base ends of the plurality of brushes against a respective one of the radial protrusions with the upright flange located adjacent the leading side.

A cotton doffer structure for doffing cotton snagged on a surface having debris. The cotton doffer structure comprises a plurality of single-piece extrusions cooperating to provide a rim. The rim has a longitudinal axis and a periphery with radial protrusions integrally extending outward from the periphery. A shaft is coupled to the rim for rotation therewith about the longitudinal axis in a forward direction and surrounded by the rim. Brushes are provided. Each brush has a base end supporting upstanding bristles, an opposing distal end, a leading side generally facing the forward direction, and an opposing trailing side. Each support member is provided that has a leading end and a trailing end with an upright flange. The brush support member secures a responsive one of the base ends of the plurality of brushes against a respective one of the radial protrusions with the upright flange located adjacent the leading side.

A harvesting apparatus for a fruit or vegetable product includes a maturity determination device to determine a maturity level of the fruit or vegetable product; a harvester to harvest the fruit or vegetable product; a power source generator to drive the harvester; and a controller to determine whether or not to supply the power to the harvester based on a determination result on the maturity level provided by the maturity determination device.

A harvesting apparatus for a fruit or vegetable product includes a maturity determination device to determine a maturity level of the fruit or vegetable product; a harvester to harvest the fruit or vegetable product; a power source generator to drive the harvester; and a controller to determine whether or not to supply the power to the harvester based on a determination result on the maturity level provided by the maturity determination device.

Described herein are systems and method for monitoring and controlling field operations including planting and harvesting operations. In one embodiment, a data processing system of a machine includes a data transfer and processing module that communicates bi-directionally with different types of controllers and sensors mounted on the machine or an implement attached to the machine. The data transfer and processing module is configured to execute instructions to receive signals from these controllers and sensors, process these signals, and generate data for monitoring and controlling field operations of the machine. At least one display device is coupled to the data transfer and processing module. The at least one display device displays the data for monitoring and controlling field operations of the machine or implement to a user or operator.

Described herein are systems and method for monitoring and controlling field operations including planting and harvesting operations. In one embodiment, a data processing system of a machine includes a data transfer and processing module that communicates bi-directionally with different types of controllers and sensors mounted on the machine or an implement attached to the machine. The data transfer and processing module is configured to execute instructions to receive signals from these controllers and sensors, process these signals, and generate data for monitoring and controlling field operations of the machine. At least one display device is coupled to the data transfer and processing module. The at least one display device displays the data for monitoring and controlling field operations of the machine or implement to a user or operator.

A method of harvesting crop material includes capturing an image of a plurality of regions 28 of a field 50. The respective image of the regions 28 is analyzed to determine data related to constituent species of the crop material located within each of the regions 28. The data is associated with a region identifier 48 assigned to the respective one of the regions 28, and saved in a memory 42 of a computing device 30. The crop material in the field 50 is then harvested and formed into a bale. The harvested crop material formed into the bale is gathered from a subset 46 of the regions 28. A region identifier 48 of each of the regions 28 included in the subset 46 of the regions 28 is associated with the bale identifier 38, such that the data related to constituent species of the crop material included in the bale is associated with the bale and may be obtained by querying the computing device 30.

A method of harvesting crop material includes capturing an image of a plurality of regions 28 of a field 50. The respective image of the regions 28 is analyzed to determine data related to constituent species of the crop material located within each of the regions 28. The data is associated with a region identifier 48 assigned to the respective one of the regions 28, and saved in a memory 42 of a computing device 30. The crop material in the field 50 is then harvested and formed into a bale. The harvested crop material formed into the bale is gathered from a subset 46 of the regions 28. A region identifier 48 of each of the regions 28 included in the subset 46 of the regions 28 is associated with the bale identifier 38, such that the data related to constituent species of the crop material included in the bale is associated with the bale and may be obtained by querying the computing device 30.

A maturity determination device includes an image capturing device including a plurality of pixels arrayed one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, the image capturing device performing image capturing of at least a part of a fruit or vegetable product to acquire an image, the plurality of pixels including a plurality of first pixels each including a first light transmission filter selectively transmitting light of a first wavelength band, the intensity of the light of the first wavelength band reflected by the fruit or vegetable product varying in accordance with a maturity level; and a signal processing circuit configured to find an area size ratio of an intensity distribution of the light of the first wavelength band on the basis of a predetermined reference value based on a pixel value obtained from the plurality of first pixels, and to generate maturity determination information in accordance with the area size ratio.