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 for rotation about 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 the container is rotated on the plant support.

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 for rotation about 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 the container is rotated on the plant support.

A removable motor housing for a plant material trimming device. The removable housing may include a first motor housing connectable to the plant trimming device. The first motor housing may be slidably or pivotably connectable to the plant trimming device. The first motor housing may be operable to receive an output shaft from a first motor in the first housing. The output shaft may be operable to communicate with an input shaft of the plant trimming device. A biasing device may be connectable to the first motor housing and the plant trimming device for biasing the first motor housing into a first position. When the first motor housing is in the first position a substantially constant force is applied between the input shaft of the plant trimming device and the output shaft of the first motor.

The invention regards a system and method for assisting reductive shaping of an object into a desired 3D-shape by removing material. The system comprises a tool and a localization means. The tool is configured to remove material from an object by means of a cutting function or a grinding function performed by a working head of the tool. The localization means determines a position of the working head relative to the desired 3D-shape. Each time the grinding function or cutting function would remove material from an inside of the desired 3D-shape the cutting or grinding function is deactivated.

A removable motor housing for a plant material trimming device. The removable housing may include a first motor housing connectable to the plant trimming device. The first motor housing may be slidably or pivotably connectable to the plant trimming device. The first motor housing may be operable to receive an output shaft from a first motor in the first housing. The output shaft may be operable to communicate with an input shaft of the plant trimming device. A biasing device may be connectable to the first motor housing and the plant trimming device for biasing the first motor housing into a first position. When the first motor housing is in the first position a substantially constant force is applied between the input shaft of the plant trimming device and the output shaft of the first motor.

A plant trimming guide apparatus, including a plurality of guide blades made of a resilient material, and a flat collar having a length, a width, an attachment surface, and made of a resilient material. Each of the plurality of guide blades has a pivot end that is secured pivotably with a common securement pin, and an opposed based end, with the plurality of base ends attached to and extending from an attachment surface of the collar, in a series along the length between the first end and the second end of the collar. Securing the first and second ends of the collar into a formed ring with the attachment surface facing outwardly causes the guide blades to extend radially from the common pivot ends and bend semi-spherically to the base ends, forming a spherical trimming guide.

A plant trimming guide apparatus, including a plurality of guide blades made of a resilient material, and a flat collar having a length, a width, an attachment surface, and made of a resilient material. Each of the plurality of guide blades has a pivot end that is secured pivotably with a common securement pin, and an opposed based end, with the plurality of base ends attached to and extending from an attachment surface of the collar, in a series along the length between the first end and the second end of the collar. Securing the first and second ends of the collar into a formed ring with the attachment surface facing outwardly causes the guide blades to extend radially from the common pivot ends and bend semi-spherically to the base ends, forming a spherical trimming guide.

A leafy plant trimmer that is operable by a single person has a basket that is rotated in relation to a stationary sling in order to trim plants placed within the basket. The basket and the sling are housed within a trimmer body that is pivotally connected to a pivot stand. The trimmer body can be rotated between a product loading position for filling the basket and an in-use position for trimming the plants within the basket. A motor housed in the trimmer body spins the basket through a drive shaft. The motor is electrically connected to a timer such that the trimmer can be operated at designated time intervals. Trimmings are expelled from the trimmer body through a debris hole and collected below. A first receptacle attachment and a second receptacle attachment are positioned below the trimmer body and allow a receptacle to be positioned for collecting the trimmings.

A trimmer comprises two counter-rotating barrels side-by-side above one cutting reel. When viewed from the front, the left barrel rotates counter-clockwise while the right barrel rotates clockwise. Plant material in the barrels accumulates on the uphill side of each barrel, relative to its rotational direction, as the plant material traverses the rotating barrels. This configuration positions the uphill sides of both barrels proximate to the one reel. The barrel perforations are rifled to assist in moving the plant material through the barrels. Screw jacks are employed to tilt the trimmer; hardware facilitates use of two such trimmers in series.

A plant material trimming device includes two end walls supporting a rotatable perforated tumbler, a rotatable reel with helical blades, and a blade mechanism pivotably connected to the end walls of the device. The blade mechanism includes: (i) a blade bar configured to cut plant material in cooperation with the helical blades when the device is in operation; (ii) a first arm operatively associated with the blade bar; and (iii) a second arm pivotably connected to the first arm such that the second arm can pivot downward when the blade mechanism is unlocked. A tightening block may be threadedly connected to the second arm and connectable to one of the two end walls. The tightening block may be configured for adjusting the pitch of the blade bar relative to the helical blades when the blade mechanism is locked to the end walls.