A crop management apparatus for selectively severing plant items from a plurality of plants. The apparatus comprises: a sensor unit for sensing aspects of the plurality of plants and generating data indicative thereof; a control unit for processing the data to determine a location of a target plant item suitable for severing; a cutter unit comprising at least one selectively deployable cutter for severing the target plant item from its respective plant; and a prime mover for moving the sensor unit and the at least one selectively deployable cutter across the plurality of plants. The control unit outputs a control signal to deploy the at least one selectively deployable cutter at least in part based on the determined location of the target plant item. When the at least one selectively deployable cutter is in a deployed state, severance of the target plant item occurs at least in part based on movement of the prime mover.

An extension rod for a power tool may include a plurality of rod portions, with a first connector and a second connector connecting two of the rod portions. The second connector has a sleeve and a primary fastener. The first connector has a guide rod sized for insertion into the sleeve. The first connector also has a secondary fastener engaging with the primary fastener. A first guide ring, a second guide ring, and a third guide ring are located between the guide rod and the sleeve. The first guide ring, the second guide ring, and the third guide ring each include respective conical faces. At least one of the first, second, and third guide rings defines a notch.

A pruning system includes a cutting head comprising upper and lower cutting rings positioned along a bottom portion of one or more tubes. At least one of the cutting rings is adapted to rotate in a circular motion, while the other cutting ring may be adapted to remain stationary. A vacuum may be applied to suction target plant material, and the cutting head may be lowered toward the target plant material. As adjacent blades from the upper and lower cutting rings are separated in an open position, plant material may be collected in the opening defined by the adjacent blades of the cutting rings. As the blades converge, the opening may close, and plant material collected in the opening may be severed from the plant. System variables, such as blade orientation, vacuum speed, blade rotation speed, barrel size, and the cutting mechanisms, may be adjusted to accommodate different types of plant material. The pruning system may be installed on a vehicle and used with a vision system to remove materials from plant beds in a field.

A vine or cane pruning apparatus, comprising a toothed wheel for guiding the pruning apparatus over vegetation in use, the wheel comprising a multiplicity of generally radially projecting teeth distributed about the periphery of the wheel for catching vegetation between gaps of the teeth, and wherein the wheel rotates by consequence of its engagement with the vegetation and vine or cane posts as the apparatus is driven along a row of vines or canes for pruning; and a driven rotary cutter mounted co-axially to the wheel for cutting vegetation caught between the teeth, the cutter being configured such that its effective cutting area falls within the diameter of the wheel.

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.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a method and device for a plant trimming tumbler that provides enhanced capabilities as a result of integrating robotic features, automations, artificial intelligence, queuing, fault control, automatic transport, scalability, safety measures, smaller footprint, and other computerized functions, along with a creative business model. In design of this invention the following high-level requirements were achieved: scalable for small, medium, and large businesses; safer than other machines in the market; sanitation consideration; simplicity in maintenance, and automated functions to reduce the need for labor (e.g., integration of robotics, AI, and/or other computerized systems).

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a method and device for a robotic automated plant processing machine that provides enhanced capabilities as a result of integrating robotic features, automations, artificial intelligence, queuing, fault control, automatic transport, scalability, safety measures, smaller footprint, and other computerized functions, along with a creative business model. In design of this invention the following high-level requirements were achieved: scalable for small, medium, and large businesses; safer than other machines in the market; sanitation consideration; simplicity in maintenance, and automated functions to reduce the need for labor (e.g., integration of robotics, AI, and/or other computerized systems).

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a plant trimming apparatus and method having a central processing unit that provides enhanced capabilities as a result of integrating robotic features, automations, artificial intelligence, queuing, fault control, automatic transport, scalability, safety measures, smaller footprint, and other computerized functions, along with a creative business model. In design of this invention the following high-level requirements were achieved: scalable for small, medium, and large businesses; safer than other machines in the market; sanitation consideration; simplicity in maintenance, and automated functions to reduce the need for labor (e.g., integration of robotics, AI, and/or other computerized systems).

Embodiments according to the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for plant transportation using a smart conveyor. Embodiments of the present invention provide enhanced capabilities as a result of integrating robotic features, automations, artificial intelligence, queuing, fault control, automatic transport, scalability, safety measures, smaller footprint, and other computerized functions, along with a creative business model. In design of this invention the following high-level requirements were achieved: scalable for small, medium, and large businesses; safer than other machines in the market; sanitation consideration; simplicity in maintenance, and automated functions to reduce the need for labor (e.g., integration of robotics, AI, and/or other computerized systems).

A small internal combustion engine includes a housing and an internal combustion engine body arranged in the housing. The internal combustion engine body includes a cylinder, a crankcase, a piston arranged in the cylinder, a crankshaft arranged in the crankcase and driving the piston, and an oil pan arranged at a bottom of the crankcase. The oil pan has an oil pan inlet, and the housing has a housing oil inlet. A hose connected to the oil pan inlet and the housing oil inlet forms a fluid passage for lubricating oil to flow from the housing oil inlet to the oil pan. A related garden tool includes a power source assembly that drives a working assembly to operate via a power transmission assembly.